If you were to judge this person by their pettiness, you’d find evidence everywhere.

Cheng Ying didn't know how long her paternal uncles had been home, but her stepfather's eagerness to integrate into the village was glaringly obvious.

Because Chi Yong was acting utterly frantic, dragging his wife and child around, winning over the entire village—

Anyone unfamiliar might assume their family genuinely craved having things stuffed into their pockets by others.

The direct physical effect on Cheng Ying was a burning blush and aching soles of her feet. Too much walking. Too much embarrassment.

As for Yang Zhi, although she felt somewhat awkward, following behind Chi Yong, she didn't object.

Cheng Ying inwardly thought this whole situation was utterly idiotic. She regretted coming out in the first place.

When she tried to turn back, her stepfather scooped her up. "Yingzi, if you're tired, Uncle can carry you."

That single sentence made Cheng Ying’s stomach turn. I’m a grown woman—even at ten, you don’t carry me. "No need, I’m not tired, not at all."

Having said that, Cheng Ying knew she had no retreat. She had to keep walking.

Chi Yong beamed, leading his whole family door-to-door visiting.

Cheng Ying had met scheming people before, but rarely someone so dark that they'd even try to manipulate a ten-year-old child.

This stepfather was a genuine talent; it would be a waste of his tenacity if he didn't rise above his station.

However, a chill settled in Cheng Ying's heart. Could someone so single-mindedly driven truly settle down in this village?

Her biological mother's future, her own future—it was precarious.

Cheng Ying looked toward the distant high mountains, their peaks clad in silver, magnificently spectacular. Her mood brightened considerably, and soon, she felt cheerful again.

Why must I insist on staying in this place? Why must I insist on keeping my stepfather here? Isn't that being contrary?

If our family worked hard, couldn't we just move to the city in the future?

When the time came, not to mention anything else, transportation would be far more convenient, and their material life would certainly improve by more than just a little bit.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Cheng Ying finally gained a new goal, besides getting rich.

A life filled with hope was always desirable.

When Cheng Ying returned home, she couldn't decipher anything from the old lady’s expression.

As for what the grandmother gave her grandsons, Cheng Ying wasn't going to worry about it.

After all, they were the old lady’s own grandsons; Cheng Ying was crystal clear on that—whatever the grandmother gave them had nothing to do with her.

It only mattered if her own mother withheld anything.

Cheng Ying found a sense of psychological balance.

The next morning, Cheng Ying got up to find the old lady wearing the knitted vest Cheng Ying had made, tucked inside her padded jacket. The grandmother even specifically woke Cheng Ying up to show her granddaughter.

Cheng Ying nodded from under the covers. "Grandma, I'll knit you another one later so we can alternate wearing them."

The old lady huffed, "You little brat, do you think sheep just grow at your house? Absolutely not! If it weren't for how busy the production team is this year, who knows what trouble we’d have had when shearing the wool in spring. You just settle down, alright?"

Cheng Ying obediently nodded. "Mhm. Then later, when we go to the city, I'll buy yarn myself and knit one for Grandma then."

The old lady smiled, pressing her lips together. "I believe that one. My granddaughter's hands are truly skillful."

Saying that, the old lady tucked the vest securely inside her jacket and urged Cheng Ying up. "If you're awake, get up! Today, you’re going with your mother to visit your maternal grandfather’s house. Hurry up!"

Cheng Ying dared not appear too excited in front of the old lady,

after all, her own mother had cautioned her that there seemed to be some conflict between her grandmother and her maternal grandfather.

Though she had long wanted to see the legendary traveling doctor who sold medicinal plasters, she still needed to keep a low profile. "Grandma, we're going to Grandpa's?"

The old lady pulled the warm padded jacket from beneath her bottom, letting out a long sigh. "Yingzi, although your maternal grandfather found a stepfather for you, he has always treated you exceptionally well. On that matter, Grandma has nothing to say. You must not hold any resentment toward your grandfather. Grandma is Grandma, and you are you, understand?"

Oh, what a sensible old lady! Cheng Ying adored her.

And so, her stepfather truly hadn't been someone the old lady willingly found for her biological mother.

It seemed her maternal grandfather had a hand in it.

Cheng Ying didn't dress immediately but clung to the old lady, fussing and pouting, hoping to squeeze out just a tiny bit more information. Otherwise, if she messed up later... "Grandma, will Grandpa be good to me?"

The old lady scoffed, "What nonsense are you talking about? If your maternal grandfather isn't good to you, who will he be good to? Your grandfather might be a difficult man overall, but he’s never been anything but good to you and your mother. Go visit your mother’s family properly, be obedient."

Cheng Ying spoke against her heart. "I don't want to go."

The old lady tapped the middle of Cheng Ying's back. "Get up now, Grandma’s busy!"

Cheng Ying said, "If we both go, what will you do?" This was actually true.

The old lady replied, "Your paternal great-aunt heard she's coming back. Your eldest uncle asked me to eat at their house today, so don't worry about me."

To be honest, as an adult, Cheng Ying felt genuinely displeased.

What kind of thing was the eldest uncle doing? Inviting Grandma to eat when their own immediate family wasn't home?

Doesn't this clearly show he doesn't want to be around our side of the family?

Also, why is Grandma going to the eldest uncle’s house when her own daughter is visiting? What kind of arrangement is this?

Why does it have to be so strangely awkward?

And where did this paternal great-aunt come from? I've never even heard of her! This is serious.

Cheng Ying asked, "Grandma, the great-aunt is coming?"

The old lady said, "Yes, your great-aunt hasn't been home for over a year. Grandma misses her. After you return from your grandfather’s, stay with your aunt for a while. Grandma is thinking of having your great-aunt stay at our place for a few days."

Cheng Ying quickly countered, "Grandma, if Auntie is here, and we aren't home, is that okay? Maybe we should wait a few days before going to Grandpa's, and stay with Auntie first?"

The old lady shook her head. "You child, talking nonsense. The second day of the New Year is for visiting the wife’s family. Your eldest and second uncles’ wives have to travel far, otherwise, they’d have gone already. Don’t worry about it. Your great-aunt is closest to your father; go with your mother with confidence."

Cheng Ying fell silent. The reason she was closest to her biological father was precisely why she opposed her mother’s remarriage.

Otherwise, why didn't she come back when her biological mother and stepfather married? They hadn't even been married for half a year before that happened.

The old lady probably wanted them to go to the maternal grandfather's first so she could have a private talk with her daughter—to counsel her.

Cheng Ying said, "Grandma, I'll listen to you. But you must keep Auntie here at our house for a few days, okay?"

The old lady retorted, "If my daughter doesn't stay with her mother, who will she stay with? You little sneak, stop trying to scheme. Get up now, and go quickly with your mother and the others."

Cheng Ying finally got up. "Grandma, when is Auntie arriving?"

The old lady said, "Your great-aunt leaves late at night; even if she rushes, she won't get here until the afternoon. Stop worrying about it."

Cheng Ying suggested, "Grandma, why don't we go meet Auntie?"

Thinking about it made her feet ache again. What a distance that must be! Why couldn't the old lady figure out that the location her daughter married into was so far away?

The old lady dismissed it. "Enough fussing. How would we meet her? Grandma will go to the village entrance to meet your great-aunt later."

From the grandmother's arrangements, Cheng Ying could gauge the immense importance the old lady placed on her daughter.

This was another mountain she had to climb.

Cheng Ying stated sincerely, "Grandma, I definitely won't be like Auntie in the future. When I find a husband, even if we were looking for a matchmaker, we'd pick someone nearby. Otherwise, visiting relatives in the future will be too much trouble."

These were her honest thoughts, based on practical considerations.

The old lady glared. "You little brat! It’s New Year's, and I won't hit you, but how old are you to be talking about finding a husband? Mentioning marriage in this way—are you trying to anger me? If I hear you say that again, I’ll surely deal with you! Do you hear me?"

Cheng Ying dared not talk back to the old lady, but she managed to ask quietly, "You really don't mind that Auntie married so far away?"

Cheng Ying was testing the waters. The old lady hadn't mentioned this aunt at all recently. There must be something going on. Didn't Cheng Ying realize that?

The old lady snorted. Her expression clearly showed she held strong reservations about her daughter's marriage.

This explained why the old lady, who usually cared so much about her daughter, never brought up the subject.

Yang Zhi called out, "Mother, is Yingzi up? Time to eat."

Yang Zhi timed that perfectly. Cheng Ying felt she had gathered enough intelligence.

The old lady replied, "She’s up. Set the table."

As Yang Zhi carried the table in, Cheng Ying noticed the flush of celebration coloring her biological mother’s face.

This was a woman who couldn't hide her feelings, and if Cheng Ying could see it, the old lady certainly could too.

The family sat on the heated brick bed to eat. Cheng Ying announced, "Mom, Grandma said Auntie is coming today."

Yang Zhi, who was lifting food to her mouth, froze. "Little Auntie is coming today? Mother, then we aren't going back today. We should wait here for Little Auntie."

The old lady, seeing her daughter-in-law's reaction, seemed satisfied. "No need. Go back, and return early. Your great-aunt is staying for a few days; it makes no difference."

Yang Zhi hesitated. "We should stay here. This doesn't look right."

The old lady asserted her authority. "I said it makes no difference, so it makes no difference!" It was a one-woman decree.

Chi Yong spoke up smoothly, "We listen to Mother."

Yang Zhi fell silent, the cheerfulness draining slightly from her face.

Cheng Ying inwardly thought she was a terrible person. But if it wasn't to appease the old lady, she wouldn't want to upset her own mother either.

But one couldn't forget the matriarch just because one was happy about a visit to the maternal home. Shouldn't happiness be kept internal instead of flaunted?

Cheng Ying had never met anyone so inept at reading the room.

After eating, the old lady gave Yang Zhi five yuan. "Don't go back empty-handed on New Year's. Get your father two bottles of liquor."

Yang Zhi felt awkward reaching for it. "Mother, no need."

The old lady's eyes narrowed. "Take it. It's proper etiquette. If we fall short here, the Lao Cheng family will be ridiculed."

Yang Zhi stopped refusing. The old lady’s words carried weight.

Cheng Ying thought the old lady was truly good to her own mother. Five yuan was a substantial gift these days.

When their family split the household, they only received ten yuan in cash.

Of course, her biological mother was also an obedient daughter-in-law. The money her mother earned by trading medicinal herbs, she handed over to the old lady without keeping a single cent. Cheng Ying could attest to this; after returning from the movie last time, her mother had immediately given the money to the old lady.