Tian Sangsang didn’t expect the once-valuable four-courtyard house to be depreciated to such a worthless state. She helplessly explained, "Second Aunt, this courtyard house was built during the late Qing Dynasty. It’s essentially an antique and has historical value. Don’t be in a rush to regret it—this is what it’s worth."
It was soone else who bought the house, so they weren’t in a position to say much. Furthermore, once it’s bought, it can’t be returned. But still, although it wasn’t their money, Second Aunt Tian and Grandma Tian grieved over it as if they’d spent their own cash—heartbroken, absolutely devastated. Four thousand yuan? That was being scamd! For a house like this, wasn’t two thousand yuan enough?
Tian Sangsang smiled and cheerfully led them to the northern room: "Co along, take a look inside; I’ve already redecorated."
"Yanyan." She turned back and called ng Shuyan over.
Grandma Tian’s chicks were placed in the courtyard, and ng Shuyan was playing with them, utterly engrossed. Upon hearing his mom call, he dusted off his clothes and ca running over.
The living room, kitchen, and bedroom turned out to be a world apart, leaving Grandma Tian and Second Aunt Tian stunned.
Just in the kitchen alone, all the furniture was complete—simple and tidy. The living room had a sofa, a TV stand, an eight-sided table, and four chairs. A subtle scent of flowers lingered, with a vase displaying fresh arrangents.
Then they looked at the bedroom, and Second Aunt Tian gasped, "Sangsang, you’ve decorated this like a newlywed’s ho—it’s so warm and inviting!" ng Shuyan took off his shoes and wandered into the room, drawn to the small table placed on the bed.
"Grandma, Second Aunt, your room is prepared too. I’ll take you over to see it."
Finally, Grandma Tian and Second Aunt Tian let go of their mindsets about the house’s lack of value. They hadn’t planned to stay here long—always eating and drinking for free made them feel embarrassed, even though Sangsang hadn’t ntioned anything. Besides, there were tasks back ho, and Second Aunt Tian had to return soon. However, considering her niece was pregnant, she still planned to help out and leave after a few days. Otherwise, she wouldn’t feel at ease.
Grandma Tian, worried that no one would care for Sangsang, had thought about staying here to take care of her. Especially when it ca to postpartum recovery—how could she manage? Her mother’s family lived far away, and her in-laws were unpleasant. Her granddaughter truly deserved sympathy.
Tian Sangsang naturally declined. She could handle everything on her own—it wasn’t right to let the elderly act as her nanny.
Tian Sangsang intended to make the courtyard elegant, maybe with plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum altogether. But by the ti it was barely halfway through the afternoon, Grandma Tian had already transford it into a rural-style amusent ground. A small vegetable plot, a chicken pen, and a duck pen—it was alive with the bustling sounds of chickens and ducks.
Though internally amused, she thought this actually wasn’t bad—it was quite lively. However, the chickens and ducks ran everywhere, making the ss hard to clean up; clearly, they needed to be more contained.
In the midst of Grandma Tian’s setup, there was a knock at the door. A delivery person carrying sothing asked, "Hello, ma’am, is this Tian Sangsang’s ho?"
"Yes, what do you want?" Grandma Tian eyed him cautiously.
"It’s like this—Miss Tian ordered a TV from our departnt store this morning, and I’m delivering it as per her request."
Grandma Tian was startled and quickly called for Tian Sangsang to co over.
"Grandma, I ordered the TV," Tian Sangsang explained. Then she turned to the delivery person: "Co on in."
The delivery person went in to install the TV, and Second Aunt Tian, who had never seen one before, watched him work with an air of fascination, marveling at Sangsang’s ability to live well. Luckily, she had money. Otherwise, which household would marry such a wife without feeling overwheld? Truly wasteful—living like this wasn’t feasible!
The TV was black-and-white, 16 inches. Tian Sangsang planned to buy a color TV in a few years. However, she rarely watched TV; she bought it more as decor, like an ornant.
**
Having wrapped up a day of filming, Zhao Chun trudged wearily down the alley. Passing by the door of Tian Sangsang’s house, he purposefully glanced at it. She had ntioned she was going to move here, but surely it had been a joke, right? She was married—how could she possibly live outside?
Zhao Chun shook his head in mild disappointnt, exhaling a breath of pent-up air. Looking down at his empty hands, he realized he had forgotten to pack anything to bring back—seems like instant noodles were his only option. One cup wouldn’t fill him; two cups still left him hungry. It was another lonely night with instant noodles...
Suddenly, his nose twitched as the aroma of food began wafting through the air...
It was the sll of a ho-cooked al!
Wasn’t the place supposed to be empty? How could there be the aroma of food here?!
Like a thief, Zhao Chun cautiously nudged the gate, purely out of curiosity, and—unexpectedly—it opened.
ng Shuyan, who happened to be playing in the courtyard, poked his head out from behind the gate and exclaid with delight, "Oh! Chun Zisu!"
"Yanyan." Zhao Chun froze for a mont and looked at him. "You guys moved in??"
"Yep!" ng Shuyan said cheerfully. "We just moved in today."
"Chun Zisu, co inside and sit down—we’re about to eat!" The little boy held his hand happily and led him in, shouting, "Mom, Chun Zisu is here!"
Tian Sangsang stepped out of the room, smiling slightly when she saw him.
Zhao Chun said, "Why did you move here so fast? I didn’t even get a chance to help."
Tian Sangsang thought to herself—that was precisely why she moved when he wasn’t around.
"Sangsang, who is it?" Second Aunt Tian, wearing her apron, erged from the kitchen with a dish in her hands. After placing it on the table, she peered outside the door. That young man was quite handso—with proper features, an impressive deanor.
"Grandma, Second Aunt, this is my friend, Zhao Chun." She introduced him to them.
Zhao Chun was caught off guard. Weren’t these Sangsang’s pesky relatives? He had the misfortune of eting them before—especially the way they caused such a ruckus. It left quite an impression. But given the current situation...
He quickly adapted, putting on a friendly smile and greeting them enthusiastically, "Hello, Grandma, Second Aunt. I’m Zhao Chun. I live nearby and am a neighbor of Sangsang’s."
Grandma Tian and Second Aunt Tian rembered him faintly, then turned to Sangsang: "So you two have known each other for quite a while, huh?"
Grandma Tian had a soft spot for clean-cut young n like Zhao Chun. She said to him, "Co on in and eat—we just finished cooking."
Zhao Chun quickly shook his head, "Thank you, Grandma, but you eat—I won’t disturb you. My food at ho is waiting for ." He didn’t bring anything with him, so how could he have the nerve to sit here eating with them?
"The food waiting for you is instant noodles, isn’t it?" Tian Sangsang smirked and stared at him, unreserved.
Grandma Tian and Second Aunt Tian were taken aback by Sangsang’s tone, saying, "What kind of attitude is this, Sangsang?" Speaking to a man with such disdain—weren’t she afraid of driving n away and being left hopelessly alone soday?
They worried Zhao Chun might take offense, though they had no clue what instant noodles were. But from the looks of it, Zhao Chun wasn’t upset at all. Instead, he gave an embarrassed laugh, his face flushing red.
From their experience, most n were more assertive. This comparison made Zhao Chun’s gentle deanor all the more remarkable.
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