Well, the sentiment was what counted. It was certainly better than bare ground.

The mist in the current space had now been entirely drawn up by the plants, resulting in what could be described as a bright, distinct area. Based on this alone, Cheng Ying would spare no effort in bringing more things into it.

If nothing else, the mere sight of various flowers and trees every time she entered the space was enough to lift one's spirits. However, Cheng Ying grumbled at the space, "You truly embody the concept that great vulgarity is great elegance.

You just plant some flowers and think that's refined? What a country bumpkin." Having voiced her complaints, Cheng Ying began burying more items in the soil.

There was also a Bupleurum root she had salvaged from the medicinal herb plot. This item was planted not far from the honeysuckle vine.

Cheng Ying held a rather sacred view of medicinal herbs. After all, they saved lives.

Once everything was tidied up and watered, Cheng Ying stood beside the large stone, took off her shoes, and then her socks. Beneath them lay a stack of five-yuan notes.

Cheng Ying laughed triumphantly toward the sky, bold and smug, "Didn't you say you couldn't bring money in? Didn't I still manage to bring it in?" The large stone showed no reaction.

Cheng Ying mused that perhaps this thing wasn't so miraculous after all. It was safer to keep this money inside the space.

Cheng Ying found a spot between the stone and the ground to place it securely, and then she flashed out of the space. However, the money she had just placed in the space was now clutched in her own hand again.

Cheng Ying's expression darkened. She recalled how merely thinking about the tree branches while touching them was enough for her to enter the space.

Now, this money—she had physically brought it in herself. It had entered, yet as soon as she exited, the money came out with her.

A stubborn streak rose in Cheng Ying. "I refuse to believe this!" With another thought, the money still wouldn't go in.

Clutching the money, Cheng Ying entered the space and glared resentfully at the large stone, the only object that had ever communicated with her by showing two characters. Her resentment boiled; no wonder it ignored her—it simply didn't acknowledge her existence.

She placed the money under the large stone again, not giving up, and even covered it with soil. "We don't ask for much.

We don't need a money tree to sprout, just let this place serve as my pocket." Then she flashed out of the space. The money, still smelling of earth, was back in Cheng Ying's hand.

Furious and exasperated, Cheng Ying stuffed the money into the new pocket Old Grandma had sewn. She completely lost the mood to enter the space again.

What kind of nonsensical understanding was this? Of course, Cheng Ying didn't notice the new characters that had appeared on the large stone, openly mocking her wishful thinking.

In a fit of pique, Cheng Ying started knitting socks in her hands, which strangely accelerated her speed considerably. Old Grandma returned very late; perhaps the Captain had been overly hospitable.

A while after Old Grandma entered the house, Cheng Ying heard the sound of their wooden gate opening and closing. Through the window's shadow, Cheng Ying recognized the sound of her stepfather entering.

Although Old Grandma didn't say anything, she looked troubled and conflicted for a long time. Cheng Ying sighed inwardly.

It was only a matter of time before her stepfather won over Old Grandma. He was a man who paid attention.

She figured her stepfather had followed Old Grandma home from behind, afraid that Old Grandma might stumble or fall late at night, trailing her but keeping a respectful distance. This was a favor; Old Grandma had to accept it, whether she wanted to or not.

Cheng Ying looked at Old Grandma, realizing her grandmother understood the situation perfectly. "Yingzi is asleep.

It's late." Cheng Ying nodded. "Grandma, how was it?" Old Grandma took off her padded jacket and used it in place of her usual pillow.

Cheng Ying felt a little speechless. No one understood better than Cheng Ying what was inside Old Grandma's padded jacket.

Old Grandma lay down. "The Captain said if everything is fine, it's fine.

But if anything happens, he’ll run to the county town. No matter what, he’ll get Yingzi treated first." Cheng Ying felt moved in her heart.

Although it wasn't strictly necessary, Old Grandma had spent half the night running around for her sake. Cheng Ying went over, hugged Old Grandma, and planted a loud kiss on her cheek.

In return, Old Grandma wiped her face in disdain. "You silly child, what are you doing?" Cheng Ying was unconcerned.

"Grandma, when we have something later, let’s send some to the Captain. That man is truly good!" What Cheng Ying meant was that this man accepts gifts and still gets things done—a man with a conscience.

Regardless of Cheng Ying's thoughts, coming from her past life, this was simply the pattern of human behavior: someone who takes a gift and still does the job is considered good. Old Grandma tapped her granddaughter's head.

"Go to sleep. The Captain didn't even take that half a fish." Cheng Ying was incredulous.

"He didn't take it?" What kind of understanding was that? A mere Captain, what kind of integrity did he possess?

Old Grandma said, "He wouldn't have taken it in the first place." Cheng Ying said, "Then why did you send it?" She couldn't comprehend. Old Grandma didn't want to tell her granddaughter the truth, lest she appear unkind as a grandmother.

However, if she didn't teach her granddaughter the ways of human relationships, relying on her daughter-in-law—that silly woman—would be useless. So, she spoke vaguely, "Taking things over shows that Grandma holds them in high regard; it's a gesture of goodwill.

Everyone here has their struggles, neighbors helping neighbors. The Captain's family is decent; they wouldn't take it." Cheng Ying nodded.

So, the point was just for them to acknowledge the gesture in their hearts. But this kind of human warmth was truly refreshing to Cheng Ying.

People who would do favors without accepting gifts—that only happened in this era. Human hearts were simple and pure.

Cheng Ying said, "Grandma, I will remember this favor." Old Grandma replied, "Our Yingzi is sensible; you must remember the kindness of the Captain's family." Then Old Grandma sighed. "It’s better to owe someone money than a favor.

Debts of gratitude are hard to repay. Yingzi, in the future, it's better to bestow favors than to repay them." Cheng Ying pondered this carefully.

Indeed, in folk tales, countless spirits ruined themselves trying to repay kindness. As expected, old people had wisdom.

If one acts decently, perhaps later there won't be any persistent spirits trying desperately to repay a debt of gratitude. In Cheng Ying's view, failing to meet a good person was normal; meeting one was a bonus.

Old Grandma said, "Yingzi, in the future, be polite to everyone in the village. Our village is full of reciprocal favors.

You must leave a way out for yourself, but that doesn't mean you should yield to everyone you meet. If you encounter someone sharp-tongued and gossipy, you absolutely cannot be polite; if you let such a person gain leverage over you, they can hold onto you for a lifetime." Cheng Ying felt she might need to adjust her mindset.

In this era, she was truly out of her depth, and her analysis of human nature was flawed. Everything her Old Grandma said were sage maxims.

"Grandma, I have you to watch over me; I won't go wrong. Please teach me slowly, and I will learn slowly." Hearing this, Old Grandma knew her granddaughter was finally taking things seriously, far more so than her daughter-in-law.

Old Grandma stood up, preparing to blow out the kerosene lamp. "Yingzi, go to sleep.

It’s an early start." One cannot simply dump too much information on a child all at once; it's useless. How much could a child this age remember?

It still depended on gradual, subtle influence over time, guiding her little by little. Old Grandma, being experienced, only lectured her granddaughter without truly expecting Cheng Ying to grasp everything.

If she spoke too much, the child would naturally benefit later. Cheng Ying knew Old Grandma was being frugal with the kerosene.

She quickly sped up her movements. "Grandma, wait a moment, almost done!" The sock in Cheng Ying's hands was nearly shaped; only the cuff remained.

Old Grandma took her granddaughter's handiwork to inspect it. "Our Yingzi is so clever with her hands.

She’ll surely marry into a good family one day. It's just that the knitting is a bit rough; you’re fast enough, but the tension is too loose." Well, Old Grandma’s eyes were sharp.

A quick glance revealed the standard of her craftsmanship. Cheng Ying had already compared her own knitted socks against Old Grandma’s work; every word spoken was spot on.

She didn't feel embarrassed. "Just consider it practice.

If the knitting isn't good, I'll toss it to Chi Wu. When my skill improves, I'll knit a wool vest for you to wear underneath where no one can see." Old Grandma's eyes flashed when she heard this.

"Our granddaughter is sensible." Cheng Ying watched Old Grandma's expression closely after she spoke those words. Only when she heard no objection from Old Grandma did she breathe a sigh of relief.

It wasn't easy to give these socks away; she needed Old Grandma's approval. Otherwise, it would be like playing a trick on Chi Wu.

If Old Grandma saw Chi Wu with such an item without her consent, wouldn't that deeply disturb her? However, knitting a wool vest for Old Grandma wasn't just talk.

Around the New Year, Cheng Ying planned to watch the sheep for her stepfather for a couple of days. She figured she could gather enough wool for a small waistcoat without much trouble.

Besides, with so many sheep, the amount of wool needed for one small vest wouldn't even be noticeable. After saying that, Old Grandma fell silent.

Cheng Ying felt that scheming in front of Old Grandma was utterly futile, as if the old woman could see through everything. So, she decided to be direct.

"Grandma, is it okay if I give this to Chi Wu?" Old Grandma replied, "If you ask someone to work for you, you naturally need to secure their silence. Our Yingzi is better than your mother." Goodness!

No wonder Old Grandma hadn't objected. It turned out she was considering it from that angle—treating Chi Wu as an accomplice, or perhaps a necessary pawn secured by temptation.

Cheng Ying thought she had a grandmother who was a master of conjecture. But then again, perhaps she was close to the truth.

Cheng Ying didn't sleep particularly late, but she was woken up by Old Grandma just as the rooster began to crow. Cheng Ying was groggy.

Since arriving here, her sleep quality had always been excellent. This was the first time she had to wake up so early, and she truly felt lethargic.

When Cheng Ying emerged from the east room, her own mother had already prepared the washing water. And the fish soup from the day before yesterday, along with cornmeal porridge, was being heated in the large pot by Yang Zhi.

Cheng Ying looked up at the moon. What time was it?

Had her own mother not slept at all? Before she could figure out the why and how, her stepfather unexpectedly pushed open the door and entered from outside.

Where on earth had he returned from in the middle of the night? Cheng Ying had just woken up, her head still fuzzy, and she spoke without thinking, "Uncle, where did you come from?" Old Grandma, who was lifting the curtain, paused when she heard her granddaughter’s words.

Her own mother, who was lifting the pot lid, turned back to look directly at her daughter. Chi Yong, who had just stepped inside, was the most composed in the face of Cheng Ying’s question.

He paused for only a second. "Yingzi is awake.

I went to Old Man Sun's place and the Captain's place to ask them to come over for a bite to tide them over." Cheng Ying nodded; her stepfather knew how to handle things. Then she looked at her own mother's rigid posture, like she had been spot-welded in place.

Cheng Ying suddenly remembered: her attitude towards her stepfather was wrong. The original Yingzi had completely ignored him.

The corner of Cheng Ying’s mouth twitched repeatedly, but she couldn't figure out how to navigate this situation. Her own grandmother was watching.

Wouldn't Old Grandma think she was siding with outsiders? Oh dear, this was terrible.

Chi Yong noticed the girl's discomfort. "It's cold outside.

Come inside and put on warmer clothes. We have a long journey by cart ahead of us."