The team members took Yangzhi up the mountain today, The village head felt that regarding Cheng Ying's matter, the village simply couldn't wrong a child. The sooner it was settled, the more at ease everyone would feel, so out of the villagers' selfish desire to protect her, He didn't even call Chi Yong, just took Yangzhi to mark the boundaries.

As for Chi Yong, he had already followed the mule cart to the riverbank to load stones, so they didn't meet face-to-face. He said that since he had worked in the team, even with his own family's affairs, he needed to avoid suspicion, especially with the high profile others were making of this issue.

The people who went were the representatives from the land division time. It was a tacit understanding, fitting for both sides.

The old lady figured that going forward, it was all between the couple, so she stayed home and didn't go. The old Cheng family had spent three thousand yuan to secure that piece of mountain forest, and their relatives didn't pay much mind to it.

In the eyes of the villagers, this was truly letting the child have her way. This was being left for the child.

Cheng Ying had Chi Wu take her; the two rode the bicycle, which was much faster. By the time they reached the mountain plot, the boundary issue was almost settled.

To be honest, the villagers didn't care much about this little bit of land; these were all barren mountains as far as the eye could see. They all felt that Old Man Cheng's daughter was taking a loss, but there was nothing to be done—who told Old Man Cheng to be buried in such a place?

Since the daughter wanted to be filial and wanted peace of mind, they were very considerate of Yangzhi when setting the boundaries for the mountain plot. It wasn't easy for a woman leading a family that had married in.

When Cheng Ying and the others saw the valley and the villagers setting the boundaries, it was much larger than she had imagined. It could be said that the mountain plot surrounding her own father's grave site, covering two ridges, with the grave of her own father nestled between them—that ravine— was all included in that three thousand yuan; it was a ravine that ran straight through.

Cheng Ying was overjoyed. "Oh my heavens, what a massive place!

I could rule as a mountain king if I closed the gate." Cheng Ying counted on her fingers without even needing a soil map to calculate the area. Forget it.

It was all hers from now on anyway. For her and Chi Wu to walk through it, it would take nearly half a day to reach the interior—tell me, what an area that was!

Cheng Ying thought to herself, it was worth being called "Silly Cheng" from now on. Cheng Ying, happy in her heart, strolled through the mountain with Chi Wu, happily muttering, "It's all mine, all mine." Chi Wu thought the girl had gone mad with joy.

He followed Cheng Ying's happiness, though his expression remained faint. But Chi Wu was truly a practical child.

Ever since he went to the city with Cheng Ying once, he understood that medicinal herbs could bring in money. Seeing honeysuckle, bupleurum, or any wild herbs Yangzhi brought home, he would never pass them up.

When they left, he hadn't brought anything with him, so he asked Cheng Ying to hold the things for him. This trip was like a scorched-earth campaign; not a single blade of grass was spared.

Cheng Ying wanted to properly examine her mountain plot, and she was displeased that he was focused on these trivial matters. "Why do you have to collect so much?" Chi Wu’s reply was simple: "To exchange for money." Cheng Ying: "The countryside doesn't have such a huge demand; nobody wants this stuff." Chi Wu: "I'll go to the city." Cheng Ying almost dropped the things in her hand, startled.

"You're going again?" This kid really had tenacity; the last time didn't scare him off. Cheng Ying herself didn't want to go into the city again anytime soon; it was too terrifying.

Chi Wu: "I have to go eventually. Can a living person let themselves die of thirst?

Besides, I don't have a tiger skin; I won't draw attention." Cheng Ying: "Fine, you're an enlightened master. I surrender to you." Chi Wu looked up at Cheng Ying.

He was the one who should surrender to her; she, a mere girl, had led him to so many Chinese medicine shops. "I'll give you half, don't be jealous." Cheng Ying: "You're so kind; I barely helped." Chi Wu was honest: "I'll still go to those few Chinese medicine shops to sell these things." Cheng Ying burst out laughing.

Ah, so this was because she had found him a sales outlet. Oh, an honest child is indeed good; they remember kindness and never forget to repay it.

Chi Wu: "Don't worry, I definitely won't go there. I'm still wary of the place where we sold the tiger skin." Cheng Ying pursed her lips.

"How many patients do they see in a day? They might not even remember two ragged kids like us.

It's a small matter." Well, Cheng Ying had recovered now and no longer considered that a major event. But Chi Wu glanced at Cheng Ying, then continued working with a displeased look.

We are not on the same level; I won't stoop to your level. This was the deepest mark imprinted on his heart since he grew up, something quite legendary.

Sometimes Chi Wu felt his actions that time were akin to a guerrilla fighter. He placed his own conduct on the same level as a hero.

However, he could only ponder this in his heart; he dared not utter it aloud. Cheng Ying looked at the few people who had finished their serious work and were paying respects to her father in the valley.

They were all renowned people in the village. Otherwise, they wouldn't be representatives, would they?

Seeing her own mother’s expression from a distance, she felt uneasy. Cheng Ying looked into the distance, her petty thoughts stirring.

Ah, contributing to the village's development is an obligation for every villager. "The wall, here I come!" Cheng Ying spoke up.

"Wu Zi, I'm going to play a joke on you." Chi Wu: "Stop joking with me. Why are you greeting me first?

That's not like you." Cheng Ying: "Hehe, this one is a bit big this time." Then she looked behind her, grabbed Chi Wu, and they ran down the mountain like maniacs. Chi Wu’s voice was hoarse from shouting, "Slow down!

Is this how you joke? This is a mountain!

No matter how little slope, it's still a mountain, okay? You’ll tumble down!" Chi Wu ran after her precariously.

If he hadn't been there to steady her from behind, Cheng Ying would have certainly fallen several times. When Cheng Ying and Chi Wu reached Yangzhi, the complexions of both children were poor—one from exertion, the other from anger.

Yangzhi: "What's wrong? What's wrong?

Why are you in such a rush?" Cheng Ying: "Mom, there are wolves! There are wolves on the mountain!" Yangzhi looked at the child, whose face was pale with fright.

"It's fine, it's fine. This place is remote; if there are wolf cubs, the sight of so many people will scare them away." Saying this, she still uneasily scanned their surroundings.

Cheng Shan: "This mountain plot is far from the village, and few villagers come here usually. Although it borders the forest farm, that area is deep woods, and the mountain plots of the next village are even further away.

It's not unusual to have wolf cubs." He looked at Cheng Ying. "Ying Zi, you can't come here alone in the future.

It's not safe." Cheng Ying, her face white, countered, "Grandpa, this place isn't that far from the village. Besides, the mountains are connected; wolves have four legs, so they can reach the village quickly.

Isn't our village more dangerous?" Cheng Shan sighed. "In the past, the village could organize collective labor; everyone would lose a day of work, and they'd take their basins and pots and scare them away.

But now, everyone is busy with their own things. Who has time to come?

You just have to be more careful yourself." Cheng Ying patted her chest. "Oh, thank goodness our family built a wall.

Otherwise, I wouldn't dare stay home alone!" Yangzhi felt a wave of relief in her heart. "Exactly!

When you two were little, there was just a single fence, and we couldn't leave you alone at home. Even if we didn't earn work points, one person had to stay and watch the children until your older brother Tie Zi was grown before we all went out to earn points." Cheng Ying followed up with a sigh.

"Isn't that the truth? That's why Grandma had foresight.

When the team gave the money, Grandma said to build the courtyard wall first. If you can get one person working, you can find money for anything." Mother and daughter got into a comfortable chat.

Yangzhi wholeheartedly agreed with her mother-in-law's decision. Following her daughter, she said, "That makes sense; whatever your Grandma says is right." She had never seen someone so obedient to her mother-in-law.

Chi Wu listened with a cold face. Why didn't he see any wolves?

The girl was causing trouble again. Cheng Shan, overhearing them, also felt it was true.

"Indeed, Old Sister-in-law had foresight. I heard people from the older generation say that decades ago, the wolf cubs here became a real menace, often entering the village to harm people.

A single earthen wall couldn't stop them; every few years, they'd come into the village to cause trouble, and they only stopped coming when the war scared them off with cannon fire and bullets. They are bound to be a menace sooner or later." Cheng Ying said, "Walls are great!

Everyone should build walls!" The village head smiled. With so many households in the village, how could everyone possibly build walls?

With the money still held tight in their hands, everyone felt secure. The girl still lacked some shrewdness.

The group didn't linger long; there were still wolves in the mountains. Once things were settled, they headed out.

Chi Wu led Cheng Ying along the narrow mountain path, a precarious ride that could have qualified for a stunt show. However, Cheng Ying was sitting behind Chi Wu now and felt quite secure.

Chi Wu had never let her fall; she trusted him completely. Cheng Ying: "Grandpa, Grandma made food.

She said since everyone worked hard for us all day, she invited everyone over for a meal." The few elderly men nearby quickly spoke up, "No need, no need." Cheng Shan: "Don't be polite; I'll have Old Sister-in-law manage things, and we'll be over shortly." Cheng Ying thought, That’s great! Meals are never free; that’s how the villagers are.

You don't take someone's bowl for nothing. Since they are coming for a meal, they will definitely put in some effort for you.

Cheng Ying looked at the mountain plot stretching before her—it was all hers. She asked Grandma to prepare more dishes, though, naturally, there weren't many things readily available.

In those days, if guests came, walking more than ten li to buy vegetables was a miserable form of hospitality. Chi Wu maintained a straight face.

"Why are you talking to people again?" Cheng Ying sat relaxed in the back. "Mind your own business.

Didn't I tell you I was joking with you?" Chi Wu: "Hmph. Was that a joke?

You just startled Mom. You never have good intentions; who knows who you'll cause trouble for next." Cheng Ying pinched Chi Wu's waist angrily twice.

"Have I ever caused trouble for you?" Chi Wu pursed his lips. Haven't you caused me enough trouble?

Then he thought about the benefits that followed the trouble, and Chi Wu shut up. Effort that yielded returns always made people keep their mouths shut promptly.

Cheng Ying hummed a little tune, one Chi Wu had never heard, but it had a certain charm, giving her energy even while riding the bike. Of course, it was mostly downhill, so it didn't take much effort.

Cheng Ying felt that a life where no one understood one's plans was lonely. She decided to tell Chi Wu for a bit.

"This mountain plot is ours from now on, and I don't want anyone coming here. Having wolves is good; if there are wolves, no one will come." Chi Wu thought, I knew she had a bad idea brewing.

She’ll say anything.