"You have a point, that's what worries me too, which is why I didn't commit to Aunt Xu's suggestion. I just offered a non-committal reply; regardless, since they brought it up, I have to give them some sort of answer. You ask Chen'er first, and tonight when your father gets back, we can discuss it with him and see what he thinks," said Madam Huang with a sigh.

Lin He nodded, and after a moment, remembering the factory relocation, she relayed Da Bao's proposal to Madam Huang. Madam Huang was quite in favor, saying, "Da Bao is absolutely right. Your father and I have actually talked about this before, but since you were young the past couple of years, we didn't take it seriously. Now we really must make haste and get this done. I imagine your father will agree. You start looking for a place on your end. In a few days, after we find a school for Xiao Bao, you younger ones can all move into town. Your father and I, being the old folks, will stay here and look after the house."

"Mother, aren't you coming to live in town with us? I think it's better for the family to be together. You and Father aren't young anymore; it’s time for you to enjoy life. The fields here and the laborers are all managed. Why don't you just come to town with us? It’s much happier when the whole family is together. People live next door in town too; once you get used to it after living there a while, it won’t feel so deserted," Lin He said with a smile.

"I know you are filial, He'er, but your father and I have lived in Lin Family Village our whole lives. All our relatives are here. They say fallen leaves return to their roots; the older one gets, the harder it is to leave the place one has lived in for a lifetime. Besides, your father definitely won't agree to go to town. He has farmed his whole life and regards these fields as his lifeblood. What would you have a simple man like him do in town? He doesn't know business, nor does he know how to enjoy the luxuries of the wealthy. He’d suffocate there. You younger ones go ahead. If nothing major happens here at home, I might occasionally go stay with you for a few months," Madam Huang replied, smiling.

Lin He knew this was true; Mother was entirely right—Father certainly wouldn't agree to live in town long-term. Persuading him was impossible, so she finally just had to nod in agreement.

Madam Huang was quiet for a moment, then said, "However, He'er, when you go to town, take Da Xiong and Xiao Xiong with you. They aren't little anymore; it’s time they started schooling in town. Children really need more education. Look at our Xiao Bao; he seems different from the other children in the village. Take the two younger ones with you and teach them well."

Lin He nodded. Even if Mother hadn't mentioned it, she was planning to discuss it with her. Da Xiong and Xiao Xiong would be almost five by the end of the year, and it was time for them to start studying. Since the family had a residence in town, it was better to send them there for school; it saved them the trouble of walking such a long distance to Huayu Town.

"It’s just that with such a large house, once you younger ones leave, it will indeed be quiet here. And your father is away daily. I plan to let Caiqing go with you to town to look after Da Xiong and Xiao Xiong. If I’m left alone here, I’ll be terribly bored. I used to have the fields to tend, but now I’m not even allowed to do fieldwork anymore," Madam Huang added later with a sigh.

Lin He looked helplessly at her mother. It always circled back to herself. She didn't know what her mother truly wanted. Are elderly people always this contradictory, unable to let go of one thing while reluctant to abandon another? Truly frustrating.

The mother and daughter chatted in the courtyard for quite a while. When noon arrived, Madam Huang took the maid to prepare lunch. Chen'er also returned from playing outside. Lin He watched the girl, her hair sweaty from exertion, thinking that this girl didn't look like a sensible young lady at all. She wondered if she could even explain the matter clearly to her.

Lin He called Chen'er into the room, gathering her thoughts on how to approach the conversation. After thinking for a while, she began, "Chen'er, you are twelve this year, not young anymore. You know that, right? Eldest Sister has something important to tell you."

"Eldest Sister, are you going to lecture me again about being more sensible, buying fewer things, and studying more? I haven't bought anything recently, and I follow you diligently with the embroidery every day. I’ve been behaving well, aren't you satisfied?" Chen'er pouted.

"You silly girl, you’re dull-witted, but your tongue is sharp. I only said one sentence, and you have so much to say. Today is not about that; there’s something else I want to ask you," Lin He said, tapping Chen'er's head lightly.

"Oh, it’s not about that? Then what is it?" Chen'er touched her head and asked curiously.

"Well, it’s like this. Mother thinks you’re getting older and wants to arrange a marriage engagement for you sooner rather than later, so you can settle down," Lin He said, deliberately testing the waters.

"An engagement? Why arrange an engagement so early? You and Big Brother were engaged around fourteen or fifteen. I don't want to be engaged this early! Tell Mother I refuse; even if she arranges it, I won't agree," Chen'er stated quite firmly.

"I haven't even said who it is, and you're already refusing. Maybe it’s someone you actually like?" Lin He watched Chen'er intently, trying to gauge if the girl had developed any awareness regarding such matters.

Upon hearing Lin He's words, Chen'er's face flushed slightly, looking somewhat shy. After a moment, she responded, "No matter who it is, I don't want an engagement this early. Just tell Mother I refuse; I definitely won't like anyone Mother chooses."

"Oh? Then whose choice would you like? Could it be that you already have someone specific in mind? Who is it? Does Eldest Sister know him? Tell me," Lin He teased Chen'er.

Chen'er looked at Lin He, stomped her foot, and said, "Eldest Sister, you are making fun of me! I don't have anyone in mind right now. Regardless, I refuse to be engaged. Just remember to tell Mother that. I’m hungry; I’m going to the kitchen to eat." Chen'er finished and ran off.

Lin He watched Chen'er leave and fell into deep thought. When she had asked her last time, Chen'er seemed completely clueless, naive. Today, however, she knew how to blush. But Lin He couldn't figure out if the blushing shyness came from understanding such things and feeling embarrassed, or if she genuinely had someone she favored.

To be honest, if Chen'er did have someone in mind, Lin He thought the most likely candidates would be Ergouzi and Wen Ningmo, as they were close to Chen'er's age and frequently interacted with her. If it were Ergouzi, the matter would be simple. If it were Wen Ningmo, however, the trouble would be immense.

Now that she herself was engaged to Wen Ningxuan, she was effectively a future daughter-in-law of the Wen family, yet the Wen family members seemed barely accepting of her, even holding a degree of disdain. If something were to happen between Chen'er and Wen Ningmo, the obstacles would likely grow even larger. Setting aside Wen Ningmo’s own attitude, Madam Wen alone would fiercely oppose it.