CHAPTER 215: CHAPTER 207: THE CUNNING XINHUA

Zhong Yuying disappeared from Yuequan Village since then, and the villagers only talked about it for a few days and continued with their lives as before. Afterward, no one mentioned the name Zhong Yuying, and soon, perhaps no one would even remember her.

Zhong Hongying, on the other hand, returned to her maternal home a few times, looking quite healthy. She had gained some weight and grown taller, wearing fashionable clothes that made her look more beautiful than when she was at home.

When Zhong Hongying returned, she rarely went to her own home but visited her uncle Zhong Shancai’s home more often. It seemed she remembered how Zhong Shancai had stood up for her that day!

Mei Ying went to gather firewood again and took the opportunity to chat with Tian Sisi.

"Sister Hong Ying says she’s doing well now. The family is very kind to her, she eats well, dresses well, and doesn’t have to work as much as at home, nor does she have to endure beatings and scoldings every day. She’s living a comfortable life."

Mei Ying was genuinely happy for Hong Ying, but being young, how could she understand that marital life is not as simple as just eating and dressing?

Tian Sisi didn’t burst her bubble and humorously agreed with Mei Ying, even gave her some candies. The little girl happily sucked on the candies and went to work in the back hills.

Tian Sisi stretched and then went to the kitchen to make Plum Blossom Dew. Her progress was rapid, so Zhang Mingliu had halved her daily lessons. Now, she only needed to study in the mornings, leaving her afternoons free.

The wintersweet in the garden was blooming splendidly. Old Man had dug up this wild wintersweet and planted it in the garden. It was about the same age as her, golden and very beautiful.

The wild wintersweet on the back hills was in full bloom too, filling the entire village with a delicate fragrance. Wintersweet flowers have high medicinal and culinary value, so she thought of making some Plum Blossom Dew to keep for drinking in the summer.

Since she started making Qinglu, everyone in the family, young and old, had fallen in love with it. Especially during the scorching days, drinking a sip of the cooling Qinglu from the well was incredibly comforting.

Therefore, not only did Tian Sisi need to supply to that one place in Beijing, but she also had to cater to her large family. Thankfully, the back hills of Yuequan Village were abundant with flowers all year round: honeysuckle in summer, osmanthus and wild chrysanthemums in autumn, plum blossoms in winter, and magnolias and peach blossoms in spring— all excellent ingredients for Qinglu.

Tian Sisi planned to make more this year. Tian Xinhua and He Chengsi were coming home for the New Year, and Tian Aiguo’s family too. With more people, a smaller batch wouldn’t be enough.

The courtyard was filled with freshly air-dried wintersweet flowers, which Donghua and Qinghua had traded candies and cookies with village kids to pick from the mountains, almost clearing out the back hills.

Today, Tian Sisi also planned to cook dishes with wintersweet flowers. Old Man, Tang Tieshan, and Zhang Mingliu had been in low spirits these days due to the death of the Marshal.

Old Man and the others had found out about the Marshal’s death nearly a month after he passed away, and the authorities had not announced it, keeping it under wraps, leaving the entire nation unaware of the Marshal’s departure.

Old Man and the others had learned about it from Yang Haoyuan and had all cried their hearts out, the three old men sobbing like children, a heart-wrenching scene to witness.

Tian Sisi actually knew the news long ago, it was Tian Xinhua who called and told her, but she didn’t tell the Old Man and the others because she was worried that they would be hurt and sad, yet she couldn’t keep it a secret forever.

In her view, death was also a kind of relief for the Marshal, as the physical and mental pain had already tormented this iron-boned elder beyond endurance.

With Tian Sisi’s comfort, the Old Man and his group managed to hold back their grief, but there was still a lingering melancholy, which was why Tian Sisi thought of making some fresh food to cheer up the three elders.

Tian Sisi planned to make plum blossom and ham congee, a nutritious dish well-suited for the elderly. She blanched the fresh plum blossoms in boiling water, scooped them out with a strainer, rinsed them with cold water, and set them aside to drain.

"The committee is calling Tian Sisi, Tian Sisi pick up the phone!"

The village loudspeaker suddenly announced, echoing throughout Yuequan Village. Although she was used to hearing her name broadcasted like this, she still couldn’t help feeling embarrassed every time—it really made one uncomfortable to make receiving a call seem so earth-shattering.

Thanks to the efforts of He Xuewen and Tian Bajin, Yuequan Village got electricity in 1974 and installed phones within the village, thus Tian Xinhua often called home. Of course, Tian Sisi was the one who got called the most; the committee’s phone seemed almost like a dedicated line for her.

The Tian Family, of course, was happy to see this, and although no one said it aloud, they all knew and hoped that Tian Xinhua and Tian Sisi could grow closer.

Only He Xuewen was somewhat displeased; he actually preferred He Chengsi. Being a cunning man himself, he wanted a genuinely straightforward son-in-law for his daughter, unlike Tian Xinhua who was too cunning, not as sincere as He Chengsi.

But such matters of the heart can’t be decided by him, it depends on his daughter’s own feelings. Currently, it seemed that Ah Nan had a clearer liking for Tian Xinhua!

Thinking this, He Xuewen started to complain about He Chengsi again, that foolish boy knew nothing about winning a girl’s heart, what on earth was he doing all day?

He never called or gave gifts to Ah Nan, unlike that Tian Xinhua, who was always calling every few days, giving dolls, stamps, fireworks... never stopping with such trinkets. If he were a girl, he would have liked Tian Xinhua too.

He Chengsi, training in a military camp in Hebei, wanted to cry without tears. Daddy, I have to be able to make a call out here! I’ve been stuck in this godforsaken place for half a year, how can I send gifts to little sister Sisi?

Tian Xinhua chuckled secretly, humph, I did it on purpose to get you stuck there, and when you come out from Hebei, I’ll get you transferred to Xinjiang, see how you compete with me for Ah Nan then?

How would He Xuewen know that his foolish son was schemed into the middle of nowhere by the cunning Tian Xinhua? But even if he knew, he could only sigh deeply and say, "Foolish boy."

A daughter won’t necessarily follow her father’s will, fortunately, Xinhua was someone he had watched grow up, with an impeccable character, appearance, and talents, and he truly cared for Ah Nan. With Old Man Tian watching over, he wasn’t worried about his daughter being treated unfairly, only, why was his heart so heavy?

Tian Sisi quickly walked to the village committee office, Tian Qiusheng was at work with his abacus, she greeted him with a smile, "Uncle Qiu Sheng."

In a while, Tian Xinhua’s call came through, his timing was perfect, not a minute too early, nor a minute too late.