Festivals without meaning (revised edition)

  "Gu Qianxun, what's wrong with you? Still lingering upstairs at this hour? Come down and cook!" Just as she was lost in thought, the sharp voice of her mother-in-law, Chen Yi, came from downstairs.

  Gu Qianxun hastily changed into her home clothes, folded up the damaged little Western-style suit, and asked while going downstairs: "Didn't Zhang Aunt come today?"

  "I'm here, young lady." Zhang Aunt poked her head out of the kitchen and spoke to her.

  Chen Yi glared at her with a bad temper, "What? You think you're some kind of noble lady just because you married into our family? Can't even give birth to a child, what qualifications do you have to be a young mistress?"

  Gu Qianxun's lips were pale, and she couldn't say a word. Every time the topic of having children came up, she was speechless. Due to her pride and the little self-respect she had left, she stubbornly refused to mention that Jing Nanxu never touched her. She could imagine how her mother-in-law and sister-in-law would mock her if this were to be revealed. Probably from then on, in this household, she wouldn't even have a place to stand.

  "Does mentioning kids make you speechless? Even a chicken can lay eggs!" Chen Yi glared at her with disgust, "What are you still doing here? Xiaoyao wants to eat the braised eggplant you made! Go and apologize to her!"

  Gu Qianxun took a deep breath, suppressing all the emotions that were surging from the bottom of her heart, and walked silently into the kitchen. As she entered the kitchen, Zhang Shu's sympathetic gaze fell upon her, instantly touching the softest spot in her heart, causing her eyes to redden again.

  She didn't want to be seen in such a weak state, so she squatted down to pick the eggplants. Zhang Shu said: "Let me do it instead, Young Mistress can just watch from the side. I'll finish quickly."

  "No need, I'll do it myself. Don't want to be criticized by them again after a while." She said, and skillfully peeled the eggplant skin, soaking it in water. She stared at the flowing water with wide eyes, forcing back her tears, even without turning around, she could imagine Zhang Auntie's sympathetic gaze behind her.

  Sneer.

  She is indeed pitied.

  Lonely and helpless, even her closest husband doesn't love herself...

  Sometimes she can't help but sympathize with herself.

  ………

  At noon, Grandfather Jing Qingfeng returned. Sitting at the dinner table, his eyes scanned Gu Qianxun and Jing Yao with a stern gaze, seemingly already aware of what had happened. That one glance made both of them tense up, even Chen Yi beside them was too nervous to speak, only Jing Nanxu remained calm, eating his meal as if it didn't concern him.

  "Two days later, isn't it your two-year wedding anniversary?" Jing Qingfeng suddenly asked his son, leaving everyone stunned. Jing Nanxu said, "It's a meaningless day, I've never remembered it."

  Jing Yao burst out laughing, Gu Qian Xun's hand gripping the chopsticks tightened.

  Jing Qingfeng glared at him fiercely, then turned his gaze to Gu Qianxun, and immediately softened a lot. "I've booked a table for you at 'Sheng Shi'. Secretary Hu will arrange for the driver to pick you up later, don't be late."

  "Oh, thanks Dad." Glancing at Jing Nanxu's furrowed brow, Gu Qianxun responded lightly, her heart feeling bitter.

  She knew this was what her father-in-law had prepared in order to ease their marital relationship, only... she's afraid he'll be disappointed again.