Chapter Seven: The Small Cauldron

  In the 1980s, high-rise buildings were built in the city. At that time, houses were allocated by work units. Tang Ling's father worked at a trolley bus company, and the unit allocated two sets of houses. One set was where Tang Ling's parents and grandparents lived, while the other set was where her third uncle, Tang Guohua, who was also her father's younger brother, resided.

  The school is close to Tang Ling's home, walking along the familiar road to her house, the buildings are all 7-story residential buildings with gray bodies and wooden doors, but they make Tang Ling feel familiar.

  Back home, her father had not yet finished work, and her mother was cooking in the kitchen. Seeing her mother at that moment, Tang Ling's heart felt a sense of calmness, a feeling of being home that she hadn't experienced for many years!

  Tang Ling opened her arms and hugged her mother who was cooking beside her, smiling sweetly and said, "Mom, I'm back!"

  Mother Zhang Hua is 32 years old this year, and after giving birth to a child, she has gained some weight, but she is also a beauty. She works in the grinding wheel factory in the city and is an ordinary worker. Her days are still quite good.

  Her mother is a kind person, after marrying into the Tang family she was diligent and filial, but since ancient times the relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law has been difficult to handle. Her grandmother Li Hongqin always found fault in everything, and her father Tang Guobin was caught in the middle and felt very helpless. Every day when Tang Guobin came home from work, Li Hongqin would call him into her room, pulling him this way and that, until bedtime before letting him go back to his own room!

  Parents often have no time to communicate, and slowly they also cause the estrangement that follows. In Tang Ling's heart, she actually has some resentment towards her grandmother. If it weren't for her grandmother meddling in between, she might have had a happy and harmonious family!

  This time Tang Ling absolutely won't let grandma's behavior ruin her parents' feelings!

  Tang Ling's eyes sparkled, "Mom, what are we having today? I'll help you with it!"

  Tang Ling put her school bag inside, rolled up her sleeves and washed her hands clean, looking quite like she was ready to get down to business.

  Tang's mother, Zhang Hua, looked at her daughter's sensible appearance and felt very relieved. Although she had been troubled by her mother-in-law in recent years, she was delighted to have an obedient daughter. Zhang Hua smiled and said, "My daughter is really well-behaved, Mom doesn't need your help, go do your homework quickly!"

  "Don't worry, mom, I've finished all my homework at school. Let me help you with some chores and learn a skill from you!" Tang Ling pulled her mother's hand and smiled sweetly.

  Watching her daughter persist, Zhang Hua was delighted, and her daughter was becoming more sensible!

  After a meal, the mother and daughter were very harmonious, chatting and laughing. Tang Guobin came home from work and saw this scene in front of him. After a tiring day, Tang Guobin felt very warm!

  Hearing the sound of the door opening, Tang Ling and her mother turned their heads around. Tang Ling smiled sweetly and said, "Dad's home from work!"

  Mother looked at her husband gently and said softly, "Hurry up and change your clothes, dinner will be ready soon!"

  Father Tang Guobin laughed and said, "Today, our little treasure daughter is also cooking? That's great, let me have a good taste!"

  Apart from Grandma Li Hongqin always picking on him, the meal was still quite enjoyable. After dinner, Tang Ling helped her mother clean up the bowls and chopsticks. When she turned around, she found that, as expected, Grandma had pulled Father into her own room and closed the door!

  Tang Ling took a deep look at the tightly closed door, her lips slightly curled up. From today on, she was going to strive for her mother's happy life!

  Cut the watermelon that mother bought into several pieces, Tang Ling held a plate and knocked on grandma's door, pushed the door in, saw Grandma Li Hongqin pulling father to say something!

  Holding the plate, she put it in front of her grandmother and smiled sweetly, "Grandpa and grandma, have some watermelon. Mom said tonight's dishes are a bit greasy, so she specially cut the watermelon for me to bring over and help you digest!"

  Although Li Hongqin didn't particularly like Tang Ling, this child wasn't raised by her since young, and had a introverted personality, unlike the twins from Tang Guohua's family who were very close to her. However, today's words really struck a chord with her. In this household, she, Li Hongqin, was the elder matriarch, so it should be centered around her!

  Tang Guobin saw his daughter being so filial, it must be due to his wife's good education. Thinking of his wife, he felt a little ashamed. In the first few years after marriage, their relationship was very good and they were deeply in love. However, the conflict between his mother and wife made Tang Guobin feel difficult. His mother always picked on his wife's faults, at first he didn't believe it, but as time went by, he started to have doubts!

  Now that I hear my daughter say this, I feel that I must have misunderstood my wife. I shouldn't just listen to what my mother says; I should also communicate well with my wife!

  "Old Three is quite filial today!" Old Lady Li Hongqin picked up a piece of watermelon and started eating it.

  Tang Lao San! This is the nickname given to her by her grandmother! Her grandmother's level of naming is really too poor, the twin siblings in Tang Shu's family, one named Tang Yu Feng and the other named Tang Zhong. Originally wanted to name her Tang Jin Zhi, but mother did not agree, father then gave her the name Tang Ling!

  "Tang Tang, you eat too, don't just watch us! Did you leave some for your mom?" said Grandpa Tang Yuanzong, who had been silent until now. Looking at the kind-hearted grandfather, Tang Ling felt a little moved.

  She didn't know until she grew up that her grandmother Li Hongqin was her grandfather's second wife, and her grandfather's first wife was the one he had chosen himself. The two of them lived a hard life but were very happy together, however, her grandfather's family did not agree with their relationship and forcibly broke them apart!

  Tang Ling always felt that her grandfather and grandmother were not as close, only to learn later that her grandfather had a past! Although Grandma was not good to Tang Ling, Grandpa still loved Tang Ling very much!

  "Grandpa, rest assured, everyone in the family has a share!"

  Tang Ling smiled and looked at her father, saying "Dad, today the school gave us a handicraft assignment that requires parents to work together with their kids!" After finishing speaking, she pulled her father's arm and led him back into her own room.

  Tang Ling's home is a double room, with her grandparents in one room and Tang Ling and her parents in the other. Tang Ling pulled her father and mother together to do handicrafts, and the atmosphere was harmonious during this time. The three of them were very happy, and looking at her parents' smiling faces, Tang Ling felt joyful in her heart. Her father and mother loved each other, they just lacked communication. It's true that children are the bridge between husband and wife!

  Today was a day with too many things happening, Tang Ling lay on her small bed, turned her head to see her parents watching TV and chatting together, and smiled with relief.

  She put her hands under her head, Tang Ling looked at the ceiling, thinking about the road ahead, but unexpectedly closed her eyes and found herself entering a sealed space. Tang Ling was somewhat puzzled, carefully observing this space, and found that there was a grayish thing placed in the middle.

  Tang Ling walked up to the thing, squatted down to take a closer look, and just as her hand touched it, the thing radiated light in all directions, and the dull iron skin fell off, revealing a dark green outer skin!

  Tang Ling looked at the object's shape, about the size of an incense burner, somewhat resembling a tripod. Tang Ling picked up the small tripod, and it emitted a series of ringing sounds, as if trying to please her. Tang Ling felt very curious in her heart, tilting her head and muttering, "Are you greeting me?"

  The small tripod's light shone brighter, and Tang Ling clearly felt that it seemed to be very happy, as if there was a spiritual connection!

  Holding the small tripod, she carefully observed that the exterior of the tripod was uneven and seemed to be a pattern. There were nine in total, carved very abstractly. For a while, Tang Ling couldn't make out what they were, except for one pattern that looked like a sword.

  Was it her ghostly eyes that this small cauldron brought about?

  Tang Ling happily kissed Little Ding and said with a smile, "From now on, I'll call you Xiao Hui!"

  Xiao Hui's eyes flickered, and Tang Ling knew she didn't like the name. She blinked her eyes, "Don't you like it?"

  He stroked his chin and said slowly, "I originally wanted to feed you a drop of blood every day, but it seems you don't want to follow me!"

  Tang Ling had already figured out the situation today, and Xiao Hui must have sucked her blood and acknowledged Tang Ling as its master! So there seemed to be a spiritual connection between them.

  Xiao Hui heard that Tang Ling would shed a drop of blood for it every day, and its heart was filled with joy. It became somewhat spoiled and playful towards Tang Ling.

  Tang Ling and Xiao Hui got intimate for a while, tried several times, and found that they could enter and exit space at will according to their own thoughts!

  Tang Ling was overjoyed in her heart, this way wasn't it equivalent to carrying a large storage space with her at all times?!

  Digression

  Spoiler: Next chapter math competition! Let's see how the heroine low-key shows off!