That evening, Lin Wanqiu was organizing the account books in the workshop when Zhang Lan suddenly arrived. She was carrying a cloth bag containing several freshly steamed sweet potatoes, and her face showed a hint of embarrassment: "Wanqiu, I came to tell you that my mother's illness has improved a lot, and she can cook for herself now. These sweet potatoes are from our family's land; you and Nian'an can try them."

Lin Wanqiu took the cloth bag and said with a smile, "Thank you, sister-in-law, you're too kind. It's good that Mother is better now, and you can all relax a bit."

Zhang Lan sat on the bench, hesitated for a long time before speaking, "Wanqiu, I want to discuss something with you. My mother said she feels the house is too lonely and wants to move to your house for a few days to keep Nian'an company. What do you think?"

Lin Wanqiu's heart sank; she knew Old Madam Shen wouldn't be so docile. She put down the account book in her hand and said calmly, "Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't agree, but as you know, my house isn't big, just two rooms. Tingzhou and I live in one, and Nian'an lives in the other. There's really no extra space for Mother. Besides, Mother has just recovered. If she moves to a different place, she might not adapt well, which could worsen her condition."

Zhang Lan looked troubled: "That's what I told my mother too, but she wouldn't listen. She insisted on staying at your house, saying that now that you're living a good life, you're looking down on this old woman..."

“I don’t look down on her.” Lin Wanqiu interrupted Zhang Lan, her tone serious. “We have done our best to fulfill our filial duties. We pay her living expenses and medical bills on time every month, and we visit her often. But it is indeed inconvenient for her to live in my house. I hope you can talk to my mother and ask her to understand.”

Zhang Lan nodded and sighed, "I understand. I'll talk to Mother about it when I get back. Actually, I also feel it's inconvenient, but Mother insists on saying it this way, so I can't do anything about it."

After seeing Zhang Lan off, Lin Wanqiu felt somewhat irritated. She knew that Old Madam Shen's desire to move into her house wasn't really to keep Nian'an company, but rather to take advantage of her illness and perhaps even interfere in her life. Before, she was weak and easily bullied, and Old Madam Shen could do whatever she wanted with her. But now it was different. She had her own home and her own workshop, and she would never let Old Madam Shen manipulate her so easily again.

When Shen Tingzhou returned, he saw that Lin Wanqiu looked unwell and quickly asked what was wrong. Lin Wanqiu told him what Zhang Lan had said, and Shen Tingzhou frowned: "Mother did this on purpose. She just wanted to take advantage of our family by pretending to be sick. Don't worry, I'll handle this. I will definitely not let her stay at our house."

Looking at Shen Tingzhou, Lin Wanqiu felt much more at ease. She knew that although Shen Tingzhou was filial, he was also reasonable and wouldn't indulge Old Madam Shen without limits just because she was an elder.

The next morning, Shen Tingzhou made a special trip to the Shen family's old house. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Old Madam Shen sitting on a small stool in the yard, holding a needle and thread in her hand, but not doing any work, just looking around. When she saw Shen Tingzhou, she immediately put down the needle and thread and smiled: "Tingzhou, you've come? Please sit down, I've been missing you."

Shen Tingzhou walked up to her and said calmly, "Mother, I heard you want to move in with me?"

Grandma Shen's smile froze for a moment, then she pretended to be aggrieved: "Yes, this old woman is lonely at home all by herself. I want to keep Nian'an company, and I can also help you look after the house and cook some meals."

"No need," Shen Tingzhou refused directly. "My house is small and can't accommodate so many people. Nian'an also has her own room, so it's inconvenient. Besides, you've just recovered, so it's better for you to rest at home. Your elder brother and sister-in-law can take care of you. We will do our best to fulfill our filial duties, but it is indeed inconvenient for you to stay at my house. Please understand, Mother."

Old Mrs. Shen didn't expect Shen Tingzhou to reject her so directly, and her face immediately darkened: "Are you looking down on this old woman? I raised you all these years, and now that you're living a good life, you don't recognize me as your mother anymore?"

“Mother, I don’t despise you.” Shen Tingzhou’s tone remained calm. “We will provide your monthly living expenses and medical expenses on time. If you need anything, you can tell us. But it’s really not appropriate for you to live in my house. I hope you can understand.”

Seeing Shen Tingzhou's resolute attitude, Old Mrs. Shen knew that there was no point in continuing the argument, so she could only snort coldly: "Alright, alright, I know, you can leave now, don't get in my way!"

Shen Tingzhou said nothing more and turned to leave the Shen family's old house. He knew that Old Madam Shen would definitely not let it go so easily, but he would not back down either—what he wanted to protect was Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an, their little family, and he would never let anyone destroy them.

Back at the workshop, Shen Tingzhou told Lin Wanqiu about the matter. Lin Wanqiu smiled and said, "I knew you could handle it. Actually, it's not that I'm unfilial, it's just that I don't want to be controlled by her like before. We have our own lives and our own rules, and we can't let her disrupt our lives just because she's an elder."

Shen Tingzhou grasped her hand, his eyes resolute: "You're right, we should be in charge of our own lives. No matter how much trouble Mother causes in the future, I will stand by your side and never let you suffer any injustice."

As the sunlight rose higher, it shone on the signboard of "Late Autumn Food Workshop," making the large, gilded characters gleam. Lin Wanqiu looked at Shen Tingzhou beside her, her heart filled with warmth—with him by her side, even the most difficult things seemed easy to solve. She knew that Old Madam Shen would definitely not give up so easily, and might even come up with other ways to harass her, but she wasn't afraid. As long as she and Shen Tingzhou worked together, upholding their bottom line and rules, they would definitely be able to protect their little family and make their lives more and more prosperous.

Sure enough, within two days, Old Lady Shen started causing trouble again. She deliberately went around the village telling everyone that Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou were unfilial, neglecting her when she was sick and refusing to even stay at their home. Some villagers, unaware of the truth, began to look at Lin Wanqiu differently. When Lin Wanqiu found out, she wasn't angry. Instead, at a village meeting, she meticulously calculated the monthly living expenses, medical costs, and doctor's fees she gave Old Lady Shen, having Shen's eldest son and Zhang Lan as witnesses. Only then did the villagers realize that it wasn't Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou who were unfilial, but rather that Old Lady Shen was insatiably greedy.

When Old Mrs. Shen realized her scheme had been exposed, she was so angry that she didn't leave the house for several days. Lin Wanqiu, however, didn't take it to heart. She knew that the innocent would clear themselves, and as long as she and Shen Tingzhou had a clear conscience, they had nothing to fear from gossip. She was currently preoccupied with the workshop; new orders kept coming in, she needed to quickly teach the villagers how to make new pastries, and she also needed to go to the county town to discuss long-term cooperation with the supply and marketing cooperative. She simply didn't have time to argue with Old Mrs. Shen.

That evening, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou sat under the lamp, checking the accounts together. Nian'an lay beside them, earnestly calculating their income with a small abacus. Watching this heartwarming scene, Lin Wanqiu felt a surge of happiness.