For a child barely in their teens, such a feeling was unimaginable; even her Second Aunt felt that having a bite to eat was a blessing.

When Cheng Ying said those words, it warmed the old woman’s heart. It meant the family was struggling, and the girl was bearing too much of the burden.

As the saying goes, children from poor families mature quickly. They learn responsibility early.

So, the old woman gently stroked her granddaughter’s head. "You've grown up now. Eat up. After the New Year, we'll scatter some seeds in the yard, and they’ll sprout in a few days. This isn't exactly fresh."

Cheng Ying nodded. The old woman was just trying to comfort her. How could winter greens not be considered fresh?

Yang Zhi watched her daughter's lips curve into a smile. A mother naturally takes pride in an understanding child.

To a detached observer, this pure delight seemed a little thoughtless to Cheng Ying and the grandmother.

Though their thoughts diverged, both were looking toward the positive.

Neither of them noticed anything different about their daughter; she was understanding too quickly. Just a few days ago, she wasn't like this at all.

But the stepfather, Chi Yong, was different. His own boy, the same age as Cheng Ying...

If one were to speak of maturity, his son was perhaps more considerate than Cheng Ying,

but when faced with this sort of situation, a child of this age hadn't yet developed that depth of understanding.

Chi Yong stared at the cabbage in his bowl, lost in deep thought.

It was also unfair, having Chi Wu right there as a yardstick. Cheng Ying was unlucky to have a peer nearby who served as such a contrasting benchmark. When the gap is too wide, it truly exposes any cracks.

Moreover, Chi Yong had been observing on the sidelines. Though the division of assets a couple of days ago had been somewhat accidental,

it felt as if the little girl had been stirring things up, even without saying much. Just two careful calls, and those two words—painful—heard clearly by Chi Yong from outside.

Mistakes happen, of course, but she was still so young.

Chi Yong felt conflicted about his stepdaughter.

She wasn't even showing her hand yet, but how strong-willed this child was.

Looking at the new daughter-in-law, who was beaming with half-closed, happy eyes, Chi Yong sighed inwardly. They always said girls mature faster than boys.

Perhaps his fortunate daughter's mind had simply matured ahead of his son's.

It could only be said that Chi Yong had never truly doted on a daughter; he could only rationalize it through the traditional lens of gender differences.

Chi Wu was delighted to have cabbage, and his outward expression matched his internal joy.

The usual irritation he felt toward Cheng Ying softened a little; the girl did have points that made her endearing.

Chi Yong glanced at his son, then at the girl beside him. Perhaps his methods of raising children were flawed.

The children must go to school, no matter what, the children must be educated.

After the family of five finished this relatively harmonious dinner, the old woman called everyone over. "Tomorrow, Wu Zi’s father, you take Yingzi into the city. Third daughter-in-law, you need to cover a shift for Wu Zi’s father at the production team. I’ve already spoken to the team leader."

Yang Zhi replied, "Yes, Mother. I’ll go first thing in the morning."

The old woman nodded. "Mhm. The chickens haven't been laying eggs the last couple of days. I don't have much to do here anyway. Since the team has a vehicle going, I might as well go into the city for a look myself."

Cheng Ying lowered her head. The grandmother was clearly worried about her stepfather, so she had to personally oversee things.

Yang Zhi looked at her mother-in-law, her mouth open, silent for a moment. "Mother?"

In the village, the concept of gender equality had never truly taken root.

Even though women earned work points just like men, their primary focus remained cooking, managing the household, and raising children.

Very few women ever accompanied trips into the city.

So, the old woman was uneasy in her heart, yet she couldn't tell her daughter-in-law directly that she didn't trust Wu Zi’s father. How awkward was that?

Seeing her daughter-in-law’s expression, her face immediately hardened. "What? You have an issue?"

She flipped instantly. Yang Zhi reacted with a natural reflex born of fear.

Yang Zhi stammered, "No, Mother. I know you’re worried about Yingzi. I was just thinking... you’re older. Traveling a hundred li back and forth—can you bear it?"

This was genuine concern for the old woman.

Chi Yong watched his wife, not knowing what to say. Foolishness brings its own blessings, perhaps.

After all, he had a clever daughter and a fiercely protective mother-in-law.

The old woman snapped, "You stay home, watch the sheep, mind the house, and watch the children. Don't worry about anything else. My constitution is still strong enough for a little agitation." The emphasis on "watch the children" was particularly heavy.

Cheng Ying could hear the coded message, but when directed at her own mother, it was completely lost. It was like speaking to a brick wall.

Chi Yong felt tired just watching the old woman trying to manage this. But for a man, having a less shrewd wife meant peace of mind.

Chi Yong thought his wife was rather suitable in that regard.

So, he interjected, "Ahem. If Yingzi’s grandmother is going, that’s for the best. I’ve been feeling uncertain. It’s good to have someone decisive when we’re out. Later, I’ll put a thick quilt in the cart; it won't be too bumpy."

The old woman’s expression softened. Finally, someone who knew how to speak properly.

But she cast a look at Chi Yong, discerning the gap between him and his wife.

This daughter-in-law wasn't on the same level as some others, she sighed internally.

Cheng Ying hadn't considered any of this; knowing the city was far, she didn't know what the roads would be like. "Grandmother, you’re going through such trouble just to accompany me."

Cheng Ying said this without much thought, merely engaging in light banter with her grandmother.

It wasn't until she took the actual journey that Cheng Ying realized how much effort her grandmother was expending on her behalf.

At that moment, Cheng Ying was just trying to curry favor.

Chi Wu’s eyes turned red; he stared fixedly at his father, then glanced at Yang Zhi—he wanted to go too.

But the boy was clever enough to know appealing to the grandmother was useless; she had never looked kindly upon him.

Chi Wu knew only to watch with his eyes, not daring to speak aloud.

Seeing Chi Wu’s look, Yang Zhi thought, perhaps taking one more wouldn't hurt. The boy couldn't earn points at home anyway, and the grandmother probably wouldn't object.

She spoke carefully, trying to secure an advantage for Chi Wu: "Why don't we let Chi Wu go along too?"

The old woman glared at her daughter-in-law. You idiot! The old woman was nearly choked with fury. What kind of wasteful daughter-in-law was this?

Cheng Ying looked at her own mother. Just yesterday, the old woman had said keeping Chi Wu home was like holding a hostage,

lest the stepfather sell her out while they were away.

Though the grandmother might be overthinking things, Cheng Ying thought, Mother, you are underthinking things.

If you had even half the shrewdness of the old woman, your daughter would feel so much more at ease.

Cheng Ying regarded her mother with an expression mixing helplessness and worry.

Chi Yong looked at the old woman, then at the little girl’s face.

He turned his head away again, unable to watch Yang Zhi.

So this was the wife. She was married off to secure schooling for the son, to gain standing in the village, and to repay a favor.

But looking at her now, contrasted with the formidable grandmother and the sharp girl, she seemed utterly endearing, in her own way.

The atmosphere solidified again because of Yang Zhi’s single sentence.

Chi Wu was more perceptive than Yang Zhi in reading the room: "I won't go. I'll stay home and mind the house."

Though the words sounded slightly disappointed, they successfully diffused the tension.

See how sensible he sounds? But in Chi Yong’s eyes, compared to the little girl at home, he still fell short.

He looked at his son. "Ahem, Chi Wu, it’s better if you stay with your mother to watch the sheep. It’s your mother’s first time herding, and she can’t manage alone. You must keep a close eye on things."

Cheng Ying lowered her gaze. She and her stepfather always addressed each other as 'Uncle.'

She hadn't expected Chi Yong to address his own mother so naturally when talking to Chi Wu. A flicker of internal conflict arose, but she still wasn't ready to call him 'Father.' Everything remained provisional.

This was an educated youth who couldn't stay permanently, Cheng Ying constantly measured the situation.

Hearing Chi Wu and Chi Yong speak, the old woman breathed a sigh of relief. This was good.

She would remember to instruct her daughter-in-law later to keep a tight leash on the little brat.

The old woman felt conflicted. Dealing with such a naive daughter-in-law meant she couldn't speak too plainly, which was agonizing for the old woman.

The more reasonable Chi Yong became, the deeper the old woman’s guard against him grew.

No matter how she looked at her daughter-in-law, she wasn't on the same level as Chi Yong.

The old woman worried. If something happened to her someday, what would become of Yingzi?

Yang Zhi’s face flushed crimson. A woman nearing thirty, yet she couldn't make any of her children feel secure in her presence.

She was about to speak when Cheng Ying cut in first: "That’s right, Mother. If you go out to herd sheep, you need someone to take turns. If Chi Wu stays with you, you two won't be so lonely. Next time you go to the city, I’ll swap with Chi Wu. I’ll watch the sheep at home, and Chi Wu can go to the city."

The girl spoke as if the family couldn't possibly function without someone doing these tasks, so naturally, so thoughtfully.

Yang Zhi nodded. "Fine. I’ll go pack some dry rations for you."

Saying that, she pulled on her shoes and got off the kang. What an easily managed woman she was.

Except for the old woman, who felt a bitter disappointment in her helplessness, Cheng Ying and her stepfather were largely thinking along the same lines.

A good woman; a very hard-to-find good woman.

Chi Yong looked at the old woman, also feeling conflicted. He had only called her 'Mother' once, when he married Yang Zhi.

But the old woman hadn't exactly treated him warmly then either.

Afterward, whenever he addressed the old woman, Chi Yong felt a prickle of apprehension.

How should he address her now? "Yingzi’s grandmother, is there anything else we need to prepare?"

The old woman glanced at Chi Yong; her expression revealed nothing about whether she was satisfied with this address.

Times had changed. In the future, this man was the head of the household. Was this form of address appropriate? "There’s nothing else to prepare. Tomorrow, when we leave for the city, I’ll bring that premium corn batch from the house; we might need it."

After saying this, the old woman’s face grew long and tight. Chi Yong was the best at reading expressions.

Without needing explanation, he knew that even though the old woman grudgingly agreed, she was willing to hear him call her 'Mother.'

This family was becoming complicated; everyone felt the strain.

Chi Yong continued, "If there's nothing else, I'll go to the production team to make sure the mule is well-fed. We should set out late tonight. What do you think?" He decided to avoid the title for now; once everyone adjusted, it would become natural.

The old woman nodded. "Go ahead."

In this instance, her tone towards Chi Yong was slightly more polite.

When Chi Yong left, Cheng Ying looked at her grandmother. "Do we have to leave that early?"

The old woman looked at her granddaughter. "It’s a hundred li journey. Don’t we have to leave in the middle of the night? The earlier we go, the earlier we return, so we don't dawdle late."

Cheng Ying zoned out slightly. When would they ever manage to build proper roads? How would they manage in the future?

Cheng Ying furrowed her brow slightly. "Is one trip that far?"

Yingzi’s grandmother replied, "If we were going to a local fair, maybe three or four villages over, or just to the township, it wouldn’t be far. But our township only has one hub—the Red C..."