Second Aunt: "Look at Yingzi. Yesterday, Second Aunt was indeed in the wrong. You know how my mouth is, never any filter, saying everything that comes to mind. Don't hold it against Second Aunt; even for Dunzi's sake, please don't mind me, okay? You and Dunzi grew up together."

Cheng Ying calculated on her fingers. How could she have grown up with Dunzi, who had only just shed his split-crotch pants? "Second Aunt, it’s fine, I won’t mind."

Second Aunt’s face looked terribly conflicted. Did this girl actually think she’d let it go? How could she be so incapable of taking a hint? "Yingzi, look at Dunzi, you practically raised him from a baby, didn't you?"

Cheng Ying almost laughed out loud. Growing up together was impossible, but saying she raised him from a baby was even more ludicrous. However, it was true that when Dunzi was very small, Yingzi had often looked after him.

Cheng Ying nodded in agreement, and Second Aunt’s expression brightened. "Yingzi, come over to Second Aunt’s place more often from now on, go play with Dunzi."

Cheng Ying: "Mm."

Second Aunt left, deeply satisfied.

During the New Year’s Eve vigil, Cheng Ying remarked, "Grandma, Second Aunt must have been scared stiff by Second Uncle getting a divorce. Why is she being so polite? Grandma, I feel uneasy about this."

The old lady glanced at Cheng Ying and said with complete nonchalance, "What’s there to feel uneasy about? Life goes on as it always has. Cross the line, and we chop off the hands."

That was quite ruthless.

Chi Wu: "Second Aunt is making long-term plans."

Cheng Ying: "Second Aunt isn't that kind of person. First Aunt might have that kind of scheming mind."

The old lady: "First wife might think that way. Your First Uncle is just waiting to watch the fun and won't get involved with us. Who knows what devious idea someone put into Second Aunt’s head? Well, at least she’s quiet now, which is better than being a laughingstock for everyone."

Cheng Ying: "Grandma is wise! Grandma, you are the anchor of our family."

Chi Wu: "She’s the family flatterer."

Cheng Ying reached out, "You wretched kid, stop talking nonsense!"

The old lady reached out and tapped Cheng Ying’s shoulder, "You naughty child, what nonsense are you speaking during the New Year? Don't you have any sense of taboo? Are you looking for a beating?"

Cheng Ying was utterly dejected. This was the food chain; she got disciplined too. She shot a resentful glance at Chi Wu, blaming the unlucky brat.

Chi Wu lowered his head to eat, not looking at Cheng Ying at all, but the corner of his mouth was clearly triumphant.

After the fifth day of the first lunar month, the people in the countryside shed many of their superstitious airs. Households started getting back to work.

Yang Zhi and Chi Yong were also ready to leave for the provincial city at any moment.

The school principal regretted Chi Yong's departure; he truly was a teacher capable of bringing out the best in his students. Just look at his son, just look at his daughter—it was evident.

Chi Yong wired ahead to their family; the three of them planned to set off in a couple of days.

Cheng Ying felt anxious. "Grandma, will my mother be okay? She’s my only biological mother!"

She whispered this to the old lady while lying in bed, with Chi Wu listening right beside them.

The old lady pursed her lips. She’d never heard of anyone having two biological mothers. But a child’s heart naturally worried about their mother. "Don't you worry. Your mother is the type who won’t utter a word even if you hit her three times with a stick. Anyone who gets angry with her is purely asking for trouble. Besides, your mother is pregnant. Even if Wu Zi's grandmother had any power, she couldn't use it now. Once your mother gives birth and goes back to work, she'll dump the child on the old lady. At her age, what energy does she have left to argue with a daughter-in-law? When it comes down to it, your mother is completely unconcerned."

Cheng Ying thought her grandmother must have suffered this before; enduring a daughter-in-law who couldn't read the room must have worn her down over half her life.

Speaking of which, what could be said of her own mother? It was like one brute force couldn't beat ten wits. This was one simpleton neutralizing a mother-in-law. Cheng Ying felt relieved. Her own mother really didn't take slights to heart. Besides, there was a stepfather; even if he didn't protect his wife, he had to protect his children.

Chi Wu: "Grandma, I will take care of my mother."

His tone was light, but his words were firm.

Then he told Cheng Ying, "Don’t worry too much. Hurry up and test into the city. I’ll be waiting for you."

The old lady: "Wu Zi is right. You should study hard. If you get into the city based on your own abilities in the future, that will bring honor to your mother."

Cheng Ying seriously considered whether she could complete her nine years of compulsory education a few years earlier. Moreover, the current nine-year education required tuition fees. Why must she follow the main group? She was already twelve, only in the second year, equivalent to the third grade. By the time she finished junior high, she’d be quite old. Other twelve-year-olds had already graduated primary school; how big was that gap?

Cheng Ying decided that after the final exams this term, she would go to middle school. Since Chi Wu had set a precedent, as long as her academic qualifications were sufficient, she shouldn't be unduly burdened. Besides, she was the appropriate age; it was just the long distance to school that delayed her start. Now, she needed to catch up.

Cheng Ying drifted off to sleep in a daze.

The next day, she woke up to see her biological mother and stepfather off, along with Chi Wu and the other two. Her maternal uncle had borrowed a vehicle from the township to pick them up.

Cheng Ying was still reluctant to part ways. She packed a glass jar full of honeysuckle flowers for her mother, along with every medicinal herb she could spare.

Chi Wu watched from the side as Cheng Ying and Yang Zhi were locked in a reluctant embrace, growing slightly impatient—when would it be his turn?

Yang Zhi: "Yingzi, you must take good care of your Grandma."

Cheng Ying: "You just take care of yourself. You can’t let anyone bully you. If you become too soft, when I can’t make it here in the future and have to rely on you, I’ll be bullied by others too, Mom."

These words were more effective than simply saying, "If you are bullied, your daughter will feel bad."

Yang Zhi wiped her tears: "Mom knows. I’ll come back to visit when I have time. You must study hard, you hear?"

Cheng Ying: "Mom, stop talking, hurry up and go. Your belly is important, protect it."

Cheng Ying couldn't stand this kind of scene.

Yang Zhi’s eyes were genuinely teary. "Mom, come to the city with me. Let Yingzi go to school at your uncle’s place."

The old lady, who had been quite attentive, heard Yang Zhi’s suggestion and immediately dismissed it with one line: "Nonsense! Hurry up and go, sooner is better than later."

With that, she told Maternal Uncle Yang to drive.

Just then, Second Aunt appeared carrying a cloth bag. "Zhizi, leaving already? Why didn't you say so earlier? Look, Second Sister-in-law prepared some things for you to take to the city for Wu Zi’s grandmother and the others to taste something fresh."

Cheng Ying instinctively glanced toward the rising sun—was this really her Second Aunt? Had someone possessed her?

Yang Zhi couldn't manage a response for a moment.

It was Chi Yong who spoke up, "Second Sister-in-law, thank you for thinking of us. We’re leaving now. Yingzi and Mom will have to depend on you for a lot of care."

This speech delighted Second Aunt. "No trouble, no trouble at all. She is my mother-in-law, and she is my niece; if I don't look after them, who will?"

Cheng Ying’s hazy heart was suddenly illuminated by Chi Yong’s words. Second Aunt hadn't given up, or perhaps Second Aunt didn't harbor grand ambitions like First Aunt; she sought little, maybe just some of Grandma’s possessions. Or perhaps Second Aunt was looking long-term, seeing that Cheng Ying would surely become successful and fly out of this small mountain village.

In an instant, Cheng Ying viewed Second Aunt as towering; wasn't she the most lovable person? Look at her vision; she could already see it.

The old lady ignored her daughter-in-law. "No profit, no early rising," that’s what she thought of her Second Daughter-in-law.

Chi Yong: "Mom, we’re leaving now. Don't worry, I will take good care of Yang Zhi."

Cheng Ying nodded to the old lady simultaneously; they were truly relieved about this. Even if Chi Yong couldn't take good care of Yang Zhi, he still had to look after Yang Zhi's child, didn't he?

Under Second Aunt’s cheerful waving, Yang Zhi and Chi Yong finally departed.

Cheng Ying finally felt settled. Living their own separate lives was fine; why must everyone be bound together?

Chi Wu was left sulking the entire way, hadn't he even had a proper goodbye with her? Had Yingzi not even seen him?

Second Aunt smiled brightly. "Mom, Yingzi, if you have any heavy work, call for your Second Uncle. I’m heading back now."

Cheng Ying: "Grandma, I thought from the start that my Second Aunt was a pure person. I really appreciate people like that."

The old lady shot her granddaughter an annoyed glance. "Tidy up properly and go do what you need to do."

Cheng Ying kept quiet. "The New Year just passed; what do you expect me to do?"

But she only thought this to herself; she wouldn't dare speak such things aloud to the old lady.

It was true that the weather had been nice since the New Year, with no snow left on the ground. Cheng Ying went inside to start knitting a thin pair of woolen trousers for herself. The ones she knitted before were too thick; though very warm, they were clumsy to wear in spring and autumn.

Speaking of which, she and the old lady hadn't been idle these past few days; every member of the family had a full set of woolen sweaters and trousers. Although some had been finished by Cheng Ying and the old lady before the New Year, it still felt rushed.

Cheng Ying had also specially knitted a woolen vest for Chi Wu, in a style quite different from the current fashion—very chic.

When Chi Wu held the vest, he cherished it immensely. Chi Wu held Cheng Ying’s hand for a long time without speaking.

Cheng Ying just felt then how easily satisfied children were. She didn't pull her hand away either. Heaven knew Chi Wu’s mind had already wandered far beyond this.

Finally, Cheng Ying heard Chi Wu say, "Yingzi, I promise to buy you the prettiest clothes in the future. You must wait for me."

Cheng Ying thought, Wretched kid, before you buy me anything, I can't walk around naked! Is waiting something I should do? But she didn't argue with Chi Wu seriously. "Okay, big sister will wait for you to be filial."

Thinking back on it now, it was amusing.

Cheng Ying: "Grandma, I didn't sleep well last night. I’m going to take a nap."

The old lady: "Go on then. I’m going to the Third Aunt's place to grind corn."

With that, the old lady left. The two of them went about their business, just as they always did in the house.

Cheng Ying bolted the main door, let Er Ya out, and went into her room, safely entering her dimension. This past March had completely stifled Cheng Ying; with family coming and going, she truly hadn’t had a chance to check on the space. Lately, she felt her head spinning, and Cheng Ying didn't know if it was a physical ailment or a problem with the space. Could the space be inside her head? That made no sense considering the volume and area. Never mind.

Cheng Ying took a few broken tiles and a piece of iron wire into the space. She could only stare in shock. Cheng Ying looked at the space before her and thought, What happened? Why has it become so high-end and stylish?