Uncle pursed his lips, looking at Chi Yong with a darkening mood. City folk were no good, and people from the provincial capital were even worse. This felt like bullying the Cheng family because they had no one left. They kept touting the familial ties to the Cheng family, yet this was how they repaid that kindness—forcing their daughter to change her surname and sever her lineage, using the hukou (household registration) to hold them hostage.

However, Yang Yi’s own position was awkward. He couldn't bring up this matter in front of his own mother here, as it would make things incredibly difficult for his sister. Things were manageable before, but now that his sister was pregnant, she was truly caught between a rock and a hard place.

Yang Yi entertained a conspiracy theory: was Chi Yong doing this deliberately? How could the timing be so perfect?

Yang Yi was overthinking things; even if Chi Yong wanted a child, it wasn't easy to conceive. This truly depended on fate, something beyond human control, especially since he wasn't exactly a person in peak physical and mental health right now; he was still recovering. This felt like hitting the jackpot.

Chi Yong noticed his brother-in-law’s unfriendly gaze and knew the Yang family had sharp minds. Seeing his own kin had acted dishonorably, he glanced apologetically at his brother-in-law. “Leave this to me. I will handle the hukou issue for Yingzi myself later.”

Yang Yi took a sip of wine, ignoring Chi Yong. He looked at his niece. “My Yingzi might not even be interested in a provincial capital hukou.”

This proud statement choked Chi Yong. Indeed, now that his wife was expecting, his brother-in-law’s status had risen, allowing him to deliver such a blow.

Cheng Ying spoke up, “I don’t want to move to the city this way. I’ve considered it. My studies are good; I can take my hukou with me if I get into university. I was planning to transfer it when I went to college.”

Chi Yong countered, “Yingzi, you don’t understand. Get the hukou transferred to the city first. You can still take it with you when you go to college. It’s different.”

Cheng Ying replied, “Wouldn’t that be too troublesome? My grandmother, my whole family is here. Everyone within three or five li knows I study well and brought honor to the old Cheng family. If I get into college, won’t that be an honor for our village too? It would be unfair to the neighbors.” This was the more official response.

Chi Yong snapped, “Don’t give me that nonsense. You won’t be listening to yourself on this matter.”

Seeing Chi Yong’s attitude, Cheng Ying decided to be blunt. “My father’s surname is Cheng, and I take my father’s surname, Cheng. I am my father’s only living bloodline; I will not change my surname. As for moving to the city, I certainly won’t let this trivial matter allow someone to hold the Cheng family hostage. I have plenty of ways to get into the city.”

What a magnanimous statement, delivered so directly, sparing Chi Yong none of his pride. The troublesome things your parents did—did you think rural folks didn't know what happens outside? Why are you still acting like a peacock with a sweeping tail? I’m not buying it.

Chi Yong’s face flushed with embarrassment. “We’ll listen to your uncle on this. Although I have no blood relation to you, my child will be the closest person to you. You must trust your uncle. If for no other reason than this connection, I have to secure a reliable future for you.”

The Old Lady took a deep breath. With such a staunch granddaughter, what more could she ask for? Having a granddaughter with such backbone, whether she went to the city or stayed, she wouldn't end up poorly. “Alright, it’s settled then. Yingzi is not going to the city with you. Yingzi is the bloodline of our old Cheng family. If she achieves greatness in the future, it will still be from the Cheng family, from Shanghe Village. She will be the glory of the Cheng family. You all should prepare yourselves. This engagement is settled, do you agree?” The Old Lady did not seek Chi Yong’s opinion anymore; it wasn't important now.

Grandpa looked at his niece, wondering where she got that spirit; it certainly wasn’t from his daughter. How could this backbone be so convincing? “Agreed. We’ll listen to our in-law grandmother. We must leave a bloodline for the son-in-law; the surname cannot change. Even if they begged us to move to the city, we wouldn’t go. We rely on ourselves.”

Chi Yong felt awkward. Chi Wu, standing nearby, didn’t understand. What was the big deal about changing a surname? If the surname changed, Cheng Ying wouldn’t be Cheng Ying anymore, wouldn’t be his father’s flesh and blood—why all this fuss?

He was a twelve-year-old boy with little sense of blood ties, unable to grasp it. He certainly didn't realize that this "trivial matter" would become a huge obstacle to his future aspirations. Yingzi was determined to secure a match to carry on the family line for her father.

The family mostly overlooked Yang Zhi’s opinion. Yang Zhi watched her daughter, thinking, I wonder how the Old Lady raised her. The thing I’ve been agonizing over for over a month—why is it just a trivial matter in my daughter’s eyes? That’s the difference.

The Old Lady declared, “It’s settled. No one brings this up again. Yongzi, you leave with your in-laws tomorrow. Go see how your health is recovering. I heard if the adults are healthy, the children born will be healthier. If anything unexpected happens, we can’t afford any delays. Both adult and child are major concerns.”

Chi Yong sighed, “Okay, I’ll listen to Mom.” As for Cheng Ying’s hukou issue, Chi Yong was determined to resolve it no matter what; otherwise, it would be too humiliating. Sigh. Thankfully, although Chi Yong looks like a pretty boy, he’s actually thick-skinned enough to remain composed, eating and drinking with them at the table.

Yang Zhi felt she couldn't think about this child anymore. Since the baby was coming anyway, it had to be a good one. If only it were as sensible as her daughter. When she was pregnant with her daughter, just like her mother-in-law said, she was foolishly eating, foolishly sleeping, and foolishly working, without engaging her mind at all. It seemed that to have a good child, she needed to follow the old way.

Dinner finished around eight or nine. At that hour in winter, it was pitch black. No matter how displeased the Old Lady was with Old Man Yang, she couldn’t let guests walk home in shame, especially with the in-laws’ nephew present. As for Yingzi’s maternal uncle, he truly was exceptional in the Old Lady’s eyes—solidly good.

Yang Zhi followed the group down to the table and even brought her own bedding to the east room, letting her father and brothers sleep with their man in the west room. The house only had three rooms; this was how guests were hosted. Usually, this arrangement was fine, but today Chi Yong’s brow was furrowed intensely.

Coming out of the east room, he specifically told Cheng Ying and Chi Wu to stay away from their mother and sleep soundly, warning them not to kick her in their sleep. This gave Cheng Ying the urge to beat Wu Zi’s dad again.

Looking at the departing Chi Yong, Cheng Ying asked the Old Lady, “When will his brain recover to normal? Is this ever going to end?” The Old Lady shared her granddaughter’s thoughts but couldn't voice them so bluntly. Even in agreement, it wouldn't do. She tapped Yingzi lightly on the back. “Don’t talk nonsense. Go to sleep.”

Yang Zhi felt her daughter was right. “In another couple of days, he’ll probably get used to it. Just bear with it.”

Chi Wu’s face darkened. The whole family thought his dad was sick. The Old Lady fell silent.

The next morning, Yang Zhi woke up early to cook for her father. Chi Yong was already waiting outside the door. Seeing Yang Zhi, he asked, “Why are you up so early?”

Yang Zhi replied, “Aren’t you already outside? Is it still early?”

Chi Yong continued his dramatic display, as if acting in a Qiong Yao drama, “Can you compare yourself to me?”

Yang Zhi was acting in a domestic drama, completely out of sync with Chi Yong. She looked him over carefully. “Indeed. Why do you have such dark circles under your eyes? Didn’t you sleep well?”

Chi Yong rubbed his face and shook his head. “I didn’t sleep at all. My heart feels like it’s growing grass; I just can’t calm down.”

Cheng Ying, listening from the inner room, felt restless. It’s just a baby, not an illegitimate child, not an affair. The woman carrying the child can sleep, so why can’t you, a man who isn’t giving birth? What do you have to be restless about?

Yang Zhi said, “Didn’t sleep all night? Then how are you going into the city with Dad and the others today? You better rest well at home, or you might drive the cart into a ditch.” That was such plain, down-to-earth talk.

Chi Yong looked at his wife. “You slept so soundly?”

Yang Zhi became unhappy. “I am a woman who conducts herself properly. This child is conceived with a man I am legally married to. Why would I sleep restlessly?”

Cheng Ying thought to herself, Good, keep being dramatic. Mom’s aura should have been asserted long ago.

Grandma, putting on her clothes, remarked, “It’s rare to see your mother stand up straight like that.”

Cheng Ying replied, “We’re heading into the city soon, so we must make him practice straightening his spine in advance; otherwise, life will be hard.”

The Old Lady looked outside at the silent Chi Yong. “Maybe not. Things aren’t like they were a few days ago.” Cheng Ying agreed inwardly. Looking at her stepfather’s current behavior, even though he was an intellectual, his governor father couldn’t elevate him when it came to his lineage.

Yang Zhi looked at Chi Yong. “Go back to sleep quickly.”

Chi Yong asked gently, sounding cautious lest his wife get angry, “Zhizi, is there something about me that dissatisfies you? Why have you been speaking so sharply these past two days?”

Yang Zhi retorted, “You said I slept restlessly; of course, I have to clarify that. I live my life honestly; why would I sleep restlessly?” This was Yang Zhi’s moral bottom line, and Chi Yong knew he couldn't cross it.

He finally offered a weak justification. “I’m too excited to sleep. Aren’t you excited?”

Yang Zhi thought that since this wasn't her first child, she genuinely didn't feel the same sleepless excitement as Chi Yong. But she couldn't say that to him. After staying in the countryside for half a year, Yang Zhi knew that some truths shouldn't be spoken aloud. Chi Yong kept staring at his wife, hoping for spiritual resonance. Yang Zhi, though knowing some things shouldn't be said, wasn't skilled at lying, so the atmosphere grew stiff.

Cheng Ying came out. “For the sake of the child, Mom needs to sleep. If he doesn’t rest well, the baby in her belly won’t rest well. She can’t just act up like you, can she?”

Yang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement. “The baby needs rest.” Then she added pointedly, “And sleep.”

Chi Yong rubbed his eyes. “What do you want to eat today?”

Yang Zhi said, “Move aside, I need to cook. Dad and the others will be up soon. Just don’t hover around me.”

Chi Yong looked at his wife, thinking, No wonder people say you should find a wife you share common interests with. Can someone with such a lack of romance answer me like that? But Chi Yong didn't dwell on it. “Okay, Yingzi, you and Chi Wu, come here for a moment. Uncle has something to say.”

Cheng Ying thought, No way, you haven’t slept all night, and you still want to cause trouble?