Chi Yong, being thick-skinned, managed to get the old lady to sew him three more belts, which, when strung together—two padded and two single—meant the man was planning on wearing them long-term, apparently.

Cheng Yingxin thought the man certainly knew how to cherish his life. This was something he had discussed privately with the old lady.

The old lady glanced at her granddaughter. “The child is just expecting; his life finally has direction. How can he be careless with his body? People—don't just look at how they live their days; ultimately, they live as human beings. Legacy isn't something that just passes by through talk. Without one’s own children, even in the most promising of days, life has no meaning. Look at Wu Zi’s dad now; he even walks with a spring in his step, and his brow is so much firmer.”

Cheng Yingxin thought that people like that had no sense of self; they were all for their children. What was left for her own life?

The current Cheng Ying, without children, couldn't comprehend the old lady’s words and was quite dismissive.

The old lady looked at her granddaughter. “You’ll understand when the time comes. Having your own child is entirely different from raising someone else’s child with great care. It’s not just about having someone to fill the grave with soil when the New Year comes.”

With that, the old lady ignored her granddaughter.

Cheng Ying still only half-understood, but she now understood much better how much the old lady had been upset about her changing her surname back then.

Chi Yong’s telegram was sent, and the reply from the provincial city took another half a month to arrive.

It was almost the New Year by then, and Yang Zhi’s pregnancy was nearing the end of the second month. However, her figure showed no discernible change.

Chi Yong’s elderly parents in the provincial city invited the whole family to spend the New Year there.

Regarding Cheng Ying’s place, it was only a lively topic of conversation in passing. From the letter, one could discern their difficulty and their subtle lack of enthusiasm. If Cheng Ying had been more insistent, she might have even detected a hint of their quiet pleasure in the letter.

Cheng Yingxin mused that educated people were so roundabout with their words. Worthless.

Furthermore, the letter informed Chi Yong of the necessary paperwork for his trip to the provincial city: the certification letter from the village, the one from the township, and the one from the county seat—none could be omitted. Otherwise, traveling such a distance only to have to return for a missing document would be truly not worth the trouble.

They also informed him that they didn't need to look for a house. Since the old lady and Cheng Ying weren't going to the provincial city, it made no sense for their immediate family to live separately.

Cheng Ying immediately considered that her own mother living with the old lady would be a hardship. Wouldn't she just become a maidservant for them?

Her mood darkened considerably. When she mentioned it to the old lady, the old lady said, “It won’t be that bad yet. Isn’t your mother pregnant? Even after the baby is born, it won’t be that immediate. Didn’t we find your mother a job?”

Those two light sentences didn't quite settle Cheng Ying’s unease. She had this one mother; regardless of whether she had been good to her or not, she still had to look out for her. She owed it, after all, to the little bit of bloodline remaining in this body.

Cheng Ying said worriedly, “It’s just that my mother is too capable of enduring hardship and labor.”

This worry almost made the old lady want to give her granddaughter a good thrashing. But the child’s concern was reasonable; perhaps his wife being too good was also a fault. If she had known, she would have brought up his wife to be more selfish.

Chi Wu, from under the covers, muttered, “With Dad here, why worry yourselves sick? Didn’t you see how Mom practically worships Dad now?”

Chi Wu’s tone was as resentful as possible.

The old lady snapped, “Nonsense! What is being worshipped? It’s the New Year; you two watch your mouths, or I’ll smack both of you.”

Chi Wu fell silent. Due to Yang Zhi’s pregnancy, Chi Yong had written home to explain the specific situation. Last time, they only sent a telegram because Yang Zhi’s pregnancy was early, and the old lady insisted on not alarming anyone.

Chi Yong was very obedient because it was for his wife and child. Besides, sending telegrams was charged by the word, which was too expensive.

So this time, Chi Yong wrote over ten pages. He spent two yuan just on stamps. One could imagine how much he wrote. Chi Yong considered Yang Zhi’s current preciousness and felt it necessary to explain the situation clearly to his parents. Otherwise, if Yang Zhi arrived in the provincial city and wasn’t comfortable, worrying too much might result in her not bearing a child as clever as Cheng Ying, which would prove he was inferior to Cheng Ying’s father.

Chi Yong’s mind was clear on this point. Since the living and the dead had no chance for a direct comparison, the proof could only be seen in the child. The competitive instinct in men is very strong, especially for men who care deeply for a woman. Chi Yong was fighting against himself.

Most importantly, this might be the only child he would ever have in his life; he couldn't afford even a tiny bit of setback or accident.

Chi Yong even mailed the prescription for the Chinese medicine he was taking back to his parents, specifically so the elders would recognize the reality of the situation. If he was attentive to Yang Zhi, his own mother couldn't remain so lukewarm toward her.

He also informed his parents that they could only leave around the New Year because his wife’s condition was unstable.

Cheng Ying looked at the long winter break and thought how lucky students were nowadays; a break of over three months covered the coldest period. This was also due to circumstances—imperfect heating equipment meant they couldn't force the children to freeze at school. The teachers had no choice either; a basket of firewood collected per student only lasted a few days.

By the New Year, the news that Yang Zhi was pregnant had spread throughout the village. Just as the rumors about Cheng Ying becoming a 'little cabbage' were circulating, news spread that Yang Zhi would be moving to the provincial city with Chi Yong. The Cheng family had made the village famous.

Everyone said Yang Zhi was blessed. They heard a woman from the next village had also followed a sent-down educated youth, but he had left early that year and only sent back a divorce paper. People said Yang Zhi had met a good man.

The provincial city—what a vast place. Everyone in the village had heard of it, yet no one there had ever been. Even the old village head and the new village head had never been. They heard Yang Zhi was going to be a young mistress; Chi Yong’s family even had a car, and he was an official. People came to their house like sheep.

Cheng Ying remained indifferent to all this.

Behind her back, some gossipy aunts muttered about Cheng Ying, saying her mother was abandoning her to fly away with someone else. Because Cheng Ying refused to go to the provincial city and insisted on staying in the village, Cheng Da Shazi (Cheng the Simpleton) was solidified in that reputation. It was unlikely to be forgotten again like the last time.

Faced with waves of visitors from the village, Chi Yong, afraid of tiring his wife, pulled her into the resting room, saying Yang Zhi needed to conserve energy for the pregnancy. This only fueled the villagers’ gossip. She hadn’t even become a young mistress yet and was already resting like one. Didn't every family have a litter of children? Why was Yang Zhi so delicate? The malicious whispers weren't pleasant, but they were just idle talk, not truly affecting Yang Zhi and her family.

Cheng Ying could understand people’s feelings. Why should a fellow field hand like Yang Zhi suddenly be able to turn her fortunes around? If it were her, she wouldn't feel balanced either and wouldn't people be allowed a few words of grumbling?

Chi Yong told his wife, “We are leaving soon. Let them say what they want. As long as you and the baby are well, that’s all that matters.”

Cheng Ying, annoyed by the intrusions, also retreated to the west room. The old lady was handling all the visits. Sometimes, she could hear her stepfather, Fan Er, staring at his wife’s belly and muttering, “I wonder what he looks like? Is he quite handsome? Does he look like Wu Zi, or like Cheng Ying?”

Cheng Ying glanced at her mother’s belly and felt a vein throb on her forehead. Although she hadn't had many friends in her previous life focused only on work—Qin Hui, for example, had two lovers who were at least somewhat close—Cheng Ying had accompanied them to hospital check-ups during their pregnancies. She genuinely knew that a two-month-old fetus was just a blob of blood; what shape could possibly be discerned? He lacked any knowledge. She turned and decided to move somewhere else. Cheng Ying truly couldn't stand Fan Er, who was so calculatingly simple. It was too distinctly local.

During the New Year, Cheng Ying saw her eldest and second uncles, who never usually visited, along with their excessively enthusiastic wives. Cheng Ying took a deep breath: a weasel paying respects to the chickens—they definitely had ulterior motives. However, Cheng Ying treated them with utmost warmth while hosting them, if only out of respect for the grandmother.

The eldest uncle brought up the matter of visiting the ancestral graves with the grandmother. Surprisingly, this year the eldest uncle said, “Mother, Yingzi is going to visit the third branch alone. Why don’t we have Cheng Ming accompany Yingzi for company?”

The second aunt chimed in, “Isn’t it nice to have Dun’er to hold onto and enjoy ourselves?”

The old lady, having weathered a lifetime of storms, understood the calculations of her sons and daughters-in-law even with her eyes closed. There was nothing she couldn't see clearly.

Cheng Ying smiled sweetly, “That would be wonderful! It’s good that Big Uncle cares about me; my father will surely be happy.” This statement couldn't be scrutinized too closely, or its flavor would turn sour. Cheng Ying was never a truly good person.

The old lady glanced at her granddaughter, then finally spoke, “You will have company. Your grandfather’s resting place will be lonely. You know, the ancestral graves are all in the old cemetery. If few people visit, it will look desolate and invite mockery. Do as you’ve done in previous years; none of you need to worry about it. The third branch has managed this way for so many years and is long accustomed to it. Besides, doesn’t Wu Zi keep Yingzi company? As for the two of you, if you return early, go pay respects at your grandfather’s grave and burn a couple of paper offerings.”

The eldest uncle’s expression showed neither happiness nor displeasure, but the eldest and second aunts’ faces immediately changed. What did the old lady mean by sending an outsider's child, who was practically leaving anyway, to the ancestral graves? And Yingzi, just a girl, why should she go offer respects at the graves? This was unacceptable.

Then the second aunt spoke up, “Mother, the third brother’s wife is going to the city with Wu Zi’s father and them?”

The old lady nodded. What must come will come. “People from their family have arrived. The provincial city arranged a job for her, and they leave after the New Year.”

The eldest aunt exclaimed, “Mother, what about our Yingzi? We heard the villagers say they aren’t taking Yingzi along. That simply won't do! Isn't Yingzi the third sister-in-law’s child? We will not agree to that!” This was said with righteous indignation, every word seemingly for Yingzi’s sake, with “we” used repeatedly.

Chi Yong, standing nearby, didn't bother to speak. If you have the ability, use it. I’d gladly take such an obedient and presentable daughter with me, but your old lady won't allow it.

The second uncle was straightforward, his thoughts less convoluted. “Mother, you still have me and Big Brother. We cannot hold Yingzi back because of this. I hear that getting household registration in the provincial city is hard.”