Though the old madam was eager to find Wang Qingyun and Luo Yin, she also knew this matter could not get out; otherwise, what would others think of the Wang family? The granddaughter-in-law had just given birth and immediately taken the baby back to her maternal home—surely she was being mistreated by her in-laws! Thus, retrieving them now was important, but secrecy was even more crucial.

The old madam pondered whom to send to fetch them back appropriately. After thinking it over, there wasn't a single suitable person. At the main house right now, only the Old Master and the eldest son, Wang Youliang, were the male heads present. It wouldn't do to send the Old Master and the eldest son to fetch her, would it? If the granddaughter-in-law returned to her family home and two elders were sent to retrieve her, how would the outside world view the Wang family? But Qing Shan and Qing Tong weren't home either; they were both in town. This couldn't be delayed, so what should be done? Should she summon all the male members of the household back?

The old madam glanced at Madam Tian. If she were to send Madam Tian to town now to call the men back, those helping at the second branch house wouldn't see Madam Tian, and they would certainly inquire. That might lead to the secret leaking, and perhaps the Old Master would even find out. Could she allow the Old Master to know right now? The thought of the Old Master’s fury made the old madam hesitate.

The old madam felt that one way wouldn't work and another was inappropriate; for a moment, she was at a loss.

Seeing the old madam agonizing without offering a decision, Madam Tian grew anxious. “Mother, this needs to be handled quickly, or if it drags on, someone will surely notice. Perhaps someone in the village already saw Qingyun’s wife leave with the child today!”

Madam Tian felt deeply wronged. Having landed in such a predicament, if the news spread, the villagers wouldn't know what to say about her as a mother-in-law! Hmph, this was all the good deed done by Qingyun’s wife. If not for her, how could Qingyun have run off with her, disregarding the Wang family’s reputation?

The old madam knew as well as Madam Tian that she was right, but all she could do now was pray that no one in the village had seen Qingyun’s wife leave today.

“We are helping out at the second branch house today. If anyone from our side leaves, someone will surely ask. So, it’s inconvenient to leave right now. And if I tell your father, I don't know how angry he’ll get!” the old madam sighed.

“Mother, how about this: I’ll say I’m feeling unwell, and then I’ll go to town to call back both Qing Shan and Qing Tong. What do you think?” Madam Tian suggested.

The old madam considered it. There truly wasn't a better option at the moment, so she had to agree and nodded. Soon after, Madam Tian used her health as an excuse, pretending to return to the main house, though in fact, she headed to town.

Madam Zhang watched Madam Tian’s departing back with disdain. “If you don’t want to help, just say so. Why pretend to be ill? Isn't she afraid the Bodhisattva will manifest a real illness someday?”

Madam Yang was also somewhat helpless. After all, those from the main house had arrived late this morning, and now, just after lunch, she was claiming illness again. The only one left to offer assistance was Qingyun, but Qingyun was nowhere to be found; he had gone to deliver food to his wife and hadn't returned yet!

“Forget it. We have enough hands for now anyway,” Madam Yang sighed.

A while after Madam Tian had left, the old madam still felt uneasy. Even if Qing Shan and Qing Tong brought Qingyun and his wife back, they might not be willing to return! Moreover, Qingyun’s wife had left secretly with the baby when she should have been in confinement. If the in-laws were to press the matter, could Qing Shan and Qing Tong handle it? It wasn't that she didn't have faith in the two brothers, but Luo’s eldest daughter-in-law was no pushover. If she started making a scene, Qing Shan and Qing Tong would surely suffer for it. Thus, the situation might become even worse.

Just as the old madam was pondering this, Aunt Gui arrived at Madam Yang’s side and whispered something to her.

It turned out that someone had indeed seen Luo Yin leaving with the baby that day. Although Luo Yin had deliberately wrapped her face with a cloth to avoid recognition, someone had noticed. However, because the person wasn't clearly seen, they weren't entirely sure it was Luo Yin. And this person who noticed happened to be Aunt Gui’s elder sister-in-law.

Madam Yang was instantly startled upon hearing this. “Are you kidding me? Isn't Qingyun’s wife confined at home after giving birth? Why would she take the baby out?”

“Yes, that’s what I thought too! But this was truly what my sister-in-law saw, and she isn't one to speak nonsense. She said the person looked very much like your eldest branch’s Qingyun’s wife, and she was heading in the direction of the Luo family. That’s why I came to ask you if there’s any truth to it,” Aunt Gui explained.

Madam Yang couldn't be certain either. She recalled Qingyun going to bring food to his wife and never returning, and Madam Tian also making an excuse about being unwell before leaving. Could what Aunt Gui said be true? Thinking of this, Madam Yang grew unsettled. If this were true, the Wang family’s reputation…

Therefore, Madam Yang quickly pulled Wang Youfu aside and told him about the matter. Wang Youfu was also greatly shocked upon hearing it. “Could this be true? What fresh trouble has the main house stirred up now? Qingyun’s wife is still so weak, yet she took the baby out.”

Madam Yang shook her head. “How would I know? We’ve been busy all day today and haven't gone out at all!”

Wang Youfu naturally understood this. He stopped questioning Madam Yang and quickly found Caiyun, asking her to go to the main house to check if anyone was there. Caiyun didn’t ask further and hurried off to the main house.

Soon, Caiyun returned, shaking her head at Wang Youfu. “No one’s there. I knocked, and no one answered. I even knocked on the window of Qingyun Ge’s room, but still no answer.”

Wang Youfu knew then that Aunt Gui’s words were most likely true. He rushed to find the Old Master to ask what exactly was going on!

The Old Master had been chatting with people, but when the second son called him aside, he saw Wang Youfu’s expression was not good and assumed something had happened on the second branch’s side. To his surprise, it was about the main house.

“What? What did you say? They aren't there? How could they not be home? She’s in confinement; could she have run away?” the Old Master couldn't believe it.

“Father, why would I trick you with such a thing! They are truly not home, and someone saw it today. What is going on?” Wang Youfu inquired.

The Old Master was instantly bewildered. He had no idea what was happening. Could it be about this morning’s affair? Did Qingyun’s wife run off in a fit of pique because she refused to let her son be adopted by Qing Shan?

Thinking of this, the Old Master roared, “Nonsense! She ran back to her maternal home over that issue? Our Wang family really can’t afford such a granddaughter-in-law.”

Furious, the Old Master was about to go find the old madam, but Wang Youfu stopped him. “Father, what exactly happened? Why would Qingyun’s wife go to her parents' home at this time? I’m completely in the dark!”

“Hmph, wasn’t it this morning when your mother and I said Qingyun and his wife should give their child to Qing Shan and his wife for adoption!” the Old Master said angrily.

Wang Youfu understood immediately. However, his opinion aligned with the Old Master's: since Qing Shan had no biological son, the best course was to adopt a child from the Wang family, rather than one from outside. Their own kin was ultimately more reliable. But Qingyun’s wife, over this matter, disregarded the Wang family’s reputation and took the baby back to her family during her confinement. If more people found out, who knew what gossip would follow them?

However, Wang Youfu also knew that this was not the time for anger; the priority was to fetch them back immediately. After all, the Wang family couldn't ignore its reputation. Secure the reputation first; sorting out the underlying issues could wait.

So, Wang Youfu persuaded him, “Father, now is not the time to be angry and throw a fit. It’s best to bring them back quickly. We can discuss the adoption issue later.”

The Old Master naturally understood this point, but he had been flustered by anger just moments before. “You are right; the first thing is to bring them back.” Then, a flicker of worry crossed his face. “Right, you mentioned someone saw them. That person wouldn't go around spreading rumors, would they?”

Wang Youfu shook his head. “Father, don’t worry, she isn't someone who would spread rumors carelessly.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” With that, the Old Master hurried off to discuss matters with the old madam.

The old madam hadn't expected the Old Master to find out so quickly. When she learned it was because someone had seen the event and spoken of it, she grew anxious. “Old Master, who saw this? Will they spread it everywhere?”

“Don't worry about that right now; first, let’s think about how to bring them back,” the Old Master said, slightly annoyed.

The old madam then recounted the plan she had discussed with the eldest daughter-in-law.

When the Old Master heard this, he felt there was no better way at the moment, so he implicitly agreed. They then waited together for Wang Qing Shan and Wang Qing Tong to return.

In town, Wang Qing Shan and Wang Qing Tong listened as Madam Tian told them that Wang Qingyun and his wife had run off to her maternal home. They were utterly confused. Everything had seemed fine when they left that morning; how could things have devolved like this by noon? The two asked Madam Tian for an explanation.

“No matter the reason, her running off now is wrong. Where is she putting the Wang family’s honor?” Madam Tian, at this moment, completely glossed over the fact that her own son had run off with his wife.