We were hoping for two babies in three years, but if you aren't going to watch them, who will? We need to get you well quickly."

The old lady pursed her lips. "Shameless! That's something to wait for until after marriage."

Chi Wu nodded. "We’ll listen to you, Grandma. Yingzi is shy; you shouldn't say such things in front of her."

The old lady completely forgot the pain in her leg. Wuzi was just making things up because he was afraid Yingzi would kick him out.

When Cheng Ying and the doctor came upstairs, Chi Wu was busy helping the old lady sip her soup.

The doctor said, "Your appetite is quite good; I think you're fine. You've been too nervous. You're older, so eat less at one time and eat more frequently."

Cheng Ying saw the doctor out. "Are you two just messing with me, is that it?"

The old lady replied, "I have an appetite again!"

Chi Wu teased, "Grandma thinks the soup I serve tastes better than the soup you serve."

Cheng Ying retorted, "Grandma, so you’re this hard to coax; you don't seem very sensible either."

The old lady said, "Move aside. I need to finish this soup quickly so I can rest up and maybe go home. Imagine, I’m an old woman dragging down two university students—that’s not a fair trade. Thinking about it gives me a headache."

Cheng Ying sighed. "It's because you always see me as a bother. Fine, I’ll leave. My mom is here; you stay with her."

Chi Wu said, "You can go. I’ll go home this afternoon to change clothes; Mom can’t manage alone."

Chi Wu was planning to carry his grandmother to the restroom one last time before heading home.

Seeing Chi Wu there made Cheng Ying feel more at ease than if her own mother were present. Whatever she couldn't handle, Chi Wu could manage. She rushed home to arrange things; Cheng Ming handled the school leave request.

Uncle Gan and Auntie Gan had visited yesterday, and Uncle Gan took over the company matters.

Auntie Gan had arranged for a helper to look after things at home.

But still, it wasn't right for her not to visit even once.

Cheng Ying’s first action upon returning home was catching a chicken and taking it into her spatial dimension.

She regretted never having paid attention to what abilities her space actually possessed. She had purely used it as a private storeroom.

Cheng Ying did something rather wicked: she deliberately broke the chicken’s feet. Then she tossed it into water to soak.

Only when the hen was about to drown, flapping its wings desperately, did she pull it out.

No matter how Cheng Ying observed, the flapping hen was crippled. Cheng Ying felt perhaps the soaking time had been too short.

She found a large basin from the yard and brought it into the space, adding water. She submerged the chicken, ensuring it couldn't drown no matter how much it struggled.

Then, she found a basket and inverted it over the chicken. Cheng Ying finally emerged from the space. Success or failure was now entirely up to fate. She recalled that when her hands had blisters, soaking them in the space water made her hands smooth and tender. It was good for the skin; she wondered if it had any effect on bones.

Cheng Ying looked at the helper at home. Since Auntie Gan found her, she was trustworthy. She explained the situation at home and let the helper manage things.

Cheng Ying bought large bones and went home to boil soup. She also found Chi Wu’s clean clothes and laid them on the kang, making it convenient for him if he went home to change.

She packed the old lady’s spare clothes, then carried the soup back to the hospital.

As she approached the main entrance, she saw Chi Wu carrying his grandmother upstairs, with Yang Zhi steadying them from the side. Cheng Ying’s eyes stung with emotion; Grandma had gone downstairs to relieve herself.

Cheng Ying’s mind instantly understood: perhaps the reason the old lady wasn't eating was the inconvenience of using the restroom. Chi Wu had figured it out and was consulting with the doctor to carry her downstairs.

Cheng Ying sniffled and hurried over. "Grandma, I’ve simmered you some rich bone soup."

The old lady’s spirits were good. "Good! Treating like with like, if I drink more, I’ll recover faster."

Yang Zhi added, "You can't just drink this; you need to eat other things too."

The old lady grumbled, "I’m a bottomless pit! I’ve had three bowls of soup just this afternoon!"

What she didn't say was the constant to-and-fro for restroom breaks.

Chi Wu said, "Drink more, Grandma, it’s good for you." After helping the old lady lie down, Chi Wu broke out in a heavy sweat. Carrying her wasn't effortless, but Grandma had one leg in a cast and an arm hooked up to an IV drip, making it awkward to carry her securely.

Cheng Ying said, "You’ve had three servings already. Someone must have come to visit you, right?"

The old lady confirmed, "Indeed! Wu Zi’s grandparents came and brought me a whole bucket of old chicken soup. And your mother brought me bone broth this morning. I’ve been flooding my mouth with liquid all afternoon. When your Auntie Gan came, I asked her to take the soup back with her—I truly couldn't eat another drop."

Cheng Ying urged, "Eating more definitely won't hurt; just treat it like medicine. Let me wipe you down."

She then went out to fetch water and came back in with water mixed with her spatial essence. Whether it worked or not, she had to try it. Besides, if nothing else, it would certainly have an anti-inflammatory effect.

She used a towel to gently wipe the old lady’s body, focusing especially around the leg in the cast, wiping back and forth. Cheng Ying dared not remove the cast on her grandmother’s leg just to let her soak in the questionable spatial water. That was her own grandmother, after all.

Yang Zhi watched her daughter and felt a pang of something bittersweet. Her daughter-in-law wasn't as capable as her daughter. In every respect, the daughter seemed to do better than the daughter-in-law, making Yang Zhi feel deeply guilty—guilty toward the old lady, and even more so toward her own daughter.

The old lady noticed her daughter-in-law's reaction but said nothing, not finding it odd. She hadn't been as attentive to her daughter-in-law as she was to her granddaughter. For her daughter-in-law to care for her this well now was already quite good. Reciprocity: if you don't treat others exceptionally well, you shouldn't set high expectations for them. At the old lady's age, she understood this clearly.

When she went to the restroom earlier, everyone expressed envy: "The daughter-in-law and grandson are so filial." In old age, this affirmation was all she craved.

When people learned the old lady hadn't gone to the park—word reached a neighbor who later visited and found out she had fallen—the hospital room was packed by afternoon with visitors checking on her. Cheng Ying felt a surge of pride; her grandmother’s reputation was far greater than her own. If she herself fell now, maybe only a few classmates would visit; most relationships were cordial but not deeply connected.

Cheng Ying and Chi Wu busied themselves with receiving guests. Chi Yong accompanied them, greeting and seeing off visitors. Those near the old lady's age all remarked upon seeing the college-aged grandson and granddaughter-in-law attending to her: "The old lady is truly blessed."

After everyone left, the fruit in the room piled up halfway across the room. Chi Wu distributed some to patients in neighboring rooms, took a portion to Yang Zhi’s office, gave a large stack to the doctor treating Grandma, and spent the rest of the time hauling the rest out in several trips.

When it was just the two of them in the room, the old lady confessed, "I don't care about much else, but I love hearing them say I am blessed."

Cheng Ying smiled softly; her old lady was quite smug at this moment. "Of course, who has your level of fortune? Grandson, granddaughter, grandson-in-law, son, daughter-in-law, godson, goddaughter—they take turns visiting you. Your room has almost become a regular stop! The nurses outside are asking who this esteemed matriarch is and what kind of important family she belongs to, since you attract such a crowd."

The old lady saw that her granddaughter hadn't taken offense, understanding the underlying meaning. The old lady knew how others treated her, but she didn't dwell on it. This granddaughter, though she couldn't give her constant attention, had been raised with devoted care. Seeing her granddaughter thriving now was the greatest comfort to an elder. "You should go back to school. I get anxious seeing you here all day. When will this sickness ever heal?" Then she glanced outside. "And Wu Zi—can he just skip school like that?"

Cheng Ying chuckled. "You should rest now. We will naturally make arrangements. Besides, do you think we plan to stay here for three months? As soon as you look better, I'll go back to school. I’m not staying here to get scolded."

The old lady said, "Don't try to fool me. Honestly, I see the nurses coming by. You two only need to visit when you have free time; you really don't need to stay here constantly."

Cheng Ying didn't want to argue with the old lady; she was too unreasonable. At least the old lady couldn't swing a feather duster at her right now.

In the evening, Cheng Ming arrived. "You two go home and rest. I'll stay tonight."

Cheng Ying said, "You can't manage alone; Grandma still needs help with the restroom."

Cheng Ming noticed the dark circles under Cheng Ying’s eyes—she hadn't slept properly in two nights. "Just for one night. I’ll carry Grandma down and ask the nurse on duty to assist. You and Wu Zi go home and rest first."

Chi Wu interjected, "No need. You're too clumsy; I'll stay here. Yingzi, you go home and rest. Tomorrow you can relieve me, and I can rest during the day."

This effectively excluded Cheng Ming. Facing Chi Wu's dismissive tone, Cheng Ming felt resentful but had to concede in this area; he genuinely wasn't as attentive to the old lady as Chi Wu was. His tone softened slightly, lacking conviction. "I am Grandma's biological grandson; why don't you two trust me? Neither of you needs to go home to rest."

The old lady looked at the two young people who hadn't rested all day. "Indeed, let Mingzi stay with me for one night. You two go home and change clothes, then come back tomorrow. I realize the hospital won't let me out anytime soon; we need to prepare for a long siege."

Cheng Ying couldn't help but smile at the old lady’s words and looked at Cheng Ming. "Can you handle it alone?"

Cheng Ming puffed out his chest. "A real man. Don't worry."

Just then, Chi Yong and Yang Zhi arrived. "It's fine, I'm here. Your father drove me over. Mingzi, we will stay here together. You two go home and rest well. When I'm busy, we'll all have to rely on you two."

Cheng Ying felt relieved that her mother was there; everything requiring Grandma's mobility would be easier.

Chi Wu added, "Grandma, just tell us if you need anything. Cheng Ming is too obtuse; he won't guess what you're thinking." The old lady blushed, remembering her reluctance to drink water because of restroom trips. Chi Wu had understood that in a single glance. What an insightful young man.

She waved her hand. "I know. Grandma understands now. I need to get well quickly without developing new problems; that will lighten your burden. Don't worry."

Cheng Ying packed her things and walked over. "Don't talk nonsense. You are not a burden; you are giving us opportunities to prove ourselves." She was genuinely afraid the old lady might misunderstand.