Cheng Ying felt this brat was approaching the issue from the wrong angle. While a father couldn't be replaced, didn't he still have his original father? No matter how you looked at it, he was coming out ahead. "Excuse me, then, how is your paternal uncle doing now?"

Chi Wu stared back at Cheng Ying with wide eyes. Cheng Ying wondered if she had asked the wrong question. Why was the child looking at her with such hostility? Heaven knew she was sincerely trying to soothe the child, with no other intention, and certainly not trying to incite Chi Wu to seek out his biological mother and father.

Chi Wu turned away. "Dad said, Uncle and Auntie are both gone. They couldn't stand the suffering in those years and passed away."

Oh dear, what a mess this had turned into. Cheng Ying couldn't rush off to care for her own mother now. It was no wonder this child was so affected; he had suddenly become an orphan. Wouldn't it have been better if he had a father like Chi Yong? She reached out and patted Chi Wu’s head. "Oh, you're with your biological uncle; that's no different from being with your real father. Aren't your own Grandpa and Grandma right here taking care of you? Look at our Old Madam, your grandmother. If you saw anyone daring to bully my mother, think about yourself. From now on, you have two great deities watching over you; just wait and enjoy life. Don't overthink it."

"I just feel awkward about it. Why am I not the biological father's son? Why did it become 'Uncle'?" Chi Wu muttered.

"No one likes this situation. Think about the hardships you and Uncle endured back then. Now that you can have a family reunion, and you can still see your Grandma and Grandpa—isn't that wonderful? As long as you have people who love you, that's all that matters."

Chi Wu lowered his head, silent. Chi Yong, listening from afar, sighed internally at the conversation between the two children. Chi Wu was such a stubborn child; managing to control his emotions already was quite an achievement. Then he heard Cheng Ying say, "Wuzi, my mom treats you well, right?"

"What are you trying to say?" The boy's guard was still very high, especially concerning Cheng Ying. When this girl was nice to you, it usually meant trouble was coming. Staying alert was crucial.

Cheng Ying continued, "From now on, you'll have to return the favor and take good care of my mom. I watch our Old Madam; she really isn't someone to trifle with."

Chi Wu glanced at Cheng Ying and offered a surprisingly insightful remark: "Can she really compare to our Old Madam?"

Cheng Ying was momentarily stunned into silence by Chi Wu. "Well, no, she can't compare." That much had to be admitted.

With that, both of them laughed. Cheng Ying felt that the future might not be so bleak after all.

Chi Yong was amused by the antics of the two troublesome children. "Time to eat!"

Speaking of which, Chi Wu was still sulky and reluctant to turn around. He didn't know what to call Chi Yong anymore.

Chi Yong walked over. "After raising you for so many years, one sentence and I’m not your son anymore?"

Chi Wu looked up. "Dad."

Cheng Ying thought to herself that she was no longer needed here.

Chi Yong continued, "That’s your Grandma, your Grandpa. They’ve missed you dearly all these years. You better be polite, understand?"

"Mm, I understand."

Cheng Ying stood quietly beside them. Chi Yong glanced at Cheng Ying. "Yingzi, you need to sweet-talk them later. If you can charm Uncle's Old Madam the way you charm your Grandma, that would be real skill."

Cheng Ying smiled at Chi Yong. Ah, well, at least her own mother was getting the better end of the deal. Then again, Chi Yong had exaggerated his age, which carried a whiff of marriage deception. Cheng Ying thought that if she called him out on lying about his age, it might seem like she was complaining after benefiting, but if her own mother knew the real situation, she certainly wouldn't take advantage of him. It was hard to say who was truly being disadvantaged. This was complicated. Coaxing the Old Madam wasn't a big deal, but if she had to constantly offer a warm face only to meet a cold shoulder, Cheng Ying wasn't going to bother. Once she had her own money, she might not necessarily have to rely on her stepfather to get into the city, even if it meant a slight emotional blow to her own mother.

Cheng Ying pondered this with a bright smile for a moment before giving Chi Yong a cheeky answer: "Isn't it true that grandmothers are usually coaxed by their granddaughters?" She asked this with feigned innocence, then added, "Uncle, do you think the Old Madam likes me? She seems very amiable, and if she doesn't try to flatter me, I quite like her too."

Chi Yong suspected his daughter was doing this on purpose. Someone like Cheng Ying couldn't possibly be oblivious to social cues.

Chi Wu, standing nearby, looked red-faced. "You were eavesdropping, and now you’re pretending you weren't?"

Cheng Ying felt mortified. How could that unlucky brat have exposed her?

Chi Yong looked at Cheng Ying, also quite embarrassed. He opened his mouth several times but couldn't speak. Cheng Ying wasn't like Chi Yong; once the awkwardness passed, they still had to smooth things over. "Pretend? If I don't pretend, can I accuse Uncle of misrepresenting his age and deceiving us—an orphaned mother and child, and a middle-aged, divorced woman?" With that, Cheng Ying lifted her chin and walked away. It wasn't that she wanted to complain after benefiting; they had forced her into saying it!

Chi Yong was left speechless by the little girl's words. It was true that misrepresenting his age was his fault. If he considered Yang Zhi's temperament, if he hadn't lied about his age and had been completely honest, Yang Zhi would never have married him. So, there was an element of deception, and perhaps he really was in the wrong. However, he wasn't the one gaining the advantage! How could this girl pinpoint the key issues so accurately?

Chi Yong called out, "Wuzi, see that? You need to learn from Yingzi from now on." Then he slowly walked away with his son. Chi Yong couldn't counter what Cheng Ying had just said. He decided to ignore her points and walk slowly, giving his own parents more time to think and digest things. Looking at this family, apart from his wife, every single one of them was tough to deal with.

Chi Yong wasn't planning anything shocking, but even if he were, he'd have to reconsider after witnessing the fighting spirit of the Old Madam and the younger girl. One might say that a woman’s maternal family is an indispensable backup—and that couldn't be truer. As a side note, the more brother-in-law types a man has, the less inclined he is to provoke his wife, because those brothers-in-law exist specifically to discipline him. Of course, this didn't apply to Chi Yong, as he hadn't yet had to face his own brothers-in-law.

The three, each lost in their own thoughts, arrived home to a superficially harmonious atmosphere. It could only be said that Chi Yong's parents were cultured and educated individuals. Facing an Old Madam like this and a young daughter-in-law, even if they had complaints, they were hard to voice. Their attitude, however, was one of complete dismissal towards Yang Zhi.

Cheng Ying sensed the atmosphere upon returning. It was fortunate her mother had a broad temperament and could endure such neglect. If it were her, she would have already splashed the washbasin in their faces. Who are you to act like this? she thought. Even if you married a son from our side, it wasn't like we were eager for it! Cheng Ying’s expression immediately soured. Fortunately, the Grandma gave Cheng Ying a discreet kick with her small foot, preventing an immediate outburst. Furthermore, her stepfather looked at her with an apologetic expression, and his look toward her own mother was even more apologetic. Thankfully, there was one sensible person in this group; why were the others acting so foolish? Even cultured people weren't always that great. Cheng Ying confided this to her own Old Madam.

The Old Madam tapped Cheng Ying's head, and the family began to entertain the guests. Yang Zhi felt a sense of helplessness watching the two elders; nothing she did seemed right. Cheng Ying approached her mother. "These are guests, Mom. We need to be warm. Now that Uncle and Chi Wu are here, we should host them well. As long as our sincerity is shown, that’s enough. How many times a year will these two visit? We'll just treat them well when they're here, and if we can't stand them in the future, we can just see them less often."

Cheng Ying’s words were sharp and politically astute, designed to sting. She said this quite deliberately, without much concern for who might overhear. The Old Madam nodded from behind; after all, this was her granddaughter. She handled things well. What her granddaughter said was perfectly true. No one should expect to stir up trouble in their home. If they have the ability, they can use it in their own house. The Old Madam wasn't afraid of this. Since they dared to bring Chi Yong into the family, the Old Madam had been prepared.

Chi Yong heard these words in front of his own parents. From the trembling of his mother's arm, Chi Yong could tell she had heard everything too. His own father, however, remained calm; compared to his own marriage now, far more outrageous things were imaginable. Chi Wu, though blushing slightly at Cheng Ying's words, agreed with them. He didn't want the good life they had finally secured to be broken. He had a father here—that was the pure, untainted thought of a child. Family bonds are forged through time together; there's no such thing as baseless love, and that saying isn't just idle talk.

Yang Zhi was straightforward and adhered strictly to reason, much like her daughter. Hearing her own daughter’s words, she felt they made sense—this was their home, and they should entertain guests. Although she felt slightly uneasy after secretly overhearing the earlier conversation, she knew that even if there were problems, they had to be solved. They would get through this. Except for the lingering discomfort when facing Chi Yong, she became quite generous towards the two elders, treating them as naturally as if they were relatives visiting from the countryside, and she stopped worrying about their expressions.

Cheng Ying was satisfied. After spending half a year in the countryside, her mother had shown improvement. The Old Madam was also pleased watching her daughter-in-law; if Yang Zhi had possessed this composure back then, the Old Madam wouldn't have dared to treat her so imperiously. However, Yang Zhi devoted herself wholeheartedly to hosting Chi Yong's parents, bringing out all the best food in the house. Whether the guests appreciated it or not was another matter entirely.

During the meal, Chi Yong and Chi Wu were seated at opposite ends, effectively separating the two family units. The Old Madam said, "Come, my in-laws have arrived. We don't have much to treat you with here, but Yongzi, please have a few drinks with your father."

Chi Yong’s father replied, "It is we who came too presumptuously, disturbing you. We are truly grateful for the care you’ve given Chi Yong and Wuzi all this time." This was exceedingly polite.

The Old Madam responded, "Don't be so formal; are Chi Yong and Wuzi outsiders? Aren't we all one family now? What is there to 'care for' or not?"

Cheng Ying could feel the Old Madam opposite her breathing rapidly, stifled by the Old Madam's words. Chi Yong sighed inwardly. Could they not have even one peaceful meal together? Wasn't this conversation happening too soon? Chi Yong placed some food on his own mother's plate, then poured a bowl of fruit wine. "Mom, this is homemade by us; please try it. It tastes very good."