"That would be wonderful," Chi Yong said. "Being able to do something for the village, running errands for the team leader, it would certainly put my mind at ease. I ask for nothing else, just to get to know the villagers better."

That was his way of getting his face known first. Cheng Shan nodded along. "Yongzi's thinking is sound; the boy is steady."

The old lady remained silent. Being a representative required a village vote, and Chi Yong’s foundation was indeed a bit shallow.

If only it were her own eldest son—ah, better not to mention it.

Team Leader Cheng Shan said, "It's pretty much the same, actually. The total proceeds are the same when we go out; it's just the wording that differs."

"Being able to follow along and do some work within the team means knowing more than others. I owe it all to your consideration."

Along the way, his own grandmother had already settled the matter for his stepfather.

Cheng Ying calculated that in the future, he would probably end up as an accountant.

She wondered if his stepfather planned for long-term development here.

It was only through overhearing his own grandmother's conversation that she learned her birth mother also knew how to read and write.

Cheng Ying said, "That's great. I just wonder what kind of environment could have nurtured my own mother into being so simple and guileless."

Cheng Ying thought she must ask her mother about her childhood environment when she had the chance.

She just wanted to know how her birth mother grew up.

Speaking of her birth mother, she truly wasn't a very calculating person. The person walking beside her was the team leader's wife, a perfect opportunity to strike up a friendly conversation—what a rare chance! Look at the other aunties and elders, all clustering around the team leader's wife, chatting away.

But her own mother was so single-mindedly focused on walking, barely saying a word.

Cheng Ying observed carefully: her mother was the type who answered only when asked, and when she spoke, she left nothing out.

Ah, her development potential was genuinely limited. Someone like her mother was suited for academia. Whether aloof or oblivious to worldly affairs, either way, she wasn't suited for community living.

Heaven knew Yang Zhi had nothing to do with being aloof; she was naturally slow-witted. She wouldn't know what to say to people like that.

Added to that, since Father Ying passed away these last few years, Yang Zhi had interacted with people even less.

It could be said that her life was even more insular compared to the average woman.

The team leader's wife, on the other hand, was quite talkative, keeping Yang Zhi engaged with small talk.

Cheng Ying even discerned that the poor social standing of her own mother had its specific boundaries. This team leader's wife held a good impression of her mother, perhaps because her mother had once administered herbal medicine to the team leader's youngest son.

When Cheng Ying heard this, she felt the team leader's child was lucky to be alive—to dare to drink the herbal concoction made by her own mother! Truly, surviving was a sign of great fortune.

So, Cheng Ying’s little heart trembled, and she hurried back to sit in the front cart.

When they reached the uphill section, her grandmother walked, while their great-great-grandmother was carried up on her grandson's back.

Now that was a difference. No wonder rural areas placed such importance on having many sons and grandsons.

Going downhill, the great-great-grandmother remarked, "The saying about many sons bringing much fortune isn't without reason, Yang Zhi. Go ahead and have another child with Yongzi soon."

This old lady didn't care what the others nearby thought.

In fact, only this old lady could say such a thing without anyone daring to get offended. Anyone else, and their own grandmother would have retorted sharply.

First, her birth mother blushed, glancing at her stepfather, then at Cheng Ying, and finally at the old lady.

Her stepfather’s reaction was subtle: first looking at his own son, then at the old lady, and finally resting his gaze on Yang Zhi.

Chi Wu kept his face set, clearly unhappy.

Cheng Ying was displeased, very displeased. With a stepfather, she had already started worrying about a stepmother. If her mother had another child, she would truly be left entirely with the old lady.

Putting aside the fact that, given her stepfather’s status, if he had another child and then abandoned them, would her own mother even have a way to survive? Why should she labor to raise his children for him?

Cheng Ying was firmly against it. "Great-great-grandmother, I already have two siblings; having more children will lead to fines."

There were slogans posted on the wall, so Cheng Ying saying this was normal. Although, back then, the promotion of planned parenthood was still relatively new, and there weren't truly punitive policies in place yet. Fines were unlikely.

However, Chi Yong kept glancing at Cheng Ying several times.

The great-great-grandmother declared, "Fined, so be it. Nothing is more important than descendants. Besides, who dares to fine us?"

Cheng Ying fell silent. No one had been fined yet? She had spoken out of turn again.

Team Leader Cheng Shan, aware of the family's difficulties regarding when to have children, naturally had a plan. "I hear the movie today is one Mother favors, something called 'Juan Xitong' [The Coiled Pipe/Rolling Log]?"

The old lady exclaimed, "Oh, that’s wonderful! You all walk faster; we must find a good spot to watch."

That seemed to successfully smooth over the topic.

However, their own group fell into considerable silence. By the time they reached the township, dusk was settling.

From afar, Cheng Ying could see the movie screen hoisted high.

She could only look from a distance because the area beneath the screen was already packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

It was nothing but people; anyone unfamiliar might think they had stumbled into a densely populated area. Who knew that all these people came from surrounding villages just to watch a movie? How could the enthusiasm be so high?

Great-Great-Grandmother said, "There are so many people! Lively, truly lively. Hurry, let’s find a good spot."

The old lady stopped riding. Escorted by the team leader’s eldest son, their own grandmother managed to push her way into the crowd along with the great-great-grandmother.

Cheng Ying thought that since she was small, she must avoid being trampled.

Yang Zhi led her daughter with one hand and held onto Chi Wu with the other. "Wuzi’s father, you and Mother go in first. I’ll take the children to look around the township."

Chi Yong replied, "If we can’t find you later, wait where the carts are parked."

The township was small. Even with the crowds now, once the movie ended, it would empty out. He wasn't worried about them getting lost.

Yang Zhi nodded. "Stay with Mother; don't separate."

Then, holding the two children, she walked out of the movie viewing area.

The township streets were narrow, just one main road, not very long, showing that the township wasn't wealthy, and 'bustling' was certainly out of the question.

Yang Zhi stopped in front of the small general store. "Do you two want to buy anything?"

Chi Wu shook his head. He was reluctant to spend money, fearing the old lady would reprimand him later. Besides, at that moment, Chi Wu was much more eager to watch the movie.

Cheng Ying wasn't very interested in the dimly lit general store, lit by a sixty-watt bulb.

Since the two children weren't keen, Yang Zhi took them directly to the township health clinic.

However, the timing was wrong; everyone here had already finished work.

Yang Zhi had made the trip carrying her basket for nothing.

Cheng Ying asked, "Mom, the health clinic... can they use the crude medicinal herbs we brought? Aren't these for the old doctor?"

This was her way of prompting Yang Zhi to check if there was any use for the Chinese medicine, so they wouldn't waste the journey of dozens of li.

Cheng Ying’s prompt seemed unnecessary; Yang Zhi appeared to already have a plan.

Yang Zhi said, "Mm, Mother knows. Let's go; I'll take you over."

Yang Zhi knocked on a small storefront door facing the street. An old man with a detached expression emerged. He looked thoroughly grim, giving off a gloomy impression, utterly lacking the ethereal quality one might associate with a traditional Chinese doctor.

Cheng Ying wondered if this man treated illnesses or caused deaths.

Yang Zhi asked, "Excuse me, I have some medicinal herbs here. Would you be interested?"

The doctor responded with a single, cold sentence: "Bring them here to see."

Cheng Ying felt a prickle crawl up her scalp. Yang Zhi handed the basket over the counter.

The old doctor examined the herbs meticulously.

Cheng Ying took the opportunity to look around the small dispensary. It was truly tiny and dilapidated; only the traditional medicine shelves in the back were relatively tidy.

Judging the whole by a part: this was the township she lived in—a very poor place.

The doctor said, "The things are good. You’ve managed to damage them by handling them improperly. If you don't know how to handle them next time, don't touch them, lest you ruin things."

He then pulled out two yuan. "Buy or not?" Cheng Ying thought that with such an attitude, this doctor must have some extraordinary skill; he was far too arrogant.

Yang Zhi hadn't said a word throughout the exchange; her face was bright red. She just nodded, indicating they should sell.

Yang Zhi took the money, retrieved the basket, and turned to leave with the children.

The old doctor remained completely silent.

Cheng Ying remarked, "This doctor must have excellent medical skills. Why did we go to the city last time? We could have gotten treatment here."

Yang Zhi walked a good distance away with her daughter before speaking, "This doctor was sent to the cow pen some years ago; his reputation isn't great. I heard this from your maternal grandfather, so don't speak carelessly."

It seemed there was a reason Yang Zhi didn't initially come here unless absolutely necessary.

Cheng Ying acknowledged, "Mm, I understand. But he certainly slighted our herbs quite a bit."

Yang Zhi replied, "He wasn't entirely wrong. Harvesting medicinal materials is seasonal; he's correct about that."

Cheng Ying thought her mother was too considerate. "But honeysuckle also has a season, doesn't it?" She needed to clarify this point.

Yang Zhi said, "You harvest the flowers when they bloom; that one is fine, very easy to deal with."

Cheng Ying thought this type of material suited her best. It was too convenient.

Having secured two yuan, Yang Zhi felt particularly pleased. As they passed the general store again, regardless of the children's assent, she went in and bought a few mahua (twisted dough sticks), wrapping them in a piece of paper. "We'll eat these together with Grandma later."

Both Cheng Ying and Chi Wu were happy because Cheng Ying had been craving food lately, and Chi Wu was always craving something.

This money had just been acquired from the stepmother; the old lady surely wouldn't object.

Chi Wu said, "Mom, I'll go gather herbs with you next time."

Yang Zhi replied, "You’re still small; I’ll take you when you’re older."

Cheng Ying thought to herself that she wouldn't follow the same path as them; she would strive to get to the city. Otherwise, the back-and-forth journey was too inconvenient.

At this moment, Cheng Ying was determined to reach the city; the local transportation gave her a headache, and her soles ached even more.

Yang Zhi led her daughter and son, carving a path through the crowds like pioneers hacking through thorns and brambles.

By the time they finally found their grandmother, the movie had already started.

Cheng Ying sat beside her grandmother, chewing on a mahua, watching the black-and-white screen, unsure whose movie it was or what it was about, feeling utterly lost.

If those movie stars and actresses could see the passion people had for cinema now, wouldn't they be moved to tears? They would all regret being born a decade or so too late. Look at the public's fervor for entertainment.

However, she truly didn't understand the high-pitched, drawn-out singing in the film.

Cheng Ying felt like sleeping. As for being cold in mid-winter, that was completely irrelevant; crammed together, how could anyone feel the chill?

Only her grandmother and the great-great-grandmother, squeezed tightly together at the front, managed to secure seats.