Returning from the mill that evening, Wang Qinghua was beside himself with joy after Yang Shi told him his wife was pregnant, immediately wanting to fetch his wife and daughter back.

Fortunately, Yang Shi managed to calm him down: "It’s so late now; wait until you go tomorrow! Besides, it was already agreed that she’d stay at her mother’s for one night. If you go get her now, how disappointed Qing’er will be!"

Hearing Yang Shi’s advice, Wang Qinghua slowly regained his composure and sheepishly scratched his head, "Mother, I was just overcome with happiness..."

Yang Shi smiled and nodded. "I know. When I first heard the news, I was overjoyed too. Since Qing’er is expecting again, if it turns out to be a boy, you'll finally have an heir."

Wang Qinghua quickly replied upon hearing his mother’s words, "Mother, honestly, whether it’s a boy or a girl, your son will be happy with either..."

"I know, but you still need a son eventually, otherwise, when you get older..." Yang Shi reasoned.

"Mother, I understand what you mean, but we are still young, Qing’er and I. Even if this baby is a girl, it doesn't matter; we will have more children in the future," Wang Qinghua stated earnestly.

Yang Shi looked at her eldest son’s serious expression and chuckled, "Of course, I know that. Otherwise, why didn't I say a word when your wife wasn't conceiving for so long! I just figured you were young, and it wasn't like you couldn't have children; you would eventually have a son. Don't worry, I'm not one of those difficult mothers-in-law!"

Wang Qinghua felt a little embarrassed, "Mother, that’s not what I meant."

"Alright, alright, how could I not know what you meant? I know you cherish your wife, and if you and your wife can live happily together, your father and I can rest easy. Why would I blame you!" Yang Shi said, looking at her eldest son.

"Mother, Qing’er is my wife, but in my heart, she will never surpass you and Father. And Qing’er is very dutiful; in the future, she and I will certainly take good care of you both," Wang Qinghua declared.

After hearing this, Yang Shi felt immensely gratified. She felt that these words alone were enough; her son hadn't forgotten his mother after marrying.

Meanwhile, over at the Luo Second Household, Chen Shi was sleeping with her daughter, Luo Qing, that night. Her daughter and granddaughter slept on either side of her. Nian’er was already asleep, and Chen Shi was talking quietly with her daughter.

"Now that you’re pregnant, no more overthinking, do you hear? Focus on nourishing yourself and try to give birth to a big, healthy boy; don't worry about anything else," Chen Shi instructed her daughter.

Luo Qing nodded. "I know, Mother, but you’ve already told me this many times."

"Still talking! I’m just afraid you’ll forget and start thinking wildly again when the time comes!" Chen Shi retorted lightly.

"Mother, I was wrong. I promise I won't let my mind wander when I return," Luo Qing cajoled, shaking Chen Shi’s arm.

"Good, as long as you know. And another thing, you must remember to be extremely filial to your in-laws, and get along well with your brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, understand? That way, your husband’s family will like you, and you can establish your footing. Also, you are the eldest branch’s wife, so if the family divides later, your in-laws will most likely live with you. Of course, you don't need to worry about this; your mother-in-law seems genuinely kind, treating you impeccably. It’s not like your cousin’s mother-in-law—your eldest aunt was privately grumbling the other day that she regretted letting your cousin marry into the Wang family. So many good families sought her hand, but she ended up with the Wangs, and look at the result. If the family doesn't divide, that’s even better; your brother-in-law is already a Juren now. If he advances further, he might even secure an official post, and you all can bask in the reflected glory then," Chen Shi elaborated.

Luo Qing listened, nodding intermittently. "Yes, Mother, I understand everything you’ve said."

"It’s good that you know. This way, I won't have to worry about you anymore; I can focus solely on your brother’s matters," Chen Shi sighed in relief.

"Mother, Mother, are you abandoning me then?" Luo Qing sounded slightly disgruntled.

"Go on, go on! Your daughter is already this old, and you’re still competing with your younger brother—aren't you ashamed!" Chen Shi feigned anger. "You are so grown up; Mother can’t worry about you forever!"

"Mother, if you stop caring for me, what will happen if I make a mistake in the future?" Luo Qing insisted, refusing to yield.

Chen Shi pointed at her daughter’s forehead. "Don't try to fool me. If you mess up, Qinghua will surely take the blame for you first. Even with your mother-in-law, the problems likely won’t be significant. I’m telling you, the greatest fortune in your life is marrying into your in-laws' family. If you had married into a family like your cousin's in-laws, who knows what state you’d be in! It’s only because your cousin is capable that she’s managed well all these years. If it were someone else, see if the Wang family's eldest branch wouldn't have descended into chaos!"

"Mother, I know, but my cousin is much better off now than before. And she’s about to give birth soon. Since she had a son with her first child, she won't have to worry this time, no matter if this one is a boy or a girl," Luo Qing offered.

"That’s true. By the way, since you two are both daughters of the Luo family and cousins, you should visit each other often. You are family, and you both married into the Wang family; you ought to support each other well, understand? Moreover, your cousin is far shrewder than you. If anything happens and you can’t reach me in time, you can look to your cousin for advice."

Luo Qing nodded. "Understood, Mother!"

"Good, since you understand, hurry up and sleep now. You’re pregnant, so you must pay attention to resting well every day, okay?" Chen Shi said.

"Mm." With that, Luo Qing closed her eyes, preparing to sleep.

After watching her daughter fall asleep, Chen Shi turned to check on her granddaughter. Seeing that the little girl was fine, she finally settled down to sleep herself.

The next morning, Wang Qinghua arrived at the Luo Second Household early.

"Oh my, Qinghua, you’ve come so early! Come in, come in," Chen Shi greeted him warmly upon seeing him. "Have you had breakfast this early?"

After learning his wife was pregnant, Wang Qinghua was so excited he barely slept the previous night and only managed to drift off late. Upon waking that morning, he rushed over with the ox cart without even having breakfast.

Thus, when Chen Shi asked, Wang Qinghua shook his head sheepishly, "I came in such a hurry, I didn’t have time for breakfast!"

Chen Shi covered her mouth and chuckled upon hearing this. "You must have been too eager to come after finding out Qing’er was pregnant!"

Wang Qinghua became even more embarrassed by Chen Shi’s teasing.

"Quick, quick, come in and sit down to eat breakfast with us," Chen Shi urged with a smile.

Wang Qinghua then followed her into the inner room. There, he saw his wife, Qing’er, sitting at the table with their daughter, Nian’er, arranging the bowls and chopsticks.

The moment Nian’er saw Wang Qinghua enter, she slid off her small stool and ran wobbly towards him, "Daddy, hold!"

Seeing his wife and daughter, Wang Qinghua was delighted. He quickly walked over and lifted the running girl into his arms. "Oh, Nian’er has grown again! Did Nian’er miss Daddy?"

"Miss!" Nian’er shouted loudly.

Everyone in the room laughed at that.

Wang Qinghua then greeted the assembled Luo Second Master and Luo Qing’s younger brother. Luo Qing’s brother had been sitting on Luo Qing’s side, but seeing Wang Qinghua arrive, he quickly gave up his seat and called out, "Brother-in-law, sit here, next to my sister!"

Wang Qinghua did not refuse, walking over and sitting down while holding his daughter.

After Wang Qinghua sat down, Chen Shi quickly brought him a bowl and chopsticks, pouring him a bowl of thin congee and passing him a piece of griddle cake from the pot. "Eat quickly, these are still warm!"

"Yes!" Wang Qinghua accepted the congee and the flatbread.

Luo Qing whispered to Wang Qinghua, "Give Nian’er to me; I can feed her."

Wang Qinghua shook his head upon hearing this. "It’s fine, you eat; I’ll feed her."

Overhearing Wang Qinghua, Chen Shi nodded repeatedly. She found her son-in-law entirely satisfactory, but when it came to feeding children, it was best left to the women!

So, Chen Shi interjected, "You two young ones just focus on eating! I'll feed Nian’er." With that, Chen Shi spoke to Nian’er, "Nian’er, be good, come over to Grandma, and Grandma will feed you."

Nian’er had grown quite familiar with her grandmother since arriving the previous day. Hearing Chen Shi’s words, she slipped off Wang Qinghua’s lap and toddled over to Chen Shi’s side to be fed.

Not long after breakfast concluded, Wang Qinghua took his wife and daughter back home. Chen Shi had intended to keep them for lunch, but Wang Qinghua explained, "When my mother heard Qing’er was pregnant, she specially stewed an old hen for lunch, waiting for Qing’er to come back!"

Upon hearing Wang Qinghua say this, Chen Shi stopped insisting. Moreover, knowing how much her in-law valued this pregnancy, Chen Shi was very pleased and certainly wouldn't prevent her daughter from returning.

After they left, Yang Shi rushed forward to take Nian’er and showered Luo Qing with solicitous care. "Now that you are pregnant, you must eat nourishing foods well. Tell me if you want anything, or you can tell Aunt Wu."

Luo Qing nodded. "Yes, Mother, I know. Don’t worry; I will take good care of myself. If I crave anything, I will definitely say so."

Only then did Yang Shi nod in reassurance.