Chapter 8: This Clock Juying is not that Zhong Juying

Several girls introduced themselves to each other; they all bore the last name Zhong. The eldest was Zhong Lanying, 12 years old, dressed slightly better, from a family of middle farmers. The one who called for her was Zhong Lianying, 9 years old, rich peasant, and the one hiding the peanuts was Zhong Juying, 11 years old, rich peasant. These girls were all cousins and were also closely related kin to Zhong Yuying and Zhong Meiying. Tian Sisi glanced at Zhong Juying with surprise and asked, "Are there many in our village named Zhong Juying?" "There's just one Juying," replied Zhong Lianying. Because Tian Sisi was particularly amicable today, she felt more courageous. "Then what are your parents' names?" Tian Sisi directly asked Zhong Juying. She was very eager, startling Zhong Juying who answered in a low voice, "My dad is Zhong Shigen, and my mom is Zhao Manxiu." The same names, her maternal grandparents also bore these names, but why was the person completely different? This Zhong Juying was not her birth mother at all; neither age nor appearance matched. Moreover, there wasn't another Zhong Juying in the village. Tian Sisi felt extreme disappointment. Although she did not want to admit it, she understood that her mother would not appear in this life. "Zhaodi, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Zhong Juying looked worriedly at Tian Sisi, who was pale. "It's nothing, I'm fine. By the way, I've changed my name. From now on, call me Tian Sisi, the 'Si' as in 'longing'. Remember it well!" Tian Sisi no longer pondered the issue of her birth mother. She always had an optimistic disposition, not dwelling on unsolvable matters; the most important thing was to live well in the present. "Tian Sisi sounds really nice, like a name from the cityfolk. It suits you well, Zhaodi—err, Sisi." Zhong Lanying praised unceasingly, while the other girls nodded in agreement. Zhong Lanying seemed somewhat shrewd, good at ingratiating herself, but it wasn't annoying. Her eyes were clean, not like Zhong Yuying's, filled with schemes. Although Tian Sisi was not a capable person, perhaps because she had not enjoyed much family warmth since childhood, she was very sensitive to the goodness and malevolence of the people around her. She could generally sense who was trying to use her and who was sincerely kind to her. This intuition meant she had few true friends in the hyperactive society of her later life. Connections were made with ulterior motives, resulting in a contact list full of names but devoid of sincere friends. Zhong Lanying and the others had just built the snowman's body. Tian Sisi, feeling childishly spirited, took off her gloves, leaving them hanging around her neck on a string. These gloves were knitted by Zhu Aiqing, who specially made a slender string so Tian Sisi could hang them around her neck when not in use, to prevent losing them, mainly because Tian Sisi had a history of losing gloves. "Sisi, your gloves are so pretty. Did your mama knit them?" Zhong Lianying looked enviously at Tian Sisi's clothes, rain boots, and woolen hat. She couldn't afford any of them, wondering if she would ever get the chance to wear such things in this lifetime. "Mhm," Tian Sisi nodded. Although she looked down on these rustic garments, she had to admit that during the seventies, this outfit was quite the fashion statement. Plus, with her own beautiful appearance, she truly looked like a beloved doll. Tian Sisi rolled up a small snowball with the girls to make a head for the snowman. Using charcoal, they drew eyebrows, a nose, eyes, and a mouth. In no time, a charming snowman came to life. The girls looked at their artistic creation with a sense of accomplishment. Thinking for a moment, Tian Sisi took the woolen hat from her head and placed it on the snowman, also hanging the woolen gloves on it. Tian Sisi looked at the animated snowman with satisfaction, clapped her hands, and warmed them in her pockets. It was a pity she didn't have a mobile phone, or else she could have taken a selfie with the snowman and posted it on Space. In her previous life, Tian Sisi was obsessed with taking selfies, always thinking about photography. Ah, what a pity. It seems she would have to find a way to earn money to buy a camera. She wondered how much cameras cost nowadays and thought of asking her uncle during lunch. The sun grew stronger, speeding up the snowmelt. Drops of water fell from the trees onto their bodies, icy cold. Tian Sisi shivered several times. Why was the seventies' Moon Spring Village so cold? In later years, it hardly snowed at all. She took the hat and gloves from the snowman, put them on, bid farewell to Zhong Lanying and the others, agreeing to play together again next time. Before leaving, she shared the remaining peanuts she had with them, deliberately giving more to Zhong Juying. Although this Zhong Juying was not the other Zhong Juying, Tian Sisi still couldn't help but want to take care of this poor and sensible girl. Tian Sisi called her two younger brothers to come home for lunch. The two little guys were having a great time and of course, they didn't want to go back. However, as soon as Tian Sisi glared at them, they obediently followed her. If Sister went to Daddy to tattle on them, they would have to eat bamboo shoot stir-fry with meat. Uncle's family had also arrived. Tian Mantong was standing at the doorway looking in their direction, obviously waiting for them. Seeing Tian Mantong, Tian Sisi instinctively ran towards him, affectionately calling out "Uncle". It was probably a reflex of this body. Tian Mantong happily examined her up and down a few times, "Looking energetic, but you've lost a lot of weight, there's not a bit of flesh on your face. Uncle brought you some malted milk essence and powdered milk, have a good nourishment." "Uncle, I won't eat it. Give the malted milk essence and powdered milk to Jianhua and Zhenhua to eat (Tian Jianhua is Tian Mantong's second son, 6 years old, Tian Zhenhua, the youngest son, is 3 years old, and there is an eldest son Tian Yaohua who is 8 years old). I'm already grown, I'll gain weight if I eat more." Tian Sisi wouldn't dream of consuming such rare luxuries. Although Uncle's job brought in good perks, malted milk essence and powdered milk are scarce commodities now, hard to buy even with money. It seems Uncle bought them only for her, and surely her three male cousins at home wouldn't have anything to eat. She couldn't afford to arouse jealousy in them; the original host was just too ungracious, always taking it for granted to accept other people's kindness, which was why her cousins harbored such great resentment towards her. Tian Mantong looked at Tian Sisi in surprise and felt that his niece had really changed, become much more agreeable. Although she used to be cute, she was also a bit self-willed and did not like to share good things with others. Daddy was right; after Ah Nan fell ill and recovered, she became much more sensible. Tian Mantong was very pleased with his niece's transformation. "Boys don't need such nutritious items; it's not good to spoil them. Ah Nan, save it for yourself." Tian Sisi insisted on not accepting it, using the reason that she was already grown up. In the end, under the mediation of the Old Man, Tian Sisi kept a packet of malted milk essence for herself, while the powdered milk was given to Tian Mantong's three children. Wang Qiuyang, Tian Mantong's wife, smiled with satisfaction. Wang Qiuyang worked at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in town, together with Tian Mantong's second brother-in-law, Wang Baishan. In fact, Wang Baishan and Wang Qiuyang were cousins, and it was Wang Baishan who had played matchmaker for Wang Qiuyang and Tian Mantong's marriage. Wang Qiuyang was a gentle and honest woman, different from Tian Aiguo's shrewd and capable wife, Xu Qianwen. Xu Liwen always took pride in being from Shanghai and a high school teacher, looking down on rural people. Although she was polite on the surface, her eyes were filled with disdain. Wang Qiuyang had no objections to her husband buying clothes and shoes for Tian Sisi, as she also felt that this niece brought good fortune to their family and was a blessed child. However, this time her husband managed to get a packet of malted milk essence and a packet of powdered milk from the province with great difficulty. It was agreed to give the malted milk essence to Tian Sisi and save the powdered milk for Zhenhua to eat, but seeing Tian Sisi being unwell, the uncle brought both this time and the youngest son didn't get any. Wang Qiuyang, who was always gentle, quarreled with Tian Mantong for the first time. She felt uncomfortable all the way, simmering with anger. Her husband seemed to care for this niece too much, as if in his heart, his wife and sons couldn't compare with this niece. Therefore, Wang Qiuyang also harbored resentment towards Tian Sisi. Now, seeing Tian Sisi voluntarily give up the malted milk essence and powdered milk, Wang Qiuyang immediately felt guilty, thinking that she had been too petty. Feeling that Wang Qiuyang's mood had returned to peace, Tian Sisi quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Her aunt had finally calmed down. It was no wonder, after all. If she herself were in that position, with her husband treating an outsider better than his own son, she would surely be furious too. For her aunt to be as broad-minded as she was, was already very commendable. Old Yang hasn't even gotten a recommend ticket yet! Please give one!