The two entered the house, and Cheng Ying said earnestly to Cheng Ming in front of the old lady, "Mingzi, although you are a man now, it's still not right to come home so late."

Then, turning to the old lady, she continued, "Grandma, you have no idea how chaotic it is outside these days. People dare to act recklessly right on the main roads. You just wouldn't believe it. I told them they were dating, and even the Gong-An couldn't do anything about them. Tell me, why are people like this? Why has the atmosphere become so bad?"

After speaking, Cheng Ying returned to her room and lay down in her warm bed to sleep.

I let my sister wait this long, I’ll let you enjoy yourself to the fullest. I’ll have Grandma teach you a lesson.

The old lady dragged Cheng Ming into his room and lectured him for a better part of the night, starting from fifty years ago, moving to the present day, then from old customs to current social conditions, then from the village to the province, and finally to Mingzi’s mother.

In short, the message was that Cheng Ming had returned too late, and it couldn't happen again. Having a girlfriend wasn't forbidden, but it required proper conduct.

Cheng Ming was utterly depressed, realizing deeply that Cheng Ying had set him up. That girl Cheng Ying was twisted; she couldn't stand seeing anyone around her living better than she was.

It should be noted that the old lady’s current social circle was quite good, consisting of retired elderly folks, true elites from all walks of life.

The old lady had developed. Her previous skill was cursing from the east end of the village to the west end. Now, the old lady could present facts and reason eloquently, spanning from the west to the east of the city, and her arguments were always rich with life philosophy.

Cheng Ming was lectured for half the night by the old lady. He wanted nothing more than to promise her that he hadn't done anything besides holding his girlfriend's hand.

The old lady was still not entirely satisfied. Finally, the first curfew in the family was established for him.

Cheng Ming had to be home before 8:30 PM.

Cheng Ming was truly in tears. "Grandma, you're raising me like a girl! Besides, you never set a curfew for our girl, Yingzi!"

The old lady retorted, "Can you compare yourself to Yingzi? When Yingzi goes out, it's for a proper reason. Moreover, Yingzi understands things. Grandma is doing this for your own good and for the good of that young lady. A good girl should value her reputation more, don't you understand?"

Cheng Ming hated it. He hated Chi Wu. Why on earth did he ever get involved in this mess?

Look at the state he was in now. If he had known, he wouldn't have stayed home, even if Chi Wu had offered him a new Yamaha instead of just the motorcycle. How could he have been so easily fooled? Why didn't he realize that university life required living in the dorms? He was utterly screwed over.

Could he blame his youthful ignorance back then? Could he blame his immaturity? Could he call himself a complete idiot back then?

Cheng Ming negotiated with the old lady. "Grandma, can it be later? I'm a man, a grown young man. Are they going to force themselves on me?"

The old lady replied, "I’m afraid you won't be able to control yourself and make a mistake. You settle down! If you really like the girl, bring her home. Grandma will take a look. If she passes muster, we’ll then introduce her to your mother. Once you’re engaged, you can do whatever you want, and Grandma won't interfere." That was as lenient as it could get.

Chi Wu looked up at the sky. These were people living in different worlds. How could a simple dating relationship immediately lead to talks of engagement? Society might be conservative, but plenty of dating relationships ended without an engagement. Cheng Ming couldn't guarantee his girlfriend would even reach the engagement stage.

In the end, the old lady’s strict rule took effect.

The next day, Cheng Ming complained to Cheng Ying, "Where does it lead to engagement? She even wants me to bring her home! You say 8:30 PM, the cinema doesn't even start the movie until then, and Grandma wants me home? What kind of life is this?"

Cheng Ying felt that this troublesome kid deserved to be managed this way. Look at what he had become; if it weren't past eleven, he wouldn't even think of coming home.

Besides, since they were dating, why not get engaged? She herself had gotten engaged before even dating anyone; who could she complain to about that?

She educated Cheng Ming seriously, "Dating without the intention of marriage is hooliganism."

The old lady interjected, "Did you hear that? You're the older brother, and you don't see things as clearly as your sister. Our family has never had a hooligan. You settle down!"

Cheng Ming felt immense hatred internally. "She's a woman; can her attitude really remain neutral? I am also very serious about dating. But if we aren't compatible, how can we know unless we date?"

The implication was that if they weren't suitable, they would break up; there was no way it would reach an engagement.

The old lady said, "I'm a woman too, and this is what I'm telling you, Mingzi. If you dare mess around outside, I... I'll send your sister over to deal with you."

Well, the old lady hadn't yet found an effective way to handle Cheng Ming; the crucial point was that she couldn't bring herself to discipline her own grandson harshly.

Cheng Ying thought the old lady was brilliant. Although she couldn't handle Cheng Ming herself, she knew effective ways to discipline him. Unhurriedly, she chimed in from the side, "I'll go back to the village and bring Auntie over for an appraisal."

This truly scared Cheng Ming. Thinking of his own mother's personality and his elder brother Cheng Tie, Cheng Ming shuddered. "I'll be home precisely at 8:30. If I haven't confirmed an engagement with her, can I not even hold her hand?"

The old lady stated, "I don't object to proper dating. If you have time, bring the girl over. Grandma will take a look for you."

So, it was settled like that. In private, Cheng Ming was almost stabbing a small effigy of Chi Wu every day. He was completely played; that kid Chi Wu had ruined his brother. Look at the life he was leading!

What unbalanced Cheng Ming the most was this: why was Cheng Ying, a woman, given looser rules at home than he, a man?

And everyone knew about Cheng Ying's situation—how close she was with Wu Zi. Why were the old lady and she so lenient toward those two?

He didn't dare say it to the old lady. When he complained privately to Cheng Ying, she retorted, "Haven't I already gotten engaged? It's precisely because they were too lenient with us before that we ended up getting engaged. If you’re willing, you get engaged too. Grandma will surely prepare your new room!"

Then she walked away, infuriating Cheng Ming. If he wanted to get engaged, what was the point of all his fussing?

Imagine a man having to tell his girlfriend mid-date, "Sorry, I have to go home; I have a curfew." That was just too cruel!

Cheng Ming felt that finding a girlfriend in university was becoming an impossible dream.

In the fading chill of March, the old lady woke up early to find a thin layer of icy, granular snow outside. For someone who had spent a long time in the North, this was nothing at all.

Thus, the old lady was careless. She slipped when going out and fell, injuring her leg badly.

Cheng Ying and Cheng Ming were terrified. They rushed the old lady to the hospital. Cheng Ying was filled with remorse, wondering why she hadn't woken up earlier to sweep the yard clean. Didn't she know they had an elderly person at home? Didn't she know Grandma’s legs weren't steady anymore?

She wanted to slap herself a few times.

The doctor said that because of her age, the old lady’s bones were much weaker than a young person's; recovery would be slow, and consequently, she would suffer more.

The old lady, who had been strong her entire life, didn't let out a single groan even though her leg was severely damaged in the fall.

When the old lady came out of the operating room, Cheng Ying held onto her tightly, afraid to let go.

Her heart felt hollow, with nowhere to lean on. The fear of what might have happened if the fall had been worse left her shaken—if anything serious had happened, she wouldn't know what to do with herself going forward.

Chi Yong and Yang Zhi rushed over to help manage things at the hospital, but Cheng Ying still felt uneasy until Chi Wu returned in the evening. Only then did Cheng Ying feel a significant weight lift off her shoulders.

Seeing Chi Wu, Cheng Ying was almost in tears. "It’s all my fault. If only I had gotten up earlier to sweep the yard clean."

Chi Wu patted Cheng Ying’s shoulder. "Grandma goes out for a walk every day; you can’t sweep the entire street. Grandma is old now, and we're all in school. In the future, we just need to find someone to stay with Grandma. And Grandma still needs you to care for her, so you must keep your spirits up. Grandma probably finds your care more convenient than anyone else’s."

Cheng Ying nodded. "Mm, I understand."

Having someone accompanying her made a difference; the feeling of support was different. Cheng Ming had tried to comfort himself in the same way, but Cheng Ying wouldn't listen.

If it weren't for Grandma’s current condition keeping Cheng Ying preoccupied, she would surely realize that her relationship with Chi Wu was different now. Chi Wu had become an established presence in her heart—someone trustworthy, someone she could rely on, someone who allowed Cheng Ying to relax.

When the old lady woke up, she was blaming herself. "It’s all because I wasn't careful enough. Think of all the trouble I’ve caused you all."

Cheng Ying said, "Grandma, what are you talking about? Who did you cause trouble for? Are you saying my dad wasn't born to you, wasn't raised by you, and I wasn't raised by you? Are you trying to shame me?"

The old lady sighed, "Ah, if only I had been more careful, this wouldn't have happened. Think of all the things that need doing at home; you still have school, you have so many paths ahead. Wu Zi has come back now. This is delaying things so much."

Chi Wu chimed in, "You raise children to care for you in old age. You only need me at a time like this. You’re deliberately giving me a chance to show off, and at the same time, let Yingzi see my character. Grandma, please don't think we're not taking good care of you. We surely won't be as efficient as you, so you must not criticize me in front of Yingzi."

The old lady said, "Alright, you don't need to comfort me. I need to get better quickly. Yingzi, find someone to come and assist me."

Cheng Ying said, "Grandma, are you saying you look down on me?"

Cheng Ming piped up, "Grandson, granddaughter, and grandson-in-law are all here, and you still look down on us? We’ll take care of you."

The old lady insisted, "It’s enough for you to stay with me. You still have to go to school. Listen to me, otherwise, I won't be comfortable lying here."

Chi Wu reassured her, "Grandma, we've already found someone at home, don't worry. She’s cooking now. When you are discharged, this auntie will stay home to keep you company, or else we won't feel at ease while we're at school."

The old lady frowned. "Isn't that good then? We can just go home to recover; there’s no need to stay in the hospital. Let’s pack up and leave quickly."

The doctor who pushed the door open strongly objected upon hearing this. "Old lady, you can't make this decision, and neither can they. I won't let you leave if I say so; no one can discharge you."

Cheng Ying thought, Great, now I don’t have to argue. The old lady felt a pang of fear looking at people in uniforms—including those in white coats, which, in her view, were another type of uniform. These people all worked for the public sector!

Her tone immediately softened. "Doctor, look, I just twisted it a little, and I feel much better now. Please let me go home to rest. I can't recuperate properly here."

The doctor countered, "You didn't just twist it a little; you have a fracture. You are advanced in years, but your constitution is good. If it were someone with poor health, they might not have recovered at all. Healing a broken bone takes a hundred days. Please, rest assured here."