"I'm letting you win, you know," Chi Wu continued after letting her hit him, "A man like me wouldn't just let you strike him like that, hmph." He then went back to wrapping eggs for the other person.

Cheng Ying looked at the young man and just couldn't bring herself to hit him; he was getting slipperier and harder to pin down. "You should just go learn how to be smooth with words." Chi Wu: "If I were clumsy with my words, I wouldn't have a wife.

It's not like I had a choice.

If you were a little nicer to me, would I need to learn all that nonsense? Wouldn't I just focus all my energy on my studies?" Cheng Ying: "Oh, my, what a delay this must be for you." Chi Wu: "It's fine, I don't hold grudges." Cheng Ying closed her eyes.

This couldn't go on.

The boy was clearly determined to be a pest.

When they went to the Chi family home the next day, the Old Madam had prepared a mountain of things—definitely more than what a new bride would bring when visiting her parents' home.

She truly treated Chi Wu like the new bride, viewing their visit as a trip to the bride’s family.

The increasing volume of gifts made Cheng Ying unsure of what to even say anymore.

The Old Madam cautioned her granddaughter, "Yingzi, when you are there, be obedient and keep your eyes open, okay?" Cheng Ying: "My dear Grandma, you’ve said this so many times.

It’s not our first time visiting.

Don't worry." Chi Wu: "Grandma, don't worry.

Mom and Dad are home.

Why don't you come along and join the excitement?" The Old Madam pursed her lips. "Seeing you is better than me missing a couple of meals.

Oh, I won't go.

I was planning to stroll in the park anyway.

You three just enjoy your family time." Chi Wu: "Then I can give you a ride over." The Old Madam: "No need.

I'm cooped up all day.

This short distance is a chance to stretch my legs.

Forget it, let me walk; it’ll be refreshing." Chi Wu: "Grandma, we’ll be heading off then." Cheng Ying watched the two of them, realizing they had effectively sidelined her.

If anyone saw them, they'd think she was the outsider.

The Old Madam waved the two youngsters off, especially Chi Wu, and only relaxed once she confirmed there were no visible marks on his face.

Such a troublesome child.

That old woman from the Chi family was not easy to deal with.

Once in the car, Chi Wu's demeanor towards Cheng Ying completely shifted. "Yingzi, look how worried Grandma is about you.

She prepares all these things, all for you.

Can't you just make Grandma worry less?" He said this as if he were the picture of thoughtfulness.

Cheng Ying glanced at the items stacked on the seat, not even counting what was still in the trunk. "Grandma just feels it's rare for you to come home, and she fears others might look down on you or that you're suffering grievances at our house.

She’s trying to support your standing.

Do I really need these things?" Chi Wu was unimpressed, his skin extraordinarily thick. "If you were a little nicer to me, that would be more useful than all these things.

Look how hard you hit yesterday; I couldn't even go out all day." Cheng Ying: "I went easy on you.

It would have been perfect if you couldn't go out today either." Chi Wu didn't dare argue back with Cheng Ying, but in his heart, he considered the hitting as a kind of kiss.

After arguing and being hit, love should be next.

At least they were progressing toward that stage.

The Old Madam at the Chi house was happy to see her eldest grandson, but not entirely pleased.

Yesterday, Qingfang had called to say Chi Wu had arrived two days ago.

Was this even her own grandson? He had been home for two days and hadn't come to pay his respects.

Truly, once you marry a wife, you forget everything else.

He didn't even remember his own surname, which made her even more dissatisfied with her already somewhat displeasing granddaughter-in-law.

The Chi Old Madam had waited for her grandson all day yesterday.

The Chi Old Man had wanted to call, but the Chi Old Madam had angrily stopped him.

She had declared, "We'll just see when this unreliable child finally remembers us." The Chi Old Madam asked Yingzi to sit down; her attitude was relatively cordial. "When did Wuzi get back?" Cheng Ying ignored that line of questioning, knowing that since the question was for Chi Wu, Chi Wu should be the one to answer.

She directly greeted the Chi Old Man. "Hello, Grandpa Chi.

It's been a long time since I last visited.

How is your health? How is Grandma's health?" The Chi Old Man: "Fine, fine, everything is fine." At this point, Chi Wu replied to the Old Madam. "Grandma, I got back the day before yesterday.

I drove all night and slept all day yesterday." The Chi Old Madam: "Why the rush? Are you well rested? You can't do that next time; that’s reckless! Hurry inside and rest a bit more." Her concern for her grandson overshadowed everything else.

Cheng Ying thought to herself that if she had said those words, they wouldn't have had the same effect.

Chi Wu: "Grandma, I'll go down first.

There are still a lot of things to bring up." The Old Madam: "What are you doing bringing so many things from school?" Chi Wu was unusually less glib. "These are all the good things Grandma at home prepared for me to bring over." Chi Wu meant well, wanting the two families’ elders to get along better, right? But the Chi Old Man and Old Madam didn't quite interpret it that way.

What was the meaning of this? Their grandson came home and went straight to someone else's house.

And he brought so many gifts, as if he were visiting distant relatives for a formal exchange of courtesies.

This looked like their grandson was becoming the child of another family.

The Chi Old Madam: "Wuzi, how could you bring so much? I also prepared many things for your grandmother back home.

You can take them back for her later." Chi Wu felt the world was wonderful.

Look how well the two families were interacting! Cheng Ying lowered her head, sensing a silent battle—a war whose smoke had not yet cleared.

Seeing Chi Wu, who rarely showed strong emotion in the Chi household, a slight curl lifted the corner of her mouth.

She thought this child must have misunderstood.

He simply hadn't grasped the deeper meaning of the older generation.

The Chi Old Madam, looking at the pile of goods, didn't even take time to chat with her grandson but went straight to her study and storage room to rummage.

The best tea, all gifts from others; the tonic supplements, boxes upon boxes of Cordyceps, sent by students.

In short, whatever was high-end, whatever could overshadow the pile from outside, that’s what she began pulling out.

The Chi Old Madam was determined to make the Cheng family Old Madam realize that they were the ones visiting the other home, and the children's home was here.

Chi Yong and Yang Zhi, along with their son, busied themselves in the kitchen.

They wouldn't meddle in outside affairs.

They were their own daughter's and son's people.

Getting involved would be like Pigsy looking in a mirror—a losing proposition on both sides.

Chi Yong was a man of great foresight.

Even Chi Ye, who was only six or seven, noticed. "Dad, why does it feel like something is off?" Yang Zhi poked her head out to look outside. "When did Mom and Grandma get along so well?" Chi Yong looked at his wife.

It seemed she understood less than their son. "The better, the better!" After dinner, Cheng Ying and Chi Wu left, their arms full—even more so than when they arrived.

And these were truly good things.

Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying with deep satisfaction. "Yingzi, you should visit Grandpa and Grandma often." Cheng Ying couldn't deny it; her own grandmother made sure she visited the Chi family every Sunday.

So, she couldn't refute that statement.

Chi Wu: "Relationships truly develop through communication.

It’s obvious you’ve won over Grandma’s heart because look how well Grandma treats us." Cheng Ying said solemnly, "You might be overthinking things.

I think for someone as refined as Grandma, she might still be somewhat dissatisfied with me.

I still have a very, very high ceiling for improvement." Chi Wu: "You're being too modest.

Grandma is definitely satisfied with you, don't worry." Cheng Ying thought to herself: I don't care if she's satisfied! This ridiculous kid is impossible to reason with.

He’s a creature living in the third dimension.

Chi Wu saw Cheng Ying purse her lips, then glanced at the pile of items behind them, his mood brightening further. "I understand.

Grandma is putting on a show for my sake." Cheng Ying: "Then shut up." She recalled that she was the one who taught this idiot the nuances of worldly affairs; how could he not read the atmosphere? Chi Wu: "Yingzi, just one more thing." Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu.

Chi Wu continued, "Do you think we should give all this stuff away?" Cheng Ying: "Are you sick?" Chi Wu: "Grandma's face would definitely look unhappy if we didn't." Cheng Ying: "That doesn't mean we should give it away! You spendthrift! These are rare treasures you can’t buy!" Chi Wu thought to himself: This is really my wife's character.

Cheng Ying: "Besides, it’s about reciprocity.

How can you interfere haphazardly in the middle?" Chi Wu looked at his wife.

Was this the same wife who was so protective of her own grandmother? "Are you running a fever?" Cheng Ying: "You understand nothing.

This is the only pleasure the Old Madam has left.

Every time she prepares things for your family, it's when Grandma is at her most spirited.

You dare mess with that?" Chi Wu was stunned for a long moment. "You mean...

it’s the joy of endless struggle? What realm has Grandma reached?" Cheng Ying: "It can't be helped.

The Old Madam doesn't have many special hobbies besides listening to Xi [opera/poetry] and watching TV.

The rest of her energy is spent on this minor rivalry." Chi Wu thought: Don't let Grandma push it too far. "Take it easy.

Be careful not to make the Old Madam ill from anger." Cheng Ying: "It's fine, don't worry.

A little anger is healthier.

Didn't you see how rosy both your grandmother's and my grandmother's faces were? They're doing great; they’ve found their fun." Chi Wu's expression became utterly ambiguous. "Then it’s up to you." What a man who listened to his wife.

He had completely lost his principles.

Chi Wu's winter break was not as relaxed as he had imagined.

The thought of spending every day with his wife was an even grander fantasy.

If earning money was hard, he was never idle when he was free; when he had vacation, he was even busier.

Cheng Ying managed the furniture company.

Even with competent managers, she was swamped at the end of the year.

Chi Wu's newly established small company required his personal attention everywhere.

For now, they were only operating within the province; there were no major projects yet, and it was already like this.

Chi Wu planned to develop the company properly after he graduated from university, as private enterprises weren't exactly favored right now.

Cheng Ying was financially comfortable this year; her savings had at least doubled.

The ginseng she had Chi Wu move out recently had turned into cash.

Although Cheng Ying’s work life was better than Chi Wu’s mood, she knew she was set to become a rich woman—a genuinely wealthy one whose assets were undeniable.

Cheng Ying intentionally wanted the water pool in her personal space to be paved with gold bricks, but she was still short.

Mainly, she just didn't have enough gold.

Whenever Cheng Ying had surplus funds, she tried to convert them into precious metals and keep them stored.

Cheng Ying didn't understand investment much, consoling herself that she was in the physical industry, and with gold and silver in hand, she felt utterly comfortable even while sleeping.

This stuff didn't depreciate.

Cheng Ying didn't just keep her gold in her personal space; she also hid quite a bit around the house.

Everyone has a 'what if.' Cheng Ying worried that if her personal space suddenly vanished one day, all her gold would be for naught.

She felt very uneasy about that.

Chi Wu rushed around for five or six days without a break.

The Old Madam looked at the two youngsters and felt they hadn't changed much from before they were engaged.

The Old Madam couldn't quite grasp the matters of the heart, but she knew that young people outside their circle didn't interact the way these two did.

The Old Madam grew anxious.

The Old Madam, who never complained about excessive wealth, actually complained to her granddaughter one day: "What's the use of earning so much money? Look, they don't even have a single quiet day to rest.

They are just making trouble for themselves." Cheng Ying: "Are you complaining that our family has too much money?"

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