The village paths had just been swept clean when Cheng Ming arrived, cotton gloves already on, his face alight with excitement. “Grandma, I’m here!” With that, he bolted toward the bicycle, having come to learn how to ride it.

Chi Yong had already gone to the production team headquarters. The old woman knew how precious a bicycle was at this time.

“Oh, you little rascal, how dare you touch it? Put it down quickly!

That belongs to Yingzi’s uncle and is for your aunt.” This was her way of telling Cheng Ming that this was not their property. Cheng Ming replied, “It’s fine, Wu Zi’s dad said yesterday that all of us should learn, and then we can take Yingzi when school starts.” The old woman looked at Cheng Ying, then at Chi Wu.

Both children nodded. “Alright, just don't fall and hurt yourself.

Go on and play.” Cheng Ming pushed the bicycle and walked away, followed by a pack of children. This bicycle was a rare sight in the village.

Never mind the children; even some adults were reluctant to ride it. Watching the group of children, the old woman let go of the many thoughts churning in her mind.

Getting along well was a matter of fate. However, in her second daughter-in-law's ears, this might not be good news.

She might suggest the children learning to ride was just so they could be used as laborers to ferry the neighbor's daughter to and from school. This was human nature’s dissatisfaction.

Even if the old woman didn't gossip, she could already predict her second daughter-in-law’s reaction. Cheng Ying was being dragged by Chi Wu, following somewhat reluctantly.

Do I really need to learn this? I truly look down on it.

Cheng Ming’s attempt at learning to ride was a human-wave tactic; a crowd supported him on the sides. He managed to cycle alone on the seat.

Cheng Ying found it hilarious, Watching him was akin to watching an acrobat. Cheng Ying saw Cheng Ming fall again under the support of a group of people, And she laughed so hard she nearly collapsed.

Because her laughter was so unrestrained, it instantly drew immense resentment. Cheng Ming, face flushed crimson, stormed over.

“If you keep laughing, even if I learn, I won't take you!” Cheng Ying wiped the tears from her face—they were all from laughter. “What a joke.

I need you to take me? With that terrible riding of yours?” Cheng Ming was filled with indignation.

“A scholar can be killed but not humiliated! Yingzi, come on, you try it!

Then you’ll see how difficult this thing is. Let’s see if you can still laugh then!” Cheng Ying felt a bit bad about crushing his spirit.

“You really want me to try? You won't regret it?” Cheng Ming snorted, “Hmph, you little girl, get on here!” Although his words were fierce, his hands never left steadying the bicycle, terrified of actually letting Cheng Ying fall.

Even though girls weren't valued highly, his own little sister was different. If he actually let Cheng Ying get hurt, Grandma would chase him around the entire village with a feather duster.

Cheng Ying had never seen anyone so simple-minded. This was practically inviting her to slap his face.

Cheng Ying walked over and pushed the bike around to get a feel for it. They were all used to mountain bikes, which they rode for exercise and fashion.

This old-fashioned 28-inch bike, though a bit awkward, posed no problem for grasping balance. A bunch of kids came over to support Cheng Ying, especially Cheng Ming.

Though he encouraged her to learn, if Cheng Ying got scratched or bruised, his own grandmother would come after him first. Cheng Ying pouted.

“All of you move back! Does this need support?” How arrogant, incredibly brazen.

Cheng Ming’s eyes widened. “Are you looking to die?” Cheng Ying pursed her lips.

“Move aside.” Chi Wu became anxious on the side. This wasn't the time to play the hero; the girl had lost her mind.

“Come here, I’ll support you.” Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow. “No need for support, it’s fine.” Chi Wu stepped back.

In his view, there was nothing this girl couldn't accomplish. Perhaps she could ride, or maybe her uncle had already taught her.

Seeing all the children approaching, Cheng Ying glared at the bike and took off. The only regret was that the bicycle was too big, and Cheng Ying was too small.

Sitting on the saddle, she couldn't even reach the pedals. Cheng Ying rode perilously, her whole body twisting over the main frame.

After one lap, the group of children was stunned into silence. Cheng Ming looked at his sister, who seemed two sizes smaller than the bike.

“You really can ride? When did you learn?” Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow.

“I was born knowing how. Look how clumsy you are!” Cheng Ming was furious.

“If you knew how, why didn't you ride earlier? Get off!

Don't waste time!” He pushed the bicycle away, clearly provoked. Cheng Ming’s only persistence while learning was not to let Cheng Ying, who specialized in mocking him, watch.

Cheng Ying thought to herself that she wasn't even interested in watching. Who did he think he was, putting on an act just to entertain her?

Because of the heavy snow, the children stayed home for over three days. In that time, all the first-grade plots in the production team had been distributed.

Cheng Ying’s family lived on the edge of the village. Her grandmother and stepfather spent a long time pacing their assigned plots, Practically wishing they could sweep the snow away so they could start planting immediately.

Of course, they weren't the only ones moving back and forth on their own land. When it came time for the second-grade plots, Cheng Ying’s family wasn't anxious anymore because they had already negotiated with the team to exchange their second-grade land for mountain grazing rights.

Cheng Ying felt that the pace of the times had taken a huge leap forward here. The good days were coming.

Cheng Ming learned to ride the bicycle well. After three days, when school started, Cheng Ming cycled, taking the three younger ones along.

Cheng Ying no longer had to wake up early or blister her feet walking. Of course, to protect her backside, Cheng Ying fashioned two thick cotton pads at home—one for herself in the front, and one for Chi Wu and the others in the back—tying them down securely.

Most importantly, Grandma had made thick cotton covers for the handlebars so Cheng Ming’s hands wouldn't freeze while riding. The bicycle was fully equipped.

Cheng Ying thought to herself, this was like turning a chair with two foam cushions into a sofa. Upon reaching the school, Cheng Ying saw that the shed roofs had collapsed under the weight of the snow.

However, the teachers didn't seem too bothered. They took out their small blackboards and started teaching the children in the square, Facing the howling north wind—it had a certain artistic atmosphere, if you ignored their red, swollen, frostbitten hands.

Cheng Ying thought this was an open-air school; it was too harsh. If possible, she would have Chi Wu go to school in the township; at least that school had courtyard walls.

As for herself, Cheng Ying had decided: during exams, she would display her ability and then apply to the teacher to only take tests for grade advancement, skipping the actual classes. This was most suitable for Cheng Ying.

Having been reborn, she already possessed all the necessary knowledge; she certainly hadn't enjoyed her student days to that extent. While Cheng Ying endured her agonizing study sessions, the land distribution in the village was finally settled.

Some people had already started preparing their fields back in the first lunar month; everywhere radiated an energetic spirit of striving. Cheng Ying also learned from her stepfather that her biological father’s grave, being too far from the village, was currently designated as communal firewood land by the brigade and hadn't been assigned to any individual family.

Furthermore, because the trees there weren't dense enough, the local lumberyard hadn't included that valley area in their demarcation. For Cheng Ying, this was the best news.

Negotiating for the mountain site with the brigade was much easier than negotiating with individuals. However, she still needed to think carefully about how to negotiate.

After all, her family already had a considerable amount of mountain land. Would Grandma and her stepfather agree to acquire even more?

Also, negotiating for this mountain site with the team would cost money. Everyone understood this without needing reminders—it wasn't as if they would give it away for free.

Cheng Ying was quite worried, exceedingly worried. Once her stepfather finished organizing the physical property according to each household’s contracted situation and recorded it for archives, The great collective system would essentially dissolve.

From then on, the fields they farmed would belong to them individually, Though they still had to hand over grain quotas to the state. A production brigade still had many collective matters to manage.

Although the collective was dissolving, someone still needed to preside over things. The former team leader, Cheng Shan, was officially renamed Village Head.

Her stepfather performed well during the land distribution and managed to secure a firm position in the team. Village Head Cheng Shan kept him in the team as the accountant.

Although it sounded respectable, a single brigade didn't have that many affairs, so the pay wasn't high. However, there wasn't much work either; essentially, her stepfather farmed at home.

Of course, this was just on the surface. In reality, Cheng Ying knew her stepfather never stopped studying diligently.

He was just waiting for his chance to soar. Chi Wu and Cheng Ying were top students; even the teacher had to admit it.

Through their consistent performance, everyone came to know that Chi Wu and Cheng Ying had a learned father. It was no wonder their academic results were always outstanding.

Therefore, even though the school was over twenty li away, Chi Yong would visit the school every few days to substitute teach. Whenever a teacher had an unexpected absence, Chi Yong was the undisputed choice for a substitute.

Chi Wu was quite proud of this; Cheng Ying paid it no mind. Never mind Chi Yong; even she could substitute teach.

Thus, two months passed uneventfully. Yang Zhi, who had gone for advanced training in the city, also returned.

She brought back a set of work clothes, a very white lab coat—the uniform of a village health worker—and a simple first-aid kit. Cheng Ying looked at her biological mother’s entire set of equipment: just one first-aid kit.

This was truly the most rudimentary emergency station. Of course, calling it an emergency station was generous; there was no dedicated location.

Anyone with a headache or fever would come to their house to call for her. Perhaps everyone in the village was naturally robust; they might not fall ill for two or three months straight.

So her biological mother's job was simple, and she earned a little money. Although not much, combined with the meager salary her stepfather earned as the brigade accountant, the family’s living standard had risen by more than a notch.

However, they still didn't have much cash surplus. It was said that since the implementation of household contracting, the villagers had changed.

They heard a couple of young married couples had gone to the city to work, Sending home dozens of yuan every month. This news caused a stir in the village.

Consider that a strong laborer earned maybe two hundred yuan a year at best. These people working in the city earned that much in a month, which increased the villagers' longing for the city manifold.

It was rumored that Uncle and Auntie had worked in the city for two months, and when they returned, they were pushing a brand-new bicycle. They had reportedly exchanged a bicycle quota certificate for fifty yuan with someone.

Cheng Ying observed all this, but inwardly remained unimpressed. Guarding a treasure mountain and yet going out to work—it was a shame that when Auntie came to their house, she acted so superior.