This time, Zhao Shi came because she heard the villagers talking about Er Niu's family building a house and developing fields, yet she herself knew nothing about it until she heard it from others. Today, she came to see exactly what was going on.

Upon entering the courtyard and seeing the bustle, she knew the villagers hadn't lied. The courtyard was a hive of activity, and even her own daughter, Hong Yun, was aware, yet she, Zhao Shi, hadn't been informed. This surely meant they weren't considering her as the elder of the family.

Huang Shi still held the same tone, replying with, "Do you still remember I am your mother? No one informed me about any of these undertakings in the household. Is this how you treat your elderly parents?"

Huang Shi knew her mother-in-law’s arrival meant trouble when she saw the look on her face. Indeed, the first thing her mother-in-law did was find fault. Huang Shi didn't argue with Zhao Shi, answering with a smile, "Mother, what are you saying? When have Er Niu and I ever not shown you the utmost respect? It’s just that with all these things happening at home, we’ve been too busy and haven't had a moment to tell you. Besides, for elderly folks like yourselves, I wouldn't dare ask you to help; we can manage these things ourselves. It’s not some monumental undertaking."

Listening to Huang Shi, Zhao Shi felt that her daughter-in-law was different from before, but she couldn't quite pinpoint how—only that the former Huang Shi would never have spoken to her this way.

Zhao Shi interpreted Huang Shi’s words as outwardly pleasant but carrying a secondary meaning: that she and her husband were old, should mind their own business, and that telling them was pointless as they couldn't offer any real help.

This realization made Zhao Shi's expression even colder. "Huang Shi, I never knew you before. It turns out you're quite spirited. When your family undertakes such major events, even if we elders can't provide great help, you could at least inform us. There are small things we could assist with. If you keep this up, aren't you afraid of gossip?"

Hearing this, Huang Shi's smile broadened, but a careful observer could see the smile hadn't reached her eyes. "Mother, no matter who is doing what, people will always gossip. Let them say what they like. We separated our household a long time ago. Why should we trouble Father and Mother with whatever our family does?"

Lin He looked at her mother with some surprise. Her mother was acting strangely today; she had never treated her paternal grandmother this way before. The way she spoke now was irrefutable and assertive. If her mother had always been like this, she suspected her grandmother and eldest aunt wouldn't dare treat their family so poorly.

Lin He recalled the events of a few days ago, realizing it was the grandmother wanting to sell their family field that must have completely wounded her mother’s heart. Her mother, though usually kind and honest, was no fool. Everyone had a bottom line in how they acted or treated others, and it seemed the grandmother had crossed hers. Thus, her mother had re-evaluated her past behavior and adopted a new stance toward her grandmother.

Zhao Shi was even more astonished, her mouth dropping open. This daughter-in-law seemed like a different person, completely unlike her former self, yet she was still that Huang Shi. To dare speak to her like this was too much. Just as she was about to launch into a tirade, Hong Yun arrived and pulled Zhao Shi into her own room, giving Huang Shi a knowing wink.

Huang Shi nodded and went to the kitchen to prepare food. Hong Yun pulled Zhao Shi inside and closed the door, saying, "Mother, what are you doing? Er Ge buying land and building a house is a good thing. You didn't come here to cause trouble, did you? Do you want people to laugh at you?"

Zhao Shi glanced coldly at Hong Yun. "What, have you been bought off by your sister-in-law's petty kindnesses, siding with her against me? The saying about those with children having endless feuds, while those without are like lonely lotuses, is entirely true. Now my son sides with his wife, and even my daughter is aligning with her sister-in-law against her own mother."

Hong Yun felt a sense of helplessness at her mother’s words and almost wanted to stop arguing. But remembering her role as a mediator, she had to make things clear. "Mother, what nonsense are you speaking? When have Er Ge and Er Sao ever been unfilial to you? When have I ever gone against you? Sit down and listen to me properly."

"Da Sheng and I just arrived this morning with the children. On the ox cart, Er Ge mentioned that he originally only planned to develop one mu of riverside land for fish farming, not build a house. He decided to build only because he considered that my family would have nowhere to stay upon arrival. It was a last-minute decision, and I suppose he hadn't time to tell you. Er Ge was planning to come to your place today after finishing his work to explain everything," Hong Yun explained gently.

Hearing Hong Yun's words, the anger in Zhao Shi subsided slightly. "Did your second brother really say that?"

Hong Yun nodded. Zhao Shi looked at her daughter; she didn't seem to be lying. Zhao Shi looked around and spotted a few bundles near the entrance, which appeared to hold Hong Yun's clothes, prompting her to ask, "Why did you bring Da Sheng and the children here? Is this house for you? Isn't this where Da Bao and the others study?"

Hong Yun replied, "Big Brother’s family opened a pond and needed people to help. They invited Da Sheng and Big Brother to assist. I usually have nothing to do at home, so I came along to help Big Brother. I was idle anyway, and at home, the children's grandmother doesn't treat me well, so I decided to stay here for a while."

Er Niu had specifically instructed Lin He not to spread news about making ointments. Hong Yun figured that if her second brother didn't want the work publicized, it was best not to tell her own mother either, so she casually said she was staying for a while.

"Then you and the children should stay at my place. It’s not proper for a daughter to live at her sister-in-law's house when she could stay at her mother's. I have enough room there right now," Zhao Shi said with a frown.

Hong Yun smiled. "We are only staying here for a few days. If Da Sheng isn't going back at night, let him stay at your place. The three of us can stay here. Once Er Ge’s house is built, we’ll move over there. That way, we can also keep an eye on the fish pond."

Hearing this, Zhao Shi felt this arrangement was excellent. It was good for her daughter to stay here. Da Sheng could work for a month, and her daughter wouldn't have to endure her mother-in-law's nagging. Although her daughter might face gossip for staying at her maternal home frequently, since Da Sheng was here working, it wouldn't seem too bad. Er Niu, her son, was certainly taking good care of his siblings.

With this thought, Zhao Shi’s anger dissipated. She only said to Hong Yun, "Then you both stay here and help your second brother diligently. I'm heading back. When I’m free, I'll bring Da Yuan and Xiao Fang over to visit."

Hong Yun agreed, and they walked to the courtyard gate together. Zhao Shi looked around the yard; there were indeed many people present, and she wasn't needed for help. She decided to leave, yet a sense of desolation settled in her heart. She was old now, and neither her son nor her daughter seemed to need her; she felt like she had become useless.

When Huang Shi saw her mother-in-law's retreating back, she sighed, but because of what she had just said, she didn't call out to stop her. She decided to have Er Niu visit later that evening.