Elder Chi was pleased, though his pleasure stemmed entirely from his own son. If Cheng Ying managed to take first place, it must have been due to his son’s tutoring. Otherwise, who in this household could have possibly nurtured such an outstanding child? The old man’s reasoning, strictly speaking, was sound, But he had no knowledge of reincarnation, a concept that existed outside his reality. Cheng Ying had bypassed the conventional path entirely, possessing knowledge that was entirely self-contained, having absolutely nothing to do with his son. Who was to blame? The elder's lack of exposure to online literature, perhaps. Such things simply did not exist in this era; at best, the only tales involved borrowing a corpse to return a spirit, such as in old folk stories. Forgive the narrow scope of the Chi family’s knowledge.

Old Mrs. Chi muttered, “It’s not entirely embarrassing. If only his mother were half as clever.” This demand, directed at Yang Zhi, was setting the bar impossibly high. Chi Yong looked to the heavens; perhaps his daughter took after his wife’s first husband. His own wife was genuinely dull, the slow-to-catch-on kind, utterly incomparable to their daughter. His mother was thinking too highly of the situation, dreaming too grandly. Chi Yong shook his head, saying nothing. A simple wife had her merits, merits his own mother had yet to appreciate. With Yang Zhi as a daughter-in-law, mother-in-law conflicts were virtually non-existent; she was entirely meek and accepting. Of course, aside from Chi Yong, few would recognize the benefits of having such a simple wife.

Elder Chi held deep respect for his elderly wife, especially one who had weathered hardships alongside him. However, this was his son’s choice. It wasn't just a choice of a wife; it was a choice regarding character, a choice of conscience. As a father, Elder Chi felt a deep satisfaction; this spoke to integrity. He gently reasoned with his wife, “As long as the children are happy and remain near us, what obstacle can’t we overcome? Look at the previous wife. Look at how she treated Wu Zi. If you swapped in another wife, could you guarantee our Wu Zi wouldn’t suffer? We are both advanced in years now, and Wu Zi will ultimately rely on Chi Yong. Having someone like her is our blessing. Try to look on the bright side.”

Old Mrs. Chi glanced at her daughter-in-law, who stood before the two children treating them with equal consideration, and whose authority over the children seemed even stronger than the actual mother’s. She quietly fell silent. A daughter-in-law who couldn't even fully control the children—how could she possibly help their son? She genuinely disapproved. But the old man had a point: they were old; how long could they watch over Chi Wu? A different wife might not treat their Wu Zi with such consideration. The term ‘stepmother’ carried a burden of scrutiny everywhere it went. The son did have his considerations. Everything was for the sake of the family. The old woman began to feel indignant on her son’s behalf again. Since ancient times, the eldest grandson and the youngest son were the old woman’s favorites. Now, someone in the middle was destined to be wronged—between the youngest son and the eldest grandson. Didn't this place the old woman in an agonizing position? Looking at her tall, handsome son, the old lady lamented, “For the sake of my grandson, I feel I’m being unfair to Yong Zi. Why should he suffer?” It was the same recurring thought: her son deserved better than this wife.

The old man countered, “Why? Because she helped us in a time of crisis. Because she shows such tolerance toward our son and grandson. Because she has a good heart. Old partner, this is fortune; not everyone encounters such good people. Remember the outcomes for those who had bad luck a few years back and met the wrong sort? Remember that? Be better to Yang Zhi; treat her as a benefactor.” The old man’s words were merely a way to temper his wife’s resistance. Since there was no room left for negotiation, they had to accept reality. Family harmony was crucial for a household like theirs; he couldn't allow his old wife to continue harboring resentment toward her daughter-in-law. This was an elder prioritizing the greater good. Even if he personally looked down on his daughter-in-law, he had to uphold his son in front of her. As a patriarch, Elder Chi was doing the right thing.

Yang Zhi, standing ahead, was focused entirely on her mountain plots. Regarding the three behind her, she remained philosophical. Their thoughts were beyond her influence; she would simply let things be. She was merely waiting for a decision from them. If Yang Zhi’s outlook seemed too passive or pessimistic, it was a consequence of the times and her own circumstances. For Yang Zhi, Chi Yong had not yet reached the realm of love. Rural women didn't operate on romantic notions of love; it was simply about managing life—finding a mutual understanding and striving wholeheartedly toward a shared future. As a divorced woman bringing a child, she possessed no inherent advantage. Especially after learning Chi Wu was not Chi Yong’s child, Yang Zhi felt acutely self-conscious toward Chi Yong. This was the result of years of societal judgment. In this era, a woman remarrying was subject to public scorn. Never mind marrying a man of Chi Yong’s caliber. Despite the firm tone of his elderly mother, she knew internally who truly held the lesser position. This situation ironically lightened Yang Zhi’s psychological burden: since it wasn't something she could decide, she would listen and wait. Yang Zhi believed that whatever Chi Yong did toward her was his right. If someone meant to leave, no reason could hold them back; she lacked the standing. If he chose to stay, then so be it; she had already accepted the benefits, so there was no logic in driving him away.

Yang Zhi accepted her reality, which brought her a sense of release. Toward Chi Wu, she felt pity. A child this young, orphaned by one parent and separated from the other, was far more pitiable than her own daughter. So, throughout the journey, she cared for Chi Wu exceptionally well. Furthermore, Yang Zhi sensed she might not have the opportunity to care for this child much longer. This realization made her even more devoted. “Wu Zi, if only I had known you earlier… In any case, I would have treated you better. You must study hard from now on, understand?”

Cheng Ying felt her mother was being overly pessimistic; this sounded like a prelude to a farewell. Chi Wu felt a pang of distress upon hearing this. He didn’t want a new mother, not at all. Thinking back to the initial days, Chi Wu felt as if he had just survived a harsh trial only to have the root immediately cut off. If he had to start over, the young boy doubted he possessed the resolve. Throughout the journey, Chi Wu’s mood was truly low; this felt like the beginning of abandonment.

Cheng Ying asked, “Mother, is there anything left on the mountain now?” Yang Zhi replied, “Just some pine nuts left. We’ll gather more on the way back and bring some for Wu Zi’s grandparents; that counts as our local specialty.” Cheng Ying shook her head, uncertain if the old lady would appreciate it. “Fine. Later, Wu Zi and I will go to my place to see—the pine nuts up there are so fragrant and large; I’ve compared them.” Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying. “It’s rare for you to be so generous. I thought you had already drawn a clear line in the sand regarding class standing.” Cheng Ying retorted, “Lines must still be drawn, but aren't I doing this for you? If you leave with your grandmother, finding another driver won't be easy. I thought collecting more would give you something for the road.” Chi Wu bristled. “It hasn’t even happened yet, and you’re already planning for me to leave. You, you…” He was genuinely annoyed. Yang Zhi intervened, “Ying Zi, don't bully Chi Wu, alright?” Then she turned to placate her son, “Ying Zi is just teasing you. Why are you taking it seriously?” Chi Wu wailed, “Anyone in my shoes would worry! I have no father now, and it looks like I’m about to lose my mother too.” He sounded utterly wronged.

His voice was loud enough for those behind them to hear. The elderly couple tasted Chi Wu’s words repeatedly; the content was rich. Yang Zhi exclaimed, “You anxious child! That’s your uncle. He’s the person closest to you in every way. Why the fuss? You’re gaining another father!” Chi Wu shouldered his basket and walked forward, his face etched with profound sadness.

Cheng Ying scoffed, “Enough showing off. You’re doing this deliberately to brag. Is your uncle better than mine? Aren’t you secretly delighted to have such an uncle? Haven't you compared him to my uncles long ago?” She poked Chi Wu in the ribs. “Isn't that right? Aren’t you secretly thrilled? You’ve been weighing them against my uncles for ages, haven’t you?” Chi Wu followed Cheng Ying’s line of thought and realized he was indeed somewhat excited. After all, his uncle had raised him like his own son for so many years. Compared to Cheng Ying’s first and second uncles, he was far luckier. ‘Comparison is the thief of joy,’ but finding a point of consolation worked. Chi Wu conceded, “That is true.” Cheng Ying thought to herself, A transparent child. He’s building his own happiness on the foundation of my sorrow. Oh well, I’ll make this one sacrifice to comfort the kid.

Chi Yong shook his head; his daughter’s thoughts were always so uniquely her own. Elder Chi looked at the little girl carrying the basket. “Later, we’ll go check out the mountain plot you mentioned. Since I’ve rarely come this way, I must see it properly.” Chi Yong replied, “Yes, I’ll take you later. That girl has poured all her energy into those fields.” Compared to Chi Yong’s casual handling of the immediate complication, Chi Wu was utterly dejected. A child’s world is small; parents constitute the entirety of that world. Chi Wu was facing the collapse of his entire sky. It was unlikely the upset child would recover quickly. New grandparents, no matter how loving, couldn't replace parents.

For a rough-mannered man like Chi Yong, understanding Chi Wu’s twisted adolescent feelings was impossible. And the newly acquired grandparents were so utterly immersed in the joy of seeing their eldest grandson that they failed to register Chi Wu’s gloom. The old lady of the house? Sorry, she was preoccupied watching her granddaughter. Besides, there were too many pressing matters; Chi Wu, forgive us, we can’t attend to you right now.

Yang Zhi, however, did perceive Chi Wu’s unhappiness. Partly because she was unhappy herself, and partly because she lacked the means to comfort him. Yang Zhi was not a sharp-witted person to begin with; patting the child’s head was the extent of her comfort. Therefore, Cheng Ying stepped up without hesitation to support Chi Wu, continuously counseling the unfortunate child. It couldn't be helped; having spent time side-by-side with Chi Wu, Cheng Ying knew his thoughts without needing to see them. She felt the boy was being stubborn, and this situation couldn't be reasoned through. So, she took Chi Wu out to work. As for his grandparents, they’d have to wait until they returned from work that evening, as they were too eager to see their grandson. Thus, the next day, Cheng Ying led the depressed Chi Wu into grueling manual labor. The weather had turned cold, so Cheng Ying could no longer clear new land or plant trees. She handed Chi Wu a sickle, and they headed to her mountain plot to cut down branches. Cheng Ying had long coveted this area, but in the summer, the dense leaves made it impossible to penetrate. This season was perfect: cutting down these brushwood branches would allow them to work the mountain area next year, planting a batch of new saplings to establish a nursery.