Chapter 13: 13 Thank you for not marrying me
"This matter is truly where our Liu Family has wronged you, and I never expected that boy to dare to come and break off the engagement while I was away..."
His tone still sounded sincere, which somewhat deflated Lin Lu's anger.
Lin Lu waved his hand, "Since the marriage is already called off, let's just let bygones be bygones, no need to bring it up again."
"Just like Guohui from your family said, from now on, our families will have nothing to do with each other when it comes to marriage."
"Even if Guohui became a formal worker or even the Factory Director, my family would not go over and take any advantage of you..."
Liu Dazhu felt utterly ashamed upon hearing this.
Inside, he couldn't help but feel some resentment.
What Guohui did was indeed wrong.
But he had already been beaten and scolded for it.
Why did the Lin Family have to harp on it?
Although Liu Dazhu felt dissatisfied inside, he didn't show it on his face at all.
"Brother Lin, aren't you slapping my face with those words? What's this talk of taking advantage or not?"
"Whether that kid will have any good fortune is still uncertain, he might even be sent back here in a few days..."
As he spoke, he pushed the things he had brought over.
"This is a little token of my sincerity, some snacks and fabric for Lin Tang. I hope Lin Tang will not hold it against Guohui, I'm truly sorry."
Lin Lu pushed them back, not accepting them at all.
"No need for that, what Guohui said is right.
The new era has come, and arranged marriages should indeed no longer exist.
You should take back this apology gift, Tangtang does not lack such things."
Perhaps, in the future, they might even have to thank Liu Guohui for the favor of not marrying her!
"Ah! In any case, this is our fault, please forgive us, Brother Lin."
After saying this, Liu Dazhu stood up and quickly walked towards the door.
Lin Lu came back to his senses, took the things, and hurriedly went after him.
"Dazhu, your things, we really don't need them at our house, please take them back."
Liu Dazhu stopped and asserted without allowing refusal, "Since Lin Tang doesn't need these things, just consider them as a thank you gift for the time you saved me, Brother Lin. Let me find some peace of mind."
With a single sentence, a gift given, he felt as though he had repaid the life-saving debt.
Then he left the Lin Family courtyard.
Lin Lu watched his hastening departing figure and heaved a deep sigh.
If he had known... if he had known earlier, he would never have agreed to this marriage.
-
The Liu Family.
When Yang Chunfang saw the old man come back empty-handed, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on her face.
The old man really was foolish, always giving away good things.
The Lin Family wasn't so great either.
Courageous enough to accept so many nice things without worrying about bursting.
Hmph, so greedy.
As soon as Liu Dazhu saw his wife's expression, he knew she was displeased again.
He shook his head and a wry smile appeared on his face.
Did he really want to give those things away?
Weren't all these messes caused by his son and wife with their superficial eyes?
None of them considered that Lin Tang's maternal uncle, Lin Fu, was the Captain, a man with great power.
He was just a custodian, carrying out tasks under their power.
If he truly angered the Lin Family, whether he could even remain a custodian was uncertain.
Unable to help herself, Yang Chunfang complained in a low voice, "The Lin Family really has a big appetite, accepting so many good things without fear of spoiling their hands.
None of our families are rich, it's not easy for our family to save those good things, how can they have the nerve?"
Liu Dazhu was reluctant too.
But as a man, he could afford a slightly broader perspective.
In his eyes, as long as the rift between the two families was eliminated.
He could continue as the brigade's custodian, and those things could be saved up again.
"Enough, don't talk about it.
If it weren't for you and Guohui taking matters into your own hands, I wouldn't have had to personally apologize.
Do you think things aren't messy enough?
Don't go wandering outside for these next couple of days. Wait until this blows over before you go out and chat with people..."
Feeling guilty, Yang Chunfang was internally frustrated but said, "Alright, alright, I got it."
Inside, she became annoyed at the village gossips.
All so talkative!
Meanwhile, back at the Lin Family.
Li Xiuli finished cooking and raised her voice to call everyone, "Dinner's ready!"
The voice traveled from the kitchen, carried by the wind to the courtyard, and then reached Lin Tang's room.
Soon, a group of people bustled toward the courtyard.
"Mom, are we eating in the courtyard today?" Lin Tang asked while washing her hands.
As Li Xiuli was setting the table, she turned around at the sound of her daughter's voice.
"What's the matter? Do you think it's cold? If you think it's cold, we can eat inside."
"It's fine. Let's eat outside." It's too dark inside.
"Alright."
After setting the table, everyone took their seats.
The plate of yellow, stir-fried eggs on the table was tantalizing the souls of the Lin Family members.
Delicious!
So very delicious!
Lin Lu picked up a little with his chopsticks for Li Xiuli, then added a little to his own bowl.
He said, "Let's eat," and the dining table immediately hummed with activity.
Everyone unanimously reached for the fried eggs with their chopsticks.
When Li Xiuli saw Zhou Mei greedily grab a large portion for herself, her face turned a shade darker, and her eyes went slightly cold.
It wasn't that she, as a mother-in-law, was stingy and couldn't stand to see her daughter-in-law eat well.
It was just that her second son's wife was too greedy.
After all, there were so many in the family, and they only had five fried eggs in total.
The eggs diminished significantly with Zhou Mei's single grab.
She didn't consider anyone else at all.
This was bound to upset Mother Li, wasn't it?
Zhou Mei sensed something was off and met her mother-in-law's icy stare as she lifted her head.
The next second, her hand trembled.
A chopstick full of eggs almost fell on the table.
Scary～
She was almost scared enough to pee, okay!
Zhou Mei took a minute to calm her racing heart.
Without changing her expression, she divided the chopstick full of eggs, giving half to Lin Qingshui.
"Husband, here's some egg for you."
Lin Qingshui was somewhat baffled, looking at her as if he'd seen a ghost.
Was his wife possessed?
Of course, Zhou Mei noticed his odd expression and pushed her chopsticks forward again, "If you don't want it, give it back to me!"
Before she could take it back, Lin Qingshui scooped it into his mouth from his bowl, "How could I not want it?"
Never mind half a chopstick; he wouldn't think a whole plate was too much!
Zhou Mei faced his smug eyes.
Looking at the opposite side, where the older brother and sister-in-law were sweetly exchanging food, she felt her whole body suffocate with frustration.
"..." She didn't want this man anymore!
Goudan and Choudan, the children, didn't care about the adults' thoughts, blissfully eating the eggs with joy on their faces.
They chewed each bite of egg until it lost its flavor before slowly swallowing it, as if they were imprinting the taste forever in their memories.
Too delicious!
Fried eggs are even tastier than steamed eggs!
"Fried eggs are delicious!"
"Eggy is delicious!"
The two little ones looked utterly contented, causing the adults at home to feel a bitter sweetness in their hearts.
These times...
Lin Tang noticed that after the first bite, her parents barely touched the eggs again.
She pursed her lips, reached out to pick up some eggs, and placed them into her parents' bowls.
"Dad, Mom, you eat too.
In a few days, I'll go to the county to see if there are any factories hiring. Our family won't be poor forever."
She needed to find a job first.
Otherwise, even if she checked in for good stuff in the system, she wouldn't be able to use it.
In these times, the most desirable jobs were in the public sector; she had to find a factory to work in first.
Lin Lu and Li Xiuli felt a warm sensation in their hearts and thought the eggs tasted much better.
"It doesn't matter if we're poor or not. As long as you siblings are doing well, your father and I are at ease," Li Xiuli said with a smile.
In her heart, she didn't expect her daughter could land a job.
Chapter 14: There is everything in the dream 14
Who doesn't want their children to succeed?
But—
Finding a job isn't that simple when there's a queue for every carrot.
It's that they, as parents, have no great abilities to secure a job for Tangtang.
Otherwise, with her intelligence and high school education, she'd have been a factory worker in the city already.
Hearing Mrs. Li's words, Lin Tang and her siblings exchanged smiles.
A faint warmth spread through the peaceful, rundown courtyard.
-
That same evening, in the main room of the Lin Family.
"Mom, eggs are so delicious. It would be great if we could eat them every day," Goudan said as he licked his lips, savoring the memory of the savory eggs with a heavy sigh.
Choudan echoed behind him, "…tasty!"
Ning Xinrou, who was mending clothes nearby, gave the boys a smile and chided them:
"Eggs are a treat. You should count yourself lucky to have them once in a while, let alone every day. What next? You'll want to fly to the heavens!"
With a sly twinkle in his eye, Goudan hummed, "You might not have a way, but I do."
Ning Xinrou didn't believe him but feigned curiosity, "What's your method, then?"
Mimicking the village men, Goudan waved his hand and said gruffly, "Don't ask—you just mind your needlework, woman."
The only one in the family who never lacked for good things was Auntie.
If he listened to auntie obediently, maybe she'd share some treats with him too.
Even if she didn't, just to smell them would be enough.
He was really clever!
Seeing her son's lordly airs, Ning Xinrou couldn't help but get annoyed.
She reached out to pat Goudan on the head, threatening, "Enough with your nonsense, get to sleep! And don't mimic the villagers' way of talking again, or I'll have your dad peel your hide."
She didn't know where the boy had learned to say 'woman,' but he was cheeky beyond belief.
At the mention of his father, Goudan simultaneously felt a burning sensation on his buttocks.
Quickly, he closed his eyes. "I'm asleep."
Choudan, seeing the fun was over, hurriedly lay down next to his brother.
He glanced at his mother, then his brother, and followed suit into sleep.
Meanwhile, in the second branch of the Lin Family.
Zhou Mei lay comfortably on the kang bed, watching Lin Qingshui change his clothes.
"Dear, let's bring the two young ones back from my family home tomorrow!"
She had originally wanted the kids to enjoy some good food back at her parents' to bulk up a bit.
Now that they had meat at home, it should be better to bring the children back.
They missed out on eggs today, such a loss for their part of the household!
The eggs are one thing, but they can't miss out on the meat.
They have to make up for it by eating more tomorrow.
Lin Qingshui cast a casual glance at his wife, "Didn't you say your parents' house served nice meals?"
Zhou Mei, feeling exposed, "…"
It used to be slightly better than the Lin Family, just slightly!
Now? Hah!
What could possibly be better than meat?
"...ahem... Now that we have meat, don't you feel sorry for Hutou and Niuniu being as skinny as monkeys?"
How could Lin Qingshui not feel sorry?
He frowned slightly.
"When have I ever not felt sorry for the kids? If you want to fetch them, then go ahead."
There wasn't too much fieldwork to be done at the moment, anyway.
Zhou Mei smiled slyly, as if she'd gained an advantage.
"Great, I'll fetch the kids tomorrow."
"Dear, the fried eggs were so delicious," she said, her tongue lingering over her lips.
Lin Qingshui lay down beside her and smiled, "Silly wife, who doesn't know that eggs are tasty."
Zhou Mei sighed longingly, "If only we could have them every day."
Lin Qingshui: "I know a way you could have eggs every day…"
Zhou Mei sat up immediately, her eyes shining brighter than light bulbs.
"What way?" she asked, dripping with anticipation.
Lin Qingshui pulled the blanket over them and said darkly, "Go to sleep; you can have everything in your dreams."
Zhou Mei, who had genuinely thought he had a solution and was looking forward to it, "..."
Damn it, why did she marry such a man?!
-
The next morning, Lin Tang looked at the system panel with a smile in her eyes.
[Name: Lin Tang]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 16]
[Points: 0]
[System Space Stored Items: Two jin of pork]
She had signed in last night and received two jin of pork, which was really satisfying.
Just then, Goudan called out in a low voice at the door, "Little auntie, little auntie, are you awake?"
Lin Tang heard the voice and hurriedly got up, "I'm up!"
No sooner had her words ended than a 'thump' came from outside the door.
After a few seconds of silence, a series of disordered footsteps grew fainter and fainter.
"Mom, my little auntie is up," Goudan eagerly went to tell his mom.
Ning Xinrou looked at her son's skinny little face and gently stroked his head, saying,
"Goudan, today's egg is for your little auntie to nourish her body.
You and your brother mustn't eat it. If you do, your little auntie's health will recover more slowly.
When it's your birthday, Grandma will cook eggs for you, understand?"
Yesterday, the little aunt gave all the eggs to her two sons.
In the evening, she even fried a plate of eggs.
Today, no matter what, the two little ones couldn't eat this boiled egg.
Goudan nodded again and again, "I know, little auntie needs to recuperate.
Grandma said so, I will take good care of Choudan, don't worry, mom!"
Ning Xinrou said tenderly, "Mom knows you are sensible."
Lin Tang came out of the room, washed her face, and carried her meal out to the courtyard.
Breakfast consisted of porridge with a boiled egg and a small dish of pickles.
The pickles were made from wild vegetables last year.
The family scrimped and saved all winter, and now only the bottom of the jar was left.
This was still the sick person's meal.
Normally, they didn't eat breakfast.
"Thank you, sister-in-law!" Lin Tang said with a smile.
Ning Xinrou waved it off, "What's there to thank for? How are you feeling today, does your head still hurt?"
"No, it doesn't hurt anymore," Lin Tang shook her head.
If she wasn't worried about attracting too much attention, she would have removed the white cloth from her head long ago.
Ning Xinrou relieved, smiled and said, "That's good, eat slowly, take it easy, I'm off to work."
With that, she walked outside.
Lin Tang watched her sister-in-law's retreating figure, her gaze somewhat distant.
The scholarly aura about the sister-in-law was not something ordinary families could foster.
Goudan brought the firewood he had gathered at the foot of the mountain to the courtyard from the doorway.
Wobbling behind him was Choudan.
"Little auntie..." Goudan said with a smile.
Just the thought of eating meat in the evening filled him with joy.
Choudan always followed his brother like a little tail, and on hearing him call for little auntie, his scrawny little face also revealed a soft smile.
Nuonuo said, "... little auntie..."
Both children were skinny, but their eyes were especially clear and bright, as if containing countless stars.
Lin Tang's heart melted at the call of her two little nephews, and she waved at them.
Before Goudan said anything, Choudan had already run up to her side.
"Are you hungry?" Lin Tang asked.
Choudan didn't speak.
He just eyed the egg in front of her, his mouth watering instantly.
"Hungry~" the child said with a soft and adorable milky voice.
Lin Tang, with eyes as soft as a doe's, broke off a small piece of egg white to feed him.
Before Choudan could eat, Goudan got anxious first.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
130 Power
stone You may also Like
Paragraph comment