Chapter 25: Tranquil Years

Xia Ning’an packed up her things and went to Lu Zecheng’s room to give him his medicine, which was actually eye drops and calcium tablets.

Before entering the room, she had already discussed with Xiaomiao that to avoid being too obvious, they would use the imported medicine prescribed by the doctor first. When it was time for the fifteenth day of medication, they would give Lu Zecheng 95% of the healing agent. Xiaomiao had scanned Lu Zecheng’s injuries, and his eyes should be able to see things, but they would be blurry, similar to 500-degree myopia. When the time was right, they would give him the remaining 5%, and Lu Zecheng’s leg and eye injuries would be healed.

Xia Ning’an poured a glass of water for Lu Zecheng to take his medicine.

“Zecheng Ge, have you felt better recently?”

“I feel like my leg has gone down, and the wound is a little itchy.”

“So fast?”

“Yeah, it’s because An’an takes good care of me. I feel like I’ve gained weight these past two days.”

Hearing him say this, Xia Ning’an unconsciously glanced at him. She didn’t notice any weight gain. The contours of his muscles were still very clear.

When she woke up in the morning, everyone in the Xia family was still asleep. They must have been too happy yesterday and didn’t sleep well. Xia Ning’an quickly went to the kitchen to cook.

She took out a pot of braised pork and a pot of fermented flour from the space. She kneaded the dough, put the braised pork in, rolled it out with a rolling pin, and made it into a steamed bun. She could bring some for Xia Fu and Xia Mu to take to work. Even if people in the village saw it, they wouldn’t know that it had meat inside, so they wouldn’t gossip.

Rural women generally didn’t have much education. Their daily pleasure was gossiping. If you were doing well, they would be jealous and say sour things. If you were doing poorly, they would want to step on you. It was probably to seek a psychological balance.

Although Xia Ning’an didn’t care, she couldn’t be too different in this environment.

After making the buns, she made a pot of seaweed egg soup.

Xia Ning’an saw that everyone in the family was so happy, and she felt happy too. She sang while cooking.

Happy drums beat out the joy of every year

Beautiful dances bring joy every day

The sun’s oil paints color today’s days

The flowers of life are our smiles

Ah

Today is a good day

Everything you wish for will come true

…………..

Everyone in the family woke up late today. Xia Ninghao ate breakfast.

“Little Sister, when I have some free time later, I’ll come back to fetch water. The mushrooms and vegetables haven’t been watered yet.”

“Go to work. I’ll go water the vegetables with the remaining water in the jar later.”

Xia Ning’an was going to water all the vegetables in the boxes with Farm Spring Water. This would increase the germination rate and make them grow faster. After watering the vegetables, she filled the kitchen water jar halfway. She spent the morning at home with Lu Zecheng.

“An’an, the song you sang this morning was so beautiful. It was even better than the song sung by the Nightingale of the Art Troupe.”

“I was just singing randomly because I was happy.”

“This song is also very nice. An’an, you can go to the Art Troupe in the future.”

“I’d rather continue studying than go to the Art Troupe. I’m going to try to get a spot in the Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ University next year.”

Oh? An’an already has a plan?

Yes, I have a preliminary plan. I originally planned to have the villagers grow mushrooms, but after going to the provincial capital, I want our village to have electricity sooner. I met a friend in the provincial capital who can help me buy sugar-making machines and oil presses. I want to hear your opinions when I get back. No matter what kind of factory we open, our village will have pig feed, and we can also set up a pig farm. That way, we can use the sugar residue and oil residue to raise pigs.

Yes, that’s a very good idea. I support you.

Then, Zecheng Ge, you wouldn’t mind using your name, right? Just say that the machines were bought with the help of someone you know, okay?

Okay, I’m happy to help you with your worries. Lu Zecheng smiled, happy to be able to help An’an.

The weather was getting colder. Xia Ning’an and Lu Zecheng were in the hall today, listening to the radio. Xia Ning’an was going to knit a wool vest for Lu Zecheng first.

Recently, Lu Zecheng’s health had improved a lot. When he had nothing to do, he would sit in his wheelchair and weave baskets. He could do this very well with his eyes closed. It gave him something to do, and Xia Ning’an thought it was good, so she didn’t stop him. The baskets he wove were very beautiful, and she asked him for some to store things in the space.

Zecheng Ge, help me wind the yarn.

She hung the yarn on Lu Zecheng’s raised hands, and soon, several balls of yarn were wound.

Sunlight shone through the cracks in the window, casting dappled shadows on the two of them. In this early autumn morning, it was peaceful and serene.

Tranquil years!

—————

After taking a nap in the afternoon.

Xia Ning’an went to the pond to catch fish. Just as she was carrying a bucket of fish back home, she ran into Zhang Dahua. When she saw the fish in Xia Ning’an’s bucket, her small, triangular eyes gleamed with greed.

Oh, Xia family’s little girl, you have so many fish, but you don’t give me a few. You’re really so disrespectful. I’m your elder.

Zhang Dahua stood with her hands on her hips, looking like she wouldn’t give up until she got what she wanted.

What kind of elder are you? Don’t try to claim kinship here.

Xia Ning’an was impatient at this moment. It was rare to encounter such a difficult person in the modern world, but in the countryside of this era, every village had a few difficult people. She was just being bothered by these people. A toad on the instep, it doesn’t bite, but it’s annoying.

I’m your mother-in-law. How dare you talk to me like that, you little slut? If you don’t give me fish today, I’ll go report you for encroaching on collective property.

You’re trying to extort me, and now you’re threatening me? Go ahead and report me. I caught these fish with my own skills. If you have the ability, go catch them yourself. Don’t talk nonsense here. You say I’m encroaching on collective property? Doesn’t your family go up the mountain to chop wood? Doesn’t your family go to the river to catch fish? Doesn’t your family go to the fields to dig for wild vegetables?

Zhang Dahua knew she couldn’t scare Xia Ning’an when she heard her say this.

I’m your mother-in-law, no matter what. You should be filial to me. Zhang Dahua continued to act like a scoundrel.

What kind of mother-in-law are you? We just signed a divorce agreement a few days ago. Have you forgotten so quickly? If you keep saying you’re my mother-in-law, I’ll go to the police station and report you for mistreating an injured soldier. I think you don’t want to live a good life anymore.

Hearing Xia Ning’an say she was going to call the police, Zhang Dahua was scared and ran away.

Back home, Xia Ning’an told Lu Zecheng about Zhang Dahua. Lu Zecheng told her that she didn’t need to be nice to the Lu family in the future. Not retaliating was the last kindness he could give them.

At night, while everyone was asleep, Xia Ning’an quietly went to the Lu family’s house. After sprinkling mushroom powder on them, she searched every room. She actually found something. She found over 400 yuan in cash and two small gold bars. She didn’t know where this family got them. She took the new fabrics, brown sugar, eggs, flour, and millet in the box. She left them with coarse grains so they wouldn’t starve. She took Lu Lao Er’s watch, which obviously wasn’t his. It must have been stolen from Lu Zecheng. She also took a new military uniform and a new military overcoat, putting them all into the space.

They were so greedy. She didn’t want to bother with them, but they had to come and annoy her. They were too idle. Now, she had taken all their money. The whole family could go to work properly.