The old woman’s expression stiffened for just a moment before she spoke naturally, “It’s New Year’s Eve; the children shouldn't be involved. Come along with us; it’ll be company.”

Cheng Ying thought to herself how conflicted this old woman must feel inside because of Chi Wu calling her ‘Grandma.’ She truly understood the dilemma. To agree felt dishonest; to refuse felt wrong given the child’s sincere affection. In the end, her own elderly mother was always soft-hearted.

Cheng Ying said, “Mm, we’ll listen to Grandma.” That young man Chi Wu had certainly found the old woman’s weak spot.

Chi Wu’s face was beaming with joy no matter how you looked at it.

The old woman said, “Tell Wu Zi’s father later to come to the production team tomorrow.”

Cheng Ying mused that her own mother possessed a certain level of political astuteness.

The old woman looked at the two children and earnestly instructed, “You two, watch the sheep pen carefully. When the New Year comes, I’ll make you dumplings with cabbage and pork, all made with white flour.”

Cheng Ying glanced at the old woman. She was long past the age where food could tempt her. Yet, why was it that upon hearing the old woman’s words, the corners of her mouth began to water? Had she, by chance, reverted to childhood? Had her mind regressed along with her body? This was truly hard to accept. To be tempted, and by such an unsophisticated lure.

Chi Wu replied, “Don’t worry, we’ll watch it perfectly!” He was so excited he almost performed a formal salute to the old woman.

Cheng Ying thought that perhaps Chi Wu’s reaction was the true sign of immaturity, the mark of an undeveloped mind. After all, when comparing their behavior, there was still a gap between them. Thinking this helped her clear her mind somewhat, letting go of the trifling issue of drooling.

Cheng Ying’s home had been thoroughly cleaned up by Yang Zhi, looking brand new. The movie posters pasted on the walls were particularly eye-catching. The atmosphere of the approaching New Year felt even stronger.

When the old woman returned from Third Mistress Grandma’s house, she also brought back two sets of paper cuttings, which she pasted onto the newly pasted window screens. The resulting look was more festive than even a modern celebration.

Cheng Ying ate breakfast early one morning and then went with Chi Wu to the village sheep pen. Their task was simple: feed the sheep fodder and give them water. Sheep in those days only ate chaff and green forage; there was no grain to spare for them when people themselves were barely fed. On New Year’s Eve, the production team didn't allow anyone to take the sheep out to graze; they just needed to be fed and watched.

Chi Wu was completely hyped up. Anyone who didn't know him might think the boy was high on something. Cheng Ying couldn't fathom what exactly thrilled him so much.

Chi Wu fed the sheep in the front, while Cheng Ying brought them water. There was a well in the middle of the brigade. Cheng Ying alone couldn’t possibly draw enough water, but with Chi Wu, the two of them could manage to pull it up using the windlass. When Yang Zhi came by in the morning, seeing that the two could manage, she went back feeling reassured.

It took the two of them over two hours to finish tending to the chores. Drawing water was time-consuming for them. A thin sheen of sweat broke out on Cheng Ying’s body.

Chi Wu’s eyes shone brightly as he said, “You stay here and watch. If anyone comes, just shout for me, got it?”

Cheng Ying blinked. That line sounded terribly familiar, like something she herself had said at some point.

Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying’s daze. “Did you hear me?”

Cheng Ying looked a bit slow. “What are you going to do?”

Chi Wu shot Cheng Ying a glare, then looked toward the flock. What else could he be doing? Stupid.

Cheng Ying finally understood. No wonder Chi Wu was so excited, no wonder his eyes gleamed wickedly—the boy was completely off the rails. Cheng Ying felt a pang of shame. What a sin; a future model youth was being led astray. “But we already did it, didn't we?”

Chi Wu snapped back irritably, “Are you afraid of having too much of a good thing?” He turned and slipped into the sheep pen.

Cheng Ying thought: Influence is indeed the most potent thing. Thinking back to the Chi Wu she first knew, what a good boy he was. Now, he was proactively playing the rogue. Well, Cheng Ying didn't know how to praise herself enough. If every teacher possessed her level of skill, who wouldn’t have flourishing students?

Cheng Ying called out, “Take it easy in there. The sheep need to get through the winter too!”

Chi Wu’s voice came out muffled and constrained from inside, suggesting his posture wasn't comfortable. “I’ll look after yours.”

Cheng Ying sat down by the edge of the pen, keeping her eyes open and ears alert. She realized why so many people were keen on taking on apprentices—the benefits were numerous. Ever since she’d gained Chi Wu, she had completely retreated to the second line; she didn't even need to get her own hands dirty anymore.

When Chi Wu emerged, he handed Cheng Ying a heavy bundle of washed wool. He held his breath for a moment. “This smell really isn’t pleasant.”

Cheng Ying deeply agreed. “It’s awful. Go breathe some fresh air over there quickly.”

Chi Wu felt that Cheng Ying was considerate, recognizing the need to care for someone. “How do you wash the wool? There’s water here; I’ll help you with a bit.” This was his way of reciprocating kindness.

Cheng Ying thought the boy was truly thoughtful, but the water would be so cold for washing wool. It was better to appreciate the kindness without accepting the labor. “Forget it, I’ll wash it myself later.”

Chi Wu, for some unknown reason, felt helpful. “If you wash it yourself, drawing water is too inconvenient. Since no one is around, I’ll get water for you—right over there, in that big basin.” Chi Wu started working immediately, with vigorous energy. He even moved the water trough used for the sheep’s drinking.

Cheng Ying felt like crying. Why couldn't he just not be so enthusiastic? She truly didn’t need his help. As she spoke, Chi Wu had already cleaned out the wooden basin used for the sheep’s drinking water and poured in a bucket of freshly drawn water. Chi Wu worked so efficiently that the wool was already soaking.

Cheng Ying miserably walked over at Chi Wu’s urging, extending her trembling hands into the water. Cheng Ying silently wailed to the heavens—Heaven is going to destroy me! She hadn't done anything that offended divine virtue!

Fortunately, the well water wasn't freezing cold right after it was drawn. But compared to the icy water in the river bend, it was still severe enough for Cheng Ying to suffer. The ‘not cold’ applied only in comparison to truly frigid water.

Cheng Ying wanted to beg Chi Wu to stop, but Chi Wu went back to draw more water while watching her wash the wool, convinced he was being of great assistance.

Cheng Ying’s small hands trembled. “I’ll go draw water with you.”

Chi Wu said, “No need. I’ll draw it half a bucket at a time.” It was the first time he felt such concern for Cheng Ying, believing that physical labor should be his burden.

Cheng Ying was on the verge of tears, stirring the wool with her hands in the cold water. How could she possibly wash it clean? Without detergent, without hot water, it was truly torturous.

Chi Wu brought over the water and watched Cheng Ying wash the wool intently. Cheng Ying looked expressionless, glancing at the sheep. She realized that this was their punishment. The sheep were surely thinking, You dared to pull our wool, now you suffer this! Of course, this was just fantasy. If Cheng Ying didn't shift her focus, she wouldn't dare put her hands back in the water. It was brutally cold.

Chi Wu looked at the murky water. “It’s filthy now. Change the water; don't be frugal.”

Cheng Ying shivered uncontrollably. Was this boy deliberately trying to torture her today? But looking at Chi Wu’s expression, he genuinely seemed to be helping. Cheng Ying thought, Forget it, it’s already this bad. Today, I’ll give it my all. She then began washing the wool seriously.

Cheng Ying had never felt such gratitude as in that moment, never so thankful for her dimensional space. After rinsing several buckets of water, the wool remained yellowish and carried a distinct, musky odor. Cheng Ying thought of the socks on her feet; without her space, she could never have cleaned them properly—at least, that sheepy smell would be impossible to eliminate.

Cheng Ying pulled her hands out of the water and rubbed them back and forth; it was too cold. Chi Wu frowned from the side, taking Cheng Ying’s hands. “No wonder your hands are getting prettier; it must be from washing wool like this, right?”

Cheng Ying couldn't figure out where this unfortunate child got such an idea. “How about you wash it?”

Chi Wu didn’t answer but started washing the wool in the water alongside Cheng Ying. By the time Cheng Ying felt the wool was almost done, both their hands were stiff and almost immobile. They wrung out the washed wool and re-wrapped it in cloth. Chi Wu dumped the basin water and refilled it before they finally stopped.

Both children’s lips were blue, and their teeth chattered. Cheng Ying thought: You brought this entirely upon yourself! If you weren't so gratuitously helpful, would we be suffering like this?

Chi Wu watched Cheng Ying rub her hands back and forth, pursing his lips in thought. He realized how hard it was to turn wool into socks. Chi Wu felt overwhelmingly moved; it seemed no one had ever treated him so kindly, except perhaps his own father. Looking at Cheng Ying, he said with deep sincerity, “From now on, anything good I get, I’ll give to you.”

Cheng Ying didn't know what shock had prompted this poor boy to be so touched as to offer her things. But she was truly freezing; she was so unwilling to endure this suffering. I have a space; I could just soak in there! Why did I have to wash the wool by hand? It was all forced by this unlucky boy!

Cheng Ying snapped back irritably, “From now on, we are never touching wool again. We have enough wool already.”

Chi Wu protested, “How is that enough? We have so many people in our family; we need at least one pair of socks for everyone.”

Cheng Ying’s head ached. “That’s still enough!”

Chi Wu insisted, “Not enough! See the clothes the people in the picture books are wearing? We need at least one full outfit for each of us.”

Cheng Ying thought of the woman in the west room wearing a sweater. A cold dread ran through her; this child couldn’t possibly be serious, could he? She looked at the flock behind them. If they made a full outfit for everyone, wouldn't these sheep be left naked? The image of a flock of bald sheep made Cheng Ying’s face contort slightly.

Chi Wu couldn't interpret Cheng Ying's strained expression. He probably assumed she was just frozen stiff. He reached out his icy hands and rubbed Cheng Ying’s face twice. Then he said melodramatically, “But from now on, I’ll wash the wool.”

Cheng Ying’s mind was reeling. She absolutely refused to admit that she had just been taken advantage of. As a woman of thirty, the idea of being dominated by a teenager was something she could die of embarrassment over—it was too much. Ignore that; she absolutely had to ignore that.

Cheng Ying finally felt a bit warmer, no longer so terribly cold. Was this still Chi Wu? Had some unclean spirit possessed him? Cheng Ying truly believed it now, especially since she herself was an unscientific existence. Being so much older, she shouldn't bully a child, so a compromise was necessary. “We don’t have to wash it in the winter; we can save it up and wash it in the summer, since it takes time to weave anyway.”

Chi Wu nodded. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Didn’t we just suffer for nothing?”

Cheng Ying thought about the wool she had just washed and felt like slapping her own face. How could she be so dense? She only thought of the alternative after the washing was done. Her intelligence must have decreased along with her stature. It was clear that it had.

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