This evening, Chen Zi'an stayed at the Su family's home.
The Su family's housing was already tight, so it was impossible to set aside a separate room to entertain guests.
In the end, Grandma Su and Su Xiaotian stayed in the partition of the main hall. Grandpa Su, Chen Zi'an, and Xiao Zhu stayed in the main hall.
It was kind of Chen Zi'an that despite being a high-ranking official from the county, he didn't mind. Instead, he smiled and said, "When I was in the army on missions, it was common to live outdoors. Having a roof over my head is already very good."
The next morning, the weather was clear. It had rained for most of the night, and there were still puddles on the ground. Chen Zi'an didn't rush to leave.
Instead, he practiced a set of military boxing in the yard, which made Su Xiaotian's eyes sparkle.
In her previous life, she had also seen people practice military boxing, but compared to Chen Zi'an, it was like mere showmanship, completely unwatchable.
After finishing his military boxing, Chen Zi'an wiped the glistening sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and found that the little girl from the Su family was staring at him.
Remembering his uncle's praise for her last night, a smile involuntarily spread across his face.
"Little girl, can you understand it?"
Su Xiaotian nodded first, then shook her head, making Chen Zi'an chuckle.
"You little girl, can you understand it or not?"
"I don't understand," Su Xiaotian nodded honestly.
Chen Zi'an asked, "Do you want to learn?"
He wondered if this little girl was truly as intelligent as her uncle praised.
"Yes!" Su Xiaotian thought for a moment and said solemnly, "But I don't have the opportunity to learn."
"I'll teach you, but we only have an hour. How much you learn depends on yourself," Chen Zi'an said with rare patience.
He didn't know why he was so fond of this little girl. Perhaps it was because he was in middle age and didn't have a child yet?
At thirty-two, it was time to find a wife, start a family, and have children!
Su Xiaotian had no idea that she had sparked Chen Zi'an's desire to start a family.
Since it was a rare opportunity to learn military boxing, Su Xiaotian naturally wouldn't miss it.
A moment later, the little girl diligently followed Chen Zi'an to learn military boxing.
These moves were actually quite difficult for the little girl, but she learned them very seriously.
Even though she was clearly exhausted, she persisted.
Chen Zi'an was also very surprised by the perseverance of a seven-year-old girl.
No wonder she received special attention from her uncle. He had to admit that among the children he had met, Su Xiaotian was definitely outstanding.
At the same time, he noticed that the other boys in the Su family were reading early in the morning, not reciting quotations, but truly studying with great seriousness and effort.
In recent years, schools had been mostly closed. Even when they were open, what could be learned was limited. Most of the time, those who considered themselves at the forefront of the times were causing trouble, all sorts of trouble.
But the Su family's children could study so quietly, which was truly rare.
During the meal, Chen Zi'an said with deep emotion, "Uncle Su, you are truly good at teaching children. These children are all very good!"
These words were sincere praise.
Grandpa Su felt a little embarrassed, his old, ruddy face turning red.
His children were just average. Only his precious darling was slightly better.
By the time Chen Zi'an left, it was almost noon.
As Chen Zi'an got into the jeep surrounded by the Su family, most of the villagers came out to watch the excitement.
The jeep rumbled away. The people of the Red Heart Brigade knew that the old Su family was no longer the same. They were now receiving care from a high-ranking official from the county, and their future days would be much better.
Moreover, it was rumored that this high-ranking official from the county had been arranged by a certain high-ranking official from the province to take care of the old Su family.
What they envied and were most jealous of was that the Su family had also received a lot of supplies. So much grain and meat were enough for the family to live comfortably for a while.
Among them, Liu Xiuying was the most jealous.
She stared in the direction of the old Su family, wishing she could pounce on them immediately and snatch all the meat to her own home.
However, she had suffered losses at Grandma Su's hands several times recently and had learned her lesson. She didn't dare to go over proactively, lest she be dealt with by Grandma Su again.
Most people in the village shared Liu Xiuying's thoughts. Although they were envious and jealous, they didn't think about taking advantage of the Su family.
But precisely, someone didn't think this way. This person was none other than Su Manxiang, who felt she could outrun a horse on her face.
Su Manxiang heard from people going from the Red Heart Brigade to the town that her unremarkable maternal family had recently struck it rich, not only gaining the attention of county leaders but also receiving many supplies.
After settling her household affairs simply, she swaggered back to her maternal home.
Naturally, this visit to her maternal home was no different from previous ones. It was truly just a visit, without even bringing an egg.
Grandma Su's expression was extremely displeased when she saw her youngest daughter!
"Mom, I came to see you and Dad, why aren't you happy?" Su Manxiang sat firmly on a stool, watching her mother busy picking vegetables.
Grandma Su glanced at her but said nothing.
She was her biological daughter and knew her little schemes. She must have heard the news and come to make a fuss.
"Mom, since I've come all this way, can you make me something delicious for lunch?" Su Manxiang said casually, as if asking for a sip of water.
"If you want to eat something good, go back to your own home. Your husband is a staff member at the supply and marketing cooperative. What do you not have?"
Su Manxiang said with a distressed face, "Mom, it's easy for you to say. Although my husband is a staff member at the supply and marketing cooperative, he works alone and has to support a large family. The monthly grain is not enough to eat. Mom, think of me and your grandchildren and give me some grain."
"Don't you know the situation at home? Last year, when we finally got our grain ration, you took away a hundred jin in one go. We agreed that you would exchange it back after the New Year, but it's almost the New Year again, and I haven't seen a single strand of your grain."
Grandma Su was also very blunt, directly hitting Su Manxiang's sore spot.
Su Manxiang said sheepishly, "Mom, I also want to return the grain to you, but you know, the children at home are getting older day by day, and they eat more and more..."
"Then have your husband find a temporary job for you. What kind of life is it to just stay at home all day?" Grandma Su said dismissively.
She now felt that she was truly stupid. This daughter of hers was lazy, unwilling to work hard at a temporary job, and unwilling to work in the brigade to earn work points. She always cried poverty to her, and every time grain was distributed, she would take a portion.
She couldn't get back what she had given before, but in the future, she would definitely not give any more.
"Mom, I heard that the brigade will be distributing summer grain in a couple of days, and a high official from the city gave the family a lot of grain and meat. Give me some. Temporary jobs are not for humans to do. I can't stand that kind of hardship," Su Manxiang said disdainfully.
When Su Xiaotian, humming "The Sun is the Reddest, Chairman Mao is the Closest," skipped home, the first thing she saw was Su Manxiang sitting on a small stool in the yard. Her originally bright smile instantly disappeared.
This aunt never brought anything good when she came. She really didn't know how, with everyone in the family being so good, such a thing came along.
Her little aunt was completely unlike her father and brothers. It was as if they weren't born of the same mother. Could this be the legendary good bamboo producing bad shoots? Had there been a genetic mutation?
Su Xiaotian disliked Su Manxiang, and Su Manxiang also disliked Su Xiaotian. The moment she saw Su Xiaotian, Su Manxiang's face grew even colder.
"She's already such a big child, and she's so unstable. What kind of behavior is that? Mom, I'm not saying anything, but this girl has too little discipline. Look at my Meihua, she's about the same age but much more sensible. I don't know what you and Dad are thinking, doting on this little girl like a treasure!"
Su Manxiang's rapid-fire words made Grandma Su, who was already dissatisfied with her daughter, look at her even more unfavorably.
"You should hurry home. When your father comes back, he'll definitely throw you out of the house!" Grandma Su put the picked vegetables into a porcelain basin and walked towards the kitchen.
Su Manxiang became even more angry at Grandma Su's words. She glared fiercely at Su Xiaotian, blaming this damned girl. If it weren't for this damned girl, her father and mother would definitely favor her the most.
Su Xiaotian was speechless. "Auntie, if you have nothing else to do, please go back quickly. Our village cannot entertain distinguished guests like you!"
After speaking, Su Xiaotian stuck out her tongue at Su Manxiang and made a face.
Su Manxiang was so angry that she took off her shoe from her foot, held it in her hand, and rushed towards Su Xiaotian barefoot, intending to hit Su Xiaotian with the sole of her shoe.
As Su Manxiang rushed over, Su Xiaotian ran away, letting out a piercing scream.
"Grandma, help! Auntie is going to beat me to death! Grandma, help!"
Grandma Su came out of the kitchen with a firewood stick and saw Su Manxiang chasing Su Xiaotian around the yard, almost infuriating her to death.
She was really getting worse with age, actually laying hands on a child.
"Su Manxiang, stop! If you dare to hit my Tiantian, I'll beat you to death!" Grandma Su had reached her limit with Su Manxiang, her voice filled with intense anger.
Su Manxiang heard that her mother was truly angry. She was so angry that she threw her shoe on the ground and stomped her foot, saying, "Mom, this damned girl needs to be taught a lesson. If you keep doting on her, she'll become lawless!"
"Grandma, I'm scared. I don't want to see Auntie!" Su Xiaotian immediately rushed over and threw herself into Grandma Su's arms, sobbing.
Her performance was like that of a child.
However, having lived a second life, even if she wasn't smart, she knew that Su Manxiang had come to the house to snatch grain. She didn't want to give the family's grain to this bad person Su Manxiang for nothing.
As expected, when Grandma Su heard Su Xiaotian's words, she immediately waved at Su Manxiang and said, "Hurry up and get back to town! If you scare my precious darling, I'll deal with you!"
"Mom, I'm your biological daughter!" Su Manxiang was almost driven mad.
"I wish I had never given birth to you. It would have been better to give birth to a winter melon, which could at least be used as food!" Grandma Su said mercilessly.
"I'm going to find my mother!" Su Xiaotian continued to stir up trouble and was about to rush out of the house.
Grandma Su was startled and quickly pulled Su Xiaotian back, saying, "Don't go find your mother. Grandma will handle this for you!"
If her third daughter-in-law came back and saw Su Manxiang bullying Xiaotian again, she would probably get into a fight with Su Manxiang immediately.
This unfilial daughter should be sent back as soon as possible so as not to be an eyesore.
"You'd better leave. If your third sister-in-law comes back and sees you like this, she'll scratch your face!" Grandma Su said helplessly. "Don't even think about the grain at home. Your children are growing up and eating more. Why didn't you consider that your nephews are also growing up?"
"How can they be the same? My children are in the city..." At this point, Su Manxiang suddenly realized that she had said this. Wasn't this adding fuel to the fire?
But the words had already been spoken, and it was too late to take them back.
"Mom, I didn't mean anything else, I just thought..."
"Auntie, I know. My cousin always says that you city people should look down on us country bumpkins," Su Xiaotian added fuel to the fire opportunely.
As expected, Grandma Su's expression became even more displeased. She had always known that her youngest daughter looked down on them country folk, but why should she eat their family's grain and still bully her family's treasure?
"You can leave. Don't come here again unless you have something important. If you have the heart, come and see us during the holidays, and if not, then forget it!" Grandma Su said wearily.
Su Manxiang was unwilling to leave, but she couldn't help it. She heard the voices of her three sisters-in-law, especially Liang Xiu's.
"Grandma, Mom is back!" Su Xiaotian said, trying to break free from Grandma Su's hand and rush out, but Grandma Su held her back tightly.
"Aren't you going to get lost?" Grandma Su yelled at Su Manxiang.
Su Manxiang was scared. She had been beaten by her third sister-in-law last time, and her body still hurt after many days. She didn't want to be beaten again.
Su Manxiang fled in a panic.
"Grandma, can we eat meat for lunch?" Su Xiaotian looked like a little glutton, dispelling all the gloom on Grandma Su's face.
"You little glutton, Grandma picked four eggs this morning. Combined with yesterday's, I'll make you scrambled eggs with chives. We won't have meat."
Su Xiaotian nodded immediately. She didn't particularly want to eat meat; she just didn't want to see Grandma Su worried.
However, for some reason, Su Xiaotian felt like she had forgotten something very important. What was it? Why couldn't she remember?
Since she couldn't remember, Su Xiaotian didn't dwell on it. With this time, she might as well read more books.
There are thousands of grains in books. As long as she studies hard, the family's life will improve.
After eating, Su Xiaotian took her brother's books and went to find Chi Yiyuan.
This was a task assigned by Chen Zi'an, asking her to deliver junior high school books to Chi Yiyuan when she had time.
Although she knew that Chi Ge could teach Chi Yiyuan and would teach him very well, Chen Zi'an still felt that as a teenager, systematic learning of textbooks was very important.
In the future, if there was an opportunity to go to college, those who had systematically studied textbooks would have a greater chance!
When she saw Chi Yiyuan in the cowshed, the young man had just finished eating.
Compared to two months ago, the thin young man had gained a little weight, making him look much more pleasant.
Indeed, children should look good with some flesh on them, like her chubby cheeks!
"Brother Yiyuan, these are my brother's books. Take them and have a look!" Su Xiaotian stated her purpose directly.
Chi Yiyuan was stunned. Why would she bring him textbooks?
There were no books in the cowshed, but he insisted on studying every day, and his grandfather had been teaching him diligently. Su Xiaotian knew this.
"Xiaotian, I can't keep these books at home!" Chi Yiyuan hesitated and said.
"You look at them first. Tonight, you can put them in that small pit over there, and I'll pick them up when I pass by," Su Xiaotian said to Chi Yiyuan with a sweet smile, revealing the place she had already scouted.
Chi Yiyuan couldn't help but smile. Although Xiaotian was young, she was very thoughtful in her actions, completely different from what he had imagined.
"Brother Yiyuan, you don't need to thank me. I'm just fulfilling a request!" Su Xiaotian was very lively, and her smile was very infectious.
The slight gloom on Chi Yiyuan's face gradually receded because of Su Xiaotian's smile.
Chi Ge, seeing the interaction between the two little ones from afar, did not come over to disturb them.
His grandson had been silent since the incident at home and his arrival at the Red Heart Brigade.
Over the years, following his old self, he basically didn't know how to interact with his peers. It was difficult for the Su family's children to treat him with a normal mindset, especially Xiaotian.
Chi Yiyuan understood from Su Xiaotian's words, "fulfilling a request," that this must have been done by the suddenly appearing uncle at Su Xiaotian's request.
Why did all the adults believe that sooner or later, the fog would dissipate, and the sun would shine through?
"Brother Yiyuan, I'll secretly put the books there every morning from now on. You can just go and get them," Su Xiaotian said, thinking that her family had already been reported once, so she had to be careful.
Chi Yiyuan nodded, "Xiaotian, even though you're fulfilling a request, I still want to thank you!"
He didn't know why he still insisted on saying thank you, but he just felt that he should.
"Brother Yiyuan, the day after tomorrow is the weekend. We can go to the mountain together! I know there are many delicious wild fruits on the mountain," the little girl said confidently.
If Xiao Jiu were here, he would definitely say, "It's not that you know many delicious wild fruits, it's that the wild fruit trees specifically run to you to be picked!"
Chi Yiyuan suddenly seemed to recall something. He hugged the books and hurried into the house. Soon, he came out holding a peach.
"Wow, a peach!" Su Xiaotian exclaimed in surprise, her tone a bit exaggerated.
It was already the eighth month of the lunar calendar, how could there still be peaches? She hadn't even seen any on the mountain.
"I stumbled upon it by chance. There were only three peaches on that tree. This one is ripe, and the other two need a few more days to grow. I'll pick them for you in a few days," Chi Yiyuan said, not realizing that his eyes were filled with doting.
Su Xiaotian didn't stand on ceremony. After receiving the peach, she nodded solemnly, "I like eating peaches the most. But, Brother Yiyuan, you should eat them too. Eating peaches is good for your health!"
Chi Yiyuan chuckled. This little girl always said that anything edible was good for health.
But after chuckling, he felt that Xiaotian had a point. Aren't all foods good for health?