Xia Xiangqian walked over the small bridge and saw the off-road vehicle blocking the way, immediately feeling a surge of anger.
If he were younger, he would have smashed it with his hoe, then walked away as if nothing had happened.
He first placed the hoe by the door, then tiptoed to peer into the yard.
Seeing no one in the yard, he coughed twice and walked straight towards the house.
"Dad~"
Xia Xue pushed the door open, just as her father, Xia Xiangqian, reached out to pull it.
Xia Xiangqian slowly stepped back, looking at his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in years, a torrent of emotions flooding his mind.
Her toddler days, babbling.
Her sweet and adorable appearance as she grew.
Her graceful posture as a young woman.
Her stunning beauty, captivating like a fallen swan, a shy moon.
And then, she met that little brat!
Arguments, quarrels, stubbornness!
Storming out!
These scenes flashed through his mind, one by one.
"You're back."
A thousand words condensed into one sentence.
Xia Xiangqian's old eyes were already red, but he held back his tears.
"Mm."
Xia Xue pouted, wanting to cry but not wanting her father to see.
Even now, she didn't regret her choice back then, nor did she intend to apologize to her parents.
A father knows his daughter best, and Xia Xiangqian understood her thoughts just by looking at her expression.
Lin Fan called from behind, "Sister-in-law, invite Uncle and Aunt to eat."
"Okay."
Xia Xue responded, then said to her father, "Dad, I just finished cooking, come in and eat."
As she was about to turn, she suddenly realized someone was missing and asked, "Dad, where's Mom?"
"Your mom, she went to find your sixth uncle."
Xia Xiangqian's eyes darted away, clearly hiding something. "Just to have a meal together, it's been a long time since we saw your sixth uncle."
He felt a pang of regret now.
Why had he gotten so angry?
Let the kid boast if he wanted to!
It would be embarrassing if he was exposed later!
"Looking for sixth uncle?"
Xia Xue was puzzled.
Her family had no power or influence. Her father's peak in life was being a team leader in the production team.
He gained no benefits and offended many people.
After the production team disbanded, her father became an ordinary citizen again, living by farming and odd jobs.
But sixth uncle, Xia Deya, was different.
Xia Deya started with a small felt factory, then raised chickens and pigs, and was now probably the richest man in the village.
Furthermore, even before she married Lin Feng, Xia Deya had started seeking power.
Given her father's temper, although they were cousins, they rarely interacted, fearing gossip. Why would he invite him for a meal without reason?
"Just to have a meal together."
Xia Xiangqian finished speaking, saw a washbasin by the door, picked it up, and turned to fetch water from the hand pump to wash his hands.
Inside the house.
Lin Fan pondered for a moment, then poked Tian Mengyao's arm and said, "I suspect someone will come to dispute your 'ghost' status soon."
"You're the ghost!"
Tian Mengyao huffed, "I walk the straight path and sit upright. I fear no one who comes."
Lin Fan chuckled, "Luofeng Village is not close to here. You haven't been in office for long, do you know the village officials here?"
"How could I not..."
*Slap!*
Lin Fan suddenly slapped the back of Tian Mengyao's head.
"Hiss~ I..."
Tian Mengyao rubbed the back of her head, then, like a little kitten, bared her teeth and pounced at Lin Fan.
"Stop fooling around, you're the village secretary. Mind your image."
"Even if I'm not the village secretary today, I'm still going to teach you a lesson."
As they were playfully wrestling, a deep and powerful voice suddenly rang out from the yard: "Brother Xiangqian!"
Lin Fan was stunned, "He actually came?"
Tian Mengyao took the opportunity to pinch Lin Fan's arm a few times.
"Old Six, you're here."
The person who arrived was Xia Deya.
Xia Deya walked up to Xia Xiangqian and smiled, "Where is Secretary Tian of Luofeng Village? I'll go greet her."
"This..."
Xia Xiangqian waved his hand, embarrassed, "The young people are just joking. Where is there a village secretary from Luofeng Village?"
"Old Six, you're usually so busy, I won't disturb you. I'll get a wild rabbit some other day, and we'll have a good drink."
Xia Deya was dumbfounded.
What was this all about?
Were they playing games?
Tian Mengyao came out of the house at that moment and asked, "Is this Secretary Xia?"
To her shame, if she hadn't asked Xia Xue, she wouldn't even have known the name of the village secretary of Xiajiagou.
"Oh my, Secretary Tian!"
Xia Deya was extremely excited. "A rare visitor, a rare visitor! Why didn't you inform me when you came to our Xiajiagou? Look, I'm completely unprepared."
As he spoke, Xia Deya extended his hand and jogged towards Tian Mengyao.
"Please, you don't have to be so formal, just call me Xiao Tian."
Tian Mengyao shook hands with Xia Deya generously and politely. "It's not good for you to be Secretary and me to be Secretary. Just call me Xiao Tian."
"Alright, I'm older, you can call me, call me Old Xia."
Xia Deya didn't dare to be so bold as to ask Tian Mengyao to call him Uncle Xia.
However, Tian Mengyao actually did: "I'll call you Uncle Xia."
The two of them were chatting and laughing, leaving Xia Xiangqian and Xia Cuie stunned.
"She's really a secretary?"
"She's so young, how did she become a secretary?"
Xia Xiangqian's old face turned red.
What was the world coming to?
A mere young girl could be a secretary?
Xia Xue came out at that moment and greeted him, "Sixth Uncle is here."
"Oh my!" Xia Deya feigned great surprise. "Our blooming flower of Xiajiagou is back!"
"Sixth Uncle, don't tease me."
Xia Xue smiled gently and invited, "Everyone, come inside. I've just finished cooking."
Xia Deya nodded, "I must taste it. It's a great honor to have Miss Blooming Flower personally cook."
He then gestured for Tian Mengyao to go first.
Tian Mengyao didn't stand on ceremony, as excessive politeness was tiresome.
In the main room, an old-fashioned dining table was placed in the center.
This table was bought by Xia Xue when she first started working and received her salary.
Dishes of various colors, aromas, and flavors filled the table.
Xia Xiangqian and Xia Cuie sat together, as expected.
Xia Deya and Tian Mengyao sat next to each other, for easy conversation.
This naturally placed Lin Fan and Xia Xue together.
Xia Deya took a sip of baijiu, then turned to Tian Mengyao and said with a smile, "Xiao Tian, you've come at the wrong time. Come next spring, and I'll let you taste our village's specialty, toon buds."
Lin Fan smiled and said nothing.
Xiajiagou had a peculiar terrain, with only a ditch that flooded during the rainy season, turning a small stream into a large river.
And there were toon trees all over the mountains.
Toon buds were probably the only thing Xiajiagou had to offer.