Prosperous Marriage: Married to My Brother-in-law

However, before she could walk out the door, Mila Anderson called out to her.

She had to stop and turn around, smiling as Mila Anderson approached. "Mom, is there something you need?"

Mila Anderson glanced at Julia Bluen's office attire and then at the handbag she was holding. "Julia, come over here," she said, her tone flat.

Julia Bluen didn't know what her mother-in-law wanted to say, but since Mila had asked, she had no choice but to walk over.

Mila Anderson returned to the sofa and sat down. On the coffee table in front of her was a bowl of dark, murky herbal medicine, exuding a pungent aroma. Tiny bits of herb residue floated on top, and a wisp of steam indicated it had likely been sitting there for a while. Julia Bluen, having finished breakfast and eager to leave, hadn't noticed the bowl at all. No wonder I smelled medicinal herbs when I came out of the small dining room, she thought. I even thought I'd imagined it.

"Mom, what is it?" Julia Bluen sat down amiably opposite Mila Anderson and asked with concern, "Mom, whose medicine is this? Are you feeling unwell?" She assumed the herbal medicine was for Mila Anderson and suddenly felt like an unqualified daughter-in-law. I didn't even know my mother-in-law was sick. How unfilial of me, she thought.

I must pay more attention to the family's health in the future, Julia Bluen resolved.

To her surprise, Mila Anderson pushed the bowl of herbal medicine towards Julia Bluen. Her voice was unusually gentle as she said, "Julia, my mahjong friends told me they have a family secret recipe. They say if a woman drinks this medicine, she's more likely to get pregnant, and it's guaranteed to be a boy. I specifically asked them for the recipe, personally went to the pharmacy to get the herbs, and had someone brew it for you first thing this morning. The temperature is just right now. Drink it quickly."

Julia Bluen stared, slightly stunned, at the bowl of dark, murky medicine. This is for me to drink? A family secret recipe? A secret recipe guaranteed to produce sons? If such a recipe truly existed, would there even be women in this world? She believed whether one had a boy or a girl was determined at the moment of conception. Even if there were such a secret recipe for having sons, she wouldn't want to drink it. If she were to get pregnant, she wanted it to happen naturally. She actually wanted a daughter; daughters are so considerate.

"Mom, we can't really put too much faith in this sort of thing. It's not very scientific," Julia Bluen said with a slight laugh, not reaching for the bowl.

"Exactly! This kind of so-called family secret recipe isn't safe," Gian Horne interjected, his tone laced with disapproval and slight irritation. He then looked at Julia Bluen kindly and said, "Julia, don't listen to her. She's been fooled. How can you casually take medicine that hasn't been approved by a doctor? All medicines have some level of toxicity. What if it harms your health?"

"How can you say it makes no sense? My mahjong friend drank this exact medicine and had three sons in a row! Julia, I told you to stop working and stay home to have children for Glades. That way, I can have grandchildren and not be so bored. But you won't listen to me; you insist on working. Fine, I can't stop you from working, at least not before you're six months pregnant if you really want to. But you can't not have children! Look, you and Glades have been married for over a month. There should be some news by now. Be a good girl, listen to Mom, and drink this herbal medicine."

Hearing Julia Bluen dismiss the herbal medicine as useless, Mila Anderson felt a surge of displeasure. However, she managed to suppress her anger and continued to gently coax Julia.

Upon hearing Gian Horne's words, Mila immediately turned her head and glared at him. "I'm talking to my daughter-in-law. What business is it of yours?" she said sarcastically. "If you want to care for a daughter-in-law so much, then have your James find one so you can fuss over her every day!"

"What kind of talk is that?" Gian Horne's expression darkened further. "Julia is my daughter-in-law too. Mila, no matter how much you dislike James, he's still my other son. He and Glades are both the apple of my eye; I care for them both. Everything has been given to Glades now, so what more are you dissatisfied about?" Is she acting up like this just because I've been spending time with Pheobe Rogers these past few days? he wondered.

Mila spends all day playing mahjong and gambling. I can't stand being with her for long, he thought. Deep down, I still prefer being with Pheobe Rogers. Yes, I know I've wronged Mila. But it's been decades. Hasn't she made enough of a fuss?

"Dad," Julia Bluen quickly interjected, sensing the rising tension. Oh dear, she thought, her heart sinking. Everyone envies me for marrying into the Horne family, but it's not as wonderful as people imagine. Thankfully, my husband is the best. He's the reason I'm willing to try and fit into this large family and face all these challenges I've never experienced before.

Gian Horne didn't say more. He stood up angrily, clearly unwilling to argue with his wife in front of their daughter-in-law.

"I'm going to get some breakfast." With that, he left the main hall.

Once he left, Mila Anderson's anger subsided. Her gaze returned to Julia Bluen and the bowl of supposed son-producing herbal concoction.

Julia Bluen felt her scalp tingle under that stare. If my mother-in-law brings up having children every other day, I'll definitely go insane, she thought.

"Mom, it's not that I don't want to have children. Glades and I have discussed it, and we've decided to let nature take its course," Julia Bluen explained patiently. Who even made the rule that you have to show signs of pregnancy a month after marriage? Many couples these days wait a year or two before having children. I'm not taking any birth control, and Glades isn't taking precautions either. We're truly leaving it up to fate.

My mother-in-law is being far too impatient. She got pregnant right after her honeymoon; does she expect everyone to do the same?

"Then let me ask you, have you been taking any pills to prevent pregnancy?" Mila Anderson questioned, her tone chilling slightly.

"Mom, I haven't been taking any pills. Taking that kind of medication frequently isn't good for one's health, and besides, it can become ineffective if overused." My mother-in-law is being so difficult about this childbearing issue, Julia Bluen thought sincerely. She must be incredibly bored to be constantly fixated on my stomach. Even the old madam doesn't stare at my belly like this!