The old man and woman knew where the line was; they absolutely could not allow the reputation of mistreating their granddaughter-in-law to spread, and the key to managing this lay with Physician Li.

Fortunately, Physician Li often visited the Wang family, so there was an existing acquaintance between them. Thus, the old man and woman spent a long time speaking with him, the gist being that there must be some misunderstanding, for how could their family mistreat their granddaughter-in-law? They, the elderly couple, would certainly investigate the cause, and so on. Of course, the most crucial point was persuading Physician Li not to speak of the matter outside.

Physician Li was not a man inclined to gossip. He mentioned that as a doctor, constantly treating people, he frequently encountered situations like those in the Wang family. If he gossiped about every incident he encountered, no one would dare seek his treatment in the future, and his own reputation would be ruined.

So, Physician Li repeatedly promised not to spread the news, assuring the elders they could rest easy. He even recommended several nutritional supplement prescriptions for the Wang family before taking his leave.

After Physician Li departed, the old man and woman finally breathed a sigh of relief—as long as it didn't get out, it was fine. However, now they, the elderly couple, needed to thoroughly inquire into the matter themselves.

Since the Wang family had divided their assets and the old couple had moved in with the eldest son, the old woman, though having a voice in household affairs, rarely concerned herself with the minute details unless they were major issues. Many matters were handed directly over to Tian Shi. Who would have thought that Tian Shi would now cause such trouble, nearly damaging the Wang family’s reputation? This made even the old woman, who usually favored Tian Shi, unable to suppress her rising anger.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, what is going on here?” the old woman demanded, irate.

“Mother, this—I truly don't know how this happened? You know I hardly manage household affairs these days. Qingyun’s wife handles everything as a rule. How could I have anticipated this?” Tian Shi pleaded, wounded.

“So, you’ve handed over all household matters to Qingyun’s wife now?” the old woman’s tone was sharp.

Tian Shi sensed trouble and stammered, “Well, I was thinking that since it’s Qingyun’s wife’s first time having a child, I was worried she lacked experience and might mess something up, so I thought I would help her with the baby. And since I’m helping with the child, naturally, I couldn't manage the household chores! So I followed your example, Mother, and entrusted all the housework to Qingyun’s wife! Mother, you know that since Qingshan and his wife moved out, and the master is in town and never returns, and Qingtong is always running errands at his second uncle's mill, the only people capable of doing work around here are Qingyun and his wife. Qingyun naturally has to work in the fields, so the household tasks naturally fall—well, they have to be entrusted to Qingyun’s wife!”

The old woman’s anger flared upon hearing this. “So you just handed everything over to Qingyun’s wife? Did you ever consider when I handed over the household affairs to you? Back then, your eldest daughter-in-law had already married into the family, and you had another daughter-in-law to help you. Now look at you, pushing everything onto one daughter-in-law! Don't forget, Gou Sheng is still nursing! How can you burden your daughter-in-law like this? If you wear your daughter-in-law down like this, isn't it your own grandson who suffers? Not to mention the Wang family’s reputation! If this news spreads, how will Qingtong ever find a wife in the future? Have you considered that?”

Tian Shi seemed unconvinced. She recalled how she had previously pushed almost all the household duties onto He Shi, and He Shi never seemed incapable of handling it! However, with the old woman furious now, she quickly needed to admit her fault. “Mother, this is my fault; I didn't consider things thoroughly. This will never happen again, please forgive me this once!”

After venting her anger on Tian Shi, the old woman’s fury subsided by more than half. Seeing Tian Shi admit her mistake, she didn't want to scold her further, after all, Tian Shi was her own kin by marriage. Thus, the old woman conceded, “We’ll let it go this time, but there must not be a next time, understood?”

The old man standing nearby was clearly dissatisfied with the outcome. Their Wang family’s reputation had nearly been destroyed! There was no way this matter could simply be dropped. So, the old man interjected, “Here’s what we’ll do. Since Physician Li said Qingyun’s wife needs more rest, the household affairs will be handled by the eldest daughter-in-law from now on! As for Gou Sheng, since Qingyun’s wife cannot overexert herself, your mother and I will help look after him during the day! Eldest daughter-in-law, you just focus on the house; you don’t need to worry about Gou Sheng.”

“Father, but—since Qingyun’s wife is sick from overwork, I imagine the housework is plentiful. Why don't I call my sister-in-law or Xiujuan over to help?” Tian Shi said anxiously. If she had to handle all the household duties herself, she knew she couldn't manage.

“Qingyun’s wife claims to be sick from overwork, likely because she is still nursing. You should be fine. Besides, Fang'er usually ignores household matters, and Xiujuan has already moved out and has to care for her whole family. Don't trouble them. You manage for now!” the old man decreed.

The old woman had originally planned to intercede on Tian Shi’s behalf, but when she heard Tian Shi actually dragging Fang’er into it, she immediately became displeased and decided to stay out of it. Consequently, when Tian Shi looked at the old woman with hopeful eyes, the old woman remained unmoved.

Tian Shi reluctantly took over the household duties, becoming dead busy every day, with no one to complain to. Even more infuriating was that she still had to help prepare the restorative soups for Qingyun’s wife. That was one thing, but her own son and daughter-in-law were ungrateful. The daughter-in-law was tolerable; she didn't expect her to be close to her anyway; she was the mother-in-law, after all, and the daughter-in-law couldn't truly surpass her authority. But her son truly hurt her heart. These past few days, the way her son looked at her was completely different from before, as if she were some utterly wicked person. So, Tian Shi found an opportunity to stop her son.

“Qingyun, what’s wrong with you? Why are you looking at your mother like that! Are you blaming your mother over that matter with your wife?” Tian Shi asked.

Wang Qingyun lowered his head, silent. Though he didn't speak, his attitude conveyed everything. He was certain his mother had been mistreating his wife.

Tian Shi was deeply hurt. “Son, are you also turning against your mother? You also think I mistreated your wife, don’t you?”

Wang Qingyun looked up and said, “Mother, has Yin’er offended you somewhere to make you dislike her so much? In the future, if there is any heavy work, just tell me to do it. Yin’er is frail and cannot handle heavy labor.”

Upon hearing this, Tian Shi was so angry she pointed her finger at Wang Qingyun, “You—fine! I really gave birth to a good son! I didn’t know my son doted on his wife so much that he wouldn’t let her do even household chores. Is it that whatever your wife cannot do, your mother can do? Is that what you think?”

Wang Qingyun felt a pang of regret when questioned so sharply by his mother. He shouldn't have spoken to his mother that way. So, Wang Qingyun said quietly, “Mother, please don't be angry. It’s just that Yin’er fell ill from being overworked, and I became anxious!”

“You get anxious for your wife and speak to your mother like that?” Tian Shi retorted, exasperated.

“Mother, I was wrong, please don’t be angry!” Wang Qingyun pleaded.

“Hmph! All of you say I mistreated your wife. Why don't any of you say your wife is useless? She can’t even manage simple housework,” Tian Shi, now utterly enraged, spoke loudly regardless of who might overhear. “Your eldest sister-in-law, not long after marrying in, handled all the chores inside and out, and she didn't complain or fall ill or anything. But your wife is different? Is your wife more precious? She gets sick after just a little work. I say she’s faking it to avoid chores, and all of you are too blind to see it and pile the blame on me!”

Wang Qingyun’s expression darkened upon hearing this. “Mother, how can you say that? Whether Yin’er is feigning illness, can Physician Li not tell? Physician Li specifically said Yin’er was overworked. Do you not believe Physician Li’s medical skills? If you speak of Yin’er like this, who knows how sad she will be when she hears it. She has always been very filial to you, and now you speak of her this way.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I say about her. So what? Am I not allowed? I’m telling you, I am her mother-in-law. If I curse her, she has to endure it!” Tian Shi had lost all sense of reason.

Wang Qingyun was deeply disappointed in his mother. It seemed his mother was the sort of wicked mother-in-law others spoke of. He could endure it himself, but Yin’er still had to live under her authority. If she made things difficult for Yin’er later, Yin’er would have no choice but to comply. Wang Qingyun’s mind raced, figuring out how to prevent his wife from suffering grievances in the future, completely forgetting Tian Shi standing before him.

Seeing her son completely disregard her, Tian Shi immediately placed the blame for their argument squarely on Luo Yin, resolving that she absolutely had to teach Luo Yin a lesson.

“Go back to the room and tell your wife to stop pretending to be sick and get up to do the housework properly,” Tian Shi commanded before walking away, unwilling to look at her son another moment.

Wang Qingyun returned to their room in a daze. Luo Yin was lying on the kang, braiding a tassel, and upon seeing him return, she asked, “Why did that take so long? Didn't you say you were going to get water? Why didn't you bring any back?”

Wang Qingyun finally remembered his original purpose. He’d been so busy talking with his mother that he forgot what he was supposed to do. “Oh, I forgot. Should I go get you water now?”

Luo Yin shook her head. “It’s fine; I’m not that thirsty anymore. Tell me first what you were doing that kept you so long that you forgot to bring the water.”