Sun Danhua took the photo Jiang Mian had sent and submitted it to the newspaper.
The paper published the news.
Soon after, it caused quite a stir in the field.
Jiang Mian’s award for her winter strawberry cultivation technique also had some credit owed to Sun Danhua.
Before coming, Jiang Mian had already been in contact with Sun Danhua.
She said she would pay a visit.
Sun Danhua had informed the housemaid in advance, asking her to keep an eye out.
But neither she nor the maid expected that Jiang Mian would arrive with such a large pregnant belly.
“Jiang Mian, you… this is—your late husband’s child?”
“Cough! Yes, my late husband’s.”
Jiang Mian forced herself to admit it.
Back when she had been transferred to another farm, she told everyone that her husband had died and that she was a widow.
She hadn’t expected to cross paths with Sun Danhua like this.
Nor that they would meet again one day.
Jiang Mian could only hope that her lie wouldn’t be exposed.
And that her ex-husband wouldn’t find out she had cursed him like this.
Otherwise, Professor Lu might very well want to strangle her.
Sun Danhua hadn’t expected that this young woman had been carrying her late husband’s child all this time.
Her emotions became complicated.
At first, she had only admired Jiang Mian.
Now, not only had that admiration doubled, it was mixed with sympathy…
Even respect.
It couldn’t have been easy, carrying a deceased husband’s child all alone.
And yet she hadn’t delayed her work on cultivating winter strawberries.
As a result, Sun Danhua treated Jiang Mian with even greater warmth.
Jiang Mian stayed for a while, chatting and reminiscing with her. She carried herself with grace and composure, without the slightest trace of the awkwardness one might expect from a country girl visiting the city for the first time—something Sun Danhua greatly appreciated.
Finally, glancing at the clock on the wall and seeing that it was getting late, Jiang Mian stood up to take her leave.
Sun Danhua urged her to stay for dinner.
The housekeeper had already started preparing dinner, even specially stewing meat and cleaning a fish.
Jiang Mian also wanted to stay for a meal, mainly because she hoped to ask Aunt Sun about seed cultivation.
But she was thinking about the certificate with her ex-husband, so she said she had another appointment and couldn’t stand someone up.
Sun Danhua grew curious:
“Who did you make an appointment with?”
Who could Jiang Mian possibly know in the capital?
Jiang Mian found it hard to say—she had arranged to meet that “damned” ex-husband of hers.
Seeing that it wasn’t convenient for her to answer, Sun Danhua didn’t press further. Instead, she brought out some books and materials:
“Since you have plans, I won’t keep you. These are materials I’ve collected and organized—take them with you.”
“Thank you, Aunt Sun. Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
“Oh, what’s there to be polite about with me?”
After that, Sun Danhua brought out two cans of malt extract, saying it was for Jiang Mian to nourish herself.
Jiang Mian quickly tried to refuse.
Sun Danhua held Jiang Mian’s hand and sighed with emotion:
“Jiang Mian, don’t be polite with me. Back then at the farm, if you hadn’t brought me meals and taken care of me, I’d probably have grass growing over my grave by now. You saved my life—what is this little bit in comparison? When you go back, I’ll send you some things for the baby. If you ever have any difficulties, just come to me. Ah, your life is so hard, raising a child alone—it’s really not easy!”
Seeing that Sun Danhua was getting teary as she spoke, Jiang Mian didn’t refuse anymore:
“Then thank you, Aunt Sun.”
Sun Danhua smiled and sniffed:
“That’s more like it. If it weren’t for the tight schedule, I’d really want you to stay here for a few days.”
“Thank you, Aunt Sun. Maybe next time. This time, the leaders have instructed that once the meeting ends, we must return to the farm immediately.”
Because the farm only provided half a month’s allowance for food and lodging.
The journey back and forth would already take ten days.
That left less than five days in the capital.
If she stayed longer than five days, not only would there be no allowance, but it would also count as absenteeism.
And absenteeism meant a deduction in wages!
So Jiang Mian had to return on time.
After leaving Aunt Sun’s villa, Jiang Mian checked the time—it was almost five o’clock—so she went out to catch a ride.
Hurrying along, she finally arrived, just as night fell, at the famous Donglaishun restaurant.