Chapter 28: A Garden Full of Vegetables

“???”

When Aunt Chen heard Uncle Chen mention a divorce, she panicked immediately. Nodding repeatedly, she tilted her aching mouth and said tearfully, “Okay, okay, I’ll go, I’ll go.”

Uncle Chen’s face was still full of anger, unwilling to spare her another glance. He snapped harshly, “Then hurry up and get on!”

Aunt Chen obediently climbed onto the cart.

Uncle Chen, fuming, lifted the cart and began heading in the direction of the town.

The entire Tan family stood silently at their courtyard gate, sighing and murmuring to each other.

Wan Chunmei, holding little Qiyue in her arms, chuckled, “That Aunt Chen really lost her senses. Of all the things she could do, why stoop to sneaky, thieving business?”

Old Tan turned around and said, “Alright, that’s enough. Stop watching, stop watching. Other people’s business is their business. Let’s just focus on living our own lives.”

Wan Chunmei nodded in agreement. “That’s right, exactly.”

With that, she turned to her sons behind her and said, “Everyone, head inside and eat breakfast. Those who need to go to school, go to school. Those who need to tend to the vegetables, get to it.”

“Yes, Mother,” the boys responded in unison, lined up from tallest to shortest.

That morning’s breakfast was plain rice porridge mixed with last night’s chopped chili oil dregs. Though simple, it was still delicious.

Old Tan added a few boiled eggs for each of them, making the meal even more satisfying.

Tan Yiliang unknowingly ate several bowls, then rubbed his round belly and smiled at Wan Chunmei. “Mother, a few days ago, we bought some fabric in town. Did you see it?”

Wan Chunmei picked up the pile of fabric and replied, “I saw it. It’s all here.”

The fabric was purchased with the money they earned from selling eggs that day. Since they were used to wearing plain and coarse clothing, they chose simple materials—practical and functional.

Tan Yiliang grinned and said, “Mother, there’s a piece of peach-colored fabric in there, bought especially for our little sister. She’s still wearing the hand-me-downs from when we were kids—it’s really too shabby.”

Wan Chunmei pulled out the peach-colored fabric and couldn’t help but admire it. She loved it. In the village, everyone had to work in the fields, and no household would bother with such bright and colorful fabrics—except for her family’s two little sisters, of course.

The two younger sisters had both married into well-off families in the village. Among them, the fourth sister married into the He family, which was said to descend from a high-ranking official who had retired from the capital. That family’s status was on an entirely different level compared to the village’s head.

Wan Chunmei had never envied her, but she didn’t want to be looked down upon by her sister, nor did she want her sister to look down on her daughter. So, she was determined to dress her daughter beautifully—better than her two younger sisters had ever managed.

With this thought in mind, she took out a needle and thread from the drawer beside the bed. “Your mother will sew some beautiful clothes for your little sister right now,” she said with determination.

Tan Yiliang chuckled naively, “That’s great! Our little sister is already the prettiest girl in the whole area. Once she’s dressed in this flower-patterned fabric, even the girls from the capital won’t compare to her.”

The younger brothers all chimed in eagerly, “That’s right, that’s right! Little sister is the prettiest!”

“Little sister is the prettiest.”

The little girl, Little Qiyue, who had been lying on the bed, blinked her eyelids slightly upon hearing this, looking quite pleased.

Who doesn’t enjoy hearing nice words like that?

Outside, the sun shone brightly, with a slanted ray of light streaming in through the window.

Tan Yiliang and Old Tan strapped on their baskets and grabbed their hoes, heading off to the vegetable field.

Tan Erqian followed behind, bringing his little Lingzhi mushroom along with him.

When the three of them arrived at the field, they were completely stunned by what they saw before them.

Under the dazzling sunlight, the once barren black soil was suddenly covered with vibrant green vegetables.

Winter melons, bitter melons, loofah^[1]The loofah vegetable, also known as sponge gourd or smooth loofah, is a type of gourd that is commonly used in Asian cuisine. When harvested young, it is a tender, edible vegetable with a mild, … Continue reading, cucumbers, and chili peppers filled the ground in abundance.

Old Tan was so shocked that he almost couldn’t speak. “What… what is this? Has the devil come? The seeds were only planted not long ago, and the vegetables have already grown this much!”

Tan Yiliang, having grown braver since his encounter with the wild boar, dashed straight into the vegetable field. He picked a cucumber, wiped it on his sleeve, and took a big bite.

It was crisp, juicy, and delightfully sweet.