CHAPTER 107: 105 GREEN FLOWER OF THE ARMY TIAN TIAN

After the deputy secretary finished his speech, a wave of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Then, the highlight of today’s event arrived.

The village chief stepped onto the podium, surrounded by nearly a hundred villagers. He didn’t rely on a microphone but instead on his booming voice. He said, "Just now, our deputy secretary gave us a brief speech. If anyone has opinions or ideas about the village’s development, you can bring them up with the deputy secretary later. As for us, we don’t have much to entertain the deputy secretary, but everyone can sing some songs to show our enthusiasm. Whoever wants to sing, just come up to the stage on your own."

Most of the villagers here knew how to sing, though it wasn’t formal singing but rather traditional mountain songs or folk tunes. At first, everyone felt a bit restrained, as it was their first time singing in front of so many people and someone so important. But seeing that the deputy secretary looked kind and approachable, and the village chief was supportive, one bold fellow stood up and said, "Village chief, I’ll go!"

"Alright!" The crowd applauded.

The villager’s voice was loud and clear, lifting everyone’s spirits. Even the deputy secretary joined in with applause after the song was finished, which made the villagers even happier and more motivated.

After that, several other villagers went up to sing. Among them, there were those who went off-pitch and those whose voices weren’t particularly pleasant, but none of that mattered—they all had fiery passion in their hearts.

The crowd’s mood was lively, except for Chen Ming and Chen Ying, who sat limply on their chairs with their heads drooped down like two wounded puppies.

"Brother, yesterday Dad asked me why I’m not dating Teacher Zhou anymore. Why didn’t you tell Dad the truth? Are you still thinking about Tian Tian?" Chen Ying muttered gloomily.

"Yingzi, what are you thinking? Do you really think your brother is that blind?" Chen Ming felt a sharp pain in his heart.

Chen Ying pouted, "It’s not your eyesight I’m worried about—it’s your heart being blinded by pig fat." Blind eyes can be cured, but a blind heart cannot.

Chen Ming said, "We both know exactly what kind of person Teacher Zhou is. This matter has to be kept under wraps—telling Dad won’t help, and it’ll just make Dad worry needlessly. Besides, if Teacher Zhou turns the tables on us, you, as a young woman, wouldn’t stand a chance against him, and by then it’ll be too late."

"I’m not afraid of him!" Chen Ying raised her voice slightly. "To put it bluntly, you just can’t forget Tian Tian!"

The two lowered their heads and whispered to each other, escaping notice from the crowd. Suddenly, murmurs rose from among the people.

"Is that Tian Tian? She’s going to sing?"

"Tian Tian is really beautiful, isn’t she?"

"What’s the use of being beautiful? She’s far too calculating."

"Why bring that up now? It’s been so long. Maybe Tian Tian has reformed. Besides, you haven’t heard about her causing trouble for Tian Sangsang lately, have you?"

"..."

Indeed, appearances do hold sway. Just a few days were enough for people to find Tian Tian’s past trespasses forgivable—or at least forgettable. Those with good looks always seem to receive more leniency.

Chen Ming’s eyes turned bloodshot as he stared at the podium, clenching his fists tightly. He hated himself—hated that he knew exactly what kind of person Tian Tian was but still couldn’t completely let her go. She was like a femme fatale, yet her delicate beauty made his heart uncontrollably race.

But it was also Tian Tian who had brought disgrace to his sister. He knew this kind of heart-stirring feeling wouldn’t disappear immediately, but he was determined to let time gradually wear it away. What else could he do? All his life, he’d been drawn to women like Tian Tian. And when reality revealed to him that she was a bad-hearted woman, what could he do? No matter what, he wouldn’t let his sister suffer any harm!

Chen Ying glared coldly at Tian Tian. Such a skilled actress.

Tian Tian was dressed in a green military uniform, a trendy outfit she had sewn herself. Her craftsmanship was impeccable—the uniform perfectly highlighted her slim figure, making her look like someone from the city. Her sweet and delicate demeanor set her apart entirely from the countryside folk.

Some of the young women and men from the village gazed enviously at Tian Tian.

"Tian Tian is so pretty today. That dress is stunning—it looks incredible on her, like she’s a fairy."

"I want a set of military fatigues, and a military hat too."

"I dream of having a wife as beautiful as Tian Tian."

"Hah! Dream on. Tian Tian is dating Chen Ming anyway."

"Who said that? Who said that? I’m in the same production team as Chen Ming, and I’ve never heard him mention it."

"Oh, does Chen Ming need to announce his relationships to you?"

...

Tian Tian sang a song called "Hometown." "Hometown" had been one of the popular songs in recent times. Tian Tian had visited the county town a few times before and heard it played on the radio, and she remembered it. This time, she had even asked Zhou Zheng for the lyrics and studied them carefully, silently recalling the melody in her mind so she could perform it today.

Her voice was crisp and melodious, full of emotion, leaving the audience captivated.

The deputy secretary smiled and said to the village chief seated beside him, "She’s the teacher in the village, isn’t she? She sings quite well. It’s important for young women nowadays to have this kind of attachment to their roots." Female counterparts in the city always struck him as overly trendy, chasing fads recklessly. Upon seeing such a simple and sincere Tian Tian, he felt she was no less admirable than those urban women.

"Not the teacher," the village chief replied with an embarrassed smile, unsure of how to continue.

The deputy secretary added, "Not a teacher? That’s even better. At least she has ambition and drive."

"Oh, absolutely," the village chief nodded, thinking that if Tian Tian weren’t so scheming, she’d be quite remarkable in other aspects. What a pity. He also pitied Mingzi, who had always pined for her.

When the song ended, it was followed by thunderous applause.

Grandma Tian grinned so broadly that her face resembled a chrysanthemum and remarked with satisfaction, "My darling granddaughter is so accomplished, far better than Tian Sangsang."

Chen Guilan also felt a swell of pride. Over the past few days, her family had endured scorn from the village, but now she straightened her back with newfound confidence.

"Look at Uncle and Dad; they’re still grinning over there," Chen Ying said to Chen Ming irritably, her heart surging with fury. She couldn’t understand why a mere pretty face like Tian Tian could be excused so easily. Sure, her singing was good, but Chen Ying preferred the darker, rounder Tian Sangsang. Oh, speaking of Sangsang—where was she?

Chen Ying turned her gaze toward the crowd, scanning for Tian Sangsang’s figure amidst the mass of people. Soon, she spotted her—a plump, dark silhouette that was actually rather easy to pick out.

Tian Sangsang gave her a gentle smile.

In her arms was Meng Shuyan, who grinned back with two small, white teeth showing. Resting on his lap was a fluffy white kitten.

This odd combination somehow exuded warmth.