"Thank you, Lan Tian!"
After crying for a while, Chunhua felt much better. She had been so excited that she could not sleep well for several nights after receiving Lan Tian’s letter. She didn’t tell anyone about it, only mentioning to Wang Guiyu that she was going to the city to find a job.
"Enough, enough, that will do. Don’t get your tears and snot all over me; it’s disgusting." What was supposed to be a touching reunion between loved ones was ruined by Lan Tian’s few words, leaving no sentimental atmosphere.
"You know what happened, think it over carefully," Lan Tian said.
"I have thought it over. Rather than staying in the village and being the subject of gossip, being looked down upon, it’s better to find a job in Shanghai and not return to the village for now."
With that, she took Chunhua to Lin Guohao’s hospital. Some formalities still had to be observed. The hospital arranged for an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor to examine her, with Lin Guohao accompanying them.
This was the first time Chunhua faced such a situation. She stood nervously at the door, looking towards Lan Tian, who gave her an encouraging smile. Taking a deep breath, Chunhua pushed the door open and entered.
The old doctor initially disdained those who used connections to get in, thinking they had just skimmed the surface of the knowledge and saw themselves as godsends. But after the examination, he gained new respect for Chunhua, realizing she had genuine substance.
With Chunhua’s job settled, Lan Tian could rest easy, feeling they had finally resolved the karma from their past lives. The burden in her heart lifted, clearing her mind.
She could only help so much; the rest of Chunhua’s journey was for her to walk alone.
Within two months, the house was finished; it was twice the size of their place in Mo Village. Lan Tian even planned for a room for her future child, one for Mr. Mo, and one for her parents-in-law. There were two guest rooms, a medicine room, a study, a storeroom, a kitchen, and more.
There was a yard at the front, a vegetable garden at the back, and they even dug a small pond on the side to raise some fish and shrimp.
After the house was built, it would need a few more months before they could move in. By the time Lan Tian’s summer break arrived, it would be ready. They went to the city to buy necessary everyday items like furniture, kitchenware, tables, chairs, beds, quilts, etc.
For the housewarming, Granny Lin and her whole family came, as did the three brothers of Lin Guohao. Mr. Mo sent gifts from Beijing. Chunhua also came, which Lan Tian didn’t intend to hide from her. Chunhua only knew that her Master’s family would settle down in Shanghai; she hadn’t thought about the financial aspect, perhaps it was Mr. Mo who bought it for them.
Of course, there were also uninvited guests. Seeing Huanhuan, Lan Tian was surprised. Other than walking to and from school together, they didn’t interact much on regular days.
Lan Tian wouldn’t turn away the guests at the door. After this event, Huanhuan no longer had chance encounters with Lan Tian, returning to her life of being chauffeured to and from school. When she saw Lan Tian, she’d just nod slightly, not sticking around warmly as before.
Lan Tian remained as usual, her expression indifferent.
If you come, she won’t reject you; if you leave, she won’t be sad.
Having lived here for more than half a year, Lan Tian realized how influential Mr. Mo was in Shanghai.
Not long after moving into the new house, Grandma Sun and Zhao Li noticed that a new peach tree had sprouted in the backyard vegetable garden. It looked a bit like the one from Mo Village but was thicker around. The two women circled the tree uncertainly, calling Lan Tian over to confirm.
"Girl, come and see, is this peach tree from our Mo Village?" Lan Tian, munching on a bunch of grapes, glanced at the larger peach tree and said, "No, this one is much bigger. It’s another one I found in the mountains. Oh, I’ve named it Little Tao. Grandma, Aunt, you should call it that from now on. It’s much more powerful than the one in Mo Village. It will protect and watch over you all when I’m not home."
This must be a sentient being.
Looking at the peach tree blooming with flowers, Grandma Sun and Zhao Li thought, this must be a Peach Tree Spirit!
The house was becoming filled with more and more weird things, but fortunately, they were all brought by Lan Tian, so they wouldn’t harm the family and would even protect the home. It was quite good.
"I’ve already tended to this vegetable garden; vegetables grown here will be just like those from the land in Mo Village."
This made Grandma Sun and Zhao Li laugh. Just yesterday, they discussed asking Lan Tian to till the land when she had time, so they could start planting vegetables. But now, they could start turning over the soil in the afternoon.
During summer break, Lan Tian told her family that she was going into the mountains and would return when school started. Grandma Sun and the others were accustomed to these trips by Lan Tian, which could last a month or so. They reminded her to take care of herself, eat on time, etc., and then each went about their business.
Lan Tian waved goodbye to her family and headed towards the bamboo forest by the mountains, then turned towards Wuhua Mountain.