If there was anything Chi Wu was dissatisfied with regarding Cheng Ying, it was that she didn't call her own father "Dad," which also displeased Chi Wu.

Of course, in Cheng Ying’s view, this kid was acting up again. Cheng Ying said, "Let me tell you, Wu Zi, I have a fish creel here. We’ll leave it by the bank, and then we’ll head up the mountain. All the fruit up there is ripe. No one in the village is harvesting now, so we won't be competing with anyone. We can gather a lot to take back. Later, we’ll have Grandma brew a couple of jars of good wine, and we can bring one to Grandpa for New Year's. He'll be happier than if you worked for him."

Cheng Ying had been thinking about gathering more fruit for wine for more than a day. Finally, he had found an opportunity.

Chi Wu was just cheap labor.

Chi Wu nodded. That was true; that old man was nothing more than a wine-drinker; he couldn't be happy without alcohol.

After Cheng Ying said this, Chi Wu filled with anticipation for the next day. Ever since starting school in the town, she and Cheng Ying hadn't had much chance to wander in the mountains, and when they did go, it was only for work. What boy of eleven or twelve years old didn't love to play? Chi Wu kept thinking, "And honeysuckle! If I see any, I'll dig it up and plant it at home."

Cheng Ying scoffed, "You greedy thing, always thinking about money."

Chi Wu retorted, "The last time I went to the city, that old man said that if we have medicinal herbs here, we could introduce them to him; he buys them in bulk. If it weren't so hard to transport things to the city, I was thinking of having all the village children go up the mountain to dig them, and we could collect them and give them to the old man. What do you think? If we use the brigade's mule cart for one trip, how much would that cost?"

Cheng Ying stared blankly at Chi Wu. How old was this kid to understand such things?

He really was obsessed with making money. What a good child, how did I manage to make him so worldly?

But then again, it was good to be practical about living. If everyone were as ethereal as Lin Daiyu, wouldn't everyone end up drinking medicinal soup?

It's good to be worldly; the worldly are pragmatic.

Cheng Ying said, "You better settle down. How old are you? Do you think collecting medicinal herbs is that easy? Do you even know medicinal herbs? Focus on school and be content with making a little bit of money. We won't aim for anything huge, understand?"

Chi Wu didn't like hearing that. "I'd like to aim for something big, but do I have the capital for it? But Yingzi, we really are short on money. Look at your mountain plot. It seems fine now, but I calculated—we’ll be short on money for many days to come."

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu. Is this kid not a transmigator? How could he think so much at such a young age? He seems more sensible than I am.

How can an eleven-year-old know about managing finances?

Cheng Ying felt the world was a bit surreal; it seemed like when he was in school, eleven-year-olds were all snot-nosed kids, right?

Chi Wu huffed, "I can’t be bothered talking to you. I’m going to sleep."

Chi Wu was restless in his heart. Life couldn't be lived the way Cheng Ying lived it. He still needed to find a way to make some money.

He even felt Cheng Ying didn't understand his point. This unlucky kid.

Cheng Ying lay on the kang bed thinking for a long time. He really was short on money. That mountain operation would require someone to watch over it starting next year—that was going to be a huge expense.

Ugh, why was it so annoying? Earning money wasn't easy.

The next day, Yang Zhi’s face was tight with displeasure. She didn't go with Second Aunt. When Second Aunt left Yang Zhi's house, her face was blacker than the bottom of a pot, and she muttered all sorts of inappropriate things, even calling them ungrateful. Cheng Ying didn't want to listen. His mother was honest and dutiful, but that didn't mean he was. It was early morning, and everyone was heading out to work; they didn't need to gather in front of the door, as neighbors were passing by anyway. Cheng Ying deliberately waited until Second Aunt was outside the door before stepping out. "Second Aunt, how could you say that about my mother? After you left yesterday, my mother couldn't even get out of bed. Are you insisting that my mother should collapse from exhaustion working on your land? Is it us who should be grateful?"

Second Aunt was choked speechless by Cheng Ying for a long time. Although the work was a bit tiring, it absolutely wasn't to that extent. "You little brat, what are you saying? What can your mother do? Isn't she standing up just fine?"

This was due to the accumulation of past interactions. Yang Zhi was famously honest, and while Second Aunt was known for her sharp and loose tongue, only their own relatives knew about it. So, everyone looked at Second Aunt with disdain. Who didn't know whom in the village? Cheng Lao Er's family was truly despicable. It wasn't easy for an orphaned woman and her child; why must they bully them? Yang Zhi felt embarrassed and quickly went out to pull Cheng Ying back. "What are you saying? Come back quickly, it hasn't reached that point."

If these words were meant to undermine the situation, it depended on who said them. When someone as honest as Yang Zhi said it, everyone’s conclusion was that Cheng Lao San's wife had indeed been overworked yesterday.

Cheng Ying challenged, "Mom, does it mean she has to be bedridden before it counts as exhaustion? If so, should I ask Second Aunt to buy you some medicine? Would she?"

Second Aunt glared at Cheng Ying in anger. "If she doesn't want to go, she doesn't want to go! Why make such a fuss? We don't lack your mother's labor. Such a disgrace. Hurry home!"

Cheng Ying shot back, "Second Aunt, if you don't need my mother, why did you come to our house? Does it mean the two days my mother worked for your family weren't considered work? You only remember today my mother can't go, and now our family is a disgrace? How can you be so forgetful? My mother worked for you for two days, and now we’re enemies?"

Second Aunt felt that her niece's mouth was even sharper than the old lady's. She decided she needed to avoid her in the future. It seemed as if she had never yelled at Cheng Ying before. When one sees injustice, one should step in, especially since rural settings thrive on gossip. Cheng San Shen, who was distantly related, had two handsome sons, stepped in and said, "Lao Er's wife, you came over to ask Lao San's wife to work. Why didn't I see you helping Yingzi's family harvest? Didn't Yingzi's maternal uncle come to help? I heard Wu Zi's father is still sick. How shameless of you! Yang Zhi has worked like a horse and ox for your family for so many years, and now that you've separated households, you're not used to it, are you?"

Those words were sharp and malicious. Cheng Ying felt he still had room for improvement; compared to Cheng San Shen, he was far behind.

Specialization is indeed true.

Arguing with a village woman over verbal superiority was simply fighting with oneself. Cheng Ying deeply rejoiced that in his past, naive, ignorant self, he had dared to challenge Cheng Family Aunts. The current him would definitely have to think twice.

It seems Cheng San Shen was able to end that battle so easily back then only because of his own grandmother's fighting spirit.

Cheng Ying realized the truth.

Second Aunt stammered, "When our family was harvesting, our family was harvesting too! What nonsense are you spouting?"

The surrounding aunts and mothers, who loved to join the excitement, chimed in, "Oh, so when your family was harvesting, theirs didn't need to harvest? Don't tell me the harvest is finished once the crops are pulled from the ground."

They had completely blocked Second Aunt's escape route.

Cheng Ying felt pleased; he had only started the topic, and he basically didn't need to finish it himself.

Yang Zhi felt this wasn't right and wanted to speak up, but her daughter held her hand tightly. Chi Wu behind her was clutching the hem of her clothing. The two children had basically expressed their opinion; he didn't need to say anything. Cheng Second Aunt snapped, "It's none of your business what happens in my family! You people have nothing better to do. Go do what you should be doing!"

The crowd became even more animated. "Oh, haven't you separated households? Why is it still your family's business? Lao Er's wife, you’re overstepping your bounds!"

Second Aunt's face turned ashen. She glared at Cheng Ying, thinking this troublesome girl had stirred everything up. Her anger shifted. "You wicked girl, you—"

Cheng Ying interrupted, "Second Aunt, people shouldn't forget their roots. My mother worked so hard for you because she remembered that my mother and I received shelter under the protection of Big Uncle and Second Uncle back then."

Second Aunt took a deep breath and replied arrogantly, "It’s good that you haven't forgotten, but I’ve never seen anyone remember kindness like this."

Cheng Shan happened to be passing by, or perhaps he was drawn by the commotion. He stepped forward and said, "Lao Er's wife, you talk about forgetting roots, but Yang Zhi hasn't forgotten. What about you? Don't you remember the kindness of Cheng Lao San? If it weren't for Cheng Lao San back then, your family wouldn't have managed to get by so smoothly. Yang Zhi's child died, but your Dun is safe and sound."

Did these words need to continue? Cheng Second Aunt's face turned grey. It wasn't that she couldn't speak; it was because the pressure from the Village Head was too great; she was too weak to fight alone.

Second Aunt turned and left.

Cheng Ying understood from that—his own biological father hadn't been gone for many years, and Dun was only four now.

Thinking of his lost younger brother, Cheng Ying felt that having a relative wouldn't be so bad. His mood dropped.

The Village Head called out, "Alright, everyone get back to the fields and harvest! Stop gathering here and delaying work!"

Yang Zhi said, "Uncle, why don't you all come inside to rest?"

The Village Head replied, "No need. Let Yongzi rest well. When it’s time to tally the public grain, he'll still need to come out and help; that's a big deal."

Cheng Ying assured him, "Don't worry, Grandpa, Uncle. He will definitely be fine by then."

Cheng Ying was confident about this. His biological father's issue was an internal injury; doing some mental work wouldn't affect him at all.

Yang Zhi sighed, "Let everyone see us like this. It’s all because I’m not capable, can’t do a single bit of work."

If Cheng Ying had said this, it would sound like deliberate nagging, but since Yang Zhi said it, it was the truth, making everyone conclude that this daughter-in-law was truly kind and dutiful, beyond reproach, and it was all Second Aunt’s fault for stirring up trouble.

"Zhizi, you are a woman. If you can manage your own acre of land well, that's enough. You need to rest when you need to rest. You still have your mother-in-law and daughter to look after. If you collapse, who will your daughter rely on? Don't be like your Second Sister-in-law; if she were reliable, we could catch ghosts to eat! You need to care for yourself more, if not for yourself, then think about Yingzi."

The person giving advice sounded so sincere, exactly what Cheng Ying had said yesterday. It could only be said that the eyes of the masses were sharp. Cheng Ying felt today’s work was going very well; how coincidental that everyone gathered outside the door was so insightful.

"Auntie, Aunt, please come in and rest before you leave."

The crowd nearby dispersed with a gentle urging. "Your maternal uncle helped harvest your field. We still need to hurry up with our own harvesting. You should take advantage of your mother being home and tidy up quickly. When your mother leaves, it will be work for just the two of you."