This really was directed at Cheng Ying, whose eyelids twitched incessantly. "I understand. Sixteen or seventeen is legal, that's when you can really start thinking. Don't worry, I definitely won't be thinking or moving improperly before seventeen; reputation is important, right?"

The old lady's face turned purple with anger from Cheng Ying's words. "You shameless thing! You and your troublesome mother, oh, the troubles I endure!"

Though she spoke with a tone of weary resignation, Chi Yong brought in a basin of boiled corn. "Eat first, eat first. Mom, I'm here to watch over them, I won't let the two sisters get into trouble. Why don't you try this? It's only at this time of year we get to savor some tender ears of corn."

The old lady gave Cheng Ying a stern look. "Our family line has always been respectable; we've never had anyone go off the rails."

Cheng Ying replied, "Don't worry, I certainly won't be the one to make a breakthrough in that regard. I'll uphold the family reputation."

It was just about not having puppy love; that was a small matter. Besides, Cheng Ying didn't think there was anyone in the village suitable for her to fall in love with early.

Although the old lady wasn't entirely satisfied, her granddaughter was still young, and saying more would be useless. She let it go.

The old lady picked the tenderest ear first and handed it to Cheng Ying, then gave one to Chi Wu, before finally taking one for herself. "I must say, it's been several years since I've eaten it like this. I owe it all to Yongzi."

Cheng Ying asked, "Grandma, back when we were in the production team, we weren't allowed to eat them, were we?"

The old lady glared at her granddaughter. "Even back then, when they were cooked for everyone, Grandma's teeth weren't good enough to chew on the cobs."

Cheng Ying suddenly recalled that her grandmother only got dentures this year, allowing her to chew corn.

Cheng Ying examined her grandmother's face closely. "Grandma, you look much younger!"

The old lady retorted, "Nonsense."

Cheng Ying held up an ear of corn with one hand. "Grandma, I'm serious. Look, your cheeks are much fuller now. You look so much more cheerful."

Yang Zhi followed her daughter's lead and examined the old woman seriously. "Mom, Yingzi is right. You really do look different, much kinder."

The old lady glared at her daughter-in-law. "Are you saying I wasn't kind before?"

Chi Yong jumped in to smooth things over for his wife. "Mom, your spirit looks much better!"

The old lady felt that Yongzi knew how to talk. "Oh, it's all because life is better now. Look around, it's only been half a year, but look at the young wives and girls—they were all sallow-faced before, and now look how radiant they are. I tell you, a person's spirit is built up by good nourishment. It’s truly wonderful. We can eat grain freely, grow our own small vegetables in the yard, and you often bring me rice and white flour to nourish me. It would be strange if things hadn't changed."

Hearing his mother's words, Chi Yong felt that his more than a year of devoted filial piety hadn't been in vain.

The old lady had it all counted in her heart.

If they hadn't done right by her, she wouldn't have cared, no matter how much they tried, right?

It wasn't easy for this family to remain so cohesive. It was due to the efforts of him and his wife, as well as the old lady's understanding.

Chi Yong thought of what his father-in-law had told him back then: Don't mind that the old lady seems strict; she's reasonable and has a good sense of things. As long as you two behave well, she's not cold-hearted, and good days are sure to come. Back then, he thought it was just comfort, but he was proven right by his father-in-law. Chi Yong had met a noble benefactor.

He thought of what the TCM doctor had said: his body looked fine now, but if he waited another two years, it wouldn't be a matter of medicine and nourishment to recover. Looking at this harmonious little courtyard, perhaps settling down early wasn't such a bad idea.

It was a pity about his own parents; there was still no news from them. That was the wound in Chi Yong's heart. The times were difficult; he wondered how the two elders were doing now. It was also because the place he was staying was too remote and transient that he hadn't heard from them in over a year. He hadn't even told them he had married.

Then again, he truly didn't dare tell the old lady about marrying—he feared she wouldn't be able to accept it. He'd have to take it slow.

If Cheng Ying knew what Chi Yong was thinking, she would definitely tell her own mother to try a little harder; perhaps she could even secure a stepfather. The beauty's embrace is the hero's grave; men have always fallen for such things since ancient times. It was just that her own mother was a tiny bit short of being a true beauty—just a tiny bit.

Cheng Ying announced, "I'll be going to school to stay for a week in a few days."

The way she said it, the whole family looked at her with disbelief.

Cheng Ying challenged them, "What are you looking at? Can't I try hard? I'm just smart; what others study for half a year, I can do in a week. After observing the situation, getting first or second place shouldn't be a problem."

Chi Wu felt embarrassed for Cheng Ying. "How can your face be so thick?" That was a solid piece of sarcasm.

The old lady scolded, "What kind of talk is that, girl? If people hear it, they'll laugh us to death! Keep a low profile."

Chi Yong shook his head. It seemed the old lady truly believed her granddaughter was smarter than other children.

Yang Zhi encouraged her, "Yingzi, study hard. If you fall behind in class, your uncle will tutor you."

Chi Yong advised, "The school conditions aren't great, and vacation will be early. You need to read carefully and listen to the teacher, so you aren't panicked during the exams."

Cheng Ying agreed, "I feel the same way. I can't just show up for the exam, can I? Besides, I need to check up on how Wu Zi is getting along at school. If anyone bullies you, just tell your sister; I'll sort it out in a week."

Chi Wu protested, "How could I be doing poorly? Do I need you? I'm fine."

The old lady exclaimed, "What kind of talk is that, girl? Are you going to the school to cause trouble?"

Cheng Ying quickly responded, "It's a joke, Grandma, I'm just kidding."

The old lady warned, "I don't care if you're joking. If you dare cause trouble, see how I deal with you. And another thing, if your exams aren't good, you get back to school immediately."

Cheng Ying felt she was making things uncomfortable for herself.

A sudden knock came at the door. Chi Wu, being quick, immediately opened it.

Outside stood the Second Aunt, wearing a rare smile. "Wu Zi, Zhi Zi, you're all home?"

Cheng Ying felt like a prey animal spotted by a hunter; this wasn't her Second Aunt's usual manner. A smiling greeting like this was no different from a weasel paying respects to a chicken.

Cheng Ying, with her back to the Second Aunt, mouthed silently to Chi Wu and the family who had risen to greet her: "She wants something."

Yang Zhi’s face darkened. That troublesome child, why couldn't she keep quiet? How could she say such a thing to an elder?

The old lady frowned. This child knew better, but why say it out loud? She needed to be disciplined.

Chi Yong simply thought that as long as the girl was sharp enough to know what was going on, it was fine. It was better than having a foolish sister-in-law.

Yang Zhi invited her in, "Second Sister-in-law, come in quickly! We just boiled some tender corn; it smells wonderful."

The Second Aunt wasn't one to refuse, regardless of how the host felt. If there was a benefit to be had, one must take it, though she would certainly never let anyone take advantage of her. "Oh, that’s wonderful. Your Second Uncle and the others are still working in the fields. I'll take a few ears for them too."

Cheng Ying thought, Now that’s the real Second Aunt. Chi Wu winced, frowning deeply. Why did she have to take advantage like this when they had plenty of corn?

Yang Zhi replied obligingly, "Of course, quickly! I'll check the pot again and pick out a few tender ones."

Chi Wu looked displeased. He sat down and continued organizing the corn in the yard. They needed to process this grain quickly, as they had to turn some over to the township grain station—the public levy.

Once Yang Zhi went inside, the Second Aunt turned to Chi Yong. "Yongzi, you're home? Have you brought all the harvested grain in from the fields?"

Chi Yong replied, "Yes, everything is brought in. Yingzi's maternal uncle helped yesterday."

The Second Aunt exclaimed, "Oh, you're so fast! Yongzi, you are efficient. Well, it's like this, Yongzi, you see, my fields are numerous, and I can't finish by myself. I was thinking, since you're free this afternoon, you could come help me work on them."

Chi Yong's back pained him so much that he dared not do his own heavy work, but since it was his Second Sister-in-law asking for the first time, it was a signal of potential family harmony, and he truly didn't want to refuse.

As the Second Aunt mentioned her extensive fields, Cheng Ying walked into the house.

Just as the Second Aunt finished speaking, Cheng Ying emerged, holding a bowl of medicine. "Uncle, drink your medicine first."

Chi Yong looked at the dark, murky liquid and swallowed hard. He had just finished one bowl; would another one make him sick? But seeing the conflicted look in his daughter's eyes, Chi Yong braced himself and took the bowl. "Let me cool it down first."

The Second Aunt's expression soured immediately upon seeing the bowl of herbal medicine and the smell of herbs filling the courtyard. This was clearly beyond negotiation.

The old lady interjected, "You're swamped, aren't you? I'll go cook for you; you can go help out in the fields, Yongzi."

Cheng Ying chimed in, "That's right, Second Aunt, don't worry. Wu Zi and I can both cook. Chi Wu can even run a few errands."

The Second Aunt's face grew even harder. So, instead of finding help with the work, she'd invited home several freeloaders to eat and drink for free—a complete loss for her! "No need, Mom. I can manage. Yingzi’s health is too delicate; I wouldn't dare put her to work. Yongzi, why is your health like this for a grown man? You can't rely on women for all the household chores. That medicine must have cost a fortune, right? Never mind, you rest. Second Sister-in-law feels too bad to trouble you."

With that, she grabbed the corn Yang Zhi had brought out and turned to leave.

Her husband—the stepfather—was breathing heavily, clearly agitated. That woman was deliberately trying to provoke them!

Chi Yong felt his self-control was commendable, but only until he encountered someone like his Second Sister-in-law. The thing men hated most was having their physical shortcomings pointed out. Chi Yong felt his daughter's vigilance towards the Second Aunt was entirely necessary.

Cheng Ying declared, "Second Aunt is not very nice," before carrying a bowl of herbal medicine back inside. She acted as if nothing had happened.

Chi Wu clenched his jaw in anger. How could she speak about his father that way?

The old lady sighed, watching her daughter-in-law's retreating back. She felt for her second son, but this was how things worked—every family did their share of the labor. When her own four children were working, the Second Son's family would walk past the edge of the fields without even asking if they needed help. If the Second Son had come over, his wife would surely have stopped him. And now he had the nerve to ask for help.

Chi Yong's expression was grim. A man hated being told he was useless. And judging by the Second Aunt’s mouth, everyone in the village would soon know.