"Not at all. I’m considering your future happiness, brother. I had no idea the houses had become so sought-after. If I’d known, I would have bought a few more properties to keep."

"Oh, come on. You think the house is too noisy, but you also said it wasn't lively enough. Cut the act. I’m not getting involved in your petty drama."

With that, he left, washing his hands of the whole affair completely.

"I distinctly remember his mother being the one causing the fuss. How did it turn into him not wanting to be involved in our mess?" Cheng Ying mused.

Chi Wu soothed his wife, "Just let him save face. I feel much better now that I’ve managed to send those two away. With you heavily pregnant, having those two dangerous individuals around made me restless even when I was working outside."

He stretched languidly and flopped onto the heated brick bed.

"The way you put that—'dangerous individuals.' What, do you think they’re going to attack me? You’re making me sound so useless. Don't forget, even though I’m pregnant, I still have ways to protect myself. Three or five people won't get close to me easily."

Chi Wu scoffed. "Keep dreaming. I do believe your hands can't quite reach your toes these days, though."

Cheng Ying puffed hot air through her nose. "What did you say? Is that how you talk about me? I’m carrying your child!"

Chi Wu immediately conceded. "Alright, alright, I was wrong. Can we rest now?"

Cheng Ying let out a cold snort. "Has your senior sister gone back to B City yet?"

Chi Wu instantly perked up. "Jealous, are we?"

"Me? Jealous of her? You’re thinking too much. I wouldn't even bother acknowledging someone like that."

Chi Wu’s energy deflated again as he lay back down. "Hmph. You don't know how imposing I am right now. I’m telling you, if you don’t placate me properly, you’ll regret it. The girls outside look at me like I'm braised spare ribs."

Cheng Ying smacked her lips, her eyes reflecting only spare ribs. "Really?"

"Really," Chi Wu confirmed.

"Wonderful! Then go make me some braised spare ribs right now. I suddenly have an intense craving."

A dark line formed on Chi Wu's face. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. I really, really want them."

Chi Wu was genuinely displeased. "Shouldn't you be wanting me instead?"

Cheng Ying looked equally wronged. "Look at my figure, look at my condition—I have the will but lack the ability. You had better head to the kitchen."

Chi Wu’s mood plummeted. He had left the house earlier in a fit of rage, but for his wife’s sake and the sake of the ribs, he obediently shuffled into the kitchen. Why did he have to bring up ribs in the first place?

Cheng Ying felt conflicted inside. Why did she suddenly crave meat? It didn't fit the logic of her situation.

As the Lunar New Year approached, Cheng Ying’s belly grew larger and larger. Yet, one activity remained constant every day: accompanying the Old Madam to sunbathe their bare feet.

Cheng Ying was deeply grateful for the sunroom; airing one's feet outside in the biting winter cold would have been unbearable. She was also thankful it wasn't summer, or those pale, delicate feet would turn darker than any African person's after prolonged exposure.

Cheng Ying couldn't possibly criticize the Old Madam’s unique hobby. She simply treated it as vital sun exposure—an activity 100% beneficial for both mind and body. She cooperated enthusiastically, though the Old Madam was often slightly dissatisfied because her own feet, bearing the shadows of the old society, didn't look quite as good under the sun.

Cheng Ying suspected the Old Madam’s foot exposure fetish stemmed from seven decades of being forced to hide them away. Having never basked in the sun like this before, she was now, in her later years, pursuing her deepest, most secret desires.

Cheng Ying lay side-by-side with the Old Madam in their rocking chairs, their bare feet gently swaying, and would chuckle to herself over this secluded, joyful little place. Life was truly comfortable.

Naturally, Chi Wu was working hard on one specific task to accommodate the unusual hobbies of the two women in his life: ensuring the sunroom stayed perfectly warm, not allowing a single draft to penetrate, so that even bare feet wouldn't freeze.

In the last couple of days, the flowers and plants in the sunroom showed clear signs of heat damage—the heating was simply too intense.

With her massive belly, Cheng Ying certainly couldn't travel back to her ancestral home to tend to her father’s grave. This year, Cheng Ying experienced the most comfortable Spring Festival; no tiresome travel back and forth. She sat firmly at home, cutting paper decorations alongside the Old Madam, leaving all the other chores to Chi Wu.

Normally, Cheng Ying and Chi Wu would return to the village around the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month. But this year, Chi Wu, utterly unwilling to leave his wife, postponed their return until the twenty-sixth. If Cheng Ying hadn't pressed him, Chi Wu planned to leave on the twenty-ninth, visit the graves in the morning, and then rush back immediately. Chi Wu had argued, "How can I possibly leave you with such a large belly?"

Cheng Ying looked down at her stomach, gauging it from side to side. "How big is this belly? It has very little to do with you. Why can't you leave?"

Chi Wu took offense immediately. "What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? That’s my child. Watch how you speak."

Cheng Ying realized her mouth often got ahead of her. "Well, perhaps you should leave sooner. The house is quite busy, after all. Besides, don't you need to go back to the village to visit relatives? Traveling there and back in a single day is exhausting. I'm just looking out for you. Also, you need to spend a day with Second Uncle. My uncle has been busy for me all year; you must thank him properly. And Miao Miao is starting high school next year—we haven't discussed it much. I've already cleaned out a room; you need to tell him to come here for high school."

Chi Wu grumbled, "Stop worrying. Just take care of your belly."

He then pulled the covers over his head and went to sleep. Cheng Ying sensed this was the prelude to an argument. She hadn't said anything truly extraordinary; it was all perfectly normal conversation. Why was this boy getting angry? It was inexplicable.

If someone didn't know he was the one who was pregnant, one might think he was the one with the bizarre temperament. Cheng Ying lay down too and turned off the light to sleep. Pregnant women weren't exactly highly desirable company, it seemed. Look, he wouldn't even spare her a glance now.

Chi Wu tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Everything Cheng Ying said was logical, but there was one crucial thing she hadn't mentioned: he was deeply reluctant to leave her. Why couldn't she understand that? Why wouldn't she just say it? Didn't she feel it? He was distressed.

Cheng Ying truly couldn't fathom Chi Wu's distress. They were practically an old married couple; could a relationship really get this complicated?

However, his tossing and turning was genuinely disrupting the pregnant woman’s sleep. "What are you thinking? Are you going to sleep, or are you going to keep wriggling? If you keep this up, I’m sleeping in the Old Madam's room."

Chi Wu completely lost his temper. "You woman! You woman!"

He got up and stomped out. A grown man couldn't argue with her about how much he'd miss her, especially when he was about to be away for several days just as they were heading back to the village. For her to suggest sleeping separately instead of staying with him was utterly unbearable.

Cheng Ying felt truly exasperated. What was going on? Still, after a day of being busy, she was exhausted, and she drifted off to sleep within moments.

Without the disturber beside her, her sleep quality instantly improved.

Chi Wu wandered outside for a while, concluding that arguing with a pregnant woman—especially one carrying his child—was beneath him. Besides, it was too cold outside. After a couple of laps, he re-entered the room.

Well, there was Cheng Ying, sleeping soundly! The anger that had cooled in Chi Wu's chest immediately flared up again. She clearly had no regard for him.

Chi Wu painfully suppressed his temper and stewed in silent resentment the entire night.

When Cheng Ying woke up the next morning, she had largely forgotten yesterday’s events.

Chi Wu ate his breakfast with a dark expression. Cheng Ying offered a single observation: "What's wrong? Bad mood?"

Then she resumed her routine as usual.

Chi Wu got into the car with the driver, ready to depart for the village. Cheng Ying merely waved a hand in farewell.

Chi Wu felt a heavy stone lodged in his chest. After the car had driven two li, he abruptly ordered the driver to turn around and drive back.

The closed front gate was banged open. Cheng Ying answered; Sister Rong was taking the Old Madam for a stroll in the backyard. "Chi Wu, why are you back?"

Chi Wu grabbed Cheng Ying, his face shadowed with gloom. "I'm asking you—if I go back to the village for several days, won't you miss me at all?"

Cheng Ying’s cheeks trembled. What a ridiculous question. He’d been gone for two weeks for school, sometimes for half a year, and he never asked then. Had this troublesome child taken the wrong medicine?

But now, she couldn't say that. "Of course I'll miss you. I was just hoping you’d leave early so you could return early. Are you sure you didn't forget something?"

Chi Wu’s mood inexplicably brightened, and he planted a kiss on Cheng Ying's cheek. "Take good care of my son!"

Then he left with a buoyant spring in his step. Seriously, this kid must be possessed.

However, Chi Wu had already driven quite a distance when he suddenly remembered: no matter when he left, he still had to wait until after the ancestral offerings on the morning of the thirtieth before he could return. There was no such thing as "leaving early to return early." His soaring mood immediately plummeted. She was just trying to placate him.

The driver ahead watched the young master’s mood change so drastically several times in half a day. He was becoming increasingly difficult to serve—even the slightly addled Old Madam was easier; as long as they drove her towards lively places, she had no complaints. But heading back to the village, there was only one road. How was he supposed to choose a path that would keep this young master happy? It was torturous for the driver.

Though they had moved to the city several years ago, this was Cheng Ying's first time truly experiencing the atmosphere of a city New Year.

A woman seven or eight months pregnant, dragging a somewhat confused Old Madam, would wander around. On more than one occasion, the terrified Sister Rong would call Yang Zhi to report on the situation, scaring Yang Zhi into quickly summoning Chi Yong to lecture Cheng Ying. Yang Zhi herself was powerless when it came to her own daughter.

Chi Yong shouldered the heavy responsibility. "Yingzi, your grandmother’s condition now means she absolutely cannot go to crowded places. What if she gets lost? If your grandmother ended up wandering the streets, think how worried we’d be. Old people suffer so much."

Cheng Ying replied, "Do you really think I would lose my grandmother?" The question was laden with disbelief.

"Of course you wouldn't intentionally lose her, but there's always a risk. During the New Year, we shouldn't take any chances. Wouldn't it be best if you stayed home quietly? Whatever New Year goods you like, just tell Sister Rong; isn't she preparing everything exactly to your liking? If necessary, just tell me, and I’ll get it for you, alright?"

Cheng Ying nodded vaguely. "Fine. You worry too much. Even if I got lost myself, I wouldn't lose Grandma."

Chi Yong felt like a villain, knowing his wife was worried sick. Still, uneasy about leaving the old and young women alone, he arranged for their recently off-duty 'god-uncle' and 'god-aunt' to come and stay with them. He genuinely couldn't get away, as he still had two elders to care for.