Su Tian refused Qin Yan’s suggestion to drive her back to the village. As they neared the village, she got off the vehicle and watched him make a smooth U-turn. He didn’t rush off but stopped in place, leaning out to look at her. Su Tian instantly understood his meaning, smiled, waved, and turned to walk into the village.
Qin Yan almost lost his composure, watching Su Tian leave while wearing the straw hat he had given her. Just as he expected, she looked better in the woven hat than in the old straw hat! He remembered how her eyes had sparkled when she first saw it, how bright and happy her little expression was, and how she had tried it on and asked if it looked good. Qin Yan smiled, nodding—she really did look good!
On her way home with the straw hat from Qin Yan, Su Tian met several villagers returning from work. When they saw her hat, their eyes lit up, asking where she had bought it and how much it cost. Honestly, Su Tian didn’t know the price—it was a gift from Qin Yan. He really was cold outside but warm inside, and thoughtful too. She hadn’t expected him to give a small gift on only their second meeting.
The straw hat was indeed beautiful, with a vacation-style vibe. The black bow at the back was the soul of the design—far superior to the ordinary straw hats at home. Su Tian loved it. When asked, she didn’t lie, just said it was a gift and she didn’t know the price or where it was bought; it had come from Shanghai. When they heard “Shanghai,” the villagers gave up. They hadn’t even been to Yanshi, let alone Shanghai, so buying a hat there was out of the question.
Some started criticizing: “Look closely, it’s nothing special. Our straw hats aren’t bad; the brim is wider, better for shade.”
“Yeah, not afraid of heavy rain. Your hat clearly won’t help; your head will get wet in the rain.”
“Right, our straw hats are practical.”
“Too flashy, doesn’t look good!”
Su Tian: “……”
So much double standards! Just a moment ago, they were all asking where it came from and wanted to try it. She was about to retort when Li Xiaomei sneered: “How do you know it’s from Shanghai? You’ve never been there. Who knows where it’s from?”
Others, not wanting Su Tian to look good, nodded in agreement: “Exactly, the farthest you’ve been is Yanshi. Don’t lie just to show off!”
“Be honest, don’t lie for vanity.”
“Yes, yes, you weren’t like this before, Sweetie, you’ve changed.”
Su Tian, furious, snatched the hat back and pointed to the label inside: “Look closely! If you can’t read, find someone to teach you. It clearly says ‘Made in Shanghai.’”
A few villagers who could read reluctantly leaned over to check. One recognized the characters and looked embarrassed: “It really is from Shanghai… no wonder it looks different.”
The others awkwardly smiled and started to leave. Su Tian then looked at her aunt: “Aunt, do you want to check for yourself, so you don’t think I’m lying?” She was about to hand over the hat but suddenly remembered: “Oh, right, Aunt can’t read.”
Li Xiaomei was stung. Reading doesn’t make you special—my daughter married into the city, and you still haven’t married off yours! She burned with anger: “Who is so generous to give you such a beautiful hat? Could it be a man?”
Before Su Tian could respond, Li Xiaomei, standing on her moral high ground, scolded her: “How can a good family’s daughter casually accept a man’s gift? You’re bringing shame to the Su family.”
Su Tian, wearing the hat gracefully, shrugged helplessly: “If he wants to give it, what can I do?”
Li Xiaomei and the other villagers who hadn’t received such a beautiful hat were outraged: “You must have asked for it; otherwise, why would he give it to you?”
“You’re deceiving a man’s feelings, that’s unacceptable.”
“Even taking someone’s gift without permission isn’t right.”
“Sweetie, what’s gotten into you? You’ve gone bad!”
Li Xiaomei, watching the others criticize Su Tian, chimed in with even harsher words: “Aunt knows you’re jealous because our Lili married well in the city and now wants to go to Shanghai. You’re using your looks to fool a Shanghai man. That’s immoral!”
The other villagers watched, enjoying the gossip. Li Xiaomei almost stomped with pride.
Su Tian rolled her eyes: “Aunt, how can you think this of me? I haven’t wronged you. How can you tarnish my reputation? I wish your daughter well. Besides, the guy I’ve chosen isn’t bad either. We’re seriously dating with marriage in mind. How is that deceiving him?”
She said firmly: “Aunt, when my boyfriend comes on Sunday, you can ask him yourself. I’m not playing with him.”
Li Xiaomei was dumbfounded: “You’re dating? When did this happen? How come I didn’t know?”
“You’re not my mom, so why would I tell you? What, you want to be my aunt and stepmother?” Su Tian teased.
Li Xiaomei was left speechless. The other onlookers also fell silent.
Su Tian, feeling triumphant, adjusted her hat and cheerfully walked home. She found the house empty; Huang Guohua and the others hadn’t returned from the fields. With more land to tend and one less helper, they’d have a harder day.
On the way home, Huang Guohua, being a mother, had been hearing gossip all along. Quite a few people complained that Su Tian was sharp-tongued, didn’t know how to respect elders, and was impolite. Huang Guohua couldn’t stand anyone speaking badly about her daughter and shot back: “Why are you fussing over a child? Adults should have generosity. If you don’t provoke her, would she even respond?”
This angered the villagers, who sneered: “Oh, so now she’s got a Shanghai fiancé and looks down on us country folk?” This was perhaps the worst reputation Shanghai had ever been given.
Huang Guohua was stunned: “???” My daughter changed boyfriends? Shanghai fiancé? I only acknowledge Xiao Qin.
Fuming, Huang Guohua rushed home to confront Su Tian, only to see her daughter carrying rice, with a bit of soot on her face from the stove. She immediately scowled: “Shanghai fiancé? Are you two-timing?”
Knowing her mother had heard the village gossip and that she was quick-tempered, Su Tian didn’t tease her: “Mom, they’re talking nonsense. I said the hat is from Shanghai, not the fiancé! Don’t worry, your future son-in-law is still Xiao Qin. He’s coming to our house on Sunday and even said he’d bring your favorite peach cookies!”
Huang Guohua finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the future son-in-law hadn’t changed, everything was fine. Thinking of something, she beckoned: “The hat—let me see that hat that’s making everyone jealous. How good-looking is it? Not just a plain one… Oh, it really is nice. Did they give you more than one?”
Su Tian generously placed the straw hat on her mother’s head and thoughtfully held up a mirror: “Looks good, makes you look ten years younger. If you like it, it’s yours.”
Huang Guohua immediately understood that the future son-in-law had a little thoughtfulness, but not too much. If he knew how to please his girlfriend, how could he not know to please her mother?
Far away, hundreds of miles off, Qin Yan sneezed: “Achoo!”