As Chen'er entered the room, she saw her mother weeping miserably while still trying to pack things, and she rushed in immediately, anxiously asking, "Mother, what's wrong? What are you doing?"

Seeing Chen'er arrive, the Matriarch Huang finally had someone to vent to. She tossed a pile of clothes aside, grabbed Chen'er's hand, and tearfully said, "Chen'er, I'm going back soon. You should come back with me. From now on, you'll be the only one accompanying me. What use are sons, what use are husbands? They are all unreliable."

Chen'er was bewildered by her mother's words, wondering if Father had angered her. Just as she was about to ask, Matriarch Huang pulled her along and recounted everything that had happened at noon, then continued, "Chen'er, tell me, how have I treated your sister-in-law since she married into the family? I've waited on her hand and foot with the best food and drink, never making her lift a finger for household chores. Even because she couldn't bear a child, I never threatened to do anything drastic to her. A mother-in-law can only do so much, right?"

"It's been so long now, and the doctor confirmed she absolutely cannot conceive. It's reasonable for me to suggest your elder brother take a concubine. Everything I do is for the good of this household, for your elder brother's good. Yet, your father and brother say I was wrong. Tell me, where did I go wrong?"

Listening to Matriarch Huang, Chen'er sighed. She was somewhat aware of the family's troubles; they hadn't kept the matter from her when discussing it. Truthfully, Chen'er felt her mother wasn't entirely wrong, though her sister-in-law wasn't at fault either; it was just the family's misfortune to encounter such a situation. Chen'er knew she wasn't as capable as her elder sister, so she didn't know what to do, usually just listening without offering an opinion.

But seeing her mother cry like this, Chen'er couldn't bear it. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her mother's tears and whispered softly, "Mother, you are not wrong. Big Brother and Father surely don't blame you. They must also be feeling awful inside. Just give Big Brother some time to settle down. Sister-in-law only saw the doctor this morning. For you to bring this up now, Big Brother must have been momentarily upset, which is why he snapped at you. Please don't take it to heart."

The more Matriarch Huang thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, crying out, "If he's upset, am I supposed to be comfortable? For over a year, I've burned incense and prayed daily for Yunqi to conceive. This is truly Yunqi's body failing her; how can you blame me? I am her mother! Would I harm my own son? My only wish in this life is for my children to live well."

"Besides, suggesting he take a concubine sooner is to settle this matter quickly. It's for his own good, for the good of the entire family. Tell me, if this drags on, won't everyone in the household become miserable? At his age, other men already have several children, but look at him. Do you really think I care only about myself? Besides him, I have Xiao Bao and Da Xiong, several other sons. I'm not that old yet; I still have many grandsons to hold in the future. Do you truly think this is what I care about?"

Chen'er understood Matriarch Huang well. Though she kept asking Chen'er for validation, what she really wanted was someone to vent to. At this point, whatever Chen'er said or advised would not be heard. So, she stopped trying to persuade her, just sat on the couch listening as her mother wept, occasionally helping wipe away the tears.

Then, Chen'er sat and listened quietly to Matriarch Huang's lament. Matriarch Huang talked incessantly about Da Bao—from how she raised him when he was little and the hardships she endured, to how he grew up, married, and then, after getting a wife, how he forgot his mother. She complained that her daughter-in-law always visited town but never invited her, always buying things for her wife but never thinking to buy anything for her. Her mouth simply would not stop.

Now, Chen'er somewhat understood the advice her elder sister had given her before leaving home. Her sister had been right about many things. For instance, her sister often said that once people grow up, their troubles multiply, which was certainly true. Before Big Brother married and before her elder sister left home, there was never a fight in the house. Chen'er often watched her uncle's family bicker over this and that and found it tedious.

But now her own home was the same. Since Sister-in-law entered the household, Mother had already had several major arguments, and every time they argued, she would cry non-stop, saying the exact same things Grandmother used to say to Father and Mother. The pattern was growing eerily similar.

For instance, her sister also frequently told her that once she grew up and became a wife, she needed to do everything perfectly, or even when she was in the right, she would appear wrong. Sister-in-law was an example of this now. Chen'er had spent time with her lately and thought she was quite decent—gentle, refined, never even raising her voice. Yet, she was still harassed by Mother over the issue of bearing children, an issue that presumably fell under a daughter-in-law's duties.

Chen'er wondered what her own future in-laws would be like, sighing softly. The image of Madam Wen's cold demeanor flashed through her mind, and Chen'er involuntarily shivered. She then recalled some things her sister had told her last year. At the time, they hadn't seemed significant, but the more she thought about it now, the more she considered her sister a seer; everything she predicted had come true.

As Chen'er was sighing, she saw Father enter from the doorway. Chen'er gave Father a meaningful look and slipped out. Seeing Er Niu enter, Matriarch Huang stopped crying, simply sitting on the couch huffily and resuming packing her things.

Er Niu looked at his wife and sighed internally, lamenting the hardships of being a man. Years ago, when the children were small, he was caught between his wife and his own mother arguing. Now, it was between his son and his wife; he couldn't side with anyone, which truly worried him.

Er Niu was a man of few words. He was only filled with anxiety, constantly puffing on his pipe while glancing at Huang Shi packing. He couldn't find the right words to persuade her. Matriarch Huang's packing was merely a pretense; she was waiting for Er Niu to come and placate her. Seeing him enter and remain silent made her even angrier.

She haphazardly rolled the things from the couch into a bundle and shouted loudly, "Cai Qing, tell someone to prepare the carriage. I'm leaving immediately. I'm taking Chen'er with me. Chen'er, quickly pack your things."

Seeing that Matriarch Huang seemed serious, Er Niu quickly stood up and said, "Wife, what is this? You're going to leave over a petty argument with our son? Are you truly not coming to town anymore?"

"Why should I come? To be your household drudge? I'm old now and can't manage anymore. Moreover, if I do things poorly, I'll be criticized. And when I act with good intentions, I get treated like an ungrateful dog! Now that there are so many maids in the house, if you need work done, ask them. I'm leaving now." Matriarch Huang said hotly.

Er Niu walked helplessly to the side of the bed and tugged at Huang Shi's arm, saying, "Don't be angry. Da Bao already apologized to me just now. I figured you were still angry, so I didn't come in, but he will surely come to apologize later. We have too many things to deal with right now, don't stir up more trouble. Let's discuss this Da Bao matter before you decide anything."