"I've seen the medicine, Aunt Zhong. I'll definitely pay you back for it someday."
"I'm also eating it. I mixed some dough balls for lunch. Aunt Zhong, why don't you come in and taste my cooking?" Tian Sangsang said politely with a smile.
Hearing this, Aunt Zhong was taken aback. Her face clearly showed disbelief.
"Aunt Zhong~" Meng Shuyan also came out, lifted her little face, and said sweetly, "Mom made me food. Aunt Zhong, come and eat with us."
Aunt Zhong was led inside by Meng Shuyan and saw there was indeed a bowl of dough balls on the table, and it smelled wonderful.
Looks like the Tian girl has improved! At least she's willing to cook now!
Aunt Zhong's expression softened a bit. She held Tian Sangsang's salty pig hands and said earnestly, "Your grandma asked me to help you a bit before she passed. Now that you can cook by yourself, I'm overjoyed. This is how it should be! Look, Yanyan is still young and needs a mother's care everywhere. For Yanyan's sake, you have to pull yourself together. We don't expect you to become wealthy, just to live a decent life."
"Aunt, don't worry about me. I didn't understand before, but now that Grandma is gone and after these days, especially after inexplicably being pushed down the hillside this morning, I've thought about a lot and have come to realize much. I can't let Yanyan suffer because of me. From now on, I will live a good life. We can't let the child lose at the starting line. As parents, we must strive to create a bright future for the next generation!" This was a rare opportunity to say a few words and hopefully change Aunt Zhong's view of her. It's impossible to change views overnight, but she had to at least show her attitude and determination to have grand ambitions.
"It's best if you think this way. That talk of bright futures, I don't quite understand, but living under the blue sky and by the sea, we must work hard, be diligent, and not fear hardship. The land has been cultivated step by step by farmers, and we need to strive."
"Exactly!" Tian Sangsang clenched her fist, her eyes gradually shining: "This is an era where only those who dare to fight will win!"
Aunt Zhong held Tian Sangsang's hand more tightly, feeling that today Tian Sangsang was acting a bit strange: "You don't have to keep me for dinner, I've already eaten, you and Yanyan take your time. I'm here today to tell you that your land needs to be harvested too. Gather the sweet potatoes and uproot the peanuts; if left too long, it'll affect the yield."
Tian Sangsang was momentarily confused, "Land?"
"Yes, if the land isn't harvested, how will there be food? What you bring in should be enough for both of you. Especially for Yanyan, a growing boy can't be starving all the time." Aunt Zhong appropriately reminded her, without bluntly pointing out the previous neglect like not feeding her son, which was disgraceful to mention. She was quite fond of Meng Shuyan, wishing he was her own grandson. Look at that face, what a handsome little fellow, just like the young man who stayed at the Tian's house years ago. Pity he was a heartbreaker!
"Alright, Aunt, I'll go right away to harvest the field tomorrow. Thank you for the reminder." Tian Sangsang replied.
Oh dear! This is indeed something. The way she speaks now is so cultured, and there's 'you' and 'thank you' too.
Aunt Zhong looked surprised, eyeing Tian Sangsang. The dark complexion, revealing only her bright teeth when she smiled, remained the same, but somehow she looked more pleasing. Looking left and right, she still didn't look possessed; her appearance was just the same as before. Had she really changed her ways?
As she reached the courtyard gate, Aunt Zhong still looked back incredulously.
Aunt Zhong shook her head as she walked back home.
By the time it was getting dark, Aunt Zhong's husband, Tian Guodong, had returned. Most of the people in this village were surnamed Tian, and the few who weren't were relatives by marriage.
"What's wrong?" Tian Guodong wiped his sweat with a towel draped around his neck, rarely seeing such a dazed look on his wife's face.
"Guess what I saw at Sangsang's house just now!?"
"Did Sangsang snatch her son's food again?" Tian Guodong said naturally, shaking his head with a sigh, "Such a childish person, indulged by her parents too much."
"No!" Aunt Zhong stood up and said, "I saw her cooking, cooking dough balls, and she even wanted to keep me there to eat. Sangsang, I've watched her grow since she was little, but she can actually cook? If I hadn't seen her myself, I really would have thought she was possessed."
"This is indeed strange." Tian Guodong put down his towel and said, "Maybe she realizes now that her grandma is gone, no one to spoil her, so she's come to terms with it."
"I hope so too. Let's hope she doesn't forget and revert to her old ways after a few days."
"Tomorrow, you should go to her place again. Help with her field if you can; it's not easy for her with a child. If she's willing, then we can be at ease too." Tian Guodong was kind-hearted.
Aunt Zhong and Tian Guodong only had one son, Tian Yi. After getting married, he had a son, their grandson Gou Sheng, who was seven years old and loved playing with Meng Shuyan.
In the evening, inside the house, Aunt Zhong's daughter-in-law, Li Xiaoqin, lay in bed and said to her husband, "What do you think is up with your mom? Our own family hasn't got enough to eat, yet she loves giving food to Tian Sangsang's family."
Tian Yi turned over, "Their family is quite pitiful. If we can help, let's give them a hand."
"Huh, until when can we help them? Be careful Tian Sangsang doesn't latch onto us. She's so fat, imagine how much food she needs per meal. The things we have are hard-earned, not drop from the sky. And mom, huh, I made a few buns meant for our Gou Sheng, and she gave one to Yanyan." Li Xiaoqin got annoyed just thinking about Tian Sangsang's annoying face!
Tian Yi didn't care, "It's just a bun. You're being petty about what? Just go to sleep. Back then, Tian Sangsang's grandma often gave food to our Gou Sheng."
Li Xiaoqin was at a loss for words, muttering to herself, "Always playing the good guy, just be cautious, or they'll drag our family down one day."
"Aren't you annoying?" Tian Yi started to get angry, "Are you short of food or drink at your parent's house?" Tian Yi, as a man, wasn't brainless either. When his wife married him, her dowry was taken by her family, and she still didn't restrain herself, often taking the opportunity to send food to her family. Her family was full of idlers, with Li Xiaoqin's brother doing nothing all day, waiting for his sister to support him.
Feeling a little guilty, Li Xiaoqin shut her mouth gloomily.
All afternoon, Tian Sangsang loosened the soil in the small vegetable garden at home to tidy it up. Then she boiled hot water and bathed Meng Shuyan and herself before going to bed to rest.
Being a large person, she required a lot of water for bathing. The original owner probably hadn't bathed for God knows how long, as she could scrub off dirt clumps from her body. The crucial point was, no matter how much she scrubbed, her skin remained dark, stabbing right into Tian Sangsang's fragile heart. She thought she could become a fresh, clean type of overweight person, but this was evidently impossible.
With nothing much to entertain themselves with, people worked the fields during the day and stayed home at night. Neighbors would gather, fanning themselves with palm fans while chatting, before going to sleep. Naturally, Tian Sangsang had no close friends or anyone to chat with. Besides, all she and her son had for dinner was porridge, and now she was starving. Let it be; maybe hunger will make her slim down.