After discussing everything, the group split up to take action.

Qian Chunhua took Qingsong to the Zhao family ancestral hall.

Qian Xingshan went to find Uncle Ding to help build the wall. Before leaving, Qian Chunhua handed over the keys to both rooms to her younger brother.

His sister’s trust made Qian Xingshan feel that everything he had done was completely worth it.

Qian’s mother stayed home to look after the two younger children.

After breakfast, the villagers of Huanghualing gathered enthusiastically under the old locust tree in the center of the village, undeterred by the cold. What had happened at the Zhao house the night before made them eager to gossip.

The village chief’s daughter-in-law, Sun Hongying, sat at the center of the crowd, animatedly recounting the events at the Zhao house.

Wang Lan said, “I never expected it. Li Cuihong isn’t just fierce—she’s bold enough to switch children!”

Zhou Guifang chimed in, “Springhua really did well this time. She finally stood up for herself and severed ties with the Zhao family.”

Ding Xiu added, “If you ask me, Chunhua is too naive. Now that she’s cut ties, she’s just one woman raising three kids—how’s she going to manage?”

“Exactly! Exactly,” the others echoed. “Chunhua was too foolish. If she hadn’t broken off relations, the Zhao family’s eldest and third branches could still help her out. Especially the third branch—he’s already a scholar now, and might become an official someday. Maybe even a high-ranking one.”

Suddenly, Sun Hongying spotted two figures approaching. One of them looked like Qian Chunhua. “Hey, look—isn’t that Qian Chunhua? Who’s the boy next to her?”

From afar, Qian Chunhua was indeed walking toward them. On her way to the Zhao ancestral hall, she had to pass by the old locust tree.

Wang Lan said, “That must be Qingsong. I almost didn’t recognize him—he looks much more energetic in new clothes.”

Ding Xiu added, “From a distance, Qingsong looks gentle and scholarly—more so than Qingyun, even.”

Just as they spoke, Li Lianyan approached and happened to hear that last sentence. She instantly exploded, “You shut your filthy mouths! Qingsong, a scholar? He’s a muddy peasant for life! And you think he can compare to Qingyun?!”

Everyone fell silent. When did this shrew show up?

As Qian Chunhua drew closer to the tree, she saw the group of women and knew this was the village’s gossip hotspot. Neither the original host nor she herself had ever liked coming here.

Ding Xiu called out, “Chunhua, have you had breakfast?”

Qian Chunhua smiled and replied, “Yes, we’ve eaten. How about you?”

“We have, we have,” they all answered.

The women were surprised. Qian Chunhua had always been tight-lipped—usually only answering when spoken to. Now she was greeting them on her own?

Zhang Qiurong asked, “Chunhua, where are you headed?”

Qian Chunhua replied, “I’m taking Qingsong to the Zhao ancestral hall. We’re changing his entry in the family genealogy today. You all carry on—I’ll take the child and be on our way.”

“Alright, take care,” Sun Hongying waved cheerfully.

After Qian Chunhua and Qingsong walked away—

Wang Lan remarked, “Did you notice? Chunhua seems more cheerful than before.”

Zhou Guifang agreed, “Yes, yes, she really does.”

Sun Hongying sighed, “This is all because the Zhao family pushed her too far. They forced Chunhua—a lone woman—into this situation. She’d rather cut ties than deal with them anymore.”

Wang Lan said, “It’s probably all Li Cuihong’s doing. The rest of the Zhao family isn’t so bad, but that woman is truly wicked. She not only switched Chunhua’s child, but even abused them.”

Just after saying that, Wang Lan realized Li Lianyan—Li Cuihong’s aunt—was standing right next to her.

She immediately stood up and said, “You all keep chatting. I need to go home before I get dragged into anything with that shrew.”

Without waiting for Li Lianyan to explode, she fled the scene.

Everyone else quickly stood up too.

Sun Hongying said, “Oh no, I still haven’t washed this morning’s dishes. I’d better go.”

Zhou Guifang added, “I just remembered—I haven’t washed yesterday’s clothes. These darn kids get them filthy every day. I’m exhausted.”

..

In the blink of an eye, all the villagers had dispersed, leaving only Li Lianyan under the tree.

She had come ready to argue, but now her opponents had all run off.

Li Lianyan stood there dumbfounded. No one had even given her the chance to start.

She fumed with frustration, and on top of that, hadn’t even helped her niece at all.

If not for Li Cuihong showing up this morning and asking her to check what gossip was being spread and maybe say something nice for her, Li Lianyan wouldn’t have come out in the cold wind.

The Zhao ancestral hall was located just behind the old locust tree. When Qian Chunhua arrived, some of the Zhao clan elders were already present.

Everyone already knew what had happened the night before.

Their expressions varied as they looked at Qian Chunhua.

Some elders approved of her actions. Although Zhao Yongcai was gone, Chunhua had stepped up, and the second branch would not fall. These elders smiled at her kindly.

But others thought Chunhua was too scheming. What had happened could’ve been settled quietly within the clan, but instead she had stirred up a public scandal, turning the Zhao family into a laughingstock across Huanghualing.

Those elders looked at her with disdain.

Qian Chunhua didn’t care what others thought. She led Qingsong up to the ancestral hall, greeted the clan head and elders with respectful but composed politeness, and stood tall before the hall’s entrance.

Once everyone had arrived, the clan head took Qingsong inside.

Since women weren’t allowed in the ancestral hall, Qian Chunhua waited alone outside, straining her ears—but she couldn’t hear a thing.

Feeling a little bored, she looked up at the sky. Compared to the city skyline she was used to before transmigrating, where tall buildings blocked the view, the sky here was open and brilliantly clear.

Looking up at the blue sky and white clouds filled her with a quiet joy.

Now that she had transmigrated here, in just two days she had reclaimed Qingsong and severed ties with the Zhao family. Her worries were gone.

All she needed to do now was raise her three children well in this time.

Qian Chunhua began to plan: she would spend two or three days fixing the wall, building a kitchen and a heated bed platform, and a toilet.

That would settle the household infrastructure.

Then she needed to purchase some winter supplies and kitchen necessities.

Once Qingsong was enrolled in a private school, she would find a way to earn a living.

She had truly rooted herself in this ancient world.

Qian Chunhua let out a long breath.

This feels good.

“Mom.” Qingsong’s voice came from behind.

She turned around. “All done?”

Qingsong nodded with a smile, his thin face lit up with joy.

For the first time, he truly believed this wasn’t a dream—it was real.

After saying goodbye to the clan head and elders, Qian Chunhua led Qingsong back toward the Qian home.

His happiness was contagious.

Qian Chunhua smiled and asked, “Feeling good?”

Qingsong nodded firmly. “Very happy.”

Everything that had happened in the ancestral hall was new to him—it was the first time he’d experienced anything like it.

He recalled the words the clan head had said: “Qingsong, you are now the head of your household. You must stand tall, help your mother, and raise your younger siblings well.”

Qingsong felt his importance. To his mother and their little family, he wasn’t a burden—he was a helper.

So he was thrilled.

He silently vowed to help his mother more, take care of his siblings, and contribute as much as he could.

He wasn’t what his aunt used to call him—lazy and useless.

He wasn’t lazy, and he wasn’t bad.