Chapter 429

Every year after paying New Year calls on the second day of the lunar month, even if their grandparents tried their best to make them stay, his mother would take him back to Yucheng that same day or the next.

This year, his mother decided to stay a few more days to spend more time with the relatives she rarely got to see.

Yucheng and their hometown weren't far apart, and now that they had a car, it was even more convenient; they could go back whenever they wanted.

Most importantly, Tang Xiuxia no longer had to worry about the gossip of the village women affecting her precious son.

Firstly, her son was now mature in mind, and secondly, her son had achieved success. The title of a perfect-score Provincial Top Scholar, in a village where even being a college student was enough to make people envious, was undoubtedly like a golden phoenix flying out of a poor nest.

Nowadays, when people in the village talked about the Tang family's grandson, it was all praise and flattery.

Early on the first day, early on the second, sleep until you're full on the third!

Just as the folk rhyme says, the third day of the Lunar New Year has the custom of sleeping in.

Of course, it was also because they were too exhausted from New Year's Eve to the second day; since there was nothing to do on the third day, they could rest peacefully and recharge their energy.

The building their uncle helped rebuild had many rooms; both the second and third floors could accommodate people, and their uncle also had extra rooms, so Qin Tian and his mother didn't have to worry about having nowhere to stay.

Last night, Qin Tian slept in the same room as his uncle, while his mother stayed with her cousin and aunt.

There were rooms available to sleep alone, but since they hadn't seen each other for a long time, everyone wanted to talk and chat before going to sleep.

There is a saying in the countryside: "A nephew is often like his uncle," meaning that a nephew is usually very similar to his uncle and is also quite close to him.

This was even more true for Qin Tian, who had lacked fatherly love since childhood.

That night, from talking about romance to the college entrance exam, and then to university campus life, it was rare for Qin Tian to be able to open his heart and talk so freely with anyone.

His uncle also talked about some of his experiences doing business outside over the years; it wasn't as glamorous as outsiders saw, and there were many heartaches and setbacks, but fortunately, he had made it through smoothly.

He didn't know how long they had been talking, but after a moment of silence, Qin Tian heard his uncle's snoring.

He slept until he woke up naturally.

He took out his phone from under the pillow to check the time; it was already nearly eleven o'clock.

His uncle was still asleep, so Qin Tian didn't wake him and went downstairs alone to wash up.

Just after he finished brushing his teeth and washing his face, his cousin Tang Wen and his mother came over as well.

"Brother, where are we going to play later?"

Tang Wen asked with a smile.

"You just woke up, and you're already thinking about playing?"

Qin Tian looked at her with amusement.

"Of course! It's not easy to come back for the New Year, so naturally, I have to have a good time!"

Tang Wen suddenly thought of something, her eyes brightening as she suggested, "How about you drive, Brother, and take us to play in Yucheng? And call your girlfriend to come along too!"

"Good idea!"

Tang Xiuxia, who was on the side, smiled and nodded in agreement.

She was naturally very happy to see the younger generation in the family getting along well with her future daughter-in-law.

"Nuan Nuan said they usually come back on the third day, I don't know if they're back yet."

Qin Tian said with a smile.

"Then hurry up and call to ask!"

Tang Wen urged him excitedly.

"What's the rush? You go wash your face and brush your teeth first!"

Qin Tian rolled his eyes at her.

"Alright, Auntie, we're going to brush our teeth. Brother Tian, hurry up and make that call!"

Tang Wen urged him again, then quickly walked into the bathroom to wash up.

"Xiao Tian, you're up. Are you hungry?"

Grandma walked over from the front room and asked with a kind smile.

"A little."

Qin Tian nodded.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Hmm..."

"Grandma, do you have any ciba? I want to eat the pan-fried ciba you make."

Just as Qin Tian was thinking, Tang Wen's voice came out.

"Yes, we do."

Grandma smiled and agreed, then looked at Qin Tian with an inquiring gaze.

"Then let's have ciba; that sounds great."

Qin Tian also nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I'll go make it for you!"

Grandma went to the kitchen with a face full of smiles.

Qin Tian took out his phone and dialed Xia Nuannuan's number.

"Hello?"

The call was answered quickly, and Xia Nuannuan's sweet voice came through.

"Nuan Nuan, what are you doing?"

"Just got up, eating. What's up?"

"Oh, when are you coming back? My cousin wants to go to Yucheng to find you and play."

Qin Tian replied with a smile.

"Ah?"

Xia Nuannuan was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

"Happy New Year, sister-in-law!"

Tang Wen poked her little head out, her mouth full of toothpaste foam, and shouted unclearly.

Xia Nuannuan on the other end clearly heard it too and said hurriedly, "Then after I finish eating, I'll ask my dad if he can go back earlier?"

"It's fine, no need to rush. They won't be leaving for a few days anyway. I'm just letting you know; send me a message when you set off to return to Yucheng."

Qin Tian said comfortingly with a smile.

"Mm-hmm, okay."

Xia Nuannuan agreed obediently.

"How is it over there? Is it fun?"

"Mm, it's very lively here too. Hey, what are you doing?"

"What's wrong?"

"I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to my cousin. She suddenly leaned her head over to eavesdrop and was smiling weirdly; she scared me."

"Haha..."

Qin Tian was amused.

After the two chatted a bit more, they hung up the phone.

The brown sugar ciba made by Grandma could be considered a delicacy in everyone's memory.

After eating and drinking their fill, urged by his cousin, Qin Tian prepared to drive back to Yucheng.

His younger cousin Tang Heng was also coming along, and they had invited Tang Chen, but he had politely declined.

After saying goodbye to the elders, the three of them got into the car and headed toward Yucheng.

"Brother, when did you get your driver's license? You look quite skilled at driving!"

Tang Heng asked with a look of surprise.

"I had nothing to do after the college entrance exam, so I got it."

Qin Tian replied with a smile.

Tang Heng nodded and said with an envious tone, "After school starts this year, I'll have to get a driver's license too."

Tang Wen, sitting in the passenger seat, turned her head to look at him and teased with a smile, "And then just like Brother Tian, find a rich and beautiful girlfriend to buy you a car, and walk straight to the pinnacle of life."

"Good idea!"

Tang Heng rubbed his chin with his right hand, revealing a thoughtful expression.

"No way, Brother Heng, you actually believed that!"

Tang Wen looked at him with a strange expression.

"What? Is it not possible? If my younger brother can do it, why can't I?"

Tang Heng said indignantly.

Tang Wen rolled her eyes and took out her phone, holding the black screen up to him.

"What are you doing?"

"Look at yourself. Do you think you're as handsome as Brother Tian?"

"Uh... it's a little bit off, but that doesn't matter, right? Men don't win based on looks."

"Then what do you rely on? Talent?"

Tang Wen smiled playfully.

Tang Heng was speechless, remembering that his cousin was a perfect-score Provincial Top Scholar, while he was just drifting through a second-rate university.

In terms of talent, it seemed even worse!

"Little sister, you don't have to hit me that hard!"

Tang Heng said with a resentful look.

"It's okay. Brother Heng, it might be a bit difficult for you to find a rich and beautiful girl, but if you only pursue the middle character, finding a rich woman shouldn't be a problem."

Tang Wen said with a straight face.

Tang Heng was dumbfounded.

"Pfft, hahaha..."

Qin Tian couldn't help but burst into laughter.