Liu Dalang’s serious tone made Tang An feel a little afraid. She nodded obediently, took the talisman, and put it on her chest. “Okay, don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

Liu Dalang was still worried. He placed his hands on Tang An’s shoulders and said word by word, “Remember, if there’s anything, let me know. Don’t hide it from me, understand?”

Tang An did not know what was going on. She had never seen Liu Dalang with such a serious expression before. She was a little afraid and nodded obediently. “I promise you.”

Hearing that, Liu Dalang heaved a sigh of relief. Perhaps he was just being paranoid and nothing would happen.

Seeing that Tang An had put the talisman away, Liu Dalang said, “Close the door and go back to sleep. I’m leaving.”

Liu Dalang did not alarm Tang Yuan. He climbed over the wall and left without alerting anyone.

However, what he did not know was that Tang Yuan was a light sleeper. He opened the door a crack and was peeping. Seeing that Liu Dalang left as soon as he gave something to Tang An, he heaved a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Liu Dalang would do something outrageous.

After Liu Dalang left, she closed the door shyly.

Tang An placed the talisman on her body. With the existence of this small talisman, she felt as comfortable as if she had been injected with a warm current.

She was looking forward to the future. Which woman did not want to marry a husband who would dote on her?

The things that the Liu family brought represented their love for her. Tang An thought that as Liu Dalang’s wife and eldest daughter-in-law, she would also repay the Liu family well in the future.

Tang An fell asleep with this anticipation.

However, next door at Tang Maosheng’s house, Tang Yu cried for the entire night.

The next morning, Madam Wu returned.

Madam Wu spat at the door not far away before entering.

When Tang Maosheng saw her return, he asked. “Where did you go last night?”

Madam Wu said, “I went to look for a way to help our daughter.”

Tang Yu got up when she heard Madam Wu’s voice. Her eyes were red from crying. “Mother, have you figured out a way yet?”

Madam Wu looked at Tang Yu with heartache. “Yu, have you been crying all night?”

Tang Yu nodded. “Mother, I can’t stand the thought of Tang An living a better life than me in the future. I like Liu Dalang too. I just want to marry him.”

Madam Wu patted the back of Tang Yu’s hand. “Yu, I already know what to do. It will definitely work.”

Tang Yu asked her impatiently. “Mother, tell me. What can I do?”

Only then did Madam Wu take out a small doll from her sleeve. It was made of cloth, and its eyes and mouth were blood-red, looking a little creepy.

Tang Yu asked her with a frown. “What’s this? What can it do?”

Madam Wu said, “This is a voodoo doll with Tang An’s name written on it. It can make her stomach grow big and look like she is pregnant. Do you think Liu Dalang will want to marry a woman who is pregnant before marriage?”

Tang Yu was stunned. “Can this doll make Tang An give birth?”

Madam Wu smiled. “She won’t really give birth. It will only make her stomach grow big as if she is pregnant.”

Tang Maosheng frowned. “Is there no other way? Isn’t this a little too evil? Tang An is still a little girl. What will others think of her in the future?”

Tang Maosheng could not bear to see her niece end up with a bad reputation. With a bad reputation, it would be impossible for her to get married.

Madam Wu said angrily, “Do you want your daughter to live a good life or Tang An? There’s only one Liu Dalang. Do you want your daughter to be a concubine?”

Tang Yu immediately said, “I don’t want to be a concubine.”

Tang Maosheng frowned. “You can’t do that. No matter what, she is my niece.”

Madam Wu snorted. “Think of another way if you can. If you have any good ideas, I’ll listen to you.”

Tang An and Liu Dalang were already engaged. Other than ruining Tang An, there was no way to separate them.

Madam Wu wiped the corners of her eyes. “Alright, if you don’t agree, just forget about it. I’m doing this for our daughter’s sake, but you speak like I’m some kind of evil person. Yu won’t be able to marry Liu Dalang anymore. With her stubborn personality, she’d definitely shave her head and become a nun in protest.”

Tang Maosheng looked at Madam Wu and said helplessly, “Alright, alright. I was wrong, alright? We’ll do as you say. When the time comes, we’ll help Tang An find another family.”

Tang Yu smiled. “Thank you, Father. I won’t forget you when I get married. I’ll bring back a lot of money.”

Tang Maosheng smiled. “Good girl.”

Madam Wu also smiled. “We have to do this quickly. Otherwise, the betrothal presents will be gone in no time.”

Tang Maosheng looked at the voodoo doll. “I’ll leave this to you. I have no clue what this thing is.”

Tang Yu was also a little afraid. The doll looked a little terrifying, so she did not dare to touch it.

Madam Wu said to Tang Yu, “Yu, you have to do it yourself. If you want to marry Liu Dalang, Tang An is your stumbling block. Granny Zhou said that if you drip blood on the doll’s stomach, Tang An will appear to be pregnant.”

Compared to this lifeless doll, Tang Yu was more afraid that Tang An would lead a better life than her.

Tang Yu bit her finger hard and made it bleed. It was very painful. She let the blood drip on the doll’s stomach and saw that its stomach had grown slightly bigger.

Tang Maosheng found the whole process to be strange and creepy.

Madam Wu said, “Granny Zhou didn’t lie. Sweetheart, now just wait for the good news.”

Tang Yu nodded, but no matter how much more blood she dripped on it, the doll’s stomach didn’t grow bigger any more.

Madam Wu seemed to be able to tell that Tang Yu was anxious. She smiled and said, “Yu, this can’t be rushed. Granny Zhou said that it takes ten months to get pregnant, but for this doll, it only takes ten days. In less than ten days, Tang An’s stomach will be as big as if she’s about to give birth.”

If anyone saw Tang An with a big stomach, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself.

When Tang Yu heard this, she bandaged her finger. No matter how anxious she was, she had no choice but to wait.