Yang Zhi and Chi Yong settled the four people they were with here, then followed the team leader and his wife to stand at the back.

The four fried dough twists Yang Zhi bought were just right—two for the elders and two for the young ones, one each.

Cheng Ying mused that her own mother wasn't so dense, after all.

In reality, Yang Zhi was simply overly guileless.

In Cheng Ying’s view, whether intentional or not, gaining favor was what mattered. Staying close to the team leader's family meant she wouldn't be bullied, at least. Cheng Ying didn't consider what benefits might come of it, but at least she wouldn't be tormented. Rural folks might seem simple, but there was plenty of backstabbing, especially with land distribution looming.

Cheng Ying looked at the Third Great-Grandmother and felt she was overthinking things; the old lady treated her quite well, if nothing else.

After only a few glances, Cheng Ying drifted off to sleep.

And right before she slept, Cheng Ying realized that she and her grandmother were watching the back of the movie screen.

That certainly gave her pause. It was a wonder the Third Great-Grandmother and her own grandmother could watch with such concentration.

The old lady pulled her granddaughter close, feeling a pang of heartache. You can’t just leave, she thought. The mountain path was dark and long; it wasn't safe unless they all went together.

Cheng Ying slept soundly until the film ended.

The Third Great-Grandmother, bright-eyed and energetic, exclaimed, "That was wonderful! Let's come again next time!"

Cheng Ying was roused by the old lady, mumbling sleepily, "Mmm, wonderful. We'll come again next time."

Chi Wu, Cheng Ying’s grandmother, and the Third Great-Grandmother stared at the girl for a long moment. Then the Third Great-Grandmother burst into hearty laughter, full of gusto, "Yes, it was wonderful! Yingzi must have slept soundly, eh?"

Cheng Ying nodded. It was truly soporific.

Then her own grandmother chuckled, "You little coward."

Cheng Ying flushed. "Grandma, wait until our family buys a 'box' like the Third Grandma's. I can use it specifically to sleep to."

The Third Great-Grandmother piped up, "Yingzi, remember to come sleep at the Third Great-Grandmother's house later, and I’ll play it for you."

The atmosphere was exceptionally cheerful. Cheng Ying and her party, old and young alike, dared not jostle with the crowd leaving the movie.

The old lady pulled out roasted sweet potatoes and they ate right there on the spot.

Of course, the team leader's family wasn't about taking advantage. They brought out their own flatbreads, and everyone ate together.

After the meal, most people had left. Chi Yong and the team leader's grandson pushed the cart over.

The two families started their journey home.

At the foot of the mountain, Cheng Ying looked up and saw a long, winding dragon of fire on the ridge above.

Cheng Ying remarked, "So many people came to see the movie. This circle of torches is much more interesting than the film itself."

The old lady nodded. "Yes, in our village, the last time we had traveling opera was when the country was founded. It hasn't been this lively in many years. Yingzi, you've caught a good time."

A chill ran through Cheng Ying. This is a good time? Does that mean what comes next will be paradise? Indeed, one must cherish blessings.

Chi Yong lit their torch. Yang Zhi held a torch and walked ahead, while Chi Yong pushed the old lady in the cart. Cheng Ying walked along, nodding off, so tired, so terribly tired.

The old lady in the cart felt sorry for her granddaughter, but Chi Yong’s small frame was already struggling just pushing her; there was no way he could push the cart and the girl.

Chi Wu, however, was wide awake—that boy had boundless energy.

Cheng Ying didn't know how she walked home; she only remembered her feet hurt terribly.

The next day, when Cheng Ying woke up, the sun was already high in the sky, no surprise there.

After all, they hadn't gotten home until halfway through the night yesterday.

And her soles were blistered.

When Cheng Ying stood up, the pain was excruciating. Fortunately, her own grandmother pricked the blisters, and they would heal after half a day’s rest.

The only silver lining this time was that Chi Wu had also slept late. Cheng Ying felt she had found a moment of equilibrium.

She couldn't bring herself to wake him up; it was rare for the boy to be so greedy for his bed.

While no one else was home, Cheng Ying entered her space. Everything inside was as it had been, and none of it was needed lately. However, the honeysuckle had formed a thick layer on the ground.

Cheng Ying thought, Don't be stingy. She quickly gathered what had fallen.

It looked the same as what she picked herself, which saved trouble. From now on, she wouldn't have to pick them by hand; she could just wait for them to drop and collect them.

It was just that some of the honeysuckle vines hadn't landed in the right place; about half of them had dropped into the clear pond—the one she kept clean, not the one used for washing wool.

Cheng Ying figured since the flowers were edible, it probably wouldn't matter. She didn't really care enough to bother moving the honeysuckle vines to a better spot. Too much effort. It would take so much strength.

Then there were the ginseng seedlings covering the ground, which made her ache—they just took up space without yielding anything. I wanted roots, she thought, why did you give me so many seedlings?

Cheng Ying was filled with melancholy. As she looked up toward the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, a tree with one-third yellow, one-third green, and one-third red leaves caught her eye.

To be honest, although this space was called the 'Elegant Chamber,' to Cheng Ying, it was dreadfully common. Flowers everywhere, and mountains—it was sickeningly rustic, truly unsophisticated.

Now, this flowering tree with its distinct coloration, however, possessed a certain elegance.

Cheng Ying walked over and examined it closely. She had seen the autumn colors of Fragrant Hills before.

If this tree was to be called a 'red leaf,' it was lacking; the leaves were smaller. But the shape was identical to a maple, and the color was similar.

Cheng Ying found it novel, wondering when she had brought it in. Outside it was winter; perhaps when she brought it in, it was just a dead branch, and she couldn't have seen any leaves then.

Driven by impulse, Cheng Ying completely disregarded the beautiful shape of the small sapling. In a few swift motions, she stripped it bare.

She then cut the broken branches into ten-centimeter segments and used them for cuttings around the base of this maple tree.

Cheng Ying even diligently fetched several buckets of water from the pond where she kept the carp and used it for irrigation.

It would be wrong to say Cheng Ying admired this tree deeply; what Cheng Ying was thinking of was greening—and greening that could generate money. Urban landscaping would be a big deal in the future. Cheng Ying reasoned that sooner or later, she would escape this inconvenient place. Getting the saplings out first was definitely the right move; you need stock to make money.

The thoughts of common folk are always common affairs, just like how Cheng Ying persisted in sowing ginseng seeds despite knowing the plants wouldn't mature. Her heart was absolutely filled with hope.

Cheng Ying exited the space, clenching her fists, consoling herself with the thought of delayed reward. I’ll just consider it saving up money. After all, she had nowhere to spend money now anyway. She was going to hold onto every cent—this was the time Cheng Ying would escape poverty, the poverty of her entire lineage.

Cheng Ying rubbed her shoulders. Too much work; she was exhausted.

It was true her own grandmother had never made Cheng Ying do heavy labor, but all the work Cheng Ying did in the space was farming. Cheng Ying felt the urge to cry just thinking about it. What elegant chamber? She had become a gardener. Fate! A farmer’s destiny.

Limped, Cheng Ying pushed open the west room door. Chi Wu was already awake but hadn't gotten out of bed. "Why are you still lazing around?"

Chi Wu spoke lazily from under the covers, "I never knew what it felt like to laze in bed like this."

The words Cheng Ying had intended to tease him with died in her throat. Chi Wu was the same age as her, but this boy never slept in. Hearing him say that sounded heartbreaking.

Cheng Ying said, "Then keep lazing. Enjoy it. I’m going to eat all the porridge in the pot."

Chi Wu was annoyed, but he still didn't dare climb out from under the quilt; he was, after all, an older child who still knew how to be shy.

He shouted from the covers, "Save my share for me!"

Cheng Ying closed the door without acknowledging him and went to ladle out the porridge. She did end up bringing a bowl in for Chi Wu, but her attitude was terrible. No one besides her grandmother and biological mother had ever made her serve them so reluctantly.

Chi Wu was somewhat incredulous when Cheng Ying actually brought the porridge in for him. Was this the same girl who always bullied him?

Cheng Ying gave him a cold look and teased, "Staring won't fill you up."

Chi Wu grinned sheepishly, burrowed back into the covers, and began to eat ravenously. It was bliss.

Cheng Ying ate her own share outside, but she didn't forget to collect Chi Wu's dirty bowl.

The atmosphere in the village during the New Year was thick. When her own mother returned, she held several sheets of window paper.

Her mother thoroughly heated the room before tearing off the yellowed paper from their windows. The room immediately dropped by at least ten degrees Celsius.

Cheng Ying helped her mother cut the paper into small pieces. Her mother mixed a paste from corn flour and glued the paper onto the window lattice.

After finishing, the room became significantly brighter. It looked entirely snowy white.

The remaining window paper was cut by Yang Zhi into small booklet sizes and then sewn together with thread, making a small notebook for both Chi Wu and Cheng Ying.

This was to be used for school after the New Year.

Cheng Ying's lips curved unnaturally. She had never used a book bound like this before; a thread-bound one! It felt quite classy.

Chi Wu clutched his new notebook, his eyes practically sparkling. It was clear he was overjoyed.

When the old lady returned, the house was tidied up. Seeing Cheng Ying’s small notebook, the old lady pulled out the movie posters she had saved and picked one out to paste on the east room wall.

It made the New Year feeling even stronger. Chi Wu couldn't bear to let go of the poster, stroking it repeatedly.

The old lady gave another sheet to Yang Zhi. "Use this as a New Year picture."

Yang Zhi happily hugged the poster and went back inside to hang it, not asking a single question.

The old lady picked out one more sheet, cut it to the size of a small book, and made a stiff cover for the outside of Chi Wu’s and Cheng Ying’s new notebooks.

Cheng Ying said, "Grandma, that’s a picture of a beautiful girl! Can you bear to part with it?"

The old lady put down her needle and thread. "Nothing is more important than my granddaughter going to school."

She put the rest of the posters away.

Chi Wu felt his notebook even more precious now and couldn't let go of it.

The old lady announced, "In a couple of days, you two will help Wu Zi’s dad herd the sheep. Although the land won't be distributed until after the New Year, the brigade is already busy. They plan to start dividing the land right after the second day of the New Year, otherwise, it will delay spring planting. Your dad will be busy."

Cheng Ying nodded. "It’s fine. I have my way in," meaning, she had Chi Wu. Herding was something Cheng Ying truly didn't know how to do; she lacked the practical skills.

Chi Wu offered, "Grandma, I can go by myself. Let Yingzi and Mom stay home and work."

Chi Wu’s use of "Grandma" sounded completely natural. Perhaps ever since the old lady made pants for him, Chi Wu had started calling her Nainai in his heart.