An hour later, as Su Xiaotian was dozing off, they arrived at Nanling Village.
The two of them got off the bus, carrying large bags and packages.
There was someone at the village entrance, and Su Xiaotian recognized her – it was Granny Chang.
Years had passed, and Granny Chang's clothes were no longer as tattered as they were a few years ago. Although not new, they didn't have many patches.
Moreover, Su Xiaotian felt that Granny Chang's face had less of its usual harshness, and she seemed much more amiable.
Upon seeing Su Xiaotian, Granny Chang blinked her eyes rapidly before exclaiming in surprise, "Xiaotian? Oh, it's Xiaotian, the child is back. I thought I was mistaken, but it's really you."
Granny Chang was a typical example of preferring sons over daughters in the village. For many years, she had envied the Su family for having so many sons.
She doted on boys and was very displeased that the Su family treated Su Xiaotian like a treasure.
She often said that Grandma Su was blinded by greed and doted on her "money-losing" granddaughter excessively.
For this reason, she had gotten into several fights with Grandma Su.
However, in the past few years, as her granddaughters gradually started earning money and the family's life improved, she had changed a lot.
Her joy upon seeing Su Xiaotian was genuine.
"Hello, Grandma Chang!"
Su Xiaotian didn't dwell on past grievances. Since Granny Chang was being warm to her now, she greeted her as she would any elder.
"Oh, it's different being in the city. Look at Xiaotian, she's getting more beautiful."
Granny Chang scrutinized Su Xiaotian from head to toe, feeling that this girl was truly extraordinary, far more outstanding than her own granddaughters.
It was no wonder that old woman Su preferred this granddaughter over her grandsons. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Grandma Chang, I need to go to Uncle Changjiu's house."
While she could be polite, Su Xiaotian didn't truly like Granny Chang and had no intention of chatting further, so she spoke directly.
Granny Chang retreated to the side with a sheepish smile and said, "I just saw the village chief returning from the fields. If you go now, you're sure to find him."
After thanking her, Su Xiaotian, with Teacher Xie Nan, headed towards Su Changjiu's house.
Granny Chang watched Su Xiaotian walk far away, still calling out loudly, "Xiaotian, when you go back, come by my house before you leave."
"I know, Grandma Chang!" Su Xiaotian replied, already walking away.
Someone nearby who overheard the conversation smiled and asked Granny Chang, "Didn't you always have disagreements with the Su family? Why are you asking their granddaughter to come to your house?"
Granny Chang glared at the person and said, "People should be grateful, shouldn't they? If it weren't for the Su family's help in our village, would our lives be better than other villages? Not to mention that the Su family now buys our handicrafts, even the seeds we use were researched by this child Su Xiaotian and Teacher Shen earlier. Otherwise, would you young ones have enough to eat?"
The person, after being rebuffed by Granny Chang, dared not speak further.
The village chief had returned and said that the Su family was now very influential in the capital and could even speak with high-ranking leaders.
In the future, if people in this village wanted to live a good life, wouldn't they have to rely on the Su family?
Granny Chang ignored the tactless young man and stared enviously at Su Xiaotian.
She had many granddaughters, but why wasn't a single one comparable to this girl?
Look at her, a fair-skinned university student, who looked so different from the villagers.
At this moment, Granny Chang completely forgot that the reason the Chang family had no university students was because she believed girls didn't need to study.
The few children in the Chang family had only attended basic literacy classes, recognizing a few characters and being able to write their names.
Su Changjiu's house was not too far from the village entrance. After walking for about five or six minutes, they arrived at the entrance of Su Changjiu's house.
Teacher Xie Nan, however, hesitated.
She didn't know what the situation would be like after entering. What if...
"Teacher Xie, this is it. Sister Xiaocao lived in this house for over twenty years. Don't you want to go in and see?" Su Xiaotian merely asked.
Su Xiaotian's consistent belief was that she should never make decisions for anyone else. Whether it was Su Xiaocao or Teacher Xie, the path they would take in the future was ultimately their own to decide.
"Xiaotian, I'm a little scared!"
Xie Nan placed the bags and packages in her hands on the ground and held Su Xiaotian's fair and tender small hand.
"Teacher Xie, there's nothing to be afraid of. There are only two possible outcomes!" Su Xiaotian comforted her.
Xie Nan felt dazed at that moment. Through the open wooden gate of Su Changjiu's house, Xie Nan could see a couple sitting face to face under the large pear tree in the courtyard.
Under the large pear tree, there was a wooden table with simple dishes. However, it was evident that the couple's smiles were very sincere.
"Uncle Changjiu!"
Hearing Su Xiaotian call out "Uncle Changjiu," Su Changjiu thought he had misheard.
"Old woman, did I just hear Xiaotian's voice?" Su Changjiu asked his wife, who was sitting opposite him, with confusion.
Su Changjiu's wife had indeed heard someone call out "Uncle Changjiu," and it seemed to be Xiaotian's voice.
But shouldn't Xiaotian be in the capital? How did she end up in the village?
"Uncle Changjiu, Auntie, I'm here!"
At this, both husband and wife were certain it wasn't an auditory hallucination, but that Su Xiaotian had truly arrived.
The couple quickly put down their bowls and chopsticks and stood up.
"Xiaotian, why have you come back to the village instead of going to school?" Su Changjiu asked Su Xiaotian with confusion.
It was still a long time before the summer vacation.
Were students nowadays this free?
"Uncle Changjiu, this is Teacher Xie Nan, my university teacher. She had something to do in this area, so I came along," Su Xiaotian said with a smile, introducing Xie Nan to Su Changjiu.
"Hello, Teacher Xie."
Su Changjiu promptly greeted her, intending to shake Teacher Xie's hand, but then seemed to recall something and withdrew his raised hand.
The person before him was a university teacher, an intellectual.
He couldn't be presumptuous towards her.
"Hello, may I come in?"
Teacher Xie Nan said with a dry tone.
She wanted her tone to be more natural, but she clearly couldn't manage it.
Su Changjiu's wife also came over. She didn't know Xie Nan, but she didn't feel any aversion to the person Su Xiaotian brought.
"Teacher Xie, please come in."
She repeatedly invited Teacher Xie Nan to enter and found a clean small stool to place under the large pear tree, inviting Teacher Xie Nan and Su Xiaotian to sit.
"Xiaotian, you must be tired from the journey. Have you eaten? What do you want to eat? Auntie will cook for you."
Su Xiaotian glanced at the table. There was a plate of cold mixed eggplant and a thick soup made from a mixture of corn flour and white flour. It was the most ordinary farm meal, looking somewhat bland.
It seemed that the villagers' lives were still not very good, as even the village chief couldn't eat pure white flour.