Chapter 60: Another Year Passes

Without realizing it, two years have already passed since arriving here, and Zhang Ping'an is now fifteen years old.

Today is New Year's Eve, and the family is sitting around the table.

"Ping'an, you're almost an adult now. Is there any girl you fancy? If not, let your mother look around for you nearby."

"Grandpa, I'm only fifteen," Zhang Ping'an said, speechless.

"What's wrong with fifteen? When I was fifteen, I already had your father."

"......"

Zhang Ping'an blinked at Zhang Laohan to ask for help, but he turned a blind eye; he didn't want to provoke the old man, so Zhang Ping'an had to bring up the law.

"Grandpa, our current law states that men must be twenty and women eighteen to get married; otherwise, it's hooliganism, which is punishable by trial, and you might even end up in jail."

"What? That serious? Good grandson, then don't listen to your grandpa; let's wait until you're of age."

In fact, Zhang Ping'an was deliberately exaggerating; there are many people in the countryside getting married before the legal age, though it might be standardized in a couple of years.

"Well, never mind then, let's wait until you're of age," the old man stopped pushing.

"Eldest, you and Da Ni should also put in some effort these two years; your father and I are still healthy enough to help you look after the children."

"......"

Well, the grandson-pushing-for-marriage plan failed, so it turned into pushing the son to have kids; this time it was Zhang Laohan's turn to blink at Zhang Ping'an.

Zhang Ping'an likewise turned a blind eye; old man, since you started it, don't blame me for retaliating.

"Hey, this brat," Zhang Laohan muttered.

"Alright Mother, I understand."

The families of Lao Er and Lao San both have two sons, and there might be more in the future; only he currently has just one son, Zhang Ping'an, with all the others being daughters.

Zhang Laohan actually has some trauma; his late wife passed away from dystocia when giving birth to their third child, and he doesn't want Da Ni to repeat that mistake, not knowing that their health is fine even if they had two more children.

"And Lanhua..."

"Grandpa, Grandma, I don't care about anything else, but my fourth sister must at least finish middle school; if her grades are good, she should continue."

"Eldest, what do you say?"

"Father, Mother, if Lanhua can study, I will support her."

Because he didn't have a son before, Zhang Laohan had always been quite good to his three daughters; although he still favored boys over girls, it was much less so than the grandparents.

"Fine," Zhang Dadan stopped talking; after all, she wasn't his own daughter, and saying too much would only make his granddaughter resent him.

When her grandfather mentioned her, Zhang Lanhua felt a bit nervous; logically, at her age in the countryside, she should already be married, but she is still in school, and only in elementary school at that.

She herself didn't hold out hope of continuing, but Zhang Ping'an had firmly pulled her back, and tears flowed uncontrollably; fortunately, her hair was long, and with her head buried in her meal, no one noticed.

Only Zhang Ping'an saw it, and he sighed helplessly in his heart; he could only help so much, as his fourth sister's age was indeed time for marriage in this era, and delaying it for three years was already his limit.

"Ping'an, thank you for speaking up for Si Jie just now."

"Si Jie, my words are insignificant; it's better when Father speaks. Anyway, just study hard these few years."

"Mm, I will definitely study hard."

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Ping'an spent his time kowtowing to offer New Year greetings; on the second and third days, he wandered the mountains with his former followers, and for the following days, he stayed home studying Lao Wang's medical notes.

Time quickly reached the ninth day, and Zhang Ping'an returned to Sijiucheng with his fourth sister.

Because of He Daqing's marriage, Yi Zhonghai hadn't had a good New Year; although he knew about the relationship between Qin Pandi and Qin Huairu, it was too late to say anything now.

Especially now that he was a year older, Yi Zhonghai's obsession with finding someone to support him in his old age grew deeper.

"Old Lady, our previous efforts were all in vain."

"Zhonghai, don't be discouraged. I've already had people inquire; this Qin Pandi was introduced by Qin Huairu, but Qin Pandi cannot have children at all, which is why she was driven out by her in-laws."

"Tell me, what would happen if He Daqing knew this news?" The Deaf Old Lady said to herself without waiting for Yi Zhonghai to answer.

"The He and Jia families would have a falling out, and Qin Pandi would still be driven back to the countryside; that would be your chance."

"This..."

Yi Zhonghai hesitated; from start to finish, he never wanted to harm the Jia Family. After all, strictly speaking, he had spent more time with Lao Jia than with his own wife, and the two were even considered fellow disciples.

"I know you have a good relationship with Youcai, but the He and Jia families would at most stop associating with each other, and there's no real harm done. On the contrary, what about you? Do you really want to grow old alone?"

The Deaf Old Lady was indeed looking out for Yi Zhonghai; after all, Yi Zhonghai served her, his godmother, very well, and she also hoped Yi Zhonghai would have a godson to take care of him in his later years.

"Fine, I understand." Yi Zhonghai was tempted; it was a foregone conclusion that he had no heirs, so he wanted to cultivate his own caregiver as soon as possible.

Taking advantage of the fact that Shazhu is still young and easy to fool, he must get He Daqing out of Sijiucheng as soon as possible.

Thus, when Zhang Ping'an arrived at the Siheyuan on the ninth day, rumors were already flying everywhere.

"Teacher Yan, what's the situation?" As soon as Zhang Ping'an returned, he felt the atmosphere in the courtyard was off.

"Cough, cough, it's like this, in the courtyard these past two days..." Yan Bugui told Zhang Ping'an what he had heard.

Zhang Ping'an frowned slightly; the first person he thought of was Yi Zhonghai. He didn't expect that even though He Daqing was already married, he still wouldn't give up.

Fortunately, this matter had been clarified with He Daqing in advance, otherwise, he really would have fallen for it; it was just that Qin Pandi's scars would have to be reopened once more.

Meanwhile, at the He household, He Daqing was furious; he knew it couldn't have been the Jia family who said it, so it was likely the person who wrote the note last time. He really didn't understand what he had that was worth them coveting, targeting him time and time again.

"Brother Daqing, don't be angry. I'm fine, I'm already used to it; anyway, everyone would have known about this sooner or later."

"Alright, I won't be angry." Looking at Qin Pandi, who was comforting him instead, He Daqing's eyes were full of heartache.

If you want to know who in this courtyard was the happiest, it wasn't Yi Zhonghai or the Deaf Old Lady, but his wife Tan Cuicui; there was finally someone in this courtyard who could keep her company.

The He and Jia families, which usually had many people coming over to use their Sewing Machine, had also enjoyed a rare few days of peace.

Seeing that things were not developing according to his predetermined trajectory and that the relationship between the He and Jia families remained close, Yi Zhonghai felt a sense of unease while also feeling relieved; he really didn't want to target the Jia Family.

Zhang Ping'an sent his things home before going with his fourth sister to see his little nephew; only after the chill had faded from his body did he pick up the baby.

"Xiao Zi, did Donglai miss his uncle?"

"Yi-ya, yi-ya."

"These two little ones dance with joy as soon as they see Ping'an."

After Zhang Ping'an underwent Cleansing Marrow, almost everything he ate and drank was Space Ingredients, so his body carried the aura closest to nature; since young children are also considered to have an Innate Body, they were naturally willing to be close to him.

"That means both little ones recognize me now."

After coaxing the two children to sleep, Zhang Ping'an finally asked Lao Jia about the specific situation.

"I don't know whose tongue is so long; people should just live their own lives, but they have to go around gossiping."

"It's fortunate that Huairu mentioned this beforehand, otherwise our two families would have had to stop associating with each other in the future."