Chapter 27: A Visit

With her mind made up, Nan Qiao felt much clearer.

Now, she was finally in the mood to play around with the white tiger.

“Bai Nan, didn’t you just hatch not long ago? How are you already this big?” Nan Qiao asked curiously.

“Our growth isn’t like that of ordinary humans or animals. From birth to death, we remain in our adult form. We don’t go through a childhood phase, nor do we grow old.”

“You… you can die?” Nan Qiao asked, a bit worried.

“Under normal circumstances, no—unless the space itself is destroyed by some force.”

“What if I die?” Nan Qiao continued to ask.

“Not necessarily. It depends on the situation at the time,” Bai Nan replied simply, without giving much detail.

Nan Qiao nodded and didn’t press further.

“So, is there anything else in this space I haven’t discovered?”

“Besides the Purity Spring that flushes out impurities and heals injuries, the vegetables grow fast—eating them regularly can enhance physical constitution. You can also control and consume the plants and animals in the mountain and sea areas. The rest is similar to the outside world.”

“You can control the flow of time in the space. You can choose to have time stand still or sync with the outside.”

“So right now it’s… paused?”

“Yes. The default is paused. Other than that, those are the only special features,” Bai Nan nodded his big tiger head.

“That’s more than enough—this is already amazing! I want to go check on the vegetables I planted!” Nan Qiao said excitedly as she got up to look at her crops.

Bai Nan followed closely behind her.

Nan Qiao saw that the cherries and eggplants she had just planted were already ripe.

She picked a few cherries, wiped them casually, and popped one into her mouth. It was incredibly sweet. “So sweet!”

She had plenty of seeds stored in her space. Looks like she’d never have to worry about food again, Nan Qiao thought happily.

After playing in the space with Bai Nan for a while, she exited in a flash. Her foot was fully healed—she could finally go to town again tomorrow. Her mood was absolutely soaring.

When Nan Qiao emerged from the space, she happened to run into Tao Hua coming to call her for dinner.

“Big sister, I came to get you for dinner!” Tao Hua called from the courtyard gate.

“Coming, Tao Hua!” Nan Qiao replied as she bounced off the bed and tested her injured foot. There was no pain at all—in fact, she felt full of energy.

She grabbed the walking stick Tao Hua had given her and jogged out of the room.

“Let’s go, Tao Hua.”

“Sis, your foot’s all better?”

“Yup, I couldn’t feel any pain when I got up today,” Nan Qiao said as she spun around in place to show her.

“Be careful,” Tao Hua said with concern.

“Don’t worry. Let’s go eat at your place now.”

With that, Nan Qiao held Tao Hua’s hand and walked toward Aunt Xiumei’s house.

When they arrived, Shen Nian and the others had just gotten off work and were helping set the table in the yard.

Shen Nian saw that Nan Qiao wasn’t using her crutch and rushed over with delight.

“Qiao Qiao, is your foot completely healed?”

“Yup! Not even the slightest pain while walking. We can go to town together tomorrow after all. I was actually worried I wouldn’t make it,” Nan Qiao said, her voice carrying a subtle hint.

“That’s great! We can walk around together!” Shen Nian said, grabbing her hand and leading her inside.

Aunt Xiumei and Uncle Sheng also smiled when they saw Nan Qiao’s foot had recovered and said a few kind words. But Sister-in-law Sheng’s expression was sour—she didn’t even greet them, just turned away with a scowl.

Nan Qiao felt a bit puzzled but didn’t say anything.

Sheng Yanchuan came out of the house. When he saw Nan Qiao, he paused mid-step, slightly dazed. Why did she seem… even more beautiful than before?

While eating, Sheng Yanchuan glanced at Nan Qiao and asked, “Is your foot really healed? Don’t push yourself.”

“It really is.” Nan Qiao looked down at her foot and even tapped it a little.

“Then let’s meet at the village entrance tomorrow at the same time as last time,” he said. Nan Qiao nodded while eating.

After dinner, she and Shen Nian said goodbye to Aunt Xiumei and strolled back home.

On the way, Nan Qiao asked, “Do you know what’s going on with Sister-in-law Sheng? She looked pretty upset today.”

Shen Nian hesitated for a moment before saying, “I know a bit, but I’m not sure it’s true. I overheard Aunt Zhao next door to Aunt Xiumei gossiping about it.”

“Hmm? What happened? Some kind of drama?” Nan Qiao asked curiously.

“It’s about the day we ate together. According to Aunt Zhao, that night Sister-in-law Sheng argued with Sheng’s eldest brother, accusing their mother of favoritism toward outsiders.”

“Because of that chicken leg?” Nan Qiao asked in disbelief. Though a drumstick was indeed rare in times like these, it wasn’t worth stirring up accusations of favoritism—especially toward her, an outsider. What would be the point?

“Seems so. But I don’t think it’s that serious, so I didn’t mention it before. I mean, even if they’re playing favorites, what can you do?” Shen Nian was just as confused.

“Who knows. Doesn’t matter. Now that my foot’s healed, let’s buy more meat and vegetables tomorrow and just cook our own meals.”

“Sounds good! Let’s each carry a basket and stock up.”

“But tomorrow, I need to pay a visit to an uncle’s house. I’ve been here a while and haven’t dropped by yet,” Nan Qiao said.

“The factory director you mentioned before?” Shen Nian asked.

Nan Qiao nodded. “When we get to town, I’ll shop with you guys in the morning, then go visit him in the afternoon.”

“Are you coming back with us to the village afterward?” Shen Nian asked.

“Depends on how things go. I’m also thinking of buying a bicycle. If I manage to get one, I won’t ride the tractor back.” Nan Qiao considered that riding a bike back to the village would only take 20 minutes. If anything came up in the future, having a bicycle would be way more convenient than relying on the village’s tractor.

“Qiao Qiao, you’re buying a bike? I want one too! We can ride together. But I’ll have to wait until I call my family tomorrow to send me a bicycle ticket,” Shen Nian said. She thought for a moment—she hadn’t brought her bike ticket this time.

“Sure,” Nan Qiao replied. Even though she had plenty of bicycles in her space, she couldn’t exactly pull one out of nowhere. She’d have to find a proper excuse to bring it into the world…

The two of them strolled back home and went to bed early.

The next morning, they arrived at the village entrance early.

By the time Nan Qiao and Shen Nian got there, Sheng Yanchuan was already waiting in his tractor.

The tractor was already half-filled with villagers. Nan Qiao and Shen Nian simply greeted Sheng Yanchuan and quietly found a spot to sit, not saying much.

Nan Qiao might’ve kept silent—but the other villagers on the tractor sure didn’t hold back their gossip.

As soon as Nan Qiao and Shen Nian appeared, hushed whispers began to ripple through the crowd. As for what exactly was being discussed…

Shen Nian couldn’t quite hear, but Nan Qiao—whose physique had improved thanks to the Purity Spring—could hear it all clearly.

Still the same old nonsense—how she was mismatched with so-and-so, that she only looked pretty but was barren, had a seductive face, and so on.

Nan Qiao was quite furious when she heard all this. But honestly, she didn’t have the energy to argue with these gossip-loving aunties every day.

So she simply pretended she hadn’t heard anything. Though, if they dared say it directly to her face—that would be another story entirely.

The tractor rattled all the way to town. Nan Qiao and Shen Nian hopped off, greeted Sheng Yanchuan, and headed off together to shop.

Watching Nan Qiao’s retreating figure, Sheng Yanchuan spaced out a little. He really wanted to go with her—just carrying her things would’ve been enough.

But he still had work to do.

He had to work hard, and someday earn a place where he’d be worthy of standing beside her.

With a deep breath, Sheng Yanchuan restarted the tractor and drove off in another direction.

Nan Qiao and Shen Nian made their way to the supply and marketing co-op. They arrived early, so there weren’t many people in line for pork yet. Since they didn’t have a fridge and were worried the meat would spoil, they only bought two jin (roughly 1 kg).

It would be just enough to stew and make some stuffed buns.

After that, they bought some vegetables, then headed to the state-run restaurant.

It was just the two of them this time, so they ordered one serving of braised pork, one stir-fried cabbage, and two bowls of rice.

They ate until their bellies were round and full before leaving the restaurant, each carrying their small bamboo baskets.

At the door, Nan Qiao turned to Shen Nian and said, “Nian Nian, I’m going to that uncle’s house now. Where are you headed?”

“I think I’ll go back to the co-op. We only bought groceries this morning—I want to look at some fabric,” Shen Nian replied after thinking for a moment.

“Alright. Sheng Yanchuan said to meet at the usual spot at four, so let’s just meet there. Whether or not I end up buying a bike, I’ll definitely be there before four,” Nan Qiao said.

“Okay. Be careful, Qiao Qiao.”

“You too.”

With that, the two parted ways outside the state-run restaurant.

Nan Qiao walked alone, asking for directions along the way as she searched for the address her father had left her. When she turned a corner and saw no one around, she quickly stashed her heavy basket into her space, keeping only the pastries and some preserved sausages and canned meat from Shanghai in her hands. She continued looking around as she walked.

“Auntie, do you know if Factory Director Bai from the steel factory lives around here?” Nan Qiao asked when she spotted an older woman sitting by the roadside in an alley.

According to the address, this should be the area—but after searching for a while, she still hadn’t found the right house number.

“Factory Director Bai? Are you a relative of his?” the auntie asked, glancing up and down at Nan Qiao.

“Not exactly. My father is an old friend of his. I came here as part of the rural assignment, and my elders asked me to pay him a visit,” Nan Qiao replied gently.

“Ah, I see. His house is just over there—turn right at the end of this lane, and it’s the first house on the corner,” the auntie said, pointing toward a nearby alley.

“Got it. Thank you, Auntie,” Nan Qiao said with a smile and headed toward the house.

Knock knock knock. She checked the house number and then knocked on the door.

“Coming, who is it?” came a man’s voice from inside.

The door opened, and Nan Qiao locked eyes with the man inside.

Seeing him, Nan Qiao smiled faintly and thought to herself, An old acquaintance.

Meanwhile, the man at the door was visibly startled. Why did she really come?! Can I just shut the door?

While Bai Kaixuan was mentally panicking, Nan Qiao took the lead and greeted, “Comrade Bai, long time no see. Looks like I found the right place.”

“Kaixuan, who’s at the door? Why’s it taking so long?” came the familiar voice of Director Bai from inside.

Nan Qiao leaned her head in and called cheerfully, “Uncle Bai, it’s me, Nan Qiao! Do you still remember me?”

Hearing that, Bai Feng froze for a moment. The young girl looked extremely familiar, but it wasn’t until he heard the name “Nan Qiao” that his eyes lit up.

He rushed forward, pushed the dazed Bai Kaixuan out of the way, and scolded him, “You’re a grown man—why don’t you know to let people in? Standing at the door like a blockade!”

After giving his nephew a good telling-off, he turned to Nan Qiao with a beaming smile. “Nan girl! Come in, come in! It’s too hot out here in the sun.”

Still embarrassed from the scolding, Bai Kaixuan scratched his nose awkwardly and followed them inside—only to be sent back out again.

“You! Go buy a popsicle—get the milky kind! Hurry up and run back before it melts!”

Hearing his uncle’s command, Bai Kaixuan rolled his eyes so hard they almost fell out. But he didn’t dare disobey and dashed off to buy the popsicle.

“Come on, girl, have a seat inside.”

“Alright, Uncle Bai,” Nan Qiao replied sweetly and followed Bai Feng into the house.

“Here, Nan girl, this is your Aunt Fang—just call her Auntie Fang. And this is Nan Qiao, the daughter of Factory Director Nan from Shanghai I told you about. She’s been assigned here in the countryside.”

“Hello, Auntie Fang,” Nan Qiao greeted the middle-aged woman who had just come out from the inner room.

“Ah, hello, hello! Come sit, girl! Your Uncle Bai hasn’t stopped talking about you—keeps wondering when you’d show up.”

“I’ve been meaning to visit sooner, but I wasn’t familiar with the area at first, and there were a lot of arrangements in the village. So I got delayed,” Nan Qiao explained.

“No worries, we’re just glad you came! It’s been so long. How are your parents doing?” Bai Feng asked as Nan Qiao sat on the small sofa.

“They’re doing well. These are some things they asked me to bring from Shanghai,” she said as she handed over the package to Uncle Bai and Aunt Fang.

“You really didn’t need to bring anything,” Bai Feng said, taking the package with a disapproving look—but clearly touched.

“They’re just some things from Shanghai. You might not find them here easily, so they wanted you to try something new.”

“Uncle, I’m back with the popsicle!” Bai Kaixuan’s breathless voice came from outside just as Nan Qiao finished speaking.

“Quick! Give the girl the popsicle. Young ladies love sweet things,” Bai Feng said, taking it from Bai Kaixuan and handing it to Nan Qiao.

Nan Qiao accepted it with a “thank you” and began eating while chatting with Bai Feng. She had to admit, this local popsicle tasted surprisingly good.

Meanwhile, Bai Kaixuan sat awkwardly nearby, listening in nervously. He was terrified Nan Qiao would bring up the last time they met. But thankfully, the conversation stayed on safe ground—mostly Uncle Bai thanking Nan Qiao’s father for his help back in the day. Nan Qiao simply listened quietly and occasionally chimed in. Bai Kaixuan finally felt more at ease.

After a while, Nan Qiao stood up to leave.

“Uncle Bai, I won’t bother you anymore today. I still have to catch the village tractor later,” she said.

“Stay for dinner! I’ll find a car to take you back afterward.”

“Maybe next time, Uncle. We’re supposed to have a group dinner at the commune tonight so everyone can get to know each other.”

“Alright then, I won’t hold you up. Come visit often when you have time!”

“Will do. Uncle Bai, Auntie Fang—I’ll take my leave now. No need to see me out.”