Wild ginseng, that certainly depends on the year, As for patches of saplings, forget the village, even the township nowadays doesn't grasp the concept of afforestation, People casually pick two nice-looking trees on the mountain and plant them by the roadside, and they call that greenery, So that's basically a lost cause, Cheng Ying frowned deeply in distress.

Gazing at the leisurely big carp in the pond, and the school of smaller fish, Cheng Ying couldn't even be bothered to look; there was no point counting on these either, No one appreciates them! The crucial thing is that no one is in a position to appreciate them.

Cheng Ying looked up and sighed; "a single coin can tie the hands of a hero"—that precisely described her current predicament.

Adding and subtracting, she only had a little over a hundred yuan, and her own mother would ask every chance she got, "Yingzi, don't you dare lose that money, no frivolous spending allowed." Just think, in a village like this, even if Cheng Ying wanted to spend money, there was nowhere to spend it.

Cheng Ying was in a terrible mood, absolutely awful.

As she left the spatial realm, she slapped a large rock, muttering, "How can I be so useless?" Then she turned and exited; Cheng Ying never saw the rock instantly flush red before returning to normal, just like a person changing their expression.

The old lady was in a good mood now.

Although their family had less land allocated, they also paid less in public grain, She had only just returned from the captain’s house and learned that the public grain tax was assessed based on population entitlement, with mountain use calculated separately.

How could the old lady not be pleased? Furthermore, whether it was Chi Yong or Yang Zhi, the money they received monthly was handed directly to the old lady.

Imagine how comfortable the old lady's life was: money coming in every month, and she was the one in charge.

The chickens from the production team were dealt with by the village head the previous two months, But the old lady managed to keep the clutch of hens she was raising herself.

If not for Cheng Ying's firm opposition, her stepfather would have brought home two sheep for the family.

Cheng Ying argued that since the wool had been shorn, bringing the sheep home would be a loss, so she refused to hear anything more about it.

Cheng Ying mused that mutton was indeed delicious, but slaughtering a sheep was troublesome.

They wouldn't get much for themselves, and the animal, which they nurtured for a whole year, would end up being divided among her second aunt's family—it wasn't cost-effective.

It would be better to just buy the meat.

Of course, this thought couldn't be voiced aloud.

Cheng Ying simply said that the old lady couldn't manage raising them alone.

Chi Yong immediately dropped the subject.

The old lady looked at her granddaughter, "Yingzi, you don't want mutton? Tell me honestly, the sheep in the village are quite cheap." Cheng Ying looked around to ensure no outsiders were present, "But you kept a clutch of hens, Grandma.

Second Aunt and Eldest Aunt bring eggs over daily.

When they ask how you are, and you mention getting a sheep, if they take half, the remaining half won't survive." Listen to how thoughtful this girl was! The hand the old lady had raised to strike Cheng Ying stopped mid-air; the child was right.

Cheng Ying ducked away from her grandmother's hand, "I don't mind them taking things, but when you accept something, shouldn't you show some reciprocation? Look at Second Aunt; she acts like she's owed everything, giving it to Dun'er to eat, pushing Dun'er to grow up—she gave birth to the child, and she can’t even raise him without relying on you?" Cheng Ying genuinely couldn't stand the sight of Second Aunt taking advantage while being unfilial.

At least when she takes eggs, she should try to placate the old lady a bit! Every time she took something back, the old lady wore a look of deep frustration.

It didn't take a genius to guess that Second Aunt must have been speaking ill of them.

As for Eldest Aunt, she was even more reserved; if you give her something, she acts like you should be the one fetching her.

Otherwise, she sends Mingzi to collect it.

Honestly, those chickens from the team weren't that expensive; why not raise a few at home? Do other people's chickens not need to eat? Seeing people like this, Cheng Ying’s sense of fairness became increasingly unbalanced.

Cheng Ying understood that she was no longer a soul looking down from a high vantage point, observing others’ lives.

She had completely merged into this body; this was no longer watching a show—she was the one suffering the loss.

Why should she? Her own tolerance level wasn't high to begin with.

The old lady looked at her granddaughter.

The child was young; if these feelings festered too long, how would she get along with the eldest and second sons later on? It was true that the two brothers didn't handle things well; the old lady understood they never considered Chi Yong part of the family.

When they took things, they felt it was simply their due.

Alas, having a thoughtful granddaughter wasn't a bad thing; it was certainly better than someone heartless like Yang Zhi.

Cheng Ying watched her grandmother's hand—it neither struck nor withdrew.

Unsure of what the old lady intended, "Grandma, I won't say any more.

I'll take some eggs to Dun'er to avoid Second Aunt arriving, saying the wrong thing, and angering you again." The old lady pursed her lips; her granddaughter was ultimately looking out for her. "No need.

Let your Second Aunt come and get them herself.

It’s as if we owe them something." Cheng Ying countered, "Second Aunt’s mouth—you just shouldn't pay any attention to her." The old lady huffed, "I truly can't be bothered.

Your Second Aunt has such petty vision; she'll be like that her whole life." Cheng Ying nodded; truly so.

Sure enough, when Second Aunt arrived, her expression was murky.

She acted as if collecting the eggs was bestowing a great favor upon them.

The old lady said, "Second daughter-in-law, don't take the eggs.

Take these two hens home and raise them yourself.

Yingzi and Wu Zi are still growing and need nourishment." Second Aunt looked at the chickens, absolutely delighted at the old lady's generosity.

As for whether she’d bring eggs in the future, well, that wasn't up to the old lady to decide.

She didn't believe the old lady would refuse if Dun'er came asking.

Happily clutching the two hens, she started to leave, "Ma, I’ll head back now; I need to build a coop for the chickens." The old lady stated, "From now on, keep your own chickens for your own eggs; don't come asking here.

These belong to Zhi'zi.

I’m raising them under someone else’s eaves; I can’t truly run this house.

If others start gossiping, I can’t manage the work now, and I might have to move.

Perhaps you two brothers will have to make some effort then." The implication was: I can't work anymore, and people already look down on me; perhaps you’ll have to support me.

Second Aunt immediately responded, "Ma, if Yang Zhi dares to be unfilial to you, I’ll go to the team and shame her! When you were capable, she snatched things; now that you can’t work, she pushes you aside? Why should that be?" After speaking, Second Aunt looked at the old lady, catching that particular look directed at her.

Second Aunt fell silent, forcing a somewhat guilty smile.

Her Dun'er was grown, and they didn't lack childcare.

Besides, the old lady didn't work in the fields anymore; why would they bring home a living Buddha just to worship? They couldn't afford the upkeep.

The old lady said, "Alright, go on." This time, Second Aunt truly took heed.

She couldn't risk Yang Zhi causing trouble over such a small matter. "Ma, then these chickens..." The old lady felt a chill in her heart.

What a greedy daughter-in-law! Just to avoid looking after her, she didn't even dare touch the two hens.

If it weren't for her grandson, the old lady would have demanded the chickens back.

She waved her hand, sending the second daughter-in-law away.

Cheng Ying heard everything from inside the room.

That Second Aunt had truly chilled the old lady to the bone.

But in Cheng Ying's view, this kind of person wasn't so bad; she was better than Eldest Aunt.

A bad person is straightforwardly bad; the worst are those like Eldest Aunt—always appearing kind, seemingly concerned, but ultimately selfish when it matters most.

Those are the ones you can never guard against.

Cheng Ying said, "Grandma, since you gave to Second Aunt, should I send a pair to Eldest Uncle’s family too?" The old lady sighed out the window, "No need to send any.

Your Eldest Aunt’s ears are always tuned to the wind; she'll be here soon enough." She then looked at her granddaughter; speaking ill of her daughter-in-law in front of her granddaughter wasn't entirely appropriate.

The old lady had let her thoughts slip.

Yang Zhi and Chi Yong returned, "Ma." The old lady asked, "Why are you back so late?" Chi Yong replied, "As we left the village, we tidied up the land by the village entrance on the way." The old lady nodded; it was no wonder their life wouldn't go badly—neither of them were lazy.

Although they didn't go out to work for wages, they earned a bit less than others, but they were earning money year-round.

Calculated over the year, it probably wouldn't be less than what other families brought in.

Cheng Ying interjected, "Ma, Uncle, go wash up." Yang Zhi asked, "Yingzi, did you go up into the mountains?" Yang Zhi hadn't even entered the courtyard, and the gossip was already coming out.

Chi Yong glanced at Cheng Ying, thinking his wife spoke too bluntly; was that any way to ask a question? Of course, he knew his girl wasn't the type to suffer in silence.

If she went to complain, it was more like filing a formal report.

Cheng Ying replied, "Yes, I went to look around.

Ma, the mountains are full of medicinal herbs you mentioned; the place is really good." Yang Zhi scoffed, "Good for what? It's so far away.

Even if there are herbs, who would travel that far to fetch them? There are herbs in the hollow by the village entrance.

Next time you go, you must find an adult to accompany you.

The mountains are distant; if a wolf showed up, you and Wu Zi, with your small arms and legs, wouldn't be able to run fast enough, you understand?" Cheng Ying nodded, "I understand." Yang Zhi asked, "Where is Wu Zi?" Cheng Ying replied, "He went down to the river to catch fish." Yang Zhi finally uttered a statement carrying the weight of an elder, "Oh dear, one running around the mountain, the other catching shrimp in the river.

How can you two be so worry-free?" As soon as she said this, the three people in the courtyard looked at Yang Zhi, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Chi Yong voiced the feelings of the entire family, "When did you ever worry so much?" Meaning: You never worried before, not even a little bit.

The old lady calmly continued tending to the chicken coop, agreeing with that statement.

Yang Zhi retorted, "Why don't I worry? Just because I don't say it doesn't mean I don't worry.

It’s just that no one listens to me when I speak.

Which one of you ever listens to me?" Cheng Ying nodded; that seemed to be the truth.

It turned out her own mother did feel wronged. "You feel wronged?" This question prompted Yang Zhi to raise her hand, "Stop pestering me, you kid.

With your Grandma here, I worry less.

Even my own father said I was lucky." Cheng Ying closed the window, turning away from her mother.

There was nothing to boast about there.

Yang Zhi insisted, "Yingzi, don't take this lightly.

Tell Wu Zi to stop running to the river.

At this time of year, it rains in the mountains, and there’s no warning downstream.

A sudden flash flood could hit, and the children caught inside wouldn't have time to escape." This point was valid.

The old lady instructed, "Yingzi, keep an eye on Wu Zi later." Cheng Ying called from inside the room, "It’s more effective if you scold him yourself, Grandma.

He wouldn't dare talk back to anything you say." The old lady glanced at Chi Yong, then at her granddaughter through the window.

The words she was about to speak died on her lips.

What an exasperating girl—strangers might think she was abusing Wu Zi.

Chi Yong’s lips curved slightly; the old lady was indeed formidable.

The old lady certainly showed favoritism toward her granddaughter, but when it came to Wu Zi, you truly couldn't find fault with how she treated him.