The Old Madam wouldn't have been so extravagant if she hadn't felt for Chi Wu; gritting her teeth and stamping her foot, she made the hard decision: "Hire a driver, hire one! We have money at home, we shouldn't let our family suffer just because we fear gossip. From now on, with a driver, Wu Zi only needs to come back once a week, sparing himself the trouble of driving!"

Well, so it was out of concern for her granddaughter-in-law. Cheng Ying felt quite resentful. "I wonder what affection the Old Madam truly holds for Chi Wu? She sees him driving for half a day and immediately wants to hire a driver, completely forgetting the lessons from that year."

Chi Wu: "Grandma, you are truly too wise! Even if we hire a driver, I can't just go back once a week. Why don't you have the driver take you and Yingzi out to play while you're at home? If you miss me, have the driver pick me up on Sunday. What do you think?"

The Old Madam: "Whatever Wu Zi says. Wu Zi is destined for great things; Grandma knows that."

Then Cheng Ying heard the Old Madam say, "If we're truly going to be criticized, our family isn't lacking for one more incident. I've made up my mind."

Cheng Ying and Chi Wu exchanged a look—it turned out she had adopted a 'what’s done is done' attitude.

Chatting and walking, the Old Madam was about to fall asleep. Cheng Ying covered her with a jacket and sighed to Chi Wu, "When we first entered the city, Grandma looked at everything along the way. Her spirit just isn't the same anymore. Look, even though all the scenery is new, Grandma can fall asleep even while riding in a car."

Chi Wu looked at his slightly melancholy wife: "You should be praising me for being a competent driver. The Old Madam is so restless and prone to motion sickness, yet she could fall asleep in the car."

Cheng Ying truly felt it was good that the Old Madam could sleep; it was far better than throwing up the entire way. "Show off! Pull over up ahead; I’ll drive for a while."

Chi Wu felt that with Grandma and Yingzi along, it didn't matter how long the journey took; having these two by his side was like carrying his home with him—it was all the same. "No need, I'm not tired. Besides, look who’s sitting in the car."

Cheng Ying: "Enough with the bravado. When we get to our destination, Grandma and I will still have to rely on you to arrange food, lodging, and entertainment."

Chi Wu expressed that having a caring wife was a blessing: "I'm truly not tired. Moreover, the lodging and food are all taken care of. Entertainment is even less of a worry. Wherever Grandma fancies to go, we'll go. We have our own car; what inconvenience is there? Don't worry."

Cheng Ying: "It won't delay your work, will it?"

Chi Wu: "What work is there? Nothing is more important than the matters concerning you two ladies. I see that if I don't get the Old Madam's health in order, your brow won't relax. Yingzi, you're getting older too. When we both start having trouble moving and yawning constantly in the future, don't fret."

Cheng Ying: "I'm not worried about Grandma's health. In truth, I understand perfectly well; Grandma is just old. No matter where we look at the body, there’s no magic cure. It’s just that she’s a little unhappy—she’s only enjoyed a few years of good life, and now she’s old. It’s as if she’s guarding against me, secretly running off ahead of me."

What Cheng Ying said was hard for anyone to hear. Except for ignorant children, who wouldn't mind getting older year by year?

Chi Wu looked at his wife, reached out a hand, and wiped her cheek. "I'm here. I'm even younger than you. If I get old, I’ll grow old with you. I promise I won't be like Grandma, secretly aging before you do."

Cheng Ying turned to look out the car window. Nothing in nature had revived yet, so why did the scenery look a little desolate? It matched the mood of the moment perfectly: twilight years.

She didn't want Chi Wu to see her sadness. Facing her aging grandmother, Cheng Ying knew she was being a bit dramatic.

But this dramatic feeling magnified infinitely in front of Chi Wu. It felt impossible to deal with, like facing the only person you can rely on when injured. Cheng Ying needed this comfort.

And this comfort was irreplaceable by anyone else, including her own mother, Yang Zhi. This feeling was very subtle.

Cheng Ying was reluctant to delve deeper, genuinely afraid to think about it too hard. What exactly was Chi Wu in Cheng Ying’s heart? To what extent had he reached? Cheng Ying stared blankly at Chi Wu driving ahead.

By the time the three arrived in B City, it was already dark. Chi Wu took his mother and daughter directly to the reserved hotel to rest. When the Old Madam was woken by her granddaughter, she gazed at the brightly lit neon signs. Her eyes were filled with excitement: "So this is B City. Back then, when listening to the opera box with your Third Aunt, we always wondered what this place was really like."

Cheng Ying: "Don't rush. Tomorrow morning, we’ll see what this place is truly like. I brought the camera; we'll take lots of pictures to show Third Aunt. You'll recapture the feeling from back then."

The Old Madam pursed her lips: "I wonder if your Third Aunt can still see clearly. My own eyes are getting blurry."

Chi Wu: "Grandma, that’s just because you just woke up. Besides, even if they blur, don't worry, I’ll get you a pair of reading glasses."

Cheng Ying: "Oh my, that would be grand! Our Old Madam would transform into a fashionable beauty!"

The Old Madam's melancholy vanished instantly; her granddaughter was speaking nonsense. "Don't say such things here! If I dress up like that at my age, won't I turn into an old hag? Wouldn't the villagers point fingers at me?"

Cheng Ying looked at the Old Madam, genuinely unsure whose thinking was more reliable, hers or her son’s. "You really have an idea. You have real insight. Few people think like you do. It would be wonderful to be featured in a magazine—only someone like you could be so clear-headed."

The Old Madam: "Of course. Our family has been poor peasants for eight generations; we are beyond reproach."

Cheng Ying basically didn't believe that having one's reputation 'beyond reproach' had anything to do with this.

Chi Wu carried several bags: "May I invite the two ladies out of the car?"

Cheng Ying was the first to step out, supporting the Old Madam at the car door. "Let's go."

The Old Madam stopped arguing. After all, they had arrived at the place she held in the highest and most sincere regard in her heart.

The Old Madam was too busy scanning her surroundings with her eyes, not having the energy to bicker with her granddaughter.

Chi Wu, tired from driving all day, didn't join the Old Madam and Yingzi for dinner. He went straight to sleep in the hotel.

The Old Madam had said that sleeping in the car wasn't comfortable, and that the two of them would just eat something simple before going to bed.

The Old Madam had no mood to admire B City at night. Mother and daughter needed a good rest and sleep at the hotel to restore their vitality first.

The next morning, Chi Wu, dressed sharply and neatly, came to wake the Old Madam and Cheng Ying up.

Cheng Ying had a bit of morning temper, but unfortunately, this wasn't home; no one indulged this bad habit of hers.

She shared a room with the Old Madam, so Cheng Ying couldn't dictate anything. The Old Madam, inexplicably excited, fussed over her appearance until she looked more sprightly than ever before, then dragged her granddaughter out.

Breakfast was rushed. All the Old Madam did was look outside constantly, her eyes wide and searching.

When they reached the square, Cheng Ying finally understood. The Old Madam had dressed up so elegantly just to witness the flag raising. Truly, the Old Madam looked at the Tiananmen Rostrum with a reverence that later generations could never comprehend.

The Old Madam was emotionally stirred: "We only ever heard descriptions of this place from the loudspeakers. I never thought I’d have a day to see it with my own eyes."

Cheng Ying never knew the Old Madam held such feelings. She wondered why she hadn't brought the Old Madam sooner; why had the Old Madam never mentioned it?

Chi Wu: "Grandma, look, the flag is about to rise."

The Old Madam immediately closed her mouth. Cheng Ying watched the Old Madam’s posture straighten rigidly—she was almost saluting alongside the Young Pioneers.

At that moment, Cheng Ying felt that saying anything more would be an intrusion.

Like everyone else in the square, their eyes were fixed on the slowly ascending flag.

When Cheng Ying came back to herself with the sound of the national anthem, the Old Madam was wiping away tears: "It's so stirring, so beautiful, so magnificent! Look how everyone is staring intently."

Cheng Ying felt that there was really no need to say all that.

The Old Madam: "This place is wonderful. Look at those young men, every one of them is so spirited."

Chi Wu thought to himself that he wasn't bad either. "Grandma—" He stopped halfway through what he was about to say.

Chi Wu was philosophical; if he started comparing himself to others here, he’d be foolish.

The Old Madam chuckled: "Hehe, I was just admiring the spirit. Let's go for a walk. This square is truly huge."

Cheng Ying thought the Old Madam had quite the vocabulary, but here she kept repeating the same word; this showed her reverence, perhaps fearing she’d use the wrong adjective. "Okay, if you want to look, we can come back tomorrow."

The Old Madam truly felt she couldn't see it enough times. "Good, good!"

Chi Wu took the Old Madam and toured nearly all of B City. In this cold weather, the three of them even drove to Badaling for a trip. The Old Madam’s legs weren't good, but it didn't matter; her grandson and granddaughter supported her. Though they didn't walk far, at least they had been there.

The Old Madam took the most photos these few days. When Chi Wu felt they had seen enough, he began consulting with the Old Madam: "It's not easy for us to take a trip like this. Why don't we take the opportunity to visit a hospital too? Yingzi studies this field, and perhaps in the future, our Yingzi can even be a doctor in such a large hospital. Let's consider it a preview of Yingzi's future work environment."

Cheng Ying blushed. She really didn't have the nerve to say such a thing. This was where? Was it a place just anyone could walk into?

The Old Madam looked at the silver-tongued Chi Wu: "Alright, don't try to trick me. I knew this trip wouldn't be just for fun for nothing. Don't try those little tricks on me; I've long since made up my mind. I’m not afraid of a doctor fussing over me a bit. Besides, I’m not sick; it’s all Yingzi fussing needlessly."

Chi Wu: "I knew you were the most sensible Old Madam, the most understanding Old Madam, and the most beautiful Old Madam!"

The Old Madam could accept the first part, even with a blush, but the last sentence—she couldn't imagine that was a compliment. "Wu Zi, you’ve learned bad habits coming out here. Don't be so glib, and besides, that description doesn't fit at all."

Cheng Ying burst out laughing—serves you right for showing off. Chi Wu felt utterly deflated. "Who am I doing this for? Who am I doing this for? Do you have to embarrass me like this?" "Grandma!"

The Old Madam touched her cheek, signaling that 'beautiful' didn't quite suit her. Chi Wu quickly corrected: "I just meant you look good," finally managing to please the Old Madam.

The Old Madam caused a stir at the hospital for nearly half a day. Cheng Ying was relieved that the hospital wasn't crowded now. If this were later, even booking an appointment two weeks in advance wouldn't guarantee such smooth completion of physical exams within half a day.

After a full round of examinations, the Old Madam had no actual ailments; all the results simply reflected her advanced age.