Wang Qingchen went to check on Boss Xue’s potted plant after returning from school. Thanks to the spatial soil, the withered parts of the newly cultivated flower had turned slightly greener over the last few days. This discovery calmed his family members’ nerves; it seemed Wang Qingchen did possess some knack for gardening, even if they hadn't seen him perform any particularly skilled feats.

Wang Qingchen mused that the spatial soil was effective even outside the space, which significantly increased the chances of the seeds Boss Xue gave him sprouting. He looked at the other dozen bare pots. Though nothing had grown in them yet, he was confident that shoots would emerge soon enough.

After Wang Qingchen taught Wang Qinghua what he’d learned that day and spent some time teaching Caiyun basic literacy, he felt parched after talking for a while. He told Wang Qinghua and Caiyun to practice their writing while he went to the kitchen for water. To his surprise, he overheard the voices of Wang Youfu and Madam Yang.

“...Heard from his third aunt... the old house... planning to take a co-wife for Qingshan...” Madam Yang’s voice drifted over.

Wang Qingchen walked closer to his parents' room door until the voices became clear.

“Isn’t this nonsense? We are simple farming folk; why would anyone take a co-wife?” Wang Youfu also found the idea inappropriate.

“This is the decision of the Old Madam and Eldest Sister-in-law. They say Xiujuan hasn't produced a single son or daughter for the Wang family after all these years, and even the Old Master didn't object! Moreover, the Old Madam explicitly stated that if Qingshan doesn't take a co-wife, they will divorce Xiujuan and then remarry someone else,” Madam Yang sighed.

Wang Youfu fell silent for a moment. “Forget it then. If the Old Master hasn't said anything, what can we say? Let them cause whatever trouble they want!”

Madam Yang could only lament Xiujuan's bitter fate, what else could she say?

Wang Qingchen thought of Wang Qingshan’s wife, Lady He. In his memory, Lady He always wore a smile and was pleasant to everyone. To think she now had to endure such a thing made Wang Qingchen feel a pang of sympathy. Furthermore, his own paternal aunt had been divorced. For the Old Madam to know the pain of being discarded, yet still wish to divorce her granddaughter-in-law—knowing the principle of ‘do not impose on others what you do not desire’—Wang Qingchen was truly speechless at her actions.

Wang Qingchen paused, then walked in. “Father, Mother, if Eldest Cousin-in-law cannot bear children, why not find a doctor to examine her?”

Wang Youfu and Madam Yang were both startled by Wang Qingchen’s sudden appearance. Madam Yang reacted to his suggestion: “Can finding a doctor help with bearing a child? A while ago, your aunt and I took your Eldest Cousin-in-law to worship the Sending-Child Guanyin. People say that Guanyin there is very efficacious; she should conceive soon.”

Wang Qingchen felt a wave of exasperation. Did praying to the Sending-Child Guanyin work better than seeing a physician? Watching Wang Youfu nod along made him feel the chasm between them—a gap of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years.

“Mother, you can’t say that. Since Eldest Cousin-in-law isn't pregnant now, why not just see a doctor? If the doctor diagnoses something, she can be treated early, right? And if nothing is found, the family can rest assured! Think about it, if some minor ailment has prevented her from conceiving all these years, how wronged would she be in this situation? So, they must go see a doctor quickly!” Wang Qingchen urged.

Madam Yang nodded. “What you say does have merit. If there is an issue, early treatment means earlier pregnancy, doesn't it?”

And so, the next day, Madam Yang brought Zhang Shi along to visit the old house.

Upon arriving, the two women first paid their respects to the Old Madam and Madam Tian. Unexpectedly, when they entered, they saw the Old Madam and Madam Tian speaking with an elderly matchmaker. The moment the Old Madam and Madam Tian spotted Madam Yang and Zhang Shi, they stopped talking. Both women felt a bit puzzled; it wasn't something shameful, so why did they stop talking upon seeing them?

Puzzled, they naturally looked at the matchmaker a few extra times. The matchmaker seemed oblivious to the strange atmosphere in the room, still smiling broadly. As she watched, Madam Yang suddenly felt the matchmaker looked somewhat familiar but couldn't place her. After a few pleasantries, Madam Yang and Zhang Shi left and went to Lady He’s room.

Entering the room, both women couldn't help their eyes stinging with tears. In just a few days, Lady He had deteriorated so much.

“Second Aunt, Third Aunt, you’ve come!” Lady He said weakly.

“How did you let yourself get like this?” Madam Yang sat down, taking Lady He’s hand with heartache.

“Yes, they want Qingshan to take a co-wife. You should have been firmer! How could you lose your fighting spirit like this? If you continue like this, won’t you just let them crush you?” Zhang Shi believed that a firm stance was the best defense against bullying, and she disapproved of Lady He’s apparent weakness.

“Third Aunt, you don’t understand. I wanted to be firm, but it’s useless for me to be firm alone. Qingshan listens to the elders in everything; he’s already sided with them. What else can I do?” Lady He said with a wry smile.

“Even so, you shouldn't just let them arrange for Qingshan to take a co-wife. Perhaps while you are sad here, they are already selecting a candidate for Qingshan,” Zhang Shi pressed.

“If he truly brings home a co-wife, I will seek a separation from him and return to my maternal home...” Lady He’s words were cut off by Madam Yang.

“Oh, when you mentioned ‘selecting a candidate,’ I just remembered! The person in the Old Madam's room just now was a matchmaker!” Madam Yang suddenly realized.

Instantly, the three people in the room fell silent. If the Old Madam and Madam Tian were already seeking a matchmaker, it meant they had definitively decided to find a co-wife for Wang Qingshan, completely abandoning Lady He.

Madam Yang expressed immediate regret, managing only a stiff smile. “This... perhaps I misidentified her just now!”

“Second Aunt, you don’t need to cover for them. I already suspected it; I just didn't expect them to move so quickly. Since they are treating me like this now, what good days will I have in the future? It seems I can only seek separation from Qingshan,” Lady He shook her head.

Madam Yang and Zhang Shi didn't know how to offer words of comfort.

“Don't give up yet. We came today because we wanted you to go to town to see a doctor. Maybe a doctor can figure out why you haven’t been able to conceive. If it’s curable, you could have a child before long!” Zhang Shi persuaded.

“A doctor? Even if a doctor cures me, what good will it do? By then, the other woman will already have been brought into the house... It’s too late, too late...” Lady He muttered to herself.

“Oh, don't you want to know what the problem is that prevents you from having a child? Think about it; it’s because you can’t have children that the Old Madam and the others have a reason to make Qingshan take a co-wife. Don't you want to find out the root cause of all this trouble?” Zhang Shi’s voice rose slightly as she spoke.

Lady He couldn't speak, only weeping continuously. In her heart, she desperately wanted to know why she couldn't conceive, but she still held reservations. What if the doctor said she could never have children? If she didn't see a doctor, she at least had a glimmer of hope that a child might arrive one day. But if the doctor confirmed she was barren, she would lose even that last shred of hope.

Seeing Lady He still hesitating, Zhang Shi couldn't stand it any longer and decided for her. “It’s settled then. I’ll talk to Qingshan; he must accompany you. A wife bearing children is a major affair; he can’t be completely unconcerned!”

Saying that, Zhang Shi had already gone out to find Wang Qingshan, and Lady He couldn't stop her.

“Xiujuan, what your third aunt said is correct. If there is a problem, isn't it best to treat it early? Don’t you want a child?” Madam Yang said.

“Second Aunt, what if the doctor says I can never have children in this lifetime!” Lady He asked with confusion.

“That won't happen! Don't forget, you have prayed to the Sending-Child Guanyin; the Goddess of Sending Children will surely bless you,” Madam Yang said with firm conviction.

Lady He looked at Madam Yang's steadfast expression and seemed encouraged. “Yes, Second Aunt, you are right. I prayed to the Sending-Child Guanyin; the Goddess will surely protect me.”

Soon after, Zhang Shi and Wang Qingshan re-entered from outside.

“Qingshan, take your wife to town to see a doctor!” Madam Yang said upon seeing Wang Qingshan.

“Ah, Third Aunt just told me as well. I’ll take Xiujuan to the town doctor right away,” Wang Qingshan agreed.

“Very well. Since it’s still early enough to go to town, hurry back after you’re done!” Madam Yang instructed.

After Lady He tidied herself up, the two left for town.

“I hope Xiujuan can successfully conceive this time,” Madam Yang watched the departing pair.

“Yes, look at all the fuss this matter has caused,” Zhang Shi nudged her head toward the Old Madam’s room.

As the two prepared to leave, the matchmaker from the Old Madam's room emerged. Seeing them, her face split into a smile as bright as a flower. “Oh, my two dear sisters, congratulations, congratulations! Soon you two will have another niece-in-law!”

“You must be joking. In my Eldest Sister-in-law’s family, only Qingtong is unmarried, and he is still so young; how could he be getting married so soon?” Zhang Shi replied with a fake smile.

“Oh, are you truly unaware, or are you pretending? It’s not the one you mentioned; it’s your eldest nephew, Wang Qingshan, who is getting a new wife!” the matchmaker chuckled.

“What? Did I hear that right? My eldest nephew already has a wife; they’ve been married for several years. You’ve come to broker a marriage for him? Are you trying to fool me, just playing a prank on me!” Zhang Shi feigned surprise.

“Uh, this…” The matchmaker looked confused. Could it be that the Second and Third Branches of the Wang family didn't know about this? If she let the information slip, would the First Branch of the Wang family blame her? Thinking this, the matchmaker laughed again. “Haha, I was just playing a joke on you two!”

“I knew it! Since Qingshan already has a wife, how could he take another one!” Zhang Shi laughed.

The two women exchanged fake smiles for a while longer before parting ways. Once the matchmaker was gone, Madam Yang and Zhang Shi couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Meanwhile, at the medical hall in town, Wang Qingshan and Lady He, after waiting in a long queue and enduring a prolonged period of anxious uncertainty, finally reached the front for their consultation.