Chapter 88: Childish Fool

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, was bustling with excitement.

Early in the morning, Wen Mubai and Tang Qiming were at odds again.

Tang Qiming looked down on Wen Mubai, saying, "Shall we compete?"

Wen Mubai refused to back down, "Fine, let's compete!"

And so, Tang Banxia watched wide-eyed as these two men tackled making glutinous rice balls as if they'd been injected with adrenaline.

She turned away and went back inside the house, thinking, "Well, I'm used to this!"

But when she heard a sudden "crack~," and the pounding outside stopped, an uneasy feeling crept into her heart.

She stepped out into the yard and instantly felt her anger rise. "Who did this?"

Wen Mubai and Tang Qiming pointed at each other, "He did!"

Seeing the stone ladle on the ground split into three pieces, Tang Banxia was furious. "This was borrowed! It needs to be returned!"

One sharp glare from her, and the two men were almost standing at attention.

Wen Mubai pursed his lips and grinned ingratiatingly, "Honey, don't be angry. I'll just tell Wen Ming about it, it'll be fine."

"Shut up!" Tang Banxia snapped.

Wen Mubai shrank into himself.

Tang Qiming shot him a look of disdain and stepped up, "Banxia, I'll buy you another one, don't be upset. Xiao Bai didn't do it on purpose."

Wen Mubai: !!!

Scoundrel! Always stepping on him to climb higher!

Just as Tang Banxia was about to say something, Captain Hu approached with his hands behind his back. She suppressed her anger for now, "I'll deal with you two later."

She went out to greet him, "Captain, what brings you here? Do you need something?"

Captain Hu's face was relaxed, his mood clearly good. "Yes, I've got some news—good news."

"What good news?" Tang Banxia welcomed him inside.

"It's about your manual." He took the water Wen Mubai handed him. "It's been approved."

"Tomorrow I'll take you to the commune, just to discuss the content a bit more. Secretary Yu said that since we're doing this, we can't be careless."

"Your manual is the only one of its kind nationwide." As he spoke, Captain Hu's eyes brimmed with laughter.

If this succeeded, the village would gain recognition. Although the credit belonged mostly to Tang the intellectual, Tang was their villager after all.

If the manual became popular, whenever people mentioned Tang the intellectual, they'd also mention their Guyue Village.

For Captain Hu, this was real political achievement!

Especially since Secretary Yu had hinted that if this succeeded, their village would be a shoo-in for this year's advanced collective.

"No problem," Tang Banxia agreed immediately.

Captain Hu took a sip of water. "Alright, you all carry on," he said, standing up and nodding at Tang Qiming and Wen Mubai as a greeting.

Then, he walked away cheerfully.

Once he left, Tang Banxia's expression changed instantly.

Tang Qiming:...

Half a year apart, his little sister's presence had grown stronger.

"Banxia, I heard Captain mention some manual. What's that?" He expertly tried to change the subject.

Tang Banxia ignored him, nodding toward the door, "What about that? I was just about to wrap dumplings."

"Leave it to Xiao Bai, he's capable," Tang Qiming said earnestly.

Xiao Bai: Thanks a lot!

But sensing his wife's gaze, he smiled, "That's right, I can do it."

Tang Qiming gave him a thumbs up, "Good job. Go on then."

Wen Mubai felt he could barely maintain his smile.

The moment he turned, his face darkened.

This brother-in-law was so annoying! When would he finally leave?

On the other side, Tang Banxia glanced at her second brother, "He's gentle by nature, stop bullying him!"

Tang Qiming:...

"Banxia, why don't you come with me to Beijing so Grandma can check your eyes?"

That look—calling her blind was almost an understatement.

Tang Banxia was amused, nudging him, "What are you saying? I'm serious."

Tang Qiming replied, "Sis, with your smarts, someday you'll be tricked out of everything—even your underwear."

"Get lost," Tang Banxia scolded, "Is that how you talk to your own sister?"

"Precisely because you're my sister, I'm worried about you," Tang Qiming said, full of concern, "What will you do in the future?"

"Enough," Tang Banxia decided not to spar with him anymore, "Are you going back to Beijing?"

Talking business, Tang Qiming grew serious, "Yes, I have a three-month break this time. Seeing that you're doing well, I'll head back in a few days."

"I'll visit Grandpa and Grandma, and if time allows, I want to see our eldest brother too."

Tang Banxia's lips moved twice, "But what about Grandpa?"

Tang Qiming ruffled her bangs, "You've got your second brother, don't worry."

Tang Banxia felt comforted, but warned, "Touch my hair again and I'll hit you!"

Tang Qiming chuckled, "Just try and stop me." He even ruffled her hair twice, venting his frustration, "What can you do? Tell Big Sister?"

Tang Banxia ground her teeth, "Just you wait."

Tang Qiming wasn't afraid.

But after lunch, when it was time for acupuncture, Tang Qiming could no longer laugh.

He hissed, "Banxia, are you taking revenge?"

Tang Banxia grinned wide, showing eight teeth, "Of course."

Wen Mubai gloated from the side, "Honey, how did second brother offend you? That's just how he is, don't be mad. He didn't mean it."

Tang Qiming:...

This guy really deserved a beating!

Tang Banxia glanced at him, "Did you get the stone ladle?"

"Yes, yes," Wen Mubai replied at once, "Third Aunt had one, I swapped for it."

"That's better."

After finishing the last needle, she sat aside and continued working with medicinal herbs—grinding, sifting, weighing, and measuring—all done with practiced ease, as if she had done it a thousand times.

Tang Qiming watched for a while, then suddenly asked, "Sis, you never explained about that manual."

Tang Banxia didn't look up, "I'm busy, let Xiao Bai explain."

Wen Mubai chimed in, "Second brother, don't bother Banxia. Asking me is just the same."

Tang Qiming, generous as always, said, "Alright, tell me."

Wen Mubai, feeling triumphant, began, "Here's how it is..."

"…So Banxia put together a common knowledge manual about food incompatibilities, and the commune wants to promote it heavily."

"Impressive, Banxia, you've really achieved something," Tang Qiming praised.

Tang Banxia coldly replied, "Don't bother me, I'm busy."

"What are you busy with?" The itch and ache in Tang Qiming's body kept him chatting nonstop, trying to distract himself.

But he didn't want to deal with the green tea man, so he kept pestering his sister.

"Banxia, stop working, chat with your brother," Tang Qiming persisted.

Tang Banxia finally got annoyed, handed him a jar of lotus seeds, "If you're really bored, peel the lotus hearts."

Tang Qiming turned away, "I refuse!"

"You must," Tang Banxia shoved it into his hands, "Otherwise, tonight's medicine will be a handful."

Tang Qiming conceded, "Fine, I'll peel them."

He glanced at Wen Mubai, who was enjoying his misfortune, "Why doesn't he have to?"

Tang Banxia felt exhausted, "He can peel them too. The two of you compete—see who peels faster."

Wen Mubai flashed a grin, "Sure, are you up for it, second brother?"

Tang Qiming was immediately fired up, "Whoever can't is a loser!"

Like two fighting cocks, they threw themselves into a lotus-peeling contest, finally giving Tang Banxia a moment of peace...