Xian Fangfang straightened her clothes at the door and stroked her hair. She was wearing a brown camel-hair mid-length coat, a snow-white turtleneck sweater, black trousers and calfskin shoes. This outfit was noble, dignified, graceful and elegant even in the city. How many people in the countryside have seen it? It was enough to shock Meng Taohua, the village girl, and the educated youth living in her house.

The main reason why Xian Fangfang thought of coming to see Meng Taohua was that she felt too bored staying in the Tian family. She was unfamiliar with the place and the environment was not good. Except for Tian Zhigao, all the other members of the Tian family were idiots. She had no good impression of them and had nothing to say. She came out to relax. She only knew Meng Taohua in the village, so she decided to take a look.

I hope Meng Taohua, who took so much money from her, can live a decent life. Don’t let her down!

Xian Fangfang pushed open the half-open gate and walked in. She was a little surprised. Although both were country courtyards, this courtyard was much cleaner and tidier than the dirty and messy Tian's. There were two tall piles of firewood, a persimmon tree with a few red fruits hanging on the top, a row of neatly planted hollies, and a large water tank at the kitchen door... There were quite a few sundries, but they were all properly and neatly arranged. The yard was not muddy at all on rainy days. There was a row of thin, flat square stones from the gate to the main house to prevent it from being difficult to walk on rainy days. They also raised chickens, and when she heard the chickens clucking, they did not run around; they were all locked up.

Xian Fangfang walked in on the square stones and smelled a strong aroma. It was meat! And fish! And other sour and spicy aromas! Xian Fangfang swallowed her saliva greedily and quickened her pace to the main house.

Qian Xiaoyun and Jiang Limei were setting the table. There were eight dishes on the eight-immortals table: poached chicken, stewed soybeans with dried fish, stir-fried smoked pork with garlic sprouts, smoked pork stewed with dried radish, steamed egg with lotus seeds, fried peanuts, spicy cabbage, and pickled cucumbers. He Huijuan was squatting in front of the small stove adding firewood. In the pot on the stove, pork ribs and potatoes were bubbling, with a few large red dates rolling up and down. On the iron bucket by the door, there was a basket of washed cabbage leaves, fresh and juicy, waiting to be put into the hot pot later.

Today is Xu Guoliang’s birthday. Meng Tao and the educated youth celebrated for him together. Each person contributed a dish and they had a birthday party.

Xian Fangfang has been hungry for several days since she got on the train. The Tian family thought that egg noodles were the best food, and because of Tian Agui's matter, no one was in the mood to prepare any food, so they just served her noodles every day. No matter how hungry Xian Fangfang was, she couldn't eat any. Now, facing such a sumptuous table, especially the juicy cabbage leaves, she could hear her stomach rumbling.

He Huijuan yelled, "Why haven't these men come yet? They are not ladies from wealthy families who need to dress up before going out. The food will get cold soon!"

After she finished shouting, she turned around and was about to yell towards the wing room, but she found Xian Fangfang standing at the door. She was really surprised. It was just as Xian Fangfang thought: there are few people in the countryside who dress as noble and exquisitely as she does.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

Before He Huijuan finished her question, Jiang Limei came over and looked straight at Xian Fangfang: "Who are you looking for?"

She accidentally heard Zhao Ming tell Jiang Xiaodong that someone might come to see him soon and want to go back to the city with him to celebrate the New Year. She couldn't help but feel a little wary, fearing that this woman was looking for Zhao Ming.

Xian Fangfang knew that these three women were the educated youth that Du Meiqiu mentioned, so she replied, "I'm looking for Meng Taohua."

"Ah, are you looking for peach blossoms?"

Jiang Limei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a little embarrassed, and turned around to ask Qian Xiaoyun: "Where is Taohua?"

Qian Xiaoyun: "Taohua went to find Zhou Huiling to come over for dinner. I saw Xu Guoliang give her money and told her to go to the agency store to buy some wine."

Jiang Limei smiled and said to Xian Fangfang: "Taohua has to go around Zhou's house to get to the agency store. It's quite far and will take about ten minutes. You have to wait a while. Please come in and sit down!"

Xian Fangfang walked into the house and got closer to the eight-immortals table. She looked at the ordinary home-cooked dishes on the table, which were delicious in color, aroma and taste, especially the aroma which was simply amazing. Xian Fangfang swallowed her saliva again.

I heard Jiang Limei standing at the door and directing a few men: "The steamed white flour buns and stewed rice in the kitchen are all ready, go get them!"

Xian Fangfang: “…”

She had never been so greedy before.

Xian Fangfang: "My last name is Xian... I came here from the commune on a bullock cart."

"Oh, you're from the commune?" Qian Xiaoyun smiled and said, looking at Xian Fangfang's high heels, "Walking in the village with these shoes must be tiring for your feet, do you want to change into cloth shoes? Taohua has some cloth slippers she invented in her room, they are very comfortable and warm to wear in the house, you can go change into one, we are all wearing them."

Xian Fangfang followed Qian Xiaoyun's instructions and walked to the door of the east room. The door was open. She looked inside and opened her eyes wide in surprise: snow-white walls, smooth and clean cement floor, simple floral curtains, a desk under the window, a kerosene lamp on it, and a pile of books; to the past was a brown-red wood wardrobe, and on the other side was a bunk bed, with the same snow-white transparent gauze mosquito net, pink and elegant sheets and quilts, which looked warm and comfortable. There was also a small, clumsy and cute dressing table next to the bed! Meng Taohua, a country woman's room, was so clean and so good!

No matter how good it is, it can't compare to the ones in the city. The reason why Xian Fangfang thought so was because the room and bed she slept in was Tian Yalan's room, which was known as the best room in the Tian family, but it was still dirty and messy. She hated it so much. If she were allowed to live in Meng Taohua's room, she would have a good rest and might not have too many complaints.

Xian Fangfang was about to enter Meng Tao's room when the male educated youth came over and found a strange woman in the room. She was dressed like a beauty and looked very pretty. They couldn't help but stare at her. Qian Liang asked first, "Comrade, are you here to celebrate Comrade Xu Guoliang's birthday?"

Xian Fangfang: "Xu Guoliang? Who is that?"

Xu Guoliang: "It doesn't matter if I don't know you. Since you are here, let's have a meal together."

Qian Liang: "Have two drinks, and then you will know each other!"

Several people laughed. Xian Fangfang was also happy to be invited. She could have a normal meal. She really wanted to drink a bowl of fragrant and warm pork rib soup, a bowl of white rice, a soft white steamed bun, and try those delicious home-cooked dishes one by one, and also eat some juicy cabbage... She smiled and nodded to the male educated youth, and looked at Zhao Ming and Jiang Xiaodong twice. She found that the two male educated youth had good figures and good temperament.

While the seats were being arranged, Meng Tao came back with two bottles of wine.

As soon as she entered the room, she said, "Zhou Cuiling is working overtime today and didn't come home at noon. Let's eat. We don't have to wait for her."

He turned his eyes and saw Xian Fangfang, and his smile froze: "Why are you here?"

Xian Fangfang: "Meng Taohua, long time no see, I came to see you."

Meng Tao hehe: "Thank you, but you are not welcome here!"

"Hey, why are you like this? That's so rude."

"I am just like this. There is no need to be polite to you. Please leave my house immediately!"

The educated youths looked at each other in bewilderment. Jiang Limei said, "Taohua, this comrade Xian came from the commune to see you."

Meng Tao sneered: "She is not from the commune, she is from the provincial capital - let me introduce you: this is Tian Zhigao's newlywed wife, Xian Fangfang!"

(End of this chapter)