Cheng Shengxia was annoyed. "How old are you to be so smug?

Humph," Then the other person left. Cheng Ying said, "Auntie conceded defeat, afraid I'd call her silly." The old lady scoffed, "Neither of you has a brain." Cheng Ying whined, "Grandma, even though I’m in this state, you still won't take my side?" Cheng Shengxia walked in from outside.

"What? You want Grandma to hit me a couple of times to vent your anger?" Cheng Ying replied quickly, "I wouldn't dare, Auntie.

I’m thirsty." This was a clear instruction, Cheng Shengxia picked up the only item in the house that looked high-end, classy, and represented the modern era—a thermos—and poured a cup of hot water for Cheng Ying. She handed it to her niece.

"I’ve never waited on my own mother-in-law like this." The old lady glanced at her daughter. "Once you enter someone else's door, you live by their rules.

You think you’re so right? And you still have the nerve to mention it?

If you dare to be unfilial, I'll hit you later." Cheng Shengxia challenged, "Haven't you given up on me long ago? Yingzi told me you don't even nag about me much anymore." Cheng Ying mentally added that since she arrived here, she had never heard the old lady nag about this aunt.

It was like an Aunt Cheng had fallen from the sky. The old lady pursed her lips and fell silent.

Cheng Shengxia knew she had derailed the conversation. "Mom, why don't you worry about me?

I’ve been married to the children's father for so long, what more can happen?" Cheng Ying was bursting with gossip: Oh, there’s a story here. The old lady snorted.

"Hmph, I just look down on that kind of person." Cheng Shengxia retorted, "I look down on him too! Isn't it because you gave me a bad name?

Shengxia sounds like I’ll be left over, unable to marry off in the end. So, I just had to settle for someone like that, didn't I?" It seemed this aunt was of the late-marriage, late-childbearing type.

The old lady countered, "If you had listened to me, you would have married long ago. You were too picky, and now it’s all delayed.

Who do you blame?" Cheng Shengxia argued, "Blame who? Blame my third brother!

Look at him, the way he turned out. I see him every day, so I should at least find someone better than Third Brother, right?

There's no reason for my choice of partner to be worse than what Third Sister-in-law, that block of wood, managed to find. That's why I waited a bit too long." Cheng Ying could understand this to some extent—when one has high standards, this situation often arises.

It was natural for a woman to compare her potential partner to the men around her. It truly was a delay.

Having a handsome man in the family was also a form of calamity. Cheng Shengxia realized she had spoken out of turn again by mentioning Third Brother.

Seeing her mother’s expression change, she quickly added, "Mom, the children's father treats me well. You should just accept it.

Are you really going to ignore us forever?" Cheng Ying chimed in, "Grandma, ask Uncle to come back next time. I’m about to forget what Uncle looks like." The crucial thing was she had never known him.

The old lady dismissed her. "What do you need to know him for?

You stay put and behave." Auntie sighed, "Mom, look, even Yingzi is more sensible than you. If we don't see relatives, it will look bad, won't it?" The old lady insisted, "I don't care about appearances.

As long as my daughter is well, are you well? Tell me, say it yourself." Cheng Shengxia fell silent.

After a long pause, she murmured, "As long as the children’s father is good to me, that’s enough. Most mothers-in-law are like that; few are easy to serve." Cheng Ying nodded.

Indeed, a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are natural enemies; they compete for the attention of the same man. It would be miraculous if they got along well.

The old lady countered, "Even mothers-in-law are different; they have different intentions. Your mother-in-law, just look at her face—she’s no good.

How could she possibly look up to you?" Cheng Ying felt quite conflicted hearing this. When it came to physiognomy, her own grandmother had the most severe expression.

And her grandmother dared to say such things so loudly! Auntie said hesitantly, "At least my mother-in-law always greets me with a smile.

We'll live separately from now on. Mom, I live far from my mother-in-law; things might improve later." The old lady dismissed that.

"A sweet face hiding a bitter heart—that kind of smiling tiger is the worst kind. Your mother's eyes have never misjudged a person." Cheng Shengxia stopped talking.

She knew her suffering best. If the children's father hadn't been kind to her, life would have been unbearable.

But now, with her own children, things were manageable. "Mom, let's stop.

You just don't like the children's father, that's all." The old lady also stopped talking. If her daughter insisted on staying where she was, what could she do?

Besides, they already had children. Cheng Ying sighed, "Ah, if Auntie's life isn't good there, coming home won't make it better; there'll be no way out." The old lady playfully tapped Cheng Ying’s back.

"You stubborn girl, what are you saying?" Cheng Shengxia, able to read the room, quickly agreed. "Exactly!

If even our own family doesn't understand me, then there really is no way out, is there?" The old lady softened. "Next time you come, bring Feng." Cheng Shengxia was delighted and playfully tapped her niece’s back again.

Cheng Ying thought to herself, Why is my life so hard? Whether I say something good or bad, I get hit.

She shuffled her bottom and settled onto the heated brick bed. Cheng Shengxia instructed, "Hey, Mom, later, let Feng stay with Yingzi for a couple of days to learn from her." Cheng Ying demurred, "No, I'm too delicate.

I might spoil my little cousin." Cheng Shengxia ignored her niece, secretly happy that after so many years, the old lady had finally offered a single affirmative word. Many people had pleaded on Cheng Shengxia's behalf, but none had managed to soften the old lady's stance.

Cheng Shengxia remarked, "Yingzi really holds weight in Mom's heart." The old lady agreed. "That’s right.

Get yourself sorted out. You should return tomorrow.

Don't worry about the children, I’ll take care of things." Cheng Shengxia sounded genuinely concerned. "I am worried.

If it weren't for that, I wouldn't say anything more, but I’ll go back tomorrow." Cheng Ying said wistfully, "Auntie, I’ll miss you." Cheng Shengxia laughed. "Miss what?

If you miss me, just go see Auntie. Who dares to stop you?" Cheng Ying didn’t do anything else but stretch out both her feet.

Cheng Shengxia smiled. "Oh, how about this?

If you miss Auntie, just have someone send word, and Auntie will have your Uncle pick you up. Is that settled?" Cheng Ying nodded.

"Okay, Auntie, you must visit Grandma often too, bring Uncle and little Cousin Feng." Cheng Shengxia glanced at the old lady beside them. "En, Auntie understands." That evening, Yang Zhi cooked a table full of delicacies for her little aunt, using only what they had at home, plus what she brought back from her maternal grandparents' house.

It was clear that her own mother was truly generous. The next day, her stepfather rose early and took his bicycle to take the old aunt back home.

Cheng Ying thought how useful that bicycle really was. She had heard that if her aunt walked back, it would take almost a full day.

The aunt’s home and their family lived in two different townships, quite far apart. The stepfather didn't return until dusk.

Cheng Ying calculated how many miles that must be—a round trip by bike would take a full day. When the stepfather returned, he carried a large bag of things from the aunt and the uncle.

Chi Yong reported, "Mom, Shengxia and Brother-in-law are doing well. Their house is nice too, and Brother-in-law seems attentive to Auntie.

He insisted I eat before leaving. This package contains cotton; Brother-in-law insisted on bringing it back for you." In just a few words, Chi Yong conveyed everything the old lady wanted to hear and everything Cheng Shengxia and her husband wanted to express.

It must be said that this man had real insight. From Chi Yong's words, one could tell that the aunt’s husband was indeed a good man, and he must treat Auntie well, otherwise, he wouldn't be so warm to her family.

Cotton wasn't something you could buy just because you had money or a ration coupon. The fact that the uncle would give it as a gift to flatter his mother-in-law showed how much he valued his wife.

The old lady weighed the gifts she had prepared for her daughter and felt a pang of worry, thinking her gifts weren't as valuable as the return gifts. She didn't want her daughter to be looked down upon.

Her expression betrayed her thoughts. Chi Yong was perceptive enough to read the old lady’s expression; he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"Mom, Yang Zhi gave me ten yuan when I left. When I passed through their township, I bought some rice and flour and sent it over to Little Aunt." Yang Zhi interjected quickly, "Mom, that money was given to me by Dad." Yang Zhi had hidden this small act of kindness only once, seeing that Little Aunt was present and fearing the old lady might still be angry with her sister-in-law, so she hadn't turned the money over when she got home.

Now it had been exposed. One shouldn't do bad things, as they say.

Yang Zhi looked like she was about to shudder. Cheng Ying felt awkward watching; her own mother lived entirely by the old lady's approval.

The old lady nodded, the corners of her mouth lifting—she was satisfied. She ignored Yang Zhi for a moment, then opened her mouth, "Why are you so wasteful?

You should rest well now." Cheng Ying thought, Grandma, must you be so contrary? Chi Yong replied calmly, "Yes, next time I will be more frugal." This man truly didn't seek praise for doing good deeds; he genuinely looked like he was making amends.

The old lady softened further. "Exchange of courtesies is necessary, but you spent too much.

However, it has been several years since your Little Aunt visited, so this is fine. A man’s pocket shouldn't be empty.

This was my oversight; here is some money. You must always carry some when you go out." With that, the old lady took out twenty yuan from her pocket and handed it to Chi Yong.

Chi Yong nodded. "Yes, Mom is right.

I will keep this and not spend it carelessly." Cheng Ying watched her own mother listen from the side without saying a word; she probably had no objections. Of course, when the old lady produced twenty yuan, it was equivalent to returning the money her own daughter-in-law had used.

Indeed, the old lady then told Yang Zhi, "That was your father’s money; you should keep it." The old lady continued, "Oh, right. In the next couple of days, I will speak to the team leader about Yingzi's mother's situation.

It should be settled after the fifth day of the new year, when she can move to the city. The villagers don't put much emphasis on land division here; a word will suffice." Chi Yong asked, "Mom, that’s settled then.

Should we go visit the captain’s family?" The old lady replied, "No need. Yingzi’s mother should prepare herself, pack her things, and make sure to wear new trousers; after all, she’s going to the city." Yang Zhi finally spoke up, "I already tucked new trousers into Little Aunt’s package." The old lady didn't know what to say about this daughter-in-law.

Fortunately, there was still fabric; she could sew another pair. The old lady understood that her daughter-in-law was kind to her own daughter, so she absolutely couldn't criticize her here.

Yang Zhi ventured, "Mom, can I not go? Maybe she shouldn't go at all.

If the land is divided while we’re gone, our family will have no one to manage it." The old lady glared sternly. "Do you think this house will collapse if you’re not here?

It’s only for a few months. It won’t delay anything important.

Behave yourself outside, don't cause trouble, and don't speak carelessly around those questionable people." Yang Zhi quickly agreed, "Yes, I’ll listen to Mom." Chi Yong lowered his head; Cheng Ying couldn't see his expression. The old lady concluded, "Don't worry about the house.

Wu Zi's father will handle things outside, and I will be here inside. Don't worry about the children’s schooling either.

None of that is your concern. Focus on learning skills properly.

Just don't come back looking like a disgrace."