For so many years, it began with constant quarrels with the mother-in-law, then a divergence of heart with the husband. Just as these issues seemed resolved, Dongyu started causing trouble again. With some difficulty, the relationship with Dongyu had improved slightly, and the mother-in-law had also changed during this period, no longer seeking fault. They had enjoyed a period of relative happiness; how could things have devolved to this point again?

Happiness was truly too fleeting, and she was utterly exhausted—tired in body and spirit. Given this, perhaps separating was the better course. She could take the child and live her life peacefully. Returning to her parents' home, though life might be hard, her mother and father wouldn't simply abandon her. In short, she truly could not bear to live like this any longer.

Yue Mei wept harder, her heart aching as if being flayed by a knife, piece by piece. Beside her, Maomao watched his mother cry, hugging her tightly and saying, "Mother, don't cry. Where does it hurt? Maomao will blow on it for you."

Yue Mei pulled her daughter into her arms and finally broke down, sobbing aloud. Hearing Song Yuemei's cries, Qing Shan next door felt his heart twist in agony. He looked at Dongyu, lying pale as paper on the bed. The strong, coppery smell of blood from a recent childbirth still hung heavy in the room. He didn't know why their household was plagued by so many troubles, where the core problem truly lay. Qing Shan nervously plucked at his hair again and again; he, too, was weary of such a life. Truly exhausted.

Sitting by, Old Madam He felt truly uncomfortable seeing her son so distressed. Hesitantly, she spoke, "Qing Shan, perhaps we should just let it go. Yue Mei agreed too. Go ask the clan elder for the separation papers. If Song Yuemei is willing to let us keep the child in her belly, we will raise it; if not, let her take it. Our Lin family wants no such daughter-in-law."

"Mother, you mean I should divorce Yue Mei? But this matter hasn't been fully clarified yet. What if it wasn't Yue Mei who did it? Besides, Yue Mei is carrying a child..." Qing Shan couldn't finish his sentence.

"Qing Shan, don't let your affection for Yue Mei bias you. Think carefully. If she didn't do this, who did? There are only a few people in this house. I am your mother, the child's grandmother; how could I possibly do such a thing? Maomao is so small, and your father is never home. Would Dongyu harm her own child? If Song Yuemei didn't do it, then who did?" Old Madam He calmly reasoned with Qing Shan.

"Mother, while what you say has logic, I still feel it wasn't Yue Mei. If she intended to act, she could have done so long ago. Why wait until today? There were so many other opportunities."

"She didn't have the opportunity previously. Considering the last incident, I kept a close watch on her when there was nothing else going on, and I cooked the meals myself—nothing happened. Only for this brief moment today, Song Yuemei must have seized an opportunity to act. Don't forget what happened with Dongyu last time. Everyone said Dongyu's current pregnancy is a boy, and Yue Mei's might be another girl. Think about it, if Dongyu gives birth to a son, could Yue Mei still hold any sway in this house? She would certainly make a move," Old Madam He grew more convinced as she spoke that Song Yuemei was responsible.

"And she admitted it herself just now. I originally intended to wait until after she delivered, but the more I think about it, this kind of vicious daughter-in-law, our Lin family wants nothing to do with her. Harming her own family members repeatedly—I fear that even if she gives birth to a son, that son won't be any good either. That's why I've decided firmly to divorce her. You are still young, and the debt we owe your second uncle's family is almost paid off. Things will improve in the household later, and finding a good wife again certainly won't be difficult," Old Madam He continued to persuade him.

"Mother, I..." Qing Shan became somewhat hesitant, swayed by Old Madam He's words. She hadn't resorted to shouting; instead, she presented her points with grace, and Qing Shan felt that what his mother said wasn't entirely unreasonable. His resolve began to waver.

Although Qing Shan was wavering, he hadn't made a final decision. It wasn't until the next morning when Dongyu awoke and began crying profusely to Qing Shan, embellishing the story of lunch. She claimed that while she was in the courtyard, she had indeed seen Song Yuemei putting something into the fish soup. She hadn't paid much attention at the time, thinking that Yue Mei had been very kind to her lately and wouldn't harm her.

Hearing this, Old Madam He hurried into the kitchen. She rummaged around and, inexplicably, found a small piece of paper used to wrap medicine. She smelled it, and whether she discerned anything or not, she was convinced it was abortifacient herbs, declaring it was the paper Song Yuemei used to wrap the medicine.

Dongyu's expression shifted when she saw the paper in Old Madam He's hand. Upon hearing her mother-in-law's statement, she quickly echoed her words. The two women’s stories became increasingly aligned, until Dongyu finally asserted that she saw Song Yuemei drop the medicine wrapped in that very paper into the pot.

Old Madam He had already supported divorcing Song Yuemei, and upon seeing this paper and hearing Dongyu's words, she became even more resolute. Even Da Jiang, who had remained silent, agreed to divorce Song Yuemei. Qing Shan hadn't given a clear answer, still feeling reluctant, saying only that he needed time to think.

With this in mind, Qing Shan returned to Song Yuemei's room. He found her already awake, sitting by the bedside with Maomao, two large bundles packed beside her. Seeing Qing Shan return, she asked coldly, "You've made up your mind, haven't you? But I've just made up mine. I will not agree to be divorced, but I am willing to separate by mutual consent. If I am divorced, my child will be looked down upon later. I don't care about myself, but I cannot let my child suffer."

Seeing Song Yuemei like this, Qing Shan grew angry too, saying, "What, are you guilty? Are you in a hurry for a mutual separation because you're afraid we'll hold you accountable?"

"I've said what I needed to say. I heard everything your family discussed last night. Though I, Song Yuemei, may not understand grand principles, I certainly won't cling to your Lin family or to you, Qing Shan. At worst, I'll live the rest of my life alone; I have hands and feet and won't starve to death," Song Yuemei said to Qing Shan very calmly.

"Yue Mei, I'll ask you one more time: did you do this?" Qing Shan inquired.

"Haven't you already made your decision? Even if I say I didn't do it, you wouldn't believe me. If you need a reason to divorce me, then use this as your reason," Song Yuemei replied to Qing Shan mournfully.

"Then you admit you did it. Fine. You want a separation; I will go to the clan elder's house now to get the separation papers." Qing Shan turned around and walked out.

Qing Shan was gone for a while and returned saying the clan elder was not home, so the separation papers couldn't be secured immediately. However, he produced a paper stamped with his own thumbprint for Song Yuemei to see, stating that once the clan elder returned, he would affix his seal. Qing Shan then handed the document to Song Yuemei. She took the paper, gave Qing Shan a cold smile, and said, "This counts as the separation document then. I am finally free of your Lin family. From now on, I have nothing to do with you Lin family, and we will never cross paths again. My child is mine too; since your mother never intended to keep her anyway, once the child is gone, nothing will stand in the way of you remarrying."

After speaking, Song Yuemei took Maomao and the few bundles she had packed and walked toward the door. As she passed the courtyard, Da Jiang and Old Madam He were there. Old Madam He remained silent upon seeing Song Yuemei, but Da Jiang spoke up, "Yue Mei, if you are unwilling to take Maomao, we are willing to keep her here. We two elders will certainly take good care of her; you don't need to worry."

Song Yuemei looked at Da Jiang and said calmly, "Father, this is the last time I will call you that. Since I came to your Lin family, you have never scolded me. In this house, you are the only one who has never wronged me, and I have always respected you. I will take Maomao with me. If you wish to see her, I will not stop you." Having said this, Song Yuemei bowed to Da Jiang and left without looking back, taking Maomao with her.

Watching Song Yuemei depart like that, Da Jiang felt deeply unsettled. Honestly, at this moment, he felt the family had been too ruthless. Perhaps they truly shouldn't have divorced Yue Mei so quickly, but it was too late to think of that now. Da Jiang lingered in the courtyard for a moment, feeling agitated. He told Old Madam He a few words and then went back up to the small hill to resume his work.