Uncle Gan’s venture, to tell the truth, was booming; the situation was overwhelmingly auspicious. Uncle Gan himself had the capital. Cheng Ying and Chi Wu had collaborated with Uncle Gan to establish the most upscale hotel in the provincial capital. According to Cheng Ying’s impeccable taste, the hotel wouldn’t look dated even in another twenty years. Cheng Ying had secured the land herself years ago when she had spare funds, using it as her share in the venture. Chi Wu provided the manpower and construction, only charging for the cost of materials.

Uncle Gan and Cheng Ying agreed on a fifty-fifty split. Uncle Gan had insisted that he had a stake in the land’s future value; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to the deal.

Cheng Ying had merely pursed her lips then, thinking, You really think you’re some Imperial Chef, possessing intrinsic spiritual value? Still, it was infinitely better than paying rent year after year. It was a complete package of leisure, entertainment, and accommodation, growing busier as the New Year holidays approached. She rarely got home; essentially, the household consisted of four women.

In Cheng Ying’s own words, other than feeling a bit lonely in the evenings, everything else was quite good.

Auntie Gan always followed the Old Madam around, gentle and soft-spoken, coaxing her with kind words. Sometimes Cheng Ying even admired Auntie Gan; there were times when Cheng Ying couldn't sway the Old Madam and just ended up agreeing with her ramblings.

Yet, Auntie Gan would gently, meticulously correct everything the Old Madam said, as if instructing a small child.

When the Old Madam was resting at noon, Cheng Ying remarked, "Is it related to your professional rigor? When I can't reason with the Old Madam, I just follow her line of thought."

Auntie Gan replied, "The Old Madam is muddled, she certainly doesn't like being fooled. Your Uncle Gan and I, we have very limited luck with the elderly in this lifetime; I have to cherish it. Even though the Old Madam is confused, I can't treat her as if she is genuinely foolish. Who knows, maybe one day she’ll realize things clearly, and then she’ll come back to deal with you all."

Cheng Ying knew those words were profoundly unrealistic. For the Old Madam to regain clarity would be a miracle, a divine intervention.

Seeing the look in Auntie Gan’s eyes as she regarded the Old Madam, Cheng Ying couldn't help but prod, "Auntie, did you visit home with Uncle Gan for the New Year?"

Auntie Gan sighed, "I did. What’s there to see? With your Uncle Gan like this now, he attracts attention everywhere he goes. Auntie Gan certainly doesn't lack relatives now. But in my heart, apart from the Old Madam, there’s a real emptiness. She is, after all, the biological mother of your Uncle Gan and me."

To hear someone as cultured and nuanced as Auntie Gan utter such sharp, stinging words—how deeply must her own relatives have hurt her?

Cheng Ying couldn’t fathom the mindset of Auntie Gan’s family, her own flesh and blood! This sounded like they were forcing Auntie Gan to stop loving them. "Auntie, you and Grandma—it’s fate. It's the kind of bizarre, comical fate you only read about in operas, like an encounter that started by climbing over a wall!"

That single remark managed to dispel the gloom hanging over Auntie Gan. No use dwelling on bothersome people.

Auntie Gan felt a pang of irritation thinking about her husband's past foolishness; how many people had he dragged along just to avoid ruin? Wasn't that fate born from scaling a wall? "I suppose I just think too much. In the future, with you and Wu Zi looking after the treasures you and Uncle Gan have, I can rest easy. It’s not like the past anymore; I'm not so dependent on having someone to rely on. Your Uncle Gan and I have a place to go for the New Year. Why should I bother arguing with them so much? But this matter—sometimes when I remember it, I can't help but be indignant. That's just how people are."

Cheng Ying truly empathized with that feeling. Before this life found her, she too had nowhere to stay during the New Year. "Every festival brings deeper longing for loved ones"—it wasn't just for those who had family.

It was those wandering souls, with no one to celebrate the Spring Festival with, who could truly appreciate that flavor of desolation.

It was a yearning for a home, a destination. What was missing was someone beside you to whom you could give endlessly, someone you could love completely.

Seeing Cheng Ying, who was pregnant, getting caught up in her mood, Auntie Gan quickly shifted her focus. "My only wish now is that the Old Madam lives a few more years, so your Uncle Gan and I have somewhere to go for the New Year."

Cheng Ying thought to herself, I wish that too, otherwise I wouldn't know who I'm supposed to be heading toward.

Looking again at the strangely preoccupied Old Madam, Cheng Ying felt a profound sense of comfort. What if she was muddled? She was the family’s living treasure. Without her, Cheng Ying would have no place to rush toward during the holidays.

Auntie Gan noticed the Old Madam staring intently at something. "Your Grandma has been watching this chicken for days. What is it about her?"

Cheng Ying replied, "I'm baffled too. For the last couple of days, Grandma has been guarding that chicken like a hawk, not letting anyone touch it."

Auntie Gan mused, "But the chicken is truly beautiful. Many people have asked me if our hen lays eggs, and if I could get a couple to hatch."

Cheng Ying had a sudden flash of inspiration and slapped the table. "I know why Grandma is watching the chicken!"

Auntie Gan jumped. "What are you doing? Causing such a fright!"

Cheng Ying exclaimed, "Didn't I once tell Grandma that this particular hen only lays golden eggs? Grandma must be watching for the egg!"

Auntie Gan gasped, "You dared to say that?" But then she turned and added, "Impossible. How long has your Grandma been confused? She wouldn't remember something like that."

Cheng Ying countered, "My Grandma might forget other things, but matters concerning gold, silver, and money, she generally never forgets."

Auntie Gan chuckled, yet she remained skeptical that the Old Madam could recall which kind of egg the chicken laid. It defies logic.

Cheng Ying sidled closer. "Grandma, what are you doing? Haven't you been letting me check your toes today? Aren't you going to grow out your toenails?"

The Old Madam didn't take her eyes off the hen. "Go on, I’m busy. Don't cause trouble!"

Cheng Ying asked cautiously, "If you keep watching this chicken, can it even lay an egg?"

The Old Madam immediately glared. "It lays gold eggs! Don’t you go telling anyone! Didn’t you tell me? It’s going to lay an egg by New Year's!"

Cheng Ying smiled sheepishly. "Yes, yes, it certainly lays golden eggs. Grandma, you’re telling me you’re not confused, are you?"

Even Auntie Gan stared at the Old Madam.

The Old Madam declared, "Of course, I’m not confused! Who said I was confused? If I spit, I’ll spray them dead!"

Auntie Gan shook her head; she was still muddled. Cheng Ying had no comeback. "Of course, you’re not confused. You don't need to spray anyone; I’ll handle it. I’m going out now."

Auntie Gan asked, "Where are you going? It’s New Year's Eve!"

Cheng Ying whispered to Auntie Gan, keeping the Old Madam’s back to her, "I have to go lay a golden egg. Otherwise, our family won't have a New Year. That speckled hen is clearly unreliable; I have to be the one to hatch this egg."

Auntie Gan laughed so hard her chest shook. "Serves you right for carelessly fooling the Old Madam! You’ve gotten trapped now! It’s strange, though; the Old Madam forgets everything else, but she’s held onto this specific thing for so long. If you say she’s confused, I almost don't believe it myself."

Cheng Ying said, "It’s your credit, definitely your credit! I swear I won’t casually mislead the Old Madam again. See? I’m getting my retribution right now. I won't talk anymore; I have to leave. It's New Year’s; even the gold shops must be closing!"

Auntie Gan picked up her coat. "I'll go with you."

Cheng Ying had always been generous with the Old Madam, and she never gave perfunctory effort when it came to placating her.

Thus, the two women were meticulously focused on having a handcrafted gold egg made for the Old Madam at the jewelry store. Cheng Ying wanted to make it solid gold. But Auntie Gan advised against it: it would be too heavy. The Old Madam would surely cherish holding it every day; a solid one would tire her out. How could they risk exhausting the Old Madam?

Cheng Ying then thought if she couldn't achieve quality in weight, she could aim for quality in design—perhaps adding intricate filigree work to the outside of the gold egg.

Auntie Gan glanced at Cheng Ying and said again, "The Old Madam has lived a simple life. Just make it a plain egg. Otherwise, if the Old Madam sees it, where would she have anything to trade it for?"

Then she asked the staff, "You aren't open for business during the New Year, are you?"

The staff member, eager to please such major patrons commissioning gold eggs, replied promptly, "We aren't open, but we guarantee your piece will be finished by the beginning of the year."

Auntie Gan looked at Cheng Ying. "See? Just make an egg. Don't carve it."

Cheng Ying reluctantly settled on a hollow gold egg, which she and Auntie Gan brought home. Although hollow, it still weighed almost two liang (about 100 grams).

Slightly heavier than a real egg.

Cheng Ying worried, "Grandma won't say this egg is the wrong weight, will she?"

Auntie Gan rolled her eyes. "Serves you right! If you insisted on using a pound of gold to make one egg, you should tell the Old Madam that next time."

Cheng Ying fell silent. She had forgotten the Old Madam's fundamental knowledge of household economics.

On New Year’s Day, Uncle Gan came home early to keep the three women company, just to make the atmosphere lively. He didn't even bother earning money that day.

Chi Yong and Yang Zhi brought Xiao Ye by in the morning just to say hello before leaving.

The elder Chi couple also needed company.

Though Cheng Ying and Auntie Gan had prepared the golden egg long ago, they never found an opportunity to let the old hen "lay" it. The Old Madam guarded it too closely.

She watched everyone as if they were thieves—there was no opening.

When Chi Wu returned, Cheng Ying and Auntie Gan were inside wrapping dumplings, while Uncle Gan was with the Old Madam, watching the speckled hen peck at pine nuts. Uncle Gan was obsessed with this creature. He had been diligently studying the chicken. Uncle Gan kept saying he had never seen this breed before. He hadn't seen a Phoenix, but he had certainly seen a Peacock. So, what had this chicken crossbred with?

Every time Cheng Ying heard Uncle Gan’s rigorous analysis, her head ached. It really had nothing to do with crossbreeding; at most, it was a mutation.

Cheng Ying was thrilled to see Chi Wu. "You're back earlier than usual. Did you drive yourself? The chauffeur certainly wouldn't drive this fast."

Chi Wu thought about the time Cheng Ying tricked him and almost started to bring it up. But it was New Year’s, so he let it go. "Just wait, I'll settle the score with you later. What dumplings? Why didn't you wait for me to wrap them? Wife and child are at home; how could I not hurry back?"

Auntie Gan was in the same tune as Cheng Ying. "You still shouldn't speed. Arriving home safely is what matters most. We would definitely wait for you before cooking the dumplings."

Chi Wu rubbed his hands and placed his ice-cold hands near the heater. "Auntie Gan knows how to take care of me. Unlike my uncle, who hasn't even glanced at me since he came in. I’m less important than a chicken."

Uncle Gan retorted, "Seeing you makes me angry. We agreed you’d come help me during the New Year, and look at you now—you’re barely not causing trouble."

Chi Wu replied, "But my wife is pregnant, so what can I do?"

The Old Madam rarely looked away from the speckled hen, but she still held it close. "Wu Zi is back."

Chi Wu said, "I’m back. Grandma, everything is fine at home. Eldest and Second Uncles asked me to send their regards. My maternal uncles also asked you how you are."