Cheng Ying knew full well her uncle was just trying to comfort her. He had sons; what need would he have of her?

Holding the savings book, her heart felt heavy. The implication of his words was clear: don't be modest, don't waste money, because she would be supporting him in his old age. But could he truly expect that? He had sons; surely, he wouldn't need her help.

Cheng Ying sighed. The things money couldn't sort out were the true matters of the heart.

Down the line, she knew, these matters would ultimately be sorted out through Miao Miao.

Still, Grandpa's and Chi Wu's ginseng trade was flourishing. Uncle truly wasn't short of money.

Cheng Ying thought she should seize the moment while the land prices were low and buy a house for Miao Miao now, saving trouble later. It would serve as savings, after all, the asset with the highest potential for appreciation.

Yingzi asked, "Uncle, has anyone come to look at the ginseng?"

Uncle replied, "Plenty have looked, but few have made a move to buy. I set a high price. You aren't short of money, and the mountain isn't a bother to manage, so we just hired a few extra people to watch it. We can afford it."

Cheng Ying gave him a thumbs-up. He was her uncle, truly. Listen to that bearing! "Yes, you can afford it."

Aunty said, "That's enough. The child has been driving all day; you should rest well. We'll talk more tomorrow."

Cheng Ying asked, "Aunty, are you tired of me disturbing you?"

Aunty scoffed, "Nonsense. I'll have your uncle get the east room ready for you."

Cheng Ying felt her Aunty's temperament was more like her own; they connected better.

Waiting until her uncle left, she burrowed under the covers. In the depth of the twelfth lunar month, having someone warm the bed for her was quite the luxury. "Aunty, I'm so spoiled, having someone warm my bed!"

Aunty turned off the light. "Look how old you are, and you still talk like that. You can't say things like that! If your mother heard, she'd be terrified."

Cheng Ying considered it. "If my grandma heard, she'd smack me a couple of times too."

Aunty thought to herself, The unlucky child, knowing how good it is but still daring to say it out loud. Untamed, she muttered, "Serves you right."

Cheng Ying slept through the night, waking up only at ten o'clock.

Chi Wu had already come to pick her up. Cheng Ying didn't need to fuss with packing; she just got in the car and left.

The two of them, driving two cars, could barely manage to unload all the things.

Chi Wu said to Cheng Ying, "Why do you have so much stuff? Yesterday, with so many people sitting in the car, it seemed to fit, but today it feels like even more."

Cheng Ying remained silent. How much had she moved out of the dimension just yesterday? Everything at her uncle's place came from the dimension; didn't she have it easy? Bringing things home felt like stealing.

Seeing Chi Wu still struggling, she offered an explanation, "I saw things on the road and bought them along the way, didn't I? Isn't that why it keeps piling up?"

Chi Wu’s words carried a deep meaning, quite unsuitable for his age. "How could an ordinary person support you? Look how wasteful you are. At this rate of spending, someone who doesn't earn enough won't be able to keep up with your consumption."

Cheng Ying couldn't be bothered with the unlucky child. During the New Year, no less, he was cursing her to remain an old maid.

Chi Wu didn't sense her mood and persistently followed her, saying earnestly, "Tell me, looking around, how many people could actually earn enough to cover your expenses?"

In his heart, he was thinking: Look at me. Look at me. I can earn enough for you to spend. I earn money specifically to support my wife.

Unfortunately, Cheng Ying wouldn't even look at him. Chi Wu was terribly frustrated.

Cheng Ying replied, "Don't worry, I won't burden you. I have marriage insurance."

Chi Wu frowned, his face darkening until it looked like it could drip water. "There's such insurance?"

"Others don't have it, but I do," Cheng Ying said brightly.

Then Miao Miao came out, leading the little fatty. Cheng Ying's eyes were filled with smiles. "Look, I have everything right here."

Chi Wu looked at Miao Miao. Since childhood, they had been established rivals. Their incompatibility was written in the stars—natural enemies.

Still, he couldn't help saying one thing to his rival, "Don't ruin that child."

Ruin me instead, he thought fiercely. Why can't you see me?

Then he looked at Miao Miao, finding him increasingly displeasing. How did this unlucky kid grow up? His eyes are so big, they could be used as lanterns! And he has double eyelids, so effeminate. I don't know what Yingzi sees in him; what kind of taste is that? Does he have my masculinity? My manly aura? My eyes might be smaller, but aren't they full of spirit?

He deliberately walked two steps closer to Miao Miao and stood there, chest out, just so Cheng Ying could see the difference. His gaze was full of challenge.

Cheng Ying thought, This dense kid. Why isn't he getting in the car? Is he going to fight with Miao Miao again? "Hey, aren't you leaving? Are you planning to stay for lunch here? Aunty didn't offer to host you."

Chi Wu glanced sideways at Miao Miao before getting into the car and driving away.

Miao Miao was utterly bewildered. He thought, What a psycho.

The little fatty asked, "What did my brother mean? Was he trying to compare heights with you again?"

Miao Miao replied, "He's probably having a fit. Don't worry, Brother Wu gets like this every few days; you get used to it."

If Cheng Ying had heard that, she would have burst out laughing, but if Chi Wu heard it, he would have gone ballistic.

When Cheng Ying and they returned to the village, Sun Pangzi's recognition ceremony had already concluded.

Their enthusiastic Second Aunt was still engaged in a heart-to-heart with the newly arrived sister-in-law. Their Eldest Aunt was reserved but stayed close, accompanying them warmly.

Cheng Ming and the others were doing well, hovering around their grandmother, serving her—clearly, they missed the old lady.

Even Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle had come over; they were just waiting for everyone to gather before the feast began.

Cheng Ying asked Chi Wu, "Eldest Uncle is here too. How skilled is Dry Uncle to have managed to rope him in?"

Chi Wu retorted, "Why do you talk so harshly? Dry Uncle presented generous gifts. Eldest Uncle invited Dry Uncle to dine at his place, but Dry Uncle said, 'Where there is no mother, there are no sons,' meaning he had to eat in the presence of the Old Madam. So, Eldest Uncle followed him here."

What Chi Wu said wasn't wrong, but it slightly tarnished Eldest Uncle's image. How generous were the gifts? Eldest Uncle wasn't that kind of person. Perhaps Dry Uncle’s words made Eldest Uncle realize that since Yang Zhi wasn't home, his own house was effectively the Old Madam's home, so it wasn't inappropriate for him to come.

As for Second Uncle, he was an honest man, busy chopping wood. The house hadn't been lived in for half a year, and in this bitter cold, the fire needed constant tending, requiring a lot of firewood.

Cheng Ying walked up to Second Uncle. "Second Uncle, I'm back," she said with genuine sincerity. If there was anyone in the family she truly cared about, it was Second Uncle.

Second Uncle wiped the sweat from his face. "Yingzi is back! It’s cold outside; hurry inside, there’s a house full of people."

Cheng Ying said, "I know. I stopped by your house when I entered the village, but when I saw no one home, I figured you were taking care of Grandma."

Second Uncle was genuinely pleased to see his niece. Third Brother was lucky; look how successful his child had become. "Yes, your Grandma came to the city with you and has been back for a few days. My brother and I have to stick close, right?"

"Second Uncle..."

Second Uncle waved his hand, signaling her to go inside. "Don't say all that nonsense. You're helping us fulfill our filial duties. I'm not an ungrateful person; distance makes people distant, proximity makes them smelly. Even with your Grandma here, our relationship isn't always perfect."

Cheng Ying thought that in the two years she’d been gone, Second Uncle had become more talkative. It must be Aunty who had bottled him up. Nevertheless, hearing those words from Second Uncle made her feel much better.

Entering the house, it was packed. And seeing her Dry Aunt looking completely flustered, it seemed that Second Aunt's enthusiasm had actually unnerved the guests.

The Old Madam spoke up, "Yingzi, you're back. How is your Grandpa? Is his health alright?"

"He's fine. Very well. He asked me to send his regards."

Only then did she greet the elders in the room: "Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, Second Aunt."

Eldest Uncle nodded indifferently. Cheng Ying thought, No one can put on an act better than him.

Then came Eldest Aunt. Perhaps seeing the advantage of getting close to Second Aunt and Cheng Ying, or maybe age and experience had softened her mood, she greeted Cheng Ying with the same enthusiasm as Second Aunt.

Cheng Ying, like Dry Aunt, felt a pang of unease. This one was even harder to deal with.

Fortunately, after exchanging greetings, Cheng Ying headed to the west room to hang out with Cheng Ming and the others.

Because of Chi Wu's ginseng business, the kids, including Cheng Ming, were all doing quite well financially. Cheng Ming was currently riding around on a '250' motorcycle—that thing made too much noise, constantly sputtering.

Cheng Ying asked, "How about you let me take your bike for a spin?"

Cheng Ming scoffed, "What's the point? Just like you said, you can't drive in this village; all the roads are dirt tracks. After one lap, your head is full of dust and your mouth full of sand; it’s exhausting. I plan to study for another year and take the exam again."

That sounded like he was getting ready to move to the city.

Cheng Ying pressed, "Eldest Aunt didn't force you, did she?"

Cheng Ming exploded, "Get lost! You just can't stand seeing your cousin doing well, can you?"

The room full of half-grown boys erupted in laughter; it seemed Cheng Ying had guessed right.

Sun Pangzi was truly capable. The family members that Cheng Ying couldn't handle, Sun Pangzi had managed to treat them like real brothers over the dining table—she suspected it had something to do with Dry Aunt’s job. This wasn't her belittling her Eldest and Second Aunts, but they were indeed a bit snobbish. Plus, there was the inherent warmth and hospitality of villagers towards city folks.

Chi Wu and Cheng Ying ate with the group of kids in the west room, with the dishes prepared by their Dry Uncle—a real treat for Cheng Ming and the others.

Cheng Ming declared, "If for nothing else, just for this cooking skill, I acknowledge this Dry Uncle as my own." He corrected himself immediately, "No, my real uncle."

Cheng Ying snorted. "Hmph, is it your turn to acknowledge him? It's enough if Grandma acknowledges him." She added another sentence, "You and Dry Uncle really are one family."

Chi Wu couldn't help but recall how Sun Pangzi had casually referred to Dry Aunt as 'Mama' over a drink; weren't they truly family then?

Cheng Ming didn't realize what Cheng Ying and Chi Wu were thinking. They seemed to have some strange emotional entanglement regarding this Dry Uncle. "Why the long faces? Has Grandma stopped favoring you two?"

Cheng Ying vehemently denied it, feeling she was on the verge of losing favor. "Nonsense! Grandma cherishes us both."

After the meal, Cheng Ying went around delivering gifts to everyone. It could be said that this trip home for the New Year had slightly improved the relationship between Cheng Ying, the Old Madam, and Eldest Uncle. Cheng Ying didn't ask for much; she only hoped things could look presentable on the surface, so Grandma wouldn't feel heartbroken when she thought of her sons, and so they might offer some comfort to the Old Madam during holidays. It didn't matter if her own side had to put in extra effort. Moreover, Eldest Uncle was a strong man; he wouldn't readily take advantage of anyone, even if it were offered. The incident with the mountain lease back then probably had genuinely angered the Old Madam, and he remembered it.

Ever since dinner, Dry Uncle had gone to the kitchen to boil herbal medicine for his wife.

Cheng Ying deliberately filled the household water tanks with water from her dimension and replaced the hand pump at the well with an electric pump. It would be more convenient, wouldn't it? Keeping up with the times!

Chi Wu and Cheng Ming drove off to pick up Old Aunt.

Cheng Ying was tidying up the yard. Their Dry Uncle had bought a live pig from the villagers, and they would be butchering it at their place later. Cheng Ying thought Dry Uncle must have some kind of bond with pigs; he hadn't even finished eating the half-carcass of meat he brought back from the city. And now, another one.