Dabao, hearing his father mention bringing so many people and going to the medical hall, asked with some anxiety, "Father, why are you asking about the medical hall? Is someone at home sick and needs treatment?"

Erniu didn't want to explain the matter to Dabao, so he vaguely replied, "It's nothing. Your grandmother just said she needs to buy some tonics for your eldest aunt to recuperate. Don't worry. They just asked me to inquire which medical hall is better."

Dabao finally relaxed and said, "You need to buy medicine? Go to Xingrentang. Their medicine is the best, and the doctor's skill is very high, with fair prices too. He'er often buys things there. It's not far for you to go there; just walk straight ahead from here, then turn left and keep going."

Hearing Dabao's recommendation, Erniu gave him a few instructions and then left in a hurry. Seeing that it was already light outside, Erniu told the others to get down, saying he would take the ox cart away to a designated place where it would be looked after, and then he would take them to the medical hall, asking them to wait there.

By the time Erniu had put the ox cart away and found Xingrentang, it was already morning, and the hall was open. When Erniu and the others went inside, there weren't many people yet. Erniu waited outside while Huang Shi and Zhao Shi accompanied Hongyun in. After waiting for a while, they saw Hongyun and the others emerge, her complexion looking even worse than the day before. Erniu suspected there was no hope.

The group walked out. The street was already bustling, filled with the loud sounds of vendors shouting and people talking. But none of them paid any mind to it. It wasn't a good place to discuss things on the street, so they followed Erniu to where the ox cart was kept, retrieved it, and prepared to head home.

On the way back, Zhao Shi looked at Hongyun sitting in the corner of the ox cart and asked, "Hongyun, what are you planning to do? This was the best medical hall in town, and this doctor said the same thing as the one yesterday. It must be hopeless. How will you explain this to Dasheng when you get back?"

Huang Shi and Erniu remained silent. What could they say? It seemed that anything they said wouldn't work; it was up to Hongyun to decide.

Hongyun was much calmer today than yesterday; she didn't cry. She sat to one side, her face so pale it lacked any color, as if she had already accepted the reality. Hearing her mother ask, she replied, "What other choice do I have? I'll just tell Dasheng when we get back. Whatever Dasheng decides, that’s what it will be. I have no way out in this state."

"What kind of talk is that? If Dasheng says he wants to take a concubine, are you going to let him? Dasheng's mother has been wishing for a grandson for years. If she finds out about this, she will definitely insist on taking a concubine," Zhao Shi said anxiously.

"If he wants a concubine, let him have one. In my current condition, I cannot bear him a son. He is the only one in their generation; wanting a son to carry on the family line is right. If I cannot bear one, it's natural for him to find someone else. If I refuse to let him take a concubine, the only path left is for him to divorce me," Hongyun spoke listlessly.

Zhao Shi fell silent, but Erniu, driving the cart in front, spoke up, "Hongyun, you mustn't think like that. Think carefully. If Dasheng takes a concubine, your life certainly won't be easy. If the concubine bears a son, your future life will be even harder. Given how Dasheng's mother is, you'll be treated like a servant in the house. And if the concubine still can't bear a son, will he keep taking concubines until he has one? You might think it's fine, but have you considered Dayuan and Xiaofang?"

Zhao Shi had initially thought that if Hongyun couldn't bear children, she could accept Dasheng taking a concubine. But after listening to Erniu's analysis, she too said, "Hongyun, your second brother is right. Dasheng probably shouldn't take a concubine. If he does, your life will likely become even more difficult."

"What else can be done? Should I just let him divorce me? Then what will happen to my Dayuan and Xiaofang? No one will look after them at home," Hongyun worried about her two daughters.

"In any case, only the few of us know about this for now. Don't say anything yet. Let us think of another way. Besides, the doctor only said conception is extremely difficult, and he prescribed some herbs to regulate your body, right? We can wait a while before deciding. When you go back, just tell Dasheng these are medicines for regulating your body, just women's medicine, and don't elaborate. Do you hear me?" Zhao Shi instructed Hongyun.

"Yes, listen to Mother. We'll talk about the future later. Don't tell Dasheng when you get back. Perhaps there's another way," Erniu agreed with his mother, thinking it was best to keep it hidden for as long as possible and only reveal it when they couldn't conceal it anymore.

Hongyun knew that unless she could bear a son, there was no other solution. However, since her second brother and mother suggested this, she listened. It was probably better not to say anything; she truly didn't know what to say anyway.

Meanwhile, several ideas flashed through Zhao Shi's mind, but she dismissed them all. Suddenly, an idea struck her, though it seemed a bit questionable, as it involved two daughters.

Zhao Shi recalled that her younger daughter, Hongxia, was recently pregnant and was worrying about how to raise the child. Hongyun's family desperately needed a child. Zhao Shi thought that since Hongxia's husband more or less ignored her anyway, why not bring Hongxia to live with her? Hongxia's in-laws were long gone, so there wouldn't be gossip. When Hongxia gave birth in a few months, if it was a boy, they could simply give him to Hongyun to pass off as her own.

It was getting cold now, and they would soon be wearing more layers of clothing. When the weather warmed up in a few months and clothes became lighter, Zhao Shi could use the excuse that Hongyun was pregnant and have her come over as well, letting Hongyun pretend to have a large belly for a few months.

When the child was born and turned out to be a boy, they would bring him directly to Hongyun. If it was a girl, they would say Hongyun's baby was lost. Since she would be at Zhao Shi's home, they could hire a familiar midwife and pay her some money—this way, there was at least a fifty percent chance, which was better than no hope at all.

This place was quite a distance from Hongyun's in-laws. When the time came to give birth, her mother-in-law might not make it in time. Dasheng, being a man, couldn't enter the delivery room. Zhao Shi could claim the two sisters were giving birth simultaneously, and with Huang Shi and Erniu present, pulling off a deception wouldn't be impossible.

However, this idea was merely a nascent thought in Zhao Shi's mind. If they were to proceed, there were quite a few things to arrange. First, Erniu and Huang Shi would have to agree, and they would need their help.

And most importantly, they needed to persuade both Hongyun and Hongxia to accept this arrangement. If they themselves didn't agree, Zhao Shi couldn't do anything. The more she thought about it, the better this plan seemed to Zhao Shi.

They were sisters after all; it didn't matter whose child became whose son; they were all family. Moreover, Hongxia had said she couldn't afford to raise the child and didn't know what to do, while Hongyun's family was desperate for one. This seemed the most suitable arrangement.