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Wan Family’s third daughter ran off in a fit of anger last night and hadn’t returned by morning.
Old Man Wan and Wan Family’s stepmother were frantic. After scolding Wan Family’s second brother, they went searching for him all over the village, eventually making their way to Fengping Village.
Old Tan and Tan Yiliang were just returning from the vegetable fields when they saw the panicked Miao Shi. They immediately called out to her, “Sister-in-law, where are you rushing off to?”
Miao Shi gasped for breath and wiped the sweat from her brow. “Ah~ Last night, my husband scolded Wan Family’s third daughter, and she stormed off in anger. We still haven’t found her.”
Old Tan, upon hearing it was that troublesome Wan Family’s third daughter, couldn’t help but scoff, “Her? She can’t live without causing trouble! Sister-in-law, don’t worry, just let the Wan family search for her themselves. There are only a few villages in Pingyang County. How could he possibly be lost?”
Miao Shi felt much more at ease after hearing this, lowering her head and sighing repeatedly.
Tan Yiliang, who had been quietly observing, quickly smiled and said, “Aunt, Aunt, come, try the little radishes we grew.”
He pulled out a few small, red-skinned radishes from his basket.
Miao Shi took them in her hands and nodded in acknowledgment. Then, she asked, “Big Brother, did you receive the oil I had Er’er send over to you?”
Old Tan smiled in reply, “Yes, yes, thank you, thank you.”
Miao Shi had been getting more considerate lately, and Old Tan found himself somewhat unaccustomed to this change.
With a sigh, Miao Shi spoke again, “Big Brother, I won’t chat with you any longer. I’ve already come out, and I need to at least make it look like I’m doing something.”
Old Tan nodded and replied, “That’s right, that’s right. You go ahead, go ahead.”
After bidding them goodbye, Miao Shi hurried off toward the village entrance.
By the time Old Tan and Tan Yiliang returned home, Wan Chunmei had already heard about the incident.
“Wan Family’s third daughter is up to no good again. I heard they’ve already searched the nearby villages, but there’s still no sign of her.”
Old Tan set the basket of radishes down and walked over to the table for a drink of water. “Let’s not worry about it.”
Wan Chunmei agreed, nodding in agreement. She then shifted the topic, “Husband, when are we going to start building the new house?”
Old Tan put down the cup, wiped his mouth, and smiled. “After a while, it’ll be the New Year. Let’s get through the holiday first, then we can start on the house.”
Wan Chunmei picked up the red-skinned radishes from the floor and placed them in a wooden barrel to wash later. “Sounds good, we’ll also make sure to finish the pickled vegetables we need to sell soon.”
“Exactly.”
Old Tan squatted down and helped gather the radishes from the floor.
Behind him, Tan Yiliang entered the house, set his basket down, and squatted next to him. He sighed and grinned, “Are these enough radishes?”
Wan Chunmei glanced at them and smiled, nodding, “Enough, enough, definitely enough.”
Tan Yiliang smiled in satisfaction. “That’s good.”
He then looked into the room but didn’t see Little Qiyue. He turned to Wan Chunmei and asked, “Mother, is Little Qiyue and Liujin asleep?”
Wan Chunmei, busy pounding the herbs, replied while continuing to work with the radishes, “Liujin is asleep, but Little Qiyue isn’t. She went out to sunbathe with your little aunt.”
Tan Yiliang tilted his head and glanced outside, confused. “There’s no one outside?”
“Probably went to the village entrance,” Wan Chunmei replied without looking up, continuing to add water to the wooden basin.
Tan Yiliang noticed that she was struggling with the water and quickly walked over, taking the small wooden bucket from her hands. “Mother, let me help you.”
Wan Chunmei looked up at him and smiled warmly. “Good, you help me wash the radishes. I’ll cut them while you wash.”
Old Tan, who had been standing nearby, chimed in, “I’ll go get the water for you.”
With that, he smiled and turned to leave.