Director Qi’s heart softened as she looked at her. She reached out and smoothed her messy hair, then pushed the bowl of sweet soup towards her. “Drink this bowl of sweet soup. You’re too thin.”
“Heh heh,” Tian Jing smiled sweetly. “I eat but don’t gain weight. But lately, my grandparents say I should try to eat more good things to nourish myself. That way, when people consider me, the chance of success will be higher.”
Her slender, straight little nose, tiny mouth, and large eyes, paired with this sweet smile, made Director Qi utterly smitten. Though Director Qi didn’t know what “smitten” meant, the feeling of her heart melting made her pity the girl greatly. She reached out and gently pinched her cheek, which didn’t have much flesh on it.
“A young lady like you shouldn’t be so forward in discussions. Keep your mouth shut about marriage and household matters, or gossips will spread rumors.”
Tian Jing playfully stuck out her tongue. “I know. Thank you, Auntie Qi, for your guidance.”
Tian Jing’s demeanor made Director Qi chuckle. She patted Tian Jing’s hand. “I need to get back to work. If you need anything, come find me at the commune.”
“Okay, if I need anything, I’ll find you, Auntie Qi.”
Tian Jing agreed, then stood up and followed Director Qi, who was already walking out. She wanted to see Director Qi off, which would fit her persona.
Old Man Tian personally watched Tian Jing coax the person they called the "Smiling Tiger," Director Qi, into complete submission. He couldn’t help but become wary of Tian Jing.
When Director Qi entered the Tian family’s house, she hadn’t noticed the peculiarities in the Tian family’s yard due to the noise from the main hall. Now, as she came out of the hall, her eyes fell upon the two fruit trees by the south wall. “What… what’s wrong with these fruit trees of yours?”
Director Qi was, of course, asking Tian Jing.
“I don’t know,” Tian Jing shook her head. “They became like this overnight. In the morning, my eldest auntie yelled in fright, and many commune members saw it. But I think they must be sick. Otherwise, how could they be like this overnight?”
Seeing these two trees, Director Qi felt a strange thought surface in her mind. Her first thought was of the Yellow Great Immortal and the Fox Immortal.
With Tian Jing’s confident assertion, Director Qi immediately nodded in agreement. “Yes, these two fruit trees are definitely sick. Comrade Old Tian, examine them carefully. Make sure they don’t spread. Also, dig up the roots and burn them.”
Director Qi deliberately raised her voice when she said this, ensuring that the Tian family’s immediate neighbors could hear.
Ding Aihua was already boiling water in the kitchen to steam egg custard. Regardless of whether Tian Jing would eat the egg custard in the end, her own grandson would definitely get a few bites.
Hearing Director Qi’s voice in the yard, she prepared to come out to see the guest off, but then she overheard this conversation.
She hadn’t seen the final interaction between Director Qi and Tian Jing inside earlier. So, seeing Director Qi believe Tian Jing’s words, she secretly curled her lips.
Old Lady Tian glared fiercely at her and waved her hand behind her back, signaling her to return to the kitchen to work.
At the doorway, Tian Jing didn’t escort her further. She waved to Director Qi, who was pushing her bicycle. “Goodbye, Auntie Qi. Be careful on the road.”
“Alright!” Director Qi waved back at Tian Jing. “Go back inside. The egg custard should be ready soon.”
Then, ignoring Old Man Tian and Old Lady Tian, she mounted her bicycle and left.
As soon as Tian Jing turned back into the yard, her expression returned to one of indifference.
Old Lady Tian glanced at the heads peeking around, snorted, and retreated into the yard to lock the main gate. They still had matters to deal with. In the countryside, locking the door was useless; anyone could just push it open.
Old Man Tian clearly saw the change in Tian Jing’s expression. From her charming and youthful demeanor towards Director Qi just moments ago to her current aloofness that kept people at a distance, neither expression felt false or stiff. It was as if her face reflected her true thoughts.
Especially her seemingly dejected words just now, which even made him believe them. He thought his family truly favored her, and this girl was also wholeheartedly concerned for the strong laborers in the family, her eyes even moistening.
What was this girl’s background? Sudian Novel Network.
Tian Jing didn’t care what Old Man Tian thought. She went straight into the kitchen. “Comrade Ding, is the egg custard ready yet?”
People with special abilities had large appetites, especially this body, which had only recently gained such abilities. Having argued with the Tian family for so long and used force before breakfast, this body was now clamoring to eat. She felt that if there were a whole cow in front of her, she could eat it.
“No, not yet…”
Before Ding Aihua could finish speaking, Tian Jing lifted the pot lid.
Steaming egg custard only took a few minutes. Was she trying to fool her by pretending not to know this simple fact of life?
As expected, in the coarse porcelain bowl on the bamboo steamer, the pale yellow egg custard had already set. She picked up a pair of chopsticks and poked the edge of the custard. Not only was it cooked, but it was also overcooked and had bubbled.
“Comrade Ding, your actions are like burning bridges after crossing the river, do you know that?”
She dropped the lid, personally added two drops of sesame oil, sprinkled the chopped scallions from the cutting board, took a coarse porcelain bowl, lifted the egg custard bowl out of the pot, stacked it on this bowl, and carried it to the main hall.
Tian Yicheng smelled the steamed egg custard and whined, wanting to eat.
Tian Jing shot him a stern look, and Tian Yicheng, scared, hid behind Old Lady Tian.
Old Lady Tian, who could only drink cold porridge, slammed her chopsticks onto the kang table and pointed at Tian Jing, her mouth opening to tell her to give the egg custard to Tian Yicheng.
Tian Jing removed the outer bowl and slammed it forcefully onto the floor with a clatter, cutting off Old Lady Tian’s words.
It also startled Old Man Tian. “Jing Yatou, you…”
Tian Jing, while eating the egg custard, asked, “What about me? At breakfast, Tian Lifu fought for a seat. Now Tian Yicheng is fighting for egg custard. Before, I swallowed my anger, and you all pretended not to see it. As long as there was harmony and contentment, whoever suffered or was unlucky, you didn’t care.”
“Since I’ve left, the Tian family is falling apart. This shows how important I was originally, so important that I was the link to the Tian family’s peaceful life. Then why did the exchange marriage happen? It only proves one thing: you are all blind, mistaking pearls for fish eyes.”
“Before, I thought you favored boys over girls. Fine, I endured it. Who told me I was a girl? But what about now? Your own granddaughter hasn’t returned after washing clothes. So when she comes back, will she also have to suffer the same fate as I did?”
“Old Man Tian, it’s best if you don’t speak. Anything more you say will just be covering up your hypocrisy. You took money to help others, so how did you do it? It’s only been a few days, and you can’t stand it anymore, just because I’m enjoying it for a few days?”
“Don’t push me. Anyway, I am alone. If you want to make a big fuss, I’ll tell the brigade. If you want to make a small fuss, I’ll tell all the men in the Tian family. Let’s see if your hidden things can remain hidden. Let’s see if your Tian family can maintain this superficial hypocritical harmony?”
After her outburst, she threw the now empty bowl onto the table and stood up. “I’m going out to cut grass. Don’t say I didn’t work. If I don’t make it back for lunch, remember to save me some food. Also, hurry up and make me some clothes. Holding so many things, aren’t you afraid of getting burned? Treating me like this, do you not have nightmares at night?”