Chapter 22

San Ya also looked at Jiang Tiantian with admiration and praised her, “Tiantian Sister-in-law, and Brother Jiuzhang too. He’s amazing!”

“After the resumption of the college entrance exam, he got into university in the very first year and even became the top scorer in our city’s first batch of examinees. Over the past few years, he’s been studying while also helping the village sell its agricultural products and find markets for them.”

“Last year, the village got a proper road, so not just matsutake mushrooms but also caterpillar fungus in May and June, the cattle and sheep raised in the village, and other dried goods from the mountains have all started to find buyers.”

“Most of our family’s income now comes from Brother Jiuzhang. He led Brother Xiao Liu and the others step by step to build this up.”

“He’s my role model. I want to go to university too and come back to build up my hometown.”

Fifth Aunt-in-law patted her daughter’s head with satisfaction. “Luckily, I listened to Sister-in-law Mingyan back then and didn’t hold you back from studying just because you’re a girl.”

“You must make me proud and pass the exam next year!”

Sister-in-law Guifang laughed and chimed in, “Don’t worry at all! My sister told me that San Ya’s grades are excellent. She’ll definitely get into university next year.”

“Unlike my son, Tie Dan, that little rascal. He has nine orifices in his heart, all open, except the one for studying!”

“He’s only in first grade, yet he manages to get zeroes in every subject. Even if he were guessing, he shouldn’t be able to score all zeroes! It’s driving me crazy!”

Fifth Aunt-in-law remembered how Tie Dan ran around the courtyard last time he got punished, yelling:

‘When I grow up, I’m going to herd cows with Grandpa! Why do I need to study?’

She immediately burst into laughter. “No worries, your Tie Dan says he’s ‘born to be useful.’ Even if he doesn’t study, he can still be a great cowherd general. It won’t be a waste!”

Sister-in-law Guifang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Second Aunt-in-law, however, was displeased and jumped in to defend her grandson and husband.

“Tie Dan is still young, why are you so anxious?”

“When he grows up and matures, he’ll naturally understand the importance of studying.”

“And besides, what’s wrong with herding cows? Herding cows can also support a family!”

—-

Jiang Tiantian walked quietly beside them, smiling as she listened to their lively chatter about family matters.

She couldn’t help but feel envious. Ever since her parents unexpectedly passed away when she was 17, she had been forced to grow up overnight and take over the business they had painstakingly built.

From then on, she had never again experienced the warmth of family or the care of loved ones.

The once-protected, naive little princess had grown into a ruthless, decisive woman who cut ties with emotions.

Every day, she was either fighting wits with those shameless relatives or playing mind games with the cunning old foxes in the business world.

The more money she made, the more exhausted and empty she felt inside.

At night, when she sat alone in the vast, empty house, she often felt lost, unsure of where she was or what the purpose of her life even was.

So, she threw herself into charity work, hoping to leave something meaningful behind.

She never expected that, at just a little over thirty, she would suddenly end up here.

But now, she really liked it here.

The people were simple and kind, free-spirited yet passionate. They had dreams, beliefs, small romances within their families, and the strong support of a large clan filled with love.

Her admiration for Cha Jiuzhang grew—he was even more outstanding and responsible than she had imagined.

This place would be her home now.

She would become one of them, sharing in their daily joys and sorrows.

She would once again have a family she could trust with all her heart.

Just thinking about it made her tremble with excitement.

Wo! I feel good
I knew that I would now
I feel good
I knew that I would now
So good, so good, I got you～

At this moment, inside her mind, a tiny version of herself was wildly dancing…

—-

After entering the village, Jiang Tiantian bid farewell to the others and happily ran toward the Cha family’s house.

Watching her energetic figure disappear into the distance, Fifth Aunt-in-law and Second Aunt-in-law exchanged meaningful glances.

With their experienced eyes, they could tell that the two young people hadn’t consummated their marriage yet.

This village wasn’t overly conservative. A woman remarrying after a divorce wasn’t unheard of, let alone a bride who hadn’t consummated her marriage.

Fifth Aunt-in-law sighed, “Jiuzhang clearly has feelings for this girl. I just worry that she’s still young and unsettled, and that she’s staying here just for the novelty of it.”

Earlier, on the way back to the village, they had deliberately brought up these topics in conversation with Jiang Tiantian. Their real intention was to deepen her emotional connection to Cha Jiuzhang, the Cha family, and even the entire Cha Village.

Second Aunt-in-law, however, was more optimistic.

“I don’t think she’s a shallow or materialistic person. Our place may not be as good as the provincial capital, but it’s not bad either.”

“She has feelings for Jiuzhang too. Otherwise, why did she fight so hard yesterday when Ayi Duo showed up?”

“Besides, you have to trust Jiuzhang. The girl he sets his sights on won’t be able to run away. I’ve never seen him fail at anything he wanted to do.”

Fifth Aunt-in-law agreed with Cha Jiuzhang’s capabilities.

“I hope so. Their family has been a single-child household for three generations now. They should hurry and secure her, so they can expand the family soon.”

Although they were all daughters-in-law who had married into Cha Village, each of them felt proud to be part of it.

Cha Village was a tightly knit community—when one person went out, the whole group had their back.

They wanted Jiang Tiantian to feel a sense of belonging as soon as possible, to make her realize that staying here was the right choice.

“Oh, by the way,” Fifth Aunt-in-law turned to the three of them with a serious expression.

“Guifang, San Ya, what happened today with Tiantian finding the matsutake mushrooms was too unusual. None of you should mention it to anyone unless she chooses to talk about it herself.”

“If anyone asks, just say we had great luck today. Got it?”

San Ya stuck out her tongue and nodded.

“Mom, I understand. This is what they call ‘a man is guilty if he carries a jade.’ I won’t tell anyone.”

“But tomorrow, can I ask Tiantian Sister-in-law to go up the mountain with me again?”

Following her meant collecting mushrooms effortlessly—several times more than usual!

Fifth Aunt-in-law was momentarily stunned before helplessly tapping San Ya’s forehead.

“Then ask her yourself. If she wants to go, great. If not, don’t force her.”

San Ya nodded eagerly. “Hehe, I understand!”

—-

“Grandpa, Dad, Mom, I’m back!”

“Come and see the matsutake mushrooms I found today!”

Jiang Tiantian poured the mushrooms onto the stone slab that Cha Jizu usually used to dry medicinal herbs. Then, she carefully sorted them by size and whether they had bloomed.

Finally, she picked out the best-looking ones—these were for making matsutake sashimi.

Hearing her, Zuo Mingyan came out of the kitchen and was shocked to see the stone slab covered in matsutake mushrooms.

“Tiantian, you actually found so many?”

She had thought that finding six or seven mushrooms would already be impressive.

Jiang Tiantian pulled Zuo Mingyan over and excitedly explained her plans based on her memory of recipes.

“Mom, these are for sashimi, these for butter-searing, these for stir-frying with green peppers, these for steaming with eggs, these for making matsutake chicken soup, these for ham and matsutake rice, and these for matsutake buns…”

“What do you think?”

Just thinking about it made her mouth water.

Zuo Mingyan looked at her in amusement. “You really know how to eat.”

Where did she even come up with so many ways to cook matsutake?

“Alright, we’ll do it your way.”