Cheng Ying’s heart jolted; she had been careless. “I learned that night watching Grandma work.” Cheng Ying tried her best to use the old woman’s dialect, feeling a knot of tension in her stomach.

How could she have forgotten to hide this thing away? The old lady’s eyes, narrow slits of a triangle shape, seemed to close completely.

“Our Yingzi is so clever, learning just by watching a couple of times. Look how tightly it’s knitted!” This was praise for Cheng Ying, and when the old lady smiled, her eyes practically vanished.

Cheng Ying felt a flush of embarrassment. Back in the university dorm, all she’d known was how to knit scarves to give to boys she fancied.

That, truly, was the work of a seasoned hand. Her face burned.

Fortunately, Cheng Ying’s complexion was naturally healthy, so the blush wasn’t noticeable. “Grandma, it wasn’t just watching for a bit; I watched for half the night.” Cheng Ying watched the expression on her grandmother’s face shift and change, a deep look of conflict in her eyes.

Cheng Ying wondered what she had said; why was the old lady suddenly unhappy? The old woman sighed.

“It was such torment. It pains me every time I remember.

I burned half a bottle of kerosene staying up late to see the light. Yingzi, don’t ever mention this to me again.

I’d rather forget. Remembering it just makes me ache all over.” Cheng Ying turned her head away, stifling a laugh.

So that was why the old lady’s expression had been so volatile. She cleared her throat with effort.

“Grandma, soon we’ll have electricity here, just like the loudspeakers at the commune. None of us will need kerosene anymore; it’ll be so bright.” If the commune held an all-night event, they would hang a single sixty-watt bulb.

Back then, young and old would flock to the commune, of course still working for their work points. But it was always incredibly lively.

So, the old lady understood the concept of electric lighting. Her eyes flashed with sharp intelligence.

“Our Yingzi is so good at comforting people. But Grandma wouldn’t dare use it.

I heard it costs even more money. Yingzi, if we use kerosene lamps, we need kerosene ration tickets—will we need electricity tickets too?” Well, the old lady was practical, and she thought things through.

Cheng Ying just stared at her grandmother, mouth slightly agape, unsure how to answer. She had paid electricity bills, but never electricity ration tickets.

However, the old lady had just reminded her: as far as she knew, the system was about to change, and these coupons would become obsolete. Even if their remote location meant implementation would be slower, Captain Ke Ke had already mentioned changes were coming.

If she could persuade her grandmother to exchange the various coupons she held for actual goods, that would be secure. In Cheng Ying’s view, even if the state compensated for these coupons, the rate certainly wouldn't be high.

Their family now had cash; if they also had coupons, they could convert everything into things. She leaned closer to her grandmother.

“Grandma, are we going to the county town to look around during the New Year?” The old lady used her teeth to snap a length of sewing thread. She asked casually, “Does Yingzi want to go?” Cheng Ying nodded.

Although it was far, and she truly didn’t want to tire out her own legs, a trip to the county town to survey the situation was imperative. She nodded pitifully.

“Grandma, I really want to see it. I heard the county town is so beautiful.” Cheng Ying couldn't say much more, as she didn't know the specific characteristics of this county town.

The old lady reached out and stroked her granddaughter’s hair. “If you want to go, you can go.

Towards the end of the year, Grandma will give you two yuan, and you can go with your mother to the county town to buy some New Year’s goods. Just remember, the city is huge—don't get lost.” Cheng Ying was delighted.

Why was her grandmother so open-minded? “Grandma, give me some of those...

tickets. I heard that in the county town, even things that are ‘free’ require tickets.” She had truly heard this somewhere, though she didn’t know how true it was.

The old lady chuckled. “Silly Yingzi of mine, money is always needed, no matter the time.

If the tickets become useless one day, money won’t be.” Cheng Ying looked at her grandmother, setting a new personal record; this truly was a perceptive elder. “Grandma, are you serious?” The old lady glanced at her granddaughter, then looked outside to ensure no one else could hear, before speaking softly to her granddaughter, as if giving a lesson.

“Yingzi, I’ve lived a long life, experienced much. I’ve seen nearly sixty years, and I’ve seen several regimes change hands.

Money is always a useful thing.” Well, they said that an elder is a treasure; the saying was so true. Cheng Ying felt that her own mother still had much to learn.

No wonder she was completely dominated by the old woman; they were simply not on the same level. Cheng Ying asked, “Grandma, can you give me some of those useless tickets then?” The old lady lightly tapped the small, open hand of her granddaughter.

“You naughty girl.” She neither agreed nor refused, but her expression suggested there was room for negotiation. Cheng Ying figured that since the trip to the city was still up in the air, there was no need to press the issue now.

She could try harder the day before they left. But her grandmother was truly generous.

With only seventeen yuan in visible assets at home, she was willing to give two yuan just like that. What a real grandmother.

Cheng Ying was inwardly overjoyed. It wasn't about the amount; it was about what that sum signified regarding her standing in the old lady’s heart.

It didn't take long for Cheng Ying to learn precisely what that measure of affection was worth. The old lady lowered her voice.

“Yingzi, make sure you lock the door when you come in and go out. Grandma and your mother converted half of the work points into cash at the commune today.

It’s all locked up in the cabinet.” Cheng Ying stared at her grandmother. Alright, no wonder she was so generous today; they had an income.

Cheng Ying asked quietly, “Grandma, how much money?” The old lady glanced at her granddaughter and said nothing. Cheng Ying cozied up to her.

“Grandma, Grandma, how much money?” Seeing her granddaughter’s slightly childish display, the old lady’s smile widened, her mouth stretching open. In all the time Cheng Ying had been there, her grandmother had never smiled showing her teeth.

This was the first time her smile was so dazzling. Cheng Ying wondered if it was her own charm or the charm of money.

However, Cheng Ying also noticed why her grandmother wasn't smiling completely freely: the old lady was missing teeth due to her age. Fortunately, they weren't her front teeth, so it didn't affect her appearance.

If the old lady hadn't opened her mouth wide to smile, one wouldn't have noticed. The old lady held her smile for just a moment or two before firmly closing her lips again, presumably aware that her teeth weren't attractive.

She held out two fingers toward her granddaughter. Cheng Ying’s eyes lit up.

“Twenty?” The old lady shot her a glare. “Over two hundred!

Don’t look down on Chi Wu’s father just because he’s not reliable; he still earns work points every day of the 365 days, which is no small amount.” This was the first time Grandma had praised her stepfather, though the word "unreliable" was still attached. But clearly, the work points earned by her stepfather were satisfactory to the old lady.

Cheng Ying thought to herself, no wonder her stepfather had so much money. Then the old lady began explaining things to her granddaughter.

“When you manage a household, you must always keep some ready cash on hand, Yingzi, remember that. It’ll be the same for you later.

If we hadn't done this yesterday before the year ended, we would have used up all our savings for the year. It was a tight squeeze.

How could I let Yingzi suffer like that? If Grandma had money, Yingzi wouldn't have to endure hardship.

From now on, half of our family’s work points will be converted into cash and kept at home.” When the old lady spoke of her granddaughter’s suffering, her emotions ran high, and she repeated the phrase twice. Cheng Ying nodded.

How could her grandmother be so wise? The most reliable things in this world, besides Grandma, were money.

Cheng Ying sat next to her grandmother, threading a needle for her. “Grandma, Yingzi will listen to everything you say from now on.” With such a far-sighted elder, Cheng Ying felt that being disobedient would make her a fool.

To encounter someone who constantly thought of her well-being was a blessing. The old lady educated her granddaughter through practical examples while mending a torn piece of clothing at hand.

Cheng Ying was amazed by the speed and skill. Her grandmother’s eyes seemed fixed on her, yet the garment was mended so quickly—it was astonishing.

She picked up the cloth to examine it closely. On such coarse material, the patch, under the old lady’s deft hands, didn't look too out of place.

Cheng Ying recalled the patches on the knees of the villagers; hers were different, truly unlike any others. Cheng Ying looked at her own coat sleeve; it was also patched, but she hadn't even noticed unless she looked closely.

She spoke sincerely to the old lady. “Grandma, this is true skill!” This was undoubtedly a compliment to the old lady’s patching technique.

The old lady raised an eyebrow. “Of course.

In all the surrounding villages, no one can match my skill. It’s just that times are bad now; no one can afford fine cloth.

Otherwise, with Grandma’s craft, my granddaughter wouldn't have to worry about food or clothing.” The old lady said this with immense confidence. Cheng Ying’s estimation of her grandmother rose yet again.

This was a miraculous old woman. Cheng Ying ran her fingers over the rough fabric.

If this were silk satin, her grandmother’s skill would be even more astounding. What a pity—the timing of her birth was wrong.

If this were ancient times, her grandmother would be the Weaver Girl. Pah!

Why must she be burdened? In Cheng Ying’s heart, her grandmother deserved to be the Queen Mother of the West.

Cheng Ying quickly cleared her mind. “Grandma, will you teach me later?” The old lady stroked her granddaughter’s small hand.

“Why learn such things? It’s just more tiring work.

It’s enough to be able to tell good from bad.” Cheng Ying wrapped her arms around the old lady and planted a kiss on her wrinkled cheek. Truly a loving grandmother.

If she hadn't already matured in character due to her age, she might have been spoiled rotten by the old woman. Thinking this, Cheng Ying felt a surge of pride.

She was naturally well-favored; she just needed to keep up. The old lady touched her face.

“Stop that messy stuff you learned! Sit still quickly.

A girl shouldn’t be like that. You need to be steady, do you understand?

Steady!” Cheng Ying looked up at the old lady. “Okay, steady.

Don't worry, Grandma.” The old lady nodded with satisfaction, then emphasized the word "steady" to her granddaughter. Cheng Ying nodded solemnly again, nearly saying "OK." Only then did the old lady contentedly start climbing off the kang bed to tidy things up.

Cheng Ying could see her grandmother’s face blushing slightly. In this era, there truly weren't children as unrestrained as Cheng Ying; expressions of affection were very reserved.

Thus, the old lady couldn't quite handle her granddaughter’s kiss. The old lady was genuinely startled by her granddaughter’s boldness.

Cheng Ying had seen young people in the village blush for half a day just passing each other on the road. At the time, Cheng Ying had found it truly astonishing.

What was there to be embarrassed about?