Just thinking of letting Yingzi cause less trouble. Do you know how hard it is to live a good life? Why must she stir things up? Thinking of it, it was all because of a dead man.

Chi Wu told his father everything, but this matter, Chi Wu was not going to mention. His father would surely be heartbroken. You say how ungrateful that girl is! How good her father has been to her, yet she still thinks about her biological father.

Chi Wu thought about it and felt his father had been wronged.

Then he glared furiously at Cheng Ying. Cheng Ying was utterly baffled. Is this kid crazy? Where is all this anger coming from? She hasn't done anything.

Chi Yong watched the two children and knew something was up. But when children grow up, they always cause trouble; parents just have to let go. So he didn't pay close attention, letting go a little too early, letting the children cause a little too much trouble.

She was lost in thought.

Yang Zhi had no objections at all. "Yingzi, I've made a set of knee pads for your maternal grandfather. Take them to him when you go."

Cheng Ying's cheek twitched unnaturally. "Ma, it's winter right now."

Yang Zhi said, "Carry an umbrella on a sunny day, and take clothes when it's hot. It's never wrong to prepare in advance. Just take them if I tell you to."

Her own mother was rarely so firm about something. Cheng Ying thought her mother’s temper had improved; she could even say such stern words—progress! Then she saw her mother turn to look at the Old Madam. "Right, Ma?"

The way she said it was so tentative; Cheng Ying's facial muscles trembled even more violently. It was still the same Ma.

The Old Madam said, "No matter the time, it is your mother’s filial piety. Your mother doesn't have time, so you take it over. Also, check on the lodging your maternal grandfather prepared for you. If anything is unsuitable, you just rent a place to live; don’t always bother other people."

The Old Madam was happier for them to rent a place. Being with in-laws, the Old Madam felt uneasy. It was fine for others, but her own son had only Yingzi left; she couldn't let her be lured away by someone else.

Chi Yong understood the Old Madam’s heart. People fear changing places. If he were in the Old Madam’s position, he would surely take precautions too.

Chi Yong, his mind clear, said, "Ma, it's temporary, just half a year. When my job stabilizes, we’ll move to the town. We both need to work, and we still need you to watch the two children."

What he said was true; the household truly couldn't do without the Old Madam. The Old Madam understood this in her heart. But whether to go to town still needed consideration. One is reluctant to leave one's homeland. Besides, the three younger sons were all in the village; there was no reason to follow his wife to town, even if it was for his granddaughter—wouldn't people gossip?

But she couldn't shut the door completely. If this couple felt that once they went to town, she would stop caring, then the Old Madam would rather endure the gossip.

The Old Madam thought deeper. "We'll see."

Seeing the Old Madam's calm demeanor, Cheng Ying almost admired her to death. However, Cheng Ying was also pondering. She absolutely could not let the Old Madam go to town; she needed the Old Madam to stay with her in the village. She had to remember the project of taking over the mountain area, planting trees, and transplanting ginseng seedlings—what a massive undertaking that was! If the Old Madam didn't stay with her, how would she manage? Staying alone in the village would be such a depressing thing.

Cheng Ying planned to settle this matter before she started middle school.

A farmer’s fate is a farmer’s fate. As long as she could get rich, as long as they could live a good life, Cheng Ying would give it her all. Hurry up and make money! Later, if her stepfather had any ideas, Cheng Ying thought, she would crush him with money. No, suppress him. No, help her own mother deal with him.

Come to think of it, if things were acquired with money, were they still worthy of her mother’s attention? Given her mother’s temperament, Cheng Ying felt that anything less than twelve-karat real gold wouldn't be worthy of her.

Yang Zhi was too pure, though this was perhaps similar to being 'too naive' in a different way.

Cheng Ying said, "I'll listen to Grandma." She dared not say, "I’ll follow Grandma," for fear the Old Madam, worried about her studies, would reluctantly follow the couple to town. Then Cheng Ying would have nowhere to cry.

The Old Madam looked at her granddaughter and knew the girl was being lazy. But as long as the child’s grades kept up, the Old Madam wasn't that rigid in her thinking. Which school isn't a school? Having someone at home gives the village standing; otherwise, returning home would feel like a holiday visit. Over time, who would even remember her deceased son? People grow closer through remembrance; only with someone mentioning them can they not be forgotten.

To say the Old Madam had selfish motives was true, but who doesn't have some self-interest?

Chi Yong glanced at the girl and continued eating. These two mother and child, each more headstrong than the other. Besides his wife, Chi Yong couldn't rule over any of them.

Yang Zhi couldn't eat anymore. Thinking about all the things she prepared for her own father, she felt uneasy about the last time she went to the city—she hadn't prepared anything for her father then. Life wasn't that hard now; at least the couple had an income of nearly thirty yuan a month. Although little was left after spending it, it was still an income.

So Yang Zhi spoke up. "Ma, I was thinking, let Yingzi take two bottles of wine to my dad." This request came out weak, barely a whisper.

Cheng Ying felt her own mother should just tell her directly.

The Old Madam looked at her daughter-in-law; this kind of thing deserved praise, and it was important to promote it. "Mmm, we have two jars of fruit wine stored in our cellar. You take a bottle to your dad."

Cheng Ying exclaimed, "What? How come I never saw them? I’ve been down to the cellar several times. How did I miss seeing any jars?" This question sounded as if the family was hiding things from her.

Yang Zhi scolded, "Yingzi, what kind of way is that to speak?"

Chi Wu was also bewildered. He had been down to the cellar with Cheng Ying and truly hadn't seen anything else.

The Old Madam was delighted. "Why should you see everything? Are you running this house?"

Cheng Ying asked, "Do we really have wine?"

The Old Madam pursed her lips and remained silent. Cheng Ying was very anxious. What kind of wine was it? She knew that if a family could produce their own wine, it usually stemmed from long tradition, having a family characteristic, and surely wouldn't be bad. To be honest, Cheng Ying was already craving it.

After eating, Cheng Ying followed her mother, carrying the kerosene lamp, trotting eagerly after her down to the cellar. She had to see where this wine was hidden.

Chi Wu, trailing behind, was puzzled. How could this girl tell such a massive lie without her heart fluttering or her eyes twitching? Chi Wu hadn't felt at ease since he told his own lie. He didn't even dare to go look for the wine with them; he wanted to find a secluded spot to hide.

Yang Zhi took the shovel and dug away a layer of dirt in a corner of the cellar. "Oh dear, it’s no great secret." There was a small pit covered by a wooden board.

Yang Zhi pulled out a small clay jar from inside. "Take it. Didn't you want to see it?"

Cheng Ying asked, "Ma, is there more inside, Ma?"

Yang Zhi replied, "What did you think it was? When your grandfather was alive, he would seal up two jars like this every year. But after your grandfather passed, your grandma lost the mood. These are all leftovers from past years. Our family only has three jars in total. One jar outside holds oil. What else could there be?"

Cheng Ying nodded. It seemed there was one holding salted eggs. Just this one jar. Poverty—tell me, how poor were they? They could make wine but didn't even have a jar. What a situation.

Cheng Ying carefully carried the jar upstairs. At least this jar wasn't small; there must have been six or seven catties of wine inside.

When Cheng Ying carried the wine jar up to the east room, Chi Wu and Chi Yong were both there. The Old Madam used her awl for shoe repair to pry open the jar's seal. The aroma was incredible, especially to Cheng Ying, who had never smelled good wine before here.

Cheng Ying had one immediate feeling: she was rich. She wouldn't sell any of it. First, she’d get two clay jars for the house, and when Grandma was in a good mood, maybe she’d bring out a little wine once a year.

Even Chi Yong praised it with a nod, "Good stuff."

The Old Madam's expression was proud. "Alright. Since Wu Zi's dad likes it, we’ll keep half here. Get a bottle, and just fill two bottles for your dad."

Yang Zhi readily agreed. "Okay." She turned to find bottles.

The Old Madam looked at Cheng Ying, who was drooling with desire. "Look at you. No matter how good it smells, you still can't drink it, can you?"

Cheng Ying nodded, I really can drink it, but unfortunately, the Old Madam didn't even spare her a glance. She completely ignored Cheng Ying's perspective.

Chi Yong took the small wooden spoon the Old Madam had brought out and scooped a mouthful to his lips, then savored the long-lasting aftertaste. Watching his expression, Cheng Ying knew this stuff must taste even better than it smelled. She looked at Chi Yong with yearning eyes.

Chi Yong, seeing the Old Madam wasn't paying attention, scooped a spoonful for Cheng Ying. Cheng Ying drank it like a drunkard, not even thinking about sanitation.

Then Chi Yong scooped a spoonful for Chi Wu. Chi Wu’s expression was conflicted. What was so good about this? It tasted awful. To think his father and Cheng Ying looked so intoxicated—they were fooled.

Cheng Ying smacked her lips. "Plum wine."

Chi Yong looked at Cheng Ying. "Not bad. You can tell."

Before Cheng Ying could gloat, the Old Madam walked over and took the spoon from Chi Yong’s hand. "Nonsense! That's because she saw it before. How can such a grown person be so shameless? How can you give alcohol to a child? Even fruit wine can make you tipsy!"

Chi Yong was scolded. Cheng Ying thought, I’m wronged! I really didn't see it before; I really tasted it! I really have the ability to discern alcohol!

Unfortunately, the Old Madam carried the wine jar away. It seemed her granddaughter took after her grandfather—that look in her eyes showed she was greedy for good drink; she needed to hide the wine well.

Chi Wu said, "We have things to do tomorrow; shouldn't you go to bed early?"

Cheng Ying started, Right! How could she forget the nervousness of having stolen a tiger's skin? Thank goodness Chi Wu reminded her. Cheng Ying held up three fingers.

Chi Wu’s eyes widened. Where was the girl planning to go that she needed to wake up at three o’clock?

Chi Yong could glimpse their expressions out of the corner of his eye. But what secrets could the children not have? Going out to play together was something they did even when going to school. He assumed the two kids were making an excuse to sneak out and play because they were afraid the family wouldn't agree.

He turned and said, "When you go out, you must be careful. Don't go to deep water, and don't go to places where the woods are too dense." This warning was necessary. Snakes and plagues of rats were common this season; safety was crucial.

Chi Wu replied, "We won't go there. We will be careful."