Sun Pangzi looked at the foolish children, wondering why he should talk about this with them. “Didn’t I tell you all? This child, alas…”
Cheng Ying thought to herself that this man had become a lost, plump angel, and that she, of all people, had sunk so low as to come and console this thief. The world was truly strange. “Uncle, you just don’t know. I have the Fiery Eyes of Truth. Looking at you and Auntie, it’s clear you two are blessed with long-lasting fortune. Bitter first, then sweet. You’ll definitely have a child; my little brother is just waiting to reincarnate and enjoy life, he’s anxious!”
Sun Pangzi muttered, “May your auspicious words come true.”
Cheng Ying added, “Oh right, your moral character needs to be decent too. Don’t let the child learn bad things. Climbing over other people’s walls is absolutely forbidden from now on.”
Sun Pangzi pressed the glowing-hot iron rod in his hand hard onto the pig’s snout, searing it as if torturing an enemy.
Cheng Ying found the sight chilling; this man’s mind must be twisted.
She then heard Sun Pangzi grit his teeth and say, “May your auspicious words come true,” using the exact same four words. Language was truly lacking. There was no point in kicking a dog when it was already down.
Cheng Ying looked at Sun Pangzi, wiping the sweat from his brow—real sweat this time, since the two of them were guarding the brazier, roasting pig heads. Having a psychologically tormented person nearby felt terribly dangerous.
For the personal safety and health of her own family, Cheng Ying felt it necessary to find a reputable old doctor to properly examine Sun Pangzi, so that he could have a child quickly. At least her own living environment had stabilized considerably. “Uncle, are you coming back to our hometown with us? That doctor is truly remarkable. My own uncle was sentenced to death regarding his condition; the medicine was only for maintenance, but two months later, he had Chi Ye. For your ailment, it’s not even considered a big deal.”
Sun Pangzi asked, “Is he really that miraculous? What was your uncle’s illness, to be given a death sentence?”
Cheng Ying nodded. “Infertility. But the doctor is genuinely divine.” Divine or not, I have to hype him up to divine status.
Sun Pangzi was silent for a long time. He wondered if the unlucky child would ever speak up, but treating infertility sounded even better. “Why don’t we head over tomorrow?”
Cheng Ying couldn't understand the old man's longing to hold a son. “Wait for Chi Wu. He’ll be back in six or seven days. You aren’t in a hurry for just this little while, are you?”
Sun Pangzi countered, “Why wouldn’t I be in a hurry? I’m not in a hurry, but you just said he’s an old doctor. What if he passes away someday? Wouldn’t that mean I’m out of luck?”
Cheng Ying thought that this man shared the same mental loop as her own grandmother—both feared the doctor dying of old age.
Cheng Ying took a deep breath. “Then you’d better pray to Buddha to bless the old doctor with a long life.” She turned and walked away, resolved to stop dealing with these vexing matters. Why should she, a high school sophomore, have to worry about such messy things?
Sun Pangzi looked at the old lady chatting with his wife inside and thought he had struck pure gold; to encounter such good people at his age was incredible luck. He had initially sought out the old lady merely to find some comfort in his lonely life lacking familial affection. But now things were different. The old lady genuinely cared about him and his wife. If his wife were fortunate enough to conceive, Sun Pangzi vowed he would treat the old lady like his own mother and care for her diligently. This was a path shown to him by heaven; it was fate.
Cheng Ying had been busy these past few days. The workshop masters were getting their Lunar New Year holiday a few days early this year. Cheng Ying couldn't rely on Chi Wu; Chi Wu had no time for her this year. Therefore, Cheng Ying personally drove to the market to procure the Lunar New Year goods for the masters. There were also gifts to take back to the hometown: things for the second grand-uncle, the two direct paternal uncles, the village chief, and the paternal aunt. Just thinking about it gave her a headache. One car wouldn't be enough. The spatial storage could hold a lot, but how would she explain that later? Then there was paying the masters’ wages—a complete mess of issues. Brother Li was also due in a couple of days to settle his account. Cheng Ying calculated that she wouldn't have a single idle day before Chi Wu returned.
Seeing the warehouse full of finished furniture, Cheng Ying gave the masters the holiday starting on the twelfth of the twelfth lunar month. “You’ve worked hard all year. Go home and rest for a few days, enjoy yourselves.” Then came a big red envelope for each of them, along with chicken, duck, fish, meat, and a brand-new electric rice cooker for everyone. This item was novel; few people in the provincial capital even used them. Their boss was generous. Of course, people in the village were used to calling Cheng Ying "The Boss" out of habit. Cheng Ying had already bought train tickets for them all.
The masters were delighted. They didn't mind the absence of a salary bonus, but receiving red envelopes was a pleasant surprise. Aha! Spending money is now available! This would save them from being tightly controlled by their wives over cash.
After seeing off more than ten masters, Cheng Ying became even busier. The masters leaving didn't mean the furniture shop was closing; it was still busy every day, leaving only the two sales clerks at the front. They couldn't leave early; they had to work until after the twentieth. Cheng Ying told them, “Don’t worry. From today until your holiday starts, you’ll receive double wages. The masters got red envelopes and gifts; you will too. Take some things home first.” The two sales clerks were locals, so naturally, they were happy. “We get the same treatment as the masters? That’s great! We’re fine working until the thirtieth, let alone the twentieth.”
Cheng Ying teased, “If you’re willing, I’m not! Double wages—that stings the heart!” Everyone laughed. The holiday schedule was settled amicably. Then Cheng Ying started settling accounts. Even if it wasn't for half a year, it was at least two months of transactions. Cheng Ying spent two days calculating in the back room just to sort it all out. When can I hire an accountant?
Cheng Ying rubbed her neck. She couldn't let herself be overworked like this anymore. Earning money was supposed to be for enjoying life, for living comfortably. Now, she had earned money, but she was burning herself out in the process. Wasn't this just inviting suffering? Cheng Ying closed her eyes and pondered; this couldn't continue. She needed to hire staff; she needed to scale up. Things were always easier to manage once they reached a certain scale.
The old lady called from outside, “Yingzi, phone call! It’s for you, a young girl.”
Cheng Ying opened her eyes. Besides Chi Wu, only her uncle would call. Who would a young girl call her for? A young girl, no less; she must be too innocent. Still, she went out. Since they installed the phone, this was the first time the old lady had answered it; she found the device novel. “Grandma, who is it?”
The old lady said, “I wouldn’t know how to talk to her. You figure it out yourself.”
Cheng Ying smiled wryly. She had to get used to it eventually. “Grandma, if you say it twice, you’ll get it.”
The old lady replied, “None of the people I know have phones. Who would I talk to? Besides, I heard this thing costs money. I’m not saying anything; it’s a waste.”
Cheng Ying walked over, took the receiver from the old lady. “Hello, who is this?” The old lady watched her granddaughter, thinking that her granddaughter’s demeanor was more imposing than the Village Chief’s. For the old lady, unless the title ended in 'Chief' or 'Director,' it wasn't really an official position.
On the other end was the voice of the young girl Qing Fang, tearfully saying, “Wu Zi was detained by someone! I don’t dare tell the teacher, I don’t dare tell my family! What should I do?”
Cheng Ying’s face darkened. The child got into trouble outside. The most important thing was whether the child had been wronged. “Is Wu Zi alright?”
Qing Fang sobbed, “He’s fine, and I’m okay too.” Cheng Ying sighed in relief. As long as the person was safe, the rest wasn't a major issue. As for whether Qing Fang was okay, Cheng Ying genuinely didn't care—I don’t care if you’re okay. Too lazy to listen to the little girl who couldn't grasp the main point, Cheng Ying demanded, “Address.”
Qing Fang was slightly overwhelmed by Cheng Ying’s directness but managed to choke out the address through her sniffles. Then, she rambled on about the sequence of events. Cheng Ying was displeased for the first time with what seemed to be Wu Zi’s suspected first love; why couldn’t she stick to the point? After vaguely grasping the situation, Cheng Ying hung up. “Grandma, Wu Zi and the others need to come back. I want to go pick him up; their school car isn't taking them back. You stay home, and tonight, ask my Auntie to keep you company, okay?” Saying that, she prepared to leave. No matter how anxious she was, she had to reassure the old lady first.
The old lady looked at her granddaughter’s demeanor and felt something was off. “Where are you going to pick them up?”
Cheng Ying chose her words carefully. “It’s a bit far, just a little further. We might be back tomorrow.”
The old lady said, “I won’t feel safe letting you go alone. Why can’t you just explain things clearly, child? I thought you were just going to the school to pick them up.”
Cheng Ying said, “Grandma, it’s fine, I’m a grown woman now.”
The old lady insisted, “That’s not acceptable either! For the school to manage sending them there but not bringing them back—how unreasonable! Isn’t that no different from managing a murder but not a burial?”
Cheng Ying’s face was lined with a dark expression, all while being anxious that the child hadn't been treated harshly. “Grandma—”
Just then, Sun Pangzi entered with his wife. “Mom, what are you doing? What’s going on between you two?”
The old lady explained, “Yingzi is going to the capital to pick up Wu Zi. I was telling her to find someone to accompany her.”
Sun Pangzi asked, “Where is she picking him up? Wasn't Wu Zi gone for a competition?”
The old lady huffed, “It’s at the competition site! The school won’t look after the children anymore. What kind of business is that?”
Sun Pangzi volunteered, “Why look for company? Isn't there me? I was planning on going out anyway. I need to buy a dress for your Auntie. I’ll go with my niece tomorrow.”
Cheng Ying didn’t stand on ceremony at that moment. “Auntie, you and Grandma stay here for a couple of days. I’m not comfortable leaving Grandma alone. Uncle, let’s go.”
Sun Pangzi asked, “Leaving now?”
Cheng Ying simply replied, “Mm.” Then, she efficiently went inside, pulled a mesh bag out of her spatial storage, and started stuffing money into it from a box on the kang bed. To Cheng Ying, how much money she spent didn't matter as long as Chi Wu didn't suffer. She worried about the child she had raised. He had never faced trouble; the child shouldn't get agitated.
Sun Pangzi merely saw Cheng Ying emerge with a mesh bag and didn't look closely. He bid farewell and followed his niece to the car.
The old lady remarked, “Look how hurried she is. What’s the rush?”
Cheng Ying rolled down the car window. “You know those big cities, Grandma, accommodation is expensive. If I get there early, maybe I can save on one night’s lodging fee?”
The old lady nodded. “Yes, that makes sense, but you still have to drive slowly.”
Cheng Ying comforted her from inside the car. “I know. You and Auntie stay here. We’ll be back tomorrow night. If that place is fun, we might stay a couple more days, and we’ll call you.”
The old lady watched from outside the car, feeling her granddaughter was too flustered. “Oh, maybe you should just come back. How much money can you really save on lodging?”
Cheng Ying waved and drove off. She didn't forget to instruct, “Lock the door at night, and let the dog out!” Then the car sped away, zipping off like an arrow—a clear indication of Cheng Ying's urgency.
Remarkably, Sun Pangzi was riding in the car.