Uncle Two dragged his wife and child toward the door, but Aunt Two stood firm, twisting her hands, clearly having more to say.

The Old Lady shot her daughter-in-law a cold huff. "Still dreaming about that tiger skin? I’m telling you, that’s what Yingzi’s father left for Yingzi. Give up that idea entirely."

Aunt Two was about to retort when Uncle Two yanked her away. "Ma, don't bother arguing with her."

In the span of this whole evening, Uncle Two had only managed to say that one sentence.

As far as Cheng Ying was concerned, Uncle Two was an honest man, and fortunate too. He didn't have to utter a single word; everything that needed to be done was done, and he even earned a reputation for being upright and sincere.

Captain Cheng Shan watched the people leaving with basins, bowls, and grain. He tried to comfort the Old Lady. "Sister-in-law, don't worry. After a few days, you’ll get used to it. Big trees branch out; it’s not just your family. I’ve seen this happen many times."

He pulled out his small notebook to show the Old Lady. "See here? These are all the written agreements for the division of the household. You are wise to be open-minded; your life ahead will only get better. I heard there's a new policy coming down the line. Even though we’re remote, the policy won't be far behind. We certainly won't be left behind, will we?"

Cheng Ying, however, knew it must be the land reform. Looking at the Captain’s eyes, she saw a sharp glint. What opportune timing for this division!

She also felt that she herself was blessed, having survived falling into the river.

Cheng Ying felt a secret thrill of satisfaction. But when she turned and saw her own grandmother, she realized there was nothing to be happy about; the Old Lady was genuinely hurt by her own son.

Just then, Chi Wu came in from outside, sweating profusely despite the deep winter chill. "The mule cart is ready. Old Sun from the production team said he’ll follow us to the city."

The Old Lady pressed the seven-plus yuan she had just packed into Cheng Ying's mother’s hand.

Yang Zhi dared not reach out. "Ma, I don't want it."

The Old Lady’s triangular eyes shot up. "That's my granddaughter!" Well, this person truly had a cold exterior masking a warm heart.

This facial expression certainly didn't look like that of a charitable person.

Yang Zhi looked at her mother-in-law. Although her mother-in-law had always worn a stern face toward her over the years, somehow, her heart felt warm now.

It turned out she was actually favored by her mother-in-law to this extent. For the first time, Yang Zhi felt a sense of belonging. Clutching the seven yuan the Old Lady gave her, she moved her lips several times but couldn't utter a word.

Well, she’s an emotionally reserved person, Cheng Ying could only console herself. After all, my own mother can’t even manage a couple of touching words.

Captain Cheng Shan looked at the meager dozen or so yuan in Yang Zhi's hand. "If things get difficult, I’ll travel to the county seat with you. I can’t just watch the child suffer, can I?"

Cheng Ying glanced at the Captain. Considering he was of the grandfather generation in the village, he was indeed remarkable. At least he was better than her own eldest uncle and second aunt—those two who looked forward to seeing her die.

Yang Zhi said, "Uncle, my child and I thank you." She finally managed to force out a proper sentence.

The Old Lady said, "Third son's wife, your sister-in-law won't say much, but the child will remember your kindness for a lifetime."

The Captain slapped his thigh. "That’s settled then. Sister-in-law, you start getting ready, and I'll head back to the brigade headquarters to check things over."

Cheng Ying's grandmother saw the Captain out. "Brother, take it slow; you’ve been working hard today."

She heard the Captain call from outside, "No need to be so polite!" Rural folk were straightforward, lacking so much elaborate formality.

Cheng Ying grabbed her mother’s arm and seized the opportunity to quickly explain away her supposed ailment. She really didn't want to deplete their small savings immediately for a non-existent emergency. "My head doesn't hurt anymore; I just bumped it on the kang earlier."

Cheng Ying's mother looked at her daughter, slightly stunned. "You only bumped it once?"

Cheng Ying lowered her head to confess. At this moment, her attitude needed to be exemplary, sincere—she still didn't fully grasp her own mother's temperament. She cautiously glanced at her mother twice more. "Aunt Two looked down on me outside, and I felt suffocated in my heart, so I cried. I didn't mean to bump my head on the edge of the kang. It hurt quite a bit at the time, but mostly it was the emotional distress."

Cheng Ying's mother didn't know what expression to wear facing her daughter—elated that the girl wasn't ill, yet infuriated that the girl’s vague explanation had escalated things so dramatically. How was she supposed to explain this to the Old Lady?

Cheng Ying could see her mother’s sallow cheeks flush and tighten. Well, a massive commotion over nothing more than a bump on the head—how could she possibly explain that?

Yang Zhi didn't even know what to feel.

Cheng Ying asked cautiously, "Ma, you don't want us to separate? You can't support me?"

The question sounded pitiful.

Yang Zhi snapped back to attention. Looking at her daughter's expression, how could it look so heart-wrenching? "Mm, whatever is best. Yingzi's head really isn't hurt, is it?"

Cheng Ying shook her head. "It doesn't hurt; look, it doesn't hurt even when I shake it like this."

Yang Zhi touched her daughter's head. "Yingzi, from now on, you must treat your grandmother well, very well."

Cheng Ying nodded. They were mother and daughter after all, thinking along the same lines.

At this critical juncture, her step-father, who hadn't shown his face all evening, pushed aside the door curtain and entered, handing over a package. "Go see the doctor for Yingzi, take this with you."

Yang Zhi looked at Chi Yong. She couldn't possibly explain that her daughter wasn't sick. It would be awkward to explain, and more importantly, Yang Zhi hadn't had time to open her mouth to say her daughter was fine. Still, this was a moment to gauge his true feelings.

Of course, Yang Zhi wasn't shrewd enough to consider that; Cheng Ying genuinely wanted to see her stepfather's attitude.

In front of her daughter, Yang Zhi unwrapped the small oil-paper packet. It was full of neat new ration coupons, each worth five yuan. Cheng Ying scanned the thickness—about twenty-some notes. Having dealt with money before, Cheng Ying knew instantly this was a substantial sum, far more than the amount that made Aunt Two’s eyes turn red over their family’s thirty-some yuan savings. And the Captain had just mentioned how frugal her grandmother was, noting that most families didn't have this much money.

Yang Zhi, like her daughter, stammered, "Where... where did you get this money?"

It could only be said that this mother and daughter were provincial. One was shocked by ten yuan upon hearing about the split, and the other had never managed the household budget in her life and had never seen so much money.

Chi Yong's face, deeply furrowed, was etched with bitterness. "In this village, I couldn't trade this stuff for a single bowl of porridge. Take it. It’s useless to me, but it’s for Yingzi."

Yang Zhi didn't move for a long time, her face turning bright red. She didn't reach out her hand.

Cheng Ying reached past her mother and took the money. "Is it really for me?"

This girl’s gone crazy, blinded by money, Yang Zhi thought. It was hard for her to take it back from her daughter's grasp. Indeed, the money would be useless in Chi Yong's hands; only now, with policy loosening slightly, if this had surfaced two years earlier, he might have been criticized for hoarding.

Cheng Ying looked at her stepfather. For some reason, he seemed much more agreeable. He must be a 'rich second generation,' she thought. This amount of money was truly significant here. It was just that in the current society, even if you had money to buy things, you needed corresponding grain coupons, cloth coupons, and all sorts of other ration tickets. No wonder her stepfather said the money was useless to him. Those various coupons circulated only within the village; they wouldn't be given to an outsider. Besides, Chi Yong was a controversial figure in the village. Rumor had it that if he hadn't married into the Cheng family, their Chi Wu wouldn't even have gotten into school.

However, seeking medical treatment was different. As long as they had a letter of introduction from the village, plus money, it would work—nobody had ever heard of needing a medical ticket.

Chi Yong watched his adopted daughter's action, his brow not even twitching.

There was a commotion outside. Cheng Ying automatically stuffed the money under her backside with a swiftness that made Yang Zhi’s lips move silently for a long time. Cheng Ying didn't consider her grandmother an outsider, but she was afraid the Old Lady couldn't handle the shock.

Since only the three of them were in the room, Cheng Ying’s action drew all the gazes. Cheng Ying felt slightly embarrassed, the situation too awkward. But at least she could regain control of the atmosphere. "Um, we’re a family, aren't we? We should pool our money together," she said.

Yang Zhi felt her face burn. When had her daughter become so... so how should she put it? But she was her daughter, after all. Perhaps she was influenced by the Second Uncle's family.

Chi Yong’s expression brightened considerably. To hear the girl say "a family"—this money hadn't been spent in vain. "Yingzi is right," he said, then looked at Cheng Ying with a strange expression. A child like this, and she needs to see a doctor? Chi Yong was completely perplexed.

The Old Lady entered. "Third son's wife, pack up quickly. Take Yingzi to the city." She handed Yang Zhi a small bag of corn.

Cheng Ying’s eyes stung with emotion. "Grandma, it doesn't hurt anymore. I just got up too fast and bumped my head. When Ma came to see me, I felt a bit wronged, so I cried," she confessed, lowering her head further. She didn't forget to glance at her stepfather—just in case he tried to reclaim the money under her backside.

Cheng Ying’s grandmother let out an "Ah," instantly bewildered. Her mouth hung open, staring at her granddaughter, mouth agape for a long time, just like Yang Zhi moments before.

Chi Yong looked at his daughter, his expression equally conflicted, though predominantly open-minded.

Cheng Ying took her grandmother’s hand. "It doesn't hurt much now." She felt guilty speaking, facing the Old Lady; she felt terrible inside. She wanted to say more, but nothing came out. She had feigned it, or perhaps bumped it accidentally. After all, regarding the family division, the person most hurt was certainly her grandmother.

Yang Zhi looked at her daughter’s slightly guilty little face. "Ma, the trip to the county is far. Since Yingzi doesn't hurt, let's just see how she is first. I'll go out and brew some medicine for Yingzi; if it’s necessary, we’ll go to the county tomorrow. I don’t know if Yingzi might have hurt something else when she fell earlier."

The Old Lady came over and stroked her granddaughter's head. "Yingzi, it really doesn't hurt? After all, a bump isn't a small thing."

Cheng Ying clutched the Old Lady’s withered hand. "Grandma, it doesn't hurt anymore. When I heard what Aunt Two said, my heart felt bad, and I cried louder." After saying this, she burrowed into her grandmother’s embrace. She felt terrible about deceiving the Old Lady, but she didn't regret the action. Nestled in her grandmother’s arms, Cheng Ying whispered, "Grandma, I will be filial to you from now on." This promise was sincere.

The Old Lady stroked her granddaughter’s hair, murmuring, "It’s good it doesn't hurt. It’s good Yingzi is alright... It's good Yingzi is alright." Her voice was heavy with bitterness.

Yang Zhi, finally showing some sense, handed the seventeen-plus yuan she held to the Old Lady. "Ma, you take this. From now on, our family will still be under your management."

The Old Lady glanced at Yang Zhi, then at Chi Yong beside her. Though she didn't speak, her look conveyed, Have you two discussed this and agreed?

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