"This is the dried plum my mother prepared for you. It can relieve morning sickness. But don't eat too much."
"You should eat one of these every day. Remember, you must eat it."
"These are some supplements. The instructions on how to consume them are written here. Remember not to take them out."
As Ye Zhinan spoke, she laid out a full table of items.
"Don't eat that food. It's unnutritious. Eat this instead."
Although Liu Ruonan had cooked for the whole family, her own meal was just a bowl of thin vegetable porridge. It was more like soup than porridge.
"I can't eat. So..."
Liu Ruonan looked nervously at the bowl on the table.
"Have an egg first. I know it might seem insensitive to say you have to eat whether you feel like it or not, but your body needs a lot of nourishment."
That day, Ye Zhinan took Liu Ruonan's blood for testing and found that she was severely anemic and her various physical indicators were not good.
So she brought folic acid, iron supplements, as well as some meat, eggs, and milk.
She watched as Liu Ruonan drank the milk, ate the egg, and took the folic acid and iron supplements. Only then did her complexion improve a bit.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and Granny Yan walked straight in.
Ye Zhinan was greatly annoyed.
Didn't this person even knock on the door?
"Ouch, you scared me. It's you, Granny! I thought a thief had broken in!"
Granny Yan's face darkened. "Do I need to knock when entering my own house? And this is my son's room."
"Well, it's also your daughter - in - law's."
Saying so, Ye Zhinan walked up to the old woman. The coldness in her eyes flashed by, and then she smiled with curved eyebrows. She pointed at the bed. "I've already made the bed for Ruonan so that she can sleep well with the baby."
She knew that Granny Yan was here to drive them out, so she spoke first.
"She has morning sickness! She'll dirty the room!"
Granny Yan shouted sternly.
Hearing this, Liu Ruonan was about to leave, but Ye Zhinan grabbed her.
"I've helped her sort things out. It should be okay. Also, morning sickness in pregnant women can be caused by improper diet. The smell of cooking oil can affect their appetite, and all these are not good for pregnant women. Of course, seeing your big family, you should be experienced. So don't eat what you shouldn't and don't do what you shouldn't!"
"Miss Ye, I respect you as the daughter of the Grand Tutor Ye, but you can't bully an old woman like me!"
Saying so, Granny Yan wiped away her tears.
Before Ye Zhinan could defend herself, a group of people rushed in from outside.
The leading woman was well - dressed, but her slanting eyebrows showed that she was not friendly.
"My mother has been treating you well. How could you turn out to be such an ungrateful person?!"
"It's Elder Sister of Master Yan."
Liu Ruonan hid behind Ye Zhinan and whispered.
The appearance of this married - off woman here was clearly pre - arranged.
Ye Zhinan didn't expect that before she could even start to find out what was going on, trouble had already come.
"Sister, which eye of yours saw me bullying anyone? I came to visit Sister Ruonan and brought some supplements. As for Granny Yan, you'd better go ask her yourself!"
"You～"
"Mother, Sister, it's all my fault. It has nothing to do with Sister Ye."
Liu Ruonan supported her belly and stood up shakily.
"Sister did bring me some things. I've already said that I'm well - fed and well - taken care of here, but Sister, as a doctor, has a kind heart and pities me. There's no other intention."
Ye Zhinan was extremely angry, but considering that Liu Ruonan still had to live in this family, she forced herself to suppress her temper and put on a fake smile.
"Yes, after practicing medicine for so many years, I just can't help but interfere in other people's business."
"Fine then. I'll take care of the things you brought. Our family has never lacked food or drink for you."
Granny Yan winked at the crowd, and a large group of people emptied the table.
If it weren't for Liu Ruonan holding Ye Zhinan's hand, she would have rushed up immediately.
After the people left, Ye Zhinan's eyes were full of pity and helplessness.
"I've seen through the true nature of this family in the past few days, but I'm just an outsider and can't say much. I do have one thing I want to ask you."
"Sister, just ask."
"Do you know that Yan Xuan is selling marinated food in the town?"
Liu Ruonan frowned, and a look of panic flashed across her eyes. "I... know!"
She lowered her head, not daring to look at Ye Zhinan. When she looked up again, Ye Zhinan's expression was surprisingly calm.
"I'm sorry."
"I don't mind. If his family doesn't do it, someone else will. But do you know what else he has done?"
Hearing this, Liu Ruonan looked extremely surprised. "What else has Master Yan done?"
"You don't know?"
Liu Ruonan shook her head firmly.
Ye Zhinan let out a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, she didn't know.
"Sister, has Master Yan done anything to let you down? I know that selling marinated food has already let you down, but something happened to the Yan family. As a daughter - in - law, I can't help, and I have no right to stop them. But if there's anything else, you must tell me!"
The once - clear eyes of Liu Ruonan were long gone. Now they were full of exhaustion and fear.
Ye Zhinan shook her head. "He hasn't done anything! But are you happy now?"
"Me?!"
Liu Ruonan lowered her eyes and was speechless.
After leaving, Ye Zhinan couldn't stop thinking about Liu Ruonan's tired face. Pregnancy was supposed to be the most glorious time for a woman, but there was no sign of it on her.
"Did you find out anything?"
Qin Yihuai walked out from the shadows and casually handed over a piece of maltose.
Ye Zhinan put the candy into her mouth.
The sweetness instantly filled her mouth. It was so sweet!
Then, her eyes dimmed again.
"Ruonan doesn't know anything, but that whole family must know something."
"I'm sorry. It was my oversight!"
A cold glint flashed across Qin Yihuai's eyes.
He had thoroughly investigated the Yan family and found that what he knew before was just the tip of the iceberg. The sordid things behind it could only be fully understood by investigating three generations back.
"I'm going to take care of her family's affairs! Even for the sake of the child!"
"Okay."
Qin Yihuai's simple "Okay" took care of everything for her.
The next day, Ye Zhinan was busy transplanting rice seedlings in the field when suddenly a familiar voice came.
"Sister Ye!"
She looked up and saw that it was Liu Ruonan.
Her face was full of tears. She supported her lower abdomen with both hands and gasped for breath. Her body trembled up and down with each breath.
"Why did you come here? What happened?"
Ye Zhinan said as she found a high place, spread some dry grass on it, and helped Liu Ruonan sit down.
"The Yan family is too bullying."
As soon as Liu Ruonan started to talk, her tears flowed even more.
It turned out that early in the morning, Yan Xuan had returned home. Liu Ruonan was extremely happy at first, but then he changed his gentle and refined demeanor and started scolding her.
He said that her family was a declining one trying to climb up, that the money her parents had was not worthy of what his family had paid, and that she had colluded with outsiders to frame the Yan family.
When Liu Ruonan was completely confused, Granny Yan threw all her things out and called her an unlucky star.
Of course, the things didn't include those Ye Zhinan had given.
Ye Zhinan was also confused. She hadn't done anything yet!