Transmigrated as My Aunt in the 70s
Chapter 90 - 087 Touching loaches

Chapter 90: 087 Touching loaches

Seeing Zhong Yuying being ostracized by the villagers, Tang Qiubai felt a pang of empathy, having tasted this bitter loneliness himself. How difficult it must be for a little girl like Zhong Yuying? Tang Qiubai felt sorry for Zhong Yuying, but he too was living at the mercy of others at the moment. Despite his resentment towards Tian Sisi, he still needed to ingratiate himself with her. As for Zhong Yuying, to him, she was just someone unimportant. Sympathy was one thing, but she wasn’t worth his effort to help.

Tian Sisi had no clue about Tang Qiubai’s thoughts at that moment. If she knew, she would probably burst into laughter thrice. No wonder these two despicable people ended up together in their past lives, both so full of themselves.

Tang Qiubai was a man with deep thoughts. In front of the Tian Family, he showed the same deep-seated hatred for Zhong Yuying, making outsiders think Tang Qiubai also disliked her very much. Therefore, no one knew about his internal feelings at this time.

Zhong Yuying had spotted Tian Sisi and the others long ago but didn’t dare to raise her head. She had suffered enough these days and several times could hardly resist the urge to flee Yuequan Village. But she had to endure it since the timing wasn’t right yet—she was still too young. When she got a bit older, she could go to Shanghai to work as a nanny.

As for studying, Zhong Yuying had given up all hope. Now, her only aspiration was to escape before Daddy married her off at the age of fourteen or fifteen. She had already figured out her future path: first work as a nanny in Shanghai, then marry a local Shanghai man. She believed that with her looks and means, she would undoubtedly live well, even better than Tian Sisi!

She must return to the village one day in glory, letting those people who looked down upon her see just how well Zhong Yuying from Yuequan Village was doing.

Thinking of the future where those who scorned her would grovel before her, a smile crept onto her face, but this illusion was quickly shattered by the mountain of clothes before her. She sighed and picked up the wash bat again, washing the clothes—she would just have to endure and get through this difficulty first.

The ditch that Tian Xinhua talked about was at the very back of Zhongjia Bay, a narrow ditch less than one meter wide that the villagers had dug to irrigate the seedlings. Since almost all of Yuequan Village’s rice fields were concentrated around Zhongjia Bay, the ditch had been extended here. It hadn’t rained for several days, and the water in the ditch was shallow, barely covering Zhong Anping’s ankles.

Zhong Anping and Zhong Ankang had taken up their buckets and started to play in the ditch long ago. Zhong Anmei and Zhong Juying were also there. Tian Sisi also saw Zhong Meiying and Zhong Wanhua, as well as Zhong Wanhua’s younger brother, Zhong Xiaogou.

Zhong Xiaogou was nine years old this year and, like his sister, was dark and skinny. But he was full of energy. When Tian Sisi first heard the name Zhong Xiaogou, she thought it was his nickname. It was only after Zhong Wanhua said that it was in fact his formal name, even on the family register, that Tian Sisi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Zhong Wanhua herself found it funny as well. It was Zhong Meiying who explained. Zhong Xiaogou was given the name because when he was born, he was just over three pounds and extremely weak. Uncle Fugao and his wife were worried about whether their little son would survive, so they asked the village’s oldest elder, Grand Uncle Zhong, to name the child.

Grand Uncle Zhong was Zhong Meiying’s great-uncle, now ninety-nine. The old man looked at the tiny thing that resembled a little dog and blurted out the name Zhong Xiaogou.

Zhong Fugao was initially reluctant to call his own son a name that sounded rough like "Little Dog," but Zhong Boqiang thought it was pretty good. Children’s names should be a bit humble to help them survive. And so, the grand name Zhong Xiaogou stuck.

It’s curious, but ever since he was named Zhong Xiaogou, although a bit thinner, he’s been incredibly well-behaved and rarely caught colds or fevers. He has grown up safely and soundly to this day, and Zhong Fugao has long since cast any reluctance he felt to the back of his mind.

With his sweet mouth, Zhong Xiaogou greeted Tian Sisi with great enthusiasm. Tian Sisi enjoyed the attention and pulled out some fruit candy from her pocket to give to him. She then distributed candies to everyone present, one each, but gave a few extra to Zhong Xiaogou. No one else minded and watched with smiling eyes.

In fact, when it comes down to it, Zhong Meiying, Zhong Wanhua, Zhong Juying, and Zhong Anmei are all relatives, making them either cousins or not. That’s why, in Zhongjia Bay, there’s a fair amount of interaction between poor, middle, and rich farmers. Familial affection, no matter how thin, is hard to sever. Of course, it’s the children who interact the most; adults, at most, would only greet each other, rather indifferently.

Tian Xinhua could no longer resist the temptation of the clear water in the ditch and took off his shoes to get into the water. The cool water felt so refreshing that he let out a comfortable sigh. Donghua, Chengsi, and the others also took off their shoes and got into the water, laughing exaggeratedly, and even Little Baoguo was happily splashing around, making Tian Sisi’s heart itch.

"Sisi, come on down, the water’s so cool," He Chengsi invited Tian Sisi into the water.

"Sisi, come and feel for snails, there are lots down there," Zhong Anmei and the other girls had also gotten into the water and were bending down searching for snails.

Tian Sisi could no longer withstand the temptation and took off her rain boots and socks, rolling up her pants above her knees to reveal her pale little legs. Tian Xinhua smiled and helped her down into the water. The moment her feet touched the water, Tian Sisi shivered. It was only the beginning of May, and the cold water took some getting used to.

"Are you cold, Ah Nan?" Tian Xinhua asked softly.

Tian Sisi shook her head; she was not cold, it was just a chill at the very moment she first entered the water. The little girl’s feet were tender and fair, with pink-colored toenails, clearly unlike the rough, dark feet of village girls that toiled in the fields.

Zhong Anping had just caught a big loach and as he stood up to throw it into a bucket on the shore, he noticed the crisp, fair little legs.

Because Tian Sisi’s small feet were quite eye-catching, Zhong Anping couldn’t help but take a few extra glances. Seeing that Tian Sisi was walking toward Zhong Meiying, she asked, "Brother Anping, is there something on me?"

Zhong Anping, a bit flustered, shook his head, "No, I just saw what looked like a big loach swim by your feet."

Tian Sisi said "Oh" in disappointment and continued toward Zhong Meiying. Zhong Anping let out a sigh and his ears reddened. At 15 years old, he was becoming vaguely aware of matters between boys and girls, and he felt his behavior just now was flippant and despised his own lie internally.

There really were a lot of snails in the ditch. Zhong Anmei and the other girls were quick and accurate, scooping up handfuls of snails easily, unlike Tian Sisi. She clearly saw a cluster of snails on the muddy sand, but when she reached out to touch them, she only stirred up mud and weeds, frustrating her and turning the water murky.

(To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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