Regarding Aunt Wang Guifang's daughter's marriage prospects, Wang Qingchen wasn't quite sure how the discussion had gone between the main household and the third branch after the two-day break, as he would soon be returning to school.

Wang Qingchen didn't know, but Wang Qingtong from the main household had caught wind of a little. During the midday break, he heard Wang Qingtong next to him muttering under his breath, "Auntie was so thin when she came back yesterday. Grandma held her and cried for a long time. Then Auntie asked Grandma to help our cousin find a good match! But listen, don't tell anyone, I overheard Auntie and Grandma whispering this morning—Auntie's husband plans to sell Cousin off to the town to be a concubine!"

The cousin Wang Qingtong referred to was Auntie’s only daughter, Liu Qian'er, only two months younger than Wang Caixia, making her thirteen this year. However, Wang Qingchen hadn't met her since arriving here.

"Sell her off to be a concubine?" Wang Qingchen exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, I heard it’s for a wealthy family in town. They’re quite old and haven't had any children, so they want someone who can bear them a son," Wang Qingtong explained.

"So Auntie came back for this reason?" Wang Qingchen understood now. No wonder Auntie returned at this time, and why Old Madam was so anxious to have Zhang Shi’s family help arrange a match for Liu Qian'er.

Wang Qingtong scratched his head. "It should be. Grandma told Auntie to stay home for a few days before going back." Wang Qingtong didn't know much more.

What puzzled Wang Qingchen was how people in town knew about Liu Qian'er, who had always lived in the village, and even wanted to take her as a concubine. But since Wang Qingtong clearly didn't know either, he stopped asking.

After school, before the group even reached home, they heard villagers saying that the three Wang brothers had gone to the neighboring village today and beaten up Auntie's husband.

The three cousins bid farewell to Li Yuntai and hurried home.

When Wang Qingchen arrived home, he found only Caiyun there. He learned from her that Wang Youfu, Yang Shi, and Wang Qinghua had all gone to the main household. After a few quick words, he rushed off to the main household as well.

Arriving there, he saw Auntie sitting next to Old Madam, wiping away tears. Yang Shi and Zhang Shi both looked quite grim. Old Master was taking slow draws from his pipe, while Wang Youliang, Wang Youfu, and Wang Youtian sat to one side, lost in thought—though Wang Youtian did have a fresh bruise on his face. Wang Qingshan and his wife, Wang Qingyun, Wang Qingtong, and Wang Qinghua were also gathered quietly nearby. Upon seeing Wang Qingchen arrive, the crowd merely glanced at him before sinking back into silence.

Wang Qingchen rubbed his nose and walked over to Wang Qinghua, quietly asking what had happened. Wang Qinghua just shook his head without speaking.

After crying for a while, Auntie’s voice grew hoarse. "I never thought their entire family could be so cruel! Just yesterday they mentioned selling Qian'er off as a concubine, and now, only a day later, they’ve signed the deed of sale and sent Qian'er away! She’s their own flesh and blood! How could they bear to sell her off to be a concubine! I don't care what the Liu family does to me, but she is my only daughter! They are taking my life away!"

"Hmph, that old Liu family has lost its conscience. They will surely face retribution sooner or later for all the wicked things they’ve done!" Old Madam cursed angrily.

"Indeed, Mother. It’s such a pity for Qian'er, so young, being sold off by that heartless Liu family to be a concubine. Her entire life will be ruined!" Tian Shi said, dabbing at her eyes, though her true feelings remained unknown.

"That’s right. These beasts, a beating today was far too lenient. That scoundrel surnamed Liu should have been beaten so badly he couldn't get out of bed," Wang Youliang grumbled indignantly.

Wang Qingchen secretly shook his head. Even killing Auntie's husband wouldn't solve the problem. He wondered what his father, Wang Youfu, was planning. Wang Qingchen looked up at Wang Youfu, only to see him nodding in deep agreement. Well, he must have overthought things.

Wang Qingchen turned his gaze to Aunt Wang Guifang. Though he hadn't interacted much with her, he sympathized with her plight. And Liu Qian'er was only thirteen; to be a concubine so young truly ruined a lifetime. But how could anyone help her now? The Liu family had already signed the deed of sale. Unless that family in town willingly gave up the arrangement and let her be redeemed, which seemed impossible, he thought. Poor cousin.

"It’s all my fault. If only I hadn't invited Matchmaker Liu over, none of this would have happened... I have harmed Qian'er. My poor Qian'er! It is I who have harmed you..." Auntie wept inconsolably.

"Matchmaker Liu? What is this about, Fang'er? Tell Mother exactly what happened," Old Madam stopped crying and asked Auntie with a puzzled look.

"I was just trying to find a good match for Qian'er! Who knew that when Matchmaker Liu saw Qian'er, she said Qian'er was fertile and mentioned that Master Shen in town was looking for a fertile concubine and asked if I wanted to send Qian'er over." As she spoke, Auntie grew more agitated. "Qian'er is my own flesh and blood! How could I bear to send her to be a concubine? I refused Matchmaker Liu, but I didn't realize my mother-in-law overheard, and she discussed it with my husband. When my husband heard Master Shen would pay fifty taels of silver, he disregarded everything else! When I realized things were turning bad, I thought of rushing back to ask Father, Mother, and my brothers and sisters-in-law for help, hoping they could arrange a good family for Qian'er here. Who knew they would sell her off so quickly? My poor Qian'er..."

"How could the Liu family be so heartless? To sell their own daughter for fifty taels, pushing her into a pit of fire!" Yang Shi’s eyes also welled up with tears.

"Exactly. Beating him up was too light a punishment," Zhang Shi said, equally furious upon hearing the details.

Old Master took a deep draw from his pipe. "Alas, whatever we say now is too late. She has already been sent away. Moreover, this is the Liu family selling their daughter. If we try to stop it, we have no moral standing. We can only hope that Qian'er is blessed and will not suffer at the Shen household."

Hearing Old Master speak, Auntie began to cry even harder. Old Madam, though saddened, knew Old Master spoke the truth, and could only keep comforting her daughter.

Although Wang Guifang resented the Liu family's cruelty, she blamed herself even more. Having her daughter sold as a concubine was hardly an honorable matter, which was why she hadn't mentioned it when she first returned home yesterday. Had she spoken of the Liu family’s intention to sell Qian'er as a concubine immediately upon arrival, her three brothers would surely have gone to bring Qian'er back yesterday. But she had deliberated all night and only mentioned it today. By the time her brothers reached the Liu house, Qian'er had already been sent away. Everything was too late. If only she had spoken up yesterday, Qian'er wouldn't have been sent away...

Since the matter was sealed, everyone could only continue to console Auntie, but she couldn't listen to reason now, her mind consumed with self-reproach for ruining her daughter.

Old Master sighed and told the second and third branches to return first. Seeing that they couldn't offer any practical help, the second and third branches left.

Back home, the entire family was subdued. Wang Qingchen pondered whether his aunt and uncle could possibly remain together after such an event. As for his cousin Liu Qian'er, he could only hope she would be alright, though that hope felt desperately slim...

The next day, after lunch, Wang Qingchen asked Li Yuntai about the Shen family in town.

"The Shen family? Are you asking about the Shen family on the east side of town?" Li Yuntai asked, looking puzzled.

"Uh... are there many Shen families in town?" Wang Qingchen was slightly taken aback.

"Not exactly, but the Shen family on the east side is quite famous. Generally, when people mention them, they specify the East Town Shen family. But why are you asking about them?" Li Yuntai inquired.

Wang Qingchen sighed and told Li Yuntai about his aunt's situation. Li Yuntai also expressed his dismay.

"The East Town Shen family—their ancestors once held office, but later resigned and returned home, intending to properly educate their descendants. However, the descendants showed little success in their studies, so they eventually shifted from literary pursuits to commerce. The family is indeed very wealthy, but the current Master Shen has never had any children. He did have a daughter once, but she died shortly after birth," Li Yuntai said, shaking his head with regret.

"Never had any children? How old is he then?" Wang Qingchen asked.

"Master Shen should be around thirty-seven now. It’s precisely because he has no children that he has taken so many concubines. It makes sense; without an heir, such a large estate would end up benefiting strangers. Anyone in this situation would be desperate," Li Yuntai mused.

Wang Qingchen was a little shocked. Thirty-seven and still no son—that would be hard to accept even in his previous life, let alone in this ancient era where lineage was so highly valued. "He’s so old and still no son. Why hasn't he adopted one from a side branch?"

Li Yuntai smiled. "You don't know the whole story. The Shen clan did want Master Shen to adopt a son from a collateral line, as everyone covets such a large estate. But Master Shen’s older sister married an official of the fourth rank in the capital; it’s said this arrangement was made by their grandfather when he served in the capital. With his brother-in-law backing him, no one dares to covet his property. However, if Master Shen truly never has a son, he will eventually have to adopt one from a side branch."

"So there's that layer of complication. It’s just a pity for my cousin; her life is ruined," Wang Qingchen felt downcast.

"Don't be too sad. Perhaps your cousin has the fortune to bear a son. As long as she gives birth to a son, your cousin's life will be secure. Master Shen, despite taking many concubines, treats them quite well. If she bears a son, he certainly won't mistreat her," Li Yuntai comforted him.

"Alas, having a son isn't that easy. Think about it—Master Shen is already this old, and he has so many women, yet no son has been born. How could my cousin so easily conceive a son?" Wang Qingchen could only sigh; after all, there were many things he was powerless to change.

Li Yuntai understood that the chances were slim and stopped trying to comfort Wang Qingchen.

Wang Qingchen's mood didn't lift much. He thought that this wasn't his previous life where many issues could be resolved through other means. In this life, without a certain level of power and status, many things were impossible. This feeling only settled somewhat while practicing calligraphy that afternoon.

However, this peace was shattered when he returned home from school that afternoon. It turned out the Liu family was utterly tyrannical. They had just sold their daughter, and now they were using the excuse of her inability to bear a son to divorce Aunt Wang Guifang. The letter of divorce had been delivered that very afternoon.