Mr. Xiao, can I borrow your wedding invitation?

Chapter 397 Reward with a Painting
"Mom, don't be anxious, listen to me slowly!" Xiao Jiayang pressed his temples, looking distressed and helpless. "Do you think I'm not angry? But even if we drive Jiang Rourou away, what good will it do? It will only make me a laughing stock. You know my current physical condition. What if things really happen in the future... then we really won't get anything from Grandpa. Why not just go with the flow and acknowledge Jiang Rourou as our bastard? If Grandpa is happy, maybe he'll give me some things, and our eldest branch won't be ridiculed by others anymore. What do you say?"

"This..." Chen Wanru was persuaded, and sighed with a worried look on her face, "Jiayang, I'm so sorry to have wronged you!"

"It would be so unfair to watch something that belongs to me be given to someone else! Mom, then it's settled then. At worst, we can have another child of our own when I'm better! In short, I can't lose to anyone else right now!" Xiao Jiayang was fully prepared; after all, raising any child was the same.

The next day, several branches of the Xiao family arrived at the restaurant one after another.

Jiang Rourou, heavily pregnant, carefully descended the steps with the help of her personal maid.

"You all need to be careful. If you run into the young mistress, can you all take responsibility?"

puff!
Su Ying couldn't help but laugh.

Jiang Rourou frowned and glared at her.

At this time, the others arrived one after another, but Xiao Shen was the only one missing. He was away on a business trip today and was expected to return in three days. As the representative of the fourth branch, Su Ying naturally had to be present.

As the servants brought the food up one after another, Jiang Rourou immediately covered her nose, revealing a pained expression.

"Go, put these meat dishes away from Miss Jiang. She can't stand the smell!" Xiao Jiayang instructed with great concern.

"Rou Rou, why don't you go back to your room? I'll have someone bring you some food!"

Seeing that even Chen Wanru echoed this, it immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Old Master Xiao: "Wanru, Miss Jiang, what's going on here..."

At this moment, Chen Wanru stood up and said, "Dad, everyone is here today, so I have an announcement to make: Rou Rou is pregnant!"

Jiang Rourou straightened her back, looking quite smug.

"What? Pregnant? This is too sudden!" Lan Ruo asked with a smile.

If Jiang Rourou gets pregnant, wouldn't their second wife's family become the worst off?
Chen Wanru explained proudly, "It's all my fault. I didn't care enough about Rou Rou before. Yesterday, she was rude at the dinner table. When I asked her later, I found out that she was just too low-key and didn't want to bother others!"

As she spoke, she showed the test results, "Look, she's already 20 days pregnant. Young people are so healthy, they can get pregnant so easily. I, the future mother-in-law, wasn't even mentally prepared!"

Lan Ruo was speechless. She offered her congratulations, but her heart was filled with unbearable sorrow.

Upon hearing about the Xiao family, Old Master Xiao's wrinkled face relaxed. "In that case, there's no need to come here for meals in the future. Your health is the most important thing!"

Jiang Rourou replied obediently, "It's alright, I can manage. It's my pleasure to be able to dine with everyone!"

Old Master Xiao nodded appreciatively, then waved to the old butler, who understood and left.

Xiao Jiayang, Jiang Rourou, and Chen Wanru exchanged glances, each more excited than the last.

Old Master Xiao is giving a reward in public. Previously, whenever Xiao's daughters-in-law or children had happy occasions, they would also receive such rewards. Sure enough, he didn't forget the eldest son's family.

Su Ying only got a whole street of shops just because she was pregnant with a girl, and as the future eldest grandson's wife, her treatment should be better than Su Ying's, right? Let her think about it, what is it? A yacht? A private island? Or a private jet? The Xiao family is so rich, it should be super luxurious, right?

Just then, the old butler came over carrying a mysterious object.

Jiang Rourou clenched her fists excitedly. It looked like it was some kind of priceless jewelry. That was fine, as long as it was valuable.

But as the coarse cloth draped over it was lifted, Jiang Rourou's expression froze instantly.

"This is a landscape painting I drew earlier, as a reward for your hard work this time. Take good care of yourself, and if you need anything in the future, just ask your Aunt Chen!"

"Yes, thank you, Grandpa!" Jiang Rourou forced a smile.

"Miss Jiang, you should keep the old master's calligraphy and paintings safe. He wouldn't give them to us when we asked, which shows how much he dotes on you!" Lan Ruo said sarcastically.

"How could that be? I like anything Grandpa gives me. I'll hang it in my bedroom when I get back!"

Even if she disliked it, Jiang Rourou had to grit her teeth and bear it at this moment.

As soon as she got back to her room, Jiang Rourou couldn't help but lash out, "What a piece of trash painting! It's not even worthy of being used to wipe my hands. And you think you can give it to me as some kind of bullshit reward? You're just trying to fob me off like a beggar!"

Xiao Jiayang was even angrier than her, and he tore the painting up in anger. But if the old man asked about it later, he would have a hard time explaining it.

"In the end, isn't it all because of you? Grandpa gave you this thing because he doesn't like you. Look at Su Ying, she's spoiled rotten by Grandpa. I've told you to learn from her for a long time, but you just won't listen!"

"Oh, so you're blaming me? Xiao Jiayang, you wouldn't happen to have taken a fancy to that Su Ying, would you? I think you just can't stand seeing a woman. Don't forget, she's your aunt. If Fourth Master Xiao finds out you dare to have thoughts about your aunt..."

"Jiang Rourou, shut up! If you keep talking nonsense, get out of here!"

Chen Wanru pushed the door open and saw the two arguing loudly. She immediately understood what was going on. "Alright, alright, what's all the arguing about? You'll make a fool of yourself in front of others!"

His gaze fell on Jiang Rourou. "Rourou, don't give up too. The old man wasn't prepared; he just gave you these calligraphy and paintings as a hobby. Once you find out in three months that you're carrying a boy, just wait and see. Shops and mansions will be nothing compared to what you'll get after you give birth. Your son alone will inherit a huge fortune. So, you're still a bit too early to compete with others. What's the rush?" "You, are you serious?"

Xiao Jiayang chimed in, "Nonsense, is our Xiao family short of money? My grandfather is the most generous ever!"

Hearing this, Jiang Rourou felt somewhat comforted.

The sun was shining brightly today, and Su Ying sunbathed in the front yard after lunch. It wasn't good for her to stay cooped up in the room all the time. Xiao Shen was always worried that she would bump into something or get hurt, so he ordered her not to go out. So, she had to get his permission to come out to sunbathe in the yard.

The completion of the landscape painting drew praise from many people.

"So beautiful! Fourth Madam is indeed exceptionally talented; her painting is in no way inferior to that of Old Master Ye!"

"This level of skill is good enough to be displayed at an art exhibition or auction!"

"Yes, yes, our lady is truly amazing. We'll let Fourth Master see her sometime!"

"Tch! You dare to show this off with this level of skill? It's laughable!" A discordant laugh broke through the silence.