Cheng Ying shook her head, “When you press on your teeth like that, your cheeks puff out—you look truly handsome! You look about the same age as my mother.”
This was clearly nonsense, but thanks to the new dentures, Madam Lai did look significantly better; at least she no longer appeared so sharp-tongued.
The old lady tapped Cheng Ying lightly on the back, “You mischievous child, teasing your grandmother like that. Go on, rest over there.”
Cheng Ying wrapped her arms around the old lady; the two huddled together for warmth, unconcerned by the few light taps Madam Lai delivered to her back.
After all, her own grandmother wouldn't hit her hard.
Chi Yong sat at the front of the cart, not uttering a word, clearly still preoccupied.
Cheng Shan remarked, “Old sister-in-law, this granddaughter of yours, she’s been raised like a precious treasure.”
The old lady glanced at Chi Yong sitting ahead, sighed, and said nothing.
Both Cheng Ying and Captain Cheng Shan understood: the third son of the Cheng family had only this one remaining male heir, so how could the old lady not raise him with the utmost care?
However, the old lady wouldn't voice that sentiment in front of Chi Yong anymore.
If anything, the deepest realization the old lady had gained from this trip to the city was that the household could not be without a man to hold the fort.
Even someone like Chi Yong—no matter how much she inwardly resisted acknowledging his presence in the family—she had to face this reality head-on and properly.
Though the old lady sat inside the cart, she knew perfectly well that if Chi Yong hadn't run back and forth handling things, relying only on her and the girl would have been impossible.
Whether at the hospital or on the road back, everything Chi Yong did was witnessed by the old lady.
It wasn't just agreement; it was the recognition of an essential presence—the family needed this one person.
Therefore, now more than ever, the old lady couldn't say anything in front of Chi Yong.
Although Cheng Ying was an adult, she hadn't lived as long as her grandmother and genuinely hadn't thought that deeply about it.
She only felt that her stepfather seemed preoccupied since leaving the post office.
But that was his business; she had her own things to handle. Why worry about someone whose future relationship with her was uncertain?
The mule cart stopped in front of the large livery stable Old Sun had mentioned.
Even in the dead of winter, Cheng Ying could smell a musty stench. What could the accommodations inside possibly be like?
Fortunately, their group wasn't planning to stay or eat there. They simply got two pots of hot water from the stable master and kept moving, eating their dry rations right there in the cart.
Chi Yong asked, “Brother Sun, why the rush?”
Old Sun replied, “I can’t help it. My legs are getting sorer. I think the weather’s about to turn. We need to hurry. If it really snows, the ground will be slick, and the mule won't be able to climb the ridge.”
Cheng Ying recalled the steep hill they had crossed the night before. Traveling that path in even a light snow would be agonizing for the beast.
Hearing Old Sun’s words, Chi Yong also grew anxious. He couldn't put his entire family through hardship. “Brother Sun, it’s still light out. I’ll drive for a while; you rest. When it gets dark, you can take over; you have the better skill for night driving.”
Cheng Ying nodded; driving at night required alertness, which her stepfather could manage.
Old Sun quickly swallowed his dry food, made no ceremony, and promptly dozed off somewhere on the cart.
After eating, Cheng Ying wasn’t too cold. Leaning against her grandmother, she watched the scenery pass by from the cart.
Essentially, the road was just much wider than the one in their village, and the mountains looked a little smaller; otherwise, there wasn't much difference. Old Sun’s legs were indeed more reliable than any weather forecast.
By evening, the sky was visibly overcast.
Chi Yong drove quite well, but they only reached the township right around dusk.
The road from the township to their village was much rougher. That was when Old Sun woke up, told his stepfather to rest, and began cracking the whip himself.
Cheng Ying could actually feel the mule’s pace slow down as it trotted.
The old lady’s face was stern; it seemed she was nervous.
Cheng Ying decided it was best to bury herself in the quilt and try to sleep.
Cheng Ying was woken by her own grandmother’s voice: “We’re almost home.”
The old lady said, “Soon, very soon. Yingzi, we’re at the climb now. Get up, we have to walk a bit.”
Cheng Ying, groggy, realized the mule couldn't pull the load uphill. Just like on the way there, her stepfather and the captain pushed the cart from behind, while the old lady led her granddaughter, walking behind them in the pitch-black night.
By the time the group reached the ridge crest, tiny snowflakes had begun to fall.
Cheng Ying exclaimed, “It really is snowing! It landed on my face!”
Old Sun said, “We rushed hard and finally made it up. Get back on the cart quickly; once we’re off the ridge, we’ll be home.”
Old Sun’s prediction was inaccurate; it still took them another two hours to reach home.
The family of three delivered the mule cart back to the team office, and it wasn’t until the cock crowed that they were finally warming up on their own heated brick bed.
Cheng Ying counted on her fingers: the trip to the city involved two nights and one day of travel, they only stayed half a day in the city, and it was exhausting.
Cheng Ying resolved that unless someone was waiting for her in the city with a million dollars, she wouldn't go again until the roads were improved. She truly couldn't stand it anymore.
Never mind the unpleasantness of seeing the mule defecate while they were eating dry rations; Cheng Ying felt that, viewed from her reborn perspective, she had serious character flaws.
This was the second time since her rebirth that Cheng Ying had adjusted her worldview and philosophy on life. She not only had to guard against her second paternal aunt but also strive to keep her own temperament as far away from her aunt’s as possible.
Cheng Ying was afraid; the future would be an era of relying on one's father. Since her own father was gone, what was left to rely on? Didn't that mean she could only rely on character? Alas, Cheng Ying didn't possess much character and needed to start cultivating it now.
She thought of her grandmother’s past grand declarations: Our family has been poor peasants for eight generations! If she had lived a few years earlier, it would have been an age of relying on one's ancestors. Too bad she missed it. But even if she had, the conditions likely wouldn't have been great.
Cheng Ying was stiff with cold when she stepped off the cart; the quilt covering her head was dusted with a layer of snowflakes.
Yang Zhi felt sorry for her daughter, but she still reached out, first helping the old lady down from the cart.
The old lady insisted, “Never mind me, get Yingzi inside first. It’s freezing outside; don’t let the child get sick.”
Yang Zhi replied, “Ma, no rush. You come down first, move around a bit. It’s a shame it started snowing today.”
The old lady’s stiff limbs couldn't win against her daughter-in-law’s persistence.
Chi Yong watched his wife help the old lady down. He rubbed his own numb hands; being a man, he was more resilient to the cold than the women. He lifted the quilt off Cheng Ying and carried her into the house.
Truthfully, Cheng Ying felt a little embarrassed. Though her body was small, her heart was older. Luckily, her cheeks were flushed crimson, making it impossible to tell if it was from shame or the cold.
Seeing her granddaughter safely inside, the old lady felt some relief. “Don’t rush inside. Help me walk around the yard for a bit; once I’m warmed up, I won’t feel the chill.”
Yang Zhi understood this and, though worried about her daughter, knew to help the old lady walk first.
Chi Yong came out of the house. “Go rub Yingzi down; warming her up will stop the cold. I’ll support Ma while she walks.”
The old lady was satisfied. If her limbs weren't so stiff from the cold and her granddaughter truly needed watching, she wouldn't have allowed Chi Yong to help her. People shouldn't dwell on the past; nowadays, old ladies couldn't afford to fall. Was the old lady not afraid of pain? She was afraid of taking one fall and burdening her children. This trip to the city had shown the old lady that once you’re away from home, it’s hard to avoid illness.
Never mind the internal conflict the old lady felt while strolling outside with Chi Yong supporting her, Cheng Ying’s hands and feet were stiff. Her own mother placed Yingzi under the thick quilts and began rubbing her daughter’s small arms and legs with rough, calloused hands. She rubbed fiercely and heavily until Yingzi cried out in pain.
Yang Zhi stopped only when Cheng Ying’s face was covered in sweat. “It hurts, it hurts so much!”
Yang Zhi tucked her daughter back under the quilt. “It hurts a little now, but it’s better than getting chilblains that ache every year. Be good. Tell me if any other part is still numb, or you’ll suffer every year.”
Cheng Ying grimaced, “You’ve rubbed the skin right off! There aren't any numb spots left; my hands and feet are starting to sweat now.”
Yang Zhi nodded. “Good. Once you sweat, we’ll eat.”
Hearing her mother mention food, Cheng Ying realized she was right; she hadn't eaten since late last night—cold and hungry. Still, she asked her mother, “What about Grandma? Shouldn’t she be rubbed down too? Don’t let her catch a cold.”
Yang Zhi replied, “I know my daughter is filial; she must take after my mother. But your grandmother doesn’t need rubbing. I’ll give her a little wine later; a warm rush will see her through.”
Cheng Ying thought she could easily be given a little wine too, saving her from all that suffering.
Cheng Ying asked, “Mom, where’s Chi Wu? Did you watch the sheep with him all day?”
Yang Zhi said, “Chi Wu is asleep. That boy, Wu Zi, is so sensible; he can do everything. I did chores here all day, and Wu Zi watched the sheep by himself; nothing went wrong.”
Cheng Ying looked at her mother, realizing her simplicity. How could she explain? “Mom, if you do whatever Grandma tells you not to do, Grandma will nag you later. If Grandma asks, just say you were watching the sheep with Chi Wu.”
Yang Zhi didn't grasp her daughter’s subtle meaning. “Oh no, that wouldn't be right! Wu Zi is such a good child. Wouldn’t it be unfair if I took credit for his work? It’s fine if Grandma nags me a little.”
This woman wasn’t afraid of being scolded. Cheng Ying wondered if she would ever develop her mother’s quality; probably not in this lifetime.
Cheng Ying looked at her mother, her brow furrowed with worry.
The door curtain was lifted, revealing Chi Yong’s inscrutable face. He watched the mother and daughter in the room with a faint, unreadable smile.
Cheng Ying’s heart, just beginning to thaw, gave a jolt. She hadn't spoken ill of him—surely someone hadn't been eavesdropping.
Yang Zhi, however, remained unconcerned, as she had never understood her daughter’s implication anyway. She asked Chi Yong, who had entered, “Where is Ma?”
Chi Yong replied, “Ma is walking around slowly to get her legs moving. I came in to see if there was anything warm to eat. Let’s eat something late at night and then rest.”
Yang Zhi said, “Right, I’ll go set the table now,” and started to move toward the door.