Regarding the matter of separation, Qin Fang had never thought about it.

After all, it was not something he could control; both his grandfather and his father were present.

If he had thoughts of separation, it would be unfilial.

However, if his father and mother wanted to separate, he would support it, as a big tree has many branches.

Moreover, with so many people living and eating together, his wife was not accustomed to it.

He liked cleanliness and was particular about his food; it was clear she wouldn’t enjoy the dish-snatching that happened at the dining table.

Furthermore, the Qin family was frugal with food.

Meals like lunch, which were served only once a year, were not something his wife could easily tolerate, especially given that she had her own stash of food.

Why should she settle for plain fare with everyone else?

But if they ate together, wouldn’t everyone just end up eating her special dishes?

Thinking about this, Qin Fang said, “If Grandma and Grandpa agree, that would be best.”

As soon as Qin’s mother heard this, she understood his meaning.

After chatting with Qin Fang for a while, she returned home.

At that moment, Yang Haiyan was in the kitchen helping out, occasionally commenting on the way the dishes were prepared.

Grandma Qin listened; although she didn’t say much, she understood that her granddaughter-in-law was a person with standards.

This was probably a habit formed in a wealthy family.

When it was time for dinner, the Qin family returned home.

Dinner consisted of pancakes, soup, and potatoes.

The soup was shredded pork and radish soup made with the remaining meat that Yang Haiyan and Qin Fang had bought earlier in the day.

Grandma Qin wanted to make congee for Yang Haiyan, but Yang Haiyan declined.

At the dining table, everyone ate pancakes and soup with great enthusiasm.

Since the pancakes were limited in quantity, those who didn’t have enough filled up on potatoes.

Although Qin Fang was well taken care of by Yang Haiyan after she arrived, especially when it came to meals, he was not overly concerned with the rustic food from his hometown.

He had grown accustomed to it.

However, seeing his wife drinking soup and eating pancakes with everyone, he felt a little sorry for her, knowing she could have a better life.

Thinking this way, he felt that separation would be the right choice.

After separating, his wife could eat however she liked.

But if they did separate, it seemed that Grandpa and Grandma would be living with them, and it wouldn’t be as simple as eating whatever they wanted.

If they had meat every day, his thrifty grandmother and mother might also have their own thoughts.

Then… would he let his wife live separately?

That was impossible; who knows what others would say about her.

After dinner, Yang Haiyan helped tidy up, but she was stopped by Qin’s mother, who told her to rest.

Yang Haiyan didn’t insist and went to heat some water instead.

In the Qin family, there were no separate bathing facilities.

Anyone who wanted to bathe had to do so in their own room, which was very inconvenient, but they could only go with the customs.

Once the water was heated, Yang Haiyan asked Qin Fang to bring in the mixed hot water along with a new bathtub; she went to her room to bathe.

She took her time bathing, and when she used soap, water splashed out like a shower.

So, she washed cautiously.

After finishing, she dried herself with a towel and placed the towel back on the shelf. “Husband…”

Qin Fang was waiting at the door. “Here.”

Yang Haiyan said, “I’m done washing; can you pour out the water?”

Qin Fang replied, “Okay, just open the door.”

Yang Haiyan was wearing thin cotton long pants and opened the door.

As Qin Fang entered, he caught a whiff of a pleasant fragrance.

He wrinkled his nose and asked, “Do you need to go out?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve already cleaned up after my bath.”

The water from her wash was still in the bathtub.

Qin Fang said, “Then you can rest first; I’ll go take a shower and come back.”

Yang Haiyan asked, “Hey… where will you take a shower?”

Qin Fang explained, “There’s a small thatched hut behind the kitchen used for bathing.”

Yang Haiyan had never seen it and couldn’t imagine it. “Then go quickly.”

Qin Fang bathed quickly and returned in less than fifteen minutes.

Yang Haiyan was already lying on the bed; the cotton in the quilt was new and had been sun-dried in the afternoon, so it was very warm.

Qin Fang climbed into bed and rubbed Yang Haiyan, who was squinting with her eyes closed, knowing she hadn’t fallen asleep.

Qin Fang said, “Wife, let’s discuss something.”

Qin Fang was not the type of man who acted like a domineering CEO.

If his wife were a country girl who had never seen much of the world, he might take matters into his own hands.

But Yang Haiyan was different; therefore, when something came up, he preferred to discuss it with her.

Yang Haiyan leaned against him. “What’s the matter?”

Qin Fang continued, “Did Grandma and Mother mention what happened when they asked for the safety talisman?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “They mentioned it. Why?”

Qin Fang stated, “Then what do you think? Grandma and Mother said that the master said you would encounter a great calamity this year, which means your calamity might be at the border. After all, the border is unstable, and sometimes barbarians mix into the county to cause trouble. So, they hope you can stay at home this year and, after this year has passed, you can go to the border.”

Yang Haiyan was speechless.

She didn’t know that Grandma Qin and Mother Qin had such thoughts.

Qin Fang added, “Mother said that the reason for your stay wouldn’t be disclosed to outsiders. She would just say that her health isn’t good and that she needs someone with deep blessings to accompany her for a year so she can get better, and that person is you.”

Yang Haiyan felt very touched upon hearing this, knowing that everything Grandma Qin and Mother Qin did was for her benefit.

However, she didn’t want to stay here. It was inconvenient to eat, uneasy to live, and overall, life was inconvenient.

With everyone living together, she had to be cautious and maintain boundaries.

She couldn’t even soak in a bath or avoid doing laundry.

Just thinking about it made her head hurt. But since Grandma Qin and Mother Qin had good intentions, even if she didn’t want to stay, she needed a good reason.

Yang Haiyan opened her eyes, her hand resting on Qin Fang’s chest.

Although there was a layer of clothing between them, she could feel the firmness of his abdomen under her hand, which felt great.

She lifted her head, looking at him with a pitiful expression. “Husband, do you believe in this?”

Qin Fang replied：“Better safe than sorry.”

While gently stroking Qin Fang’s chest, Yang Haiyan whispered softly, “Now, listen to my thoughts and analyze them carefully. Tell me if you think I’m right.”

Qin Fang clenched his teeth, replying, “Go ahead.”

He silently pleaded for her to stop touching him—he was on the verge of losing control.

Yang Haiyan pretended not to notice his reaction and slowly began her analysis: “First, since the master calculated that I would face a major calamity this year, Grandma and Mother naturally think it’ll happen at the border. I know they love me, but what if the calamity happens here in the village? If they keep me home and I end up in trouble anyway, won’t they blame themselves? Did the master specifically say my calamity was at the border?”

In the original plot, it was described like this: General Han Zhen had retired and returned to Baili Village with his wife, Yang Dahua, to settle down.

The village chief greeted them at the gate, and along the way, Han Zhen saw Qin Fang.

He asked, “Isn’t that Qin Fang? How is he doing?”

The village chief replied, “Qin Fang’s wife passed away years ago. One night, she slipped from the riverbank, fell into a field, and hit her head on a rock. Ever since then, Qin Fang never remarried and lived alone till now.”

Qin Fang, who had been in a state of confusion after his mother spoke to him, now listened carefully to Yang Haiyan’s reasoning.

Upon further thought, he realized her words made sense.

Without waiting for a response, Yang Haiyan continued, “Second, if the master’s predictions were always accurate, then throughout history, especially those high-ranking officials and nobility—don’t you think they would have consulted such monks frequently? Take my previous master’s family, the Yangs, for example.

The grand family of the Imperial Tutor—when they were involved in the battle for the throne, wouldn’t they have consulted monks to predict their success?

If they knew it was impossible, would they have risked their lives for it? Clearly, they didn’t believe in such things. What do you think, my husband?”

Qin Fang listened to her reasoning and admitted, “You have a point.”

Yang Haiyan smiled and pressed on, “Third, if fortune-telling were that reliable, forgive my impudence, but why didn’t the late emperor consult fortune-tellers to predict his own fate? Wouldn’t he have avoided the entire conflict over the throne if he could’ve foreseen it?”

Qin Fang pursed his lips, reflecting on her words.

Yang Haiyan added, “Fourth, if I stay here while you’re at the border, what will I do if I start missing you? What if I miss you so much that I can’t eat or sleep, and eventually fall ill from lovesickness and die? Wouldn’t that fulfill the fortune-teller’s prediction of my early death?”

Qin Fang felt as if his heart was crumbling under her logic.

His wife’s words were slowly persuading him.

Yang Haiyan had one last trump card.

She shifted in his arms, then turned and sat on his waist, wrapping her hands around his neck.

Her lips, fragrant with a hint of floral scent, lightly touched his.

Then she teased, “If I’m not by your side, who will kiss you, and who will you touch at night?”

Qin Fang immediately rolled her over and pressed her down. “You wicked woman.”

And so, ripples of affection filled the room.

---

The Next Morning:

Qin Fang felt refreshed.

Though he hadn’t taken things all the way with his wife, last night had still brought him a different kind of joy.

He had never realized before that a woman’s touch could hold such magic.

The couple got up together, and Qin’s mother had already prepared porridge and pancakes.

When she saw them, she asked, “Why are you two up so early?”

It was still early compared to the second and third branches of the family, who hadn’t risen yet.

Qin Fang replied, “We’re going to see the nun today. Since she said my wife wouldn’t survive the year, I want to know what exactly this calamity is related to.”

Qin’s mother was taken aback. “What are you planning?”

Qin Fang explained, “I thought it over last night. If we keep Yanyan at home, what if her calamity happens here? Wouldn’t that be even more dangerous?”

Qin’s mother hesitated. “Well… I hadn’t considered that, but it’s possible.”

Qin Fang continued, “So, Mother, I’ve decided to go to the temple myself. Which temple and which master did you consult?”

Previously, when Qin’s mother mentioned the temple, she hadn’t specified that it was a nunnery because men weren’t allowed inside.

Now that her son was asking, she explained, “It’s a nunnery. You can’t enter—it would cause gossip.”

Yang Haiyan chimed in, “Mother, why don’t you and Grandma come with us? My husband can wait outside. How does that sound?”

Qin’s mother, already worried, agreed. “Alright.”

After the rest of the family had gotten up, Qin’s mother and Yang Haiyan, having already eaten, boarded a carriage to the nunnery.