To Cheng Shengxia, no matter how thrifty or devoted to her family his sister-in-law was, once she remarried, she surely wouldn't have much care left for her niece. This niece was destined for hardship. In this aunt's eyes, her niece was like a tender spring onion, vulnerable and alone. Such is the common failing of human nature.

Cheng Ying felt a wave of relief; this aunt seemed to care for her, perhaps not excessively, but at least she wasn't as taxing to deal with as her Second Aunt.

The old woman said, "Yingzi, you’re back." Being at the Second Uncle's house, the Old Madam didn't press the issue.

Cheng Ying replied, "Grandma, my mother made food and asked me to invite you. Auntie, let's go home." That, truly, was the art of conversation; with one sentence, she positioned her aunt firmly on her side.

Before the Old Madam could speak, the Second Aunt chimed in, "Your Grandma and your Aunt are eating here today. If your mother wants to invite your Aunt for a meal later, she’ll have to wait."

Cheng Ying said, "I'll follow Second Aunt's words. Grandma, Auntie, I'll go back first. You eat and then head home."

Second Uncle said, "Yingzi, since you're here, stay and eat with us."

Cheng Ying could see the glare her Second Aunt shot at her Second Uncle without even looking up, which she found amusing. Cheng Ying genuinely wanted to stay and eat just to spite the Second Aunt. However, contemplating that it would likely disrupt every meal at home afterward, she decided against it. Still, she didn't want to give the Second Aunt an easy time. After a moment of thought, she finally spoke, "No need, Second Uncle, the food is ready at home."

She then turned to face the Second Aunt, hearing the audible sigh of relief from her. With a sweet smile directed at the Second Aunt, Cheng Ying said, "Second Aunt, I won't stay. I'll visit often in the future. If there's anything delicious, Second Aunt, you must save some for me."

The Old Madam sat on the kang, pursing her lips in silence, inwardly annoyed at her stingy daughter-in-law, who had just been bested by her granddaughter. But it was also rather funny; after all, it was the granddaughter who was playing games with her daughter-in-law.

The Second Aunt responded, "Then I won't keep you." It was as if she were seeing off a plague; two pointless sentences from Yingzi, and she had been sent packing.

Cheng Ying thought her Second Aunt was truly easy to deal with. Perhaps one day, when she was in the mood, she would come over and dine here. Afterward, the Second Aunt would be even more hesitant to provoke her, and then, perhaps, she could truly have some peace. These types of people, she mused, were actually the most authentic. What good character they displayed.

Cheng Ying returned home in high spirits. "Let's eat. Grandma is eating at Second Uncle's, and Old Auntie is there too, but only Auntie alone."

Her mother began setting the table and chattering to Cheng Ying, "It’s such a long way in this cold weather. Your Old Auntie surely wouldn't want Feng'er to suffer. Your cousin is much more delicate than you. Your Old Auntie has only had your cousin all these years."

Cheng Ying thought to herself that her Old Aunt must not be having an easy time at her in-laws’ place. In the countryside, if a woman hadn't produced a son to back her up, she endured a lot of slights; the pressure must be immense.

Chi Yong said, "Later, let's prepare a feast. Let Little Aunt, Eldest Uncle, and Second Uncle’s families all come over for a gathering. The Old Madam would be happy to see everyone."

Yang Zhi looked troubled. "We don't have anything truly presentable to offer."

Chi Yong said, "Don't we have millet? Otherwise, I can go into town and buy something."

Cheng Ying felt a pang of discomfort upon hearing this. It wasn't about the money or being stingy; it was the thought of traveling dozens of li just to buy groceries for a single meal—it felt genuinely arduous. She suggested earnestly, "Maybe we shouldn't. Let's just eat what we have at home. Grandma is always so frugal; she definitely wouldn't like it."

Chi Yong had to admit his daughter had hit the nail on the head; the Old Madam's wishes were paramount.

Yang Zhi said, "The adults are talking, you shouldn't interrupt, or Grandma will scold you." Then she added, "How about we don't go to town to buy, we can trade with people in the village?"

Cheng Ying thought this was a good idea, but wondered what they had of value to trade. It was probably just their grain.

Chi Yong said, "You decide, but tell your mother beforehand. You absolutely cannot make decisions on your own."

Yang Zhi replied, "I know." Ultimately, the two of them took their daughter’s advice to heart.

Chi Wu looked quite pleased; as long as the food was good, he became animated—a true glutton. This struck Cheng Ying as something that needed addressing; why was this child so thoughtless? "Hmm, so many good things... Sigh, if the whole family eats, how long will it take to finish?"

As expected, Chi Wu’s excitement immediately deflated. All the good things would have to be shared with others.

Yang Zhi frowned at her daughter. "That's your aunt, that's your uncle; they aren't outsiders. Yingzi, how can you speak so carelessly? We can't just ignore our relatives."

Cheng Ying thought, Sure, acknowledge relatives, but not the way you do it, so heartlessly. "I know. I know Second Aunt." This statement served as a reminder to her own mother: What kind of person is Second Aunt? How can you be so thoughtless?

Yang Zhi fell silent, wondering why her daughter’s words were always so sharp and pointed.

Chi Yong felt reassured. Having such a discerning girl in the house was truly a blessing; at least if his wife was a bit careless, it wouldn't matter much. But this was also a child who had suffered. She understood the coldness of human relationships at such a young age—it was truly difficult. After all, Cheng Ying was different from Chi Wu. Chi Wu had no choice due to his environment, but for Cheng Ying to be even more sensible than Chi Wu meant that the girl carried heavy burdens in her heart from the start. Chi Yong thought that, honestly, Cheng Ying had developed in a much more skewed direction than Chi Wu.

Yang Zhi, for her part, was someone you might call simple-minded, yet her actions were sometimes quite reliable. After eating, she asked the children to clear the table and then immediately went to fetch the Old Madam and Little Aunt. Cheng Ying thought, Is this the simple-minded daughter-in-law? This is the dazed mother. Cheng Ying didn't realize that her own mother and her Little Aunt had the best relationship, which was why she was happy and couldn't wait to pick them up. It had nothing to do with being sensible; her mother simply wasn't overthinking things.

When the Grandma and her mother returned with the Little Aunt, the atmosphere was not as cheerful as Cheng Ying had hoped. She dared not interject. The Little Aunt’s expression was indeed fiery, like an aunt who was spoiling for a fight. Her own mother trailed behind the Little Aunt, seeming somewhat cowed.

The Old Madam said, "You haven't seen each other in a long time; talk properly."

The Little Aunt turned and walked into the East Room without even sparing her own sister-in-law a glance. Cheng Ying watched her mother standing in the main hall, looking hesitant to push open the door curtain, sensing trouble brewing.

Cheng Ying wandered toward the backyard, intending to eavesdrop. Women, she thought, were naturally gossipy; if they were inside, they certainly wouldn't speak freely. Fortunately, Chi Wu and her stepfather had gone to feed the sheep—a perfect opportunity to overhear private matters. She was only missing the chance to be a nuisance herself.

Yang Zhi gritted her teeth and entered the room.

Cheng Ying heard her mother’s voice: "Shengxia, why didn't you bring Feng'er back with you?" This opening line was clearly an attempt to find conversation where there was none.

The Little Aunt replied, "I am her mother, but I can't bear to see my child suffer." This sentence clearly signaled she was looking for a fight.

Yang Zhi remained silent for a moment, the silence feeling heavy to Cheng Ying. Then her mother spoke again, "Little Aunt, I will treat Yingzi well. She is my own daughter, the only daughter of you and Third Brother."

The Little Aunt's voice cracked slightly. "You still mention my Third Brother—do you think you've done right by him? You married someone else, taking my Third Brother's child to call another man 'Dad'? Was my Third Brother not good to you? Didn't Mother ensure your life could continue? Could our family not have supported you?"

Cheng Ying thought that perhaps this was what the Old Madam also felt but had never voiced. Another long silence followed before her mother's voice emerged, dry and brittle. "Little Aunt, your brother was good to me. I remember and can never forget it, but your brother is gone."

Yang Zhi’s way of speaking was brutally honest, completely unvarnished. She stated it plainly, and Cheng Ying felt irritated listening; couldn't she have softened her tone? Couldn't she have mentioned how difficult her life was? Why did one sentence stop her there? Why was she always so worry-inducing?

To Cheng Shengxia, those words were filled with such helplessness, so impossible to refute. Yes, her Third Brother was gone. That was why she had remarried, that was why she brought her Third Brother's child to call someone else Dad. Why had Third Brother left so early? Fate, it was all fate.

Then came the Little Aunt’s muffled sobs. Cheng Ying thought, What is this nonsense, during the New Year? She lamented, I shouldn't have eavesdropped. This is the kind of thing one shouldn't do. Her feet were numb with cold, and she couldn't even leave.

When the Little Aunt's crying subsided, Cheng Ying heard her say, "You want to marry, and I can't stop you. But you cannot treat Yingzi poorly. If you have other children later, you cannot let Yingzi suffer—she is my brother's only child." This statement was much gentler, but the underlying resignation was clear to every woman, inside and outside the room.

Yang Zhi said, "Little Aunt, don't worry. Yingzi is my child, my own flesh and blood!"

The Little Aunt retorted, "I'll worry. What do I have to be reassured about? When there's a stepfather, there's a stepmother. You could give up my brother; how can I be at ease?" There was deep resentment in her tone.

Yang Zhi whispered, "Shengxia..."

The Little Aunt cut her off. "Don't call me by my name. I am your Little Aunt. From now on, we have no other friendship; I am just your Little Aunt. If you treat my niece badly, I will come to your door and curse you out."

Cheng Ying thought this woman was clear about her love and hate, just like her Grandma.

Yang Zhi’s voice was laced with dejection. "Little Aunt..."

Then there was silence; the Little Aunt was likely angry and refusing to speak to her own sister-in-law.

After a long pause, the Old Madam's voice broke the quiet as she entered the room. "Yingzi, where did you run off to? In this midwinter, why aren't you keeping warm inside?"

Unfortunately, the two women in the room did not answer the Old Madam's question.

The Old Madam sighed. "Enough, you two, stop fussing. You, girl, as long as Yang Zhi is here, she is your Third Sister-in-law. Wipe that look off your face." The Old Madam understood her daughter’s temper; she was admonishing her daughter.

The Little Aunt let out a cold snort—utterly unconvinced.

Yang Zhi quickly tried to smooth things over. "Mother, why don't you call Eldest Brother and Second Brother over tonight for a lively dinner?"

Before the Old Madam could reply, the Little Aunt protested, "What's gotten into you, eating your fill and thinking of inviting guests? Shouldn't you be saving things for the children?"

Cheng Ying almost burst out laughing. It was clear that her Old Aunt likely had a good relationship with her mother before. Love runs deep, and so does criticism. This was probably why she harbored such strong feelings about her own sister remarrying; it was hard for her to accept.

Cheng Shengxia looked at the plump Yang Zhi with rising anger. "They wouldn't even let your daughter sit at the table, and yet whose guests are you inviting?"