This statement was neither subservient nor overly arrogant, yet it clearly communicated to the old woman that his labor was for his own son, for his own household. She and Yang Zhi were husband and wife; it was proper for him to work.

How considerate, how thorough—Cheng Ying praised her stepfather as truly capable. The old woman’s stooped back straightened considerably.

It seemed that with her own mother away studying, the old lady at home felt a distinct pressure. Cheng Ying said, “Grandma, Wu Zi and I are grown up now; we can help.

Other people’s children are already treated as adults.” Chi Wu nodded in agreement. The old woman looked at her granddaughter with vexation.

“You mentioned other people’s children. Look at me, how I’ve toughened you up and raised you, yet you’re so coddled.

You walk a little and you get blisters. If I dared to use you roughly, it wouldn't be because I got it from anyone else.” The old woman spoke with such worry, such distress—how would she ever find a good match for her in the future?

Even if they took in a son-in-law to live with them, people would still look for a capable wife, wouldn't they? The thought brought her anxiety.

Her granddaughter was sensible, yes, but recently she had become increasingly delicate, which was not good; if word got out, her reputation would suffer. Chi Yong watched his mother.

This girl had been raised through hardship; he had never once heard the old woman speak harshly to Ying Zi. Yang Zhi was even more reluctant to let her daughter do any chores, wishing she could take on all the housework herself.

What could the girl possibly do? How could the old woman say such a thing out loud?

How could the old woman say it out loud? This delicacy—wasn’t it cultivated by the old woman herself?

However, this was difficult to bring up, especially given Chi Yong’s current standing. Better to just listen.

Cheng Ying comforted her grandmother. “Grandma, I am naturally delicate and blessed with good fortune.

I’m destined for great wealth and status in the future.” The old woman had never encountered such audacity from her granddaughter. “How can your skin be so thick?

Although, it is true, my granddaughter has good fortune.” Chi Yong swallowed the porridge in his mouth and said with difficulty, “Girls ought to be pampered; a little delicacy is nothing.” The old woman disliked hearing that. “This isn't even pampered yet, and Ying Zi isn't that delicate.” Chi Yong knew that saying anything would be thankless, and he shouldn't have spoken up.

If he hadn't seen the mother and daughter being so overly affectionate, he truly wouldn’t have intervened. And wasn't it just someone who mentioned their granddaughter being spoiled moments ago?

Chi Yong said, “Mom, I’m done eating. I’ll go over now and organize today’s events so Captain can see them tomorrow.” The old woman said, “Hurry up, that’s serious business you’re doing.” To the old woman, anything involving brushes and ink was proper business, even sacred.

Therefore, her stepfather’s work was never to be disturbed, not even Chi Wu was allowed back to the sleeping quarters; she kept him in the east room, lest he interrupt her stepfather’s work. This was the rural reverence for the educated.

One might say that Chi Yong’s standing in the village, now that the constraints of his former status were gone, was actually quite high, simply because he possessed learning. Cheng Ying thought to herself how profound her grandmother’s worship of the educated truly was.

Chi Wu was dozing off from fatigue but still wasn't allowed back to his room. Cheng Ying felt annoyed on his behalf.

How important did Grandma think her stepfather’s work was? Cheng Ying said, “Grandma, why don't we just bring Chi Wu’s quilt over?

Uncle’s work will probably continue this late from now on.” What Cheng Ying said was not without reason. Chi Yong was handling documentation for the production team—recording and clarifying every land plot assigned and how much land each family received.

The work would only become busier later, certainly busier than it was today. As for Chi Wu sleeping in the east room, Cheng Ying gave no thought to the issue of gender.

Chi Wu was just a little child; it genuinely wouldn't make Cheng Ying feel shy or awkward. They were not in the same age bracket, for one thing.

Cheng Ying never even considered that Chi Wu was the same age as her. If not treated as a son, he was certainly being mentored as a junior family member.

In Cheng Ying’s mind, there was no gender distinction for Chi Wu. The old woman looked at her granddaughter, then at Chi Wu, who was already half-asleep.

The two children were still young; sleeping in the same room was fine. She got up, walked lightly to the east room, and brought over Chi Wu’s bedding, spreading it out.

She tugged the half-awake Chi Wu. “Go to sleep.” As for when the stepfather’s work would end, no one in the west room knew, and the grandmother never mentioned it, worried about the cost of lamp oil.

Cheng Ying later realized that her grandmother was a truly magnificent woman. Moreover, the next day, Cheng Ying intentionally waited until no one else was home and peeked into the west room.

Her stepfather wasn't working on any official documents; he was just looking at textbooks. In Cheng Ying’s opinion, these textbooks were quite elementary and disorganized.

Cheng Ying mused that someone looking like her stepfather wouldn't be up half the night doing such minor paperwork. Was he aiming for the Gaokao?

Oh, a man in his early thirties still possessing such ambition—Cheng Ying found it impossible not to admire him. He truly had a strong drive for self-improvement, but this also meant the gap between him and her biological mother would widen.

Her biological mother, though literate, probably wouldn't do well on the Gaokao. Cheng Ying was a person of few words, possessing slightly more strategic thought than the average person of this era, or perhaps a bit more exposure to the world.

Although her biological mother wouldn't take the Gaokao, it didn't mean she was inferior. Later, when they visited Grandpa, they could perhaps ask him to pull strings to get Mom a medical license, or failing that, a nursing diploma.

After all, she truly possessed practical work experience. Of course, Cheng Ying wasn't sure what the official title was at this time.

But her biological mother definitely had to pursue this path; that was certain. She figured her maternal uncle, being an adaptable person studying in the city, surely wouldn't forget to look out for his mother back home.

Looking at the books hidden in the box in the west room, Cheng Ying could think of so much. This was a man unwilling to settle for mediocrity.

Why couldn't he just be content, living quietly with her mother in this remote corner? Cheng Ying felt that her stepfather was causing her unnecessary worry.

When Chi Wu woke up, he blinked once upon seeing an unfamiliar environment but showed no sign of being unsettled. Cheng Ying emerged from the west room and saw Chi Wu blinking from inside the covers.

She spoke sharply, “Look at what time you slept until! How lazy you’ve become!” She was serving as a footrest for Chi Yong.

Chi Wu glanced at the light outside, quietly got up, and started dressing. “I only slept late today.

You’re just up early today.” Cheng Ying realized she was wrongly taking out her bad mood on Chi Wu. She remembered that Chi Wu hadn't been allowed back to his room last night by the old lady, so he was sleeping in late, whereas she was up early because she had taken a nap yesterday afternoon.

Chi Wu was, in fact, correct. She pursed her lips.

“Hmph. Time to eat.

Hurry up, and afterward, I’ll go gather firewood with you.” Chi Wu quickly got up and started folding his blanket. Cheng Ying blushed; Chi Wu actually knew how to do this chore, and he was better at it than she was.

It was worth noting that the old lady never asked Cheng Ying to do chores; seeing that her granddaughter knew how was enough. Cheng Ying felt conflicted.

Starting today, she would live without her mother present. She was essentially the stepdaughter now; her life might be comparable to that of a desolate orphan.

To ease her grandmother's burden, Cheng Ying certainly needed to take on some of the responsibilities. She couldn't let the old woman work herself ragged at her age.

Chi Wu was thrilled about sleeping in the east room. He used to feel like an outsider, but being allowed into the east room now meant the old lady considered him family.

Therefore, after eating, he worked with even greater enthusiasm. But what chores were there to do during the New Year?

It was only the fifth day of the month, and everywhere was covered in ice and snow. However, Cheng Ying noticed her own shortcomings by watching Chi Wu.

She realized she wasn't even as good as him at the household chores. What kind of realization was that?

It determined that Cheng Ying needed to rouse herself. If not stronger than Chi Wu, she certainly shouldn't be weaker.

After all, she possessed a mature soul. Cheng Ying said, “Stop putting so much wood in the stove.

It’s easy enough to bring firewood back.” She could barely watch his excitement. Chi Wu replied, “It’s fine.

I’ll just go up the mountain to collect more later; I can make two trips.” Cheng Ying retorted, “Are you bored? If no one is in the house during the day, keeping it warm is pointless, isn’t it?” Chi Wu conceded, “That’s true.

So what should we do?” Cheng Ying planned, “Grandma went to help deliver water and food. Let’s go over and check on things, and while we’re there, we can stay at Third Aunt’s place since it’s warm.

We can heat up our house again in the evening.” Cheng Ying’s plan was excellent; they would even save on firewood. Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying; this was another new level of thinking.

“That works too; we’ll save firewood. But it sounds like you’re acting like Dunzi’s mother.

We shouldn't let Third Aunt get annoyed with us.” The child had some thought process; he was empathizing and reflecting. Cheng Ying was highly displeased that Chi Wu compared her to her Second Uncle's wife.

Ever since realizing her personality traits overlapped with her Second Aunt’s, Cheng Ying had been trying to create distance between herself and that woman, but with little success. She shot Chi Wu a glare.

How could the child speak like that? Besides, was she the same as her Second Aunt?

Even if they were the same kind of person, the outcomes would be different. “How can you think that?

Second Aunt is annoying; am I someone who is annoying?” Chi Wu, when faced with a situation he didn't quite grasp, generally defaulted to asking. “Second Aunt mooches meals; you’re mooching warmth.

Is there a difference?” The child’s question was remarkably straightforward. Cheng Ying was so angered she felt slightly dizzy.

“Second Aunt is annoying; if I go to mooch warmth, it’s because people dote on me, they drag me along—can that be the same?” Chi Wu fell silent, genuinely not understanding the distinction. And did she really have that ability?

She hadn't noticed anyone desperately dragging her over to sponge warmth. Cheng Ying felt she absolutely had to make this boy recognize her superior standing and the qualitative gap between him and her Second Aunt.

“Come with me, I’ll show you the difference between me and Second Aunt. Next time, don’t group me with her.” At this moment, Cheng Ying exuded an air of absolute authority, embodying the feeling of being the boss.

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