The Li family residence had three courtyards. Li Mu’s mother, Lu Shi, lived in the northern room of the second courtyard, which served as the main house.

Luoshen followed Li Mu out of the eastern wing where they resided, with A’Ju and others following behind. They crossed the courtyard where last night’s wedding banquet was held and arrived at the covered porch of the northern house.

Still annoyed in her heart, she saw Li Mu climb the steps and continue walking inside. She deliberately dawdled and fell behind him.

“A’Mu! Elder brother and sister-in-law are here!”

Suddenly, a girl’s voice came from inside the house, filled with joy.

Then, accompanied by footsteps, came the sound of a walking stick tapping the ground.

“Mother, be careful, quickly sit back down!”

Li Mu immediately took several hurried steps, crossed the threshold, and reached out to support an elderly woman walking out from inside.

Looking up, Luoshen couldn’t help but be startled.

The elderly woman was nearly fifty, wearing a brand new dark blue dress with subtle patterns. Her graying hair was neatly combed, her features proper, and she wore a smile with laugh lines spreading from the corners of her eyes. She appeared very amiable.

What surprised Luoshen was that she held a walking stick, tapping the ground with it, as if her eyes were somewhat impaired.

“I can walk myself! Where’s your new bride? Don’t mind me, quickly go receive her, don’t leave her feeling cold.”

The old woman smiled, pushing away Li Mu’s hand and urging him in a low voice.

So Li Mu’s mother Lu Shi was actually blind.

A’Ju, Qiongshu, Yingtao and the other maids were also somewhat surprised, stopping behind Luoshen and exchanging glances.

Li Mu turned back and looked at Luoshen.

Only then did Luoshen come to her senses. She lifted her skirt, quickly climbed the steps, came before Li Mu’s mother, hesitated, then finally called out softly, “A’Jia.” (Mother-in-law)

Lu Shi was extremely pleased, reaching her hand gently toward Luoshen.

Luoshen quickly extended her own hand.

The old woman’s palms, covered with calluses, lightly grasped her soft hands and then released them—both intimate yet not overly familiar to the point of causing discomfort.

“What a lovely voice! What soft hands! Good child, quickly come in, don’t stand outside!”

She said with a smile.

“A’Jia may call me A’Mi from now on. At home, A’Ye and A’Niang both called me that.”

Though Li Mu was extremely detestable, this old woman somehow couldn’t make Luoshen dislike her.

Hearing her praise, Luoshen felt her ears warming and responded softly.

“What a beautiful name!”

Lu Shi repeated “A’Mi” several times with a smile before being helped by the girl beside her back to a sitting couch in the central hall, slowly sitting down.

Seeing Li Mu still looking at her, Luoshen bit her lip, stepped across the threshold, and was led by him to kneel side by side on the kneeling mat placed before the old woman, performing the bride and groom’s formal greeting ceremony.

After Li Mu finished his bow and stood up first.

A’Ju came forward.

Luoshen took the pre-prepared dates, chestnuts, and a pair of shoes, presenting them as ceremonial gifts.

Lu Shi accepted them with a smile and had the girl beside her bring the meeting gift she had prepared in advance.

Luoshen received it and expressed her thanks.

Lu Shi told her to rise and asked about the hardships of her journey, chatting for a few moments before smiling: “I have nothing more here. You may return—no need to stay by my side. Jingkou isn’t large, but when my eyes were good, I remember the scenery near Golden Mountain by the river was quite nice. There’s a Golden Mountain Temple that was built by imperial edict long ago. Mu’er has been home these days. If you want to go out and look around, just ask him to accompany you for sightseeing.”

“Mu’er, did you hear? Take A’Mi around to see the sights.”

Lu Shi turned toward her son’s direction.

“I understand, Mother.”

Li Mu responded respectfully.

Luoshen glanced at him from the corner of her eye, saw his gaze directed at her, and immediately turned her face away.

Lu Shi felt for the walking stick beside her and stood up to return to her room. Li Mu went to support her.

Luoshen shifted her feet.

Lu Shi seemed to sense this and smiled, waving in her direction: “You must be tired from yesterday. Just go back to your room and rest.”

She called for A’Ting.

The girl responded and came forward.

Lu Shi smiled: “Her name is A’Ting. She’s Mu’er’s younger sister, thirteen years old this year, and knows this place well. If you have any questions, just ask her.”

A’Ting had a round face and sturdy arms. From the first glance at Luoshen, her eyes lit up with a look of wanting to approach yet not daring to get close. She had been standing behind Lu Shi, secretly peeking at Luoshen. Hearing Lu Shi mention her, she carefully stepped out from behind Lu Shi and said shyly: “Sister-in-law, if you don’t mind my clumsiness, please feel free to ask me for anything.”

Luoshen guessed this girl must be an adopted daughter Lu Shi kept. Since no one had mentioned her before and she hadn’t prepared a meeting gift, she removed a gold bracelet from her wrist, walked over with a smile and said: “How could I? In the future, when I don’t know something, I’ll ask you.”

A’Ting didn’t dare accept it, quickly waving her hands and backing away.

Lu Shi, hearing the commotion, seemed to guess the scene and smiled: “It’s a meeting gift from your sister-in-law. Accept it.”

Only then did A’Ting stop, watching as Luoshen slipped the beautiful twisted gold bracelet onto her wrist.

Luoshen had slender wrists, and the gold bracelet was made to her measurements. Though A’Ting was two or three years younger, they were about the same height, but her arms were much sturdier. The delicate bracelet on her wrist didn’t quite suit her.

But A’Ting was extremely pleased, blushing as she thanked her, then turned to Li Mu, joyfully raising her bracelet-wearing arm: “Elder brother, look what sister-in-law gave me!”

Li Mu glanced at Luoshen and nodded at A’Ting with a smile: “First accompany sister-in-law back to her room.”

Luoshen watched Li Mu help his mother back to the rear hall before returning to her room herself.

…

Li Mu escorted his mother back to her room, helped her sit down, turned to pour her a cup of tea, and brought it to her.

Lu Shi didn’t take it. The smile that had been on her face gradually faded as she said: “Mu’er, tell me the truth—how exactly did you manage to marry Lord Gao’s daughter?”

Li Mu smiled: “Mother, why are you asking this again? Didn’t I tell you before? Your son risked his life to save Lord Gao’s nephew. He was grateful and married his daughter to me.”

Lu Shi was displeased: “Do you think because I’m blind, my heart is blind too? What kind of family is the Gao clan? Our Li family has fallen to humble status—never mind saving one nephew, even if you saved ten, the Gaos wouldn’t willingly marry their daughter down to our Li family!”

Li Mu remained silent.

“Some days ago, A’Ting and I were living here peacefully when your second brother Jiang suddenly took us to stay elsewhere for several days. I was confused then, not knowing what had happened. A few days ago, I overheard neighbors chatting and learned that several groups of people had come here looking for me. I’m just a blind old woman—what would they want with me? I thought it over and wondered if it might be related to the Gao family marriage?”

Li Mu quickly said: “Mother, don’t overthink it. Such things won’t happen again…”

“Mu’er!”

Lu Shi paused.

“I can’t see with my eyes, but my heart is perfectly clear! I can tell that A’Mi obviously didn’t want to marry you! This is only natural—she’s a noble daughter from a prestigious family, accustomed to luxury and fine living. Suddenly married into a family like ours, how could she not feel wronged? How could she live well? There are no outsiders here—tell me the truth. How exactly did you marry her?”

Li Mu mumbled vaguely: “Mother, this… it’s a long story, hard to explain clearly at once… In any case, your son brought you back a daughter-in-law… Didn’t you always urge me before…”

Lu Shi pondered for a moment.

She knew this son she had raised was extremely filial, but for some matters, if he was unwilling to speak, even pressing him wouldn’t yield answers.

She shook her head: “My son is grown—I can’t control him anymore. If you won’t say, I have no recourse. But I imagine it wasn’t by any good means, otherwise why wouldn’t you tell me!”

Li Mu remained silent, essentially acknowledging it.

Lu Shi was lost in thought for a moment, then sighed: “So be it! What I want to tell you is that this Gao family daughter, coming to our household and behaving as she did this morning, is already quite remarkable. I can tell she’s a good girl! I’m truly afraid of wronging her. I don’t care how you married her before—now that she’s married in, you must treat her well. If I learn you’ve mistreated her, never mind the Gao family not forgiving you, I’ll be the first to break your legs!”

Li Mu touched his nose: “Your son remembers.”

…

A’Ting joyfully accompanied Luoshen back to the new room.

She had originally felt awe toward this sister-in-law who had arrived by large boat from Jiankang. Last night when neighborhood children came to tease the newlyweds, she hadn’t dared enter, fearing she might be looked down upon.

She hadn’t expected her to be not only beautiful as a fairy but also so amiable. Her original restraint quickly disappeared as she followed Luoshen back to the room. Before Luoshen could ask her anything, she began chattering about her background.

It turned out A’Ting was an orphan Li Mu’s mother and son had picked up on their journey south ten years ago. She was only two or three years old then, collapsed by the roadside with no parents in sight and no one to care for her. Wild dogs lurked nearby, and she was clearly near death. Lu Shi couldn’t bear it and carried her along on their journey south. She miraculously survived until now.

“Mother is so good! When her eyes were still fine, she even taught me to read and write. Now when I go out, neighbors often ask me to help them write family letters!”

A’Ting’s tone carried a hint of small pride, causing several maids in the room to cover their mouths and laugh.

A’Ting immediately fell silent, awkwardly lowering her head, her eyes showing embarrassment mixed with unease.

Luoshen was displeased and stared at the maids: “Can you write family letters for others?”

The maids were startled and shook their heads.

Among the maids serving Luoshen from the Gao family, besides the closest Qiongshu and Yingtao who were also literate, the others had learned to recognize some characters through constant exposure, but their writing skills were far inferior.

“Since you cannot, why laugh?”

The maids knew their thoughtless behavior had angered their young mistress and quickly knelt to admit their fault.

A’Ting stood to the side, somewhat nervous, trying to help them up, but Luoshen stopped her and dismissed the maids.

A’Ting looked at Luoshen with shining eyes, even more admiring.

Unable to suppress her curiosity and having nothing else to do, not wanting to sleep anymore, Luoshen had A’Ting sit beside her, pushed an exquisite lacquered box filled with various dried fruits in front of her, and asked: “In that case, why did A’Jia later lose her sight?”

A’Ting had a piece of preserved fruit in her mouth. Hearing this question, she swallowed it and showed a sad expression.

“It happened many years ago. When we first came to Jingkou, it was very chaotic here. We were strangers with no connections, often going hungry. Elder brother was still young then, hadn’t joined the army, and did hard labor everywhere. Mother desperately did embroidery work for others, staying up until midnight every night. Her eyes were damaged by the oil lamps. Later she gradually couldn’t see clearly. Then elder brother joined the army, but once news came that he had died in battle. Mother cried every day and cried herself blind. Later, elder brother came back, but mother’s eyes couldn’t be healed. Before, she could still see shadows, but these past two years, she can’t see anything at all.”

Luoshen was stunned: “Didn’t you call physicians to examine her?”

“These past few years the family has improved somewhat. Elder brother has invited many physicians, but none could cure her. But Mother is very capable. Don’t think because she can’t see that she’s helpless—she’s sharp-minded! She can still spin thread, spinning quickly and well! She can walk by herself and cook too! As long as things at home aren’t moved around, she can manage everything.”

A’Ting returned to her cheerful demeanor.

Luoshen was silent for a moment: “Your elder brother isn’t often home. Why doesn’t he hire one or two people to serve A’Jia?”

“Elder brother wanted to hire people, but Mother herself refuses, saying she doesn’t need so many people around. For ordinary household matters, Mother and I are enough. Aunt Jiang and the neighbors often come by too. Oh, and there’s Third Miss Xie, the female proprietor of Zhennan Pass Tavern. Everyone in Jingkou knows her reputation—everyone praises her capability. She often comes to see Mother and has helped a great deal!”

A’Ting said cheerfully.

Aunt Jiang must be the Shen Shi who came aboard yesterday to welcome her.

But she wondered what background this famous Third Miss Xie who ran a tavern at Zhennan Pass had.

Just as Luoshen was about to ask more, footsteps sounded outside. She turned to see Li Mu returning.

“Elder brother!”

A’Ting immediately went joyfully to greet him.

“I just told sister-in-law about our family! Sister-in-law is very good to me!”

Luoshen hadn’t wanted to acknowledge him, but seeing A’Ting finish speaking and turn to look at her happily, she couldn’t bring herself to be too cold in front of this little girl and finally reluctantly stood up.

Li Mu looked at her, seeming to hesitate: “Would you like to go out and look around? I have nothing to do today.”

“I’m tired. I won’t go.”

Luoshen said coolly.

“Sister-in-law, if you’re tired, quickly rest. I’ll go now and come back to chat with you when you’ve recovered your energy.”

A’Ting said quickly.

Luoshen smiled.

Li Mu glanced at her: “Very well, then just rest.”

Luoshen watched A’Ting follow Li Mu, bouncing out of the room.

Their figures disappeared beyond the door.

“Elder brother, sister-in-law is so good to me. Why did she become unhappy when you came?”

After walking a few steps, A’Ting moved close to Li Mu and asked quietly.

Li Mu was startled, looked back, and coughed softly: “That’s not it. She’s just tired and wants to rest.”