He Tiantian looked at Cheng Fang and thought that although he looked decent enough, he was indeed a scoundrel.
She remained silent because she didn't want to deal with this rude guy. Couldn't he even greet someone? Why should she tell him?
Ah Fu hummed and chirped as he approached, then greeted her with a smile, "Hello, Auntie, do you live in this village?"
Hmm, this servant does have some sense.
He Tiantian glanced at Cheng Fang and Afu, and asked knowingly, "What brings you here to see Yan'er?"
Afu spoke first: "This is my young master Cheng. He studied at Bailu Academy with Zhao Yan. Today, my young master came here specifically to catch up with his classmate."
"Really?" He Tiantian asked with some doubt.
Before Afu could answer again, Cheng Fangfang raised her voice, "Auntie, haven't we met somewhere before?"
He tapped his forehead with the fan in his hand. Where have I seen this before?
He thought it looked familiar, and then he thought and thought...
"I know!" Cheng Fang shouted, "Didn't you sell mulberries at Bailu Academy last year?"
“Ah Fu, take a look, isn’t that right? I knew it looked familiar…” Cheng Fang, that blockhead, finally figured it out.
He Tiantian didn't intend to hide anything. She nodded and said, "I did sell fruit at the entrance of the academy, but many people bought my fruit. I don't remember which young master this is."
Cheng Fang: "..."
He's a rich young master, always the center of attention wherever he goes. Now he's being ignored? Ignored by a village woman no less!
Cheng Fang hesitated, trying to keep his tone normal, "Where does Zhao Yan live?"
He Tiantian snorted inwardly and pointed to a mud-brick house not far away.
"Do you see those three houses over there?"
Cheng Fang and A Fu looked in the direction He Tiantian pointed and nodded.
"Auntie, isn't that area all three mud-brick houses?" Afu asked, puzzled as to which one it was.
He Tiantian withdrew her hand and sighed.
"Let me take you there," He Tiantian said, walking in front.
The village roads were all dirt roads, which He Tiantian was used to, so she didn't think anything of it.
She walked very fast, paying no attention to the two new city dwellers behind her.
Cheng Fang and A Fu struggled to keep up, their feet covered in mud, making it difficult for them to walk quickly.
"Auntie, wait for us."
"Auntie, please slow down..."
He Tiantian's face was gloomy. She could accept being called aunt, but being called big aunt?
That was simply unbearable! He quickened his pace.
When they arrived at Zhao Yan's house, He Tiantian saw Widow Zhang and Zhao Dagou's wife Cheng Taotao talking together at the door, with a girl standing next to them who looked unfamiliar.
He Tiantian thought to herself, "Isn't this widow working in the mine? How can she have time to chat?"
Widow Zhang was smiling and talking to Cheng Taotao when she saw He Tiantian arrive, so she stopped.
She greeted He Tiantian warmly, "Wanzi's mom, are you here to see Zhao Yan again?"
What does "again" mean? He Tiantian didn't like hearing Widow Zhang say that.
She said calmly, "It wasn't me who looked for them, it was those two rich young men from the city who looked for them. They didn't know the way when they got to the village entrance, so I was just there to guide them."
Upon hearing the name of a wealthy young man, Widow Zhang's eyes lit up.
She tugged at Cheng Taotao's sleeve and gave her a wink.
This scene did not escape He Tiantian's eyes.
She spoke in a harsh tone, "Zhang Chunhua, you can talk to Da Gou's wife all you want, but why are you standing at Zhao Yan's door? Don't you know Zhao Yan has to study and do his homework?"
Widow Zhang's face flushed. "Well... well, isn't it because Sister Wang and the others in the village all like to come here?"
"Then why didn't I see them, only you? Cheng Taotao is a new bride who just married into our village. She's always hanging around the men's door. Isn't that inappropriate?" He Tiantian retorted without any mercy.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Taotao's face turned pale instantly, and the little girl next to her also seemed a bit uncomfortable.
Widow Zhang, however, was more experienced and thick-skinned, and quickly regained her composure.
She chuckled, "Oh dear, Maruko-chan, what are you saying? We're just used to coming here, and you're making it sound so strange..."
"Huff huff huff..." Cheng Fang and his servant finally arrived with great difficulty.
Cheng Fang's fan was almost falling apart. "Auntie...you're walking way too fast!" She didn't care about his feelings at all.
He Tiantian didn't reply. "This is Zhao Yan's house. You guys wait at the door, I'll go in and call for help."
The Zhao family's courtyards were usually not locked from the inside, so He Tiantian pushed the door open and went inside.
This time, Zhao Yan moved into the innermost room.
It goes without saying that they must have been annoyed by the noisy group of gossipy women at the door.
"Yan'er, are you home?" He Tiantian called out from the yard.
Soon, Zhao Yan opened the door and came out.
"Auntie, when did you get back?" Zhao Yan asked happily.
"Just got back, just got back."
In the morning, there were firecrackers and candy being scattered outside; the whole village had gone out. Only Zhao Yan was able to stay at home and concentrate on writing.
With such dedication and skill, it's no wonder that he was able to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar.
"Your colleague has arrived, saying he's come to apologize to you."
Zhao Yan looked somewhat uncomfortable. Ever since Aunt He told him about this last time, she had told him to be mentally prepared.
Zhao Yan had been thinking about this matter a lot these days, and he couldn't quite describe the feeling.
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