Qingshan originally intended to ignore Song Yuemei and leave, but she grabbed him. Hearing Song Yuemei bring up her brothers again stirred a sudden anger in Qingshan. He spun around and slapped Song Yuemei across the face, saying, “Don’t you know why I wanted to send Dongyu to Mother? Did you really think I forgot about what happened when Dongyu gave birth a few years ago? Seeing that it was just another girl, we chose not to press the issue to avoid turning our home into a battlefield. If we had pursued it back then, would you even be standing here now? I was trying to save your face, but you insist on rejecting it. And you dare bring up your dimwitted brothers as if I’m afraid of them? Let me tell you, if you ever threaten to call on those brothers of yours again for anything, I’ll kick you out immediately.”

Song Yuemei was stunned by Qingshan’s slap; she had never imagined he would ever strike her. When they first married, her relationship with Qingshan was quite good; he practically cherished her. Later, after childbirth, a knot remained in her heart because of the birthing experience, and their feelings weren't as warm as before. However, Qingshan was usually considerate. After he took Dongyu as a secondary wife, his affection for Song Yuemei certainly waned, and he sometimes became impatient, but he had never raised a hand. Today, striking her with a slap—this was something Song Yuemei truly couldn't fathom.

Once she recovered, however, Song Yuemei burst into tears and wailed, “Qingshan, how could you do this? How could you hit me? I threw away my reputation just to marry you! After marrying you, I nearly died giving birth. I was in agonizing pain inside, and you were outside talking about wanting a son over a daughter. Even so, I never said anything about it. For years, I’ve managed everything for this household, and today you lay a hand on me?”

Hearing Song Yuemei bring up that matter did indeed bring a wave of guilt to Qingshan. At that time, he had been cornered by his own mother’s insistence and finally agreed to her suggestion. He always assumed Song Yuemei didn't know about it, never imagining she was fully aware and would bring it up now.

“When I married you, you spoke of how wonderful your family was. After I came here, all we had were a few mud-walled houses, nothing else. Your mother constantly made things difficult for me. For the sake of your single plea—‘Just be more patient with my mother’—I endured every slight without causing a scene. After Maomao was born, we didn’t have enough money to build a house, and I borrowed from everyone, never asking you to bear hardship. Could we have the life we have now without me? When you married Dongyu, I asked your mother for ten taels of silver, claiming it was for my maternal family, but I kept it all myself. Otherwise, how do you think the house was built? All these years, your clothing, food, and daily needs have been managed by me, and every penny was spent on you and Maomao. And you still hold onto that incident? You truly have no conscience,” Song Yuemei continued to weep.

“Yuemei, I…” Qingshan began, then trailed off, unsure of what to say.

“Qingshan, they say a hundred days of kindness come from a single day as husband and wife. I haven’t borne a son for the Lin family all these years, and I’ve certainly made mistakes, but weren’t they all for the sake of our home? I have always been loyal to you, but how have you treated me? When you married Dongyu, and the two of you were intimately whispering in the room, did you think I felt no pain? When I was at my maternal home, there were many suitors, but I defied my family’s objections to marry you. Think about what you have done over the years! And today, you treat me like this,” Song Yuemei cried louder and louder.

Qingshan looked at Song Yuemei weeping heartbrokenly. He walked forward a couple of steps and raised his hand, intending to comfort her. But Song Yuemei flinched back two steps, assuming he was about to strike her again, and continued, “When Dongyu was giving birth, neither of you were there. Dongyu claimed I caused it, and you believed her. You don’t believe me. Then why keep me here? What’s the point if I’m treated worse than a concubine?”

Whether Song Yuemei was truly overcome with grief or for some other reason, after saying these words, she suddenly went limp and collapsed onto the floor. Maomao, seeing her mother fall, immediately burst into tears, shouting, “Mother, don’t die! Father, don’t let Mother die!”

Qingshan was startled and immediately picked up Song Yuemei, placing her on the bed. He pinched her philtrum, but there was no response. Thankfully, he could feel a breath. Qingshan hurried to Old Madam He’s house, explained Song Yuemei’s condition, asked her to look after her for a while, and said he would fetch a physician. Old Madam He cursed from the side, “That’s just one of that bitch Song Yuemei’s old tricks, fainting or falling ill at a moment’s notice. If she really dies one day, it will be a blessing. Why bother with a physician? It’s a waste of money. Just force some ginger soup down her throat; she’ll wake up soon enough.”

Qingshan felt this was improper; if something serious had happened, it would be terrible. He insisted that Old Madam He watch over her while he went to find a physician. Old Madam He arrived at Song Yuemei’s courtyard, saw Maomao crying nearby, ignored the child, and entered Song Yuemei’s room. Seeing Song Yuemei lying motionless on the bed, she spoke regardless of whether Song Yuemei was awake: “If you’re fine, stop lying paralyzed on the bed. Get up quickly.”

This time, Song Yuemei was genuinely unconscious; she remained completely still on the bed, showing no reaction even when Old Madam He pinched her hand. Only then did Old Madam He believe Song Yuemei had truly fainted. She went outside to comfort Maomao and waited for Qingshan to return with the physician.

Qingshan returned with the physician, who took Song Yuemei’s pulse and announced with great cheer, “Congratulations, young mistress is pregnant! She fainted because she was overly stimulated and became acutely agitated, but there is nothing serious. She will wake soon. I will prescribe some medicine to stabilize the fetus.”

Old Madam He looked skeptical and asked, “Doctor, are you certain you didn’t check the wrong pulse? Is she really pregnant?”

“I wouldn't misread a pulse; rest assured,” the physician replied with a smile.

“What a coincidence! Dongyu said she was pregnant two days ago, and now Song Yuemei is also expecting? Did you two conspire beforehand to trick me?” Old Madam He muttered to herself. If the physician and Qingshan hadn't been in the room, given Old Madam He’s demeanor, she probably would have lifted Song Yuemei’s clothes to check for herself.

The physician’s expression darkened slightly. He thought this family was unusual. Normally, a daughter-in-law’s pregnancy was cause for great celebration, yet they spoke with such suspicion, as if they wished the pregnancy were false. Truly, the world contains all sorts of people. However, the physician took his fee and left, naturally not engaging with Old Madam He.

Qingshan was quite happy to hear Song Yuemei was pregnant. Hearing Old Madam He’s words, he frowned slightly and said, “Mother, what are you saying? I invited this physician. How could we have arranged it beforehand? Besides, why shouldn’t Yuemei be pregnant? This is good news! Why are you saying all these things?”