"Yes, Mother-in-law, please don't busy yourself anymore. I have to leave for the shop now, and I'll come back tonight," Wen Ning quickly added. After giving Lin He a few instructions, he said his goodbyes to Madam Huang and walked out the door.

As soon as Wen Ningxuan left, Xiao Bao impatiently said to Lin He beside him, "Big Sister, I'm heading off to school now. You wait here for me to come back, and ask Second Sister to help me pack my things. I'll go to your place tonight when I return." With that, he rushed off.

Watching Xiao Bao run so fast, Lin He, afraid he might fall, smiled and called out, "Big Sister will definitely wait for you to return. Don't be in such a hurry; walk slowly."

When Xiao Bao was completely out of sight, Madam Huang and Chen'er pulled Lin He toward the courtyard, asking as they walked, "He'er, what did Xiao Bao say about going to your place? Did you tell him you were taking him to the Wen household to live? That might not be appropriate; there are so many people in the Wen family, and he doesn't know the rules. People might gossip."

Seeing Madam Huang's anxious look, Lin He smiled and replied, "Not the Wen household. We won't be staying at the Wen family home for a while. We're staying in this separate residence outside—just me, Ningxuan, and a few maids like Ziqing. I haven't seen Chen'er and Xiao Bao for a long time and have been missing them. I plan to have them stay with us for a spell. Also, Xiao Bao has the Tongshi examination coming up, and Ningxuan wants to check on his studies. That's why we're taking them to stay for a period."

Lin He had intended this explanation to soothe Madam Huang, but upon hearing it, Madam Huang grew even more tense and inquired, "He'er, did something happen in the Wen family? Why are you suddenly moving out? Did the Wen family kick you out?"

Lin He knew she absolutely could not let her mother know about the fire in their courtyard, or she would start guessing wildly. So, she coaxed her, "Mother, don't be nervous. It's nothing. It's just the house in our courtyard. Ningxuan felt it was a bit small and wanted to expand it. We've hired people to work on construction over there, and it’s inconvenient for us to stay inside while they work, so we’re living in this other residence temporarily."

"Oh, I see." Madam Huang was relieved after hearing this. However, she suddenly seemed to recall something, carefully observing Lin He from head to toe, and then exclaimed with a hint of pleasant surprise, "He'er. If Ningxuan is intent on expanding the house, does that mean you are pregnant?"

Lin He rolled her eyes internally. She had only concocted a casual excuse to comfort her mother, never expecting her imagination to be so vivid. Lin He regretted giving her mother the opportunity to ask such a question. With a helpless smile, Lin He said, "No, Mother. I've only been married a few months. Can you please stop bringing it up every time you see me?"

This time, Madam Huang didn't nag further, only letting out a sigh, sounding somewhat worried. "You children, one after another, are going to worry me to death. It's you, and it's Chen'er too. I truly don't know what you all are thinking."

Lin He initially thought Madam Huang was referring to her and Big Brother, but she hadn't expected her mother to be talking about Chen'er. Lin He glanced over at Chen'er, who was sitting silently to the side. Only then did Lin He realize something was indeed off with Chen'er. Due to Madam Huang's barrage of questions right after entering, Lin He hadn't paid much attention to Chen'er until now.

Looking at Chen'er, Lin He suddenly remembered that ever since she arrived, Chen'er had only greeted her with "Big Sister" and "Brother-in-law" and hadn't spoken since. When they were in the yard earlier, she had stood quietly to the side, and now, having moved to this courtyard, she was just sitting silently, not offering a single reply.

This was not like Chen'er's usual temperament. Chen'er and she had always been the closest; every time Lin He returned, Chen'er was usually the happiest. Why was she like this today?

Seeing Chen'er remain silent, Lin He deliberately teased her, "Chen'er, what's wrong? Are you unhappy to see Big Sister back, or are you blaming Big Sister for not visiting you for so long?"

As Chen'er's lips moved to speak, Madam Huang cut in, "Yes, He'er, ask her properly what she wants to do. That Er Gouzi—no, we can't call him Er Gouzi anymore, we must call him Li Zheng now—such a good boy, and she doesn't want him. See what she plans to do?"

"Er Gou... no, Li Zheng is getting engaged? When did this happen? Which family's daughter is it? Mother, are you telling the truth?" Lin He asked uncertainly.

"The engagement date is already set; it's just a matter of a few days. How could it not be true? Your Aunt Xu even invited your father and me to their house for drinks on the day of the betrothal ceremony. The girl is Lan Hua from our village, the same age as Chen'er. Chen'er knows her too," Madam Huang said, looking at Chen'er with irritation.

Chen'er, who had been silent until now, roared at Madam Huang after hearing her words, "Let him get engaged! What does it have to do with me? Why do you keep bringing him up at home all day? Do you expect me to send a red envelope to congratulate them?" Chen'er’s voice cracked with a sob at the end before she ran off.

Madam Huang was also angered by Chen'er's outburst. She stood up from the stool, pointing in the direction Chen'er had run, and exclaimed, "See? The older she gets, the more willful she becomes! I haven't even done anything to her, and she yells at me! I swear I'm going to be driven mad by her these days."

Seeing Madam Huang's face flushing and paling with anger, Lin He quickly stood up and tried to placate her. "Mother, please don't be angry. Chen'er is still young. Why argue with her? Instead, tell me, what exactly is going on between Chen'er and Li Zheng? Wasn't he always fond of Chen'er? How did he suddenly get engaged?"

"What exactly happened? You go ask that wretched girl! I don't know either. All I know is that before Li Zheng decided to get engaged, he visited our house and took Chen'er and Xiao Bao out for an entire afternoon. Afterward, Chen'er and Xiao Bao came back, but Li Zheng didn't follow them. Later, your father went back toward the village, and I heard from Aunt Xu that Li Zheng had agreed to get engaged to Lan Hua from the village. When I asked Chen'er what happened, she refused to say. Xiao Bao said he didn't know either, claiming he just stood by while Chen'er and Li Zheng talked for a while, then Li Zheng left. Chen'er wandered around outside alone for the entire afternoon and wouldn't even speak to Xiao Bao," Madam Huang grumbled angrily.

"Mother, if what you say is true, then Chen'er doesn't want to marry Li Zheng, does she?" Lin He asked with some uncertainty, as Chen'er's recent demeanor suggested she wasn't entirely indifferent to Li Zheng. Furthermore, Chen'er's change must be related to Li Zheng's engagement.

Madam Huang fell silent for a moment after hearing Lin He’s question, then spoke, "He'er, I am an older woman, and I can still discern some things. If Chen'er didn't care about Li Zheng at all, I wouldn't force her. In the end, she must live her own life, and it's best if she marries willingly."