Cheng Ying, being clever, led the man up the mountain from the side of the logging area, deliberately avoiding passing through her family's land. Though society seemed fine, one couldn't truly read people's hearts; keeping a few extra precautions didn't hurt.

Cheng Ying didn't mind her feet aching, and the heavy-set boss trailing behind her was even more exhausted—she could tell by his breathing, "Girl, how much further?" Cheng Ying replied, "Almost there, just hold on. You really need this exercise." The man had never endured such hardship.

"I... I only came because I heard this area is famous for its timber, especially the high-grade stuff." Cheng Ying walked ahead, her face calm and breath steady.

"That's right, sir. You've come to the right place; the timber here is renowned." The man frowned.

"But I didn't realize 'timber' grows this high up on the mountain." Cheng Ying thought the man behind her might be suffering from oxygen deprivation, making him a bit dense. If wood didn't grow on mountains, where did he expect it to grow?

So, when she turned back to look at him with the gaze one reserves for an utter simpleton, The man instantly knew he had exposed his ignorance. "Auntie means, I didn't know it grew on such a high mountain.

My constitution isn't suited for climbing." Cheng Ying inwardly thought, If you weren't so unfortunate-looking, I'd just haul you up on the tractor. It’s not my fault you can’t keep up.

When they reached the small slope, the man regained some swagger. "This is quite nice." It seemed he had no real taste, not even a cultured sigh.

Cheng Ying fanned herself with one hand and gestured towards the path ahead. "Let's go." The man immediately wilted.

"Little sister, I say, little sister, I’m taken with this spot even after such a long walk, but transportation is a real issue. I certainly can't carry it down." Cheng Ying countered, "Look at all that timber in the logging area, all those mountain workers—they manage to carry it down." The man felt being overpowered by the young girl's presence once was luck; Being overpowered a second time meant he was having a bit of bad luck; But being overpowered by the young girl a third time meant the girl truly had considerable capability.

The man finally looked at the young girl properly. "Girl, your mountain plot is quite a trek.

Do you manage it all yourself?" Cheng Ying replied coolly, "Nothing valuable, just a couple of old logs. No need for me to manage it personally; the loggers keep an eye on the woods when they pass by." Listen to how flawlessly Cheng Ying put that.

The man looked at the pristine area on the mountain and could already see excellent timber. Past that initial slope, though the trees were sparser, they had clearly grown thick and straight, looking lush and vibrant.

"Girl, this wood is excellent!" Cheng Ying responded flatly, "Average, uncle. Is this the type you want?" The man fell silent.

That tone felt utterly contemptuous, as if to say, You're worked up over something this common? Why was this little girl so depressing?

The man continued, "Little girl, you're just too honest. If it were someone else, and they got annoyed, look around—you need to be more careful." Cheng Ying glanced at the surroundings.

It was the perfect time for murder and arson; rape, robbery, one could even sneak in a bit of everything. If someone with ill intentions were present, they had certainly found the right moment to commit a crime.

However, she wouldn't have dared lead anyone up the mountain without some leverage. If he dared try anything crooked, she could destroy the evidence and erase every trace before he even knew what happened.

But she couldn't say that, so Cheng Ying opened her mouth: "I have good eyes; I can judge a person instantly. You, sir, are a good person." The man inexplicably felt a sudden difficulty in breathing.

Being handed a 'good person' card felt so utterly frustrating. What kind of unlucky brat was this, acting like a debt collector?

Whoever ended up with this girl as a father figure must have a tough life; with a few lukewarm sentences, this girl had managed to suffocate him. He no longer found the little girl attractive at all; she was suddenly just withered bone beneath beautiful skin.

Cheng Ying thought, making money wasn't easy. She'd been driving the tractor back and forth for the past two years, and now she actually felt the climb was strenuous—though, compared to the man behind her, she was still fine.

Then, Cheng Ying couldn't help but say, "Uncle, with your physique, if you truly were a bad person, do you think you could outrun me?" The stout man’s face flushed crimson, entirely from the exertion of the climb. "Don't anger me, please." Cheng Ying looked down at her own plot, shrouded by the tips of the great trees below.

She felt a great surge of confidence, but this wasn't the time for sentiment. The uncle said, "Take a look.

Which of these trees catches your eye? We can discuss a price." The man followed where Cheng Ying pointed.

Indeed, they were fine specimens. "Excellent timber!

This is Manchurian Pine!" Cheng Ying replied, "That’s about the best we have in the North, uncle. If you wanted Gold Phoebe wood, I couldn't find that either." After the verbal beatings throughout the journey, the man could now basically ignore Cheng Ying’s words.

He continued excitedly, circling the tree. "Girl, this is all yours?" Cheng Ying stated, "Selling someone else’s property is illegal." The man finally calmed down.

"Little girl, it’s not that I don't trust you, but to be frank, if you hadn't been driving that tractor earlier, I wouldn't have followed you this far. I think you really need to bring an adult family member to discuss this.

After all, I need to know the items we pay for are legitimate, right?" He had followed her lead in conversation. Cheng Ying thought, It's all because I'm young.

Look how hard it is to earn trust. And then there was the effect of having a 'luxury vehicle'—look how useful driving a tractor was!

Cheng Ying felt a surge of pride. Although it was bumpy, she was the only person in the entire township driving a tractor, and she was a woman, too.

Nowadays, the three big items for a girl seeking a husband were a sewing machine, a Flying Pigeon bicycle, and a Seagull watch. But in Shanghe Village, that didn't work.

The local saying went: If you're so impressive, why don't you give your own daughter a tractor as a dowry? Cheng Ying felt immense pride thinking about the impact she had brought to Shanghe.

Her legend, she thought, ought to last until she was old enough to tell stories to her grandchildren. "Little girl?" The man grew anxious.

What was the girl pondering? Why did she give off such an unsettling vibe?

Cheng Ying snapped back, "Discussing it with my family? Are you trying to pull a fast one on me?" The man retorted, "You little thing!

If I were trying to cheat you, why wouldn't I just go straight to your family?" Cheng Ying continued, "Then you should tell me now. My father is gone, my mother remarried, my grandfather passed long ago.

My grandmother..." She glanced up at the man. "See that thickest one over there?

That one is reserved for my grandmother." Though she said nothing more, Cheng Ying had made her point: she was the only one holding things together at home. If you try to fool an almost-dead old woman, aren't you clearly trying to trick me?

It was no wonder the little girl saw him as suspicious. The man said, "Girl, can you really manage things at home?" Cheng Ying replied, "As you can see, if there were someone strong to lead the house, would they let a girl like me drive a tractor all over the place?

It’s all for the sake of living, uncle." The man thought that the girl, despite her beauty, had a difficult fate. A family like this would force a girl into hardship early.

"Little girl, don't talk like that. Seeing you drive that tractor is quite majestic, even more impressive than driving a big car.

When I get back, I'll get one for my daughter; I truly envy you." Cheng Ying asked, "Uncle, where are you from?" The man said, "The neighboring county town." Cheng Ying replied, "Then forget it. If you got a tractor and let your kids drive it around the streets, wouldn't that just cause chaos?" You think it’s a cartoon car?

Cheng Ying almost snorted; this man was showing off his wealth to her. She detested that.

I'll make you miserable. The man looked at Cheng Ying, speechless again.

This girl didn't need comforting. Second Uncle had heard the commotion long ago and had already called Er Ya back into hiding, approaching alone.

Cheng Ying greeted him, "Second Uncle, just touring the timber plot?" Second Uncle glanced at the outsider. "Mmm, Yingzi, touring the plot again?" The two of them were clearly synchronized.

The man felt relieved; this proved at least that the trees truly belonged to Cheng Ying. It could only be said that people’s hearts were simple at this time; they hadn't yet seen the various scams that would develop later.

The man said, "Old brother, are you guarding the woods here?" Second Uncle replied, "Mmm. Brother, why have you traveled so far?" The man said, "Old brother, I came to pick out some timber.

Could you help me take a look?" Second Uncle replied, "Why look? The thickest, straightest ones—all the best timber is the same." So, following Second Uncle's advice, the man's eyes went straight to the large Manchurian Pine Cheng Ying had mentioned earlier.

It towered toward the clouds; its girth was likely something three of them could barely wrap their arms around. That alone would yield one large slab.

Cheng Ying interjected, "Don't look. Even if you look, I won't give it to you.

Pick another one." The man pleaded, "Little girl, I've come such a long way. It's not easy.

We can discuss things." Cheng Ying countered sharply, "That doesn't mean we discuss things by taking things! You are filial and want the best for your elders, but am I not filial to mine?" With one sentence, she managed to corner him on the issue of filial piety.

The man felt that the little girl was sharp; knowing he was a devoted son made him feel secretly comforted. It’s not easy coming a long distance.

Finding one that suits my eye is even rarer. "Little girl, you said it yourself; I am filial.

If I see this and have to pass it up, won't I regret it for the rest of my life? We can discuss it." Cheng Ying stated firmly, "No discussion." Her tone allowed zero room for negotiation.

Second Uncle thought, That timber was reserved for your grandmother long ago. Yingzi is trying to raise the price.

He sighed, "Little girl..." Then he sighed again, "You two talk it over," and walked away, leaving behind endless speculation. That single sentence—leave me a way to survive—let the man grasp the crucial point: there was a hidden difficulty.

There was a chance. He stopped rushing.

He patted the giant log beside him, too big for one person to embrace. "One like this.

Name your price, little girl." Cheng Ying said, "Uncle, you came from the logging area, and I’ve been in the logging area for two days. We both know the situation clearly.

You name a price." The man said, "Girl, the logging area sells timber by cubic measurement. This is just one tree.

You look at it and name a price for me." Cheng Ying agreed, "Alright, uncle. Look at the cars leaving the logging area; they're all ordinary spruce and fir.

Mine is Manchurian Pine. I won't talk about anything else.

I'll price it based on the logging area's rate. For this one tree, you give me one thousand yuan.

However, I cannot fell the tree for you; you must bring your own people. For transportation, don't worry; it's flood season, so it can be floated down the mountain along with the logging area's timber.

I'll knock off two hundred for you—eight hundred yuan total. I think that's very fair; you can do the math yourself." The man looked at Second Uncle.

Although the price was high, it was reasonable. The girl was honest and wasn't trying to trick him.

One cubic measure of wood wasn't expensive in those days, but a single tree yielding a full cubic measure required a special calculation. If he were looking for common wood, he wouldn't have needed to travel up the mountain himself; he could have handled it right at the logging area.