Chapter 169

Hu Wenhua wanted to offer something to her but felt it might be too abrupt.

After much hesitation, he finally composed himself and said in a normal tone, “My sister’s family will be slaughtering a pig tomorrow. We can exchange mushrooms for pork. If you like, you can come and exchange.”

Ding Jiajia’s eyes softened with a smile as she softly thanked him, “Thank you for letting me know.”

He’s really considerate. Exchanging mushrooms for pork would be a delightful thing for the villagers, and he informed her proactively.

However, her parents earned a good income from collecting herbs; while not wealthy, they lived comfortably. It’s just that people in the village didn’t know this and assumed they lacked security without land or fields.

She wasn’t particularly fond of pork.

Hu Wenhua sensed her indifference in her words and was afraid she might not go or not know which family he meant. Feeling a bit anxious, he said, “My sister is Hu Shuiqing, from the house up on the high ground. It’s easy to find her family. If you find gathering mushrooms tiring, I can help you.”

After saying this, he felt it might be too obvious and worried about frightening the young girl. His burly frame seemed to shrink in on itself.

He felt he should leave, but his feet seemed to have a mind of their own and didn’t want to go yet.

Ding Jiajia knew Hu Shuiqing; everyone in the village did. Previously, they would only refer to her as Mrs. Fan Er or Mrs. Fan. However, since last year’s mushroom-for-rice and chicken-for-rice exchanges, people began using her name. She had her own identity now.

She didn’t know much about Hu Shuiqing before, except that she was related to the Fan family woman who had mistreated her. But after the split, especially after recent events, she realized Hu Shuiqing was different from that woman.

She had thought about getting to know her but never had the chance.

Their family made a living from gathering herbs; selling them provided enough to buy meat and rice, so there was no need to pick mushrooms for exchange. Opportunities to interact with Hu Shuiqing were few.

Now, she was more curious about the name of this robust young man who had offered to help her.

Ding Jiajia waited.

But instead of an answer, the young man awkwardly suggested helping her gather mushrooms.

Afraid he might think she was craving meat, she softly and clearly explained, “No need, my family doesn’t lack meat. There’s no need for help.”

He was tall and strong; squatting to pick mushrooms would surely tire him out.

Hu Wenhua thought about not seeing her tomorrow and realized he couldn’t come here often as an outsider; it wouldn’t be good for her.

Reluctantly, he pressed on, “How about rabbits? Would you like to exchange for rabbits?”

He could manage the rabbits.

But Ding Jiajia shook her head again.

Choosing her words carefully, she said, “I… don’t particularly like eating meat.”

Unlike other families in the village, they weren’t short of meat, and her mother’s cooking… well, wasn’t very good.

When she was young, she thought all meat was unappetizing until her parents took her to the capital city once, and she tried meat at a restaurant there. That’s when she realized it was just her mother’s cooking that wasn’t great.

She had tried cooking herself, but her attempts were even worse.

She inherited her mother’s lack of culinary skills.

Exchanging for meat would just be a waste.

Hu Wenhua scratched his head, unable to think of any other way.

Should he come up with another reason to come by tomorrow and see her?

But what would the villagers say if they saw him?

It might not be appropriate for a young girl like her…

Ding Jiajia absentmindedly played with the herbs, occasionally glancing at the big guy ahead.

He was tall and muscular, much taller than Fan Dazhu and his cronies who often threw mud at her. In fact, there wasn’t a more robust man in the whole village, and she used to be afraid of such people.

But now, she wasn’t afraid of him at all. In fact, she felt somewhat relieved. Why was that?

“You…”

“I…”

They both spoke simultaneously, then stopped, waiting for the other to go first.

“Uncle, Uncle! Where are you?” Fan He’s shout came closer from afar.

Hu Wenhua had never felt so annoyed with his nephews!

Afraid they would come over and make a scene, he hurriedly turned and said, “I’m leaving!”

With long strides, Hu Wenhua quickly ran off.

Ding Jiajia watched as he disappeared in an instant, biting her lip.

Her hand touched the veil covering her face, and she suddenly remembered that she forgot to tell him she wasn’t ugly anymore.

Fan Erzhu and the others used to mock her for her face full of red bumps, saying she looked like a toad. Would he think she was ugly too?

Ding Jiajia used to not care much about her appearance, and she even found it convenient that Fan Dazhu and the others misunderstood her as ugly. But now, she felt a slight concern.

She wanted to explain to him, to let him see her face.

She looked down at the prepared herbs, absentmindedly stirring them. Maybe she should go pick mushrooms to exchange for pork…

Hu Wenhua had long legs and a strong body, yet he was remarkably agile.

In no time, he reached the old village chief’s house and met up with his two young nephews.

“Uncle, where did you go? We finished playing with our friends. Why haven’t you come back?” Fan Hu looked up, asking.

Hu Wenhua cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Just… looking around, nothing specific.”

Fan He tugged on his sleeve and cautioned, “Uncle, don’t wander off. There are lots of mosquitoes, snakes, and ants in summer. It’s not like Niu Head Town; you need to be careful.”

Hu Wenhua’s mind involuntarily drifted to the young girl drying herbs.

With so many herbs to gather, who would do it?

Would she go gather them too?

There were so many mosquitoes, snakes, and ants; it could be dangerous!

Wait, he had also asked her to pick mushrooms!

Picking mushrooms was also risky.

“Er-ge, didn’t you forget? We have Uncle Ding in our village. His family has lots of herbs. They even eat poisonous mushrooms, so snakes should be no problem,” Fan Hu said confidently.

Hu Wenhua’s mind fixated on the word “herbs” and tentatively asked, “Are there many families in your village with a lot of herbs?”

“Who doesn’t have a few herbs?” Fan Hu blinked his round eyes innocently, countering his uncle.

Every household had a few herbs for treating diarrhea and preventing mosquito bites.

Hu Wenhua’s heart sank, disappointment evident on his face.

Fan Hu continued, “But only Uncle Ding’s family has a lot of herbs!”

Hu Wenhua’s sinking heart lifted slightly.

He really wanted to grab this young nephew and shake him until he finished speaking!

“How many children does this Uncle Ding have?” Hu Wenhua asked patiently.

Fan Hu looked at his uncle suspiciously, then explained, “Uncle Ding is a general term for people in the village. He’s older than our dad, so we should call him Uncle Ding. Uncle Ding only has one daughter, everyone in the village knows.”

Hu Wenhua patiently waited.

But after waiting for a long time, the two nephews still hadn’t said what the young girl’s name was.

He took a deep breath, feeling unprecedented frustration that his nephews said what they shouldn’t have said and didn’t say what they should have.

But he couldn’t just casually ask the girl’s name.

Laughter rang out in the courtyard, and soon Fan Jiang came running out.

As he ran, he waved to the people in the yard and shouted, “My mom said it herself, I didn’t hear wrong. Aunts, you can rest assured!”