Cheng Ying could see the sheer radiance emanating from her own mother; this person truly was easily satisfied. “How was it?”

Before the old lady could even bring the steamed bun to her mouth, Yang Zhi was already asking, just like a child waiting for praise.

Cheng Ying thought that her mother, living in the countryside, must have been extremely happy, otherwise she wouldn't be so utterly guileless now. The charm in a woman is nurtured by a man. The understanding, generosity, and propriety in a woman are all ground out by life. Seeing things since childhood, her mother had clearly been floating in warm water these past few weeks.

The old lady couldn't refuse Yang Zhi’s good intentions, stuffing the bun into her mouth and chewing vigorously. “Not bad.”

Cheng Ying suspected that under Yang Zhi’s watchful eye, the old lady hadn't even tasted anything. Cheng Ying knew her grandmother’s temperament like the back of her hand.

Yang Zhi chirped, “Mom, do you like it? If you like it, that’s good. Next week I’ll buy more flour and steam two huge pots for you so you have them whenever you want.” One could tell from the sound that Yang Zhi was absolutely ecstatic.

The old lady felt her daughter-in-law should not be treated with such sweet words; this daughter-in-law didn't even know her own name. “Do you take me for a pig, or are you a pig? In this weather, you steam two huge pots, just waiting for them to mold and turn into sauce? Don't think that just because I’m not right there, I’m not saying anything or managing things. This is how you’re living your life! You have a little bit of money, but you don't know how to manage it properly or save for life. You still have a bunch of children waiting for you to support them, yet all day long you’re focused on this?”

Hearing that, Cheng Ying felt like she had finally found the right rhythm. This was her grandmother’s true self.

Yang Zhi immediately shrank back carefully, standing properly before the old lady, the radiance instantly vanishing from her face. Watching Yang Zhi, it seemed she, too, had found her footing again.

Cheng Ying felt her own mother had been floating a bit too high lately. Thankfully, the old lady had pulled the rope this time, tethering her firmly. Otherwise, she wouldn't even know her place anymore.

Yang Zhi offered a quiet defense. “Mom, it’s just that I was thinking, with you staying here alone looking after Yingzi while we’re away, I was worried you wouldn’t eat well.”

The old lady shot Yang Zhi a disdainful glance. “Nonsense. I’m not sick or disabled that you need to worry about me. Can’t I cook for myself? Go work hard, earn money, and raise the children. Stop fussing over useless things.”

Cheng Ying looked from her mother to her grandmother. This was a family? Being so polite—Cheng Ying really wasn’t used to it.

When Chi Yong returned carrying a huge bundle of dried bean stalks on his back, he saw his grandmother berating his wife. Chi Yong raised an eyebrow. What had his wife done to deserve the old lady’s wrath this time? This kind of thing… he really shouldn’t interfere.

Chi Yong felt for his wife, so his gaze shifted toward Cheng Ying. Cheng Ying lowered her head; her stepfather was being terribly sly—he was signaling her to step in.

Yang Zhi admitted her mistake quickly and accurately. “Mom, please don’t be angry. I’ll listen to you. Whatever you tell me to buy next, I’ll buy.”

The old lady felt a blockage in her chest. This daughter-in-law was too obedient; it left her with no sense of accomplishment. Besides, all her practiced skills were bottled up inside her, with nothing left to say.

Cheng Ying stared at her grandmother’s chest, thinking that perhaps the old lady would have been better suited to living with the Second Aunt. Only then would the old lady be constantly filled with spirit and fighting energy. Her own mother, being so compliant, gave the old lady no chance to exert herself. Getting angry at her own mother simply failed to ignite any spark. The grandmother must be feeling stifled.

The old lady glared fiercely at Yang Zhi. “You’re running a household, why do you have to ask me before you buy anything? Were the three of you starving in the countryside?”

Yang Zhi felt that ever since she’d provoked the old lady, everything she said seemed to be wrong. She unnaturally shifted her gaze toward her daughter.

The woman had learned to be clever, knowing how to call for backup. Cheng Ying figured this was all due to her stepfather’s excellent instruction. Even a foolish daughter-in-law could be taught to delegate tasks.

Cheng Ying felt a heavy weight settle on her shoulders. She puffed out her chest and took a breath. “Grandma, look, Mom just doesn't have a good sense of proportion. The way she handles things, it’s worse than how I manage things during the Qingming Festival.”

The old lady glared at her granddaughter. “Must you butt into everything?”

Cheng Ying thought, I’ve just hit the edge of the storm. “But doesn’t it concern you, Grandma? Such an understanding person as myself was nurtured by you. When Mom gets her winter break, you can properly discipline her all over again, and maybe my mother will learn to manage things just like me.”

Chi Yong shook his head outside. This girl was an arbiter, trying to smooth things over.

The old lady retorted, “You troublesome thing! That’s your mother! Is she going to learn from you? If your mother can’t run a home, then you are the wastrel! Haven’t you heard what people in the village say about you? Oh, Old Cheng’s Cheng the Big Idiot! And you’re still smiling! I don’t have the ability to raise such a worrying brat as you. Why are all of you so troublesome? What are you standing around for? Can’t you see the workers are back? Set the table for dinner!”

How long had the old lady been bottling all this up, to let it all out in one breath like that?

Cheng Ying felt utterly wronged. Her grandmother was right in one thing: she really was Cheng the Big Idiot. How had she managed to redirect the old lady’s fire onto herself? The phrase ‘leading fire to burn oneself’ was perfectly applied to her today.

Yang Zhi, accustomed to being scolded by the old lady, immediately recovered. “Oh, I’ll set it right away.” With that, she swiftly went to work. Only Cheng Ying truly wasn't used to being scolded by the old lady; she hadn’t snapped out of it yet.

Chi Wu nudged Cheng Ying’s shoulder. “Time to eat.”

Cheng Ying snapped back, “Eat what? Have you ever seen an idiot eat?”

Chi Wu let out a burst of laughter. “Oh, an idiot eats and sleeps! It’s not the first time someone’s called you stupid.”

Cheng Ying jabbed Chi Wu in the ribs with her elbow and walked dejectedly toward the door.

Chi Wu deftly sidestepped and darted away, his eyes dancing with a bright energy that was almost dazzling. It was hard to tell why this boy was so happy. However, Cheng Ying found her mood lifting following Chi Wu’s cheerfulness. Young people were wonderful; they had no lingering shadows of sorrow. Watching them was comforting—so much brighter than the counterfeit, substandard product she had found for herself.

Chi Yong watched the two children, a moment of confusion washing over him. He had been young once, too. Then again, he didn’t feel that old; he should still be able to be more unrestrained and bold. But thinking about everything he’d been through over the years, it wasn't that easy to simply be flamboyant. That time had passed after all. Youth slips away too fast.

Cheng Ying fetched water for her stepfather to wash his face, and Chi Wu handed him a towel. It looked like a portrait of filial piety and harmony among a family of four.

While eating the meat rolls, Cheng Ying thought her mother wasn’t being wasteful; these rolls were truly delicious. The taste was sweet even as she chewed. The steamed bun in her hand wasn't stark white, and Cheng Ying ate it with complete peace of mind—the flour must be pure, certainly not mixed with various bleaching agents.

Yang Zhi, watching her daughter eat with such relish, began to feel a bit lightheaded again. “Yingzi, you like them that much?”

Cheng Ying looked up at her mother. “But you don't need to steam two huge pots for me to save for later.”

Chi Yong, having heard the full story, nearly spat out the porridge in his mouth. Troublesome child, why does she always have to needle people so?

Yang Zhi glanced at her daughter, then at her mother-in-law. If she hadn't been careful not to strike her daughter since she was little, she might have pinched Cheng Ying’s arm hard. How can this child be so exasperating?

Cheng Ying continued, “If I want them, I’ll ask Grandma to steam them for me. We’re doing quite well at home, not as miserably as you imagine. Life is good now; we don't lack food or clothing. Mom, you don’t need to worry about us. Grandma and I are doing very well.”

Hearing his daughter’s tone, Chi Yong grew worried. It seemed he still needed to figure out a way to move the old lady and his daughter back to the countryside. His daughter’s words sounded as if she and her mother would be living on their own from now on.

The old lady said, “Your life in the countryside isn’t easy either; nothing is free. Be careful with your spending, and don’t worry about us. We can just grab some vegetables from the yard, and the two of us will eat. We have it better than you. Everything has to be bought. Even though your in-laws are kind, you can’t bother them too much. Distant relatives are sweeter. It’s just the way things are. Once things are settled upstairs, you should quickly establish yourselves, so relatives won’t feel awkward later on.”

What the old lady said was simply common sense, and she wasn't trying to sow discord between father and daughter. Cheng Ying understood, and Chi Yong understood. As for the other two, they could understand or not. They were essentially outside the scope of consideration.

Chi Yong said, “Mom, we know. There’s still a month until the final exams for the winter break. Everything will come out then. I don’t have the connections, so whether the school keeps me or not, I’ll be teaching here.”

The old lady looked at Chi Yong. “The money that needs to be spent must be spent. No matter the time, social graces still matter. Later, take some of the salted duck eggs to your father; I’ve been saving them all summer. They’re perfect now.”

Chi Yong nodded in agreement. The two of them understood each other without discussing the matter of gifts and connections in front of the children.

Cheng Ying pouted. As if I can’t understand that. But the old lady and Chi Yong were sensible people; the family would definitely improve their situation. This was progress.

Yang Zhi offered, “Mom, leave the eggs at home. We can’t eat that many.”

The old lady glared at her daughter-in-law. “If I tell you to take them, you take them. Don't I have a sense of what’s needed?”

Yang Zhi immediately fell silent.

That evening, Chi Wu and Cheng Ying were playing with the dog in the yard.

Chi Wu remarked, “This thing is really smart; it already knows not to pee in its bed.”

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu with disdain. That was just animal instinct; it wasn't smart at all. But she still had to boast a little. “My dog, of course, is well-behaved. Just watch, in the future, this little dog might even be able to fetch water and make tea.”

Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying with contempt. “You can’t exaggerate that much! How about you say it can give birth and cook?”

Cheng Ying spread her hands. “A female dog that can’t give birth is a joke, isn't it? Does that require my instruction? If a dog really could cook, would you dare eat it? Aren’t you afraid of finding dog hair in your food?”

Chi Wu felt like he had been struck by lightning. Can one look at the problem that way? So, whether a dog cooks or not isn't the issue; hygiene is the real concern.

Cheng Ying saw Chi Wu stunned into silence. “Stunned?”

Chi Wu pursed his lips, trying to keep up with Cheng Ying’s train of thought. “What’s this dog’s name?”

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu; she had forgotten the important matter. After carefully raising the little puppy for a week, she had forgotten to name it. “Naming is a big issue; it affects the dog’s entire life, so I’m being very cautious. I still haven’t thought of a commanding, high-end name.”

Cheng Ying would never admit she had simply forgotten.

Chi Wu stared at Cheng Ying blankly. “It can really affect the dog’s whole life?”

Cheng Ying nodded, very seriously.

The old lady, leaning against the wall with a stern expression, thought her granddaughter was far too prone to rambling. What nonsense is she spouting now? Where did this girl get it from? We certainly don’t have people like that in our family.