"Ah, half of that time will just vanish in the blink of an eye," Chi Wu murmured.

Cheng Ying offered Chi Wu praise. "Your math is quite good."

Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying, his eyes filled with the sentiment: You wasteful creature. There was also a profound reluctance on his face—all of this was money.

"Think about it," Cheng Ying reasoned. "If we plant those saplings now, what will they amount to in one or two years? But after ten or twenty years, what price will they fetch? Doesn't it make more sense to buy the longest term possible, making it more valuable?"

"But we don't have to give them all the money at once. Paying year by year means the money stays in our hands for two more days," Chi Wu countered.

"When you plant saplings, no one sees it. But once the trees grow tall, everyone will notice. What happens when people become envious? What if there's a fight over them? It's safer to sort it all out at once."

Chi Wu finally accepted the situation. The money, he realized, was impossible to keep hidden forever, and this truth would eventually surface. He might as well take the inevitable beating sooner rather than later. "That's true enough. Go ahead and get it over with. Getting beaten up is bound to happen sooner or later; you can't avoid it."

Indeed, the child had thought things through quite thoroughly. Cheng Ying tilted her head back, gazing at the sky, and sighed with dramatic melancholy. "The stepmother beating the child—it's coming sooner or later. Sister is prepared!"

Chi Wu left with a dark expression. Cheng Ying didn't know what she had done to provoke him. Why did he act so easily angered, like a young maiden? What was wrong now?

Heaven knew Chi Wu intensely disliked Cheng Ying referring to herself as "Sister" in front of him.

However, Cheng Ying had no intention of showing superiority; it was simply a turn of phrase for her.

Cheng Ying pulled out two stacks of bills from her pouch, found a worn-out box around the house, packed the money inside, and headed for the cellar.

Cheng Ying secreted the money away in their wine cellar. Naturally, to prevent any issues with rats, Cheng Ying had placed rat poison both in the wine cellar and the general earth cellar.

After finishing, Cheng Ying was so exhausted her back wouldn't straighten. She inwardly complained that the spatial dimension wasn't more accommodating; otherwise, why would she need to go through all this trouble?

Although Chi Wu was angry, knowing there was money in the house, he refused to go out no matter who called him, staying home diligently to watch over things.

This child was far more reliable than Cheng Ying.

"See if Granny has brought back food for Mom and the others," Cheng Ying instructed. "If you see Granny return, call Mom over to the production team station. Understand?"

Chi Wu swept his gaze over Cheng Ying coldly. The sheer force of his aura startled her. How could this boy, Chi Wu, become so formidable overnight?

Cheng Ying didn't consider that she herself had forced this child to grow up overnight. Experience and hardship were what matured children.

Chi Wu summarized his understanding: "Just avoid Grandma and bring Mom to the station?"

"That's the gist of it. Get it done," Cheng Ying confirmed.

Chi Wu turned and left, still worried. He cautioned Cheng Ying, "Watch the house carefully."

Cheng Ying waved dismissively. "I know, I know."

It was fortunate that Cheng Ying's private mountain grove was not far from the village. For Chi Wu to run back and forth like this only took a little over an hour.

Seeing the sweat beading on Chi Wu’s face, Cheng Ying felt a pang of sympathy.

She questioned him, "Did it work?"

Chi Wu replied, "Mm, hurry up. Mom is waiting at the production team office."

Cheng Ying emerged with the bag. Chi Wu hadn't even noticed that the bag looked smaller.

Chi Wu paused in his steps. "Yingzi, the Team Leader is at their house."

Cheng Ying stopped too. "And?"

"Granny is at the Village Head's house."

Cheng Ying frowned worriedly. If the old lady wasn't home, she must be visiting the Third Mistress and her household.

"Here's the plan," Cheng Ying said. "You go to the Team Leader's house and call Granny home."

Chi Wu understood; this was a diversionary tactic. "What should I say?"

Cheng Ying snapped back impatiently, "Do I need to teach you that?"

Chi Wu glared at Cheng Ying. She was forcing him to lie.

"I'll just say you're calling for Granny," Chi Wu muttered. Cheng Ying ignored him. The two stood outside the Village Head's door.

Chi Wu went in first, while Cheng Ying hid somewhere nearby, clutching the bag of money.

Cheng Ying watched as Chi Wu left with her grandmother, then she went to the Village Head's house, claiming her mother was waiting at the production team office and needed to see the Team Leader about something urgent.

Finally, those who needed to be separated were separated, and those who needed to gather were gathered.

Cheng Shan and Cheng Ying arrived at the brigade headquarters. Not only was Yang Zhi there, but Chi Yong was present too.

Moreover, that old Team Leader from that day was sitting outside the village office, enjoying the cool air.

Cheng Ying thought to herself, Perfect, even the mediator is here.

Yang Zhi began, "Team Leader, what do you need my husband and me for?" The truth was about to spill out.

As soon as she spoke, the situation was exposed.

The Team Leader glanced at Cheng Ying but remained silent. He presumed this girl had come about her father's burial plot.

However, Cheng Shan thought that they were only going to partition off a small section of the mountain land and transfer the area of Yingzi's father's grave into Cheng Ying's family's landholding. He hadn't expected the bold demand Cheng Ying was about to make—to take over the entire mountain expanse. "Let's go inside to discuss."

This was also a small gesture of help for Yingzi; the poor girl had a difficult life, living with a stepfather and biological mother.

Chi Yong felt something was off. Why would his own daughter show up when they came to the brigade office?

Cheng Shan began, "Yingzi, what do you intend to do? Talk it over with your mother."

Cheng Ying looked at Yang Zhi. "Mom, I'm thinking of contracting the mountain land by the edge of the village."

"Which part?" Yang Zhi asked.

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Yong. "That plot Dad has."

Yang Zhi lowered her head and fell silent. "What are you trading for it?"

Most people would think that way; it wasn't strange for Yang Zhi to ask.

Cheng Shan intervened, "You two look it over. Just carve out a section from somewhere—that’s the general idea."

Cheng Ying placed the bag on the table. "No trade. I’ll pay cash."

The Team Leader spoke, "Yingzi?"

Cheng Ying pushed the bag onto the table. "Sixty years. I need to ensure my father's resting place is comfortable. I can't have my father feeling uneasy even in his sleep."

Her words carried such weight and grandeur.

Yet, no one noticed how grand the girl was being. Everyone in the room, including the old Team Leader, was staring at the money in the bag.

Having been a Team Leader his entire life, he had never seen such a large sum of cash.

Cheng Shan's hands trembled slightly. "Girl, where did you get this?"

Yang Zhi was stunned silent. "You, you, you..."

Cheng Ying said, "Mom, sign first."

The calmest person was Chi Yong. "Yingzi, where did this money come from? What happened?" His tone was much sterner.

Cheng Ying felt the source of the money absolutely had to be explained clearly. "Yesterday, I took the tiger skin from home to the city and exchanged it for cash. That's all of it."

Yang Zhi snapped awake. "You, you! That was Granny's keepsake!" Her voice hit an unprecedented high pitch.

Cheng Ying swallowed, feeling undeniably nervous. She knew this moment had to come eventually, but thankfully, it was her biological mother, not the old lady. "Dad isn't comfortable staying in a place that isn't his own. I left what was reserved for Granny."

Chi Yong felt he couldn't interject, but the girl's boldness was astonishing. Looking at the money, he was certain they had been deceived. He was relieved, though, that the child had returned safely.

The Village Head was also rendered speechless by Cheng Ying. How could this child carry such a heavy burden? To handle something like this secretly, without consulting the family...

Chi Yong turned to the Village Head. "Village Head, what is the official procedure here?"

Cheng Shan confessed, "This is my fault. I told the girl fifty yuan a year for the section next to the timber yard, just to contract it out to her."

Of course, that initial offer sounded like a complete joke now.

Chi Yong looked at the money, then at Cheng Ying. The girl had come behind the old lady's back; she was determined to secure the mountain land. It seemed she possessed both courage and strategy. He decided to grant the child her wish.

So, Chi Yong began considering maximizing the benefit. "Team Leader, the outside world is perilous. We are all relieved that Yingzi returned safely." As he spoke, his eyes reddened. They had truly struck great fortune with this matter.

Cheng Shan thought that because of a single sentence he uttered, the child had risked her very life.

Then Chi Yong continued, "That was Yingzi's father's life’s work. No matter the amount, if Yingzi uses it to give her father peace of mind, it’s understandable. I will handle the matter with the old lady. Here is all the money; I don't even know the exact sum. Please put the adults and the child at ease."

Cheng Shan responded, "This matter, I only mentioned it casually at the time. Our village has never seen this much money. Yongzi, I was inconsiderate. I will apologize to the old lady later. Alright, that section of mountain land, aside from the part bordering the timber yard, doesn't touch anyone else's claim. We won't discuss the monetary value. The brigade, along with the old Team Leader and I, will manage this. This money is more than sufficient, and no one can question it."

Cheng Ying listened to this discussion while explaining the whole backstory to her biological mother. She was inwardly ecstatic.

Three thousand yuan for permanent mountain land rights. At this moment, it seemed like a loss; three thousand yuan could buy an entire desolate mountain. But looking ahead, she had made a massive profit. Three thousand yuan now could buy a house in the city—so wasn't it a loss in immediate terms? However, Cheng Ying was using this money with a single-minded focus on acquiring the mountain land; this was filial piety.

Yang Zhi listened to her daughter's words and began to cry. Her emotions were overwhelmingly heavy—a mix of grievance, helplessness, and deep sorrow.

The unstable Yang Zhi felt her mind go blank.

Chi Yong handed her a sheet of paper, asking her to sign, and Yang Zhi signed it mechanically.

Cheng Ying thought, Finally, the transfer is complete. And it was her biological mother’s signature. Yang Zhi had no idea what she had actually signed.

As she collected herself, Yang Zhi cried out, "You wretched child! Why didn't you tell me? This wasn't yours to handle! Your father, your grandmother—who have you shown respect to? Can that thing be touched? Am I so useless that you couldn't trust me?"

Cheng Ying retorted, "My father is gone. My grandmother is still here. I will continue to be filial to Granny. That thing is inanimate; can it compare to my father?"

These words were hateful. Yang Zhi, normally so gentle-tempered, stood up abruptly. "You, you! How dare you say that?"

She started looking around for something to strike with. Yang Zhi was infuriated by Cheng Ying’s refusal to admit fault.

Cheng Ying panicked. Her grandmother hadn't even struck her yet, and now her own mother was furious. This looked like a double beating was imminent! "Mom, don't get agitated! I was wrong! I won't do it again!" The apology came too late. She had already stoked her biological mother's anger first.

Yang Zhi seized the sweeping broom. "You have a next time? Next time, what else in this house will you ruin? I—"

Saying this, she lunged forward with the broom. Cheng Ying saw Chi Yong pick up the contract and began circling the table in distress, crying out, "Uncle! Uncle!"

Chi Yong thought that this child’s ambition was reckless and needed managing, yet he felt unable to intervene. If this were Chi Wu, he would surely deliver a few kicks.

Yang Zhi was thinking about the family belongings the child had squandered, failing to consider the risks involved. This child had flirted with death; it wasn't easy to obtain money like this. She truly needed discipline. "Yingzi, it's a miracle you came back at all. Times are better now, but bad people still exist. You, a child, carrying this much money—what if you were kidnapped? What if someone harmed you? You wouldn't even have tears left to cry with!"

Therefore, she paid no mind to Cheng Ying’s plea for help and instead poured more fuel on the fire.