Cheng Ying knew very well that the things in Fatty Sun's shop were sold exclusively to the wealthy; they were happy to be fleeced, as it was simply their obsession, the hobby of the rich. If one wasn't comparing himself to Chi Wu, Fatty Sun's business was certainly one worth mentioning. Watching Aunt Gan's expression shift, Cheng Ying realized she understood the full extent of her husband's capabilities. She probably didn't know how to broach the subject with the old lady. Chi Wu thought that to please his grandmother, he couldn't just run out and do manual labor; he should ask her about her ideal career so that this minor issue wouldn't jeopardize anything important.

Aunt Gan said, "Mom, I've told him repeatedly to do something respectable, even if it earns less, at least it’s peace of mind. Now that you’ve said it, I won't worry anymore. You have no idea how much chaos he causes at home, piling up all sorts of junk. I don't care how much money he makes."

Cheng Ying thought her aunt was sharp; she was subtly signaling to the old lady that her husband earned a decent amount while saving Fatty Sun from losing face, and without offending the matriarch, she strongly agreed with the old lady’s sentiment. Look at the way she navigated social situations, leaving her own mother miles behind. Being from the work unit background, she understood the art of language.

Fatty Sun chimed in, "Mom, you just watch, I'll definitely find a proper career. But I can’t just abandon my shop; it's my one little hobby." What he couldn't say was: That's my retirement fund.

The old lady scoffed, "One little hobby? Look at my flower cultivation—the flowers and fish at home are doing wonderfully. Have I ever spent excessive thought or money on them? My main focus is watching the two children cook. You’re still young; what you're doing is called letting pleasure distract you from your purpose."

When the old lady mentioned her flowers were doing well, both Cheng Ying and Fatty Sun felt a strange ache in their jaws. Cheng Ying knew that her own grandmother’s success with her plants was purely thanks to providence and the cheat function of her spatial water; otherwise, those orchids would have died out long ago. Fatty Sun felt that Aunt Gan’s house had good feng shui; otherwise, how could those flowers and fish survive her haphazard watering schedule—sometimes forgetting entirely, and even observing the superstition of not watering before the fifth day of the New Year? The two looked up at the sky, their thoughts perfectly aligned. As for Aunt Gan, she felt only one thing: Yingzi was sensible. All those expensive flowers and plants the old lady had acquired—she never knew their true cost.

Chi Wu interjected, "Grandma, you even know about letting pleasure distract from purpose?"

The old lady sighed, "Oh, don't treat me like I was back then. I won't talk about it with you all now. Even if I did, you wouldn't understand."

Cheng Ying shook her head; this woman had honed her social skills by playing with a group of elders.

Fatty Sun and Aunt Gan spoke in unison, "Mom, having you care warms my heart so much."

Cheng Ying felt unsuited for the scene and retreated to the west room, letting the mother and the couple have their moment. Chi Wu followed her out; he certainly didn't want to get involved in that.

Sitting on the kang, Cheng Ying sighed to Chi Wu, regardless of whether he truly grasped her meaning, "Why is Fatty Sun so lucky? How many people get to know each other at rock bottom, grow through hardship, and stay together through glory? They’ve weathered storms. Their bond must be unshakable. No wonder Aunt Gan doesn't mind Fatty Sun."

In Chi Wu’s ears, the words automatically mapped onto his own situation with Cheng Ying. Knowing each other at rock bottom—that’s absolutely true. They had also grown through a bumpy patch. Enduring that era was hard enough to think about; they would certainly never separate, and their life would only get better and more prosperous. Was glory too far off? Theirs was a bond tested by wind and rain. Chi Wu daydreamed a little foolishly.

Cheng Ying asked, "What are you thinking about? Your eyes are drifting."

Chi Wu replied, "I was thinking, it’s not just Fatty Sun who is lucky. If people know how to cherish their blessings, they realize they too possess such luck."

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu, surprised. The boy had truly matured; he could understand that. Having also come from this era, everyone had supported each other. She thought of her own mother and stepfather; their journey hadn't been easy either, though their relationship seemed far less solid, especially compared to the couple before them. Her mother’s marriage seemed so fragile by comparison.

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu sternly, "Exactly. You need to tell your father to cherish his blessings."

Chi Wu’s face darkened. She could take his contemplation and drag it elsewhere, applying it to someone else. He turned away, not wanting to bother with her.

Cheng Ying snapped, "Why does this kid flip his mood so quickly lately? I didn't provoke you! I’m telling you, even during adolescence, you can't be this excessive. I'm giving you leeway; if I were the one in my adolescence, would I dare act this arrogant?"

Chi Wu retorted, "I’ll hold your hand so you can’t be adolescent."

Cheng Ying pursed her lips. Why was this brat so sharp-tongued? Even if she wanted to be wild, she couldn't summon the energy now. Watching Chi Wu clearly sulking, Cheng Ying didn't know what to do. This child was becoming harder to manage. What would he be like later? His temper was one she had nurtured. He was letting down his future brother-in-law by turning into such a proud little tyrant.

Just as Cheng Ying was feeling annoyed, Fatty Sun walked in.

Cheng Ying teased, "Oh, so you’re not showing off in front of the old lady anymore? You’re in high favor now, aren’t you?"

Fatty Sun countered, "Jealous, so jealous. But in this midwinter weather, spreading some vinegar inside will only lead to a cold."

Cheng Ying huffed, "Hmph. What, did your face look bad? Did you blush? Did the old lady disapprove?"

Fatty Sun said, "Girl, I never realized that in the old lady’s heart, I was such a failure. But after all these years, only the old lady has ever put it to me like that. Uncle tells you, never mind that I earn well, but if my father were alive, this shop, just as the old lady said, would be a sign of my failure. The old man definitely wouldn't approve."

Cheng Ying thought to herself: this guy came here to use her and Wu Zi as a trash can; he was reminiscing about the past.

Chi Wu shifted further toward Cheng Ying, disgusted. While Fatty Sun’s smoked meat tasted good, the smell that clung to him afterward was truly unpleasant. Of course, Chi Wu was also using this as an excuse to get physically closer to Cheng Ying; he had his own little motives.

Cheng Ying advised, "Uncle, you need to look at things more positively. In these peaceful times, no one’s riding horses to war. As long as you can support yourself and your wife without exhausting your old parents, that’s good enough." Cheng Ying’s standard for ordinary people wasn't very high. Fatty Sun was doing quite well, better than most.

Fatty Sun sighed, "It’s still the niece who knows how to comfort people. It’s just that I finally understand why your aunt’s family always looked down on me, still saying I wasn't good enough for your aunt even now. They stand there in front of me, stiff as landlords."

Cheng Ying asked, "So you’ve figured out the reason?" Although the question sounded a bit gloating, it was at least supportive, preventing Fatty Sun from talking to himself.

Fatty Sun concluded, "After listening to the old lady today, I finally understood. In their eyes, no matter how much I hustle, I’m still a useless man."

Cheng Ying soothed him, "You don’t need to dwell on it too much. Your sphere of influence is different; they don't understand."

Fatty Sun insisted, "No. As a grown man, I cannot let people look down on my wife. My dignity isn't important; what matters is that my wife's reputation cannot be tarnished. If it is, I have to retrieve it."

Cheng Ying looked at Fatty Sun with newfound respect. "A good man of the new era! Aunt Gan is fortunate; marrying Uncle and Aunt Gan was a great gain for her. I’ll tell Aunt Gan later: marry Fatty Sun."

Fatty Sun didn't realize this was praise. However, Chi Wu scrutinized Fatty Sun up and down. What was so good about this man? Were there aspects worth learning? Yingzi’s evaluation was so high—saying one should marry Fatty Sun! The pressure from Chi Wu’s gaze was intense. It would be challenging for him to gain that much weight. As for character, Chi Wu felt he was genuinely better than Fatty Sun; the only gap, he admitted, was the layer of fat.

Cheng Ying noticed Chi Wu's strange look. "What are you staring at?"

Fatty Sun interjected, "Looking at me? I wouldn't marry him either."

Chi Wu shot back, "I’m looking at you. It’s too late for you to try and support Aunt Gan’s reputation. If you joined a government office at your age, by the time you reached Aunt Gan’s standing, all your teeth would have fallen out."

Fatty Sun closed his eyes. He was asking for a favor; he wouldn't stoop to the level of the unlucky brat. "Go on, adults are talking; a child should keep quiet."

Chi Wu snorted. He was clearly trying to get close to Yingzi with ulterior motives.

Fatty Sun continued, "Niece, it’s just as Wu Zi said, though it sounds harsh, it's the truth. If I tried to follow your aunt’s career path at my age, it wouldn't be suitable, and I couldn't stand being directly managed by others."

Cheng Ying stared at him, "Get to the point, Uncle."

Fatty Sun said, "Niece is straightforward. Niece, I’ve been thinking. Your mountain acreage is lacking one crucial manager. Your second uncle can only manage the land itself, and your uncle has his own job and can’t dedicate himself to our great cause. Once those saplings grow, we can’t just wait for people to come look at our trees, right? We need connections! Niece, remember, there’s no avoiding nepotism. I think our mountain range needs someone like me to handle external affairs. What do you say?"

Cheng Ying remarked, "You certainly have a unique vision, but I don’t see how this relates to supporting your wife's honor. Besides, wouldn't this be wasting your talent?"

Fatty Sun explained, "Girl, you don't understand. Can just anyone buy your saplings? Let me tell you, this is about circles. If I take on this responsibility, first, I’ll have proper work to do, and second, I’ll enter that circle. Niece, rest assured, just for the sake of my reputation, I will manage it well for you. As for wasting talent? We aren't strangers; it’s all for my favorite niece’s business."

Cheng Ying inwardly conceded there was no one better suited than Fatty Sun; the man knew everyone. Her mountain area was small now, a small-scale operation with few saplings left. But in the future, with tens of thousands of acres and nursery grounds, without a reliable person for diplomacy, they would just be selling timber. However, as the saying went, eagerness isn't attractive, especially since Fatty Sun sounded like he was begging her.

Cheng Ying stated, "If you really wanted me to trust your reputation, I honestly can't."

Fatty Sun pleaded, "Niece, look, can we just turn that page? Don't bring it up again."

Cheng Ying sighed, "Sigh, I still have to deal with the police station."

ps: Please vote with pink tickets. RP