Yang Zhi felt guilty. If she had a son, she wouldn't have to be so cautious all these years.

"It's all my fault for being useless." Cheng Ying glanced at Yang Zhi’s stomach. Indeed, if she had given her father a son, she wouldn't have been bullied by others.

But how could she say that? "Just treat it as exercise for me.

If anyone gives you trouble in the city, just send me a telegram. Even though I can’t argue with Second Aunt, someone like Wu Zi’s grandma is beneath my notice." Such magnanimity, such grace.

After speaking, Cheng Ying walked away calmly. Chi Yong watched his daughter’s receding figure, feeling rather downcast.

The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was a profound subject; he absolutely had to find a solution. Although what Yingzi said was irritating, it was grounded in reality and needed immediate resolution.

His wife’s backing power was too formidable. He heard his own mother’s blood pressure had been a little high lately; he really couldn't let his daughter clash with her own mother.

His own mother’s fighting capacity wasn't enough, and she wouldn't be a match for the other side. His own mother’s health wasn't up to it.

The old lady glared at her granddaughter, thinking, Is this how one speaks? If this got out—thinking of confronting a mother-in-law before even securing a husband—who would dare ask for her hand?

But looking at her weak-willed daughter-in-law, the old lady ultimately didn't say anything to Yingzi. The intention was to let her chastise Chi Yong a bit, to prevent him from truly suffering slights, because by then, reasoning would be too late.

After seeing those people off, Cheng Ying’s family started celebrating the New Year. This year’s atmosphere was much better than previous ones.

The family's situation had genuinely improved compared to last year. They had some surplus money, and work was going smoothly, giving them more hope for the future.

During the Lunar New Year, Cheng Ying took a portion of the stewed free-range chicken she had prepared and sent it over to Cheng family's Second Grand-Uncle. As for the Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle, Cheng Ying made no move, nor did she wish to continue offering a warm reception to cold shoulders.

Since they had already broken ties, there was no need to maintain superficial civility. When a person's heart isn't right, everything else is pointless.

The hearts of Eldest Aunt and Second Aunt were both crooked. Now, Eldest Aunt wouldn't even bother with mere formalities.

Cheng Ying wasn't angry at their actions; it was all for the sake of their own descendants. But they couldn't set their sights on her things; that was utterly unacceptable.

In Cheng Ying's words, "I need to let them know that even though my name is Cheng the Fool, I'm not foolish, and what's mine, I can protect better. It’s not something anyone can just covet." During the New Year festivities, Chi Yong was beaming, even cooking a dish himself.

This made his own grandmother worry terribly; she kept peering into the pot, thinking about the expense of the oil. The stepfather’s cooking standard was there, but it was too wasteful.

People from the countryside didn't eat like that. The grandmother had only said one thing at that time: "Yongzi is naturally a city person." Cheng Ying translated for her stepfather, fearing the family wouldn't grasp the old lady's deeper meaning: "Uncle, Grandma means you’re a natural-born spendthrift." Chi Yong glanced at his daughter, then left carrying a plate with a chipped rim.

An entire plate of fried potatoes was placed right in front of Yang Zhi. Cheng Ying looked on with envy.

Chi Yong had explicitly said: My extravagance is for my wife; no one else gets any. Cheng Ying regretted her quick mouth.

Although her stepfather was a bit wasteful, the food he made really suited her taste. Yang Zhi said, "It looks too oily to me; give it to the children instead." Cheng Ying looked at her mother; after all, she was her own blood, and she was economical.

Even though life had improved, it only meant they weren't lacking food anymore, that they could fill their stomachs. The culture of dining sophistication hadn't arrived yet.

Even after a whole year, the Cheng Ying household had only bought two slabs of pork fat; how could they possibly find something too oily? Yang Zhi was simply reluctant to eat it herself.

Cheng Ying said, "Mom, you eat it. In the future, I'll have whatever I want to eat.

But it's different for you. I heard that if a pregnant woman craves something and doesn't get to eat it, the child she gives birth to will have a mark on its bottom." Chi Yong’s brow furrowed deeply.

That wouldn't do at all. His wife must have whatever she wanted to eat.

"Zhizi, if you crave anything, you must tell me, okay?" Yang Zhi replied, "Don’t listen to her nonsense. When I was pregnant with Yingzi, what did I have?

In the middle of winter, I craved sour dates, but there were none! I didn't get to eat any until she was born, and wasn't she perfectly fine?" Cheng Ying sighed, "See how miserable my fate is.

People say pregnancy lasts ten months; you’re telling me that for those two months when sour dates aren't in season, I happened to be due? I caught the wrong time." Cheng Ying was truly joking, but everyone at the table fell silent.

If you considered Yingzi’s life, it truly hadn't been easy. Could a girl with good fortune lose a piece of herself so young?

In the old days, in respectable families, a girl like Cheng Ying would have difficulty finding a good match. People said this was a sign of being incomplete, lacking fortune.

Yang Zhi stuffed a piece of potato into her mouth, feeling unsettled. Now that she was moving to the city, only her daughter and mother-in-law would remain.

It was false to say she felt at ease. The old lady was preoccupied with her own son who had died young; she felt distressed.

Chi Yong was thinking about visiting Yingzi’s father’s grave that morning. He genuinely hoped that this Lunar New Year wouldn't require him to face this scene again; frankly, Chi Yong was very unhappy to see it.

The more attentive a man is to a woman, the more he cares about certain matters. Chi Wu slipped a piece of potato onto Cheng Ying’s plate.

"As the saying goes, true blessing comes in old age when you can enjoy life. Grandma, having someone thoughtful by her side is the real fortune.

Your fortune lies ahead." Chi Wu didn't just say this lightly; he was resolved to give Cheng Ying that fortune. Cheng Ying exclaimed, "Oh my, is that Chi Wu?

Why are you speaking so eloquently today?" Chi Wu got annoyed; this person never had a serious moment. He also placed a piece of potato for the old lady.

"Grandma, this is quite soft, fluffy inside. It will be good for you to eat." The old lady, like Cheng Ying, looked at Chi Wu with relief.

"He’s really grown a year older. Look, Wu Zi is much more sensible than Yingzi." Chi Wu wasn't angry this time, but his face flushed.

Chi Yong said, "It’s the New Year; let the four of us toast." Cheng Ying agreed, "Mom should drink the canned fruit soup; absolutely no liquor for her!" Chi Yong quickly served his wife a bowl of bright red canned soup. Chi Wu demanded some from his mother's bowl, but Chi Yong said, "You're a young man now, practically an adult—you should be drinking alcohol." Cheng Ying inwardly thought that children in this era matured early, which was inseparable from their parents' education.

Look, they were actually encouraging a twelve-year-old boy to drink. Chi Wu picked up the fruit wine that tasted like horse urine and took a sip, pinching his nose.

"I really don't understand how Grandpa could have such a look of enjoyment drinking this stuff." Cheng Ying explained that he didn't understand the profound mystery of wine; it was about veiled beauty. After drinking, Chi Yong sighed emotionally, "Mom, I, Chi Yong, will remember your kindness for my entire life.

I'm thirty years old this year and finally have this one child of my own. You have no idea how I feel watching people in the village having sons at sixteen or seventeen.

Mom, don't worry. No matter where Zhizi and I go, no matter if I change my nature, no matter what our future children are named, I will care for you in your old age and mourn you when you pass." Cheng Ying thought this was too much, and he hadn't even had much to drink yet.

The old lady was also displeased to hear this. Although it sounded nice, mentioning death on the Lunar New Year was unlucky.

"Eat your fill and celebrate the New Year properly. Don't talk nonsense!" Chi Yong patted his thin chest.

"Mom, I, Chi Yong, speak the truth. Our family's life, only we know it.

If you recall, we had to work through everything bit by bit initially; feelings are built through interaction. You have to believe me; we have that bond." Cheng Ying thought her stepfather was trying to win over the daughter-in-law ahead of time by playing the emotional card.

The old lady said, "Yongzi, to speak frankly, it doesn't matter how you treat me. I have Yingzi, a son, and a grandson.

But Yang Zhi only has you. You know your own situation well.

If you remember this kindness in the future, just treat Zhizi well. Zhizi is such a quiet person; she doesn't pay mind to suffering or taking burdens upon herself.

Working in the city, I’m not worried; even if she does all the labor, it won't exhaust her. But physical exhaustion is bearable; anger is what kills people.

You must protect her." Cheng Ying interjected, "Why don't we let Mom stay here until the baby is born before leaving? Grandma, I heard that Second Uncle Sun’s wife at the village entrance got so angry with her mother-in-law during her confinement period that she passed away." She was making the gravity of the situation clear.

It was better to prepare the stepfather mentally for the difficulties of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relations now than to have her own mother suppress her anger until she became ill, regardless of how sweet his promises sounded. The old lady looked at her granddaughter.

Such stories were often spread. But that was because Sun Er’s wife was frail to begin with; anger had little to do with it.

She pursed her lips and finally added, "The most taboo thing during pregnancy and childbirth is anger. Yongzi, I entrust Zhizi to you from now on.

You two live your lives. Just remember us, your mother and me, and come back to visit often." Chi Yong sighed.

At his age, he was only just having a child and wife; he absolutely couldn't let her get upset. Once they moved to the city, he would find a separate house.

Distance creates beauty; his wife would worry less. With Yang Zhi’s temperament, any anger she felt would just be bottled up inside.

The old lady’s considerations were indeed thorough. "Mom, Chi Yong calls you Mom; naturally, you are Mom.

You saying that makes me sound petty. Yingzi is my daughter.

My future child’s bloodline will also be inextricably linked to Chi Wu and Yingzi. To put it bluntly, just based on the future need for these elder siblings to look after the child, I must settle both children well." That was said too pragmatically.

Cheng Ying thought: Stepdad, you should stick to drinking. Yang Zhi said, "Alright, let’s just celebrate the New Year.

Why are we talking about this? Look at all this food on the table; it’s a blessing.

Last year, our family worried during the New Year; life is truly getting better and better." Cheng Ying agreed, "Yes, Mom’s belly is getting pregnant at such a good time." And so, the family enjoyed another reunion year. When it was the second day, the paternal aunt and her husband brought their children over.

They were served a meal at the Eldest Uncle's house as usual, but Yang Zhi’s family was not invited. It seemed they intended to stop visiting from now on.

Then Cheng Ying’s family hosted a meal, but the Eldest Uncle didn't come. However, Cheng Ming, the Second Uncle’s son, did come.

Cheng Ying noticed Cheng Ming’s awkwardness and raised an eyebrow, giving a slight wink. The atmosphere immediately smoothed over.

Second Aunt was still angry, but she ate and drank normally—that was just her nature, reflecting her limited capacity. Cheng Ying was prepared for Second Aunt to wipe her mouth after the meal and revert to ignoring her.

Unfortunately, Cheng Ying had only foreseen the beginning and didn't see how relentless Second Aunt would be. After eating, Second Aunt surprisingly helped Cheng Ying clear the table and kept calling her "Yingzi, Yingzi" endearingly.

Cheng Ying’s hair stood on end. Second Aunt must be plotting something big; she was in trouble.

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