But for now, they were the city's proud emblem. To the people of this era, these were the skyscrapers.

At the very least, her grandmother’s jaw dropped open in awe. Cheng Ying couldn't muster that expression, so she simply cleared her throat.

Coming with Captain Cheng Shan was just as good; no need to ask directions to the city hospital. Old Man Sun drove the cart right up to the entrance of the county hospital.

The old lady murmured, "This entrance is truly massive." Cheng Ying wasn't sure how to reply to her grandmother's observation. Cheng Shan said, "Old sister-in-law, once the children are educated and successful, we’ll be blessed.

Who knows, perhaps our own front gate will be this grand one day." Cheng Ying’s cheek twitched—and honestly, it wasn’t a spasm. No one aspired to have a gate like a hospital’s.

What bad luck. Old Man Sun set the three of them down at the entrance.

Cheng Shan said, "Old sister-in-law, this is where Yingzi will be seen. How about this: I'll head into the county center first.

You both get Yingzi seen here, and if anything goes wrong, come find me in the county later." The old lady nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, brother.

You go ahead with your business, we won't keep you. This is good enough." Chi Yong said, "Captain, if Yingzi is fine, we'll come find you in the county too, so we can head back early while it's still light." Cheng Shan nodded.

"Yongzi, I'm entrusting the old one and the young one to you." Chi Yong replied, "We’re all family; this isn't entrusting, it's just taking care of things." Only then did Old Man Sun drive the cart away with the Captain. Looking back at her grandmother, Cheng Ying felt a pang of reluctance to even blink away the sight of the horse-drawn carriage.

Cheng Ying supported her grandmother. "Grandma, let's go in, it's getting late." The old lady withdrew her gaze.

"Ah, let's go." To be honest, despite this being a city hospital, the place wasn't very large; one could grasp the general layout with just a quick look. Even though it was for a check-up, there weren't any advanced diagnostic tools visible at the time.

Cheng Ying knew that even if they wanted to pay for tests, there probably wasn't anywhere to spend the money. Seeing her grandmother's hesitant steps, she urged, "Grandma, let's go in." Chi Yong led the way forward.

Though their clothes weren't the best, the bearing they carried showed they weren't country bumpkins at all. Cheng Ying held her grandmother’s hand and could feel the sweat gathering in the old woman's palm—she was nervous.

Cheng Ying glanced at her stepfather; his figure wasn't shrinking back at all. How could anyone call this person a country folk?

Supporting the old lady, she walked in silently. What if she saw through it?

If the heavens intend rain and a mother intends to marry, it’s beyond one’s control. Chi Yong settled the old lady and Cheng Ying on a row of long benches and went off to queue for registration himself.

Naturally, he didn't ask which department Cheng Ying needed. The old lady said, "Yingzi, this hospital is truly big, so bright.

Look at those light bulbs, how many must there be?" The old lady spoke quietly. Cheng Ying replied, "It's certainly not small, but I'll stay right with you, Grandma, we definitely won't get lost.

After the check-up, let Uncle take us to look inside that department store we saw outside earlier." The grandmother frowned. "Let's not go in.

Things in there must be so expensive." Cheng Ying winked slyly. "If the two of us just look, is she going to charge us?

Come on, Grandma." The old lady looked at her granddaughter. "I was quite taken with it.

That picture pasted up at the crowded entrance we passed coming in—that girl was so beautiful." Cheng Ying had seen it too; her grandmother was referring to the movie poster outside the cinema. "Grandma, I'll be just as beautiful when I grow up." The old lady smiled, and Cheng Ying could see several missing teeth in the back row, both upper and lower.

The old lady said, "Well, our Yingzi takes after her father, she’ll definitely be good-looking, even prettier than the girl in that poster." Then her expression suddenly soured. She leaned in and whispered to her granddaughter, "But Yingzi, no matter how good-looking we are, we don't end up pasted up on display like that." Cheng Ying asked, "Why?" It wasn't that she harbored ambitions of stardom; she was genuinely curious.

The old lady explained, "People like that got criticized in those years. If you go back further, people like that weren't considered respectable.

Don't think just because I’m from the countryside that I don't understand things." Cheng Ying pursed her lips. Alright, the old lady was truly perceptive.

"Mmm, I don't crave showing off. Even if I am good-looking, it’s for you to see, Grandma.

We aren't for just any random person to look at." The old lady started smiling again. Her granddaughter was so sensible.

Moreover, in the old lady’s heart, her granddaughter's looks guaranteed a good future. This wasn't an overstatement.

Soon Chi Yong returned. "Yingzi, let's go, it's our turn." Cheng Ying looked at the sparse crowd in the hospital corridor.

This was only because of the times; even the hospital was sparsely populated. Cheng Ying supported her grandmother, and the three of them went in together.

The doctor looked quite old and seemed reliable. Cheng Ying extended her wrist to have the doctor check her pulse.

The doctor then used the stethoscope to listen to Cheng Ying’s breathing, felt around her head for a long time, and finally asked her a few questions. In Cheng Ying’s opinion, this could be considered a blend of Chinese and Western medicine.

For now, she’d accept that. The old lady watched the series of actions, leaning forward anxiously until she nearly touched the doctor's desk.

Finally, the doctor spoke up. "It’s nothing.

This child is fine. Losing baby teeth is normal; they'll grow back in a while." The old lady sighed with relief.

"Doctor, the child has a headache." The elderly doctor felt Cheng Ying’s head again. "Does it still hurt?" Cheng Ying replied, "It doesn't hurt when I don't bump into the edge of the kang." Well, Cheng Ying was playing dumb, telling the doctor her head was fine.

The doctor looked at the three of them, likely trying to gauge if they were all simple-minded. "Mhm, if you don't bump it next time, it won't hurt.

Old lady, the child is fine, you can go back." Cheng Ying marveled at the medical ethics of the time. Forty years later, they’d probably prescribe a stack of medicine even if you weren't sick.

And for Cheng Ying's issue, she actually got to go through a full circuit of the hospital. These people were truly kind.

The old lady was finally completely at ease. Chi Yong also showed a faint smile.

He hadn't understood what was going on with this girl before, but now he did. This girl wasn't stupid; quite the opposite, she was incredibly sharp.

Cheng Ying hadn't realized the examination would be this straightforward, without so much tedious procedure. The old lady said, "Thank you, Doctor, thank you, Doctor." The three of them left amidst the old lady’s continuous expressions of gratitude.

Cheng Ying asked, "Uncle, do they fix false teeth here at the hospital?" Chi Yong glanced at Cheng Ying. "Yes, they do.

I registered for dentistry just now too. Let’s go take a look." Cheng Ying looked at her stepfather; he really was a character.

At this point, the old lady must have been won over by Chi Yong. The old lady insisted, "Yingzi, lost teeth don't grow back; there's no need to look at that." Cheng Ying remained silent, happy to concede this small favor to Chi Wu’s father.

After all, they would be one family, and a harmonious relationship meant less worry for the old lady, less stress for her birth mother, and fewer headaches for herself. Cheng Ying persuaded, "Grandma, let’s go look.

We’ll do whatever Uncle says." Chi Yong looked at his young daughter, feeling a warm flutter in his chest. Where did this sharp girl get her smarts?

She was an imp, and he just wanted to tease her a bit. Seeing the uncooperative old lady, he changed tack.

"Mom, this is for you. They can fit dentures in the city; you won't have to struggle to eat anymore." The grandmother’s expression shifted immediately.

"No, that costs too much money! I don't need dentures.

Eating is fine. Everyone in the village does without; let’s go." Chi Yong frowned; this old lady was difficult to persuade.

He glanced at his daughter beside him. Cheng Ying paid no attention to her stepfather’s look, worried only that her grandmother wouldn't get the dentures.

"Grandma, let's just see. I’ve never seen what false teeth look like." The old lady said dismissively, "What's so good-looking about them?" Cheng Ying pleaded, "Grandma, just take a look?

Just one glance? It’s a chance to gain some knowledge!" The old lady couldn't bear to disappoint her granddaughter, shot Chi Yong a glare, and the three of them headed toward the dentistry section.

Entering the dental clinic, this doctor looked more official, wearing a large mask. "Who needs to be seen?" Before the old lady could react, Cheng Ying gently pushed her forward.

When it was time for the doctor to use a flashlight to look inside the old lady’s mouth, she sat on the chair, barely daring to make a sound. She obediently opened her mouth.

Cheng Ying knew her grandmother’s legs were trembling—she was so nervous. Cheng Ying patted her grandmother's hand a few times by way of comfort.

"Grandma, the doctor's mask is so clean and white." This was just to ease the old lady's tension. Since the grandmother’s mouth was open for examination, no one answered Cheng Ying.

Chi Yong, however, remarked, "Cleanliness is most important in a hospital." After the examination, the doctor stated, "Denture fitting." Chi Yong nodded. "Yes, fit all the missing ones.

Doctor, will this take long?" The doctor replied, "We have ready-made dentures over there; it will be quick." Cheng Ying dared not look around much, but it was certainly more efficient. There was only one type of tooth, unlike later eras with porcelain and all sorts of complicated options requiring multiple trips to the dentist.

The old lady tried to speak, but the doctor never gave her the chance. "You all wait outside for a while.

The old lady is missing quite a few teeth; it will take some time." Chi Yong brought Cheng Ying out. Cheng Ying saw her grandmother's anxious eyes.

However, Cheng Ying deliberately pretended not to notice. If her grandmother had been allowed to speak, she surely wouldn't have agreed to the dentures.

Chi Yong led Cheng Ying out and they sat on the long wooden bench, grandfather and granddaughter staring at each other. Cheng Ying figured her stepfather was sharp, and since she didn't speak up, he was likely trying to trick information out of her.

Chi Yong looked at his clever daughter, unsure how to express his affection. "Yingzi, why don't Uncle take you for a walk?" Cheng Ying had no objection.

"Will Grandma get lost looking for us?" Chi Yong took Cheng Ying's hand and led her to a door where many people in white coats were gathered, asking a nurse how long the denture process would take. Thus, the two of them calculated they had ample time and wandered out of the hospital area.

Cheng Ying followed her stepfather, glancing around, but she was still mindful that her stepfather had a specific destination in mind; he wasn't just looking aimlessly like her. After about ten minutes, Cheng Ying spotted a green metal bin that looked very familiar, something she hadn't seen in many years.

She looked up—it was the Post Office. Her stepfather was using her as cover.

Cheng Ying continued to look around casually. "What is this place for?

Can we go inside and see?" Chi Yong looked at his young daughter, thinking she was treating him like an idiot. Since he had brought the girl here, he didn't mind if she knew.

"It’s the Post Office. This is where people can communicate with relatives far away," Chi Yong stated matter-of-factly.

He didn't believe the girl, who was going to school, wouldn't know what a post office was.