Chapter 13

Aunt Liu could tell from Xu Niannian’s expression that things were looking promising, so she set the dates immediately:

“Alright, you’ll meet Xie Yang on the 15th at noon, and Gu Yuan on the 17th at noon. You’ll have two days in between to think it over, and if you decide to go forward with Xie Yang, just let me know.”

Aunt Liu’s greatest joy in life was seeing couples she introduced come together, rather than focusing on material benefits like rice. Still, just thinking about the flavor of that rice made her heart flutter.

Xu Niannian, straightforward as always, agreed without hesitation. Feeling a weight lifted, she walked home with a spring in her step. Aunt Liu really had come through for her, making all her efforts worthwhile.

Meanwhile, Xu Ruhua grew anxious when she heard that Xu Niannian was going on a matchmaking date with Lu Huaijin, distracted all afternoon, barely focusing on her classes. As soon as school let out, she hurried off. From her last life with Li Qiang, she knew his habits all too well.

Finding Li Qiang under a large tree, she was surprised that she still felt a twinge of fear toward him even after reincarnation. When he raised his hand, she instinctively took a step back.

With a stalk of wild grass in his mouth, Li Qiang leaned against a wall, frowning, “You looking for me?”

Gathering her courage, Xu Ruhua squared her shoulders and said, “My sister is going on a matchmaking date soon. Your mother asked me about her, so I thought you two could meet up. But since we’re all from the same neighborhood, it might be more formal to meet at a state-owned restaurant.”

Li Qiang was intrigued, turning to face her fully. He hadn’t expected this turn of events.

Xu Niannian was known for her beauty throughout the neighborhood. Rumor had it she was delicate and lazy, but he didn’t care. He was experienced enough to know that girls like her had their appeal.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Really?”

Xu Ruhua nodded, “She likes dresses, compliments, and sparkly jewelry. Let’s set it for noon on the 15th.”

Those were things she remembered Xu Niannian liking from her past life. Even with her sister’s temper, that man had always treated her kindly.

Li Qiang grinned. Sweet-talking girls was his forte. He planned to get those things tonight.

Then he paused, reconsidering the timing. “Actually, noon on the 15th won’t work. I have something then. Let’s do it at 5 p.m. at the state restaurant.”

Meeting at a state-owned restaurant showed he took the date seriously. He had another date set for noon that day, anyway. Grinning with satisfaction, he didn’t notice Xu Ruhua’s discomfort.

Xu Ruhua, hands clammy, rushed home. Her palms stung from clenching them so hard that she’d scratched herself, her body cold despite the summer heat. She stumbled over a stone, nearly tripping, then finally made it home. Her mother was cooking, her younger brother playing in the dirt. She sat on the sofa, gulping down a full glass of water to calm herself.

She knocked on Xu Niannian’s door, “Niannian, are you there?”

There was no answer, but their mother, Xu Xiuhong, peeked out from the kitchen and motioned silently to keep knocking.

“Niannian, are you in there?”

At last, Xu Niannian opened the door, clearly annoyed. “Quit pretending. Even a fertilizer sack isn’t as full of it as you.”

Xu Ruhua seethed inwardly, looking at Niannian’s fair skin and youthful appearance, her jaw clenched with frustration. She managed to say quietly, “Dad says your date with Lu Huaijin is at 5 p.m. on the 15th, and your date with Li Qiang is on the 16th in the afternoon.”

Xu Niannian eyed her skeptically. There was no way she’d believe her sister’s sudden “kindness.” Besides, Li Qiang? Why didn’t Ruhua go marry him herself?

Saying nothing, she shut the door in Ruhua’s face.

She’d been organizing the items she traded for at the black market when Xu Ruhua knocked, already frustrated after discovering that she couldn’t find anything she’d gotten from the market.

Locking the door, Xu Niannian re-entered her storage space and planted the ginseng root and slices near the spring, where the soil was moist enough not to need watering. Still, she poured a cup of the spring water over them just to be safe.

As she stood up, she noticed a packet of seeds labeled “Apples.” She hadn’t eaten fruit in ages and, licking her lips, quickly planted them in the fertile black soil.

Her storage space seemed to convert any outside treasures like jade into seeds! She made a mental note: “Next time, send some strawberries, cherries, or mangosteens.” Apples were fine too—though a little hard, they were valuable in this era.

Just then, her father returned, and dinner was ready. He seemed in a particularly good mood; he’d heard a position might be opening up for him soon, and everyone at work had been congratulating him. In his excitement, he even poured himself a glass of his treasured Maotai.

At the dinner table, Xu Niannian asked loudly, “Dad, is my matchmaking date with Lu Huaijin set for the 15th?”

Xu Ruhua’s heart skipped a beat, holding her breath, hoping their father wouldn’t say anything wrong. Watching him nervously, she waited.

Her father, already tipsy, nodded, “Yes. And don’t go running around so much. You’re old enough to get married, so stay home and act respectable. What kind of young lady spends all her time out?”

Ruhua exhaled in relief.

After dinner, she chose one of her two best dresses, planning to wear it on the 16th. After all, Lu Huaijin hadn’t seen Xu Niannian in years; surely he wouldn’t recognize her. She was also technically her grandfather’s granddaughter. If she made a good impression, maybe she could win him over.

As for the abusive Li Qiang, she was happy to leave him to Niannian.

She went to bed with a smile, dreaming sweet dreams.

The days passed quickly, and Xu Niannian eagerly monitored her apple seedlings, ready to enjoy the fruit as soon as it ripened. With fruits outside so expensive and scarce, she was intent on making the most of her storage space.

Her grain supplies were also building up, and this time, instead of selling it, she went straight to the black market and traded some for jewelry, which she then stored in her space.

Finally, back home, she placed her jade bracelets and gold necklaces into her storage. Witnessing a small miracle, even though she half-expected it, was still astonishing—right before her eyes, they began to transform, slowly disappearing.