"What's this about not moving? I mean, don't move at all. For a wife to lay a hand on her husband, what kind of precedent does that set? Mrs. Xu’s family might not say anything now, but if you marry into their home, Chen'er, and this continues over time, they are bound to have opinions."

"They give birth to a son and treasure him like a jewel, unwilling to even graze his fingers, yet you treat him as if he means nothing. What parents would be pleased by that? If he were my son, no matter how much he doted on his wife, I would never permit my daughter-in-law to act like that."

"Chen'er, you are already engaged. You must learn to be sensible now, to act with propriety. No more acting like you did when you were an unmarried girl, do you understand?"

When Madam Huang finally concluded her lengthy lecture, Chen'er nodded obediently toward her, though her eyes were fixed on the younger children playing nearby.

Madam Huang saw this, shook her head lightly, and sighed, "He'er, teach Chen'er some of these rules when you have time. That girl listens to you."

Lin He looked at Madam Huang, smiling and shaking her head. "Mother, Chen'er is already engaged; she will grow up eventually. Don't worry so much. Just focus on managing the household affairs well from now on. Oh, by the way, how has Eldest Sister-in-law been lately? And what about Eldest Brother's situation? When I last visited, Eldest Sister-in-law was home, and I was afraid asking might upset her, so I didn't bring it up."

"Alas, it seems there is no hope regarding your sister-in-law's health. They have agreed to the idea of him taking a concubine. However, I sent the matchmaker back with several candidates for Da Bao to look at, but Da Bao keeps disagreeing—saying one isn't sensible or another doesn't look like a good sort. I don't know what he wants anymore; I'm worried sick over this matter," Madam Huang said, twisting her brow tightly as Lin He brought up the subject.

"Mother, in your opinion, how should we decide on the candidate for Eldest Brother to take as a concubine?" Lin He inquired.

"He'er, since it's just the two of us women here, I won't hide anything from you. After Yunqi has been in the house for a while, I've seen things clearly. While Yunqi isn't a bad person, it's impossible for her to manage such a large household. Your mother isn't the most capable person either, but the family is getting better and better. If possible, I'd like to find someone capable to manage this house."

"But there are stipulations. The woman we bring in must be intelligent and competent, yet harbor no ulterior motives. She must be good to all the brothers and sisters in the family, and ideally, her maternal family background should be simple, so she can devote herself entirely to managing our home. Furthermore, this girl must be someone Da Bao genuinely favors."

Madam Huang rattled off a great many conditions, then paused before continuing, "But Mother knows that finding such a person is harder than reaching the heavens. You know, if Yunqi cannot bear children later, she is still the Eldest Young Mistress of this house. Even if she cannot manage things, I hope that any concubine we take in later will not treat her harshly, and that any children born will show her proper deference as the First Wife. That way, the whole family can coexist harmoniously."

After hearing Madam Huang speak, Lin He felt that her mother had indeed grasped some truths lately. The criteria for selecting a concubine were far more precise than when they chose Yunqi for her Eldest Brother. She had to admit that although her mother's demands were high, her words were undeniably correct. But where could one find such an ideal person?

As Lin He was pondering this, Chen'er, standing nearby, interjected, "Eldest Sister, Mother's requirements are so high, I fear it will be very difficult to find anyone." She paused, then spoke again, "However, I do think there is a suitable person."

"Who?" Lin He and Madam Huang asked in unison.

"I think both Zi Qing and Zi Yu, who are under Eldest Sister, would be suitable. But Zi Yu is already promised to someone, so that leaves only Zi Qing," Chen'er stated with a very serious expression.

Zi Qing? Lin He considered this. If measured strictly against Madam Huang's requirements, Zi Qing indeed fit well—it was no wonder Chen'er immediately thought of her. Yet, Lin He felt a degree of inappropriateness.

Firstly, Zi Qing was her maidservant, too closely connected to her. If Lin He were still living in her maiden home, it wouldn't be an issue. But now that she was married, letting Zi Qing become Da Bao's concubine—what would outsiders think? They might believe that even after marrying out, Lin He was still trying to control everything in the household. If no one else, Yunqi's maternal family would certainly think that way.

As for Zi Qing, of course, if Lin He were to speak to her, she wouldn't refuse. But Lin He couldn't do that. She had once promised Zi Qing that she could decide her own future regarding marriage. Lin He had long considered both Zi Qing and Zi Yu as sisters and naturally wouldn't force them into such a situation.

Still, Chen'er was right; few people in this world could meet the standards her mother set. But no matter what, unless Zi Qing willingly agreed, Lin He would never be so selfish as to sacrifice the loyal service of Zi Qing for the benefit of her own family.

Just as she was about to say no, Madam Huang, after considering the matter, spoke up, "Zi Qing? That girl is seventeen this year, hasn't she? Does she have a sweetheart yet?"

"No, she said she hasn't met the right person and isn't concerned with such matters for now," Lin He answered truthfully, unsure of Madam Huang's intent.

Madam Huang stared at Lin He for a moment, then suddenly laughed, continuing, "He'er, if that's the case, I think Chen'er's idea isn't bad. Zi Qing's capability goes without saying. When you were staying at your parents' home, she helped with chores inside and out; she's good at both manual labor and managing small affairs. Moreover, she grew up with you, so we know her background thoroughly. If she becomes a concubine, she certainly won't have divided loyalties. Even if other issues arise in the family later, she will remember the kindness you showed her and be willing to make sacrifices. It's just that Zi Qing is a maidservant, so her status is a bit low, but that really doesn't matter much for a concubine," Madam Huang spoke on enthusiastically.

Hearing this, Chen'er immediately exclaimed, "Mother, are you sure you want to marry a daughter-in-law, or a hired hand?"

Lin He gave Chen'er an appreciative look, then turned to Madam Huang, whose face had darkened slightly. "Yes, Mother. I wouldn't have agreed to Zi Qing being Eldest Brother's concubine in the first place, but if that's how you view it, I'll agree even less. Although Zi Qing is my maidservant, she has served me diligently for so many years without any disloyalty. I have long regarded both sisters as family. I will not marry them off carelessly, and I certainly won't exploit her for my family's benefit. We should find someone else for Eldest Brother's matter."

"That's right, Mother. Eldest Sister is correct. If that's your thinking, I don't approve either. Let the matchmaker find someone else," Chen'er added, clearly displeased.

Seeing the attitude of these two sisters, Madam Huang immediately became angry. "What is wrong with you two girls? Why are you always siding with that girl, Zi Qing? Yes, He'er, Zi Qing is close to you, but can she be closer than your Eldest Brother, closer than your parents, closer than your own family members?"