Chi Yong flinched. This matter required discussion with his wife, but he certainly couldn't say it in front of the old lady. "Xiao Ye, is his school far from where you are? It will be such a bother for you two elders. My mother raises her things with such delicacy. Chi Ye is so annoying; there’s nothing he dares not touch. Just the other day, he pulled out his mother’s prized Chai Hu root."

Old Mrs. Chi: "He’s just a child; why don't you discipline him?"

Old Mr. Chi sighed, realizing in one sentence that his son was reluctant to let his grandson be raised by them.

This meant he didn't want them raising the boy.

Chi Wu wanted to talk with Cheng Ying a little longer. He felt uneasy, unable to decipher what Cheng Ying was truly thinking.

Unfortunately, the old lady didn't give Chi Wu the chance. As soon as Chi Yong and the others left, she sent Chi Wu off to sleep in the west room. These two children needed close watching; they couldn't afford another mistake layered on top of an existing one.

Cheng Ying slept next to the old lady that night. "Grandma, are you coming with me to university?"

The old lady scoffed, "Don't you ever grow up? Do you expect me to be tied to you wherever you go? Grandma is busy; I still need to look after the house for you all. How big is our operation, after all? I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving it to others. You, just go to school and study hard."

Cheng Ying sighed. She couldn't sleep soundly. She and the old lady had never been separated for more than a month.

Going out alone, she truly felt uneasy.

It seemed she would have to acquire property in the capital. Luckily, purchasing property now wasn't a losing proposition. She could view it as real estate investment.

But it was genuinely difficult for the old lady to become familiar with a new place. Letting her be put in an awkward position for the sake of her own kin felt wrong.

The next day, the old lady immediately busied herself with arranging the appreciation banquet for the teachers and the engagement ceremony. Chi Wu drove her to visit Uncle and Auntie Gan—the people they were closest to in the provincial capital.

The old lady personally came to discuss the matter with Auntie Gan. In the old lady’s estimation, Auntie Gan held a status akin to a cadre. Consulting with Auntie Gan on important matters was the right move.

Auntie Gan held her baby in one arm, her expression gentle, lacking the usual hint of coolness.

A woman with a child was distinctly different from one without.

The old lady announced, "I’ve come to share some good news and to invite you for drinks. Both children tested excellently; they can both attend prestigious universities. Incidentally, I'm telling you that Yingzi and Wu Zi are getting engaged."

Auntie Gan looked up, visibly surprised. "Yingzi and Wu Zi are getting engaged?" It was expected, yet still surprising.

The old lady smiled awkwardly. "Indeed. I don't know when the two of them developed feelings for each other. We’ll have a small gathering for drinks in the city first, and then a bigger celebration in the village. You can’t make it to the city banquet while you’re in confinement. But you must attend the village one. Come back to the village for a while with the baby then, and Mother will personally look after you."

Auntie Gan replied, "Oh, I’ll listen to you, Mother. But Yingzi and Wu Zi are indeed a good match. You wouldn't believe it, but the first time I saw these two children—so capable, so handsome—I thought, where else could you find such perfectly suited partners? Children their age are still playing with mud, and look at them, already supporting a household. Now that they are together, they look perfect from every angle. There is no better match."

Everyone loves hearing kind words. The old lady had already considered it: except for Wu Zi having a rather troublesome grandmother, he was outstanding in every other aspect.

Now, Wu Zi would be living with them, and his grandmother's issues wouldn't significantly affect her granddaughter. What a wonderful thing.

Uncle Gan came in carrying black chicken soup. He glanced at Chi Wu, whose face was flushed from the praise, thinking that this boy truly got what he wished for. It had only been a few days, yet the signs were already showing. Yingzi was certainly easy to talk to. "Mother, what day is the engagement? I’ll come over to help."

The old lady responded, "You must come over too. You are the child’s godfather; I, an old woman, can't hold the occasion together without you."

Uncle Gan looked at Cheng Ying. "Are you doing this willingly?"

Chi Wu took a deep breath. His temperament clashed with Sun Pangzi’s; he’d just have to get used to it.

Cheng Ying looked at Uncle Gan. How could that question hit the mark so precisely? "Who could possibly decide for me? You should be asking someone else that question."

Rumors were already flying around the factory; she was the one eagerly pursuing the match.

Cheng Ying’s ears were sharper than most; she had heard everything long ago.

Besides, she was someone who valued her reputation. Even if forced, she wouldn't go around loudly announcing it.

Sun Pangzi thought to himself, That kid is too unscrupulous; he must have used some underhanded trick. "Uncle wishes you both a long and lasting future. Your aunt is right; you two truly are a perfect match—a savage wolf and a beautiful girl."

Chi Wu snapped, "Watch how you speak!"

Sun Pangzi mumbled, "A slip of the tongue." But he hadn't spoken incorrectly.

Sun Pangzi considered that if it were anyone else like Cheng Ying, they would have charmed him completely. Chi Wu was just rushing headlong into seeking misery. The day he complained would surely come.

Cheng Ying teased her sworn younger brother. "Auntie, when you come to our house later, I'll get you some ginseng roots. I'll have a good doctor write up a formula for you to recuperate properly."

Sun Pangzi quickly replied, "Well, thank you in advance then."

Cheng Ying countered, "It’s not for you. Why are you thanking me? It’s for my Auntie."

Sun Pangzi insisted, "It’s all the same, but you can’t just eat anything randomly; we need a doctor to look first. My son is nursing; his mother can’t be eating random things."

Cheng Ying held the baby and praised, "Brother, your father is truly filial."

Auntie Gan was almost driven to laughter by the exchange.

Sun Pangzi was quiet for a moment. "Mother, the child is about to get engaged, yet you’re still provoking people like this. Don't let people dislike you later; we need to teach them well."

Cheng Ying shot back, "Then you need to talk to Wu Zi properly. Otherwise, my Grandma will dislike him later."

Chi Wu was unconcerned. "When I’m at Yingzi’s place, I live with Grandma."

Sun Pangzi was genuinely startled. The Chi family was known in the area; for their grandson to admit this was hard to believe.

The old lady quickly interjected, "Don't listen to what these children say nonsense. It’s because the in-laws are so kind; they see this old woman as pitiable and let the children keep me company. In the future, if they have another child, that child can take Yingzi's surname. Don’t spread rumors!"

The old lady wanted to give face to Wu Zi, protecting Chi Wu’s dignity at every turn.

Chi Wu stated, "Grandma worries about me, so I don't need to change my surname. But I don't mind either way."

He sounded generous, but if his own grandmother heard that, she’d surely shoot him daggers with her eyes.

Sun Pangzi commented, "Your skills are profound. You’ve already stepped right into the inner circle."

Chi Wu declared confidently, "That was already our home to begin with."

Sun Pangzi looked Chi Wu over twice. This kid will eventually slip up; I know what kind of person you are. He knew this unfortunate child hadn't been eyeing his eldest niece for just one day.

The Chi family acted swiftly, giving the old lady a list of items. The old lady immediately started arranging purchases with Uncle Gan.

Cheng Ying and Chi Wu began inviting people, sending out engagement notices. This was merely the Chi family adhering to old customs; if it were up to Cheng Ying, a phone call and a brief word would have sufficed.

When the teacher appreciation banquet arrived, Chi Wu and Cheng Ying were both dressed in new, celebratory clothes.

The attending classmates arrived in small groups; there weren't many. They were all people Chi Wu was close to; Cheng Ying had not invited a single one of her own acquaintances.

This girl’s personality must be the issue. Even someone reborn should be socially adept with many friends.

Due to her reserved nature, Cheng Ying didn't fully trust anyone, remaining essentially alone even now. A pity, truly regrettable.

The class teacher looked at the two children with satisfaction. He couldn't figure out how these two grew up to be so handsome. No wonder they had an arranged childhood engagement.

He pulled the amiable-looking old lady aside. "You have raised your children so well! In school, they were like siblings; not a single harsh word passed between them. They fostered a positive learning atmosphere. If the two hadn't let slip the news, I wouldn't have known they were engaged!"

Old Mrs. Cheng replied, "It’s thanks to the teachers' good guidance. But today, their formal engagement is being announced; we are truly happy that you could come."

The class teacher wondered if they were getting engaged all over again. After all, an old childhood arrangement couldn't be as formal as this. He addressed the two students, "You must treat each other well from now on."

Chi Wu and Cheng Ying escorted the teachers and classmates all the way to the main gate.

The class teacher reminded them, "Oh yes, make sure to fill out your forms as soon as possible; yours are the last ones we need."

Cheng Ying paused slightly before replying.

Chi Wu quickly covered, "Certainly, we'll bring them to you tomorrow." Then he took Cheng Ying's hand and led her inside; several students and childhood friends were still making a ruckus.

Cheng Ying couldn't join in the roughhousing with Chi Wu, but seeing Chi Wu’s friends and classmates getting rowdy at the table, she brought out the best liquor in the house, letting the young people have their fun.

Sun Pangzi teased, "Girl, I heard things. You are quite fierce, but don’t you think this whole situation is a little… off?"

Cheng Ying glanced at Uncle Gan—family. What could she do if it felt off? That child was someone she had watched grow up. She couldn't bring herself to hurt him, couldn't bring herself to scold him, and now she had to add another: she couldn't reject him either. That 'thing' [referring to the engagement/relationship] was merely a formality now.

Cheng Ying shook her head. "You've had too much to drink."

Saying that, she went to stand by the side of Old Mrs. Chi to wait on her. Her own grandmother had told her that this was now her future mother-in-law, and she must serve her well, no longer arguing with her. Back in the old days, if a mother-in-law ordered a daughter-in-law, that was the end of it.

Old Mrs. Chi absolutely did not want Cheng Ying hovering nearby. Looking at Cheng Ying's thick-soled shoes bothered her deeply. The two of them could be described as mutually annoyed upon sight.

Finally, they managed to see off the crowd, and their own grandmother was quite drunk, having drunk mainly with Old Mr. Chi and the retired principal and his wife.

As the primary parents, Chi Yong and Yang Zhi truly shone today. Which family could produce two university students at once? It was only the engagement between the two children that caused some people to hesitate, everyone remarking that it was 'kin layered upon kin.'

Chi Wu was very drunk. He was the first among his friends and classmates to get engaged, and it was to the person he loved. He was genuinely happy.

The classmates beside him sincerely urged him to drink more. "Wu Zi, you are blessed! High school graduation, about to enter the best university, and you have such a beautiful wife. This is a double harvest! You absolutely must drink well today, brother, I’m jealous!"

Another classmate chimed in, "Exactly! You don't know how many guys in our class were interested in Yingzi. Before anyone could even make a move, you snatched her up! You’re being unfair, kid. No wonder you kept Yingzi locked down so tightly these past few years; you’ve screwed us all over!"

Chi Wu felt pleased, truly pleased. "Double harvest, that’s great. I’ll drink." He finished the cup in one gulp.

The slightly tipsy old lady even cautioned, "Yingzi, tell Wu Zi to drink less. That little rascal still has school; drinking too much will hurt his brain."

Cheng Ying said, "Grandma, I’ll tell him. You and Mother go rest in the room. They are classmates and Wu Zi’s childhood friends; let the young people have their fun."

Yang Zhi came over. "They shouldn't overdo it; there are serious matters tomorrow, aren't there?" With that, she helped the old lady into the room.