Transmigrated as My Aunt in the 70s
Chapter 52: Hand in 052

Chapter 52: Hand in 052

The next early morning, Tian Mantong went back home. Before leaving, the Old Man instructed him to come home again when he got a chance to drive and not to let others notice the car was empty. The Old Man had just remembered that Ah Nan’s grain all came from the bracelet, but he had told Bajin and the others that it was bought from outside. Without a car to transport grain, suspicions would arise over time, so he had to ensure everything was set for the future.

Although Tian Mantong found this strange, he obediently agreed, as he could rest for two days after driving back this time. He could make time to come by tomorrow. In the morning, Tian Sisi got up with a bitter face at Granny Zhao’s call and let Granny Zhao comb her hair with a gloomy expression. Ah, going to school every day is really tough!

Tian Manjin could not bear to see his daughter unhappy. He quietly pulled out ninety yuan from his pocket and handed it to Tian Sisi. Her eyes lit up. How could she have forgotten about this? Just as Tian Sisi was about to accept the money, Zhu Aiqing reached out and said, "Let your Mama keep the money for you. If it’s on you, you will just squander it."

Granny Zhao also nodded, "Ah Nan, listen to your Mama. You’re just a kid and can’t be entrusted with so much money. What if you lose it?"

Tian Sisi pouted and twisted her body, "If all the money is given to Mama, I won’t have a single cent left. Mama will definitely keep a tight hold on the money."

Zhu Aiqing glared at Tian Sisi fiercely, "Without me keeping a tight watch, given the way you and your father spend money, how much would be left?"

"But why can’t I have some money from the wine I worked so hard to make? I want to buy a camera!" Tian Sisi became displeased. She worked so hard to make money; wasn’t it all for buying a camera?

"Camera? What do you need that trinket for? Haven’t you heard your little uncle say that thing burns through money the most? Our family can’t afford your extravagance. No buying it." Zhu Aiqing objected without a second thought. She couldn’t be bothered to be polite with Tian Sisi and directly reached for the money in her hand.

Tian Sisi quickly jumped up and hid behind the Old Man. Her father couldn’t protect her now; only Grandpa was reliable. Peeking out from behind the Old Man, Tian Sisi called out, "I can earn my own money, and I want a camera. With it, I can take many beautiful photos, and even take pictures for Grandpa, Granny, Daddy, and Mama, and one day, hang them all over our house walls."

"You think you’re quite capable now, don’t you? You’re so young, and you’re already thinking about taking pictures every day. Your Mama has been alive for so long, and she hasn’t even taken many photos herself! Hand over the money quickly. Mama won’t take all ninety from you; just give eighty," Zhu Aiqing eventually softened her stance, suggesting to take eighty.

"No, I want to manage my own money. Mama, cameras are really great. You dress up beautifully, then take a picture to keep, and you can look at it whenever you want in the future. It’s so nice! Besides, I will brew lots more wine in the future, and I will make sure you don’t run out of money to spend." Seeing Zhu Aiqing’s stance weaken, Tian Sisi used all her persuasion skills to convince her.

Zhu Aiqing looked hesitant. Tian Sisi’s argument was indeed persuasive. Which woman doesn’t want to preserve her youthful and beautiful appearance? Seeing a chance, Tian Sisi followed up with coquettish pleas, acting so cute that she was just short of rolling on the ground. The Old Man just watched with a smile, not interjecting, wanting to see if Tian Sisi could really convince his daughter-in-law.

When Tian Sisi saw that Zhu Aiqing was still not relenting, she gritted her teeth, divided the ninety yuan into three parts, thirty yuan each. She handed one part to Granny Zhao, smiling sweetly, "Granny, this is for you. You and Grandpa spend it however you like."

Granny Zhao was overjoyed. Her granddaughter was thinking of filial piety toward her, and she had not spoiled Ah Nan for nothing. She originally wanted to decline, but then thought if she didn’t accept it, the little one would surely fritter it away. It was better for her to keep it safe for Ah Nan. Granny Zhao took the money and carefully put it in her pocket, kissed Tian Sisi’s face several times, and happily ran to the kitchen to serve breakfast.

Zhu Aiqing’s expression eased a little. As long as Ah Nan was willing to hand over the money, giving it to her grandmother-in-law was just as good. Tian Sisi then handed thirty yuan to Zhu Aiqing, pleasingly saying, "Mama, this is for you. The ninety yuan should be divided among the three of us. Is everything okay now? You can’t ask me for money anymore."

Tian Sisi clutched tightly to the remaining thirty yuan, as if she were a little dog guarding its food, wary lest Zhu Aiqing come to snatch it again. To her, a child carrying thirty yuan seemed excessive; after all, there were some families who couldn’t even produce thirty yuan!

The Old Man, having watched the show play out, laid down the law in a firm tone, "Let’s do it this way then. From now on, Ah Nan will split her gift money just like today. Whatever gift money Ah Nan gets, she can manage it herself. We don’t need to interfere."

With the Old Man having spoken, Zhu Aiqing had no choice but to agree. She put away the thirty yuan and once more warned Tian Sisi sternly, "I’ll let you hold onto this thirty yuan, but don’t just waste it away."

"I absolutely won’t waste it, Mama, don’t worry. I’m going to save up to buy a camera, and then I’ll take photos of everyone at home. I promise to make you the most beautiful in the pictures," Tian Sisi hurriedly pledged, sweet-talking Zhu Aiqing in such an adorably good manner that it even broke through her stern façade. With a rebuke of "You little wily one," Zhu Aiqing went off to the kitchen to help with carrying the dishes.

Tian Sisi took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Phew, Mama sure isn’t easy to handle! Both the Old Man and Tian Manjin found the clever and endearing behavior of Tian Sisi hilarious, while Donghua and Qinghua looked on with envy. Sister really was rich, carrying more money than an adult—thirty yuan!

Seeing the covetous looks on her younger brothers’ faces, Tian Sisi whispered to them, "Wait until Sunday, and we’ll go to town to eat pork buns. Sister will cover it, you can eat as much as you want."

Donghua and Qinghua’s eyes lit up. If it weren’t for the Old Man sitting there, they might have jumped for joy. As Tian Sisi turned her head, she caught sight of Jianguo and his brothers, and quickly added, "Jianguo and Weiguo and Bao Guo will come too. I’ll make sure you all get your fill."

"We get to go too?" Jianguo somewhat couldn’t believe it. In his view, these past days had been the most comfortable for him and his brothers. They were well-fed, warmly dressed, and nobody bullied them. Plus, the people here didn’t look down on them with contempt like the villagers in Huangkeng Village did. Even though there were some gossipy whispers, Jianguo was already more than content; he never imagined that Sisi would also treat them to pork buns in town.

"Of course! You and Donghua and Qinghua are the same to me; you’re all my brothers. How could you be left out?" Tian Sisi’s words almost brought tears to Jianguo and Weiguo, while Bao Guo, the little one without a worry in the world, just giggled foolishly, repeating "pork buns." Who would have thought that such a silly kid would grow up to be a globally renowned neurosurgeon? Truly, appearances can be deceiving!

Tian Sisi patted Bao Guo’s chubby cheeks, which had grown plumper recently. His cheeks were soft and springy to the touch. Tian Sisi squeezed them a few times, enjoying the sensation, much to the pained silence of Bao Guo, who looked at her with a wronged expression. Donghua couldn’t bear it any longer and pulled Tian Sisi’s hand away.

"Sister, you’re hurting Bao Guo."

Tian Sisi came to her senses and upon seeing the red finger marks on the little one’s tender white cheeks, she smiled sheepishly and coughed awkwardly, explaining, "I was just checking to see if Bao Guo has put on any weight lately."

Donghua gave Tian Sisi a contemptuous look—as if telling off a child—while Jianguo and Weiguo quietly laughed to themselves. The cousin’s behavior just now was really cute.

Today, they still had to go to school. Tian Xinhua and Tian Qinghua were waiting at the field junction for them. Tian Sisi followed listlessly at the back. Alas, it’s disgraceful not to enjoy studying, but it’s also a shame to waste time on simple addition and subtraction every day! She decided she must find a way to persuade the Old Man to let her study at home instead, and Tian Sisi was determined to do so.

PS: Thanks to Xingyu Fengxi Wu Xiaogu lady, Qingkong Wanyue, Jiazhuang Duohao 5, You Xiaoya, Shi Ru Chu Jian Z, and other little friends for their support! Thank you to all the lovely readers, you are the source of Old Yang’s motivation!