Old Man Chi was pleased, but his pleasure stemmed from his own son. For Cheng Ying to score first place, it must have been due to his son's tutoring. Otherwise, who in this household could have guided such an outstanding child? The old man’s logic, while perhaps rigorous, was not entirely wrong, But he had no concept of rebirth existing in this world. Cheng Ying hadn't followed the usual path; she possessed knowledge entirely her own, completely unrelated to his son. Whose fault was that? Blame the old man for never having read online literature. Such things simply didn't exist in this era; at best, a folk tale might mention a soul returning in a borrowed body. Forgive the narrow scope of knowledge held by the Chi family elders.

Old Madam Chi muttered, "It’s not entirely shameful. If only his mother were as clever." That expectation placed rather a high demand on Yang Zhi. Chi Yong looked up at the sky, thinking his daughter must have inherited traits from his wife's ex-husband. His own wife was truly dull-witted, the kind that simply wouldn't click, incomparable to his daughter. His own mother was thinking too much, dreaming too grandly. Chi Yong shook his head, saying nothing. A foolish wife had her merits, benefits his own mother hadn't yet grasped. With a wife like Yang Zhi, mother-in-law issues were practically nonexistent; she was utterly submissive. Of course, besides Chi Yong, few others would appreciate the advantages of a simple-minded wife.

Old Man 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 about choosing a wife; it was his son choosing character, choosing conscience. As a father, Old Man Chi felt a measure of pride—this was a matter of integrity. He counseled his wife, "As long as the children are happy and stay near us, what can't we overcome? Look at the daughter-in-law ahead; look at how she treats Wu Zi. If you swapped her out, can you guarantee our Wu Zi wouldn't suffer? We are both getting old. In the future, Wu Zi will still rely on Chi Yong. Having someone like this is our blessing. Try to see the bigger picture."

Old Madam Chi glanced at her daughter-in-law, who stood ahead treating the two children equally, and seemed even more assertive than the children's own mother, and quietly closed her mouth. A daughter-in-law who couldn't even keep her own children in check—what help could she truly offer their son? She genuinely disapproved. But the old man was right on one point: they were old; how many years could they look after Chi Wu? Changing wives might not guarantee someone would treat their Wu Zi this well. The term "stepmother" was always subject to scrutiny, wherever it went. The son did have his reasons. It was all for the sake of the family. The old lady began to feel aggrieved on her son's behalf again. Since ancient times, the eldest grandson and the youngest son were the darlings of the grandmother. Now, with the youngest son and the eldest grandson vying for attention, one had to suffer slight. Didn't this put the old lady in an agonizing position? The old woman looked at her tall and handsome son. "For the sake of my grandson, I feel I've wronged Yong Zi. Why should he have to endure this?" It was the same sentiment: her son deserved better than this kind of wife.

The old man countered, "Why? Because she helped us in our time of crisis. Because she shows tolerance toward our son and grandson. Because she has a good heart. Old woman, this is fortune; not everyone encounters such good people. Do you forget the outcomes for those who had bad luck a few years ago, meeting cruel people? Treat Yang Zhi kindly; regard her as a benefactor." The old man’s words were merely a means to temper his wife's feelings. Since there was no room for debate, they had to accept reality. Family harmony was vital for a family like theirs; he couldn't allow his old wife to harbor ill will toward her daughter-in-law. This was an old man looking out for the greater good. Even if he personally disliked his daughter-in-law, he had to stand by his son in front of her. As a patriarch, Old Man Chi was acting correctly.

Yang Zhi ahead was focused entirely on her mountain plot. Regarding the three behind her, Yang Zhi was resigned; She couldn't influence their thoughts; she simply let them be. She was just waiting for their decision. If Yang Zhi's outlook seemed too passive, too pessimistic, it was a result of the times and her own circumstances. For Yang Zhi, Chi Yong hadn't yet reached the level of love. Rural women didn't often possess a concept of romance; it was just about managing life, about the two being in sync and striving toward that life together. As a divorced woman with a child, she had no advantages. Especially after learning Chi Wu wasn't Chi Yong's biological son, Yang Zhi felt insecure around Chi Yong. This was the result of years of societal judgment. In this era, a woman remarrying would be pointed at. Let alone marrying a man like him. Despite the strong tone her old mother-in-law took, Yang Zhi knew deep down who truly benefited from the arrangement. This situation ironically lightened Yang Zhi’s burden: since it wasn't up to her to decide, she would listen and wait. Yang Zhi believed that whatever Chi Yong did toward her was what she deserved. If someone meant to leave couldn't be kept, there was no reason to hold them back; she lacked the standing. If he stayed, well, he stayed. She had already gained the benefit; there was no sense in chasing him away.

Yang Zhi had come to terms with it and relaxed. Toward Chi Wu, Yang Zhi felt a sense of pity. A child this age, without a father or mother, was far more pitiful than her own daughter. So, she cared for Chi Wu exceptionally well throughout the journey. Besides, Yang Zhi felt she might not have the chance to look after this child much longer. Thus, she became even more devoted. "Wu Zi, if I had known about you... well, I would have treated you even better. You must study hard from now on, understand?"

Cheng Ying felt her mother was being too pessimistic; this sounded like a prelude to a farewell. Chi Wu felt uncomfortable hearing this. He didn't want a new mother, not at all. Thinking back to the initial days, Chi Wu felt like he had just struggled through the hardest part, only to have the tip of the candle snuffed out. If this had to happen again, the young man doubted he had the resolve. Chi Wu's mood throughout the journey was truly somber; it felt like he was about to be abandoned.

Cheng Ying asked, "Mom, what else is left on the mountain?" Yang Zhi replied, "Just some pine nuts. We’ll gather more on the way back and bring some to Wu Zi's grandparents; that counts as our local specialty." Cheng Ying shook her head; the old lady might not appreciate it. "Fine, later Wu Zi and I will visit my place. The pine nuts from my mountain are fragrant and huge; I can vouch for that." Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying. "It's rare for you to be so generous. I thought you had already drawn your class lines." Cheng Ying countered, "Lines must be drawn, but I'm speaking for you, aren't I? If you leave with your grandmother, finding another driver won't be easy. I thought we could gather more for you to eat on the road." Chi Wu bristled, "We haven't even left yet, and you're already planning for me to go. You... you..." He was clearly annoyed. Yang Zhi interjected, "Ying Zi, don't bully Chi Wu, okay?" Then she turned to soothe her son, "Ying Zi is just teasing you, why take it seriously?" Chi Wu complained, "Anyone would worry in this situation. Now I have no father, and I'm about to lose my mother too." He sounded deeply aggrieved. His voice was loud enough that the people behind them heard everything.

The old couple tasted Chi Wu's words carefully. The content was quite rich. Yang Zhi said, "You child, look how anxious you are. That's your uncle; he is the closest person to you no matter how you look at it. Why are you making a scene? You've gained another father figure." Chi Wu turned and walked ahead carrying his basket, his face a mask of absolute melancholy.

Cheng Ying retorted, "Enough showing off. You're deliberately trying to flaunt it. Is your uncle better than my uncle? Aren't you secretly thrilled to have an uncle like that? You must have compared them to my uncles long ago, right?" Then she poked Chi Wu in the ribs. "Isn't that right? Aren't you delighted deep down? You compared them long ago, didn't you?" Chi Wu followed Cheng Ying's line of thought and felt a surge of excitement. At least his uncle had raised him like his own son for so many years. Compared to Cheng Ying's eldest and second uncles, he was much luckier. Comparing oneself to others indeed breeds envy, but he had found a source of comfort. Chi Wu conceded, "That's true."

Cheng Ying thought to herself, A child exposed—he’s building his own happiness on my sorrow. Fine, I’ll sacrifice for once to comfort the kid. Chi Yong shook his head; his daughter’s thinking was always so uniquely different.

Old Man Chi looked at the little girl carrying the basket. "Later, we’ll go check out the mountain plot you mentioned. It’s rare for me to visit here; I must take a good look." Chi Yong replied, "Yes, I'll take you later. That girl puts all her energy into that mountain." Compared to Chi Yong’s easy resolution of the immediate problem, Chi Wu was entirely gloomy. A child’s world is often small; parents constitute that entire world. Chi Wu was facing the collapse of his sky. It would take time for a troubled child to emerge from this state; newly acquired grandparents couldn't replace parents. For a rough-and-tumble man like Chi Yong, he couldn't grasp Chi Wu's complicated adolescent feelings. And the newly acquired grandparents were entirely immersed in the joy of seeing their eldest grandson; They failed to perceive Chi Wu’s gloom. The old lady of the house—she was watching her own granddaughter, after all. Besides, she had too many worries of her own. Chi Wu, I’m sorry, I can’t spare attention for you.

Yang Zhi, however, noticed Chi Wu’s unhappiness. Firstly, she was unhappy herself, And secondly, she had no idea how to console him. Yang Zhi wasn't naturally sharp; patting the child's head was the extent of her comfort. So, Cheng Ying stepped up, taking charge of comforting the unlucky child. She couldn't help it; having spent time together day and night, she knew the child's thoughts without needing to look. Cheng Ying felt the teenager was being stubborn, and this issue couldn't be reasoned out. She decided to take Chi Wu out to work. As for his grandparents, sorry, they would have to wait until they returned from work that evening, as the focus was on the grandson. Thus, the next day, Cheng Ying took the depressed Chi Wu and plunged them into heavy physical labor. The weather had turned cold, so Cheng Ying couldn't clear more land or plant more trees. She handed Chi Wu a sickle, and they headed to her mountain plot to cut brushwood. Cheng Ying had been eyeing this area for a while, but in summer, the leaves were too dense to get in. This season was perfect. By felling these branches, they could clear this section of land next year to plant a batch of new saplings, creating a nursery.