The lingering warmth from the Wang Fuchu family’s joy over Wang Qingchen’s acceptance into the county examination had barely faded when Luo Qing immediately voiced her desire to visit the temple for prayers. Madam Yang readily agreed; she held a strong belief in such matters. Thus, Madam Yang promptly decided to pick a quiet day to accompany Luo Qing to the temple.

A few days later, on a less busy afternoon, Madam Yang took Luo Qing along to the temple. This time, the mother and daughter-in-law visited the same temple Luo Qing had attended before her pregnancy. In their minds, this temple was especially efficacious; they even believed that their last successful pregnancy was largely thanks to the prayers offered there.

After burning incense, the two decided to draw fortune sticks, just as they had done before. However, upon reaching the fortune-telling station, they encountered an unexpected person: Zhang Yunzhu’s wife.

Zhang Yunzhu’s wife looked utterly haggard. Her son, Zhang Wenbing, still hadn't recovered his sight, and as time dragged on, Zhang Wenbing’s behavior had become erratic. At times, Zhang Yunzhu and his wife could hear their son meticulously detailing the many misdeeds he had committed, including petty thefts and extorting money from people. Among these confessions were Zhang Wenbing’s past ventures into the Wang Fuchu household to steal flowers, and the instance where he blackmailed Wang Youliang for money.

Consequently, when Zhang Yunzhu’s wife saw Madam Yang and Luo Qing, she felt deeply self-conscious. Her son had apparently trespassed on their property before. Although she learned from her son that he hadn't stolen anything that time and had instead received a beating, it was still a dishonorable act.

Madam Yang and Luo Qing naturally noticed Zhang Yunzhu’s wife as well. Since they were from the same village, it would have been rude not to exchange greetings. Madam Yang spoke first: “Wenbing’s mother, are you here to offer incense as well?”

Hearing this, Zhang Yunzhu’s wife nodded with some embarrassment. “Yes. Wenbing’s eyes haven’t healed, you see. I thought, if the doctors can’t fix it, why not ask the Bodhisattva to try? So, I came to pray, hoping the Bodhisattva might restore my son’s sight.”

Madam Yang listened, feeling immense sympathy. Any family would be distressed by such misfortune. Not only was her son blind, but he had also become so altered; who wouldn't be heartbroken?

“Ah, don't worry too much about this; things will get better,” Madam Yang comforted her.

Instead of feeling consoled by Madam Yang’s words, Zhang Yunzhu’s wife felt a pang of guilt. Her son had stolen from these very people, and yet now they offered such sincere encouragement, assuring her that her son’s eyesight would return. How could she not feel ashamed on her son’s behalf?

Afterward, both parties drew their fortune sticks and sought an explanation from the master. Madam Yang didn't know the result of Zhang Yunzhu’s wife’s reading, but Luo Qing’s fortune stick turned out to be quite favorable. This delighted both mother and daughter-in-law, strengthening their confidence that Luo Qing would soon bear them another robust grandson.

When their business was concluded, Madam Yang and Luo Qing departed. Just as they reached outside the temple gates, they saw Zhang Yunzhu’s wife standing beneath a large tree, occasionally peering toward the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone.

Zhang Yunzhu’s wife had positioned herself under the tree specifically to wait for Madam Yang and Luo Qing to emerge. The more she pondered her son’s past thefts and Madam Yang’s compassionate words, the more unconscionable she felt her son’s act of stealing flowers had been. After considerable agonizing, Zhang Yunzhu’s wife resolved to confess the matter and seek Madam Yang’s forgiveness. This was not only for her own peace of mind but also to lighten some of her son’s sins and accumulate blessings for him.

Zhang Yunzhu’s wife waited under the tree for a while, then saw Madam Yang and Luo Qing walking out. She quickly approached them. “You’re finally out.”

Madam Yang and Luo Qing, just stepping out of the temple, were quite surprised. They hadn't expected Zhang Yunzhu’s wife to wait for them specifically. “What is it…”

“I waited for you because there is something I need to tell you. It concerns the incident when your house was robbed,” Zhang Yunzhu’s wife stated.

Upon hearing this, both Madam Yang and Luo Qing’s hearts skipped a beat. Did Zhang Yunzhu’s wife know the true inside story of their robbery?

Since Wang Fuchu’s home had been broken into twice, the family had remained uneasy. Indeed, anyone whose home was burgled twice in succession would naturally harbor fear and anxiety; who wasn't worried about being targeted by thieves in those days? Although it was later discovered that Wang Youliang was the one who stole the flowers the second time, the family knew that the intruder the first time had not been Wang Youliang!

So, Madam Yang asked, “What have you found out?”

Hearing the question, Zhang Yunzhu’s wife became awkward. She glanced around to ensure they were alone before confessing hesitantly, “To tell you the truth, I only know about this because it involves my son.”

“It involves your son?” Madam Yang and Luo Qing exclaimed in unison.

Although they all lived in the same village, and Zhang Wenbing’s reputation in the village wasn't great generally, the Wang Fuchu family had never suspected Zhang Wenbing regarding the burglaries. Who would have imagined someone so young could commit such deeds?

Zhang Yunzhu’s wife saw the look of astonishment on Madam Yang and Luo Qing’s faces and realized the Wang Fuchu family hadn't suspected her son. She felt acutely embarrassed. “I truly don’t know what to say. Back then, my son was ignorant and caused your family so much trouble and distress. As his mother, I don’t know how to apologize, except to beg for your understanding. Please, forgive him this once! His eyes are now blind, which I see as Heaven’s punishment for him. I beg you, do not blame him further.”

Madam Yang initially felt a sting of resentment. After all, someone from their own village had broken into their home, causing them anxiety for so long—they couldn't sleep soundly, and for reassurance, they had even brought home two puppies. How could she pretend not to care? However, seeing Zhang Yunzhu’s wife so worn out worrying about her son and now begging for forgiveness for his misdeeds, Madam Yang found herself unable to hold onto her anger.

Luo Qing, standing beside her, felt indignant. Although the previous thefts occurred before she married into the Wang family, she had certainly heard Wang Qinghua recount the events after she arrived, and she had been furious then. Now that they knew who the petty thief was, they were expected to simply forgive him? How could such a thing be so easily settled?

“I heard that thieves are supposed to be imprisoned! I never heard that being blind meant one gets excused from jail time!” Luo Qing sneered.

“This…” Zhang Yunzhu’s wife was momentarily speechless.

Madam Yang sighed. “Enough. Our family will not pursue this matter further. However, in the future, you must discipline your son well. You cannot allow him to continue bringing trouble to the village!”

Hearing Madam Yang’s words, Zhang Yunzhu’s wife became emotional. “Yes, you are right. But please rest assured, now that my son is blind, he cannot go out and do anything, no matter how much he wants to. So, you can be completely at ease.”

Madam Yang nodded, finding some merit in what Zhang Yunzhu’s wife said.

After a brief further exchange, Zhang Yunzhu’s wife hurried off to care for her son. Madam Yang and Luo Qing then browsed the small market stalls below the temple.

“Mother, why did you forgive them so easily just now?” Luo Qing asked, perplexed.

“Alas, we are both mothers. Seeing her plead for our forgiveness like that, how could I bear to blame her further? Besides, that Zhang Wenbing is blind now; he can’t commit evil deeds anymore!” Madam Yang explained her reasoning.

“But I still feel that was too lenient for him. He committed a crime, and it can’t just be wiped clean because he’s lost his sight now. If that were the case, anyone who breaks the law could just make themselves miserable first and then beg for pardon, rendering the official courts useless!” Luo Qing remained unconvinced.

Madam Yang looked at the indignant Luo Qing and smiled slightly. “To tell you the truth, when her son broke into our house before, he didn't manage to steal anything, and your father gave him a good beating—that served as punishment. We won't punish him further. Moreover, your mother is hoping to foster good karma, pray for the Bodhisattva’s blessing, and have you bless our family with a big, healthy grandson!”

Luo Qing hadn't expected the matter to circle back to her and immediately grew shy. “Mother, what are you saying? There’s no sign of that yet!”

“Soon, it will be soon. Wasn't the fortune stick you drew just now very good? It seems we might get our wish this time,” Madam Yang chuckled.

Although Luo Qing was confident in her recent fortune stick reading, pregnancy was never guaranteed, so she dared not promise anything, resorting instead to lighthearted banter.

Upon returning home from the temple, Madam Yang recounted her encounter with Zhang Yunzhu’s wife to the rest of the family.

“Honestly, those two, Zhang Yunzhu and his wife, are quite pitiful to have such a son. They used to be one of the most prominent wealthy families in our village. And now? They must have spent a fortune trying to manage their son,” Madam Yang reflected sadly.

“Hmph. If you ask me, they have no one to blame but themselves for not teaching their child properly! Why aren't the other children in our village turning out like their son?” Wang Fuchu scoffed.

Madam Yang knew Wang Fuchu was unhappy with her unilateral decision not to pursue charges against the Zhang family, so she did not argue. Instead, she allowed Wang Fuchu to vent his frustrations.