When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 26: Tingting

The head of the apparel team was skeptical, but less than half an hour later, the new sample garment appeared in the office. Master Hu clicked his tongue in admiration. "It really is a world of difference. So this is that Chanel-inspired style you mentioned?"

"Mhm, this is the look." Tan You’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’She and Master Hu were discussing the Chanel-inspired style that would one day be a dime a dozen, but it was completely new in this era.’

When the initial sample garment came out, practically everyone went wild; they all loved it.

The factory director rubbed his hands together in glee. "Ah, Tingting, with a mind like yours, it would be a real shame if you don’t go on to study fashion design."

Tan You thought for a moment. "That might be true. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"Uncle Yang, when the final products are made, you have to save a few pieces for me. I want to give them to my teachers."

The factory director replied, "Don’t worry. It’s only a few outfits. I guarantee I’ll hold them for you."

"But you’re only giving them to the female teachers? Nothing for the male teachers?"

"That’s what’s been giving me a headache." Tan You looked troubled. "Our factory mainly makes womenswear. When it comes to menswear..."

"Master, how about we try developing something?"

The factory director, who had been hoping for this, jumped in. "Developing something is a great idea! Tell your master whatever you need, and the factory will provide it, no questions asked! It’s not like we can’t make menswear!"

Master Hu watched the director rope Tan You in but didn’t say a word. These days, craftsmen were protective of their skills, but Han Tingting was just so likable that Master Hu never held anything back when teaching her.

Since she was willing to try, Master Hu certainly wasn’t going to object.

Time flew by. While Tan You was absorbing knowledge like a sponge, Han Guangzhi, far away in Yun City, finally heard about Han Tingting’s high school entrance exam results.

Upon hearing the news, Han Guangzhi fell silent for a long time. He and Han Tingting hadn’t seen each other since that incident two years ago. The support payments for Han Cunming were sent via bank transfer each year, but he hadn’t returned home once in over a year.

Li Xiaomei was inwardly gritting her teeth with hatred, but she put on a beaming smile. "You have two days off for the weekend. Why don’t you take a few more days off, and we can make a trip back?"

Naturally, she couldn’t stand Han Tingting. The more impressive Han Guangzhi’s eldest daughter was, the more displeased she became. But she couldn’t voice these thoughts; it would destroy the image she had cultivated in Han Guangzhi’s heart.

Han Guangzhi looked tempted. Li Xiaomei gritted her teeth again, yet she continued to persuade him. "Her grades are so good, she should naturally choose a better school. You’re her father; it’s your duty to be involved in her life’s decisions."

Han Guangzhi was immediately convinced by this reasoning. "Then let’s go back tomorrow. As for Xiaobao..."

Li Xiaomei said with a radiant smile, "Xiaobao is Tingting’s little brother. Last time Tingting came to visit, Xiaobao couldn’t even talk yet. It’s time he went back to see his sister and his grandfather."

Han Guangzhi patted her hand. "You’re always so considerate. I haven’t been back in over a year, and I feel terrible about it."

In truth, his staying away was intentional. For one, he still held a grudge against Han Cunming for siding with Han Tingting. Secondly, the Li family had sensed his feelings and had been, both openly and secretly, creating distractions to keep him from going back. As a result, Han Guangzhi thought of his family back home less and less.

Tan You, of course, had no idea that Han Guangzhi and Han Tingting’s stepmother were preparing to take control of her life. Then again, she wouldn’t have cared even if she had known. She had already signed the enrollment agreement, guaranteeing she could continue her studies for all three years of high school, no matter what.

’There was no way Han Guangzhi could control her. And as for Li Xiaomei? She was just a stepmother. What right did she have to interfere in Han Tingting’s life?’

The next evening, returning from work, Han Tingting had just pushed her bicycle through the gate when she saw a small child running amok in the courtyard, letting out shrill screams every so often. Han Cunming sat to one side, waving a cattail fan, acting as if he didn’t even see the commotion.

Her grandfather was frowning, clearly unaccustomed to such a racket. Tan You just smiled and set her small satchel aside. "When did they get here?"

She had said "get here," not "come back." Clearly, in Tan You’s mind, these people were outsiders, not family.

Han Cunming’s face was stern. "They arrived at noon. The moment they got here, they asked which school you enrolled in. I told them it was the main high school here in town, and their expressions immediately soured."

Tan You washed her hands by the water basin. "Just ignore them. What’s done is done. What can they possibly do about it now?"

"What did you eat for lunch?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Han Cunming sighed in resignation. "Porridge. The three of them ate all the flatbreads you made this morning. A while ago they said they were going to make dinner, but there hasn’t been a peep from the kitchen since."

Tan You heard the note of grievance in Han Cunming’s voice. "I’ll just make extra tomorrow morning."

"Don’t," Han Cunming stopped her. "I can’t bear to see you working so hard for them. Just keep the meals simple for the next few days. They can’t stay here forever. You can make some of your nice dishes after they’re gone."

"I can put up with it for a few days."

Tan You smiled. "Alright, I’ll remember that. I’m going to go take a look in the kitchen."

After drying her hands, Tan You entered the kitchen to see Li Xiaomei stir-frying at the gas stove. One look at the prepared ingredients—a variety of chili peppers, scallions, and garlic—and Tan You’s brow furrowed.

She didn’t glare at Li Xiaomei. Instead, she turned to Han Guangzhi, who was trimming green beans nearby. "Grandpa has a weak stomach. He can’t eat spicy food."

Han Guangzhi looked sheepish. "I forgot... I forgot."

Tan You ignored him. She simply went out to the yard to pick two tomatoes, grabbed a few eggs from the chicken coop, and started a fire in the earthen stove to make some scrambled eggs with tomato.

As for what Li Xiaomei was making, or what her family of three was eating, Tan You didn’t spare them a single glance.

Thus, the division at dinner was stark. Han Cunming and Tan You sat on one side, with the scrambled eggs with tomato and a luffa soup before them. In front of Han Guangzhi, Li Xiaomei, and their son, the spread was much more lavish: spicy chicken, water-boiled pork slices, and stir-fried green beans.

The moment Han Cunming saw that even the green beans had chili peppers in them, he wanted no part of it and stuck to the two dishes Tan You had made for the entire meal.

Li Xiaomei secretly gritted her teeth. "Dad, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you couldn’t eat spicy food. I’ll pay attention next time."

Han Cunming waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about it. My own son can’t even remember, so why would I blame you? It just goes to show, that whole idea of ’raising a son to support you in your old age’ isn’t always reliable."

Han Guangzhi flushed with embarrassment. His expression soured further as he looked at Tan You, who was sitting off to the side. "Why didn’t you call me when you got your results? How could you make such a decision by yourself?"

"What kind of education quality can you get at a high school in a small town like this?"

As if Tan You would be intimidated by Han Guangzhi. She shot him a look. "I’m grown up now. Why do I need someone else making my decisions for me?"

"’Someone else’? I’m your father!" Han Guangzhi blustered, but for some reason, he always felt a bit insecure in front of his daughter.

Tan You found this laughable. "Oh, so *now* you remember you’re my dad? Where were you all this time?"

She wasn’t the type to back down; deep down, she was incredibly stubborn. If he had spoken to her gently, Tan You wouldn’t have embarrassed him so publicly. But since Han Guangzhi was trying to pull the "I’m your father" card the moment he saw her, there was no way Tan You was going to put up with it.