In the village, Yangzhi was truly a remarkable woman; when it came to working the fields, she was more capable than Chi Yong.

Chi Yong often felt utterly useless as a man.

It was a small comfort that he still had his position at the local school with its part-time income. Since he started teaching, his wife’s attitude toward him had shifted, though he never realized the villagers actually respected educated men; if only he had bothered to learn a few more characters sooner.

Yangzhi’s feelings for Chi Yong were complicated, not deeply rooted, certainly not as profound as those she held for Yingzi’s father—first love, everyone understood that.

But life was what you made of it. The five of them in their family were bound together, and they had to make it work, didn't they? Did they really want to become a laughingstock? Besides, the marriage was done; what was the point of being overly sentimental now?

Life was decent now. Though they earned a bit less than others, they maintained appearances. Their own daughter benefited from it; when Yingzi eventually sought a good husband, saying her father was a teacher would certainly sound much better.

Yangzhi put more effort into pleasing Chi Yong, and she was observant enough to see that he was genuinely settling down with the children.

The intimate matters between the couple, over time, naturally followed their course, becoming inevitable.

Besides, the old lady no longer caused trouble at night.

As for love, Yangzhi felt embarrassed even to speak the word, let alone consider it. Villagers didn't fuss over such things. When young people liked each other and the families didn't object, they married. As a widow with children, Yangzhi focused more on survival; affection felt like a luxury. So, whenever Chi Yong looked at her with intense eyes, Yangzhi would grow flustered.

Moreover, Chi Yong enjoyed reciting lines of sentimental poetry when he had nothing else to do. Though Yangzhi could read, her education was limited. She had mostly learned the Chairman’s quotations during her schooling, so the things Chi Yong recited, she truly heard but didn't comprehend.

Thus, whenever Chi Yong faced the moon or turned to Yangzhi to utter some romantic verse or phrase, Yangzhi would blush, feeling shy and reluctant to stand too close to him.

Yangzhi knew, setting aside all else, that the gap between them based on their education was vast. She wasn't feeling inferior; she genuinely wondered how this man had ended up as her husband.

Whenever Yangzhi blushed and walked away, Chi Yong saw a particular charm in it. His wife was shy, and no matter how he looked at her expression, it was one of coy bashfulness. The past few months had improved their living conditions; his wife had gained weight, looking even more beautiful now, rosy-cheeked, stirring his restless desires.

So Chi Yong increasingly loved reciting those verses in front of Yangzhi. The misunderstanding was sweet; Chi Yong couldn't fathom that his wife hadn't understood a single word.

The entire household supported Yangzhi’s plan to study in the county. She knew the family depended on her, but for some reason, watching Chi Yong made her commit to going. Knowing the disparity between them, Yangzhi began, without realizing exactly when, to desire to close that distance with him.

This was an opportunity. While studying in the county, Yangzhi spent her free time in the library, seeking out the very poetry Chi Yong had quoted. Every time she read those books, her heart raced and her cheeks burned. Perhaps she was slow to react, or perhaps the realization came late, but Yangzhi finally understood what Chi Yong had been trying to express.

Yangzhi studied diligently, knowing the family needed her. Thankfully, her younger sister was there; otherwise, Yangzhi would have returned long ago. She had never been away from home for so long. On Sundays, she would return to see the children, and the way Chi Yong looked at her then made her heart pound even harder.

Faced with an unexpected embrace, Yangzhi didn’t know how to react. If anyone saw, it would be mortifying. She never knew such a refined-looking man could be so passionate. Chi Yong even cycled such a long distance just to see her off. Yangzhi felt that even when things were first budding between her and Yingzi’s father, it hadn't been like this. Her heart fluttered, and she hated to see Chi Yong leave.

And every Sunday, when Chi Yong waited for her outside the gate, Yangzhi felt the giddy excitement she had as a young girl. Even Yang Yong commented to her, “Your brother-in-law treats you really well.” Yangzhi just blushed and stayed silent, but she knew then—she was genuinely moved. There was something more now, beyond just sharing a life.

The year Chi Yong and Yangzhi spent at the village school was the most content time for Yangzhi. They lacked nothing in food or clothing. For the four of them, the couple had no external worries, and the children got along harmoniously. Yangzhi even thought that living like this forever would be fine. Even when Chi Yong had minor health issues, Yangzhi never worried; she cared for him well, never letting him do strenuous work. She even comforted Chi Yong, “You have a son, and I have a daughter. Even if we don’t have more children, we’re set. I don’t envy others with sons; my daughter is sensible and obedient, and Wuzi is just like my own son.”

What Chi Yong truly felt upon hearing that, only he knew. A man, in certain aspects, could perhaps do without something, but he couldn't exist without it—like the ability to father children. Especially since Chi Yong truly wanted one.

It was from that point that Chi Yong began to sincerely treat Cheng family's old lady as his own mother, honoring her. The woman, who seemed so difficult, was actually quite understanding about his condition. As long as Chi Yong was home, a hot compress was placed on his lower back every two hours. Sometimes, Chi Yong would shed tears in his sleep from being so moved; no one had ever cared for him so devotedly for so many years. His wife and children were worth it.

So, Chi Yong lived their life with utmost sincerity.

No wonder Yangzhi felt happiness. Good dreams fade quickly. Suddenly, Chi Yong had family, and they were the type who were judgmental. Even the calmest Yangzhi felt panic. Was she not meant to have too much happiness? Heaven hadn't failed to snatch happiness away the first time she felt life was good. Yangzhi felt she might have grown accustomed to it.

Indeed, Chi Yong’s family was hard to deal with. Yangzhi understood the impact a mother-in-law had on a woman; she had spent ten years building a relationship with Yingzi's mother through the grinding realities of life. So, when Yangzhi learned Chi Yong’s parents were coming to take their son back, she had already made up her mind: the current life was good enough, and she could raise her daughter alone. That night, she never returned to the west room.

A man never misjudges a woman’s feelings toward him. From the moment Chi Yong’s parents arrived at the Cheng house, Chi Yong knew Yangzhi had changed. Though she still cared for him diligently, the warmth was gone. Chi Yong was anxious.

Chi Yong was in his thirties; he possessed a mature understanding of life. Living together wasn't about sweet talk and reciting poetry; it was about the tangible reality of life. A wife like Yangzhi was a blessing; their meeting in hardship was fate. So, Chi Yong was desperate. As soon as he saw his parents off, he cornered his wife.

When Yangzhi revealed her true thoughts, Chi Yong panicked. He hadn't felt this flustered in years, so he spoke everything that shouldn't have been said. Yangzhi kept a straight face, unsure how to react. The situation was far more complicated than she imagined—like being struck by a falling gold egg; it felt like a shock without joy, none at all.

Chi Yong was also in a terrible mood. Persuading a stubborn person was much harder than convincing an open-minded one. Furthermore, his wife truly wouldn't return to their room. Chi Yong was furious. Did she have to be like this? Was their affection all fake? This woman had no heart.

Chi Yong erupted. An honest man losing his temper could be terrifying. Yangzhi knew Chi Yong had a temper, but she never knew it could be this fierce.

Sometimes, people just have to trust fate. Yangzhi felt she was being held hostage by destiny. The pregnancy had arrived at the worst possible time, but in that era, getting divorced while visibly pregnant would ruin her reputation. She still had her daughter, and moreover, her emotional connection with Chi Yong had been quite good. Yangzhi felt fate was playing cruel jokes on her.

She was thirty, wishing to live the life most villagers lived in familiar surroundings. She felt no desire for the city; when she was in the county, nothing seemed particularly better; it just felt empty without family nearby. But now there was a child in her belly, a child they had hoped for for nearly half a year.

Yangzhi’s morning sickness was mostly due to her poor mood and overthinking, especially seeing how overjoyed and blissful Chi Yong looked. It made her deeply uncomfortable. Having to coexist with Chi Yong’s mother cast a psychological shadow; she wasn't an easy woman, nor was she so meekly submissive. She didn't want to spend decades trying to forge a relationship with another mother-in-law.

When Yangzhi touched her belly, her heart rate always slowed down significantly. She couldn't bear to lose the child, and even less so the daughter she had raised for over a decade.

Chi Yong, for some reason, came to her every day to talk about the future, and every word revolved around the unborn child. Chi Yong himself was ecstatic, acting like a fool. Yangzhi’s heart softened, but she still resisted the idea of moving to the city. Her vision differed from the villagers'; she believed that was how to achieve a good life. She didn't want to move to the city or live that kind of life.

Just then, Yingzi's grandmother arrived. The old lady saw things clearer than most people: “A good life is hard-won, and reaching this point is even harder. Being cherished and courted by someone is enough to be content. Where you live, you’re still living out your days. Yingzi is growing up; whether you are in the village or the city for these next couple of years, with Yingzi here, what's the difference? My daughter and I will manage fine.”

Yangzhi burst into tears. This was her mother-in-law, the one who could always find fault with something. Yet now, she was saying this to her.

Later, her sensible daughter arrived. She had only one thing to say: she adored the baby in Yangzhi’s belly, and moving to the city was mandatory. She added that she planned to go to the city for her studies later, bringing the old lady with her.

Yangzhi believed her daughter; she truly did. Especially these past two years, anything her daughter set her mind to, she accomplished.

So, Yangzhi followed Chi Yong to the city.