The old lady looked at Chi Yong. “That’s fine. Your school has the autumn break too. If you don't have work at home, it’s inappropriate for a man like you to stay idle, letting everyone think you're unwell; then no one will come asking you for help anymore.”

Chi Yong was still displeased in his heart. "What Old Mother says is right."

The old lady glanced at Chi Yong. “Whether your health is good or not, only the family knows. As for what others say, no one can stop them. Don't take it to heart.”

Chi Yong "Mmm, Mom, it’s nothing."

Cheng Ying thought that even her stepfather managed to get through those times back then; this little bit of trouble now was nothing.

Yang Zhi asked, "Why did Second Sister-in-law leave so quickly? What is she here for?"

Chi Wu replied indignantly, "Looking for my dad to work."

Yang Zhi exclaimed, "Oh my, Mother, you all work here in the house. I’ll go out to the field and help Second Brother and the others. Second Brother’s family has quite a bit of land. Dunzi is young; Second Sister-in-law must be overwhelmed."

Without waiting for the family to speak, she grabbed a sickle and left.

Her steps were hurried. Chi Wu’s eyes turned red with anger. Pointing at the stepmother who had just left, he understood her feelings; it was truly hard.

Chi Yong sighed.

Cheng Ying looked at her own mother; what a kind-hearted person she was. "Her character is pure and kind. Grandma, you certainly chose a good daughter-in-law!"

The old lady said, "Your mother is kind-hearted, yes."

The 'silly' one behind her said nothing; she couldn't scold her daughter-in-law in front of the child.

Chi Yong added, "Your mother is really good to everyone; her heart is true."

Chi Wu, gathering the corncobs, clearly used more force, indicating his disagreement.

Cheng Ying sighed, "Ah, such a good person. It’s fortunate she met good people. Otherwise, how would my mother have managed?"

What Cheng Ying meant was that her own mother, having met the old lady and herself, had a difficult first half of her life under the mother-in-law’s control. In the second half, Cheng Ying would naturally step up to protect her mother.

But Chi Yong blushed strangely. To Chi Yong, this sounded like his daughter affirming him; they had indeed met good people. Hadn't they met him?

It was truly a rather pleasant misunderstanding.

Cheng Ying said, "If I go to help Second Uncle’s family, Second Aunt will be worried for the rest of the afternoon. Should I go or not?"

The old lady said, "You should say less, think of your Second Uncle."

Cheng Ying said sincerely, "Why should I think of Second Uncle? I genuinely adore Second Aunt; what a good person she is!"

Chi Yong looked at his daughter; why did her tone sound like she was teasing Er Ya?

The old lady stated, "Work. Even eating corncobs hasn't shut your mouth."

Cheng Ying quieted down. Chi Yong tried to work alongside her but was stopped by the old lady.

Yang Zhi’s trip out to work wasn't just for half a day. She was busy at Second Uncle’s house for two full days.

It looked like it was even more exhausting than working at home. She couldn't straighten her back when she returned every evening.

Cheng Ying felt heartache watching Yang Zhi lying on the heated brick bed, enjoying her daughter’s massage. "It’s nothing. It’s just bad habits developed from those years. Back then, Mom could manage an entire field by myself."

Cheng Ying felt a pang of sadness listening. Capable women were all forced by life; if someone cared for them, who would let their own woman toil alone doing so much work? "Mom, let's not go. Their family has so much land; why is Second Aunt making a fuss?"

Yang Zhi replied, "This burst of energy, once used, it comes again; it’s not a big deal. Girl, you can’t speak like that. In those years, without your elder uncles, could Mom have raised you this big alone? People must remember kindness."

Cheng Ying vigorously massaged Yang Zhi’s lower back twice, out of concern.

Yang Zhi murmured, "Gently, daughter, gently."

Cheng Ying countered, "Repaying kindness doesn't require you to be this exhausted. We remember their kindness, but we must act within our limits. You need to support your daughter, and you need to care for Grandma. Others have people to rely on, but I only have you."

Yang Zhi whispered, "Yingzi, Mom knows. Don’t worry, Mom is fine. Mom will definitely let Yingzi rely on her."

Cheng Ying huffed, "Hmph, that doesn't sound right. There's so much work at home. You haven't been home for months, and now that you finally have a break, you still go out to work for others. Isn't that making Grandma and me suffer? You’re thinking of me, you’re thinking of Grandma?"

Yang Zhi was so scolded by her daughter that she couldn't lift her head, though she was already bowed low.

Yang Zhi said, "Yingzi, Mom understands. I'll finish all the odd jobs around the house later. Mom also feels that being away from you and Grandma, I can't look after everything properly."

Cheng Ying scoffed, "The land at Second Uncle's house—it’ll take half a month just to clear it."

Yang Zhi fell silent. Second Sister-in-law had indeed asked her to go early tomorrow. "Yingzi, Mom will tell Second Sister-in-law tomorrow that I won't go, I’ll finish the chores at home first, then I'll go help."

Cheng Ying believed her mother likely thought that way now, but she worried if she saw Second Aunt tomorrow, she’d still feel the same way. "Aren't you remembering Second Uncle's kindness?"

Yang Zhi blushed. "What are you saying? That is the kindness Second Uncle’s family showed to us mother and daughter."

Fine, Cheng Ying admitted her phrasing had been too brief and easily misunderstood.

Yang Zhi said, "Yingzi, Mom knows how our family’s life is going. Don’t worry, Mom isn't foolish."

Cheng Ying was doubtful about those last three words because her own mother really was a bit naive, truly believing her energy was inexhaustible.

Cheng Ying explained, "It’s not that I don't remember Elder Uncle’s and Second Uncle’s kindness, it’s just that Grandma is too tired. Mom, you don’t know. While you weren't home, Grandma was brewing medicine for Uncle, cooking meals, and still working alongside us. Grandma stir-fried beans in the large pot, and every two hours, she’d apply the warm beans to Uncle’s waist. Grandma hasn't sat down to rest these past two days, and this is after you all came back. If you weren't home, could Grandma have rested? Grandma is already over sixty this year. Can you bear to let her toil like this? Setting aside other things, when you weren’t home, how much cooking did Grandma have to do for the two of us? When you are both home, Grandma cooks a whole variety of things for you all. If you were home helping Grandma, fine, but you weren't home, so wasn't Grandma just busy for nothing?"

Chi Yong, listening from outside to his girl’s long, drawn-out speech, could only think she was a talent, possessing a silver tongue unmatched. With these words from Yingzi, he didn't believe his wife would still happily go work for others tomorrow.

It seemed he wouldn't need to intervene.

However, he truly registered the old lady’s feelings. What was his own mother like?

Thinking back to the old lady’s harshness towards him in the past, and her current kindness, Chi Yong knew this kindness came from him treating her children well. How much affection did the old lady truly have for him? The reason she treated him this way was only because she hoped he would take better care of her children. Chi Yong understood this completely now; as a stepfather, one must be responsible.

Chi Yong felt significantly heavier-hearted. Being good to someone else's child wasn't just saying it; it had to be perceived as good by them. Yingzi was sharp-minded; he couldn't dictate how she thought. Chi Yong worried. If this were a less complex child, raising them well, supporting them, and finding them a good spouse for a happy life wouldn't be that difficult.

But for someone like Cheng Ying, Chi Yong felt he couldn't talk her around. She had her own clear plan. Chi Yong now realized his daughter was exceptionally ambitious, not just generally so.

Setting aside other things, if he hadn't seen the changes at Yingzi’s father’s grave site, he might have thought it was coincidental, that Yingzi simply dreamed of her father. But now, Chi Yong didn't think so. The success Cheng Ying achieved on that mountain plot wouldn't have materialized in less than two years; the girl probably had plans brewing long ago. Amazing for someone so young.

Chi Yong couldn't help but admire her. Although her methods were a bit drastic, the results were good. At least the girl achieved what she set out to do; that was success.

Regarding Cheng Ying’s future, Chi Yong felt apprehensive. Such a girl, while pleasing to adults, might find true happiness difficult. Her standards were too high. And that saying, 'Too much intelligence brings harm,' sounded nice in romance novels, but it was the inevitable trajectory for intelligent people. The more you think, the more your mind races, the more you create conflict for yourself. If only this child could be a bit more simple-minded. Yang Zhi and his daughter chatted endlessly in the room. Cheng Ying had said everything she could to ensure her mother rested for a day, fearing her mother’s stubborn heart would lead her to leave immediately with Second Aunt tomorrow.

Chi Wu’s expression hadn't been good for the past two days; he was bothered that his mother was working for someone else’s family.

Cheng Ying’s arms were sore by the time she came out of the west room.

Chi Wu sneered, "Grandma massaged your arms until midnight every day, and now you have the energy? You're afraid Mom won't have the strength to work for Second Aunt tomorrow, are you?"

This child was full of resentment.

Cheng Ying pursed her lips and tapped Chi Wu lightly on the head. "Look at your whining, are you like a man? You sound like that Third Aunt Cheng from outside. A man should be broad-minded."

She was trying to nurture him into a proper man.

Chi Wu’s face turned bright red. "You’re the Third Aunt Cheng!"

Cheng Ying said, "Forget it. Listen, tomorrow we’re resting. How about the two of us go fishing?"

Chi Wu’s eyes widened. There was a pile of work at home. "We’re not doing the housework anymore?"

Cheng Ying corrected him, "We’ve finished it all. What else is Mom going to do? Go work for Second Uncle’s family?"

Chi Wu’s lips curved into a smile. "It’s not that I’m unwilling to work for Second Aunt, it’s just that when our family was working, they never came to help. Wait and see, when it’s time to harvest Grandpa’s crops, I will definitely work hard."

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu; this boy was good, so agreeable to her wishes. People should naturally be like this: heart for heart, an equal exchange. If you give and receive nothing in return, why would you keep offering? That would be foolish. Cheng Ying was resolved never to be that kind of person; that wasn't their nature.

Cheng Ying agreed, "Fine. You must work hard when harvesting for maternal Grandpa’s family. I also think it’s better to clearly distinguish between debts of gratitude and grudges."

Chi Wu was satisfied; Cheng Ying's acknowledgment meant more than anything. "Speaking of which, Grandpa’s family’s weather is a few days behind ours, so it’s perfect timing."

Cheng Ying explained, "The terrain is different, isn't it? Sometimes on the mountain ridge, the climate here during this season is vastly different from the climate on the other side of the ridge. It’s not new."

Chi Wu asked, "Yingzi, do you want to eat fish?"

Cheng Ying replied, "I want to play. I haven't properly rested during this period. With Mom and Uncle at home, the two of us should have a good couple of days relaxing."