"Mom, Yingzi is right. For matters like this, you must give Wuzi a good scare to keep him in check. What we say won't be as effective as what you say."

The Old Lady sniffed. "How did I become such a terrifying hag?"

Chi Yong sighed. "Alas, it’s because we’re incompetent. You have to play the villain; Wuzi isn't afraid of us."

Cheng Ying, inside the room, couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. Her stepfather had certainly mastered the art of flattery.

Chi Yong, thick-skinned as he was, paid no mind to the laughter from inside, but the Old Lady was more sensitive. She quickly waved her hand. "I know what I'm doing. Go on in, all of you."

The three of them started walking inside; the moment wasn't quite secured yet.

The Eldest Aunt rushed in, flustered. "Mom, I came to get a few eggs. Mingzi has a stomachache; I need to boil him an egg yolk."

Cheng Ying was still pondering what the Eldest Aunt would say when she heard this. What kind of opening line was this?

She pushed open the window. "Eldest Aunt, is Brother Mingzi alright? Diarrhea at this stage is serious business, life-threatening even. Why don't I have Mom give him a shot first?"

Yang Zhi emerged. "I'll go right now." She truly was a straightforward person.

The Old Lady was thoroughly displeased. Asking for eggs or chickens was one thing, but the Old Lady detested her daughter-in-law for cursing her own grandson.

The Eldest Aunt stiffened for a moment. "It’s not that serious. He just needs to lie on the warm kang for a while."

Cheng Ying chimed in, "Oh, I saw Eldest Aunt running so fast, I thought Mingzi was dehydrated."

The Old Lady fixed her gaze on the newcomer. "Second son’s wife just took two chickens away. Are you here to ask why?"

What a face-saving person the Eldest Aunt was. To have the Old Lady expose her so bluntly because of her careless words involving the child—it was quite a blow to her pride.

The Eldest Aunt’s face flushed crimson as she tried to stammer, "Mom, no, I didn't know..."

The Old Lady, whose authority had been built up over years among her daughters-in-law, merely waved a hand, and the Eldest Aunt dared not speak further.

The Old Lady didn't need to be so direct with her daughter-in-law. "I’m staying with Yingzi and the others now; I can't manage the heavy work anymore. These things [the chickens] all belong to Yingzi’s household now. If you have comparable items to return the favor, come and exchange. If you think you can't match what they gave, then keep your distance. I know the Eldest Son isn't that kind of person. Alright, take the chickens and go."

The Eldest Aunt, so concerned with appearances, truly didn't want to take the chickens after being so thoroughly chastised by the Old Lady. But then she thought, why should the Second Son get to take them if she couldn't? In the end, she carried the chickens away.

The Old Lady sighed. If you had to pick one daughter-in-law, Yang Zhi was the most decent. The rest were trouble. The Eldest family was the worst.

Once those people were sent away, the household could finally find some peace.

The Old Lady sat at the dining table. "Don't feel bad, you all. They aren't outsiders."

Chi Yong remarked, "They were all raised by the Old Lady's sharp hand; we have no right to speak."

Yang Zhi said gently, "Mom, we’ll do whatever you say. Just tell us what to do."

Cheng Ying ate with Chi Wu. To say they felt bad was an understatement. Chi Wu was also upset when he heard the news after coming back. No matter how much he wanted to play after school, Chi Wu was always the one tasked with gathering grass for the chickens. He had contributed the most to the flock, arguably.

However, Cheng Ying had mentioned earlier that this was a permanent solution. At least they wouldn't be bothered anymore. The chickens in the coop now belonged solely to the two of them.

How could the Old Lady not know Chi Wu's feelings? She was an old fox who had lived many years. She took an egg boiled from the congee pot and gave it to Wuzi. "From now on, these eggs are for you two to share."

Chi Wu pressed his lips together, a half-smile threatening to break through. He was so happy; the child was so easily satisfied.

The Old Lady mused, "It’s only been half a year, but the changes are incredible. At the beginning of the year, let alone eggs, we barely had a scrap of vegetable leaf on the table."

Chi Yong peeled an egg for the Old Lady and placed it in her bowl—a return of favor. His son lacked this kind of familial warmth; prolonged exposure could twist a child's character. It was thanks to the Old Lady and this family that Chi Wu’s temperament had improved so much. For this reason alone, his devotion to the Old Lady was sincere. "The policies have gotten better, Mom. Life will only improve from here on. Just wait for the good days. When Yingzi and Wuzi make something of themselves, even we get to enjoy the benefits."

Cheng Ying chimed in, "That’s right! When I get rich, Grandma, we’ll have dumplings every day!" That ambition remained unchanged. Chi Wu nodded in agreement.

Yang Zhi said softly, "I got my wages last month, and I made dumplings for you two then. Now I’m craving them again." That was the focus of a mother’s concern: her children’s food and needs.

The Old Lady felt content seeing her grandchildren having ambitions. Though she didn't nod, she held a touch of pride in her heart.

Chi Yong said seriously, "Yingzi, don't just think about making money. Don't get envious of the girls who go out and bring some money back. It’s not easy out there. You two need to focus on your studies. Only then, when you go out and return, will you have truly made something of yourselves. Bringing money back doesn't mean success. Working over ten hours a day outside, you come back looking older than your mother. Even if you earn the money, your Grandma and I wouldn't feel secure spending it."

Chi Yong worried that the cleverness Yingzi possessed, which he saw in other opportunistic girls, might lead her astray and ruin her life. He was warning her. Sometimes, honest children had their merits; at least parents worried less. Chi Yong sighed.

The Old Lady placed great importance on this issue. She glanced at Chi Yong; he was an educated man, after all, with higher aspirations. In the future, Yingzi and Wuzi's father should be the standard for Yingzi to follow.

She quickly instructed, "Yingzi, did you hear that? Don't talk only about money all day. My granddaughter is not allowed to be so narrow-minded, blinded by money. Your uncle is right; true success is achieved through schooling. Why are you so focused on money, girl?"

Not only the Old Lady said this; Yang Zhi also spoke up. "Yingzi, I have money here, and I’ve never slighted you. Don’t misunderstand. You need to learn from Wuzi, do you hear me? Schooling is serious business; you can't be inconsistent, catching fish for three days and drying the nets for ten. Our family members are steady people. I don't know who you take after."

Cheng Ying felt a streak of black lines across her forehead. She only said one sentence, yet it had turned into a critique session. There was no one to reason with. "I do want to go to school, but is there anyone here who can teach me?"

The words carried an air of arrogance. It was true; the local teachers barely had a high school education. Who could compare to her? She had received over a decade of elite education. She had already gone through enough schooling in her previous life.

Before she finished speaking, the Old Lady smacked her on the back. "If you don't study properly, I'll beat you to death! You don't even respect the teachers!"

Cheng Ying made a miserable face. In this household, nobody dared hit her except the Old Lady.

Cheng Ying pleaded, "Grandma, learning at home is better than in class. You don't know. The teachers make us write characters on the ground, and then I have to go home and clean the floor myself. We don't learn much in a day; it’s better than Uncle teaching us himself. Don’t believe me? Ask Wuzi."

Wuzi couldn't deny it. Teachers didn't earn much and couldn't neglect the land, but cleaning the ground took time. Chi Wu could only nod in confirmation.

Cheng Ying pressed on, "Otherwise, how could I score better than Wuzi?"

This statement was based on fact. Chi Yong understood perfectly what he had taught Yingzi. The girl just didn't want to go to school. But as long as her grades remained high, it didn't matter if she attended school or not; the family didn't need her to do fieldwork. Children naturally loved to play. Furthermore, Chi Yong genuinely adored his sensible and clever daughter. Spoiling her a bit meant she carried no psychological burden.

The Old Lady relented with a soft sound. "Oh dear, that’s truly stifling the child. Have it your way. Grandma doesn't understand these things. Yongzi, you must keep a close eye on things at home. Don't just watch Yingzi; Wuzi needs to learn from your Dad too when he gets back."

Cheng Ying's words might have been unintentional, but the next day, the principal of the township elementary school arrived, serving as the best testament to Cheng Ying's assertion. They had come specifically to recruit capable people. The visiting teacher from a few days prior hadn't eaten Cheng Ying’s family’s food for nothing; upon returning to the school, he had spoken so highly of Cheng Ying’s academic results and Chi Yong’s knowledge. How else could a girl who barely attended school achieve such top marks?

The principal had come specifically to invite Chi Yong. When the Old Lady heard this, her mouth gaped open in surprise. She quickly sent Yingzi to the production team to call Chi Yong and Yang Zhi home. Although teaching wasn't lucrative, it brought good reputation; an educated person—the villagers valued face above all else.

The Old Lady received the principal with even greater ceremony. Cheng Ying was happy on the surface, but inside, her heart felt icy cold. Indeed, a dragon must eventually fly; what was she to do now? Her stepfather was becoming a Zhuge Liang, and now the invitation to "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage" had arrived.

Looking at her delighted grandmother and her mother, who entered with a joyful expression, completely unaware of the impending crisis, Cheng Ying thought to herself: I am just a ten-year-old child, yet I must bear so much. The burden on this family of mostly elderly people was immense.

Chi Yong entered through the door and stood there; his mere presence explained everything. He carried an aura entirely different from the other villagers. The principal, a man in his forties whose figure had begun to show some softness, approached and extended his hand. "You must be Comrade Chi Yong? Hello, I am the principal of the township elementary school."

Chi Yong extended his hand, and the two shared a brief, cordial greeting. "Hello, I am Chi Yong. Please, come inside."

The moment the two shook hands, the Old Lady felt intimidated—this was the etiquette between high-ranking officials. "Yingzi, your Wuzi’s father has a bright prospect now."

Cheng Ying replied, "Mmm, our whole family benefits from this." She said this for her mother’s benefit; sometimes, not letting go means grasping happiness.

Chi Yong led his family inside, with the principal naturally taking the lead. Once everyone was seated, Chi Yong introduced them. "This is my beloved wife, Yang Zhi, the village health worker."

Yang Zhi acted a bit timidly, quickly lowering her head. "Hello."

The principal extended his hand. "Hello, Comrade Yang Zhi."

The scene grew awkward as Chi Yong’s own wife didn't reach out to shake hands. Chi Yong’s face reddened slightly; his wife was introverted and inexperienced.

Cheng Ying walked forward reluctantly, forcing a smile, and extended her hand, shaking the principal’s hand in a formal gesture. "Hello, Principal. I am Cheng Ying, my mother's daughter."