Gu Qingyao smiled brightly. “Mother, how have you been at Grandmother's house? Grandmother has been very good to you lately! When you went back previously, Grandmother always made you do a lot of work. In fact, you did everything. But I heard recently that Grandmother has been treating you very well and you don't have to do anything. All you have to do is rest and take care of yourself. Is that right? That's wonderful!”

The older women all turned to look at Zhang Xiaohui when they heard that. All of them looked curious and a few of the sharper ones glanced at her stomach.

Old Madam Zhang was a mean old woman. This was strange.

She previously treated Zhang Xiaohui like a coolie, summoning her all the time, and ordering her around like a maid. Zhang Xiaohui never had a break when she was at her mother's house.

She did the laundry, cooked, and took care of the children every day. Then she swept the yard and took care of the entire family's every need. But strangely enough, Zhang Xiaohui did it willingly.

The older women did not approve, but at the same time, they could not help but admire Old Madam Zhang's ability to raise such an obedient daughter.

But as Gu Qingyao said, Old Madam Zhang seemed to have turned over a new leaf recently, and was suddenly very nice to Zhang Xiaohui.

She did not allow Zhang Xiaohui to do anything. The latter merely sauntered around the house all day. Zhang Xiaohui had even been going around boasting that her mother doted on her!

It was unbelievable!

More importantly, they heard that Zhang Xiaohui had been seen vomiting. It was almost as if she was pregnant!

Although there was nothing amiss in what Gu Qingyao said, Zhang Xiaohui could not help feeling uneasy when she saw Gu Qingyao's brilliant smile. But she could not be bothered to deal with Gu Qingyao. She only wanted to break away from the Gu family as soon as possible.

“Where's your father? Make him hurry home. It's almost the new year, why isn't he back yet?”

Gu Qingyao continued to smile, “Mother, you're finally missing Father! I've been missing him for a long time. He's been away for more than two months, but you haven't mentioned him until now. I thought you didn't miss him!”

Everyone around them p.r.i.c.ked up their ears. They looked at Gu Qingyao's pretty and naive face and shook their heads. Poor child!

Zhang Xiaohui was rather short-tempered and impatient of late, and she grew irritable when Gu Qingyao did not answer her question. “I asked you when your father is coming back. No, in fact, ask him to hurry back. It's almost the new year, why is he still lingering outside? Ask him to hurry up and come home.”

Gu Qingyao said, “Father has no time to come back! Fourth Elder Brother sent a letter saying that he still has unfinished matters. The leaders want Father to stay for a little longer and help the patients there! He thinks it will be a few more months before Father is back! Possibly not until the start of spring next year.”

“What?” Zhang Xiaohui immediately screamed. “The start of spring next year?”

Gu Qingyao was shocked. She said with a quiver, “Ye-yes! Father cannot possibly refuse to help in this situation. Father has to go along with their arrangements! Father is a doctor, surely he can't keep his patients waiting?”

The start of spring was next year, and based on what Gu Qingyao said, it would be a few more months before Gu Yunshen was back. How could she wait that long?

By then, she would obviously be pregnant and everyone would know that this was not Gu Yunshen's child. Improper relations.h.i.+ps between a man and a woman would be punished.

“Impossible!” Zhang Xiaohui screamed. “Hurry up and make your father come back!”

Her ferocious expression made Gu Qingyao jump. She turned pale and shrank back when Zhang Xiaohui shouted at her.

When the older ladies around saw what was going on, Aunt Lin, who was rather hot-tempered said, “Why are you shouting at the child for no reason? She hasn't done anything to offend you!”