Then she produced a packet and handed it to Chi Yong. "It's all medicinal herbs. See what you can exchange them for."

This was likely the most valuable thing Yang Zhi possessed.

Chi Yong glanced at the least cunning wife in the family and placed the packet onto the cart.

Then he called back, "Mother, let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we return."

The old woman, relieved by her granddaughter's thoughtfulness and careful handling of affairs, didn't argue with her daughter-in-law. "Let's go."

For most of the night, Yang Zhi stood by the doorway. The old woman could bear it no longer. "Get inside, lock the door, and don't open it for anyone!"

The voice was piercingly sharp.

Cheng Ying, nestled in her grandmother's embrace, managed to stifle her laughter.

Team Leader Cheng Shan, wearing a sheepskin coat, sat on the cart and smiled at Cheng Ying's grandmother. "Old sister-in-law, don't let Yang Zhi's simple honesty fool you. Honest people have their own blessings, and meeting you is certainly luck for Yang Zhi."

Cheng Ying had to agree. Despite the constant aggravation, given her own mother's temperament, if she didn't have this grandmother protecting her, there wouldn't be a shred of her left.

The old woman said nothing, only letting out a long, drawn-out sigh. Who could truly say what was fortune or misfortune? She couldn't recall any truly happy woman being a concubine. The old woman's thoughts drifted to her own son.

For a moment, the atmosphere became inexplicably heavy.

Chi Yong drove the cart ahead with Old Man Sun.

Following the flickering wind lamp on the front of the cart, Cheng Ying could see the relief etched on her stepfather's face.

He clearly agreed with the Team Leader: having someone like the old lady protect her own mother was absolute luck.

The old grandmother regained her composure and recognized Cheng Shan speaking to her. "Big brother, this daughter-in-law is simple-minded. In the future, Yingzi will still need your guidance and care."

Cheng Shan looked towards Chi Yong at the front. Having some understanding of this family's situation, he perceived that the old woman wasn't entirely pleased with Chi Yong.

The girl already has a stepfather; what need would she have for his patronage? "Old sister-in-law, rest assured. Yongzi will certainly be able to support the household. Just wait for better days ahead."

Cheng Ying mused that no matter how small the locale or how low the official rank, words spoken by people like this always made one ponder. He hadn't promised anything, nor had he provoked anyone.

Cheng Ying stared into the dark expanse ahead, feeling a prickle of fear.

Moreover, after leaving the village, they could still hear the distant howl of wolves.

Her little heart was terrified. "Grandma, is that a wolf howling?"

The driver, Old Man Sun, said, "Don't be afraid, it's far off. Besides, we make so much noise that stragglers can't amount to much."

He said this to the mother and daughter behind them.

The old woman patted her granddaughter's wrist to offer comfort.

Along the way, the Team Leader became much more talkative, perhaps because the long journey was monotonous and required some idle chatter.

As Cheng Ying listened to the three older men chatting loosely, she gathered that the Team Leader was heading to the county seat mainly to inquire about the current policies.

She heard there were new regulations, though no one knew when they would reach the village.

As the Team Leader, Cheng Shan was anxious.

After the New Year came the spring planting season, which would keep them busy for a while. He needed to have some certainty, after all.

Cheng Ying drifted in and out of awareness, listening to the three men rambling nonsensically, curled up in the blankets. Despite the occasional jolting, she didn't feel cold at all.

Cheng Ying was awakened by a tremendous sway.

When she woke, her little feet were resting right in her grandmother's lap. No wonder she wasn't cold.

Furthermore, the two thermoses her mother had packed for the journey were pressed against her chest and back—no wonder she felt warmer and warmer as she slept.

Cheng Ying sat up. "Grandma, are you cold? Come rest here for a bit."

Grandma quickly covered her up. "Hurry and snuggle down. You just woke up; the night wind is harsh, you mustn't catch a chill."

Old Man Sun up front chuckled. "Haha, the girl has a wide heart to sleep through all that! Cheer up a bit. The road ahead is tricky; you two will have to get out and walk for a stretch."

The old woman replied, "It's fine, we two will get out now."

Cheng Ying sighed inwardly. So even traveling by mule cart was this arduous. Getting to the city was no small feat. If life improved later, even having money to buy things would be hard if travel was like this.

Cheng Ying felt deep concern for her own future. "Village-to-village access" seemed like a distant dream.

The old woman was not young anymore. If she caught a minor cold, fine, but if she fell seriously ill, just the journey itself on this path could exhaust her to death.

Future plans were necessary. Anle Wo (Peaceful Nest) was too remote.

If only roads could be established here.

Cheng Ying's grandmother rubbed her hands together, holding them against her face for a long moment before sliding her hand onto her granddaughter's back. "You're not sweaty anymore. Yingzi, let's get off the cart."

Cheng Ying was touched by the old woman's attentiveness. "Okay, let's get off. Grandma, my legs are stiff from sleeping. It’s good to stretch them out."

Looking at her grandmother like this, Cheng Ying felt that walking a bit was not a big deal.

Though it was dark, from the feel of her steps, Cheng Ying knew the path wasn't just uneven, it was uphill.

No wonder they were asked to walk; they were likely worried the mule couldn't pull the load otherwise.

Cheng Ying and her grandmother walked behind, while her stepfather and the Team Leader kept a hand on the mule cart, providing some assistance to ease the mule's burden.

After cresting the incline, all four of them were drenched in sweat.

Cheng Ying's soles ached a little; it was the longest she had ever walked.

Cheng Ying stood beside the cart. The wind howled from all directions; it must be a very high place.

Grandma Yingzi exclaimed, "Yingzi, look ahead!"

In the black night sky, a light flickered far in the distance. Though faint, it wasn't the glow of a kerosene lamp.

Cheng Ying felt a surge of excitement—not for the light itself, but because it meant no more walking. "Grandma, have we reached the county seat?"

Her stepfather spoke up. "No, that's the township office."

Cheng Ying stared ahead, unable to articulate her feeling; they had traveled for so long just to reach the township office. It was truly difficult.

Cheng Ying’s lips felt a bit dry. "How much longer until we arrive?"

Chi Yong looked at his newly acquired daughter, who was showing a rare flash of childlike demeanor, and felt fondness. "Hmm, probably until the sun comes up."

Cheng Ying calculated in her head: that meant walking all night.

Old Man Sun, who was driving, said, "This is only because it's winter and the river is frozen solid, allowing us to cross directly. In spring or autumn, we have to detour, adding another hour or so of walking."

Her internal tally confirmed it: they would be walking until dawn.

Cheng Ying thought: in the future, she definitely wouldn't go to the city unless necessary; this was torturous.

As they spoke, Grandma pulled Cheng Ying onto the cart, took out a towel, and wiped her granddaughter's back for a long time before letting her lie down.

The water in the thermos, having been packed for nearly half the night, was no longer hot.

It was just right, pleasantly warm.

Everyone took several long drinks.

Cheng Ying burrowed back into the blankets, shutting out the howling north wind.

The downhill path was faster, causing Cheng Ying to feel slightly dizzy, so she tucked herself deeper into her grandmother's embrace, reluctant to even show her head.

When they reached the township, the old woman woke her granddaughter. "Yingzi, wake up and look! The lights here are so bright!"

Cheng Ying lifted the edge of the blanket. She didn't know how big the township was, but only a few households had their lamps lit.

For someone who had appreciated the dazzling lights of city life, there wasn't much here to admire. However, the old woman still gazed longingly toward the faint glows.

Team Leader Cheng Shan chimed in, "Our village, after the New Year, is rumored to be getting electricity too, Old sister-in-law. Soon, every house will have light."

This news made Cheng Ying happier than her grandmother. Finally, no more kerosene lamps.

The old woman exclaimed, "Oh my, how much money will that cost? How many work points will it take?"

Cheng Ying knew her grandmother’s concerns would invariably center on finances.

Cheng Shan reassured her. "The national policies are good. The state will fund the electricity installation; we just contribute our labor and help out."

"That would be wonderful! We must thank the nation, thank the Party. Who would have dreamed of such a thing a few years ago? No one had the experience."

Cheng Shan agreed. "Indeed. Although life is hard now, at least we have a home. In those years, with bandits everywhere on the mountains, which family could live peacefully for long? Now, at least families can stay together. If our village could produce a soldier, that would be a real achievement."

In Cheng Ying's view, her grandmother probably lacked that level of political consciousness and was just agreeing with the Team Leader.

But perhaps not entirely; when Cheng Ying had gone out before, the village women she chatted with spoke of the same things.

So, Cheng Ying concluded, the communal atmosphere here was too strong, and patriotic fervor ran too high.

Passing through the township, all Cheng Ying heard from the adults was nostalgic reminiscence of past times.

It was understandable why people felt gratitude; the past sounded much harsher.

The time just before dawn was even colder than the dead of night. As the sky lightened faintly, Cheng Ying could no longer stop shivering inside the covers.

She shivered, nudged the cold water thermos away, and poked just a small head out from under the blanket.

The hats of Old Man Sun and her stepfather in the front were dusted with a layer of white frost.

Cheng Shan, sitting next to him, had frost visible even on his eyebrows.

Cheng Ying quickly looked back at her grandmother. Fortunately, the old woman had wrapped her face and hair securely under her old-fashioned blue headscarf and hat.

Team Leader Cheng Shan said softly, "Yingzi, the frost is heavy this morning. Snuggle back in." He spoke quietly, assuming his grandmother was only dozing.

Cheng Ying quickly retreated under the covers, but her grandmother did wake up immediately and promptly tucked Cheng Ying's feet back up against her heart.

After another long stretch of jolting, Sun Laotou lost the energy to speak, and her stepfather also stared silently ahead.

Cheng Ying bounced inside the blankets for an unknown duration before hearing conversation outside again.

The Team Leader spoke up. "This road is truly wide. Every time I go to the city, I wish our village road could look like this someday."

Old Man Sun replied, "That would require leveling the mountain tops! I dare not even imagine it."

Chi Yong interjected, "It will get better eventually. In the last twenty years, who would have thought the city would look the way it does now?"

The Team Leader nodded, and Old Man Sun did too. "Yongzi truly has foresight; his mind is much brighter."

Chi Yong didn't reply, just called toward the back, "Yingzi, wake up and look. We're almost at the city. Let's have some dry rations."

Cheng Ying poked her head out of the blanket. Although the sun wasn't visible, the breath of the early morning shrouded the place where the sun was about to rise. Seeing the golden edge emerging, she knew the sun was about to appear.