Wang Qingshan nodded. "Yes, your sister-in-law and I already have Quan'er! Besides, given Sister-in-law’s current condition, it’s uncertain if you two will even have more children down the line! Frankly, I am also at fault in this matter. I failed to settle things clearly with the elders about not adopting a child later. If I had made that clear to the family early on, this situation wouldn't have arisen, and Sister-in-law wouldn't have suffered this injury."

Wang Qingyun quickly shook his head. "Big Brother, this isn't your fault. You didn't know about the situation back then."

Hearing Wang Qingyun say this, Wang Qingshan didn't press the matter further. It was already a relief that his younger brother didn't hold him responsible.

"Big Brother, Yin'er is probably still throwing a fit. I’ll go in now and tell her the news so she can rest assured," Wang Qingyun said.

Wang Qingshan nodded. "Mm, go in quickly then! And tell Sister-in-law that we’ll be heading back tonight."

"Right!" Wang Qingyun nodded, then hurried into the inner room.

No one knew what Wang Qingyun said to Luo Yin after entering, but the crying and commotion inside the room ceased soon after. It seemed Luo Yin had calmed down.

When evening came, the Luo couple kept them for dinner before allowing them to return to the Wang family. Before they left, Mrs. Luo gave her daughter a thorough set of instructions, mostly advising her against such impulsive actions in the future, warning her that the Wang family would certainly administer punishment upon their return, and urging her to endure it patiently. She also spent time advising Wang Qingyun on how to properly nourish his wife’s body. Only then did the Luo couple reluctantly bid their daughter farewell.

Wang Qingyun first took the bedding from the Luo family and spread a layer of it on the ox cart, then lifted his wife onto it. As for Wang Qingshan, he was responsible for driving the cart.

With the padding underneath, the ride wasn't nearly as jarring, sparing Luo Yin’s fragile body some suffering. Wang Qingshan drove the ox cart back to Wangjia Village. Instead of first returning the ox cart to Wang Youfu’s house, he headed straight to the old residence. Only after Wang Qingyun carried his wife, Luo Yin, off the cart and settled her in their room did Wang Qingshan take the cart to Wang Youfu’s place to switch it out.

Wang Youfu and Yang Shi, upon seeing Wang Qingshan return the cart, inquired with concern about how the matter with Luo Yin had been handled.

Wang Qingshan naturally knew Wang Youfu and his wife were aware of the details, so he didn't conceal anything, recounting the sequence of events.

After hearing Wang Qingshan’s words, Yang Shi sighed. "Alas, such a good girl, to damage her health like this. Now, nursing her back to health will be quite difficult."

Wang Youfu's perspective differed sharply from Yang Shi’s. "But she brought this upon herself! No one forced her to go back. Even if she disregarded her own health and insisted on returning, she nearly stained the reputation of our Wang family in the process."

Yang Shi and Wang Qingshan were well aware of how much the family valued its reputation, so they didn't argue with Wang Youfu. They simply steered the conversation toward other topics before being allowed to leave, as it was getting late.

After Wang Qingshan departed from Wang Youfu’s house, Yang Shi sighed again. "You really can't blame Qingyun’s wife entirely for this. Isn't every child a piece of their mother’s flesh? Qingyun’s wife had only just given birth not long ago, and the elders were already planning to adopt the child out. Anyone in that position would find it unbearable, wouldn't they?"

"That's not entirely true either," Wang Youfu countered. "Even if she was reluctant, she shouldn't have acted unilaterally by taking the child to her parents' home. Furthermore, she is still in her confinement month! If this got out, our family wouldn't have any reputation left worth mentioning." Wang Youfu stubbornly clung to the point of reputation.

Yang Shi looked at Wang Youfu, realizing he could never truly understand the feelings of a mother. She decided to say no more on the subject.

When Wang Qingshan returned from Wang Youfu’s place, he bypassed his own new home and went directly to the old residence. One reason was that if the elders intended to punish his younger brother and sister-in-law, he wanted to be there to intercede. The other reason was that he had already decided against adopting his younger brother’s child and had told him so; therefore, Wang Qingyun needed to bring this up with the elders as soon as possible, lest the delay make convincing them even harder.

When Wang Qingshan arrived at the Old Madam’s room in the old residence, he saw Wang Qingyun standing in the middle of the room being scolded, while Luo Yin was conspicuously absent. He supposed that the elders had sent her to rest due to her weak condition. What Wang Qingshan didn't know was that while the elders had indeed sent Luo Yin to rest, they had severely reprimanded her first. However, considering she was in confinement and physically frail, and exhausted by the day’s turmoil, they stopped the scolding once her face grew pale, sending her away to recover. But how could the elders’ anger dissipate so quickly? Thus, the reprimand continued, now directed solely at Wang Qingyun.

"Look at you! You coddle your wife constantly, and now she’s become so brazen she dares to run off to her parents' home, choosing the middle of her confinement month! I’m telling you, if she weren’t in her confinement month right now and I feared what gossip might follow, I certainly wouldn't let you bring her back. If she wanted to stay with her parents so badly, she should just live there permanently!" Tian Shi berated him.

The Old Master and Old Madam, seated on the heated brick bed, remained silent, clearly agreeing with Tian Shi’s reprimand.

Wang Qingshan was contemplating whether it was appropriate for him to enter when the Old Master’s voice broke the tension. "Qingshan, you’re here. Come in quickly and sit. Why are you just standing there?"

It turned out the Old Master had spotted Wang Qingshan during his hesitation, wondering why his eldest grandson was lingering at the doorway instead of entering.

Wang Qingshan obeyed and stepped inside. Noticing her eldest son’s arrival, Tian Shi paused her tirade. "Qingshan put forth considerable effort today for your younger brother’s sake!"

"Not at all, this is what I, as an elder brother, ought to do. It’s nothing," Wang Qingshan replied modestly.

The Old Master was greatly pleased by Wang Qingshan’s words. He thought how truly exemplary his eldest grandson was: patient, hardworking, respectful to his elders, and unfailingly good to his brothers. Only when he considered the eldest grandson’s physical condition did the Old Master let out a silent sigh of regret. If not for that, the direct line of the Wang family could have placed all its hope upon him.

With this thought, the Old Master’s resolve regarding the adoption grew stronger. However, he recalled that when they were at the Second Branch’s house, his eldest grandson seemed strongly opposed to the idea. It seemed he needed to have a serious discussion with him about it. Surely, an adopted child from within the Wang family would be more reliable than an outsider?

"Qingshan, about the adoption matter…"

The Old Master barely started when Wang Qingshan suddenly dropped to his knees. Amidst the puzzled gazes of everyone present, he spoke, "Grandfather, I have made up my mind about the adoption; it should not happen. Xiu Juan and I have Quan'er, and that is enough. Quan’er is a dutiful child and will certainly look after Xiu Juan and me well in the future. Moreover, I have decided: even if Quan’er turns out to be unfilial or ungrateful later, that will be Xiu Juan’s and my fate, and we will bear no resentment toward others."

The Old Master felt a surge of anger upon hearing Wang Qingshan’s words. Yet, remembering that his eldest grandson pleased him in every aspect except succession, he couldn't bring himself to speak harshly. He softened his tone instead. "Qingshan, this is not a trivial matter! If you two refuse to adopt Qingyun’s son, and if Quan’er proves unfilial in the future, you two won't even have someone to manage your final rites!"

Tian Shi chimed in in agreement. "Yes, Qingshan, the family is only suggesting this for your own good. By refusing now, you only make us heartbroken!"

Hearing these words, Wang Qingshan felt a pang of sorrow. He was certainly aware of the family's concern. However, first, they had already adopted Quan'er; if they adopted another child, where would Quan'er be placed? Second, he couldn't disregard fraternal affection; adopting his younger brother's child would inevitably breed some resentment from his brother and sister-in-law. Third, given his sister-in-law’s recent ordeal, it was uncertain if she could ever bear more children. If she truly couldn't, that meant the Second Branch would only have these two children, making it even more impossible for him to adopt one of them.

With these thoughts weighing on him, Wang Qingshan felt he could not retreat. He remained firm in his stance. "Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, I have made up my mind. Xiu Juan and I are perfectly content with having adopted Quan'er. We are not greedy and do not wish to adopt anyone else's child. Please just agree to this!"

Saying this, Wang Qingshan kowtowed once more to the Old Master and Old Madam.

The Old Madam glanced at the Old Master, wondering if he would acquiesce. Tian Shi and Wang Qingyun watched the Old Master anxiously—one fearing he would agree, the other fearing he would refuse.

The Old Master drew a sharp breath of smoke, remaining silent for a moment as he observed the kneeling Wang Qingshan, his expression unreadable. After a while, the Old Master seemed to resign himself to something and sighed deeply. "Very well. Since you are unwilling to adopt Qingyun’s child, we shall not force you further. We only hope you will not regret this decision in the future."