The old lady wouldn't so easily voice her own preferences,

muttering as she joined Chi Yong's discussion: "What do you think we should give them in return?"

Eyes narrowing at Chi Yong before he could speak, Grandma interjected quickly, "I know your treasures are all exquisite. Yingzi mentioned some rare editions you've collected. But those things are far too precious. Besides, I doubt Dongzi would even appreciate such artifacts. No need to trouble yourself with that. I can't bear the thought of you parting with those."

Cheng Ying snorted a laugh through her nose - Grandma really was in an awkward situation here, trying so hard to maintain face while clearly uncomfortable.

Chi Yong felt distinctly wronged. Was he being treated like a child? After all, wasn't he at least as refined as the typical old gentry?

Grandma's sentimental manipulation was almost too obvious. "Mother," he protested, "do you take me for some kind of rustic scholar?"

"Oh my dear," Grandma gasped dramatically, "I'm just worried about your pride! Having young company is nice and lively - I treat everyone the same, really!"

Chi Yong shot Cheng Ying a glare hot enough to melt steel.

"Nothing to do with me!" she denied instantly. "What are you looking at me for? I have no connection to this whatsoever!"

"Telling stories in Grandma's ear about how my pride is injured?" Chi Yong snapped back, still glaring.

"You used the wrong words?" Grandma asked helplessly.

Chi Yong decided it was pointless trying to untangle the mess and left abruptly, not forgetting to add over his shoulder: "The one comparing himself to me who feels wounded? It's definitely that other man!"

Cheng Ying inwardly chuckled - how stressed must Chi Yong be for such emotions to surface so plainly.

Grandma sighed in relief. "I was wrong," she admitted finally. "I should've discussed this with your mother and his wife before just making decisions. Luckily Chi Yong spoke up instead of keeping it bottled inside."

Outside the door, Chi Yong reflected that Grandma had already apologized. If he showed visible resentment now, he'd look petty indeed - especially toward Sun Fat who clearly annoyed him. But that didn't mean he was at ease about it.

Yangzhi comforted: "Mother, just live your life freely. Why concern yourself with others' feelings? It's not like this matters much."

Grandma felt soothed. "You two aren't bothered by this, right? After all, you have no connection to these affairs," she added quickly. "Though strangely, he does seem to enjoy my company despite nothing obvious connecting us."

Cheng Ying silently hoped Grandma would retain her awareness of Sun Fat's true nature - if not for her own good, then at least so Grandma wouldn't be genuinely furious later.

"Don't worry about Grandmother," Cheng Ying reassured. "Uncle Sun is ancient enough and built like a mountain! It's not like some kids fighting over cake. Why would we need to fret? No one considers you particularly special anyway."

Grandma found her granddaughter unreasonably irritating but appreciated the pragmatic advice. "I've decided - although that nephew of yours gave me gold bracelets, I won't be burdened by accepting them. As relatives, it's about good intentions. Our home has nothing extravagant to offer in return. Since autumn is approaching, I'll buy quality cotton and make a set of warm winter clothes for each couple."

Chengyin thought Grandma was finally displaying proper perspective. "That makes sense, Grandma," she agreed. "You've always been the one making our family's winter clothes - it's their fortune to receive them."

Grandma scoffed at Cheng Ying's concern about her health. "Don't try to trick me into resting! While I may not match modern fashion, my craftsmanship is unmatched - that's worth keeping."

Cheng Ying nodded earnestly. "Absolutely! Your skills are practically national treasures. You should start taking apprentices immediately!"

Grandma looked baffled. "Really?"

"Of course," Cheng Ying insisted. "Didn't you see all those scavengers down the street? They treat any old item like gold! What you offer is true artistry, far superior to their nonsense."

Her face darkening, Grandma retorted: "So in your mouth I'm nothing more than a piece of scrap they're collecting!"

"Of course not!" Cheng Ying hurriedly denied. "I meant the art itself is precious - a priceless folk treasure!"

Grandma raised an eyebrow. "Then why aren't you learning from me?"

Cheng Ying made her excuses: "Lack of talent! Besides, if I were your apprentice, wouldn't that create generational confusion? Maybe have my aunt learn instead?"

Coldly snorting, Grandma dismissed her with a wave: "Out of my sight. You're just an annoying girl - had you been born male with such a tongue, heaven knows how many girls you'd be misleading!"

Cheng Ying sighed dramatically: "What sad fate to not be male!"

She privately mused that if she were male, Grandma wouldn't care about her double-life adventures. There would never be reprimands from the feather duster for simple conversations with male teachers.

This reincarnation business was an art form - why hadn't she been reborn as Cheng Ming? Thinking of his mother made her shiver violently.

Cheng Wu entered then: "Grandma, I've sent Uncle Sun and Auntie home."

"Oh dear child!" Grandma beamed. "Still reliable like before! Busy all day with inside-outside affairs - it's all thanks to you making work for me."

Chi Yong outside felt increasingly ill at ease. In this household, he ranked last now - even outranked by Cheng Wu.

Listening to Grandma praise Cheng Wu's reliability and domestic management skills only deepened his resentment. It was clear implication that he himself was useless.

Though Chi Yong possessed intelligence wasted on such trivial matters, small-mindedness persisted in making him dwell on these slights.

Cheng Wu's words did offer some comfort though - at least the son shared his disdain for that fat man.

But to think about future family rivalry? What nonsense! Chi Yong scolded himself mentally. It was just a cousinly relationship anyway!

Cheng Ying shook her head. This had become self-inflicted suffering.

Grandma's emotional transference toward this new "son" was evident, explaining why she'd accepted the relationship so suddenly and impulsively.

That night as sleep eluded Grandma through restless tossing, she finally sighed: "How strange... How convenient that he shares your father's birth year. That nephew of yours - while lacking his imposing figure and looks - has a personality so similar to your late father."

Cheng Ying inwardly winced at the mention of her late father. "Fate!" she replied cheerfully. "Otherwise why would you become his godmother? Seems your personalities simply complement each other. Grandma, was Father's relationship with you also like this?"

"Exactly," Grandma agreed warmly. "Your father always understood me best. I don't favor my third son especially - it's just that he truly knew how to be considerate."

Cheng Ying suppressed a grimace at the thought of comparing her real father to Sun Fat, whom she privately considered a common thief.

Still, any information about this should eventually reach Grandma. "Sleep well," she suggested, "if you miss your new nephew, perhaps we could visit their home?"

Grandma brightened instantly: "I was just thinking that! Yingzi, why didn't the man bring his child today? While these two seem eager to be relatives, I notice they're all very peculiar. I wanted to ask but held back. What do you think is going on?"

Cheng Ying imagined Sun Fat's massive frame and grinned mischievously: "Good thing you didn't ask! Imagine if he shared Wuzi's father's habits..."

Grandma smacked her granddaughter's back playfully: "Such talk from a young lady! And don't call him 'Fat' - you'll give me more gossip about my poor parenting. There are already enough rumors about us!"

Cheng Ying rolled her eyes but conceded: "Fine, Uncle Sun it is."

Grandma immediately moved on to another plan: "Pack some honeysuckle for me then. I'll take them medicine and press the couple for answers. If they're ill we should treat them early - old Dr. Li who treated your father is quite skilled!"

Cheng Ying groaned mentally at Grandma's sudden determination. "But you get motion sickness!"

"I can endure," Grandma insisted. "It's our own car, convenient enough."

How ironic Cheng Ying thought that for a dry relative, Grandma was now willing to abandon her granddaughter.

This new godson relationship had truly caused Grandma to neglect her granddaughter completely.

Returning home, Cheng Ying found Grandma already making winter clothes for sons and their wives - the weather was getting nippy, and these things should be finished before fall passed.

She could tolerate this... but then Grandma began making shoes for the wife-in-law as well. Cheng Ying swallowed her discomfort. Since the woman treated Grandma kindly and looked so pitiful with that bulky frame...

But two days later when Grandma started sewing bedding for Sun Fat? That was too much! "Grandma," she protested, "how could your godson possibly lack these basics?"

Grandma didn't even look up from her needlework. "These children don't know how to live properly - can you believe how thin their blankets are in this cold? Don't be fooled by that gentle demeanor of the wife-in-law! She's completely useless at domestic matters!"

Chengyin stalked out, face dark with fury.

Grandma never noticed her granddaughter's anger at all.

Fuming alone in West Room, Cheng Ying found Cheng Wu an unwitting victim of her frustration. "Don't worry," she said through gritted teeth, "Grandma will lose interest eventually once the novelty wears off. Don't worry - I'll always be here for you."

Cheng Wu's subtle declaration of affection was obvious as he spoke while watching her expressions intently.