Chapter 56: Good Days

Bai Dongyuan urged everyone to stay calm, and he, along with two of his personal guards, went to fetch some food supplies.

Everyone knew well enough that the general had hidden food and silver.

Hearing that the general was going to get more food, everyone instantly felt relieved.

Bai Dongyuan led his two guards out of the valley, heading towards the forest. Yanzu quietly followed them, and Tian Mi secretly followed Yanzu from a distance using her spatial abilities.

After traveling for about ten miles, Bai Dongyuan stopped at the base of a large tree at the foot of a mountain. The area around the tree was piled with large stones. The two guards moved the stones aside, revealing a stone door. Bai Dongyuan pressed a protruding stone on the right, and the door opened.

Tian Mi, who was not far away, saw everything clearly!

Heh heh heh! That’s sneaky!

Not long later, the three of them emerged, each carrying a small bundle and holding a long sword.

“We’re leaving here soon. I don’t have enough food to support so many people! Buying food with silver would attract too much attention,” Bai Dongyuan said without hesitation, abandoning everyone in the valley.

Bai Dongyuan hid behind a large tree and watched for half an hour, making sure no one had discovered his secret base before leaving.

Damn, if it weren’t for the space, Tian Mi would have been caught by this sly fox already. He’s so suspicious and crafty.

After waiting for half an hour, Tian Mi finally stepped out of her space. She had been infected by Bai Dongyuan’s paranoia.

As he had predicted, she soon entered the cave, which was pitch black inside. She pulled out a flashlight and shone it around. The cave was at least two hundred square meters, filled with various large and small boxes. In the corners, there were swords, their scabbards encrusted with jewels, gleaming brightly.

Tian Mi casually opened a few boxes, all filled with cash, silver, and precious jade.

Her breath quickened. Bai Dongyuan was truly impressive, amassing so many items. In a few years, he would still be a man of great wealth, while his father and brothers would likely be nothing but bones.

Tian Mi stored everything in her space. Her brothers worked hard for her—she was the one benefiting.

Ah, this is much better than dealing with those bandits! Heh heh heh!

What should I do next? Still robbing and making money!

Heh heh heh! Tian Mi couldn’t stop smiling.

The next afternoon, when Bai Dongyuan returned to the valley, Tian Mi brought a flock of over a hundred sheep with her, along with Yanzu. The people in the valley were all shocked!

Tomorrow was an important day in the valley, and everyone had gathered. Tian Mi instructed them to roast twenty sheep.

The whole valley would feast on roasted lamb!

The boys in the valley immediately went wild, cheering.

Now, everyone wore clothes they had been saving for special occasions, looking more energetic and festive.

Immediately, she sent people to call Uncle Xu, Big Brother Tian, Uncle Cui, Uncle Meng, and Uncle Chen to slaughter the sheep.

Minghui and Second Cousin now lived together, and tomorrow, they would marry.

Tian Mi handed the sheep over to the old village chief of Fengqiu Village, telling him that the sheep milk and care would be compensated separately.

The old village chief was in high spirits, as his son was getting married. They had gone to the city to buy new clothes, red paper, and couplets, decorating their home with happiness symbols.

Tian Mi’s home was also full of joy.

In the yard, the peaches and other fruits had ripened, and in a few days, they would be ready to eat.

Some of the rams were to be sent to participate in tomorrow’s wedding feast, and in a few days, the restaurant would also use them.

Big Brother Tian and several uncles came, excited and carrying tools.

No matter the age, men are always excited to be grooms.

Tian Mi instructed them to go ahead! The whole village gathered to watch, and the atmosphere was lively and full of excitement.

Her maternal grandparents were also very happy. Over the years, it was more accurate to say that Tian Dabiao was not just a son-in-law, but also a son. He was honest, simple, and filial. Now that he wanted to marry again, her grandmother only had one request: to treat Tian Mi well.

Tian Dabiao naturally promised, and her grandmother was reassured. Tian Mi had already given her the feeling that she was no longer the simple-minded child she once was.

Tian Mi went to the field and saw that the watermelons had ripened. Wow! These were her favorite, especially with the weather getting hotter.

She tapped a few of them; many were already ripe, so she immediately picked a few. Soon, Xu Feiyan, Cui Ernui, and Chen Miaomiao arrived, each carrying three watermelons to the square, where everyone was slaughtering the sheep. Together, they would taste the first watermelon of the summer.

It was also the first watermelon for everyone in the crowd.

The others were kept for tomorrow’s wedding feast! This would be a grand celebration. They had already prepared a variety of rich dishes, and Tian Mi added twenty more sheep to the menu.

Once the sheep were slaughtered, Tian Mi took out various seasonings to help marinate them.

The children were already eyeing the watermelons. They had heard Tian Mi talk about them, and now they were finally ripe.

The two aunts, each holding a child, arrived as well. Tian Mi cut open the watermelon, revealing the red flesh and black seeds, incredibly tempting.

She sliced all three watermelons into pieces, first handing a slice to her grandmother, then letting everyone help themselves. As she was slicing, everyone was already drooling in anticipation.

Grandmother took a bite. “Oh my! What is this? So much water, and it’s so sweet!”

There were so many people, everyone took a slice to taste!

It truly was a delicious watermelon beyond words. One bite made you feel not thirsty anymore, and the heat seemed to disappear.

Xu Feiyan and the other girls didn’t want to stop eating, reluctant to take a break. It was so refreshing, juicy, and sweet.

Aunt Feng said, “Girl, this watermelon is a treasure! It’s so delicious!”

Tian Mi laughed, “Of course! It’s a treasure watermelon. Uncle Xu, when the restaurant opens, we’ll sell these treasure watermelons. For every table of dishes costing more than twenty taels of silver, we’ll give a small dish of watermelon slices. Each watermelon will be sold for ten taels of silver.”

Everyone inhaled sharply. How much silver was in that slice they just ate?

Uncle Xu said, “This watermelon is worth it! I’ve never seen anything like it elsewhere. Ten taels of silver each!”

Hahaha! The two little ones were also making noises. They couldn’t eat yet, but Tian Mi let Little Tian Lin lick a piece. He moved so quickly, biting straight into the watermelon, but Tian Mi quickly pulled it away—he didn’t have teeth yet, so after gnawing for a while, there wasn’t even an imprint left.

Hahaha! It made everyone laugh out loud!

Little Tian Mi was even more eager. She insisted on having the piece her brother had bitten, so Tian Mi cut off the part her brother had eaten and gave it to her. She also gnawed away fiercely, but of course, didn’t eat a single bit.

The two little cuties made everyone laugh uncontrollably!

The next day, a very happy day arrived. Uncle Xu had pasted big “Happiness” characters on the outer wall of the valley.

Today, Huang Yuanying and Zuo Zhengfeng also came to join the wedding feast.

Zuo Zhengfeng had developed a very close relationship with Tian Dabiao, Uncle Xu, and the others in the valley. Naturally, he came to toast to their happiness on Tian Dabiao’s big day.

Huang Yuanying’s smile, however, seemed more melancholic.

The valley was bustling with activity. Men and women from Fengqiu Village, along with uncles and aunts, had been up early, busy preparing for the feast. Some were cooking, some washing vegetables, some helping in the kitchen, and others roasting lambs. It was lively, and even Zuo Zhengfeng came to help with the lamb roasting. Life in the valley was truly joyful!

Around noon, Tian Dabiao and Zhou Er both wore bright red groom’s robes. The others teased them, and their faces turned bright red as they kept grinning foolishly.

They went to Tian Mi’s grandmother’s house, each carrying a bride back home.

The little children cheered, “The bride’s being carried home!”

When Tian Mi saw Huang Yuanying, she sweetly called out “Uncle” and handed him a slice of watermelon.