When people from the village come, it's understood that anyone wanting things from home must send for them.

Of course, if the fellows from the village don't object, once the old home is gone and things are sent out, it's quite common for everyone to take their respective belongings.

Cheng Ying felt she had lost face in front of Cheng Ming, so she stood up and left the room.

The lady Yun Xue beside her followed her out. She seemed quite sensible, after all.

And throughout the whole affair, she maintained a pleasant smile. It was rare to see someone keep their composure so well.

If she were truly sensible and wanted nothing, this girl shouldn't have followed along. What standing did she have, coming with no official connection?

Cheng Ying said, "Sister Rong, find a room for Yun Xue to rest. I'm tired and going to my room for a while."

With that, Cheng Ying left. Kinship, after all, is a form of destiny. Cheng Ying felt she lacked this particular kinship. Whether someone was dressed well or reborn, they were doted upon by their parents; it was surely part of their benevolence. How could she feel so irritatingly in the way?

You could say her own mother treated her well, but if you said she was the best, she definitely wasn't number one; her own mother also had Xiao Ye.

The only grandmother who had treated her with genuine heart had now become confused.

Though these people weren't enough to warrant Cheng Ying keeping them in her heart, they were irritating and bothersome. Everyone just wanted to hug the old woman for some comfort.

Cheng Ying felt her own weakness must be related to her pregnancy. This was simply not her nature.

Let Cheng Ming handle the dispute with his mother. Not long after, Sister Rong came over, carrying a cup of honey water. "Hurry up and drink this to settle your breath. You absolutely cannot let yourself get agitated. You’re pregnant. As long as you and Wu Zi are well, even if the world falls apart, it has nothing to do with you, understand, girl?"

Cheng Ying smiled. "That’s exactly what I think. If my grandma, I, and good Wu Zi are well, what else could be bad?"

Sister Rong said, "The child in your belly must also be well."

At this, Cheng Ying genuinely stopped being angry. To make her worry about the child in her belly—what would she gain?

Sister Rong lowered her voice, "Yingzi, let me tell you. People you can see through at a glance are ordinary. It’s the ones you can't see through that you need to keep far away from, do you understand?"

Cheng Ying looked up at Sister Rong in confusion.

Sister Rong sighed with worry. "Let me put it this way: I serve the Old Mistress. If I serve her well, you give me a raise—that’s what I’m after. If you don't pay me a wage, no matter how well I treat the Old Mistress or how good we get along, there’s no reason for me to come over every day to serve someone, is there? My own household needs to eat."

Cheng Ying replied, "The way you put that is very honest, Sister Rong. It hurts feelings."

Sister Rong retorted, "But it’s true. If someone is good to you for no reason, then you need to be cautious, understand?"

Cheng Ying said, "I truly understand that."

Sister Rong felt that, regardless, she was an outsider, and speaking this directly was already going far enough. "You rest. I already called Wu Zi. Times like these are when you need the men. You just focus on taking care of your pregnancy."

Cheng Ying replied, "Understood. I know. This small matter really isn't a big deal for me. Wu Zi and Ming Zi can handle it themselves."

Sister Rong went out to attend to the Old Mistress.

Chi Wu returned in a whirlwind. First and foremost, his wife couldn't be angered at home. He didn't even dare show his wife a sour face, so why should some outsider dare to shout at his wife in his own house? Seeing that Yingzi was fine, he pulled a long, dark face, ready to go confront that person.

Cheng Ying held him back. "For Ming Zi’s sake, just settle down. Ming Zi can solve this."

Chi Wu scoffed, "So what if he solves it? Why should she come into our house and boss you around? What does she think she is? She only dares to come because she knows the Old Mistress is muddled. Before, when did we ever see her cause such a scene?"

Cheng Ying conceded, "That's definitely true. With Grandma just sitting there, she acts as the anchor. See how effective Grandma still is?"

Hearing Cheng Ying placate him, Chi Wu’s anger subsided considerably. He rubbed Cheng Ying's belly. "Nurturing the baby for two days and you're already this agitated. When my son is born, if he's skinny and weak, it’s all because of these troublesome people."

Cheng Ying patted her stomach. "Thin or fat, it doesn't matter. As long as the baby is healthy, nothing else matters. Speaking of which, when you were squatting down [working hard], why did Great Aunt have the nerve to covet our house? Do I really look that easy to manipulate? Does my appearance scream pure kindness and innocence?"

Cheng Ying stood up, intending to look in the mirror.

Chi Wu asked, "What are you doing?"

Cheng Ying said, "Going to look in the mirror."

Chi Wu assured her, "Don't worry. Anyone who looks at you that way is completely blind."

Cheng Ying pouted. "Hate you! Are you making fun of me?"

Chi Wu clarified, "I’m praising how shrewd you are."

Cheng Ying turned away, completely forgetting the unpleasantness brought by Great Aunt. Who told her husband, Wu Zi, to be so good at placating his wife?

That evening at dinner, this family, outwardly harmonious but inwardly divided, gathered together.

Cheng Ying watched them like she was observing a curiosity under glass. How could they still maintain such a civilized atmosphere? The girl Yun Xue was chatting and laughing with the Old Mistress, sitting next to her and attending to her needs.

Cheng Ying glanced at Sister Rong and understood why Sister Rong had spoken to her that way. What was this girl after?

But really, she couldn't stop the grandson’s wife from being close to her grandmother-in-law.

Cheng Ying felt it was too awkward to intervene. At least for Grandma’s sake, she spoke up, "Ming Zi, you came back early today."

Cheng Ming's expression soured. "It was just the right time. Yingzi, don't take offense at what my mother said."

Great Aunt’s face immediately stiffened.

Cheng Ming continued, "Yingzi, after a while, I'll move out. But don't worry, she is your grandma, and she is my grandma too. I’ll come see Grandma every day."

Cheng Ying countered, "You’re being distant with me. If I didn’t know what kind of person you are, would I have kept you here? Do I look like someone so thoughtless?"

Cheng Ming insisted, "No matter what, this trouble was brought because of me. You don't understand this; what others think is not important. If I keep staying here, people in the future will surely gossip. Mom, this house belongs to Wu Zi and Yingzi. They built this livelihood through relentless effort in the provincial city. None of us can covet it. Yingzi is good to Grandma; looking after the Old Mistress is her way of fulfilling filial duties for all of us. We shouldn't expect anything in return, but we shouldn't badmouth her behind her back. Grandma eats well, dresses well, lives well, and is served well. If Grandma came to live with me and you, could you care for her to this extent?"

Great Aunt fell silent.

The girl Yun Xue, whose hand was halfway to putting food on the Old Mistress's plate, paused momentarily, then continued as normal.

Cheng Ming announced, "Mom, the unit assigned me an apartment. If you don’t mind that it’s small, when you come to the provincial city later, you can stay there."

Great Aunt finally brightened up. "My son is capable!"

Cheng Ming looked toward his older brother. "Brother will also be assigned a house later. Yingzi is capable and secured her own assets. We brothers have no reason to rely on others. You don't need to worry too much, Mom."

This statement had a double meaning: what is mine, don't even think about it; rely on your own ability. After fighting tooth and nail for so long, it wasn't to prepare a wedding house for someone else.

His own mother had actually entertained the extravagant notion of agreeing to prepare three rooms for the girl in the provincial city.

Not only was Yingzi's house in danger, but his own was too.

Great Aunt quickly responded, "Look at you, talking about your and your brother’s houses—how could Mom not worry?"

Cheng Ming pressed on, "Mom, I also have a girlfriend. Once we discuss it, we’ll get married. We’ll have our house. You should worry about Big Brother instead. Later, you’ll have to prepare the betrothal gifts for her. Oh, the girl said I need to have a root [a solid foundation/home base], so you must leave me a nest here."

Cheng Ying glanced at the girl and gave a sly, wicked smile. This boy was devious. Could he possibly have his eye on the three rooms in the village? This was just telling everyone: what’s mine, I’m not taking, but you certainly can’t touch it either.

The brothers shared the same predicament.

Chi Wu felt much better watching Cheng Ming resolve the situation.

The girl Yun Xue acted as if she hadn't heard Cheng Ming’s words, continuing to eat with the Old Mistress.

She worked in the town, so whether they had a city apartment was irrelevant; the Cheng family absolutely had to prepare a new house for them in town. That the second son already had a place in the provincial city was even better; at least the family wouldn't have to expend effort on him, which wasn't bad. As for what would happen later, that could be discussed later.

One had to admit, Yun Xue was pragmatic. She saw things clearly. For a working couple in town like them, securing a house in the city was icing on the cake, but not having one wasn't a major issue. After all, as a new bride, she had to be presented with a respectable house; how that house was acquired had nothing to do with a newly married woman.

Cheng Ying intervened, "Grandma, why are you always eating meat? No, you can’t eat any more today."

The Old Mistress grumbled, "Don't you mind me."

Sister Rong gave a wry smile. The Old Mistress was difficult to appease now; once she decided to be angry with someone, there was no room for negotiation.

Chi Wu smiled and placed food on the Old Mistress’s plate. "Grandma, I’ll give it to you. Yingzi is always overly controlling; she won’t even let me smoke."

The Old Mistress nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

Chi Wu continued, "But not smoking is good; my teeth are white. Don't you think so, Grandma?"

The Old Mistress looked pleased. "Mmm, good-looking. Wu Zi is handsome."

Chi Wu smoothly added, "Grandma, I heard eating less meat is also good for looking pretty." The Old Mistress's expression darkened slightly, but she ultimately stopped reaching for more meat.

Cheng Ying quickly put a piece of tofu on the Old Mistress’s plate. "This is good. This morning, Sister Rong and I made it on the grinding stone in the backyard. It tastes just like the old tofu." The Old Mistress snorted—she was displeased.

Yun Xue offered sweetly, "Grandma, what do you like to eat? I'm a very good cook; shall I make something for you?"

The Old Mistress replied, "You cook well, yes, but I don't feel like eating anything right now."

Cheng Ying pursed her lips. Having to negotiate with these people again. Anyone showing calculation made her irritable. Perhaps it was due to her pregnancy; she didn't want to use her brain or expend energy.

Chi Wu prompted gently, "Yingzi, eat."

Yun Xue chimed in, "No rush, Grandma. Take your time thinking."

Cheng Ming looked at his sister-in-law and decided that when choosing his future wife, he had a basic standard now: she must be smarter than this woman, or their married life would be hard.

As soon as dinner ended, Yang Zhi and Chi Yong arrived. Sister Rong had been making calls to everyone. Yang Zhi, unaccustomed to seeing Great Aunt so frigidly polite, greeted her warmly, "Sister-in-law."

Great Aunt’s face was cold. "Hmph." In Great Aunt's mind, this entire family branch were bad sorts.

Chi Yong felt his wife didn’t need to get angry over this. There were things that the two young men couldn't manage, but matters of the family fortune weren't decided by whoever shouted the loudest. Otherwise, it would turn into a huge brawl—what was the law for?