Halfway there, they ran into Yang Zhi. Seeing Chi Wu fussing over the two children, Yang Zhi’s heart ached for her grandchildren. "Wu Zi, let the children stay with us. You two should get some proper rest; you haven't slept properly these past few days."

Chi Wu held the two children, yet his concern seemed entirely focused on the little ones. "No need, Mother. We can manage. The children miss their mother and are a bit agitated. I’ll let them stay with her for a while; you rest."

Usually, the two children were extremely affectionate toward their grandmother, but this time, the call of their mother won out. They missed her so much they paid no attention to Grandma at all.

Furthermore, Chi Wu didn't give Yang Zhi another chance to argue; he scooped up the children and hurried away.

By the time Chi Wu carried the children back to the room, Cheng Ying had already fallen asleep.

Setting the two children—all eight pounds of them—onto the kang where Cheng Ying slept, the children automatically settled down on either side of her. It must be said, in all their growing up, the children had never been this obedient. Chi Wu couldn't decide whether to feel more tender toward the children or his wife.

No one had to tell the two little ones to be quiet; they nestled themselves against Cheng Ying so instinctively that they seemed incredibly sensible in that moment.

Chi Wu sighed. Wife, you need to pull yourself together quickly; the children and your husband can’t hold out much longer.

Chi Wu took a blanket and covered the three of them, then rested himself off to the side. Perhaps the constant sound of funeral music outside recently had kept the children from sleeping well, but now the courtyard was utterly quiet, and the two children were asleep in no time.

Chi Wu mused, Children forged by adversity are truly obedient. Never before had these two little tyrants been so easy to coax; look, they fell asleep without even needing a lullaby.

Chi Wu stretched a corner of the blanket over himself and drifted off to sleep beside his wife and children.

Cheng Ying was roused by the children climbing on her. Opening her eyes and seeing her two treasures, Cheng Ying felt the whole world brighten, even if the children didn't exactly embody the words 'treasure' or 'obedient' at that moment.

Cheng Ying lightly tapped each child on the bottom. "So early, already causing trouble."

The children didn't mind the gentle swat from Cheng Ying. Normally, their favorites to play with were Grandma and Cheng Ying. After several days of barely seeing familiar faces, they had finally caught hold of their mother. A little disciplinary tap didn't matter; they scrambled onto Cheng Ying’s face and each planted a kiss on their mother.

Cheng Ying didn't get up, instead rolling around on the kang with the children. Children always represented something hopeful.

At least in that moment, Cheng Ying didn't remember her recently deceased grandmother.

Chi Wu had long been awake, watching the mother and children tangled together, feeling significantly more comforted. It was a blessing that he had brought the two children over.

He casually handed Cheng Ying some hot water he had prepared. "Drink this first, or you won't be able to speak properly later."

The two children beside her called out, "Momma, Momma," meaningless sounds, purely for fun.

A sip of water went down her throat, and Cheng Ying felt much better. "Oh, you two little ancestors, go play somewhere else!"

Having finally found their real mother, the two children were not going to be separated by anyone, least of all Chi Wu. They were utterly determined.

Cheng Ying finally recalled their current circumstances. "Is there anything urgent today?"

Chi Wu said, "Nothing urgent. There are small matters I can handle, and Mingzi and the others are here. You rest properly. Look how thin you’ve gotten; the kids could knock you over just by pouncing."

Cheng Ying protested, "Is it that dramatic?"

Chi Wu retorted, "Better shut up. Speaking makes you sound worse, and you might scare the children into crying."

Cheng Ying fell silent, rolling her eyes. Did he have to put himself down so much? "Did these two children cry?"

Chi Wu replied, "These two don’t count." Alright, that meant these two were outside the realm of normal people. No father should say that.

Cheng Ying turned to the others. "Uncle Chi, Second Uncle, there's nothing pressing here. Let's go see the village head today; he and his family have been helping us inside and out for several days."

Chi Wu shook his head. "You don’t need to worry about that. I gave everyone who helped from the village a bag of flour. We shouldn't overdo it, or it will be hard to reciprocate when the village needs help later. We'll visit the village head tonight, just the two of us and Father. You should stay home and watch the children; they're already agitated."

Cheng Ying relaxed. Village matters weren't complicated, but social obligations were crucial. Since Chi Wu had handled the courtesies, she didn't need to fret.

Then she picked up her daughter. "Oh, why are you agitated? If your Taitai knew, she'd worry sick! Are you missing your mother just like I missed her?"

Chi Wu watched his son gazing eagerly from the side and felt a distinct imbalance. Fine, his wife slightly favored their daughter, leaving him and his son feeling a bit wronged.

He hugged his son. "We miss her too."

Cheng Ying said dismissively, "Men have tough hearts, right, son? You don't need Momma's comfort, do you?"

Chi Wu thought, Why must I be so easily overlooked? My heart is fragile, especially when you hide the chicken and fish somewhere without telling me.

Cheng Ying pulled her son close. "Alright, you go be busy. The three of us will play together."

Chi Wu looked at the three of them together, uneasy. "That’s not the three of you playing together; that’s the two of you playing with my son. Yingzi, that's not how you do things! What if the boy grows up with deep-seated issues? What then?"

Chi Wu’s heart as a loving father was frayed with worry. Why couldn't they be less troublesome?

Cheng Ying was unfazed and sent Chi Wu packing with her tone. "You aren't busy, are you?"

Chi Wu thought, I am busy, but I shouldn't ignore my son. However, Cheng Ying's glare was too fierce. He was reluctant to let go of his son, thinking that the boy’s situation wasn’t due to an inadequate father, but rather an unreasonable mother. He affectionately stroked his son’s hair apologetically.

Chi Wu left, turning back at every third step. Ultimately, he sent for Yang Zhi. If he couldn't keep an eye on his son, he had to let the boy's grandmother take charge.

Chi Wu trusted Yang Zhi’s character implicitly. After all, as her stepson, he had never suffered any mistreatment from her, which testified to her trustworthy nature.

Cheng Ying pulled the two children toward her and rolled her eyes. I’m the actual mother, alright?

When the tightly stretched nerves finally relaxed, everyone felt the strain. After three days, once the old lady’s grave had been properly tended, Cheng Ying fell ill, and so did Yang Zhi. Aunt Gan was better off, but her spirits were quite low.

Well, all the women in the household were sick. This was when Uncle Gan, who excelled in the kitchen, truly shone.

Serving others was now Uncle Gan’s stage.

Chi Yong, though not sick, managed to persevere, but his mental state remained poor.

Chi Wu couldn't figure out what was wrong with his father. With so many people coming and going, he hadn't had a chance to talk to Chi Yong. However, it definitely wasn't a romantic issue, because Chi Yong was tending to the ailing Yang Zhi with such meticulous care, anticipating her every need.

To Chi Wu, they looked almost clingy. His generation didn't behave that way. If it weren't for Uncle Gan setting a standard nearby, Chi Wu would be doubting whether he was truly being good enough to Cheng Ying. The difference between his attitude toward his wife and his father’s was immense.

Cheng Ying noticed something was off, too. She asked Yang Zhi, "Mom, what’s wrong with Dad? Why does he seem so careful, almost tentative? Did he do something wrong?"

Yang Zhi snapped, "Don't talk nonsense." She felt slightly awkward inside. Their marriage was good; they didn't need to flaunt it in front of others, especially at forty-something—how embarrassing!

But later, she quietly asked Chi Yong in private, "Is everything alright?"

Chi Yong looked surprised. "What do you mean?"

Yang Zhi relaxed, thinking there was no issue after all.

Yang Zhi felt a bit embarrassed. "I'm better now; I can manage myself. I just got worn out those few days."

Chi Yong replied, "We’re husband and wife. Isn’t this the time I can finally be of some use?"

Yang Zhi felt she might have overthought things, just as her daughter had. Weren't they usually like this anyway?

However, Chi Ye was being watched rather closely by Chi Yong, who kept injecting subtle ideas designed to disrupt harmony. Specifically, Chi Yong was instructing his son that he shouldn't agree with everything his sister said; as a man, when it was time to stand up, he must stand up and not always rely on others' opinions.

This felt entirely wrong. Chi Ye suspected their family might be fighting. Normally, his father always told him, "If you have an issue, ask your sister; she’ll be there for you." But now, things were different.

Chi Ye began to wonder if he wasn't Chi Yong’s biological son, or perhaps his father had just realized his sister wasn't his mother’s biological child—because he was certain his sister wasn't his father's biological child. This sent the teenager’s mind into a whirl: Who exactly isn't related by blood?

Chi Ye sank into teenage melancholy. In Cheng Ying’s view, Chi Ye was probably just hitting his chuunibyou phase, which was normal—at least more normal than Chi Yong.

After the old lady's first seven-day mourning period passed, Cheng Ying took the tiger-skin rug left by the old lady and left with Chi Wu, stopping to pay respects at his own father's grave.

Cheng Ying stood alone before her father’s grave for a long time. She wondered if the old lady could see her real granddaughter below, and if the old lady was upset, perhaps blaming her. After all, she had occupied the body of the old lady’s granddaughter for so many years. Cheng Ying felt genuinely anxious, which was why she had fallen ill—she carried this burden inside.

This one thing she regretted about this life was also the most critical issue, the one that nearly cost her everything.

Cheng Ying whispered, "If you see that I’ve done well these past few years, please go see the old lady for me and say some good words for me. It wasn't my intention, not at all! Who knew Heaven would arrange things this way? It would be best if Grandma doesn't resent me. Understanding me would be even better. I certainly didn't treat the old lady’s real granddaughter poorly. I wonder if the old lady can understand me."

After muttering her plea, she burned many piles of gold ingots for her father, and for the original body’s parents, seeking only peace of mind. Except for the spirits, no one really knew if souls existed. But how she had come to be here—Cheng Ying felt she couldn't dwell on it, or she wouldn't sleep, especially since she was already suffering from mild neurasthenia.

Touching the tiger-skin rug on her hand—this was the only tangible connection left with the old lady. When the old lady was being laid to rest, Cheng Ying and Chi Wu had secretly placed the tiger skin inside the coffin with her. They kept this secret between themselves to ensure the old lady found peace in death.

Chi Wu came over and helped Cheng Ying up. "All right, let's go. Father and Grandma are meeting now; they won't have time to pay attention to you."

Cheng Ying shot Chi Wu a reproachful look. Could he really say something like that? So irresponsible! But it was probably true, too. "Mm."

Second Uncle came over and presented them with a large haul of mountain provisions. "Come back to visit every so often. This is your home; don't become strangers." R1152