Rebirth: I Lived a Quiet Life in the 70s-Chapter 26 - 27th

Lan Tian gave Fourth Grandpa a sidelong glance and noticed that after her Uncle came in, Fourth Grandpa seemed a little happier, his mouth cracked into something resembling a smile, at least not the stern and rigid expression he had when he looked at her.

Fourth Grandpa's granddaughters, upon seeing Mo Yuanle enter, went pale and instinctively hid behind their elder.

In Lan Tian's heart, she sneered. Since they were scared of Uncle, why bother coming and acting as if they were coveted?

Mo Yuanle knew why his elder had come. His coffin-face showed not the slightest ripple as he emotionlessly greeted "Fourth Uncle" and carried the basket back to the storage room.

With Grandma Sun's return, Lan Tian didn't need to go out to find anyone. She helped grandma sit on the wicker chair under the camphor tree and turned towards the Medicine House, catching a glimpse of the basket filled with tangerines, and eagerly followed after Mo Yuanle.

Mo Yuanle picked out two thin-skinned tangerines for Lan Tian, took a disposable bamboo basket from the house, filled it halfway, and went out cradling Lan Tian.

Freshly picked tangerines are indeed delicious, tart and sweet with plenty of juice. Lan Tian ate a piece and fed Mo Yuanle a bite. After just two bites, Mo Yuanle wouldn't eat anymore; he didn't like the sour-sweet fruit much, but Lan Tian didn't insist and happily ate by herself.

Mo Yuanle often held Lan Tian, and the family was used to it, not thinking much of it. The others in the hall, however, were so shocked by the harmonious atmosphere between the two that their eyeballs almost popped out.

Fourth Mo was old and sly; he shook his head slightly as if he hadn't seen this scene, tapped the ashes from his smoked-out pipe against his shoe sole, and cast a meaningful glance at Lan Tian.

"Yuanle, about the matter your uncle mentioned last time, how have you considered it?" Fourth Mo inquired while packing tobacco, looking over at Mo Yuanle.

"I heard from San Mei that Yanhua has started learning medicine under you. As I've said, we're all one family, and you can't play favorites. My girls are quite clever and genuine, good material for studying medicine. So here, I've brought them along," Fourth Mo said with an air of seniority, his intent to force a deal was quite clear.

Without speaking, the two of them communicated tacitly. Lan Tian patted his chest, and Mo Yuanle knew she wanted to get down. He didn't really want to let her go, taking advantage of the fact that she was still young enough to hold more now, knowing that in a couple of years, she might not allow him to hold her anymore.

Lan Tian knew he would act spoiled. She lifted her chin slightly, noticing the whole house watching them, Mo Yuanle reluctantly letting her down.

Lan Tian with her short legs, scooted over to sit beside Grandma Sun, her gaze wandering over the granddaughters Fourth Grandpa had talked about to see their merits. Having lived life once again, many things were different compared to her past life.

In her previous life, her aunt was injured by a falling beam, and her uncle took her to the city for treatment; they didn't return home until half a year later. She didn't learn medicine with her uncle, and nobody from Fourth Grandpa's family did either.

Back then, she was timid and reclusive, disliking going out. Perhaps Fourth Grandpa and Uncle might have brought it up, but maybe due to her aunt's incident, it came to nothing.

Her return had altered many things; the future was now highly uncertain, making the past no longer applicable.

"It's all in the family; no need for formalities, uncle. They are all your nieces, and fair treatment is due. You've watched them grow up."

Mo Yuanle placed the basket on the table and sat down next to Zhao Li, glancing at Fourth Mo's several nieces without saying a word.

Coming under his gaze, the nieces dodged eye contact, shrinking behind Fourth Mo as much as they could, stealing glances at the basket of tangerines on the table and swallowing their saliva secretly. Fourth Mo's face couldn't hold up in front of the grandchildren's lacking display.

"Go ahead and eat, Yanhua, San Mei," he said encouragingly. "You've nothing to fear from your uncle; he's just a paper tiger."

Knowing that her nieces were afraid of Mo Yuanle, Zhao Li took the basket and stuffed a few in each of their hands. After distributing to everyone, she came back, sat down, and began to peel tangerines to eat, not interfering with Mo Yuanle's medical consultations.

The tangerines were indeed tasty, tart and sweet. Lan Tian greedily ate two more and was about to grab another when Mo Yuanle caught her hand. Looking at him innocently, he admonished, "Don't eat too many, or you'll get an acidy stomach and won't be able to eat dinner."

Lan Tian glanced regretfully at the tangerines in the basket but obediently sat still.

Among Fourth Mo's granddaughters, Yanhua was the eldest at thirteen, San Mei was ten, Yanhong was eight, and the rest were about Lan Tian's age.

Yanhong and Yanhua were biological sisters, and learning medicine from Mo Yuanle had nothing to do with them.

Before the New Year, an arranged marriage was set for her without her knowledge; the match was with a man from Sun Family Village ahead, said to be more than ten years her senior. Her mother disagreed, but her grandpa had already taken a betrothal gift, and she was to be sent off upon turning fifteen.

Yanhua overheard her parents arguing after getting up at night, which was when she learned of this arrangement, causing her great anger. She went back to her room and tore a piece of clothing in a fit before calming down.

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Fielding burdens early is common for poor children. At the age of three to four, she had to look after her younger brother, and by five or six, she was washing and cooking. By seven or eight, she followed to work in the fields, only managing to attend school till the third grade before dropping out because her family could no longer afford it.

Yanhua knew her opportunity to study was precious and worked exceptionally hard, constantly topping her class, and her teachers often told her that she could get into a university if she kept this up. Realizing she couldn't continue her studies, she cried for several days at home.

When she played with her siblings in the village, the villagers felt sorry for her. Right after she dropped out, a teacher even visited to persuade her parents, who initially agreed but ultimately didn't let her continue.

Village folk are known for their gossip, and during their chats, it somehow came around to Fourth Mo's children—Yanhua, after hearing the full story, grew even more indignant.