Pink tickets, always beckoning, come cast your vote, dear reader. I had intended to leave with my son, but now they won't even let him have his grandson; tell me, how venomous can this family be? Never mind the son.

And just listen to the sound of the grandson's laughter—he's clearly been won over, completely captivated when he's with those two. That child, Chi Wu, has never laughed like that before. The old woman doesn't stop to think: how long has it been since you even acknowledged your grandson?

Is he even familiar with you enough to laugh like that? The old woman clutched her son's hand, tears welling in her eyes, "They are too hateful! Not only are they holding you captive, but they refuse to let Wu Zi go either!

Are they implying that they want my son and my grandson to just toil away for their household for the rest of their lives?" The words that spilled from the elder woman were sharply aggressive. Chi Yong looked at his own mother and felt a pang of envy for Chi Wu; if he were in the opposite room, he wouldn't have to be so conflicted. It seemed that in his mother's mind, the grandson was already worth more than the son.

"Mother, I'm not exactly toiling in the fields right now either." Old Mrs. Chi declared, "Look at the attitude and tone of that other old woman today; she clearly isn't a kind soul. How can my Yong Zi and Wu Zi possibly be treated kindly?" Chi Yong sighed deeply.

Ying Zi’s grandmother—her very countenance betrayed her; one glance told you she was a formidable figure. It was a rare thing that his own mother could judge someone so accurately after hearing only a few words. "Mother, if it weren't for Ying Zi's grandmother being so capable, even if I had managed to settle down and start a family back in the village, no one would have been able to protect us.

You don't know the kind of life Wu Zi and I have endured these past few years; it was no life for human beings. Only since arriving here has our situation improved. Before, Wu Zi didn't even have peers to play with in the village; now, when he goes to school, he goes in whole gangs.

Mother, if for no other reason than this single fact, we must remember the kindness of the Cheng family. We two men, my son and I—how are we supposed to manage sewing and mending? The villagers were exclusionary; even if I had money in my pocket, I couldn't find anyone to do needlework for my boy and me.

Never mind me, but Wu Zi, how old is he? What are the winters like here? Wu Zi never owned a single set of warm, properly fitting new cotton clothes.

But this year, just as the frost began to set in, the old lady had thick cotton coats and trousers ready for him. Mother, only now do I feel a genuine warmth in my heart. As for Yang Zhi, aside from staying with Ying Zi, she is truly a good woman.

If you spent some time with her, you would surely grow to like her. Please, don't be so quick to dismiss her yet." What Chi Yong said came from the deepest truth; he wouldn't have said this merely to ease the tension between the two families. He was intentionally pricking his mother's heart with his words.

Chi Yong sighed again, "Mother, I must remember this; I owe them a debt for a lifetime." Hearing this, Old Mrs. Chi's eyes became so blurry she couldn't open them. She knew her son had suffered, but she hadn't known the suffering ran so deep.

"Waaah, my son, my grandson!" Even an old woman with the best manners couldn't maintain composure after hearing such things. Old Master Chi understood that his son suffering a bit in terms of food and clothing was one thing; there were likely things he hadn't even mentioned. "Since you've started, tell us everything." Chi Yong glanced at his mother.

The truth had to be told. A mother cherishes her son, but she must also understand what is right and necessary. "Back in the village, finding a couple of outfits for the boy wasn't the issue.

When we were in the township, Wu Zi had no mother. As a bachelor raising a child, even though we kept to ourselves in a secluded spot, life was still agonizing. One moment we'd be criticized, the next we'd be denounced.

Father, I used to envy my elder brother back then." The old man's heart trembled upon hearing this; his son had come close to wanting to die. His elder brother had simply walked away, leaving his younger son to struggle through it all on his own. It had been immensely difficult.

Chi Yong raised his head, the tears gathering in his eyes, "But I couldn't do it. I didn't have my brother's heartlessness; I had to look out for Wu Zi. A child that young couldn't survive that hardship; his health was always poor.

It just so happened that Yang Zhi's father was a traditional doctor. He was denounced alongside me during those struggles, and that man was so kind-hearted. Wu Zi only grew up strong because of his help.

Everything we ate and wore, we owed to their care. Once our conditions improved slightly, they went to great lengths to arrange for us to move to such a remote village so that we wouldn't draw attention." Old Master Chi murmured, "You encountered good people." Chi Yong responded, "Who could say otherwise? When Old Master Chi wanted to find a husband to take over the household for Yang Zhi, I came here as if to repay a debt.

Who knew that before I could repay that kindness, I would already be enjoying their good fortune? Mother, Father, in this life, there are always debts that one can never forget. I cannot just leave like this." Old Master Chi let out a sigh; his son's heart was upright.

Old Mrs. Chi fretted, "But that woman is three years older than you, and she has a child! My son is being wronged!" Chi Yong countered, "Mother, as long as the person is good, these things are nothing.

If my elder brother and sister-in-law had only thought more about Wu Zi, why would things have come to this? Being alive is more important than anything." Sometimes Chi Yong hated his elder brother for being so unable to look past his own struggles for Wu Zi's sake. Old Master Chi intervened, "Yong Zi, stop.

This is your decision. Father has nothing more to say. We owe them a great debt.

If you felt uneasy about it, I would swallow my pride and endure the gossiping villagers to get you out of here. Since my son is righteous in his heart, there's no reason for the father not to repay a kindness. From now on, we will raise that child as one of our own in the Chi family." This meant they would raise Cheng Ying as a Chi family child—their intention was purely out of repayment.

Chi Yong felt a significant portion of the coldness in his heart dissipate. He regretted not speaking up sooner; it would have saved both families the current friction. In the end, his parents were reasonable people, much easier to deal with than the old woman across the way.

Old Master Chi continued, "But Yong Zi, I cannot defer to you regarding your job. I still have some standing now, but how long can that standing last? In a few years, who will remember the Chi family?

You are the one who must carry the family name forward." Chi Yong replied, "Father, I understand the seriousness of that. I will not give up the job opportunity in the provincial capital. Could you see about arranging a job for Yang Zhi in the capital as well?" Hearing this, Old Master Chi puffed up his chest with a bit of pride.

"Can my family not afford to support one daughter-in-law?" For a moment, it seemed that Yang Zhi not working was an acceptable alternative. The old woman felt as if the sky was falling. They were going to bring a woman with a child into their home!

Wouldn't that make them a laughingstock? Yet, the rules of propriety were rules; Old Mrs. Chi understood that their own family was embroiled in this mess, and it was humiliating enough as it was.

Chi Yong insisted, "Father, Yang Zhi is not that kind of person. Please find her a job. Otherwise, she won't feel at ease staying in the city.

Oh, right, Yang Zhi worked as a health aide back in the village." Old Master Chi looked at his son; it seemed his son had developed feelings for this woman, otherwise, he wouldn't be so thoughtful as to already consider the direction for finding her work. "Agreed, I will arrange that. But when do you plan on moving to the city?" Chi Yong considered this for a long time.

"We'll have to see. Although I'm happy to bring Mother to the city, I suspect the old woman won't want to come. We also need to make arrangements at home so that we don't leave the old woman here alone." Old Master Chi asked, "Don't you have three sons?" Chi Yong explained, "The old woman won't leave her granddaughter.

To protect Ying Zi, she managed to offend both her sons at home. Father, I will handle this matter; you don't need to worry. Since you've finally come, please spend a few days here in the village with Mother." Old Mrs.

Chi was still sniffling. Chi Yong tried to reassure her, "Mother, I truly am not being wronged. I care for her in my heart.

Why don't you spend some time with Yang Zhi first, and you'll see, that woman really is quite good." Chi Yong nearly slipped and said she was "quite easy to bully." It was as if Chi Yong was telling Cheng Ying's people that his own mother would be easy to handle, while simultaneously nearly telling his own mother that his future wife was rather docile. After a night of cold treatment, the atmosphere at breakfast the next day was noticeably more harmonious. At least Old Mrs.

Chi no longer looked at her daughter-in-law with that conflicted, hostile gaze. Of course, she wasn't exactly warm either; essentially, his own mother was being thoroughly ignored. It was slightly uncomfortable, but you couldn't fault her—just as Ying Zi’s grandmother said, Old Mrs.

Chi had too much pride; even if she disliked someone, she wouldn't cause overt trouble. As long as the daughter-in-law, Yang Zhi, stood her ground, this old woman would be manageable, certainly far easier to deal with than her ex-husband's mother. Cheng Ying sometimes wondered about her own mother's fate.

Did Heaven simply decide it didn't like her, arranging for two mothers-in-law to hover nearby? When a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law compete for the attention of one man, they are natural enemies. Imagine her mother's luck—two such enemies placed together.

Old Master Chi had made his peace with the situation. He immediately changed his tone toward Ying Zi’s grandmother, addressing her warmly as "in-law" repeatedly. Ying Zi’s grandmother was pleased; it was nice to have a slightly more distinguished family connection, and even if they didn't care about status, it certainly made for a better outward appearance.

Her hospitality toward the visitors became exceptionally courteous. The three elderly people managed to find common ground. While the conversation wasn't booming, it wasn't bad at all.

Chi Yong even arranged an itinerary for his parents, taking them for a tour of his own mountain acreage. Old Master Chi surveyed the surrounding hills. "The only problem here is the poor accessibility.

Otherwise, these trees, these hills—they all hold such value." As a man of culture, he naturally avoided speaking directly about money. Chi Yong responded, "Father, speaking of value, this small patch of mountain isn't much. The best-managed acreage we have is the section that Ying Zi reclaimed herself.

You've arrived at the wrong time; you should have seen how beautiful and valuable the land Ying Zi managed to transform." Old Master Chi watched the pair of small children walking ahead, each carrying a basket. "How old is Ying Zi? She managed to reclaim an entire plot of mountain land herself?" Chi Yong shook his head; his daughter was a true marvel.

"That child is exceptionally clever." Those few words sufficed for an explanation. Old Mrs. Chi frowned.

"Yong Zi, we absolutely cannot mistreat that child. Even if there are changes down the line, we must compensate her." Chi Yong found his own mother's conflicted demeanor somewhat amusing. She clearly wasn't heartless after all.

"Mother, where is your mind wandering? Ying Zi is filial, excels in her studies, and is intelligent. She has been self-studying at home for the last six months just to keep the old lady company.

The mountain plot was managed by Ying Zi herself while watching the workers. But that child, despite all that, still scored first in the entire township exam." As he spoke, pride illuminated Chi Yong's face. "Chi Wu isn't bad either; he's usually in the top three at school, though he lags a bit behind in the township competitions."