“Er Ying, we’re heading off now. Can you manage on your own, Second Uncle? Why not let them stay on the mountain with you?” Over the years, the staff on the mountain had expanded beyond just Second Uncle, but he remained the only one living there permanently.

Second Uncle replied, “One person is quiet, it’s quite nice. Besides, I have Er Ya to keep me company.” Cheng Ying and Chi Wu had the two children burn some Jinyuanbao for Yingzi’s father, then waved goodbye and left. Second Uncle felt the Cheng family’s matriarch was blessed; this single granddaughter was worth three sons.

Ah, the two children were thoughtful; when he got old, he wouldn't be too lonely, and Yingzi wouldn't forget to set aside a couple of joss paper stacks for him when she burned offerings for her father. Second Uncle had firmly decided against adopting an heir. In recent years, as his own wealth grew, several nephews had offered to take care of him in his old age.

But Second Uncle couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that the timing was wrong. A few years earlier, he might have accepted with gratitude. But not now.

Who knew what their true motives were? He was just a lonely old man; he couldn't possibly possess that much charm. When the group returned home, it was already October.

Cheng Ying looked around at the desolate, gray landscape, feeling as if something essential was missing from life. When Chi Ye couldn't stand his father’s nagging any longer, he asked his mother, “What’s wrong with Dad? Is he having trouble with my sister and the others?” Yang Zhi genuinely had no idea what prompted the question.

“What’s wrong?” Chi Ye said, “I think things have been weird lately.” Hearing this from a child made Yang Zhi realize something truly was amiss, confirming her daughter hadn't been imagining things. Yang Zhi glanced back at Chi Yong, who was chatting animatedly with Sun Dongzi. Why hadn’t she noticed anything unusual?

Chi Wu turned to Cheng Ying. “Yingzi, lately, when I look at you, you seem to be grinding your teeth. What have you done?” Cheng Ying replied, “Nothing, Dad.

I haven’t done anything. Dad treats Mom too well. I’m so careful I don’t even let Mom help watch the children anymore, I dare not make Mom angry, and I haven't even teased Chi Ye.

Where could I possibly have provoked him?” Chi Wu listened carefully. Besides those things, there was genuinely nothing else that could have angered his father. What was the real cause of this distress?

Gan Shenzi also chimed in, “I can tell Wu Zi’s dad is troubled; look at the inflammation on his gums.” At this point, Chi Yong truly couldn't keep calm any longer. This was the biggest predicament he had faced in his life. Even such a composed man was unsettled; it was all because his daughter was too forceful, Chi Yong analyzed to himself.

His two sons combined couldn't compete with Cheng Ying. If he mishandled this, his wife would surely drift away from him in the future. This was a matter concerning their entire remaining years; how could he not worry?

He was secretly burning with anxiety. Why had he raised two useless sons? The whole group was stumped, unable to fathom what affliction had befallen the brilliant Chi Yong.

Yang Zhi worried that the two children would feel lonely and uncomfortable at home. She specifically invited Uncle Gan and Auntie Gan to stay with the children for a while. After all, they still had two elderly parents to care for at their own place; she and her husband couldn't manage running back and forth between both homes.

Sister Rong and Auntie helped clean the house, focusing particularly on putting away the things the old lady habitually used, as leaving them out might trigger painful memories. Chi Wu went ahead and had the old lady’s room thoroughly cleared out. He planned for him and Cheng Ying to move in there later; the east room couldn't remain empty, could it?

Their west room would then be used for the two children. Chi Wu thought this arrangement was perfect. However, the rooms for Uncle Gan and Auntie in the courtyard were left untouched.

They couldn't just sever ties with their godparents just because the old lady was gone, could they? Cheng Ming had also moved out; he had his own house—the six rooms in the back. Cheng Ying decided to tidy those rooms up as well, leaving them for the children to play in later, as they had many grandchildren anyway.

Leading the way, wasn't Chi Ye a child too? Plus the children from Uncle Gan’s family. Cheng Ying didn't mind a large courtyard.

Being busy like this helped distract them from thinking about the old lady; perhaps that’s why they say being busy is the best cure for spiritual wounds. Once Cheng Ying and the others finished settling the house and sending the children off to school, just as life seemed to be brightening up again, Yang Zhi called with the news: Chi Yong was sick. Cheng Ying remarked, “Is this from exhaustion?

That reaction time is incredibly slow. It’s been almost two months.” Chi Wu, feeling things had finally settled down, indulged his wife to ease her sadness. But then his own father started causing trouble again.

“Why dwell on it so much? Let’s go see him.” After the two children finished school, the four of them went to visit Chi Yong together. Cheng Ying truly hadn’t realized Chi Yong was ill to this extent; she thought it was just a minor cold.

Chi Wu, having just navigated the realities of aging and death, was terrified of it. “Dad, let’s go get a thorough check-up.” Chi Yong dismissed him. “No need.

I just lack energy. The doctor checked me; there’s nothing wrong.” Cheng Ying picked up the medicine box nearby; they were all for soothing the liver and promoting qi flow—what kind of ailment was this? “Dad, did someone make you angry?

Tell me, and I’ll vent for you. There’s no need to bottle up your anger with people.” Chi Yong looked at Cheng Ying and immediately fell silent. Chi Wu understood: he was truly sparring with someone, causing himself internal heat and restlessness.

Chi Yong became as tight-lipped as a clam whenever this topic came up. However, occasionally, he couldn't help himself, and the glance he shot Cheng Ying was full of fire. Chi Wu was certain his wife had somehow provoked his father.

Cheng Ying discreetly asked her mother afterward, “What’s wrong with Dad? Are you angry with him, or did something happen at the office?” Yang Zhi was also worried. “I don’t know, dear.

The doctor said it’s liver fire. He gets checked semi-annually, and there’s nothing physically wrong; that’s why we consulted a TCM doctor. But he won’t say a word when asked.” Cheng Ying felt her own mother hadn't been a very attentive wife, not knowing this much.

Yang Zhi added, “But he definitely has something on his mind. You don't know Wu Zi’s dad; he stays up late, just staring blankly.” Cheng Ying asked, “How long has this been going on?” Yang Zhi replied, “I only noticed a few nights ago when I woke up. He was staring straight ahead, which creeped me out.

I wonder what’s wrong, Yingzi. Do you think he ran into something unclean?” This revealed Yang Zhi’s rural upbringing; Cheng Ying suspected her mother was about ready to hire a shaman to exorcise whatever spirit possessed her father. Cheng Ying thought to herself that this had been going on for a long time.

Seeing Yang Zhi's flustered worry, she said, “Don’t worry too much, Mom. If there’s nothing physically wrong, it’s fine. A sickness of the heart is treatable.

Let Wu Zi ask him thoroughly later; maybe he just feels he can’t say it in front of us.” What else could she do? Cheng Ying wondered what on earth could cause someone like Chi Yong to become so internally heated. To say the old lady’s passing made him sad was certain, but to cause this much grief—Cheng Ying wouldn't believe it if she were beaten.

Yang Zhi looked around the house, feeling down. Why had things been so unsettled lately? But seeing her two grandsons cheered her up.

The five women in the kitchen shared a wonderfully warm atmosphere. Hearing his wife and daughter getting along well only worsened Chi Yong’s mood. This wasn't his biological daughter, but she was outgoing, and she seemed more devoted to the other father figure.

Chi Wu pressed him. “Dad, what’s wrong? Can’t you tell me?” Chi Yong’s expression grew grave.

“Wu Zi, when your brother gave you to me, I raised you all by myself. At that time, I never thought about taking another wife.” Chi Wu sat up straighter; this was serious business—his father was bringing up the past. For all these years, his father had never mentioned these things, afraid Chi Wu would feel he had somehow burdened Chi Yong’s life.

Chi Wu acknowledged, “Dad, I know.” Chi Yong continued, “When I had no wife, I didn't think about it. But now that I have a wife, I can’t let this go.” What was the connection here? Hearing this, Chi Wu suspected his father was caught in some messy affair.

It invited so much speculation. Moreover, this wasn't about a stepmother; it was about his mother-in-law, directly affecting their family harmony. Chi Wu said quickly, “Dad, don’t overthink things.

Yingzi’s mom isn’t some promiscuous person.” Chi Yong snapped back, “Do I need you to tell me that?” Then he looked at Chi Wu. “Wu Zi, tell me, how have I treated you all these years?” Chi Wu felt a sense of foreboding, worried his father was setting him up. “You’ve been nothing but good to me, Dad.

Just tell me directly what you need.” This felt unsettling, as if Chi Yong expected Chi Wu to repay a debt of gratitude. Chi Yong simply couldn't bring himself to say it. This required his son to actively oppose his daughter-in-law, and judging by the situation, the son seemed rather spineless.

Furthermore, this involved a matter of reputation—a major issue. Chi Wu urged him, “Dad, you’re making yourself sick with worry. Must you keep going?

Xiao Ye is still young. You shouldn’t be carrying burdens like this. We got through those difficult times back then.

Is there anything truly insurmountable now? To put it boldly, there aren't many ordinary people who could trouble our family these days.” Chi Yong admitted his son sounded bold, but his own problem was indeed difficult—not just ordinarily difficult. He sighed, saying with a touch of sadness, “Wu Zi, tell me, when your mother and I are old, where will we be?” After speaking, Chi Yong cautiously observed his son's reaction.

Chi Wu answered casually, wondering why everyone was dwelling on such melancholic issues lately. “Where will you be? Where you should be.” He hadn’t thought about it deeply.

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? How old are you? If you live as long as the old lady, you have another forty years left.

My own father and mother never got this worked up over it. Your anxiety is completely unnecessary.” Chi Yong’s eyelids drooped. “Where should I be?

Where should your mother be?” Then came a long silence. Chi Wu stopped his teasing. This was his own father; he was truly putting him in a bind.

Chi Wu understood. Having grown up in the countryside, he knew exactly what this meant. In the villages, women who remarried after being widowed—sometimes multiple times—had to return to be buried with their first husbands when they died in old age.

His father was agonizing over this so early on. Chi Wu was truly stuck. Chi Yong’s face darkened seeing Chi Wu’s reaction.

Was this his son? He couldn't even take a firm stance on this. “I’m telling you, Chi Wu, I raised you single-handedly.

This is my one request. If you can’t stand firm now, I’ll deal with you right here.” Chi Wu didn’t know what to say. “This is an unsolvable problem, Dad.

Can’t we just agree not to look for a solution?” Chi Yong insisted, “No. I can’t eat or sleep well. Thinking about your wife upsets me.” Chi Wu let out a long breath.

His father was intentionally making things difficult for him. “You’re thinking too far ahead,” he said. Chi Yong stared grimly at his son, filled with various resentments.

The fact that his son considered this question difficult meant he wasn't considering things from his father's perspective. Otherwise, would such a question even require consideration? Which mother doesn’t want to be buried alongside the father?

He felt immense disappointment. “Hmph. If I don’t think about it, once I’m dead, my wife will belong to someone else.” (To be continued) ps: Dear reader, please suggest a name for the new book.

Give me some feedback. R861