Chapter 225: Chapter 217: Happiness
Jianguo has also changed a lot over the years, not only has he grown a lot taller, but he has also become more confident and resolute. He and his two younger brothers have made a fair amount of money in the past two years, earning two to three hundred yuan a year by selling bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, tea, and medicinal herbs collected from the mountains, all handled by He Xuewen.
Of course, this is because He Xuewen doesn’t take any cut from the earnings, something Jianguo is well-aware of and grateful for. He intends to repay this kindness when he achieves something in the future.
Therefore, besides paying for his own and Weiguo’s school fees, Jianguo manages to save quite a bit each year. So far, he has nearly six hundred yuan, which he keeps with Granny Zhao. Even Tian Manlan doesn’t know he has such a large sum of money, let alone Shou Jizu.
Weiguo is now nine years old and is in the second grade at Huangkeng Village Elementary School. He also studies at home like Jianguo. Initially, Jianguo didn’t agree with this, but seeing that his brother learned effortlessly and even more easily than him, he agreed. It must be said, Tian Manlan’s three sons are all extremely intelligent geniuses.
Little Baoguo has also grown up to be a little adult. At six years old, Baoguo, much like his older brothers, is very sensible. However, as he grew older, Baoguo was no longer as adorable as when he was younger, and although he was still very close to Tian Sisi, he no longer let her pinch his chubby cheeks.
This lifetime, the three brothers have all overcome the inferiority, sensitivity, and frailty of their past lives. Each one is healthy, cheerful, confident, and strong; Tian Sisi believed that they would definitely go further and steadier than in their previous lives!
After lunch, Tian Xinhua and Tian Sisi went back home. Before leaving, Tian Xinhua specially prepared a red envelope for Tian Manlan as a gift for the little brother’s full-month celebration, as he was sure he wouldn’t be home during the child’s celebration.
Tian Manlan really didn’t want to accept her nephew’s money and strongly refused. However, as always, she couldn’t win against Tian Xinhua. Additionally, under Mr. Yun’s tutelage over the past three years, Tian Xinhua’s presence has become more imposing which subtly convinces people. It didn’t take long before the red envelope ended up in Tian Manlan’s pocket.
After dropping Tian Sisi home, Tian Xinhua went to his own house. Seeing that there were many people at home, Tian Sisi didn’t enter and went directly to the He Family instead, mainly to avoid encountering Xu Qianwen and her daughter, to save herself from getting upset without a chance to retort.
He Xuewen had already returned home, and he brought along Niu Sanxian, the chubby uncle, who still looked the same, neither aging nor slimming down, always wearing a cheerful smile as if there were no troubles in his life.
In the last three years, Niu Sanxian frequently visited the He Family to drink and have meals, thanks to the close ties with He Xuewen. He Xuewen also took Tian Sisi to small restaurants in town to enjoy meals, while also bringing back take-out for the elders. Of course, they brought their own ingredients, and over the years, Tian Sisi not only tasted all the Hangzhou cuisine but also learned several signature dishes from Niu Sanxian.
The chubby girl, Niu Guiyuan, is no longer chubby having slimmed down after much effort. Though still voluptuous, she has become a beautiful woman, and in this era, women with her curvaceous figure are highly favored by matchmakers.
According to Niu Sanxian, during that period, matchmakers nearly broke down the Niu family’s door. Both he and Guiyuan’s mother were overwhelmed by the choices until Mr. Niu, the Old Man, finally decided to betroth Guiyuan to a young man from Wangjiazhen, who is also a driver and works in the same transport team as Tian Mantong, living in the town with a very stable family background.
Niu Guiyuan was married in the first half of last year and is already six months pregnant. Niu Sanxian, doting on his daughter, only lets her sit at the restaurant without having to work, still drawing her salary, since he is the boss of the restaurant.
After getting married, Niu Guiyuan became much gentler; life must be fulfilling, happiness is written all over her face. She doesn’t turn her face away when she sees He Xuewen like before, and is especially warm towards Tian Sisi, always taking out some pastries for her to eat.
Tian Sisi greeted Niu Sanxian and upon seeing a basket of spring rolls on the stone table in the courtyard, she knew they must have been brought by Niu Sanxian, as she loved the spring rolls made by the Niu family. Every year around New Year, Niu Sanxian would make a basket and bring them over for Tian Sisi to enjoy a feast.
"Uncle Niu, come have a couple of drinks with my Daddy tonight!"
"No, I have to go back to town. Your Sister Guiyuan is heavily pregnant, and it’s inconvenient for her, I need to go back to the store and tidy things up. I’ll come another time to drink with your Daddy."
Although Niu Sanxian wanted to stay and drink, his daughter was his priority now; oh, he just looks forward to Guiyuan quickly giving birth to that precious little one so he can go back to his relaxed and carefree days!
Niu Sanxian, carrying two jars of wine and the meat and fish given by Tian Sisi, headed back to town. Before leaving, he invited He Xuewen and his daughter to come to his house during the first lunar month for a meal and drinks, planning a good time drinking together.
Tian Sisi happily picked up a basket of spring rolls, planning to take them back to Granny Zhao at the Tian family. The spring rolls were raw and needed to be fried before eating. Freshly fried, they were crispy and aromatic, incredibly delicious.
These days, He Xuewen had been dining at the Tian family, and so had Tang Tieshan and Zhang Mingliu. Initially, they planned to cook at the He family by themselves; of course, they couldn’t actually cook. Ever since He Chengsi left, the meals at the He family were prepared by Tang Qiubai and Tian Sisi, and everyone was quite satisfied.
This time, due to the New Year, the Old Man wanted everyone to gather for a festive meal together, inviting his old comrades and He Xuewen over, sparing them the trouble of cooking. He Xuewen didn’t mind, as he had eaten at the Tian family countless times. Besides, he didn’t want Ah Nan to spend all her time in the kitchen roughening her hands.
Tang Tieshan and Zhang Mingliu had no objections either. Initially, they were worried that being too close to the Tian family might bring them troubles, but as three peaceful years went by, they gradually felt secure and interacted with the Tian family openly and closely, just like family, and the Tian family also got used to this.
Tian Sisi was craving spring rolls and begged Granny Zhao to fry her some. In the Tian family kitchen, Granny Zhao wouldn’t allow Tian Sisi to fry things herself, fearing the splashing oil might ruin her tender skin.
Granny Zhao put down the fruit she was handling, smiled, and tapped Tian Sisi’s forehead before going to fry the spring rolls. With the fire already burning in the stove, she just needed to heat some oil and fry them; Granny Zhao was swift and soon fried about twenty golden, crispy spring rolls.
Tian Sisi didn’t eat them immediately, first letting Granny Zhao and Zhu Aiqing try, then she ran out to offer some to the Old Man, Tian Aiguo, and others. After making the rounds, there were only a few left in the bowl. Tian Sisi then sat down on a small stool in the courtyard and slowly enjoyed them.
"Tian Zhaodi, what are you doing? Oh, enjoying the feast all by yourself secretly!"
Seeing Tian Sisi enjoying a plate of fragrantly sizzling golden spring rolls, Tian Lili felt a surge of jealousy and rushed over to confront her.