Every family has its own set of burdens. While Madam Shen is certainly an insufferable gossip with a ruthless, ambitious streak, in this particular instance, she is truly pitiful.
Madam Shen and her husband were once a couple who built their life from the ground up, sharing the bitterness of those early years together. She was with him through everything, even working in the field while pregnant with their daughter.
Tragically, it was that very dedication that led to her early labor. Due to work commitments, she couldn't reach the hospital in time, and during the delivery, she suffered a uterine rupture and massive hemorrhaging. To save her life, she had to undergo a hysterectomy, leaving her permanently infertile.
Chapter 261