Having grasped the true state of affairs, Li Yuntai felt a flush of embarrassment facing Wang Qingchen’s teasing expression. “How could I have guessed that was the reason?”

“Indeed, how could you have anticipated your own circumstances perfectly matching the Wu family’s criteria for a son-in-law?” Wang Qingchen bantered.

“Ahem, I’m humbled by the Wu family’s mistaken generosity,” Li Yuntai murmured, lowering his head shyly.

“Haha, look at you, all bashful! Alright, alright, I won’t tease you further. But speaking of which, while we now know why the Wu family wants to marry their daughter to you, you still have no idea what the Wu girl looks like or what her temperament is like! Shall we scheme again and find a chance to meet the little sister-in-law ahead of time?” Wang Qingchen was eager.

“How could that possibly happen? With a prestigious family like the Wu’s, they wouldn't let their daughter show her face to outsiders! It would ruin her reputation,” Li Yuntai refused.

Wang Qingchen nodded knowingly, though his expression remained playful. “Oh my, before the bride has even entered the door, you’re already playing the protector, are you?” He then added mournfully, “Surely you’re not going to forget your brother now that you have a fiancée, are you?”

“Go on, go on, what nonsense are you talking of?” Li Yuntai’s face reddened.

Watching Li Yuntai’s instantaneous blush, Wang Qingchen felt a surge of satisfaction. After teasing him for a while, a little gloom settled in his own heart; had he been acting like a child for too long? Even his personality was starting to resemble that of a child. After this moment of self-reproach, Wang Qingchen quickly buried himself in his books.

Once the background check on the Wu family showed no issues, Li Yuntai confidently entrusted the rest of the arrangements to his parents. Soon enough, the Li and Wu families finalized the betrothal.

The Wu family’s choice of a groom from a lower social standing puzzled many of the established families in town. Later, someone spread the word: Are the Wu family fools? They’ve secured a Scholar Candidate (Tongsheng)! This young man could very well become a Provincial Graduate (Xiucai) or even a Metropolitan Graduate (Juren) in the future! Furthermore, a match with a family of slightly lower status meant the daughter would likely suffer less mistreatment in her future marital home—how advantageous! Consequently, a sudden flurry of matchmaking proposals swept through the town, largely targeting those Scholars and Scholar Candidates.

While other Scholar Candidates felt the ripple effect of these sudden proposals, Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng remained undisturbed, simply because they were still too young.

One day, Madam He went into town to collect the rice flour for her son and, incidentally, to turn in her embroidery work.

Madam He first visited the Jinxiu Workshop to hand in the embroidery she had completed recently, intending to pick up new work as well. Although Madam He stayed home raising the child, Quan’er was generally a well-behaved baby, rarely crying, and her sister-in-law often came by to help care for him. As a result, Madam He had a significant amount of time each day to dedicate to embroidery.

Madam He presented her completed work to a clerk at the Jinxiu Workshop. After inspecting it, the clerk was highly satisfied. Once the payment was calculated, he handed Madam He fifty-six copper coins. Madam He took the money, retrieved a handkerchief, folded the coins neatly inside, and carefully tucked the cloth away. Only after securing the money did Madam He accept a new batch of embroidery from the workshop, placing the materials into her basket. She then left, heading to buy rice flour for her son.

As Madam He walked, she unexpectedly spotted Wang Youliang pushing a small cart, seemingly unaware of her presence. Madam He paused, wondering if she should go over and offer a greeting. Her hesitation stemmed from the fact that her relationship with her father-in-law and mother-in-law was previously quite strained, and it was possible her father-in-law held her in low regard. However, considering that her current life was quite satisfactory, she decided it was best to show courtesy. After all, he was her father-in-law, an elder, regardless of his personal feelings toward her.

Just as Madam He prepared to approach him, in the short moment she spent thinking, the Wang Youliang ahead of her vanished.

Madam He’s eyes widened. Had she imagined it? Impossible; she had clearly seen her father-in-law just moments ago! She walked over and noticed an alleyway she hadn't seen before. Her father-in-law must have slipped into it. But why would he take a small cart into an alley? Didn't he open a food stall in town? How could a food stall be located in a back alley?

Previously, Wang Youliang had misled Tian Shi by claiming that after closing the stall each day, he would take the cart to the cook’s house, so he could load up a full cart of prepared food the next morning. Tian Shi had even seen Wang Youliang’s stall and confirmed the kitchen area wasn't heavily used, so she believed him.

Madam He, however, was unaware of this arrangement. She naturally assumed that if he ran a food stall, the cooking would happen at the stall. She couldn’t fathom that the food was sourced elsewhere. Thus, Madam He was confused. She couldn't understand why her father-in-law was pushing a cart into a narrow alley. Even if he were buying ingredients, surely those wouldn't be procured from a back alley?

Thinking this, Madam He quietly followed him. Upon entering the alley, she saw no sign of him. If not for the faint sound of the cart wheels ahead, she might have believed she had misjudged the situation entirely.

The alley curved. When Madam He reached the bend, she saw Wang Youliang stop in front of the innermost door and look back. Startled, Madam He quickly retreated. After confirming there was no movement in the alley, Wang Youliang knocked.

A moment later, Madam He heard the sound of the door opening. She cautiously peeked around the corner to see a strikingly beautiful woman answering the door. After they exchanged a few smiles and words, her father-in-law took the woman’s hand and led her inside.

Madam He’s eyes snapped open. Had she truly seen that? After the door had been closed for a good while, she remained in shock. The scene replayed in her mind. Madam He was not foolish; she could easily guess the nature of her father-in-law’s visit. No wonder he rarely came home since opening the stall—this was the reason!

Madam He pondered, then a new question struck her: how could her father-in-law and that woman openly hold hands right at the doorway? Weren't they afraid of being seen? Although this was deep within the alley and around a corner, concealing them from most passersby, there was still a household directly opposite the woman’s door. Couldn’t that neighbor see?

Madam He was bewildered; the shock of what she witnessed was immense, and she needed time to process it. After slowly coming to terms with the event, Madam He resolved to uncover the full truth.

Madam He walked a few steps back, then chose a household on the opposite side and approached their door to knock.

A woman opened the door shortly after, looking at Madam He with confusion. “Who are you looking for?”

“Ah, big sister, I’m terribly sorry, I need to inquire about something. It’s like this: the other day when I came to town to buy vegetables, my money was picked from my purse while I was paying. I was beside myself with worry, but fortunately, the vegetable seller was kind enough to let me take the greens on credit, asking only that I deliver the money to the very last house in this alley today. Since the seller showed me such great consideration, I certainly cannot default on the debt, so when I came to town today, I intended to deliver the payment. I never expected there to be two houses at the very end of this alley. I knocked on one, and they said it wasn't them. When I knocked on the other, there was no answer. I was just hoping to ask where that household might have gone so I can repay them quickly, you see?” Madam He feigned anxiety.

Hearing Madam He’s earnest account, coupled with her distressed expression, the woman on the other side seemed to believe her story. “Oh, sister, perhaps you misremembered? There are no vegetable sellers living in our alley! You must have heard incorrectly.”

“Ah? That can’t be right; the seller specifically mentioned this alleyway!” Madam He insisted.

“You still don’t believe me? Let me tell you, in our alley, after the turn, are the last two houses. One is occupied by a widow with a child, and the other is an old woman. There’s certainly no vegetable seller’s family here!” the woman who opened the door explained.

Madam He inwardly thought, A widow, no wonder! Yet, she still harbored doubt. Even if the house across the way was occupied by an old woman, wouldn't she eventually notice such goings-on?

So, Madam He asked again, “An old woman living there? That’s strange. I just knocked, and no one answered me!”

“That is strange. That old woman only has poor eyesight, but I’ve never heard that her hearing is bad! What could be the matter?” The woman also found this peculiar.

So, it’s just poor eyesight, Madam He realized. That explains it. Having gotten the information she needed, Madam He neatly wrapped up her fabricated story. “Perhaps the old woman was asleep and didn’t hear me!”

“That’s possible too!” the woman agreed, finding the explanation plausible.

“Thank you, big sister. I shouldn’t keep you; I need to check the other alleys,” Madam He said.

“Oh, you should hurry and look! Don’t mistake the location next time!” the woman replied with concern.

Madam He smiled at the woman and then walked out of the alley.

Though outside the alley, Madam He felt anything but calm. After all, she had stumbled upon a significant secret today, one that left her utterly unsure of what to do. If she revealed it, it would certainly cause trouble. But if she kept it hidden, she felt she would be doing a disservice to her husband, as it involved his own father's disgrace. Yet, thinking of the reaction (Qingshan) might have upon learning the truth, Madam He hesitated. Given Qingshan’s deep filial piety, if he found out, he would undoubtedly confront the elders of the family.

Sigh, I need to think this through more carefully! With this conflicted state of mind, Madam He proceeded toward Wang Youfu’s mill.