When her family background was mentioned, Fang Qiuhong puffed out her chest. "My parents both work in state-owned enterprises. My dad is at the supply and marketing cooperative, and my mom is at the grain station."
"Supply and marketing cooperative? That's a good unit. Which sales point is it?"
*Cough.* Li Zhengguo forcefully suppressed the urge to burst out laughing.
Fang Qiuhong shot him a glance. "He's just a cripple. If it weren't for his sister trading marriage partners for him, he'd be lucky to find a wife," she thought. "It's not a sales point; it's the town's supply and marketing cooperative."
"The town's? That's still impressive. In the future, if I want to buy anything, I'll have to trouble you, big sister."
"Don't worry," Fang Qiuhong patted her ample chest. "I promise I'll help you get it done."
"That would be wonderful."
Tian Jing, trying to emulate the original owner's gullibility from her past life, said, "Sister Fang, you'll have to take care of me more in the future. I don't have any close sisters here, not even a companion to talk to."
"That's perfect, I just got married too, and I don't have anyone to talk to either. I'll come to your house to play in the future?" Fang Qiuhong seized the opportunity.
"Then where is your home?"
"I'm Lin Er'lai's wife." Seeing that Tian Jing was stunned by her family background, Fang Qiuhong revealed her identity.
"Lin Er'lai? He's on good terms with Zhang Fangcao. I often see them walking together. I thought... Oh dear, look at us, Sister Fang and I hit it off immediately, and I'm speaking so carelessly."
"Don't tell anyone. Once this gets out, it'll change its meaning. After all, Zhang Fangcao used to be my Zhengguo's fiancée. She left him later because she disliked his limp and married someone else."
"But after marrying, she told her in-laws that she was coming to take care of my mother-in-law and visited Li Min's house every day. When she returned, she told her in-laws that taking care of my mother-in-law had tired her out, and she didn't even want to wash dishes."
"That woman is so scheming. Sister Fang, you need to be careful. What if she uses another excuse to always go to your house? Lin Er'lai... Oh, look at my mouth, I'm spilling everything."
"Pah, pah, pah. Sister Fang, just pretend I didn't say anything. Li Aiguo is very good to Zhang Fangcao. We can't let their marital relationship fall apart."
"By the way, you and Lin Er'lai must have true love, right? Otherwise, with your family's good conditions, why would you be willing to marry into this poor mountain village?"
As Tian Jing spoke, Fang Qiuhong's expression changed repeatedly. "I, I'm just getting old?"
"Why? With your family's circumstances, you should have found a partner easily. How did you drag on until you were older?" Tian Jing asked with feigned curiosity.
Why? Wasn't it because of her birthmark, which people considered an ill omen? She didn't believe Tian Jing didn't understand. "Let's not talk about this. Shall we go dig for wild vegetables?"
"No, today my Zhengguo is specially accompanying me to dig for wild vegetables. Next time, next time you tell me in advance, and I won't bring Zhengguo with me."
"Alright." Fang Qiuhong had achieved her goal and smiled as she went to dig for wild vegetables elsewhere.
Li Zhengguo and Tian Jing walked further up the mountain. It wasn't suitable to use her powers at the foot of the mountain, as Fang Qiuhong was still glancing in their direction from time to time.
"Do you really plan to dig for wild vegetables with her?" Li Zhengguo asked once they were out of earshot.
"If I don't give her a chance, how can she trick 'Tian Jing'? How can she take the opportunity to ruin 'Tian Jing's' reputation?" Tian Jing had been looking forward to Fang Qiuhong's arrival for a long time.
This Fang Qiuhong, because of her own appearance, harbored resentment towards all good-looking women. Her bad temper and laziness, combined, were why she couldn't get married.
Lin Er'lai could marry this woman only after he had investigated everything about the Fang family. Through "chance encounters" and "sweet talk," he quickly charmed Fang Qiuhong, who then insisted on marrying him.
In her past life, it was Zhang Fangcao who had advised Lin Er'lai on how to woo Fang Qiuhong. In this life, it was undoubtedly Zhang Fangcao as well.
This Zhang Fangcao's scheming nature was misplaced; the inner court was her true domain.
"I'm worried about you."
"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?" Tian Jing looked at him with a half-smile. "Tell me, how can your face attract so much attention? First Zhang Fangcao, and now this Fang Qiuhong."
Li Zhengguo quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Tiantian, I honestly don't know what's going on with her."
"You don't know?" Tian Jing pouted. "It's precisely because of your infinite tolerance towards 'Tian Jing' that after Lin Er'lai stopped showering her with sweet talk, she saw your goodness from your indulgence towards 'Tian Jing' and felt that 'Tian Jing' didn't deserve you."
Li Zhengguo reached out and pulled her into his arms, coaxing her. "Yes, it's my fault. Tiantian, don't be jealous anymore, okay?"
In Li Zhengguo's heart, he always felt that Tiantian and Jingjing were the same person, though Tiantian didn't think so.
He had returned to his own body, and Jingjing had also returned to hers. How could Tiantian appear?
But he had no evidence, so he didn't dare to say anything. He could only go along with Tiantian's wishes and differentiate between them.
"In the future, if Fang Qiuhong doesn't take a liking to you, I won't be angry. Otherwise, I'll settle both old and new scores."
Tian Jing knew that in the eyes of herself and the original owner, Li Zhengguo was plain-looking. Moreover, because of his dark skin, he was almost ugly. However, in this era, a square-jawed face with regular features was considered handsome.
"Alright, alright, I'll avoid her."
Using Tian Jing's special ability, the two of them dug two baskets of wild vegetables to take home. When they passed the foot of the mountain, Fang Qiuhong was already gone.
Fang Qiuhong had deliberately come to "chance upon" her. The first step was successful. Why bother digging for wild vegetables? She wasn't lacking in food or drink. Her family had good conditions; if she ran out of food, she could just go home once.
The two baskets of wild vegetables were divided into three portions. One portion was taken by Li Zhengguo, and another was sent to Li Min's place at Chen family's.
The savory wild vegetable and millet porridge tasted exceptionally good.
Li Min patted her stomach. "I suddenly regret it."
"Regret what?" Mother Li, finishing her meal, asked casually.
"I regret getting engaged. I don't want to get married anymore. No one's cooking is as good as ours at home."
"Heh," Tian Jing sneered. "They say that once the wound heals, the pain is forgotten. But your wound hasn't even healed, and you've already forgotten the pain. If you weren't engaged, could you have refused the Tian family yesterday?"
"I could have refused even without being engaged," Li Min stood up and tidied the table. "With big sister-in-law here, she won't let me be wronged." Sū Dān Novel Network
"If you weren't engaged, the Tian family would have dared to ruin your reputation."
Li Min's hand paused, and she continued picking up bowls and chopsticks. "Don't be afraid, my big sister-in-law will take me in."
"Are you counting on me?"
"Yes! I want to rely on you forever. When you're home, the food here tastes better."
Li Zhengguo quickly shooed his sister away. "Suo Zhu already lacks confidence, and you're talking nonsense. Go wash the dishes quickly."
If he didn't stop her, his sister would speak the truth.
Mentioning Chen Suo Zhu, Li Min's face turned red. She took the empty bowls and plates and fled to the kitchen as if escaping.
Tian Jing, her mind full of gossip, quietly followed into the kitchen and found Li Min staring blankly at the bowls and chopsticks in the pot, her expression changing from moment to moment, sometimes smiling, sometimes frowning.
"Li Min," Tian Jing called out softly.
Li Min suddenly turned around. "B, big sister-in-law."
"You look so guilty, there must be something wrong. What did Chen Suo Zhu do to you?"
Tian Jing was a petty person. Li Min had witnessed her and Li Zhengguo being intimate. If she didn't retaliate now, she would be letting down the favorable timing and circumstances.
Li Min's face turned red all at once. "B, big sister-in-law, you, you..."
"You, you, you, when did you become a stutterer?" Tian Jing mimicked her speech.
"Big sister-in-law~" Li Min was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground.
"Alright, you wash the pot and dishes," Tian Jing stopped teasing her and turned to leave the kitchen.