ps: Pink tickets, please vote! I finally made it into the top three for the monthly category tickets.

To Cheng Ying, this entire stretch of mountain land was nothing but money.

Truly, in her eyes, it was all profit.

Otherwise, facing such arduous physical labor, Cheng Ying simply couldn't have persevered.

Her value system was the unyielding driving force behind her grit and endurance.

Watching Cheng Ying swing the sickle, Chi Wu felt a familiar stirring in his heart. "Yingzi, forget it.

You stay back and gather firewood; I'll do the cutting." Cheng Ying wiped the sweat from her face. "It's fine.

Seeing such a large expanse of land, I plan to spend the entire winter break right here.

You're not getting away.

Besides, it’s the dead of winter; a little exercise will warm us up." Chi Wu saw that Cheng Ying wouldn't heed his advice and felt a slight displeasure; why wasn't she like those sly girls at other families who shirked their duties? "Why are you exhausting yourself like this? Does your family not have enough food and clothes for you?" Chi Wu secretly envied the younger sisters of his classmates who acted spoiled and cajoled their elder brothers out of doing chores.

Unfortunately, there was no way Cheng Ying could be equated with them.

Waving the sickle, Cheng Ying declared, "I can’t compare myself to a young master like you who has an uncle and a whole troop of grandparents.

I still have a family to support.

In your heart, your father is your entire world, but I can't rely on that; I don't have a father.

I have to hold up the sky for my grandmother and my mother.

I want to see my grandmother watching television, and I want my mother to stop being looked down upon.

I want to take my grandma and mom to live in the high-rise buildings in the city.

I want to show your grandmother that her son is utterly unworthy of my mother! Furthermore, I want to enjoy the finest food this world has to offer, and wear the best fabrics available.

These things don't just appear out of thin air, child.

These treasures are forged by one's own two hands.

Tell me, for such a noble ideal, how can I afford to be idle?" After speaking, even Cheng Ying felt a surge of vigor.

Wealth is created by one's own hands.

Before enjoying a comfortable life, putting in this grueling effort is nothing.

Later on, I will absolutely make up for all the suffering endured now with soft pillows and fine bedding.

Chi Wu straightened up, halting his movements, and stared blankly at Cheng Ying.

Compared to this person, didn't he seem somewhat unreasonable? How could he feel like he needed to look up to Cheng Ying? They were the same age, and the person opposite him was just a girl, yet she managed to make his 'little manliness' feel so utterly embarrassed.

How could her aspirations be so high? Chi Wu looked up at the sky overhead.

His sky was Chi Yong, but Cheng Ying wanted to prop up a whole sky for her own grandmother and mother.

What kind of breadth of spirit was that? Chi Wu felt a sudden pressure in his chest, and as he bent down to work again, the sickle in his hand swung with even more vigor than Cheng Ying's.

For a long half-day, this unlucky kid didn't say a word.

If it weren't for Er Ya’s cheerful calls, Cheng Ying and Chi Wu might never have stopped.

He couldn't tell when it started, but the two of them were like contestants in a hidden competition, neither willing to stop swinging the sickle first.

Cheng Ying stretched her back.

Ouch, why compete with the unlucky kid? Look, I can’t even straighten my back anymore.

Chi Wu let go of the sickle in his hand; the palm was stinging fiercely.

Blisters had formed.

He shot a frustrated look at Cheng Ying.

It was all because that girl provoked him.

See, now you've suffered the consequences.

Just wait until I grow up; I will definitely hold up a sky for you.

This was Chi Wu's ideal at that moment.

Chi Wu felt a pang of sympathy. "Look at you, a girl’s hands, getting blisters, all rough now.

What will you do?" Cheng Ying dropped the sickle.

Indeed, there were large blisters on all four fingers—what a loss.

Looking at Chi Wu, his expression was one of deep grievance.

Chi Wu walked over and took Cheng Ying’s hand, looking conflicted, wishing desperately that the blisters on her hand were on his instead.

He didn't know why, but besides his hand aching, his heart ached too.

No wonder people say the ten fingers are connected to the heart.

Cheng Ying said, "Er Ya is calling so happily; Mom must have brought food." Chi Wu's mood improved significantly because of the phrase "our Mom." Cheng Ying said, "Let's rest.

This recent period has exhausted me." Saying that, she led Chi Wu down the mountain.

Her movements were nimble.

Chi Wu said, "I can hold up a sky for you too; you don’t need to be so tired." The wind on the mountain in early winter was always so strong; it nearly scattered Chi Wu’s words.

Cheng Ying turned back. "What did you say?" Chi Wu shook his head, unwilling to repeat himself.

He just couldn't figure out why he couldn't say it out loud in front of Cheng Ying.

When Cheng Ying and Chi Wu followed Er Ya to Shuiquan, they saw Chi Yong leading his parents around their section of the mountain field.

The old man looked at Cheng Ying unexpectedly and gave her an appreciative glance.

This child was promising; she had managed this mountain field quite well.

How capable could an eleven-year-old child really be? Never mind anything else, just the sight of those few red-leaf saplings that still hadn't shed all their leaves was impressive. "Yingzi, your mountain field is quite good!" Cheng Ying pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.

Receiving recognition made anyone happy. "It's passable.

This place doesn't have much else, but the tree seedlings are good stock.

I just liked them for their beauty; they aren't practical." She had to maintain a degree of humility in her words.

Old Man Chi looked at the girl; she was much sharper than his own grandson. "It's a pity there aren't more of these saplings.

They're planting trees along the roads in the provincial capital now." Cheng Ying's eyes lit up.

Someone was delivering a pillow when she was sleepy! "That is indeed a shame, but these saplings will grow within two years.

If they could be planted along the roadside, they would be stunningly beautiful." Old Man Chi looked at the girl.

Did this girl understand that he meant the saplings could bring in money, not just that they were pretty? She was still just a child.

Chi Yong knew his own daughter well.

This one really came from a practical background; the most common thing he heard from the girl’s mouth was that beauty couldn't be eaten.

She was extremely pragmatic.

She truly didn't have any lofty pursuits.

The family understood their own best.

Chi Yong spoke up, hitting the very core of Cheng Ying’s thoughts. "That's wonderful then, Dad.

When you have the chance, you must keep an eye out for our Yingzi.

Once these saplings grow up, you have to find a good channel for them." The old man looked at his son, acknowledging that his son ultimately had foresight; perhaps his son had offered advice on these matters.

The old man said, "Yes, definitely.

But the transportation here is inconvenient." Cheng Ying had already analyzed this point, connecting theory with practice. "That might not be the case.

Our local logging station produces a lot of timber every year.

My seedlings will need two more years to mature, and by then, the road to the station should be completed." Then Cheng Ying emphasized, "I heard the logging station has already listed road construction in its plans; it’s just that the funding hasn't arrived yet." This was all insider information Cheng Ying had specifically sought out.

When Old Man Chi looked at Cheng Ying again, he felt the child was almost magical.

She could even figure this out.

He glanced at his son, signaling, You explain it.

Chi Yong rubbed his nose.

Could he tell his father that his focus was entirely on career development and that he wasn't very concerned with agriculture? Chi Yong’s entire ambition was to lead his family forward into the township and county, and he paid little attention to Cheng Ying’s mountain or the development of Shanghe Village.

Chi Wu interjected, "Yingzi and I were cutting that section of the mountain.

Yingzi said once that area is cleared, it will be over twenty mu, and we'll plant nothing but seedlings there." The old man looked up at the area his grandson had indicated.

Facing Cheng Ying, he felt much the same way he did when facing Old Mrs.

Cheng.

This whole family was full of capable people.

He looked again at the mountain field. "Work hard on developing this.

If there’s an opportunity, I’ll keep an eye on it for you." This was considered a small return for this family’s efforts.

Cheng Ying pursed her lips. "Thank you, Grandpa." She said it so clearly and willingly.

Only then did she press her lips together and humbly add, "I'm not in a hurry." Chi Yong looked at his daughter.

You are in a hurry, but do you even have the goods? Chi Wu said, "Yes, she’s not rushing.

Yingzi also has ginseng planted on this mountain.

It won't produce anything for a few more years." The old man paused. "Ginseng?" Cheng Ying flushed.

You big mouth, Chi Wu! "My uncle got me some ginseng seeds, and my maternal grandfather helped me procure some more.

I tried cultivating them in soil pots at home, and they actually sprouted! When it was time in the autumn, Wu Zi and I brought them to the mountain field to plant.

Whether they’ll succeed or not, I don’t know yet." Chi Yong looked at his daughter, feeling he hadn't paid enough attention to his child; he didn't even know about something this significant. "You really got them to sprout?" Chi Wu confirmed, "Is there any doubt? I water them every day; how could I not know?" Old Man Chi scrutinized the children.

There was no major technical secrecy involved, but for a village girl to manage to sprout them like this was certainly eye-catching. "Skillful!" Cheng Ying quickly added, "It was just luck.

None of the later ones sprouted no matter how we planted them." This statement automatically closed off a potential path for her to become a state technical employee.

The old man asked, "Is the mountain safe up here?" Cheng Ying sighed. "Not very safe.

Er Ya accidentally trampled several.

Some drowned in the rain, and the rabbits and birds have been taking their share too.

If even half survive, that would be good.

But even half is a profit, and I'm still young, and the roads here aren't built yet.

I'm not in a rush.

In a few years, when the ginseng grows mature, I'll give a root to Grandpa." Saying this so generously, Old Man Chi exclaimed, "Oh my, then I’ll be waiting for my granddaughter’s filial piety!" Old Mrs.

Chi stood silently by the side, maintaining her dignified reserve.

To her, this village girl—especially the daughter of her son from a complicated relationship—was hard to stomach.

It had nothing to do with how the child behaved; it was all about the complex situation between her and her son that made the old woman unable to take a liking to her.

Watching her husband treat this girl as a granddaughter just because of one—still uncertain—ginseng plant made her inwardly very displeased.

That stubborn old man.

Cheng Ying took the old man around her mountain field.

Beneath an old, thick red pine, the old man picked a handful of pine nuts himself and gave them to his wife, showing that this couple who had weathered storms together had a good relationship.

Chi Yong commented, "I don't recall the trees on this mountain being this thick before." Cheng Ying thought to herself, Good thing you haven't walked around closely.

Chi Wu chimed in, "When did you visit last? How long has it been that you won't let the trees grow taller?" Chi Wu was stating a fact; these trees had only thickened over the last half-year.

To Chi Wu, half a year was a long time; he had grown taller himself, so surely the trees had thickened.

The child didn't understand how much development a tree could undergo in just half a year.

Chi Wu remembered more clearly than Chi Yong, likely because he spent his time on the mountain.

However, Chi Yong felt that he was just a child with a narrow scope of knowledge, and such a statement was irresponsible—it was just a tree; how much could it change in half a year? "Stop talking nonsense."