Chi Yong felt his stack of designs had been banned, and his daughter was siding with his wife. What they were really saying was: Don't feel wronged at home; just come back and stay with us whenever you want.

Cheng Ying didn't care what others thought and left with Chi Wu. Old Mrs.

Chi slammed the newspaper down. "Is this still our own child?" Chi Yong thought to himself, more than a year has passed; are you only getting angry now?

Isn't that a bit late? Old Mr.

Chi said, "It's a good thing for the child to be independent. Besides, living in the apartment building is genuinely inconvenient for the child's studies." Old Mrs.

Chi retorted, "Their place is nice, but it's thunderous and crashing next door all day long!" Chi Yong said, "Mom, you know Wu Zi and I aren't on the same path; he’s focused only on making money. Perhaps that environment is better for his studies." Old Mrs.

Chi stared, holding back the word 'Get out'—a testament to her good upbringing. Chi Yong rubbed his nose and silently sat down near his wife in the corner of the sofa, daring not to speak casually.

Regarding this topic, Yang Zhi never said a word; that was her own home. Old Mr.

Chi said, "It's also because our place is small, making the study environment bad for Wu Zi. How is your new house coming along?

Once it's ready, move over so people won't say you're occupying our place." Chi Yong replied, "It's almost ready, but it will take a few more days. Dad, Mom, why don't you come live with us?

It will be livelier if we are all together." Old Mr. Chi looked at his son, seeing through his pleasantries.

"No, we're quite comfortable here. Besides, if we don't live here, the house will surely be reclaimed.

Where will Wu Zi go in the future? Once you move out, I'll tidy up that sunny room of Xiao Ye's for your mother to turn into a sunroom." The previously displeased Old Mrs.

Chi, who was about to get angry over this matter, finally fell silent. Chi Yong chimed in, "Exactly.

If we had the space, our collection of flowers would have more varieties than anyone else's!" Old Mrs. Chi huffed, "We aren't inferior to others," then added with a touch of pride, "One shouldn't engage in comparisons." Old Mr.

Chi shook his head; more people meant more conflict. They weren't that old; it was better for their capable children to live separately.

Cheng Ying was driving, while Chi Wu squinted beside her. "Do you have to be so tired?" Chi Wu retorted, "Don't treat everyone like you.

Just casually looking at books and you can score high marks." Cheng Ying pursed her lips. "It's all due to Miao Zan.

I don't deserve the compliment." Chi Wu turned his head, continuing to rest. "Don't get cocky.

The exam is coming up. If your scores aren't good, just watch how Grandma deals with you." Cheng Ying scoffed, "How else can she deal with me?

Grandma won't let me look at the teacher. Now, I keep my head down in class; people might think I’m looking at gold on the floor.

I’ve never met anyone more obedient!" Chi Wu snorted, "It's not enough that your eyes don't look; your mind shouldn't wander either—that's true obedience. Don't just put on a show.

Also, I saw you sneaking glances at the teacher." Cheng Ying asserted firmly, "I was looking at the blackboard. You saw wrong." Chi Wu sneered, "You better watch yourself.

Grandma asks me about your school situation every few days." Cheng Ying frowned. "Why doesn't Grandma ask me about your situation?" Chi Wu scoffed, "Hmph.

What situation could I have? I excel in character and academics; Grandma has nothing to worry about." It was frustrating being Cheng Ying.

She had just finished being annoyed by someone else, and now Chi Wu was frustrating her. If one's heart is set on something, it’s not easily dismissed.

Even knowing there was no fate, it didn't stop Cheng Ying from appreciating handsome men. Every time she saw the aesthetically pleasing Chinese teacher, Cheng Ying couldn't help but look a couple of extra times, hoping that in this era of unspoken messages, the crush could decipher her feelings.

If he could just wait a few years for her, it would make for a beautiful story. A destined union.

Alas, so far, the crush showed no such intentions, meaning her gazes were wasted. Cheng Ying sighed, then drove with one hand while clenching the other into a fist.

"Study hard, and make progress every day!" This was self-encouragement. She hadn't even started dating and was already experiencing loss.

There wasn't even a chance to be heartbroken. Life, indeed.

Luckily, their business was doing well; that served as some compensation. Chi Wu instantly snapped awake because of Cheng Ying's antics.

"You're nuts!" Things didn't settle down even upon returning home. Grandma’s face was grim.

"Yingzi, the two master craftsmen have been waiting for you for a while. Go in quickly." Cheng Ying glanced at Chi Wu, who was no longer sleepy and went in first.

"Masters, is there something urgent?" The two senior craftsmen were city carpenters Cheng Ying had hired for her workshop, specializing in the old-fashioned style of furniture. "Proprietor, we won't beat around the bush.

We understand you don't trust us anymore. There's no point in continuing, so we’ve come to resign." Chi Wu interjected, "Where is this coming from?

What's this about trust? Have we not been satisfactory in our work?" The senior craftsman replied, "We wouldn't dare say that.

The wages you two proprietors offer are excellent; you couldn't find better anywhere. We just want to resign." Cheng Ying had known this day would come when she separated these craftsmen.

When it came to furniture styles, all the carpenters could replicate them by just looking a couple of times. But Cheng Ying didn't believe these two craftsmen were entirely without fault.

An inside traitor must be colluding with an outside ghost. It was impossible that the furniture shops down the street had no involvement with these two city craftsmen.

The new style she launched just before May Day had brought her sudden popularity, and simultaneously, it signaled to these two craftsmen: I know what I need to know. She wasn't exactly pleased; she hadn't shortchanged them on wages.

What were they doing? Cheng Ying put on a stern face.

"We all signed contracts initially. If you wish to resign, we must follow the terms of the contract." The two craftsmen fell silent.

If they followed the contract, they hadn't completed two years and would have to pay a penalty. "If you insist on following the contract, we can stay for a while longer." They were unwilling to pay double the compensation.

Cheng Ying scoffed internally. If you're willing to work, I'm unwilling to employ you.

Someone with divided loyalties—it made her stomach turn. "By rights, you haven't been shortchanged while working here.

Whether they are craftsmen from here or elsewhere, I pay the same wages; I haven't created distinctions. I wonder what has dissatisfied you." One of them couldn't hold back.

"What you're saying—the craftsmen in the courtyard next door are doing different work from ours. You're guarding against us, aren't you?" Cheng Ying looked coldly at the two.

"Shouldn't I be guarding against you?" With that spoken plainly, the two craftsmen hadn't expected the proprietor, so young, to be so resolute, leaving no room for negotiation. Chi Wu watched Yingzi play the 'bad cop' and stepped in as the 'good cop.' "Forget it.

It was fate that we could work together. Since fate has run its course, there’s no point in forcing it.

Since you two don't wish to continue, let's settle your wages. We’ll disregard the contract signed earlier.

As for other matters, it would damage our friendship. Your furniture store will still need you to manage it personally." This exposed their entire scheme.

No one dislikes money. Seeing their own skills making others piles of cash—who wouldn't be envious?

They all lived in the city; opening a shop and finding a craftsman couldn't be that hard. The two craftsmen had just pooled resources to start a furniture shop over the New Year.

However, they didn't expect competition. After the Spring Festival, several more furniture shops popped up on the same street.

Business was becoming difficult. Cheng Ying conceded, "Since Wu Zi said so, let it be.

When you open your shop, don't forget to send us an invitation; we will certainly come with a congratulatory gift. But there is one condition: you cannot claim you previously worked here.

Otherwise, we will proceed strictly by the contract. The furniture styles in your shop are identical to those here; you are essentially leaking secrets." She didn't use the word 'plagiarism.' One of the craftsmen started to speak, but the other stopped him.

Since the proprietor could voice this, they knew she had a plan. If they pushed things to a standstill now, it wouldn't benefit them.

After more than half a year, their furniture store was barely breaking even, covering the craftsmen’s wages but not earning much profit. If the two of them managed it themselves, they would at least earn more than their wages.

Thus, resigning was inevitable. If they could avoid a public feud and settle it privately, it would benefit them slightly.

"The proprietor is magnanimous. What we did was rather dishonorable.

It's just that our families are poor, with many mouths to feed, and we had no way out." Chi Wu said, "Everyone has it hard. We are colleagues from now on; who knows when one might need the other?

Let's part amicably. However, you cannot claim you ever worked for our Northern Solid Wood Furniture.

You know me; business is tough for everyone. If you do that, it's like undermining us.

Once you leave this door, you have no connection to our Solid Wood Furniture store, and your skills have no connection to us either. You cannot say you worked as a carpenter here, or I will use the contract to speak.

I have the means to do that." Chi Wu’s follow-up words were firm. The two craftsmen quickly agreed.

"Yes, yes." No one understood better than them who the people from this small courtyard were. The childhood friends Chi Wu brought over were fiercely loyal, and the boss never skimped on giving gifts; their relationships were genuine.

And look at who drives a large car? These weren't ordinary people; ordinary folk couldn't afford to offend them.

After seeing the two craftsmen off, Cheng Ying was in a bad mood. "When profits are involved, people lose their humanity." Chi Wu, however, remained calm.

He had experienced this when his medicinal herb venture took off, and now ten villages around were following suit with herb cultivation. "Seeing the money, aren't you flustered?" Cheng Ying maintained a tight expression.

"I earn money based on principles." Chi Wu countered, "Speaking of which, I heard many families in our village have started raising saplings and setting up nurseries. Why aren't you angry about that?" Cheng Ying huffed, "I'm not angry about that.

I'm promoting the economic development of my hometown. Besides, tree saplings require years of investment; no one can simply steal another's business.

That venture relies not just on skill but also on technology and connections. It’s not something just anyone can compete in.

Furniture shops are different. They take a quick look and steal the new designs, then churn out shoddy products specifically to annoy me.

Just watch; once this batch of furniture goes out, they will stock theirs in a few days." It made her angry just thinking about it. Her designs hadn't come easily.

Back then, she had to flatter her stepfather and cater to Old Mrs. Chi's moods; she even gifted her a pot of orchids.

Why should others reap the rewards so easily? She truly couldn't contain her rage.

ps: Seeking pink votes. This is the third update!

RP