Er Niu reached the doorway and heard shouting from the courtyard: “A woman who can’t bear a son is like a hen that can’t lay eggs—useless. And she still has the nerve to cry? Truly disheartening.”

Er Niu got down from the ox cart and stood at the edge of the yard. He saw Hong Yun’s mother-in-law pointing at his sister’s head, berating her fiercely. Li Da Sheng’s sister was also sitting in the yard, watching Hong Yun with a smug, gloating expression.

Hong Yun merely bowed her head, tears tracing silent paths down her face. Li Da Sheng, Hong Yun’s husband, sat silently in a corner of their own courtyard. Finally, Li Da Sheng noticed his brother-in-law had arrived, quickly stood up, and called out, “Second Brother! You’re here! Come in and sit down.”

Seeing her own second brother arrive, Hong Yun hastily wiped away her tears and stood up, calling out, “Second Brother.” Hong Yun’s mother-in-law, however, fell silent. She shot Er Niu a sidelong glance as he entered. Er Niu’s expression was grim, but given it was the Lunar New Year, he couldn’t press the issue. He merely nodded and told Hong Yun, “Mother wants me to bring you back. Pack a few things and take the children to stay at Mother’s place for a few days.”

As Hong Yun went inside to pack, a flicker of relief crossed Da Sheng’s face. Having his mother openly scold his wife in front of his brother-in-law was certainly awkward. No one spoke in the yard for a moment, until Hong Yun’s two young daughters, hearing their maternal uncle was present, rushed out, calling, “Uncle!”

Hong Yun’s elder daughter was five, and the younger was only two. They often visited Er Niu’s home, and he doted on both nieces. The children adored him too; the youngest one even demanded Uncle hold her. Only then did a genuine smile touch Er Niu’s face. He picked her up and said, “Shall we go to Grandma’s house? Grandma has been longing for you to visit.”

The children nodded happily upon hearing this. Er Niu looked at his two nieces. They rarely had anywhere else to go, and their grandmother at home held no affection for them, suggesting life was likely hard. Seeing that even on the New Year, they wore clothes patched over patches, their faces thin and sallow, and possessing barely any flesh on their small frames, it truly pained his heart.

Hong Yun quickly gathered a few clothes and emerged with her bundle. As she passed her mother-in-law, she kept her head down. The mother-in-law snorted but said nothing, merely pulling her daughter-in-law by the arm and turning to retreat into the house.

Er Niu settled his nieces onto the ox cart and asked Li Da Sheng, “Do you want to come along too?”

Li Da Sheng waved his hand. “Second Brother, I won’t go today. My sisters are waiting for me to pick them up later. Let Hong Yun and the children go first; I’ll come and fetch them in a few days.”

Er Niu nodded and urged the ox cart homeward.

Hong Yun finally let out a breath of relief on the cart and asked, “Second Brother, how are Father and Mother? It’s been a while since I visited. When your house was being built, something came up at my home, and I never found time to stop by, truly…”

In truth, the day Hong Yun heard Er Niu’s house was finished, she had planned to go first thing that morning. But her mother-in-law forbade it, claiming her daughter was visiting and someone needed to cook. When Hong Yun argued back, her mother-in-law slapped her several times, leaving visible red marks on her face. She certainly couldn’t show up at Er Niu’s house with such marks, so she sent word through someone that she couldn't make it.

Er Niu knew all too well what happened. Since giving birth to two daughters, his sister had been constantly oppressed by her mother-in-law at her husband’s house—a small scolding every day, a major one every three days, sometimes accompanied by physical blows. In the past, they had tried to intervene by visiting their own mother’s house a few times, but their family wasn't strong enough to make any demands. After several failed attempts, Hong Yun stopped returning home whenever trouble arose, reasoning what good would it do?

Every time Er Niu saw his sister, he felt deep remorse. He felt her suffering was due to his own lack of capability. If he had been more capable, he could have brought his sister home, forcing her in-laws to either accept it or divorce her—if he could provide for her, she wouldn't have to endure this.

Er Niu sighed and said, “I know. Don't say any more. The life you’re living is truly worrying. You still have such a long way to go; what can be done? Your husband is also useless, letting his own mother treat you this way.”

Hong Yun gazed into the distance and spoke softly, “It’s not entirely his fault. It’s my belly that’s failed me. He is the only son in their family. If I can’t continue their line, and he can’t be unfilial to his mother, life still has to be lived. What choice is there?”

Er Niu knew there was some truth to his sister’s words. In the countryside, a woman who cannot bear sons truly cannot hold her head up, especially in a family like Li Da Sheng’s, where he is the sole heir. If the wife fails to produce a son, she is looked down upon even more.

Hong Yun sighed again and continued, “My mother-in-law said if my next child still isn't a boy, she will have Da Sheng take a concubine. If I refuse, she will divorce me and send me away.”

Er Niu asked, “What did your husband, Da Sheng, say to that?”

Hong Yun replied, “He didn’t argue. I suppose deep down, he probably agrees.”

After a pause, she added, “Ah, forget it, Second Brother. Don't mention these things. Don't tell Father and Mother what I’ve told you; I don’t want them worrying. It’s New Year’s; don’t let my troubles burden you.”

Er Niu nodded in agreement.

The cart soon arrived at Zhao Shi’s courtyard. He Shi, the children, and Huang Shi’s family were all helping out at Zhao Shi’s place. Upon seeing Er Niu return with Hong Yun, they immediately rushed out to greet them.

Er Niu asked, “Has Big Brother returned from fetching Hong Xia yet?”

Zhao Shi replied, “No. Da Jiang left late, and he had to walk, so it will likely take some time. If he makes it back before dinner, that will be good.”

Er Niu said, “Then I’ll go fetch them.”

Zhao Shi nodded. Hong Yun greeted everyone—the children and the others—one by one, then followed Zhao Shi into the house. Zhao Shi looked at Hong Yun and asked, “How has your mother-in-law been treating you lately? Any better? And is Da Sheng treating you well?”

Hong Yun lowered her head and murmured, “It’s fine. Life must go on.”

Zhao Shi let out a soft sigh, looking at her daughter, sensing her life must still be difficult.

Hong Yun said, “I’ll go outside and help. Sister-in-law He and Sister-in-law Two are cooking outside. It wouldn’t be right for me to stay in here.”

Zhao Shi nodded. Her daughter, though not very talkative and perhaps a bit slow, was kind-hearted and sensible. It was just her fate that was poor; marrying into that family and being treated poorly by her mother-in-law meant she had suffered much.

Outside, He Shi saw Zhao Shi taking Hong Yun inside and remarked, “Look, why did Mother call Hong Yun in? Is she going to dole out more money again? Mother always complains about being short of cash, but that money probably all goes to her two daughters-in-law.” She then pursed her lips.

Huang Shi smiled. “The mother and daughter haven’t seen each other in so long; they must have things to discuss. It’s rare for Hong Yun to be back, so chatting is hardly inappropriate.”

Just as they were speaking, Hong Yun emerged from the house. Seeing the two little girls, Lin He and Lin Chen, standing in the yard wearing new clothes, her eyes lit up, and she walked over quickly. Lin He and Lin Chen saw their elder aunt emerge and both called out, “Auntie!”

Hong Yun responded, stroking Lin He’s head. “He’er has grown so big! You’ve gotten taller and much prettier. Aunt hasn’t seen you in ages.”