Grandma Su proudly displayed everything she had bought for Su Manxiu, feeling delighted.
Looking at the dazzling array of items, Grandma Su was content.
Life was truly living when it was good!
Before, it wasn't living, it was enduring!
Everyone in the family actually found it quite strange. Their lives hadn't been this good before.
How did they suddenly get better?
But everything seemed normal. The money and coupons should have come from legitimate sources, but when did their old Su family suddenly have so much money and coupons?
Wang Xianghua looked at the items on the kang, then glanced at her own foolish son.
This child was getting older, and in a few more years, he could get engaged.
Her mother-in-law had said that when this child, Shou Wen, got married, she would definitely prepare a generous betrothal gift for him.
She just didn't know if the gold and silver jewelry at home could be brought out then. If they could, that would be truly respectable.
Qi Liangying and Liang Xiu had similar thoughts, but their children were even younger, so they didn't have the same urgency as Wang Xianghua.
"Our family's life is truly good now. We are doing well, and so is your big sister!" Grandma Su said, tidying the items on the kang, "We must know how to be grateful!"
Just as the family thought Grandma Su was about to say many things about being grateful to the country, they heard Grandma Su say, "The reason our family can live a good life is all thanks to Little Sweetheart's good fortune!"
What?
To thank Little Sweetheart's good fortune for their family living a good life?
Alright, good fortune it is!
But this was just a thought to be kept in mind. If spoken aloud, it might cause trouble again.
"Mother, you mustn't say this outside. The reason we can live a good life is thanks to encountering good times and good leaders," Elder Su said quickly.
"Don't I know that? I'm just saying it casually since there's no one else around."
Grandma Su gave Elder Su a disdainful look.
Foolish, he didn't know at all that the reason their family could live a good life was all thanks to the Dragon King looking after Little Sweetheart.
Forget it, these things couldn't be said, not to anyone.
"I just remembered, I need to find all the quilts Little Sweetheart used to use and the clothes she wore, for Manxiu to use," Grandma Su suddenly exclaimed again.
The Su family was used to this and didn't show any extra expression.
However, Elder Su San suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "You all don't know, but Little Sweetheart is getting more and more amusing."
Liang Xiu was about to ask what funny thing her daughter had done again when she heard Grandpa Su had already asked.
"What funny thing did Little Sweetheart say?"
His eyes were filled with laughter. This child was so wise for her age. Although she was just a little doll, she always spoke with a serious demeanor as if she were an adult, which was indeed amusing.
"She told Manxiu that it's good for a mother to be literate for the baby in her womb. She also said she wants a smart and clever little brother! And that Manxiu should study and become literate with Zi'an in the future!"
Elder Su San, remembering his daughter's serious expression and his big sister's dumbfounded look, couldn't help but laugh.
Grandma Su also chuckled, "Little Sweetheart is obsessed. She tells everyone to study."
"Studying is good. Why don't you read some books when you have time, old woman?"
Grandma Su shook her head like a rattle, saying, "I'm already this old, how can I still read? Don't tease me."
"The country is also promoting literacy. Women your age should also go to learn to read," Grandpa Su said, puffing on his pipe.
Although the schools were chaotic now, the literacy classes were always held.
It was also because of this that the few members of the Su family learning to read didn't attract attention.
Grandma Su looked at the others in the family and said cautiously, "Or, I'll study too? Will Little Sweetheart be my little teacher?"
"Grandma, I'll teach you well from now on. If you don't study hard, I'll punish you!" Su Xiaotian immediately said, surprised to hear Grandma Su actively wanting to study.
Everyone couldn't help but laugh heartily.
After the laughter, Elder Su San suddenly remembered that Su Xiaotian had seen Su Xiaoqin and mentioned it.
The originally harmonious atmosphere suddenly froze.
"Really? She's just a girl, how is she living in the city?" Wang Xianghua asked in surprise.
Elder Su San shook his head, "I didn't see her either, Little Sweetheart did."
Su Xiaotian quickly said, "I saw her twice, I definitely wouldn't mistake her."
Su Xiaotian didn't understand why Su Xiaoqin had suddenly gone to the county town and was doing well.
Just like Su Manxiu wasn't dead and was pregnant, Su Xiaoqin going to the county town was also an accident. These were things that hadn't happened in her previous life.
Grandpa Su smoked two pipes in a row without saying a word, and finally, all he left everyone with was a heavy sigh.
Although the relationship with the Su family's second branch was not good, Grandma Su still sent someone to pass the news to Liu Xiuying.
After hearing the news, Liu Xiuying did not intend to bring Su Xiaoqin back.
"That damned girl, she's been gone for so long, I already considered her dead!"
When Liang Xiu heard Liu Xiuying say this, she understood.
She initially wanted to persuade her, but then thought this was someone else's business, why bother with so much?
Liang Xiu didn't waste time at the Su family's second branch and went to Su Taohua's house.
She had brought brown sugar for Su Taohua. In the past few days, she had noticed Su Taohua's complexion wasn't good, as if she was suffering from qi and blood deficiency.
Su Taohua was lying on the kang at home. Because Liang Xiu entered, she struggled to sit up.
"Sister Taohua, why are you like this? If you're sick, you should see a doctor, you can't just endure it."
Su Taohua forced a smile, her face pale, and said, "It's nothing serious, I'll be fine after lying down for a few days."
"Where is Accountant Li? Why don't I see him? It's already noon, why does it look like there's no smoke from cooking at home?" Liang Xiu looked around and saw the cold stove and hearth, so she asked.
A hint of sadness flashed across Su Taohua's face, but it quickly disappeared.
"The children went to my sister's house, and he's not home because he has something to do."
Seeing that Su Taohua didn't want to talk about it, Liang Xiu didn't ask further.
"Sister Taohua, I brought you some brown sugar. I'll go and boil some hot water to dissolve it for you."
Liang Xiu went into Su Taohua's kitchen as if she were familiar with the place. Su Taohua wanted to stop her but didn't have time.
Looking at Liang Xiu's back, Su Taohua clenched her hands tightly, her fingertips turning white.
Soon, Liang Xiu came in with a bowl of brown sugar and eggs.
"Sister Taohua, I saw there were eggs, so I made you a bowl. Eat it while it's hot and get some good rest," Liang Xiu said, placing the steaming brown sugar and eggs in front of Su Taohua.
Su Taohua smiled with a pale face, "You've troubled me again. The children aren't here, and I'm too lazy to cook for myself."
"City people have thermoses. I heard they can keep hot water hot for a long time. In our countryside, I don't know when we'll be able to use thermoses. If we had a thermos, I could boil more water for you."
"It's nothing. I'll boil it myself after I wake up," Su Taohua said, taking small sips of the hot brown sugar and eggs, and her whole person seemed to come back to life.
"Sister Taohua, you too, no matter what, you can't skip meals. The weather is so cold, if you don't eat something warm, how can you endure it?"
Liang Xiu subconsciously reached out and touched the kang under the quilt, only to find it was also cold.
"Sister Taohua, why haven't you filled the kang?" she asked in surprise.
Su Taohua said sheepishly, "I'm not feeling well, so I've been a bit lazy."
Liang Xiu quickly said, "You could have just sent me a message! I would have filled it for you when I came this morning. Sleeping on a warm kang is also comfortable."
Su Taohua said, "How could I bother you for help?"
Her tone was bitter. Her own husband was unreliable, so how could she have the face to ask others for help?
Liang Xiu didn't wait for her reply and quickly went to fill the kang.
Su Taohua's tears finally couldn't be held back and flowed down.
That man's heart had been stolen by that little vixen. As long as Kang Yiye, that woman, called out at their doorstep, "Accountant Li, I have something to tell you!"
That man would leave without even touching the ground.
He even fought with her for that woman.
It was because of the couple's fight that her baby was lost, and her body was severely damaged.
But that man had been staying at the village entrance these past few days, not even coming back to look at her.
What was the difference between having such a man and not having him?
Su Taohua had been strong her whole life. She thought she could remain strong forever, but she didn't expect to be tricked by a little vixen.
However, when Liang Xiu returned to the room, Su Taohua's tears had long been wiped away, and her eyes held some determination.
The cowshed.
Su Xiaotian was carefully placing a few White Rabbit milk candies given to her by Chen Zi'an into Chi Yiyuan's hand.
"Brother Yiyuan, these candies are for you!" the little girl said with smiling eyes.
The little girl's bright smile ignited hope in Chi Yiyuan's heart, and a smile involuntarily bloomed on his lips.
He didn't crave candy. Even the rare White Rabbit milk candy, he used to have as much as he wanted.
Thinking of his deceased sister, Chi Yiyuan looked at the few milk candies in his hand, and bitterness appeared at the corners of his mouth.
For a moment, with the small candies, he didn't know whether to accept them or not.
Having lived here for so long, he knew very well that let alone milk candy, even fruit candy was a rare item for people in the countryside.
Even though Su Xiaotian was favored in the old Su family, she couldn't possibly have many White Rabbit milk candies.
However, she was willing to share the rare delicacy with him.
"Xiaotian, these are your candies," Chi Yiyuan said with a hoarse voice.
"Uncle said these candies are good for the body. Brother Yiyuan, you're too thin, so I brought them to you!" Su Xiaotian said matter-of-factly.
Chi Yiyuan subconsciously looked at his arms and legs...
They were a bit slender.
Only skin wrapped around bones, not much flesh.
The little bit of flesh on his body had only grown in the past few months, and it could be said that he was raised by the old Su family.
He was already relying on the old Su family for food and drink, so he couldn't also eat the little girl's candy.
"Xiaotian, eat the candy yourself. Brother doesn't eat it!" He pushed the candies in his hand back into Su Xiaotian's small pocket.
Su Xiaotian quickly tried to take the candy out of her pocket again, but Chi Yiyuan stopped her.
"Brother doesn't like candy, it's too sweet. Besides, I can eat enough now and will gain weight soon," Chi Yiyuan said to the little girl with a doting smile.
Su Xiaotian seemed to not understand why anyone would dislike candy.
This was not the era of everyone consuming high sugar like in later generations, and White Rabbit milk candy was even a luxury.
"Brother, eat two pieces, and you eat the rest yourself." Su Xiaotian finally made a decision and resolutely took out two White Rabbit milk candies from her pocket, placing them in Chi Yiyuan's hand without room for refusal.
The milk candy at this time truly contained milk. Eating two pieces would be beneficial for Chi Yiyuan's body.
Chi Yiyuan couldn't help but reach out and stroke the little girl's smooth hair.
Chi Ge watched the two little ones talking intimately and couldn't help but smile.
"Old Chi, what are you smiling about?"
"Living together in harmony, childhood sweethearts with no suspicion!"
Chi Ge gestured to the two little children talking in the distance, his eyes and brows filled with smiles.
"Indeed, childhood sweethearts!" Du Tonghe said with a laugh.
"It's not easy for the little girl to make Little Yuan like her!"
They, as elders, all knew how cold-hearted Chi Yiyuan was.
Especially after his own sister was killed right in front of him, Chi Yiyuan became even colder.
But he was smiling at Su Xiaotian, which showed that he truly regarded the little girl as family.
"Old Du, if I'm no longer here, will you take care of Little Yuan for me!"
Chi Ge suddenly said.
Du Tonghe was greatly surprised, "Old Du, is your health deteriorating again? If it's really bad, let's find a way to treat it!"
Without any reason, suddenly entrusting his grandson, there must be a problem.
"It's nothing. It's just that I've been dreaming about some people and things lately, and I feel like my time might be near," Chi Ge said. "Everyone has their day!"
"No, our good days are just around the corner. You can't have such a pessimistic thought."
Du Tonghe's tone was anxious, but he didn't see any vitality in his old friend's eyes.
"I'm telling you, Old Chi, if you die, I won't take care of Little Yuan. He's your grandson, not mine."
Neither of them knew that their conversation was overheard by Su Xiaotian.
Su Xiaotian had very good hearing and eyesight, so even though they were some distance away, she heard them clearly.
Is Grandpa Chi sick?
If Grandpa Chi is sick, then we need to find a way to get Grandpa Chi to see a doctor.
This matter would require asking Uncle for help.
Also, she could ask Doctor Li to help with pulse diagnosis. If Doctor Li could diagnose it clearly, she might have other methods.
At this moment, Su Xiaotian felt truly incompetent. Even though she had read many books, she hadn't been able to significantly change the lives of her family and those around her.
No, she couldn't continue like this.
But in the current environment, what could she do?
Could she make Hongxin Brigade rich first?
As a thought flashed through her mind, Su Xiaotian suddenly heard Anna's long-lost voice.
"Congratulations to the host for unlocking the side quest: The Road to Prosperity!"
The Road to Prosperity?
This time, it wasn't asking her to study, or to have her family study?
The Road to Prosperity!
This is good.