This timber is easily two grades higher than anything at the yard. First, the thickness is immediately obvious to the naked eye. Second, the species—this is Red Pine.

If the yard had wood of this caliber, they’d surely raise the price.

But this person didn't raise the price. How thoughtful.

However, compared to that one specific Red Pine, this particular one isn't worth a second glance.

The man looked over at Cheng Ying. "Girl, look at that one. I’ll give you five thousand for it." He was clearly ready to use money to seal the deal.

Cheng Ying opened her mouth, a mix of surprise and conflict flashing across her face, before quickly settling into a firm resolution. "No," she replied decisively.

The man tried again. "Girl, I'm giving you plenty. You have an urgent need for this, right?"

"You have filial piety, and I respect that," Cheng Ying countered. "Even though I need the money right now, if I sell this, I’ll regret it later."

The man felt that made sense. The young girl lacked money but still knew not to let regret settle in. He, on the other hand, had money and wasn't lacking; he certainly couldn't let an elder down. He pressed on, showing deep conviction. "Girl, you said you recognized my devotion to my elders. Just consider it pitying an old man. I left home as soon as I came of age, and after struggling hard, I’ve managed to make a decent living. But I’ve never once been able to show filial piety. Other things, I might be incapable of, but this is the one way I can express my love for them. It pains me."

Cheng Ying managed to suppress the expression on her face, thinking only, I wish you weren't so well-off. "I feel for you too, Uncle. It's the grandparents who are unlucky, having to wait for you to start showering them with blessings."

The man slapped his thigh. "Exactly! No matter what anyone says about my fussing, I must get good wood for the old man. This is the only thing weighing on my mind. If they couldn't enjoy life while they were healthy, I at least have to show something now."

"Uncle, you have a good heart. Grandpa and Grandma definitely know you are filial. Putting aside everything else, I can see you’ve been burning the midnight oil for Grandpa these past few days."

"The old man is near his end. If he can see something that belongs to him while he's still alive, he can rest easy. He cares deeply about this. Otherwise, why would Uncle be so invested? Girl, you don't understand. Just pretend you’re helping Uncle. To put it nicely, your grandmother could live another hundred years; she won't need this wood for thirty or fifty years, by which time your tree will have grown just like this."

Cheng Ying thought to herself, Is he trying to fool me? I’ve never seen a pine tree grow like that in thirty or fifty years.

Of course, she had a cheat code. If genuinely watered for three to five decades, it truly could grow that big.

But for now, she had to play the role of the easily persuaded child. After agonizing for a long time, she relented. "Fine. I’ll take your good wishes as a blessing. Just because Grandma might live another thirty to fifty years, I’ll give it to you, Uncle."

The man's eyes lit up. "Good girl! You have such a kind heart."

Cheng Ying grinned sweetly. "But Uncle, the price can't be calculated that way."

The man slapped his pocket boldly. Money, damn it, was not the issue. "Tell me." How much more could the little girl ask for?

Cheng Ying held up one finger. "Ten thousand yuan."

The man froze. "Girl, are you kidding me?"

Cheng Ying shook her head. "Uncle, look up. Is this tree not twenty meters tall? Even at the crown, it's a meter thick. How many sections of lumber do you think that is? Go ask at a coffin shop what they charge for one section of wood made from those materials. This piece of mine is made from a single slab. Do you think I’m asking for too much? Furthermore, have you ever seen such a tall pine? This is only because of relaxed national policy; if this were brought into the open, it could be deemed a protected species."

The man followed Cheng Ying’s gaze back down. The girl is sharp, but she’s exaggerating a bit here. A protected species? "Girl, you’ve got brains, but it’s not calculated that way. Uncle still has to haul it all out himself. Besides, wood is stubborn; while it stands, it’s not sold, and when it’s not being sold, you can’t tell just by looking at it."

"I’m not asking for too much," Cheng Ying countered. "Uncle knows this: to put it bluntly, even with money, you couldn't buy this elsewhere. Meeting it like this is your grandpa’s good fortune. Look at how many sections you could get out of it."

I could tell you to prepare wood for your mother and your whole family while you’re at it, how convenient, you wouldn't lose a thing. One tree takes care of everything.

But she couldn't say that; he had to figure it out himself.

The man looked troubled. This wasn't how money was supposed to be spent. "Girl, how do we get this tree down?"

"Since Uncle is from out of town, I'll arrange for the lumberyard workers to help. I guarantee it will be brought to the yard and loaded onto your truck. Uncle will need to pay them a labor fee."

The man was exasperated watching Cheng Ying, wondering what family raised such a sharp kid. "Girl, you’re asking for so much, you won’t even cover this small expense?"

"Uncle, living isn't easy; you have to be careful about everything. But you have to spend what needs to be spent on this."

The man laughed in exasperation. "I’ve set my sights on this wood; whatever the price, I accept it. Girl, it’s settled. I’ll wait at the lumberyard, and once it’s loaded, I’ll pay."

Cheng Ying thought to herself, Money from outside is easy to earn. In the village, a thousand or eight hundred was cause for celebration, but here these big shots didn't bat an eye at ten thousand.

I still have to go out and earn money myself. "Alright, don’t worry, Uncle, you won't lose out. To say something you might not like to hear: this wood will yield excellent lumber. If we don't keep it, anyone who buys it upon seeing it will fight to get it."

"Girl, stop talking," the man shook his head, visibly unnerved. "Buying too much of this stuff isn't good."

"Uncle, people who get rich don't bother with so many superstitions."

The man shook his head and followed Cheng Ying down the mountain.

Cheng Ying provided door-to-door service. The lumberyard had its own guesthouse, where the man was clearly staying.

Cheng Ying waved. "See you tomorrow, Uncle! We’ve seen the wood; don't stress yourself out. I guarantee our Grandpa will be satisfied when he sees it."

His overly familiar demeanor made the man think Cheng Ying was his own granddaughter.

The man inwardly wondered how such thick timber could be brought down by tomorrow.

However, he hadn't brought much cash; he’d have to go withdraw more money. It was best to have it ready so he wouldn't be caught off guard.

Cheng Ying had become quite familiar with the lumberyard over the years. Getting people to do odd jobs for extra cash was extremely convenient. Plus, she had friends among the workers who sometimes had a drink with her Second Grand-Uncle.

So, Cheng Ying arranged for someone to pick the man up tomorrow morning before work started. She also notified the workers by the great river to be ready to catch one log from the river when it came down.

Only then did she drive home. Cheng Ying felt that with this deal closed, her family should be financially secure for several years. Her mood eased considerably.

There was a surprise waiting at home.

Chi Wu had arrived. The tall, broad-shouldered Chi Wu looked sturdy and towering, rugged enough that if you didn't know his age, you’d believe he was twenty. Especially the bowl-cut hairstyle Chi Wu was sporting—Cheng Ying just wanted to reach out and mess it up. It was a product of the times. Chi Wu’s physique at fifteen or sixteen did not resemble Chi Yong’s at all. This boy wasn't aiming for the scholar look.

Cheng Ying teased him. "I finally see it. Your uncle and your dad, though they are brothers, look completely different. Look at your direction of development; why is it so rough and rustic?" She was clearly implying he had grown up too fast.

Chi Wu’s voice had already deepened, sounding quite pleasant. Privately, Cheng Ying suspected it had something to do with the honeysuckle tea she made him drink.

However, in front of Cheng Ying, the young man was usually quiet, often just rolling his eyes.

Chi Wu grumbled, "I’ve been here a whole day. Where have you been running off to?"

The tone sounded like a parent interrogating a child, but perhaps more like a husband questioning his wife. Cheng Ying, however, never associated it with that area of thought.

Cheng Ying retorted, "What kind of attitude is that? What do you mean, 'running wild'? I’m a grown girl now. You need to choose your words carefully, or Grandma will scold me. You started all this trouble."

Chi Wu snorted, his thick eyebrows furrowed, his single eyelids scanning Cheng Ying like a radar. "Then where were you? I looked everywhere for you."

Cheng Ying simply assumed he was expressing how much he missed her after being gone for three months and decided not to argue with him. "I went up the mountain."

Chi Wu’s expression darkened even more. His thin lips moved up and down as he questioned, "Grandma said you haven’t been up the mountain these past few days."

"Why are you being so contrary, kid? I went up the mountain. I’ve told you enough."

She turned and went inside, not truly angry, just finding the boy difficult to deal with.

Chi Wu trailed behind her sullenly, his face a mask of conflict. He couldn't control Cheng Ying when they were kids, and it was even harder now that he was older. "Where did you score on the exams?"

"I just finished the tests. How would I know yet?"

Chi Wu narrowed his small, single eyelids, eyes full of hope. "Come study in the city with me."

Cheng Ying remained silent. This boy's look wasn't fashionable right now. Men currently favored fair skin, double eyelids, large eyes, high nose bridges, and full lips. That’s what mothers-in-law looked for in a son-in-law. Look at Chi Wu: single eyelids, small eyes, thin lips—not a single feature a mother-in-law would approve of. How did this boy grow up like this? Despite his solid physique, Cheng Ying was firm in not agreeing to go with him; she’d been dazzled by the post-modern handsome types. "Where’s Mom? Didn’t she come back?" she asked, changing the subject.

Chi Wu’s handsome eyebrows knitted together in a deep frown. "How could she have time? She’s swamped. That fat little boy is so dense, Mom is about to go crazy dealing with him."

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu. "Come on, Uncle. If my mom were capable enough to be annoyed by him, that would be something."

Chi Wu blushed. His own grandmother wouldn't even let others touch the grandson born to Yang Zhi, making it hard for Yang Zhi to even see the child. Ying Zi’s comment completely silenced Chi Wu. The child insisted relentlessly, "So, are you or are you not going to school in the city?"

"We'll see," Cheng Ying replied.

Chi Wu sensed a sliver of possibility. Knowing Cheng Ying’s temper, he didn't dare press her further right then.

"How is Little Fatty?" Cheng Ying asked.

"What’s wrong with him? He’s the ancestor of the whole family."

That description was quite fitting. When Yang Zhi wrote letters, she complained that she couldn't even hold her own child. It was easy to imagine the situation. Cheng Ying raised her hand to pat Chi Wu’s head, but since he was older now, it was difficult for her to reach. So, she offered verbal comfort instead. "Poor thing, you’re jealous, aren’t you? Don't worry, you still have some standing. At worst, you can marry a wife who knows how to cherish you."

Chi Wu’s face cycled from pale to red, before he shot Cheng Ying a glare and said nothing more.

Cheng Ying sighed, realizing that a teenager’s rebellious phase could be infinitely prolonged. Look at this poor kid; why was his temper becoming so awkward?

The two entered the house to find the old lady sorting through things—all the bags and packages Chi Wu had brought.

"Don't tell me you brought me separate things again," Cheng Ying warned. "I really can’t accept that stuff anymore." Seriously, receiving a fancy new outfit every year was too much for her spirit to handle.

Chi Wu lifted his chin and huffed, "Hmph." Then he tossed a bag to Cheng Ying, which had a distinctly modern feel to it. It looked high-quality just by the packaging.

ps: Please vote with your pink tickets! Vote, everyone! RL