When Zhou shi heard Huang shi speak, she also replied with worry, "Yes, that's what I was afraid of, so..."

Lin He, standing nearby, knew her mother intended to settle things properly, and discussing it with Grandmother would be easier. However, Lin He also worried that Zhou shi's resolve wasn't very firm; if she met further obstacles, she might retreat. So Lin He interjected, "Mother, Third Sister, I think we shouldn't worry about these matters now, nor rush them in the next few days. Let Third Sister focus on recovering her health first. Moreover, it’s best not to mention this to Grandmother for a few days; she’s still quite angry. It would be better to wait a while longer."

Huang shi nodded, finding Lin He’s advice very sound. She said, "Yes, let's not trouble ourselves with these bothersome things for now. You rest up for a few days. Don't go to the balm workshop these days either. Nothing else is a major issue; we are all here to help you. Just put your heart at ease and don't worry about this matter."

Zhou shi nodded. Huang shi and the others stayed for nearly the entire afternoon. By the time it was nearly dark, Xiao Shan had returned from outside, and Xiao Yun had come back from Lin He's house on her own. After exchanging a few words with Lin He and the others, they all headed back.

At Zhou shi's house, once Xiao Shan and Xiao Yun returned, they both stayed by their mother's bedside. Xiao Yun was clearly still quite frightened that something might happen to Zhou shi and refused to leave her side. Xiao Shan was a bit calmer, though he said to Zhou shi, "Mother, don't do anything foolish again. You scared us all to death today."

Zhou shi's nose tingled, and she pulled both children into an embrace, saying with a choked voice, "It was Mother's fault today. I momentarily lost my way. I promise you both that I will never do such a foolish thing again, no matter how big the trouble, I won't. As long as you are by my side, I must live on well."

Only after hearing their mother's assurance did Xiao Shan and Xiao Yun relax, their expressions softening. Xiao Shan went to the kitchen, reheated the food left over from noon, and brought it out. The family of three ate a simple meal. Afterward, they engaged in casual conversation, and the children's moods became much lighter. Xiao Yun incessantly told Zhou shi amusing stories about their time at Chen'er sister's house and showed Zhou shi the little trinkets Chen'er had given her. Zhou shi listened with a smile.

Later, Zhou shi spoke somewhat seriously to the two children. "Xiao Shan, Xiao Yun, you must remember that our family's survival relies entirely on the help of your Second Uncle. When you grow up, you must show them deep filial piety. Whatever they need us to do, we must do it well, no matter how difficult it is for us. They have helped us and supported us time and again. Since our family is poor and has little to offer in return, you must remember this kindness. When you have the chance to repay it later, you absolutely must."

Xiao Shan and Xiao Yun nodded vigorously. Xiao Shan was already a big boy and understood such things. Over these years, besides their mother and sister, Second Uncle's family was the closest to them. When he grew up and could work, he definitely wanted to repay Second Uncle well.

Xiao Yun was younger. Though she didn't understand things as clearly as Xiao Shan, she knew who treated her well. She often played at Second Uncle's house when she was free, and she recognized that Second Uncle and Second Aunt's family treated her kindly.

Seeing how sensible the children were, a wave of comfort washed over Zhou shi. Thinking of the counsel Huang shi and the others had given her that afternoon, she looked at her children and tentatively began, "Xiao Shan, you are grown up now. You know a bit about what happened to your mother this time. If Mother were truly as others say, would you blame me?"

Although Xiao Shan was eleven and could manage many things, he didn't grasp what Zhou shi was asking immediately and looked at her in confusion, remaining silent.

Seeing Xiao Shan’s expression, Huang shi became more direct. "It's like this: your Second Aunt and the others came today to persuade me, saying that if we could find a suitable person, to find you a father to look after you—would you be willing?"

Huang shi's words were quite blunt, and Xiao Shan understood. In truth, when his father passed away, he was only four or five; he barely remembered what his father looked like and held no particularly deep affection for him. He only saw that other children had fathers while he and his sister did not, and sometimes he was teased by other children outside, making him occasionally wish he had a father.

For a time, Xiao Shan had strongly opposed his mother finding him a stepfather. When he was little, he constantly heard Grandmother whispering in his ear, warning him never to let Mother find a second father, or else Mother would abandon them, leave them, and they would become children without parents. For those two years, he was terribly afraid his mother would leave or do something else. Fortunately, no one brought up the matter during those years. But now that Xiao Shan had grown up and understood more, he no longer dwelled on that. He also saw that his mother worked much harder than most people, constantly busy from dawn till dusk. Now, he felt it would be good if someone could come home to help Mother share some of the burden. Moreover, recently he had overheard talk about that Uncle Li Ping and his mother. Xiao Shan knew this Uncle Li; he had even done work for their family before. He felt that if this uncle became his father, he wouldn't object. Then Mother wouldn't have to be so exhausted, and no one would dare bully him anymore.

With this thought, Xiao Shan broke into a smile toward Zhou shi and said, "Mother, as long as you are happy about this matter, neither my sister nor I have any objections. We hope you can find someone to come back and look after us, to help share some of your burdens so you don't have to be so tired."

Xiao Yun looked vaguely at her brother and nodded along beside him. The tightly wound spring in Zhou shi’s heart finally relaxed. With the support of her son and daughter, she truly could make up her mind. She stopped thinking about everything else. Zhou shi nodded, her eyes brimming with tears, and pulled both children to her chest, saying, "Having the two of you, my children, is the greatest blessing of my life."

The family of three held each other tightly, their hearts drawn very close. Over the years, although the mother and children had depended on each other, never had a moment felt as intimate as this one.

Meanwhile, Huang shi and Lin He returned home. Zhao shi was surprisingly still waiting there and hadn't left. Seeing Huang shi return, she wanted to ask something, but after opening her mouth, she held back. It was Er Niu who asked, "I just got back and heard the news. How is the Third Daughter-in-law? Is she alright?"

Huang shi said, "She's fine, Mother, don't worry. Everything is alright now."

"I wasn't worried! I knew it was just her usual tricks. They are all the same. Do they think threats like this can scare me? If they had the guts to die one or two times, maybe I’d believe it. This thunder with little rain—what does it amount to?" Zhao shi had actually been a little worried at first. Seeing that Huang shi hadn't returned for so long, she had asked Chen'er, who couldn't explain clearly, only saying she was lying down somewhere. She knew Zhou shi wasn't dead, but she genuinely worried if she had been injured somewhere. Now hearing Huang shi say this, she felt relieved, but her mouth became sharp again.