The next day, Grandma reserved a few tables at the village inn to celebrate Tong Ge’s college admission.
The main idea was to let the villagers join in the festivities and to soak up some of the joyous atmosphere.
According to the village chief, Grandma had no choice but to throw this celebration. "Tong Ge is the student who scored the highest in our village in the college entrance exam. We must celebrate!"
Mrs. Wang, who owns the noodle shop next door, said with a smile, "She might just be the best-scoring student our village has ever seen!"
The fastidious village chief chimed in, "Well, that’s hard to say. Going back hundreds or even thousands of years, our village might have had a top scorer before!"
Grandma didn’t like that. "What top scorer! Little Dove is the best-scoring top scorer in our village!"
The villagers all raised their glasses, the drinkers with alcohol and the non-drinkers with soy milk.
"Let’s toast to the top scorer!"
The meal was joyful and bustling. During the meal, Lin Shuang noticed that there were still quite a few young people in the village.
Not like many other villages, where basically only elderly people are left.
Maybe it’s because this place was turned into a tourist attraction, so many young people fled the big city to return home and build their community.
Even his sister-in-law, Tong Ge, is thinking about returning to farm the land in the future.
That afternoon, the little sister-in-law discussed with Grandma her desire to attend her sister, Tong Yao’s university.
"It’s good for the two sisters to have each other for support."
Holding both granddaughters’ hands, Grandma continued, "I’ve been a bit worried these days since the exam results came out. Little Dove going off to Hai City University alone will definitely face some challenges."
Tong Ge pursed her lips and didn’t say anything.
"You’re so naïve, and there are many bad people in big cities. I’m afraid a bad man might deceive you."
Lin Shuang, who was sitting beside them and focusing on eating melon, suddenly felt a chill down his spine!
It seemed as if Wanwan, the little maid, and the little sister-in-law all looked silently in his direction!
Triple glances of scrutiny!
So he’s the designated bad guy, huh?
Really couldn’t refute.
After all, the little sister-in-law had discovered he was a philandering playboy.
So he just continued eating his melon.
Well, at least in Grandma’s eyes, he’s still a good man, a good grandson-in-law!
After finishing her speech, Grandma even reached out and patted Lin Shuang on the shoulder.
"With a grandson-in-law like Lin Shuang, I can rest assured. He looks very reliable!"
Named by Grandma, Lin Shuang had no choice but to look up, showing off a brilliant, reliable smile.
"I won’t let Grandma down..."
Sure enough, all three beautiful girls were watching him!
The little sister-in-law, who usually showed little emotion, seemed to have some ripples on her face.
— Surely she wasn’t thinking of exposing her brother-in-law’s true colors to Grandma right then and there: Grandma! Your brother-in-law is the worst bad man!
Tong Yao wore a tender smile, still holding Tong Ge’s hand.
She seemed ready to stop her sister from snitching at any moment!
Wanwan was trying so hard not to laugh that she was hurting herself.
She took out her phone and typed in the group chat, "Grandma hasn’t realized the bad man has already infiltrated us!"
This was sent in the four-person group, so Lin Shuang could also see it.
Everyone continued to chat with Grandma, while Lin Shuang tried to defend himself in the group chat.
"I’m clearly a 24K pure good man that comes along once in a thousand years!"
He also tagged Tong Yao, "Ayao! Come and vouch for me! Clear my name!"
The little maid, of course, was supporting her master, "Bad woman, don’t pin the badge of disgrace onto my master as well!"
Tong Ge leaned in and asked Tong Yao, "Sister, what group is this?"
Tong Yao immediately put away her phone, "...Little Dove, don’t peek!"
"I didn’t peek, I just glanced at it for a second, the group name seems to be ’A Loving Family’ or something?"
Tong Ge, her sister-in-law, spoke in an even tone, "Then you should add me to the group as well, right, sister?"
Su Wan immediately commented in the group, "The bad maid’s sister is now actively joining the team of bad women too!"
Lingmeng, slacking off at her job in the milk tea shop, also commented, "Hmm? Are there new wings again?"
The master is too quick!
Su Wan laughed, "Your master will be full of wings all over—he’s like a winged monster!"
Taking a break to send a message, Lin Shuang said, "Wanwan, don’t slander! Characters with so many wings are usually righteous! Ever heard of the Six-winged Angel? The light of justice!"
Su Wan, as if she had seized a critical piece of evidence, "The Six-winged Angel, huh! You really did count your little sister-in-law as well! Bad maid! Tonight, we must make your master kneel and scrub the washboard!"
Grandma’s house did indeed have a washboard, now probably only found in the village.
Watching Su Wan "click-clacking" away typing, Tong Yao said to Tong Ge with a mix of laughter and helplessness, "...there’s your Sister Su in the group as well."
Hearing her sister’s explanation, the sister-in-law immediately understood: So that’s the kind of ’A Loving Family’ it is!
But she noticed another detail and asked Tong Yao, "But sister, I thought I saw that there were four people in the group just now."
"Little Dove, since when did you start peeking?"
Little Dove reiterated, "I didn’t peek, just caught a glimpse."
She stared unblinkingly at her sister, "So sister, why are there four members in the group?"
This little sister-in-law looked just like a studious pupil who just finished class, eager to question the teacher.
Such a serious expression, she must conquer this challenging question.
Tong Yao pursed her lips, thinking you should ask your brother-in-law about this question!
There are not just four, two more haven’t been added to the group yet!
She glanced reproachfully at Lin Shuang and answered Tong Ge’s question.
"I don’t think so, sister."
"Sister, my eyesight is really good."
"...Go ask your brother-in-law!"
Grandma, who was chatting with Lin Shuang about family, smiled kindly at the whispering sisters.
"After all, they are sisters. Haven’t seen each other for so long, yet they’re quickly getting along as always."
The elderly lady patted Lin Shuang’s hand, "When you’re in Huai City, take good care of the two sisters for me."
Lin Shuang nodded earnestly, "I will take good care of Yaoyao and Little Dove."
Everyone accompanied Grandma for another day at her home, and after lunch the next day, they set off to return.
This return trip added one more company—a little sister-in-law—as Tong Ge planned to go to Huai City earlier to scout out.
Grandma walked everyone out of the village on her own.
The elderly lady’s steps were light; now her youngest granddaughter had also grown up and gone to college.
She could finally dance in the square without worries.
It’s just that afterwards, she would be alone in the old courtyard.
Maybe she’d get a bit lonely after all.
Tong Yao and Tong Ge, the two sisters, both held Grandma’s hands to say goodbye.
Watching this, Lin Shuang fell into thought for a moment before speaking, "Why not... Grandma, move to Huai City with us?"