Chapter 32

Jiang Tiantian looked at Cha Jiuzhang in confusion.

Zuo Mingyan chuckled and explained, “Jiuzhang studied architecture at Qingda University. Building the kind of bread kiln you mentioned is a piece of cake for an architecture major like him, isn’t it?”

“Don’t worry, just leave it to him.”

Jiang Tiantian had just heard from Sanya yesterday that Cha Jiuzhang was the top scorer in the city’s college entrance exam. But she had no idea that his achievement was this impressive.

A top-tier university! A prestigious major!

It was said that when admissions resumed in the first year, only a handful of students were accepted nationwide.

She knew well how highly sought-after the previous two batches of university graduates were. Many of them later became leading figures in various industries.

How strange!

With such an outstanding man, how could Jiang Hongmei not be interested in him?

She was just a high school graduate with no job. What right did she have to look down on Cha Jiuzhang?

Wait a minute!

Jiang Tiantian suddenly had a bold guess.

Could it be that Jiang Hongmei and Du Yulan had no idea about Cha Jiuzhang’s background?

From the original owner’s memories, she recalled overhearing those two talking about Cha Jiuzhang a few times, always referring to him as a “country bumpkin.”

And their discussions never contained a single positive remark.

Jiang Tiantian couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked, “Jiuzhang, you’re so amazing. Did my sister and the others do not know about it before?”

The Cha family members were momentarily stunned, their expressions turning slightly awkward.

It was Cha Jizu who spoke up, “Our families have been living far apart these past years, and communication has been inconvenient. Your grandfather and I only exchanged a few telegrams over time.”

He sighed, “It was my oversight before. Young people should really take the time to understand each other better.”

Cha Jiuzhang, however, simply smiled with ease.

“There’s not much to say. Even though I went to university, I still plan to return here after graduation.”

“Since this is where my home will be in the future, does it really make a difference whether they knew or not?”

Jiang Tiantian: “?”

Of course, it makes a huge difference!

She was truly impressed by how composed this entire family was.

People ignore the poor in bustling cities, but the wealthy attract distant relatives even in remote villages.

This man, this Cha family, and this village were nothing like what Jiang Hongmei and her mother imagined.

If they had known earlier?

—-

Would Jiang Hongmei and her mother regret it in the future?

Sensing that the atmosphere at the dining table was about to turn cold, Jiang Tiantian quickly snapped back to her senses. She exaggeratedly widened her eyes in admiration and looked at Cha Jiuzhang.

“Jiuzhang, I really admire you! I want to learn from you and get into the best university!”

“If my sister has no taste, that’s her loss. But for me, this is the best thing that could’ve happened.”

“Because—” Jiang Tiantian raised her hand and pointed around the table. “Now, everything benefits me!”

After saying that, she grinned smugly, as if she had won the jackpot.

The others couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes, yes, our Tiantian has the best judgment.”

“Jiuzhang marrying you is his good fortune.”

Hearing this, Zuo Mingyan glanced at her son with satisfaction and noticed him secretly smirking.

She now felt relieved—thank goodness Jiang Hongmei had given up. Otherwise, just imagining such a daughter-in-law in their home gave her a headache.

She really couldn’t understand how two daughters from the same mother could turn out so differently.

Tiantian was so much better—sweet, capable, straightforward, and honest.

The more she looked at her future daughter-in-law, the more she liked her.

—-

After Dinner

Cha Jiuzhang took out a notebook and drafted a design for the bread kiln based on Jiang Tiantian’s description.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tiantian enthusiastically dragged Zuo Mingyan along to start making grape wine.

By the time she returned in the afternoon, she had already plucked the grapes one by one, washed them clean, and laid them out in a bamboo sieve to dry.

She also borrowed a pickling jar from Zuo Mingyan, washed it, and left it in the yard to air out.

Now, Jiang Tiantian poured the dried grapes into a wooden basin.

“Mom, just crush them with your hands.”

“Do we need to remove the skins and seeds?”

“No need, keep everything—the skin, seeds, and pulp—all in the basin.”

Ten minutes later.

“Mom, it’s ready. Go get some white sugar.”

Zuo Mingyan went into the kitchen and brought out a pound of loose white sugar.

Jiang Tiantian estimated the ratio, then poured all the sugar into the wooden basin and stirred continuously. Once the sugar was fully dissolved, she transferred the mixture into the pickling jar and sealed it tightly.

She carried the jar to a cool spot and clapped her hands, announcing loudly, “Alright, now we just wait for a month! Then, we’ll filter out the grape seeds, skins, and fermented pulp, and what’s left will be grape wine!”

“Will it be drinkable?”

“Mom, don’t worry. Try it in a month and see for yourself. By then, we can lie under the night sky, with ‘grape wine in luminous cups, urged to drink as pipa plays on horseback’… The taste will definitely rival Grandpa’s homemade liquor.”

Cha Jiuzhang, seeing that the two women had finally finished their work, brought over a sketch and handed it to Jiang Tiantian for confirmation.

“Take a look. Is this what you had in mind?”

Jiang Tiantian examined it and gave a thumbs-up. “As expected from an architecture major—perfect understanding, full marks!”

Remembering that Cha Jiuzhang was a professional, Jiang Tiantian grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.

“Come, let’s go discuss the details indoors.”

Once they were seated, she set the sketch aside and leaned in, lowering her voice to ask cautiously,

“I found a hot spring in the mountains today. Has the village ever considered channeling the hot spring water down here?”

Cha Jiuzhang studied her from head to toe.

Did she bathe in the hot spring today?

No wonder her skin looked even better when she returned, glowing like it was covered in a layer of light.

It was mesmerizing—

He quickly sat up straight, discreetly rubbing his nose to conceal his reaction, and asked in surprise, “You found piping? Where did you find it?”

He had researched nearly all available piping options in the country but hadn’t found a suitable one.

Jiang Tiantian straightened up.

“Aiya, don’t ask so many questions yet.”

“I just know I can find the right piping—top quality, I guarantee it.”

“Just tell me, if the village gets hot spring water, will they develop it?”

Cha Jiuzhang looked at her curiously. How did a high school dropout come into contact with such things?

Still, he didn’t show his doubts and replied, “I can’t answer that now.”

“I need to see the sample first before making a decision.”

Jiang Tiantian let out a relieved sigh—so there was room for discussion.

“I don’t have the sample right now, but I’ll get it in a few days.”

“But I can guarantee it’ll be the best.”

“You should talk to your dad about planning how to use the hot spring once it’s brought to the village.”

“If you ask me, we should do it properly from the start.”

Cha Jiuzhang smirked. “And what do you mean by properly?”

Jiang Tiantian’s eyes lit up.

“We should aim to turn it into a tourism business!”

She excitedly laid out her vision, discussing not just the development of the hot spring but how it could transform the village’s economy.

Cha Jiuzhang was stunned.

This girl… the more he thought he understood her, the more mysterious she became.

She was like a hidden treasure—endlessly fascinating, luring him to keep digging deeper.