The day after Wang Qingtong's wedding, when the new bride paid respects to the family elders, Wang Qingchen finally got a look at Meng Xiaoping. She was quite attractive, fitting the aesthetic standards of the time perfectly, and her demeanor suggested she was a woman of good measure. Overall, the wife Wang Qingtong had taken seemed quite excellent. It appeared the Old Madam had not mistreated her grandson, selecting a very fine bride for him.

Since the selection of this granddaughter-in-law had been the Old Madam's own doing, she was naturally satisfied. Not only did she speak with a distinct warmth toward Meng Xiaoping, but her joyous smile never once faded.

Madam Tian had harbored some resentment because the choice of daughter-in-law was dictated by the Old Madam. She had planned to deliberately subdue the new bride’s spirit when she came to pay respects. However, during the formal introductions, the Old Madam gave her no opportunity to act, immediately expressing her own satisfaction with the new bride. This infuriated Madam Tian, but she dared not voice her anger to the Old Madam; in the presence of the matriarch, it was simply not her turn to speak.

Still, Madam Tian thought that even if she couldn't intervene then, she could certainly humble the new bride when the tea offering took place. Thus, when the new bride presented tea to Madam Tian, she deliberately paused, leaving Meng Xiaoping suspended in the air, not accepting the cup—a hesitation that greatly distressed Wang Qingtong standing nearby.

Just as Madam Tian was about to say something, intending to secure her future control over the new bride, the Old Madam's voice cut through the air.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, what is wrong? Qingtong’s wife is offering you tea!" The Old Madam sounded distinctly displeased.

The Old Madam naturally knew that Madam Tian had been silently discontented ever since she decreed the marriage for Qingtong, and she was certain Madam Tian was looking to vent that frustration now. But even if she needed to vent, she needed to choose her moment and setting. The three branches of the Wang family were all present today. If Madam Tian slighted the new bride publicly, or if word reached the Meng family, it would only bring further vexation. Thus, the Old Madam offered a pointed reminder.

Hearing the Old Madam's words only fueled Madam Tian's anger. She inwardly fumed that in this entire household, she seemed to have the least standing—even a new bride could presume to step over her. Yet, no matter how cross she felt, she dared not openly defy the Old Madam. So, despite her deep dissatisfaction and feeling that her authority as the senior daughter-in-law was completely undermined, she accepted the tea from the new bride’s hands. And so, the ceremony of the new bride meeting the elders concluded.

Madam Zhang watched Madam Tian's expression of suppressed anger with great amusement, nudging Madam Yang subtly. Madam Yang immediately understood Zhang’s unspoken sentiment. After witnessing the scene, Madam Yang’s feelings toward Madam Tian were complicated. Ever since marrying into the Wang family, Madam Tian had lived in the Old Madam’s shadow, humbling herself constantly. Such a long tenure could not have passed without accumulating a deep well of resentment, and she had no outlet for it. In the ancestral home, there was no suitable target for her frustrations. But if she had a daughter-in-law, things would be different; a daughter-in-law serving her mother-in-law was only proper. If Madam Tian truly wanted to exert her matriarchal authority, no one could truly object—except for one person: the Old Madam.

The current predicament was that Madam Tian wished to assert her dominance over her three daughters-in-law, but the Old Madam, conversely, was very fond of the three new brides and naturally disliked some of Madam Tian's maneuvers. This only left Madam Tian feeling more miserable and stifled. Her intense desire to control her daughters-in-law resulted in her failing to dominate any of them, while simultaneously distancing herself from the affection of her own son and his wife.

Thinking this over, Madam Yang sighed silently for Madam Tian. Honestly, she often could not comprehend why Madam Tian was so intent on controlling her daughters-in-law, even to the detriment of her own son caught in the middle. Did asserting her maternal authority truly matter more than her son's happiness? Furthermore, Madam Yang herself was a daughter-in-law; how could she not understand the difficulties inherent in that role? Yet, Madam Tian, who clearly understood this reality, chose instead to disregard her son's feelings just to keep her daughter-in-law in check, insisting the girl suffer under her hand as well.

In Madam Yang's view, all this posturing was utterly unnecessary. In a farming family, the key was unity in making a good life. As long as a daughter-in-law was filial to her in-laws, devoted to her husband, and capable of bearing children, Madam Yang felt that was sufficient. There was no need to suppress the daughter-in-law or force her to be a punching bag; doing so only put the son in an awkward position and made the household atmosphere unnecessarily tense.

Of course, this was merely Madam Yang’s perspective. She lacked the influence to make Madam Tian adopt her viewpoint. Regarding matters within the main household, Madam Yang usually kept silent even when witnessing such things, knowing that any comment would likely only earn her a few mocking remarks from Madam Tian without yielding any substantial change.

After the new bride met the elders, the next order of business was for her to take charge in the kitchen and prepare a meal for the entire family. This served not only as a test of her skills for the in-laws but also as an opportunity for the new bride to make an impression; success here could significantly alter the elders’ perception of her.

The dishes prepared by Meng Xiaoping, while not possessing the artistry of Luo Yin’s cooking, were still quite competent when compared to what most farming households managed.

The Old Madam nodded while tasting, concluding that once Qingtong and his wife moved out to establish their own home, they certainly wouldn't have to fret over meals.

After sampling the new bride’s culinary skills, those from the Second and Third Branches did not linger. They returned home, as the Lunar New Year was fast approaching, bringing with it a host of preparations.

Wang Qingchen had only managed to participate in the New Year preparations when he first returned home; later, as his studies became demanding, he had little opportunity to help the family. This year, however, because he was staying put, he now found himself involved in the bustle.

Currently, Wang Qinghua was busy managing the affairs of the mill. Since the New Year neared, the demand for grinding grain was immense, so Wang Youfu often took Wang Qingchen out to purchase the necessary goods for the festival.

Wang Qingchen was no stranger to preparing for the New Year; he had gone with Wang Youfu before, it was just that opportunities had been scarce later on. Thus, he was quite eager to accompany Wang Youfu into the town to procure supplies for the holiday.

In the past, Wang Youfu’s circumstances were not ideal, so when purchasing goods, he always kept a strict ledger, worrying that money might run out before all the necessary items were secured. Now, however, things were much improved; the family was considerably more prosperous, meaning as long as their shopping spree wasn't completely reckless, they had more than enough funds. Therefore, Wang Youfu brought his son to town mainly to browse, see what they might want, and identify things that looked nice to add to their stores.

While Wang Youfu's household busied itself with New Year preparations, the main residence was equally engaged. After Meng Xiaoping's huimen (return visit to her parents), as the main house prepared for the New Year, the Old Madam intentionally arranged for Meng Xiaoping to learn under Luo Yin, ensuring she would be competent when they eventually set up their own independent household.

Perhaps due to the shared experience of having the same mother-in-law, the two women, Luo Yin and Meng Xiaoping, got along very well. Following the Old Madam's directive, Luo Yin diligently taught Meng Xiaoping. In truth, Meng Xiaoping already understood many aspects of household management, as most daughters were instructed by their mothers before marriage. However, since the customs between the Meng family and the Wang household differed in some ways, Meng Xiaoping still needed to go through the motions of learning anew.

Luo Yin had gone through the exact same process when she first came to the Wang family, so she deeply sympathized with Meng Xiaoping’s current situation. Moreover, seeing how Madam Tian had nearly erupted during the formal greeting, Luo Yin recognized that Meng Xiaoping’s future prospects would mirror her own—both being disliked by the matriarch. Considering these two factors, Luo Yin felt a genuine closeness toward Meng Xiaoping.

As for Meng Xiaoping, she had only just arrived at the Wang residence; the ground beneath her feet was barely warm. Receiving help from someone at this juncture was the best possible scenario for her, so the two women quickly formed an excellent rapport.

With their relationship growing close, Meng Xiaoping naturally began discreetly inquiring about the situation in the Second Branch through Luo Yin. She remembered her mother’s instructions before her wedding: foster good relations with the Wang Second Branch. Knowing more about them certainly couldn't hurt.

When Meng Xiaoping brought up the Second Branch, Luo Yin did not hesitate, sharing everything she knew.

"Second Uncle and Second Aunt’s family are very easygoing, and they are kind people. You’ll see once you get to know them better. Oh, you can also ask Qingtong to take you over to familiarize yourself; Qingtong maintains a very good relationship with the Second Branch. He and Qingchen have always been close—Qingchen is the Juren scholar our Wang family produced," Luo Yin suggested.

Meng Xiaoping listened, nodding throughout. "Before I married, my mother told me that their family was kind and advised me to be close to them! Now that I hear you say the same thing, I definitely need to become closer with Second Uncle's family!"

Luo Yin nodded. "Exactly. Your mother gave you very sound advice."

Luo Yin’s affirmation solidified Meng Xiaoping’s resolve to cultivate a strong relationship with the Second Branch moving forward. As for her own mother-in-law, she could only focus on trying her best to manage the relationship for now.