Transmigrated as My Aunt in the 70s
Chapter 41 Giving you no face

Chapter 41: 41 Giving you no face

The following day was the 21st day of the first lunar month, which corresponded to March 6th on the solar calendar. Yesterday was Jingzhe; the whole village was busily spinning round and round. Both Tian Xinhua and Tian Qinghua had also gone out to help in the fields. Tian Sisi felt uncomfortable bringing up the subject of brewing liquor with Tian Xinhua. She had been helping Jianguo gather firewood and chop pigweed over these past few days. Although she mostly added to the chaos, she was nevertheless happily occupied. Zhu Aiqing was quite pleased with this; it seemed that Jianguo’s stay here was beneficial after all since it got Ah Nan to start working as well.

A light rain had fallen the previous evening, leaving the ground muddy. Tian Sisi had no desire to go out and play, so she listlessly sat in her room with Qinghua, "flipping fields," which entailed taking a long string, knotting it, and then using both hands to create patterns that somewhat resembled fields, hence the name. Another person could take over and flip the string with both hands to create other patterns. If done correctly, this could go on indefinitely. This game was generally beloved by young girls.

"Sister Sisi, there’s a girl outside looking for you." Weiguo, who had been weeding the vegetable garden, ran in clomping loudly to shout this news to Tian Sisi.

"Who is it?"

Brother Hua said her name is Zhong Yuying, and she’s not a good person," Weiguo faithfully relayed Tian Donghua’s very words.

Tian Sisi couldn’t help but laugh silently. Donghua really didn’t hold this Zhong Yuying in high regard, did he! But why would Zhong Yuying come to their house? Hmph, just like a weasel paying a New Year visit to the chicken - no good intentions. Surely she couldn’t sit still because she hadn’t managed to take advantage of Sisi by not showing up on her own initiative. She was really thick-skinned, thought Tian Sisi, smirking as she packed up the string and stood up to properly meet this mistress who had risen to prominence in her past life.

Zhong Yuying stood at the door of the Tian Family’s house with a stiff smile. Granny Zhao had gone to Tian Liu Jin’s house to make cloth shoes with Li Yuedi. The Tian Family had many mouths to feed, and they had to produce dozens of pairs of shoes each year, all painstakingly crafted by the two old women, with help from other ladies when they had free time. Although rubber shoes and leather shoes were sold at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, a pair of rubber shoes cost two to three yuan, equivalent to four to five jin (about 2 to 2.5 kg) of meat, and leather shoes were simply out of the question.

The Supply and Marketing Cooperative did have them for sale, but the shoes had been sitting out since before the New Year, now covered in a thick layer of dust, and nobody ever seemed to buy them. It was rumored that a pair cost more than ten yuan—a fortune that even the hardest earnings could hardly cover for a few pairs of leather shoes. And so, women in the countryside kept their hands busy when they had a spare moment, either knitting shoe soles or twisting hemp ropes.

Even though Granny Zhao could afford leather shoes, she felt that spending over ten yuan on an uncomfortable pair was not worthwhile, so she never bought any. At home, only the Old Man had a pair of cowhide shoes issued by the army back in the day, rarely worn throughout the year. Then there was Tian Sisi, whom Tian Mantong adored and would buy leather shoes for whenever the opportunity arose, despite Granny Zhao’s several objections; Tian Mantong continued his practice nonetheless.

Thus, after lunch today, Granny Zhao had headed to Li Yuedi’s to gossip and make shoes together; it was hardly dull for the sisters-in-law. Zhong Yuying took the opportunity to visit when she saw Granny Zhao leave, knowing that the one she feared most was Granny Zhao, who always greeted her with an unfriendly face and would not hesitate to scold her.

Tian Sisi lifted the door curtain, just in time to see Donghua staring coldly at Zhong Yuying. Zhong Yuying, feeling uneasy under Donghua’s gaze, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Tian Sisi come out. She smiled gently, saying softly, "Sisi... there are lots of mushrooms growing on the mountain, let’s go pick them together!"

Mushrooms? Aren’t they just wild mushrooms? This was a real delicacy, delicious whether fried or added to soup. How had she not thought of it herself? Now at the beginning of spring, as long as there had been a rainfall, the wild mushrooms would have sprung up. Tian Sisi was momentarily lost in thought at Zhong Yuying’s words, drifting off into a reverie.

Seeing Tian Sisi staring at her for a long time without responding, Zhong Yuying’s face stiffened as she called out, "Sisi, Sisi."

Tian Sisi finally snapped back to reality. Just now, from wild mushrooms, her thoughts had wandered to dumplings stuffed with mushroom filling, and then to many other mushroom dishes. Just thinking of the savory taste of mushrooms made her mouth water. Without hesitation, she shouted to Donghua and Jianguo, "Let’s go, let’s go up the mountain to pick mushrooms."

Donghua’s expression changed drastically. Was Sister going to reconcile with Zhong Yuying? Would Sister start giving all the good food to Zhong Yuying again, just like before? During this time, Tian Sisi had taken some biscuits or candies from the Space each day, removing the packaging before sharing them with her several brothers, endearing herself to Donghua, Qinghua, Jianguo, and the other brothers. But now, seeing Tian Sisi reconnecting with Zhong Yuying, Donghua’s heart instantly cooled.

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Zhong Yuying’s mouth as she tilted her head slightly, flashing a challenging smile at Donghua. This only irritated Donghua further made him wish that he could drive Zhong Yuying out of their home. But if Sister absolutely wanted to be friends with Zhong Yuying, he could do nothing; just like you can chase away the first day of the lunar month, but you can’t avoid the fifteenth.

Jianguo had run to grab baskets from the kitchen when Tian Sisi suggested going up the mountain to pick mushrooms. He came out with two baskets and, seeing Donghua still standing in place looking quite vexed, didn’t understand what was happening and simply stood there looking back and forth between Donghua and Tian Sisi.

Zhong Yuying said with a smile, "Sisi, I know where you can find some really big and delicious mushrooms. Let me take you there."

As she spoke, she reached out to grab Tian Sisi’s hand. Tian Sisi sidestepped slightly, then remembered the little viper in front of her that she had forgotten about. Her face turned stern, "Zhong Yuying, why haven’t you left yet?"

"....." Zhong Yuying was suddenly at a loss, "Sisi, didn’t we agree to go up the mountain together to pick mushrooms?"

"Who said I’d go pick mushrooms with you? I have so many brothers to accompany me. Besides, you love to take advantage of me. Who knows how much you’ll con out of me if we go up the mountain together? I’m not as sly as you are." Tian Sisi didn’t give Zhong Yuying any face as she spoke, as she had no intention of being friends with her anyway.

Tian Donghua felt immensely gratified. Sister was really not going to be friends with Zhong Yuying, just great! From now on, those tasty treats wouldn’t be swindled away by Zhong Yuying (Isn’t food the only thing on your mind, little Donghua?).

After finishing her piece, Tian Sisi ignored Zhong Yuying’s stiff-faced reaction, grabbed a basket, and prepared to head out. She thought for a moment and then shouted toward the Old Man tilling the soil in the backyard, "Grandpa, Donghua, Jianguo and I are going up the mountain to pick mushrooms."

The backyard echoed with the Old Man’s robust voice, "Be careful and watch your step, don’t fall."

"Got it, grandpa. Just wait for your granddaughter to bring back a big basket of mushrooms for your drink accompaniment!"

While speaking, Tian Sisi changed into a pair of rain boots and also asked Donghua and the others to do the same. Donghua saw Zhong Yuying standing awkwardly in the yard, not knowing whether to stay or leave, so he turned his head, made a face at Zhong Yuying, and stuck out his tongue teasingly.

Zhong Yuying had tears in her eyes, almost crying, "Sisi, are you still mad at me? I was genuinely busy when you were sick, I couldn’t find time to visit you, and that’s on me. Can’t you stop being mad at me? Didn’t you say you wanted to be best friends with me for life?"

"Be best friends for life so you can deceive me the rest of my life? When have I ever said something like that? Am I that foolish?"

Off to the side, Donghua couldn’t help but snicker to himself, Sister, you were indeed that foolish back then.

"Sisi, you were the one who insisted on giving me those things. I didn’t deceive you," Zhong Yuying’s face slightly changed, and she managed to squeeze out a tear which hung on the side of her cheek, looking pitiful. However, in this yard were only Tian Sisi and several little kids, none of whom knew how to pity and cherish the beauty; everyone was annoyed and looked at Zhong Yuying with distaste.

Jianguo shouted at her, "Why are you so annoying? My sister Sisi already said she doesn’t want to go to the mountains with you. Why are you still lingering around our house, not leaving? And you’re crying and wailing, acting as if we’ve bullied you. You’re really sick."

"That’s right, Zhong Yuying, you’d better go back where you came from. No one welcomes you here, and don’t come looking for me again in the future," Tian Sisi said in a pleasant tone, then signaled for her brothers to leave the yard. Donghua unceremoniously pushed Zhong Yuying out of the yard, muttering, "What thick skin!"

PS: Thanks to Fat Girl 0915 and I Love Myself XX, the two lasses!

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