When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 44: Change (Part 1)

"I think something must have rattled her. She hasn’t watched TV even once this whole week." As Tan You looped back from the garden, she heard Tan Deming on the phone. It didn’t take a genius to guess who he was talking to.

She didn’t go into the living room. Instead, she sat under the persimmon tree, snapping green beans. Tan You couldn’t have cared less about Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin’s reactions on the other end of the line.

"She wakes up first thing in the morning to jump rope, then showers and studies..."

"She’s been reading her textbooks nonstop. It’s not like I’m illiterate..."

"She doesn’t even nap at noon, just keeps memorizing her books... I think she’s really settled down and realized the importance of studying."

"Alright, if I notice anything else unusual, I’ll call you back."

"Should I call her in to take the call?"

"No need? Okay, then that’s all."

Inside, the phone clicked as it was hung up. Tan You lowered her gaze, snapping the tender green beans into sections, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Tan Deming came out of the room and saw Tan You sitting under the window. He smiled. "Your dad called to ask how you were doing at home."

"Oh," Tan You just acknowledged him. "Same as usual. I’m doing fine."

Tan Deming said awkwardly, "Your parents are just concerned about you."

"I know. Let’s have braised rice with green beans for lunch. I’ll make some stuffed eggplant, too. Grandma likes it." Tan You didn’t want to talk more about Tan Lin and Cheng Wenhui, so she changed the subject.

Tan Deming was, as expected, successfully distracted. "Sure, but aren’t you afraid of the heat, making stuffed eggplant in this weather?"

Although the family had a gas stove, no one could bear to use it. In the countryside, most people used earthen stoves. In the height of summer, sitting behind the stove to feed the fire would leave you drenched in sweat in minutes.

"It’s good to sweat more. Helps with weight loss, and it’ll stop Mom from nagging me all day about being too fat." Tan You shrugged. "I’m going to go mince the meat filling."

Tan Deming had bought the meat at the market that morning. He had probably seen Tan You burning the midnight oil to study these past few days and bought it specially to give her some brain food.

Tan Deming lit a cigarette. "You look like you’ve lost some weight, and your face seems clearer, too."

By "clearer," he meant the acne on Tan You’s face seemed to be gradually fading. Now there were only some acne scars left, but without all the bumps and pits on her forehead, Tan You’s skin looked extremely fair.

Tan You gave a soft "mhm." "It’s probably from keeping a regular schedule and not eating so much spicy, greasy food."

In reality, it was mainly because the "Ice Skin and Jade Flesh" reward was taking effect, but Tan You couldn’t exactly say that. She just focused on mixing the meat filling, a bowl of thick batter beside her.

Tan Deming said, "Your grandma used to make stuffed eggplant with a chive and egg filling. I’ve never had it with a chive and pork filling. Will it cook through just by pan-frying?"

"That’s why it needs to be deep-fried. Just pan-frying would take a long time." Tan You didn’t even look up. "You don’t need to tend the fire. Don’t get heatstroke in this weather..." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

’Her grandpa, Tan Deming, had always been in poor health, so Tan You didn’t feel comfortable letting him help with the fire. Besides, the old man’s fire-tending skills were terrible. What if he threw in a whole bundle of firewood and burned the stuffed eggplant to a crisp?’

As the grandfather and granddaughter chatted, Tan You bustled around the stove. Soon, a steaming pot of stuffed eggplant was ready. When Wang Hunv returned carrying some seedlings, she was greeted by the fragrant aroma. She washed her hands at the well, and when she looked up again, a bowl of cool boiled water had appeared before her.

"Have some water. I made stuffed eggplant for lunch." Tan You said only that before returning to the kitchen to continue her work.

’She and her grandma didn’t have much to say to each other. The old woman hadn’t treated her well in the past, so now Tan You just kept up appearances. She didn’t go out of her way to look after her, just did enough so no one could find fault.’

The stuffed eggplant was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and even seemed to burst with juice when bitten into. Tan Deming and the old woman were naturally delighted as they ate. Tan You sat to one side and ate only one. She was consciously controlling her diet. ’They say it’s thirty percent exercise and seventy percent diet. If you want to lose weight healthily, you have to work on what you eat.’

After lunch, Tan You didn’t go back to her books. Instead, she brought a pile of clothes out from her room. She planned to alter a few pieces to have something to wear, as one of her outfits had gotten damaged while she was doing laundry that morning.

Tan Deming watched as Tan You picked up a few items of clothing, studied them for a few minutes, and then set them down. Without even marking any lines, she grabbed a large pair of scissors and, with a quick SNIP SNIP, made several cuts. Soon, the table was covered in pieces of fabric.

Tan Deming sat to the side, watching. "Are you... making clothes? When did you learn how to do this?"

Tan You said with a straight face, "I just learned by watching. Grandpa, if you’re not busy, could you help me borrow a sewing machine? I need it."

"Do you know how to use it?" Tan Deming asked doubtfully. "Did you learn that by watching, too?"

"Mhm, just help me borrow one. Don’t borrow it from anyone in our village; people will gossip." Tan You was busy cutting out the usable pieces of fabric. How could she have the mind to chat with Tan Deming? ’Her grandpa, Tan Deming, was well-connected; borrowing a sewing machine wouldn’t be difficult for him.’

Though skeptical, Tan Deming pushed his three-wheeled cart out of the village. In less than an hour, he returned with a second-hand sewing machine, along with other tools like a measuring tape, needles, and thread.

By this time, Tan You had completely taken apart several items of clothing. She had placed the various fabric pieces to one side. No one but her could tell what part of a garment each piece was for.

"Where’d you borrow it from?" Tan You finally smiled, looking at the sewing machine set up in the main room.

"From Poling," Tan Deming said, taking a sip of water. "I even made sure to cover it with a sack. I ran into a few people on the way back, but I didn’t tell them what it was."

"Good." Tan You got busy adjusting the sewing machine. ’She’d never used such an old-fashioned model before, but after fiddling with it for a moment, she figured it out.’

The only problem was threading the needle; Tan You had to lean in very close to get the thread through. For the hundredth time, she found herself envying Han Tingting’s excellent eyesight.

Tan Deming sat to the side, watching Tan You work. When she started pedaling the sewing machine, he couldn’t help but smile. "You really do know how!"

Tan You narrowed her eyes slightly. "Didn’t I tell you? I just learn by watching."

’She was the dexterous type and had always enjoyed various small crafts. She liked making things like braided cords, folded paper stars, and beaded jewelry, but in Cheng Wenhui’s eyes, these were all just frivolous distractions.’

"Once I finish these, I’ll make a couple of shirts for you, too," Tan You said, her head down as she pedaled the machine, her movements gradually shifting from awkward to proficient.

"Alright, I’ll be waiting for you to make me clothes then." Tan Deming smiled, too. The old man was very wise and never said anything discouraging; he was always supportive of whatever Tan You said.

When Wang Hunv woke up from her afternoon nap, she saw two short-sleeved shirts hanging on the clothes rack. She frowned. "Did your grandpa buy these for you? Isn’t this a waste of money?"

Tan You snipped the thread. "No. My clothes were damaged, so I remade them from my old ones."

As long as no money was spent, Wang Hunv couldn’t care less what Tan You did. As long as Tan You didn’t watch TV, didn’t use the electric fan, and kept the house clean, she didn’t bother with anything else.