"I was thinking I could visit a few grand entrances, but look at this—one entrance and I meet five or six households. What a loss!"

The old woman was heartbroken over the eggs.

Cheng Ying spread her hands in mock helplessness. "Grandma, don't worry. In time, when you go out to buy groceries or take a walk, everyone will get familiar."

The old woman looked at her own courtyard, certain she wouldn't be familiarizing herself with anyone soon, as she barely needed to leave to shop. "Thinking about the neighboring yard, I feel like a landlord's wife, living alone in such a large space. It feels rather unnatural."

Cheng Ying sighed, her hands open again. "There's nothing to be done about it, Grandma. Your granddaughter is capable."

The old woman kicked lightly and then looked at Cheng Ying with concern. "Yingzi, nothing will happen, right? Don't let them brand you as a landlord and subject you to struggle sessions."

Cheng Ying glanced at the old woman’s slightly agape mouth. "Have you ever seen a landlord as poor as us? If what you say is true, then the people living in high-rise towers—surely they are something else?"

The old woman nodded. "As long as we aren't the top dogs, that's fine. There are people living in high-rise towers, you say?"

Cheng Ying pursed her lips. "Their place is just inside the tower structure."

Chi Wu felt unfairly targeted, lying there. "Grandma, it's fine. Our money is legally obtained, and the house purchase procedures are all complete. There won't be any issues."

It seemed that, by nature, a boy's words carried more conviction than a girl's. Hearing Chi Wu say this, the old woman felt all her worries dissolve.

Cheng Ying was genuinely happy to see her grandmother adapting so well.

When the entire Chi family was invited over that Sunday, Yang Zhi saw her mother-in-law and felt so angry she almost wanted to strike Cheng Ying. "Mom, you're here! Why didn't you tell me earlier? I, I..."

The old woman waved her hand dismissively. "You're at work, you can't just leave. Focus on your job. Come visit on Sundays from now on."

While she spoke generously, Yang Zhi felt a sharp pang of guilt; she should have come to see her mother-in-law sooner.

The Chi family’s old woman brought things in as she entered. Though she didn't think highly of Yang Zhi, she thought even less of how Yang Zhi seemed more attentive to her former mother-in-law than to her.

This psychological dynamic genuinely made the Chi old woman uncomfortable.

As for the Chi old man, he looked around the courtyard. He had only one thought: This girl has taste. This place is infinitely better than the apartment building they lived in. What good fortune the old woman has, having such a granddaughter.

He then glanced at Chi Wu. Why hadn't the unlucky kid managed to secure such a nice little courtyard for himself?

He then greeted the old woman. "Old in-law, for the two children to keep such a big matter hidden! If we had known you were coming, we would have visited long ago."

The old woman replied, "You're being too polite. You all work and are busy. I, the old woman, won't stand on ceremony. See, now that you have time to relax, I quickly invited you over."

The Chi old woman stepped forward with measured grace. "It's a pleasure to meet you, in-law. Congratulations on your housewarming."

To be honest, the old woman didn't quite grasp the concept of a "housewarming" and wasn't sure if the Chi old lady meant to congratulate her on acquiring a new residence. However, the person spoke with a word suggesting joy and held gifts, so it certainly couldn't be anything unpleasant. She smiled broadly and ushered them inside.

Even though she disliked the woman, she managed to say politely, "No need for formalities; we're practically family. Why bring gifts?"

The Chi old man surveyed the small yard and spotted his chubby grandson scooping fish out of the large water vat. His smile stiffened. "Heavens, stop that! You can't grab them like that—those are Koi!"

He sounded genuinely distressed. Chi Yong watched his own father and felt even more vexed; their own fish weren't allowed to be touched, and now here, his son wasn't allowed to interact with them either. The old man was truly controlling.

The Cheng family's old woman watched her daughter-in-law and the child she had with someone else with rising annoyance, but she couldn't show it. "It's fine, it's just for the child to play with. Let him scoop. Just make sure he doesn't get wet. This child is truly adorable."

Hearing the last part from the old woman, Chi Wu felt a distinct grating quality in her voice.

The Chi old man looked at the fish, then the grandson, then the old woman. Fine, she was the hostess; whatever she said went.

Cheng Ying brought out fruit, setting it on the stone table beneath the grapes on this hot summer day. "It's much cooler here than inside the house. Let's rest here for a bit."

Even someone as sophisticated as the Chi old woman had to admit that the small yard, when she observed it, was truly tasteful. Everything within it exuded elegance. She looked at the old woman beside her, who was combing her hair and wearing a simple, collarless jacket, and felt she radiated a certain earthiness that clashed horribly with the refined setting—it was jarring.

The Chi old man circled the two large water vats, unable to pull himself away. He genuinely admired them; they were far more beautiful than the two he owned. He wondered where this girl had managed to procure such specimens. He couldn't say anything aloud, but his eyes threatened his grandson to keep his hands off.

The little chubby boy became unhappy. His own fish couldn't be touched, and now his sister's weren't either.

Cheng Ying looked at her little chubby cousin and, truth be told, truly didn't want to disappoint the child. "Little Fatty, go ahead and scoop. My job is just to let you play with the water, it’s fine."

The old woman nearby felt a twinge of concern for the fish, but those fish were tough; they hadn't died even when many children played with them before.

The chubby boy was delighted and happily played around the two large vats, not even noticing the expression on the Chi old woman's face.

The Cheng family's old woman went to the back courtyard to prepare the meal, with Yang Zhi trailing closely behind her. The one thing Yang Zhi disliked was that whenever the old woman cooked, she insisted on using the large stove in the back.

The Chi old woman felt she might be intruding by staying in the front yard and followed them to the back. Unfortunately, as soon as she stepped in, she stopped moving, her face registering extreme conflict.

The Chi old man, after admiring several large stones in Cheng Ying's yard, saw his wife's contorted expression. He followed her gaze and saw a beautiful expanse of orchids and lush greenery. No wonder his wife couldn't move. Then he noticed the orchids were situated right next to the chicken coop. The Chi old man’s expression could not have been more rigid. No wonder his wife was so conflicted—those were orchids. His own orchids were kept in the most meticulously cared-for spot indoors, and the stand holding the flower pots had been painstakingly selected by his wife.

The Chi old man stepped forward and patted his wife’s shoulder. "We are guests here." His implication was that this wasn't their home, and they couldn't dictate how things were run, just as he only watched when Yingzi allowed his grandson to play with the fish.

The Chi old woman hissed, "Such a lack of taste. Ignorant." She turned abruptly and went back to the front yard. Out of sight, out of mind. She couldn't stand it anymore.

The Chi old man wandered around the small yard, examining it closely. Every single stone in this yard seemed to possess character. The more he looked, the more fascinated he became. Exquisite. He looked at Cheng Ying, who was watching the children nearby, and could only conclude that this girl possessed a unique sensibility.

Chi Yong followed his son closely, diligently playing the role of the filial son and dutiful grandson. After all these years, Chi Yong only had this one son, and they doted on him so much they were afraid of smothering him with attention. As long as Chi Yong was home, no one else could claim the chubby boy—if it weren't for Yang Zhi, the boy would surely have been spoiled rotten long ago.

Chi Yong was delighted that Cheng Ying allowed the chubby boy to play with the fish. His own father guarded their two meager fish like stolen treasure, forbidding his own son from touching them. Chi Yong had been unhappy about that for a long time.

The little chubby boy tugged at a fish's tail, clearly enjoying himself. "Sister, why are these fish so hard to catch?"

Cheng Ying replied, "These fish are just teasing you."

Chi Yong was displeased, feeling she was humoring the child. "Yingzi, why didn't you tell us earlier? Your grandmother came, and your uncle and I didn't show up—what will your grandmother think? You really are thoughtless, child."

This was the first time in many years someone had called Cheng Ying thoughtless. "Grandma gets motion sickness. I was worried about her struggling, so I didn't say anything."

Chi Yong huffed. "Hmph. Your yard is quite nice, though."

Cheng Ying responded, "Grandma likes it quite a bit too."

Chi Yong looked at Cheng Ying. Having a child who was wealthier than oneself felt like a parental failure. "Can you and Grandma live here by yourselves?"

Cheng Ying replied, "Wuzi is staying here with us."

The chubby boy chimed in, "I want to stay here too!"

Cheng Ying pulled the chubby boy by the collar, afraid he would end up falling into the water vat. "Of course! I'm getting things ready for you. There are chickens in the back yard too—you can cause chaos there as you please."

Chi Yong admonished, "You're spoiling that child."

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Yong, speechless. If this child were truly spoiled, it certainly wouldn't be her fault. "Uncle, are you talking about me, or yourself?"

The father and son exchanged a glare, both finding the other irritating. Cheng Ying decided arguing with this 'twenty-four-filial' father was just making things difficult for herself. She left, not forgetting to load the chubby boy up with a pile of snacks.

Chi Yong declared he wouldn't stoop to arguing with the unlucky child. He looked at his son, thinking there was no way the child he and Yang Zhi raised could be inferior to Cheng Ying's efforts. Just wait. He didn't need to manage his own son right now.

Father and son began to "wreak havoc" on the two fish in the vats together.

Chi Yong was thrilled. Finally, his son had another place to have fun without being cooped up in the apartment building all day, which Chi Yong felt was stifling for the boy.

The chubby boy grabbed a fish's tail, his mood excellent. "Dad, Sister's place is really great here."

Chi Yong looked at the fish thrashing wildly in the water. "Yes, it's quite nice." Though he admitted the fish probably didn't think so.

The Chi family's elder gentleman slowly led his wife around, both admiring the exquisite details of the small courtyard. In a short time, he managed to cheer his wife up. After all, she felt comfortable staying in a place like this.

After the few family members had toured the courtyard and sat on the stone benches for conversation, the Chi old woman could no longer contain herself. She addressed Chi Yong, "It would be so much better if those pots of flowers from the back could be moved to the front."

Though her phrasing was subtle, her gaze fixed firmly on her son, making the instruction clear: act immediately.

The Chi old man remained silent. His wife couldn't bear to see a pearl obscured by dust. Fortunately, she was only ordering her own son, which made it hard for him to complain.

Chi Yong looked at the large water vats, feeling uneasy about his water-loving son falling in. "Dad, keep an eye on that little wild one."

The Chi old man had long been unhappy watching his grandson torment the Koi—actually, he suspected the two fish Cheng's family kept looked more like Dragon Fish. Thus, his reply was solemn: "You don't need to worry about that one." His implication was clear: he would certainly prevent the fatty from bothering the fish.

Chi Yong watched his youngest son head towards the back courtyard. Alright, in Chi Yong's view, they were just a couple of common weeds often seen on the mountain near their home, and he couldn't figure out why his mother was so fixated on them. But he conceded that they were rarely seen now that they lived in the city.

Chi Yong exchanged a quick word with his wife, who was cooking, and then began to do some manual labor. Under the Chi old woman's direction, the dozen or so pots of flowers and plants from the back yard were all moved under the grape trellis. It had to be admitted that the Chi old woman had an eye; the small courtyard looked significantly more refined.

Chi Yong knew how attached his mother was to her plants. "Mom, if you really like them, I'll bring a few pots back for you later."

ps: Asking for Pink Tickets, dear, asking for Pink Tickets. RP