As Cheng Ying walked two hundred meters, she ran into a woman in her forties who grabbed her arm admiringly, constantly asking where she bought the fabric and who made her jacket. This interaction truly restored Cheng Ying's confidence.

I am still beautiful; even dressed in such rustic, homespun attire, I attract praise from everyone.

Cheng Ying attributed the appeal to her own inherent grace and striking appearance, which elevated the clothing itself.

Carrying the large gourd, she went to deliver water to that young man, Chi Wu, humming the "Green Island Serenade" that her stepfather sang when he was drunk.

She felt absolutely wonderful—this was the feeling of having her self-assurance returned.

Chi Wu took the water canteen from Cheng Ying and immediately began to gulp it down. He hadn't been thirsty moments ago, but now, he was genuinely parched.

Cheng Ying pulled out a towel, wet it with water, and wiped down Chi Wu’s arm.

It was all space water; it had its anti-inflammatory effects, and she had already discovered its secondary uses for skincare and beauty.

A boy of eleven or twelve—in better times, he would be coddled like a little prince. But now, at this age, they were already considered half-adults. Chi Wu, in particular, was so sensible, never resorting to trickery. Cheng Ying felt her guidance had been somewhat a failure; the boy remained stubbornly upright.

I should pity him a bit more.

After a wave of coolness washed over him, Chi Wu’s skin prickled. “Ay, don’t touch! You shouldn’t wipe it now; the more you rub, the worse it feels! You don’t understand.”

Cheng Ying snorted and took back the gourd. “I might not understand fieldwork, but this towel of mine has been treated with medicine. It stops the itching and inflammation. What do you know, kid?”

With that, she took the gourd and headed to deliver water to Yang Zhi and Chi Yong.

Listening to Cheng Ying’s words, Chi Wu noticed the burning sensation on his arm truly had eased. He felt a surge of happiness and looked towards Cheng Ying. Only then did he notice her wearing a huā guà (patterned jacket). Compared to the young women in white shirts he’d seen in the village, Cheng Ying’s outfit looked terribly provincial. Seeing her so pleased, Chi Wu couldn't help but lean closer. “Yingzi. In the village, only the local farm girls wear things like that.”

Cheng Ying’s face instantly flushed crimson. Oh dear, Cheng Ming, you little brat, you’ve set me up! I’m mortified!

She refused to lose face, lifting her chin slightly. “Hmph! So what if we’re country folk? Where do you think you belong, and who do you think you are, Chi Wu? I never realized you were such a person who forgets his roots. You’ve only been in the village a few days, and already you look down on the local people. Is this how Uncle taught you to behave? Can a person act this way, huh?”

Chi Wu was so thoroughly ashamed by Cheng Ying’s words that he couldn't lift his head. Chi Yong, however, thought the girl spoke with surprising clarity.

He needed to instruct his own wife and son similarly; if the villagers heard about this, it wouldn’t look good.

Yang Zhi quickly put the gourd away. “Yingzi, what are you saying? What did Chi Wu say that made you speak to him like that?”

Chi Yong interjected, “Yingzi is right. While we’re living in the village, we must retain the simplicity of village folk. What we wear isn’t important; what matters is that we remember where we came from, no matter where we go in the future. There is no reason to look down on ourselves.”

Cheng Ying admired how educated people like Chi Yong could instantly elevate the conversation to a higher plane.

They were not on the same level; their understanding wasn't calibrated the same way. Truthfully, she hadn't grasped the concept that deeply herself.

Chi Wu slumped, picking at a corncob beside them. From that moment on, the only beautiful women in Chi Wu’s mind would be the older village sisters-in-law wearing huā guà—this aesthetic viewpoint was forcibly engineered by Cheng Ying. What a nuisance.

Cheng Ying was in a bad mood, suddenly finding the jacket she wore terribly garish.

To think I actually care about the opinion of this little brat! I shouldn't be overjoyed by trifles or saddened by personal slights. I’m regressing the more I live.

Chi Wu crept closer. “Yingzi, you look very nice in that.”

This was his apology.

Cheng Ying’s eyes sparked with anger as she looked at him. If I believe you, I’m a fool. “What did you say earlier?”

Chi Wu stammered, “You look good in anything you wear. It’s different from how the other girls look in them, really.”

Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow. “And who do I look the same as when I wear it?”

Chi Wu racked his brain. Everyone in the village said the Village Chief’s sister-in-law was the prettiest. “You look the same as the Village Chief’s sister-in-law when she wears a huā guà.”

Cheng Ying tried hard to picture the Village Chief’s new bride in her patterned jacket: a slender waist, full bust, wide hips, and a long neck. Ugh, I remember seeing the old bachelors drooling over Sister-in-law. Cheng Ying shot Chi Wu a ferocious glare. This kid is a little pervert! Cheng Ying mentally merged the way Chi Wu looked at the sister-in-law with the gaze of the old village bachelors. Chi Wu felt he hadn't said anything wrong; why was Cheng Ying's look getting fiercer? “You really look very pretty.”

Cheng Ying ground her teeth. “Chi Wu, you little scoundrel! How old are you to be thinking such nonsense? Watch out, I’m two months older than you today!”

She lunged toward Chi Wu. Startled, Chi Wu stumbled on a cornstalk, scrambled up, and fled. “A true man doesn't fight with a woman; I’m letting you win! Don’t come near me!”

He ran off. Cheng Ying was genuinely furious chasing after him, intending to truly discipline this little pervert.

She chased him so intensely. Chi Yong watched the young couple, genuinely delighted. If the two children kept their distance, Chi Yong would worry instead.

Yang Zhi said, “Shouldn’t you manage them? Yingzi doesn’t know how to hold back.”

Chi Yong replied, “Chi Wu is a boy; does he need Yingzi to hold back? Let them fight. Whoever is more capable should win.”

After saying that, Chi Yong bowed his head in silent mourning; his own son was definitely going to get thrashed.

This fact had been proven long ago: his son had never managed to get the upper hand against the little girl.

How pathetic and regrettable. He considered himself learned and prominent in the village, yet his son was so inadequate.

He needed further education. It was especially unbalanced that the child he raised, a product of his own cleverness, was inferior to the girl born to his wife. Chi Yong felt a sense of imbalance.

Fools have foolish luck; it certainly isn't an issue of moral character.

The chase allowed Chi Wu to fully realize that his sister was naturally stunning; she enhanced any clothing she wore.

Only when she stopped did the chase conclude. Chi Wu felt being disciplined by Cheng Ying was more exhausting than husking corn.

From then on, the girl in his words and heart must be the most beautiful, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to endure the punishment. This was Chi Wu’s perception: the girl was obsessed with looking good.

From then on, Cheng Ying was the most beautiful person in the world—a realization beaten into him.

The North was sparsely populated. Even if the Cheng family hadn't claimed the second plot of land, this first plot alone couldn't be finished in a day or two. Thus, after a long day of labor, Cheng Ying’s family had only managed to harvest a small portion.

The rest would have to wait until next week. Chi Yong brought the harvested goods home and was done with it; on Monday, he would take his wife and children off to work. Cheng Ying and her grandmother remained busy in the yard.

Building corncribs and shucking corn were all chores. The old woman didn't say much, but watching her granddaughter, so young, work alongside her brought a deep ache to her heart, mixed with a bitter sorrow. Other people’s children, the same age, were attending school. Especially compared to Chi Wu, her granddaughter seemed like a withered green vegetable. She felt a little dissatisfied with Chi Yong and Yang Zhi. Regret teaching her husband to seek high office—this saying didn't just apply between husband and wife. The old woman now somewhat regretted pushing Chi Yong to succeed, leaving no one to manage the household chores.

Look at Cheng Ying: capable and well-behaved, but that didn't mean her granddaughter was destined for a life of hardship.

The old woman rose and went inside to cook. Cheng Ying's day of toil was richly rewarded at the dinner table. Her own grandmother truly cared for her; tonight, she was so generous, putting all the good things out for dinner.

“Grandma, is it a holiday today?” Cheng Ying asked, swallowing hard.

The old woman placed a piece of meat in her granddaughter’s bowl. “You silly girl, if it’s not a holiday, you don’t eat? No wonder people call you Cheng the Great Fool. I’ve never seen anyone so stubbornly single-minded. Yingzi, you should go to school soon.”

Cheng Ying replied, “Grandma, I haven’t taken the exams yet. Why don’t you trust me? Don’t worry, with my brain, I’d outshine them even without studying.”

The old woman felt like slapping Cheng Ying twice, but having the girl beside her gave her an inexpressible comfort. “Yingzi, maybe I’ll go to school with you later.”

Cheng Ying stopped eating. What was wrong with her grandmother? Since coming to the countryside, Grandma hadn't even had anyone to chat with; it was no wonder she wasn't adapting well.

It certainly wasn't the grandmother's real intention. “Grandma, you want to go to the village? Okay, I’ll take you for a walk later.”

The old woman said, “Yingzi, I’m not that old yet. There will be plenty of time in the future for you to show your filial piety. Go to school first. Look at what the other children are doing; it pains me to see you like this.”

Cheng Ying pursed her lips; the elder was having an emotional outpouring. “Oh, my dearest Grandma, please don’t talk like that. I’m not just doing this for you; I’m planning for my own future. Grandma, look, even though Uncle treats me well, he is, after all, Wuzi’s father. If I continue studying, he will certainly support my education.”

The old woman ate silently, not entirely convinced by her granddaughter’s reasoning.

Cheng Ying pressed on, encouraged. “Grandma, think about it: of all those who go to school, how many succeed? Even if your granddaughter is uniquely exceptional, unparalleled on earth or in heaven, I can’t just wish for things and have them appear. Even Liu Bei suffered setbacks at Mai City. What if something goes wrong? If I fail, will our mother and daughter be destined to farm for the rest of our lives?”

Cheng Ying spoke until her mouth was dry, watching her grandmother remain completely unmoved. “I’m just thinking about securing a fallback plan for us. Once we organize the mountain fields, we can find someone good to look after them for us. If I succeed and get out, I’ll take Grandma to the city to be an official's wife. But just in case I fail and don't get in, even if we stay in the village, we’ll still be landowners!”

Cheng Ying shook her grandmother’s shoulders. “Grandma, think about what a wonderful future that is! Really, I’m preparing for both possibilities. You can’t think I’m suffering; I’m enduring hardship now for happiness later. And is working for ourselves considered suffering?”