“Third Aunt, are you going to town? Let the two little cousins ride on the bike—I’ll push them along. Besides writing letters home, I’ve also sent a telegram. I believe we’ll receive news from home soon.”
Jiang Manman felt indifferent, merely curling her lips at him.
Seeing her continue walking with the children without any intention of stopping, Tang Yumin quickly maneuvered his bicycle to block her path.
“Third Aunt, I genuinely want to give the little cousins a ride. They’re so young—walking all the way to town will be exhausting!”
“Exhausting?”
Jiang Manman glanced at the two small children.
She shook her head, declining the young man’s kindness.
“No need. A little exhaustion is good—it helps build their physique.”
She then looked Tang Yumin up and down and shook her head again.
“You should exercise more too. Oh, right—you Educated Youth already have plenty of work to do. If you’re busy, you should hurry along! Don’t interfere with my training their stamina!”
She and the two children were quite content walking on their own.
“Tang Intellectual Youth, what a coincidence! Are you heading to town? Me too!”
Jiang Manman listened speechlessly to this self-directed question and answer. She extended her Divine Sense, taking in the appearance of the female Educated Youth who had spoken.
Blue pants, army-green jacket, and ear-length short hair that she tucked behind her ear as she spoke, revealing her slightly flushed ears and pretty profile.
It was obvious she had feelings for Tang Yumin.
But Tang Yumin, clueless as ever, replied:
“Ah! Comrade Du! I am going to town, but I have things to do. You go on ahead!”
Comrade Du, who had arrived a year ago, was taken aback by his words and turned her gaze toward Jiang Manman.
She saw Jiang Manman dressed in dull black attire, with two braids, looking rather rustic.
But when Jiang Manman turned around, she was stunned.
How could this village girl with such an ordinary back view have such a strikingly beautiful face?
Unlike the villagers’ sallow, rough skin, hers was fair and delicate, with double eyelids that tapered slightly upward.
Arched eyebrows, a refined nose, and lips that, though devoid of lipstick, were naturally rosy.
In that instant, Comrade Du was nearly consumed by jealousy.
Forcing a smile, she heard herself ask:
“Is this young lady from the village? I don’t believe I’ve seen her before.”
Jiang Manman smiled at her.
“I’m Sister Tang from the village. That’s what everyone calls me—you can too.”
After all, this body was already married and had two three-year-old children; it wouldn’t do to introduce herself as the Jiang family’s second daughter.
Comrade Du was momentarily confused by this self-introduction.
Her eyes drifted down to the two children Jiang Manman was holding hands with—they looked so alike, probably twins.
Unconsciously, a smile touched her lips.
“Are these your children? They’re adorable!”
“Yes, thank you for the compliment. I think they’re very cute too. We won’t keep you any longer—we still have to walk to the supply and marketing cooperative.”
Tang Yumin shot Comrade Du an unfriendly look and continued blocking Jiang Manman’s path with his bicycle.
“Let me give the cousins a ride on my bike. The town is too far, and they’re just children—how can they handle such a long walk?Seeing that he wouldn’t give up until he got his way, Jiang Manman had no choice but to lift the two children onto the bicycle’s crossbar, making sure they held on tight.
She walked alongside, ready to steady them if they wobbled.
Comrade Du followed behind, pushing her own bicycle, growing more and more unsettled the longer she watched.
The scene before her, resembling a family of four, pierced her heart.
Her grip on the bicycle handlebars tightened.
Following them to the town’s supply and marketing cooperative, she watched as Tang Yumin spent money buying things for that cousin’s wife.
Jiang Manman waved her hand dismissively.
“Why buy so much candy? It’ll rot the children’s teeth. Just get a little less. Can you go attend to your own matters? I’ll take the children around town for a leisurely stroll.”
Tang Yumin did indeed have business in town and could only go handle his affairs first.
He made plans with her to have lunch in town, his treat, before finally leaving to attend to his tasks.
Finally having sent away the enthusiastic young man, Jiang Manman took the two children for a brief stroll before returning to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a wok and some bowls and chopsticks.
She actually wanted to go to the Black Market to exchange rice for money, but decided to leave it for next time!
Noticing there were fabric coupons among the tickets Tang Yumin had given her, she bought fabric for the children and herself, planning to make them and herself new clothes when they returned home.
With the remaining money, she bought some vegetable seeds.
She purchased quite a few seeds for radishes, cucumbers, Chinese cabbage, kidney beans, eggplants, and such.
After some thought, she finally bought a lock as well.
With all these items, she placed everything in the large iron wok for the return trip, carrying the wok in her hands.
The two small children walked beside her, each holding onto one side of her clothes.
Otherwise, the iron wok would completely block her view.
Shortly after returning home, Tang Yumin came looking for her.
“Third Aunt, didn’t we agree to wait for me at noon? I was going to treat you all to meat.”
Jiang Manman thought to herself: They’d been eating meat every meal these past couple of days, and Demon Beast meat at that. She really didn’t want more meat.
“Well, I was in a hurry to come back and get things organized so we can cook dinner tonight. Aren’t you busy at the Educated Youth point? How do you have time to wander around everywhere?”
“Not busy at all! Hey, it’s just about work points – I can always make up for them with money later!”
Hearing this, Jiang Manman had nothing more to say. This was clearly capitalist behavior.
“You shouldn’t keep coming around here either. As a widow, my doorstep attracts gossip. This puts me in a difficult position!”
Only when Jiang Manman said this did he finally understand.
“Oh, alright then. I’ll visit less often in the future. But if you need any help with anything, you can come to the Educated Youth point and call for me. Also, you’re not a widow – my Third Uncle is still alive. He just broke his leg, but I believe he’ll come looking for you soon.”
“Fine, you should go now!”
After seeing off the young Tang, Jiang Manman continued with her organizing.
That evening, she slept there directly with the two children.
She released Xuanwu to keep watch through the night, while she took the two children to the third level Spirit Spring dimension to bathe, then went to the seventh level to eat their fill.
After letting them play for a while before sleep, she herself meditated and cultivated throughout the night.
Sensing her internal state, she realized she could break through to the third level after just one more night.
She was quite satisfied with this speed.
It was thanks to the original owner’s wood-fire dual Spirit Roots, combined with the assistance of her Glass Tower, that she could progress this quickly.
Early the next morning, she was tidying up the vegetable garden in the backyard.
After planting what needed to be planted, she scattered the remaining vegetable seeds in the seventh level dimension.
In the distance, she could hear the funeral music of Wang family’s procession sending off Wang Laicai.
It was precisely at this moment that an oxcart arrived at her doorstep.
“Could I trouble the Village Chief to help me down?”
The person on the oxcart was in a Wheelchair and had difficulty moving, so needed help getting down.
The Village Chief sighed in agreement and helped the person down along with the Wheelchair.
Hesitantly, he asked:
“Should I go now?”
“Thank you for your trouble along the way, Village Chief.”