Li Zhengguo was surprised. "It's beautiful, but I'm not sure our house can withstand it."
"Have you forgotten my special ability? My goal is to use the rose's root system to stabilize the house. With me controlling it, the house won't collapse."
"Tiantian."
Li Zhengguo turned and hugged her, pressing his forehead against hers.
"You'll have to pay close attention to it, and it will be tiring. We also have plans for having a baby, and plans for revenge. We don't know how long we'll be gone."
Tian Jing: "..." She had forgotten again, only thinking about not building a new house and not drawing attention.
"Heh heh, my little fool," Li Zhengguo chuckled as he held her tighter. "You've already drawn attention. Living in a room full of such flowers will only make you more noticeable."
"Then what should we do?" If they had to build the main house too, the bricks and tiles she had extorted wouldn't be enough.
"Let's rebuild the main house and the kitchen, using half stone and half brick."
"Right! We can 'chop' stone blocks down from the mountain, 'chop' more. And build two side rooms on the east. It won't be pure brick, so it won't be too conspicuous."
Li Zhengguo didn't correct her anymore. His Tiantian just wanted to avoid attention and live a quiet life. In reality, they couldn't be low-key anymore, at least not in Kushan.
"Yes, once the new house is built, if you want to plant these roses, the house will be safe."
"Mhm, having plants around the yard will be convenient for me, and they can also act as surveillance."
Li Zhengguo envied her. "Your special ability has so many uses."
Tian Jing looked at the area overgrown with weeds. "Of course. When spring comes, we'll tidy up this plot and plant crops. Then you'll see the power of the wood element ability."
"Okay, I'll wait and see."
...
For three consecutive days, the two of them went into the mountains, each day bringing down dozens of uniform and straight trees.
Since they decided to rebuild the main house as well, the required beams more than doubled.
Including doors and windows, they felled over a hundred trees and brought them down the mountain.
Accountant Li accepted the over a hundred yuan for the trees from Li Zhengguo, sighing inwardly about how fortunes change.
On the fourth day, the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month, to the villagers' anticipation, the couple dragged two wild boars down.
At the foot of the mountain, they were surrounded by joyful commune members.
Tian Jing handed the wild boars over to the enthusiastic commune members and returned to the village first, heading straight for the Niu family's house.
The Niu family had managed to get a roll of plastic sheeting on credit. Niu Xiao Sao was unhappy, saying it was like being in debt, and the days of carrying debt were difficult. She had been causing trouble for days. [Sudan Novel Network]
Niu Da Sao and Niu Da Ge were also dissatisfied and decided to split the family.
When Tian Jing arrived, the Niu family had just finished a quarrel.
Seeing Niu Da Sao's unhappy expression, Tian Jing understood the reason and advised her, "Don't split the family, just divide the responsibilities. You bear the debt, and whatever you earn is yours. Don't let them participate in the labor, so they don't cause you trouble."
The debt was just a pretense. If they truly lost money, it would be left unresolved, as it was all extorted by her.
Of course, Tian Jing couldn't tell Niu Da Sao this.
"Yes, that's right, divide the responsibilities." With a solution, Niu Da Sao felt more confident. "Why are you here?"
Tian Jing whispered something in her ear.
Niu Da Sao patted her chest. "Don't worry, I'll definitely get it done for you. Oh, by the way, that couple has been kicked out and is staying at the Zhang family's house."
"The Zhang family's days lately have been chaotic and 'lively.' I heard they plan to endure until the New Year and then immediately start building a house at the end of the village after the holiday."
Tian Jing's eyes turned cold. Li Aiguo still wanted to live there? Fine, she would add to their excitement.
Niu Da Sao continued about the Li family's affairs. "Huang Sulan almost miscarried. She's on bed rest every day now."
Tian Jing was a little surprised. "Shouldn't she be over four months now? They say it's safe after three months?"
"Yes, almost five months, and she still needs to rest. It's because she's been too upset. I heard her emotions are unstable. I don't know if she'll be able to carry it to term?"
Niu Da Sao said this and then looked around, leaning closer to Tian Jing. "I suspect Zhang Fangcao did something. After all, she lost her own pregnancy, and Huang Sulan discovered hers right after."
"And Huang Sulan's emotions are too extreme. She used to be quite steady. Even if she was unhappy with her in-laws' younger brother and his wife, they've been kicked out, so shouldn't she be happy?"
Tian Jing paused. "Could you be overthinking it? No matter how much they fight, it has nothing to do with us. We can just watch."
"By the way, Niu Da Sao, I want some Datura flower and mint. Where can I find them?"
"You can't find them in winter. In spring and summer, they're all over the village, growing by the roadside."
Growing everywhere? Tian Jing's eyes flickered. "Has anyone cut them for firewood?"
"Of course, they have. In the fall, those kids were lazy and cut them by the roadside. They cut them all down before going to the foot of the mountain to collect firewood. Do you want them? I can help you find some." Niu Da Sao started to head out.
Tian Jing pulled her back. "I'm not in a hurry, just asking. When they sprout in spring, I'll pick whole tender ones. I'm going home now. Niu Da Sao, you should go watch the pig slaughtering."
"Right, I need to go quickly, lest the Zhang and Li families happily get their share of the meat."
Tian Jing returned home, pondered for a while, and then went out again.
In the kitchen, Chen Suozhu, who was being pulled by Li Min for a 'practical lesson,' finally let go of the person he was holding.
Li Min hit him. "Why were you acting so sneaky? My sister-in-law won't come into the kitchen at this time."
"Really?"
"Really, she... *mwah mwah mwah*"
With her mouth covered, Li Min happily continued practicing.
Tian Jing headed straight for the back mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, she encountered Li Aiguo and Zhang Fangcao, a couple digging for wild vegetables. She pretended not to see them and went directly into the mountain.
Li Aiguo threw down a bamboo sliver and chased after her.
Zhang Fangcao sneered.
After encountering Lin Er Lai and Fang Qiuhong, Tian Jing stopped.
"Sister Fang, what brings you to the mountain to dig for wild vegetables?"
Fang Qiuhong looked at Tian Jing's face, her jealousy undeniable.
"Tian Jing, Li Min's scar has disappeared. I heard you bought a scar removal cream in the county. Where did you buy it?"
"Is this why you colluded with Zhang Fangcao to block me?"
Fang Qiuhong paused, then admitted, "Yes, Zhang Fangcao said you know Brother Lei and must have a way to find a miracle cure."
Fang Qiuhong had clearly seen Tian Jing's fighting strength. Zhang Fangcao wanted to deal with Tian Jing and pulled her in, using this excuse. She couldn't resist, nor did she want to.
Hearing faint footsteps, Tian Jing smiled. "She's right. I bought the ointment from Ouyang Lei. The effect is very good. I heard it's also effective for all kinds of birthmarks. You, want it?"
"Yes!" Fang Qiuhong nodded vigorously.
"Is this how you asked for it? Don't you know my strength? With your family background and status, you shouldn't be so easily fooled by Zhang Fangcao."
Fang Qiuhong shook her head. "No, I didn't plan to deal with you. She said Er Lai has feelings for you. She often acts as Er Lai's messenger, so she has a lot of contact with Er Lai. But Er Lai is going to participate in Zhang Fangcao's plan, so I had to come and watch."
"Oh." Tian Jing glanced indifferently at Lin Er Lai. "Fang Qiuhong, do you love Lin Er Lai?"
"Yes."
"Even if he is with other women?"
"Yes."
"And if your beauty is restored?"
Fang Qiuhong touched her right temple. "I still love him."
"What's so good about him?"
"Everything is good, I like everything."
"Can you guarantee you'll like him for the rest of your life? Won't you fall for someone else?"
"Yes!"