The next day, Cheng You discussed Zhen Zhen’s matter with Uncle Li.
“If she doesn’t want to come with me, then let her stay here.”
Uncle Li disagreed.
“Zhen Zhen is still young. She doesn’t know how much better Yan Cheng is than Yong Cheng. We are doing this for her own good.”
Having raised the child for so long, he was also reluctant to part with her.
But they couldn’t let this hinder the child’s future.
Hui Hui said, “Uncle, only she knows what she truly wants. At least for now, what she wants is to live with you. If she regrets it later, it won’t be too late for me to take her with me.”
Uncle Li pondered with a somber expression and finally compromised.
“Let’s leave it like this for now.”
Cheng You, seeing his pensive look, comforted him, “Studying in Yong Cheng isn’t that bad. When she gets to high school, she can go to the city to study. The education there isn’t bad either.”
Uncle Li nodded. “Let her be. I’m more at ease when she’s around. Aren’t you going to Qili Village? Go quickly.”
Cheng You acknowledged and secretly gave Zhen Zhen a signal.
Zhen Zhen’s joy was palpable.
She didn’t have to go to Yan Cheng!
Cheng You smiled and walked out, looking at Qi Chengyan.
“Let’s go. We’ll visit Grandpa in Qili Village first.”
Qi Chengyan was carrying many things, all gifts for the Jiang family.
In the sweltering heat, the two squeezed onto a bus back to the countryside. By the time they alighted, they were drenched in sweat, looking quite disheveled.
Cheng You and Qi Chengyan exchanged a look and chuckled simultaneously.
“I wonder when there will be more buses so it won’t be so crowded.”
Cheng You was thankful she had worn simple clothes.
Qi Chengyan switched the load of items to one hand, and with the other, he held her hand.
“Let’s go.”
They first returned to Wujing Village to get bicycles and then proceeded to Qili Village.
They also distributed some of the items they brought.
Cheng You and Qi Chengyan went directly to Aunt Six’s house.
They hadn’t informed her in advance, so seeing them suddenly, Aunt Six thought she was dreaming.
“You girl, why didn’t you tell us beforehand? You should have let your Sixth Grandma get a good look at you, you’ve gotten even prettier!”
Cheng Xianjing and Li Yulan hurried in from outside.
Upon seeing Cheng You, they beamed, their eyes crinkling, as if they had seen their own daughter returning home after completing her studies.
“It really is Cheng You! Auntie thought you weren’t coming back during the summer break!”
After all, Qi Chengyan was from Yan Cheng. With Cheng You following him, it was as good as her marrying into Yan Cheng.
Wujing Village had become her maternal home, and everyone assumed she wouldn’t be coming back much.
What daughter who marries into the city would still return to the countryside?
Cheng You smiled and put down the gifts. Li Yulan helped to sort them.
“You are all my family. We agreed on this, and you won’t let me come back to my maternal home?” she said, feigning a pout.
Her words made Aunt Six laugh heartily, “You mischievous girl, who would dare forbid you from returning to your maternal home!”
She patted Cheng You with a smile, clearly overjoyed.
Cheng You looked around for a week but didn’t see San Leng. She asked, “Where is San Leng? He didn’t go up the mountain, did he?”
Li Yulan said, “I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet. San Leng joined the army! He’s in Sichuan now. We received a letter from him the other day.”
Cheng You was pleasantly surprised, “He actually joined the army!”
San Leng had always admired Qi Chengyan and set him as his goal.
Now, he had also achieved his dream.
After delivering the gifts to Aunt Six’s family, Cheng You still had to go to Qili Village.
Because time was pressing, she couldn’t stay longer.
Aunt Six understood and held Cheng You’s hand, giving her many earnest instructions, “Take good care of yourself. Chengyan is not young anymore; it’s time you considered having children…”
Cheng You listened patiently and agreed to everything.
After bidding them farewell, the two rode their bicycles away.
At the village entrance, they heard someone calling out from a distance.
“Cheng You! Cheng You!”
Qi Chengyan looked back and said, “Youyou, it’s your father.”
Cheng You applied the brakes, her feet on the ground, and turned back.
Besides Cheng Tianhua, there was also Song Yulian.
They were holding a child, presumably the one Song Yulian had later.
Cheng Tianhua’s face was ashen, especially after hearing that Cheng You had returned to the village but had only visited Aunt Six’s family, not even inquiring about him, her father.
Finally catching up to Cheng You, he was drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
“You unfilial daughter! Since you’re back, why didn’t you come home? I raised you for over a decade for nothing!”
Cheng You, too lazy to listen to his Xiang Lin Sao-like complaints, directly asked, “What do you want?”
Song Yulian quickly pulled Cheng Tianhua, afraid he would act impulsively and ruin things.
“Cheng You, your dad didn’t mean it that way. He just misses you! Ever since you left, he’s been missing you day and night, wanting you to come home and see him!”
Cheng You scoffed, her face full of sarcasm.
Who would believe that?
She wasn’t a three-year-old child who would be happy just because her father gave her candy.
“If you have nothing else, get lost. I don’t want to hear your platitudes; there’s no emotional connection between us.”
Cheng You’s blunt words pierced Cheng Tianhua’s heart.
Everyone said his daughter was successful, but he, as her father, hadn’t reaped any benefits!
“Cheng You, this is unfilial! You’ll be struck by lightning!”
Cheng You rubbed her ear, “If anyone’s going to be struck by lightning, it’ll be you first! Cheng Tianhua, if you don’t say what you want, I’m leaving!”
Song Yulian pinched Cheng Tianhua’s waist forcefully, “Hurry up and say it!”
Cheng Tianhua, afraid of losing the chance to speak with Cheng You, quickly said, “You know about Cheng Tao and Zhao Yunlin buying a house for the family, right? My request isn’t high. Buy us a house in the county town as well. Your younger brother will need to study in the county town later.”
The brother he mentioned was naturally not Cheng Wenyu, but the one in Song Yulian’s arms.
Cheng You scoffed, “Impossible. Don’t even dream about it. I’d buy a house for you two scumbags? Are you putting on a show for me here!”
Cheng Tianhua’s face turned red with anger, almost getting into a physical fight with Cheng You.
No daughter in the world would dare to scold her father to his face like this!
“You!” He pointed at Cheng You with a trembling hand, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Cheng You slapped his hand away, “I give you twenty yuan a month for filial support. This is my repayment for providing a sperm. Beyond that, you have no right to demand anything more from me! Also, are you sure this child in Song Yulian’s arms is yours?”
Upon hearing this, Song Yulian immediately burst into hysterical tears.
“Cheng You, you can’t slander me!”
“Slander? You have so many guests in your room, you probably can’t even tell who the father of the child is. I despise interacting with you, so I advise you not to provoke me, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Being able to give Cheng Tianhua money was also to shut up any gossip.
This twenty yuan was always given through intermediaries, never handled by Cheng You herself, just to forget Cheng Tianhua’s troublesome affairs.