As Luo Yin's younger brother approached, she finally recognized the person before her as her sibling. The tension that had been taut within her snapped, and with a sigh of relief, she fainted dead away.

Seeing his elder sister about to collapse, Luo Yin's brother rushed forward to catch her, all while carefully minding the infant she held. He became instantly flustered, terrified of dropping either of them. By the time he had managed to steady her and secure the child in his arms, the commotion had startled the baby awake, and it began to wail loudly! Luo Yin’s brother had no idea how to soothe a crying infant, and he only grew more bewildered.

This situation was untenable. After a moment of thought, Luo Yin’s brother cradled the child in one arm while using the other to support his sister, easing her onto his back. He then carried her, step by deliberate step, toward home.

It was just after lunch, so the entire Luo Laoda family was present. When Luo Yin's brother finally brought his sister and small nephew home, the whole family was stunned into silence. What on earth had happened?

It was Luo Laoda's wife who reacted the quickest. Upon seeing her son carrying his sister on his back while also holding a loudly weeping baby, she froze for only a second before regaining her composure. She hurried over, crying out, “Oh, Da Ya, Da Ya has returned! What—what in the world is going on?”

Luo Yin's brother watched his mother rush toward him. He first handed the crying infant to her before replying, “Mother, I really don't know. When I saw my sister, she was already nearly home, still clutching the child. I was quite puzzled! But for now, please don't ask questions. My sister has fainted; you should hurry and fetch the physician!”

With that said, Luo Yin's brother carried his sister into the house. With the help of his younger siblings, he gently lowered her from his back onto the kang and covered her with a quilt.

Luo Laoda's wife naturally realized that this was no time for chatter. She immediately shouted to her husband, “Old Man, aren’t you going to run and call the physician?”

Luo Laoda seemed to snap out of his stupor. “Right, right, I need to call a physician. I’ll go now. You all take care of Da Ya first.”

Luo Laoda bolted out the door. His wife then turned back to her daughter lying on the kang. Looking at Luo Yin’s pale face, her own expression filled with heartache. “Oh, this is wretched luck. You should be observing your confinement period at your husband's home right now! How could you come back here all alone with the child? What were your in-laws doing? Qingyun too—how could he let you run off by yourself! If something had happened to you, what would we do?”

Luo Yin's brother looked at his mother’s anxious and pained face and comforted her, “Mother, let’s not jump to conclusions. Please don’t worry so much yet. We can ask her when she wakes up. Also, since my sister came back alone with the baby, the Wang family might not even know. Should we send word to the Wangs?”

Upon hearing her son suggest going to the Wang residence, Luo Laoda's wife immediately refused. “Hmph, absolutely not. She’s a grown woman, and she was carrying a child when she left their house. I refuse to believe the Wangs were unaware. They must have done something terrible again, which is why your sister fled back here with the baby. Poor dear, she just gave birth a few days ago, and here she is, desperately carrying her child back to her maiden home. Hmph! If the Wang family wants her back now, they’ll have to see if I agree!”

Luo Yin’s brother felt a sense of helplessness listening to his mother. He could only pray silently that the Wang family would arrive quickly, otherwise, placating his mother’s fury would prove difficult.

Not long after the brother had this thought, Wang Qingyun arrived at his in-laws’ gate, panting heavily. He dared not enter immediately, though he had run as fast as he could. He had hoped to catch up with his wife on the road and bring her back, but along the entire way, he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of her. Now that he had finally reached the in-laws’ house, uncertainty began to grip him. What if his wife hadn't come to her parents' home at all? If he went inside and the in-laws told him she wasn't there, what then?

However, after a moment’s thought, Wang Qingyun resolved to brace himself and enter, as there was still a fifty percent chance his wife was inside.

Just as Wang Qingyun was contemplating simply pushing the door open, he saw his young brother-in-law emerge from the house. Wang Qingyun rushed forward. “Zhuzi, has your sister returned?”

Luo Yin's brother looked at his travel-worn brother-in-law. Initially, a spark of anger ignited within him. How could the Wang family allow his sister to return alone, carrying a baby, especially knowing how frail she must be after childbirth? Yet, after a moment, a sense of relief followed: perhaps it was just a spat between his sister and brother-in-law, prompting her to come home, and since the brother-in-law had chased after her, things couldn't be too serious! Thinking this, Luo Yin's brother was about to answer Wang Qingyun when he heard his mother’s voice call from inside: “Zhuzi, who are you talking to outside?”

Hearing his mother’s query, Luo Yin's brother called back towards the house, “Mother, it’s Brother-in-law!”

“What? Your brother-in-law?” Wang Laoda’s wife’s voice suddenly sharpened from within the house. “Good heavens, I was just looking for a place to vent my anger, and look who the culprit is, showing up right on time.”

With that, Luo Laoda’s wife stepped out and glared at Wang Qingyun standing in the courtyard.

Seeing his mother-in-law emerge, Wang Qingyun immediately asked, “Mother, has Yin’er returned?”

“Hmph, now you’re in a hurry. What were you doing before? Do you have any idea your wife is currently in confinement? Do you know she shouldn’t be exposed to any drafts? And yet you let her run off by herself! All those people in your Wang family—how could you let a woman recovering from childbirth leave with a baby? Today, you’d better explain to me, are you people in the Wang family dissatisfied with our Yin’er? If you are, then just let Yin’er come home for good. We can afford to feed one more person in the house,” Luo Laoda’s wife scolded.

Wang Qingyun’s face was etched with guilt. “Mother, this is all my fault. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“Again? You think there will be a next time? I married my good daughter off to your Wang family, only to have her tormented like this! And you’re already thinking of a next time?”

“Mother, I—I didn’t mean it like that,” Wang Qingyun said anxiously.

“Then what did you mean?” Luo Laoda’s wife snapped.

“I, I will definitely treat Yin’er well from now on and ensure this never happens again. I guarantee it,” Wang Qingyun quickly stated.

“Hmph, your guarantees mean nothing to me. You’d better hurry back to your Wang family. We will take care of our daughter ourselves. I dare not entrust her to your Wang family again, lest one day my daughter comes dragging her weak body back home like this again.” Luo Laoda’s wife sneered, then commanded Luo Yin’s brother, “Zhuzi, see him out!”

Luo Laoda’s abrupt command left both Wang Qingyun and Luo Yin’s brother momentarily stunned. They both cried out, “Mother!”

“Get out! You’re an eyesore standing here!” Luo Laoda’s wife declared before turning and heading back into the house.

Watching his mother retreat, Luo Yin’s brother turned toward Wang Qingyun with a helpless air. “Brother-in-law, what happened between you and my sister? Why did she come back alone?”

“This…” Wang Qingyun couldn't find the words. Should he reveal that the family wanted to give away their son to be raised by others? That would likely only enrage his mother-in-law further!

Seeing Wang Qingyun hesitate, Luo Yin’s brother pressed, “It wasn't the elders in your family giving my sister a difficult time, was it?”

Wang Qingyun was even more at a loss for how to answer. While it was true that the elders were troubling his wife, such matters were not easily spoken of in front of outsiders.

Wang Qingyun’s silence was taken as confirmation by Luo Yin’s brother. His expression soured immediately. He had initially assumed it was just a minor disagreement between his sister and brother-in-law, but now he understood it was the Wang family elders causing trouble for his sister. He felt deeply displeased. He believed his sister was such a good person; if someone was dissatisfied, it must be their own fault, not his sister’s. And if his brother-in-law couldn't protect her, then his brother-in-law was also at fault.

Thus, Zhuzi, who had originally intended to get the full story and perhaps put in a good word for his brother-in-law, could no longer maintain a pleasant demeanor. His tone became stiff. “Brother-in-law, I think you should go back now. We will take care of my sister ourselves; there’s no need for you to trouble yourself.” With that, Luo Yin’s brother turned to go back inside.

Seeing this development, Wang Qingyun grew anxious. “Zhuzi, wait! How is your sister now? Is she alright after coming back alone? Let me go in and see your sister. Let me apologize to your sister properly!”

“You should just go back. Don't trouble yourself over my sister,” Luo Yin’s brother turned to block him.

“How about this: I’ll just go in to see your sister. If she’s fine, I’ll leave right away. What do you say?” Wang Qingyun pleaded.

“No, you still need to go back!” Luo Yin’s brother insisted.

Just as the two were arguing, Luo Laoda finally returned, rushing in with the physician in tow.