Da Yuan looked at Lin He, slightly bewildered by her words, unsure of what she was supposed to do. After a moment of thought, she asked again, "Sister He, but when we were at home, Grandma always scolded my mother, saying she was a barren hen. If she doesn't give birth to a son next time, she’ll take a concubine for Father. Sister He, Mother is clearly a person, why does Grandma call her a hen? And what is taking a concubine?"

"I know what taking a concubine means; it means marrying two wives," Chen'er stated the quickest.

Lin He glanced at Chen'er. Where had this little brat heard about concubines? And she explained it so seriously. But this was something Da Yuan couldn't be told. She scolded, "Chen'er, stop talking nonsense. What does a child know?"

Lin Chen pouted her lips in dissatisfaction and moved to sit elsewhere. Lin He didn't pay her any mind, pulling Da Yuan onto a chair beside her. She said, "We won't stoop to Grandma's level. Everything Grandma says is unkind; you don't need to remember it. Just remember that your mother loves you dearly, and she hasn't loved you any less just because you are girls, right? When you grow up, you must treat her with filial piety."

Da Yuan understood these words. She nodded and said, "Yes, I will definitely be filial to Mother in the future. Grandma is a bad person; I will never go back again."

Lin He wasn't sure how to explain things to a child this age. She wasn't good at coaxing people, especially children; there were so many things they wouldn't comprehend. If she said too much and they remembered it, it might backfire. She just patted Da Yuan's head and said, "Don't be unhappy. Let's fry some sweet pastries, alright? You both come and help your sister."

After all, they were just children; they would forget after a moment. Hearing Lin He mention frying pastries made them extremely happy. Frying pastries was relatively simple, and they had all the ingredients at home. Since there was nothing else for the little ones to do, she might as well make something tasty to cheer them up.

For the entire morning, Lin He had Chen'er manage the fire, Da Yuan watch the youngest ones in the yard, while she mixed the dough and heated the oil. She worked busily for nearly two hours, finally managing to fry a basin of pastries. Sitting under the tree in the yard, chatting and eating the pastries with the few children was truly comfortable.

The little ones chattered away, exclaiming how fragrant and crisp the pastries were, wishing they could have them every day. Not long after, footsteps sounded from outside. Lin He guessed her mother and the others should be returning from the town soon. She watched as Huang Shi walked into the yard, followed by Zhao Shi and Hong Yun, who also entered. None of them spoke, and their faces were all quite grim. Lin He's heart skipped a beat—could something serious have actually happened?

Zhao Shi and the others walked in as if utterly exhausted, collapsing directly onto the small chairs in the yard, motionless. Hong Yun, especially, seemed soulless, her gaze unfocused as she stared blankly into a corner of the yard. Only Huang Shi appeared somewhat normal. She looked at the pastries on the table and asked Lin He, "You stayed home all morning keeping the younger ones company and frying pastries?"

Before Lin He could reply, Xiao Bao rushed into Huang Shi's arms, eating a pastry as he spoke, "Yes! Sister's pastries are delicious, Mother. Taste one; they’re so crispy." He even stuffed a pastry into Huang Shi's mouth.

Huang Shi held Xiao Bao on her lap and passed the basin of pastries to Zhao Shi and Hong Yun. "Mother, Hong Yun, you must be tired from running around all morning. He's made these pastries very fragrant and crisp; you both try some. Worrying about this matter won't help; we'll think of a way slowly."

Hong Yun took the basin and set it aside. Zhao Shi sighed, "But the doctor said that Hong Yun's body makes it very difficult to conceive now. What other way is there to think of? My poor daughter, how could this trouble have fallen upon you?"

Hong Yun could bear no more and burst into loud sobs. It turned out they had gone to the town doctor that day. After taking Hong Yun's pulse, the doctor said that because she hadn't properly cared for herself after giving birth to her last child, it was now likely difficult for her to conceive. This statement was tantamount to sentencing Hong Yun to death. Already, not having a son made things difficult enough in her husband’s family; now, with the doctor confirming she couldn't conceive, the chance of having a son was gone. What was she supposed to do now?

Huang Shi felt distressed seeing Hong Yun like this, and tried to comfort her, "Hong Yun, don't be too upset. Being sad about this is useless. Why don't we go to Tianxin Town next door tomorrow? It's bigger there, and there should be more and better doctors. Perhaps it can be treated. It's not time to despair yet, Mother, what do you think?"

Zhao Shi, seeing Hong Yun’s state, was already completely unsettled. She had also concluded that Hong Yun couldn't have children. She murmured, "The doctor at that clinic today was the best in the town. Since he said so, it’s probably mostly true. Going elsewhere will likely be the same, and seeing other doctors will cost a lot of money too."

Huang Shi looked at the situation and noted that Zhao Shi was still concerned about money. She said, "Mother, look, money isn't the most important thing right now. If we go to a bigger place to look, at least there's still some hope. Perhaps another doctor can treat her. Just checking the pulse won't cost much, and I'll go with you tomorrow."

Hearing Huang Shi say this, Zhao Shi agreed to go to Tianxin Town the next day. They would treat it as a last-ditch effort; what her daughter-in-law said was right—maybe this doctor couldn't cure it, but another one might have a solution.

Zhao Shi agreed to the trip to Tianxin Town tomorrow and instructed Hong Yun and Huang Shi not to speak of this matter to anyone; only the few of them should know. They shouldn't even tell Da Sheng for now; they would discuss it after they returned from the town tomorrow. After that, Zhao Shi stood up to leave. Huang Shi tried to keep her for lunch, but Zhao Shi said Er Niu's father was home alone and she needed to return to cook for him, so she went home.

Hong Yun sat on the chair, still sobbing intermittently. Huang Shi pulled her into the room and said to her, "Hong Yun, you must listen to me. You absolutely cannot let Da Sheng or his mother's side of the family find out about this; you must keep it secret. If it can be cured, there's no need for them to know. If it can't be cured right now, at least don't let them know for the time being, or it will cause more trouble."

Hong Yun was already somewhat disheartened. Hearing her sister-in-law say this, she spoke softly, "They will find out sooner or later. By the time they do, I fear my days in the Li family will be over. Second Sister-in-law, what should I do now?"

"Don't worry about all that now. If that day comes, your brother and I will never abandon you. Just rest assured and stay in that courtyard with the children. Your brother and I will support you for a lifetime, alright?"

"But Da Yuan and Xiao Fang can't be without a father, and I..." Hong Yun trailed off.

Huang Shi knew what she meant. After all, she was a woman too, and she understood what that implied. She spoke up, "I was talking about the worst-case scenario. Don't worry so much right now. Maybe a doctor tomorrow can treat it, or perhaps Da Sheng doesn't care about having a son. Let’s not discuss this further; we'll see after tomorrow."