Chapter 25: Playing a Different Game

The old lady spoke the word “daughter-in-law” with great volume, her tone brimming with pride, as if determined to release the pent-up frustration that had accumulated in her heart over the years. While talking, she slipped something into Tang Xin’s pocket—it turned out to be a gold bar.

Tang Xin was startled for a moment, then let out a chuckle. “Auntie, it seems I’m the one getting the advantage. Your dowry, neither Brother Li Sheng nor Father-in-law received it, but I’m getting it all.”

Fang also laughed, but Tang Xin resolutely returned the necklace and gold bar, refusing to accept them. Seeing this, Fang didn’t insist, only saying, “Then when you come to our home, I’ll give everything to you and let you manage the household.”

Oh, so as soon as she married in, she’d be put in charge? This old lady truly had an open mind. Tang Xin was amused. “Auntie, aren’t you worried that if you let me take charge right away, I’ll bully you all?”

Fang merely smiled, her expression utterly relaxed.

The meal was enjoyed by all three, and besides dumplings, Tang Xin had prepared two small dishes, both acquired by trading good items with other educated youths. After the meal, they chatted for a while longer. Fang urged Tang Xin to rest, while she hurried Li Sheng off to help his future bride harvest wheat and earn work points.

Once Li Sheng and the old lady from the Li family had left, Meng Jia and her companions returned, accompanied by Lu Liqin.

Lu Liqin’s face was grim; he was just about to speak when Tang Xin shot him a glare. “My parents don’t care about this, so you shouldn’t meddle either. If you say one more word, we won’t speak again.”

Then, without ceremony, she pointed at Meng Jia, “You’re the same; I don’t want to talk to you.”

With that, Tang Xin went straight to her room, slamming the door in their faces. “That’s my room too!” Meng Jia shrieked.

Sadly, her protest was left outside along with them. Tang Xin had shut them both out, not only from her room, but from her heart.

Lu Liqin trembled with rage, and seeing his mood, Meng Jia knew it was best not to add fuel to the fire. She spoke softly, “Brother Lu, don’t mind it. Maybe Tang Xin is just upset and will regret it in a few days.”

But in truth, Meng Jia knew that things had escalated too far; even if Tang Xin changed her mind and refused the marriage, it would be hard to resolve now.

In her previous life, Meng Jia hadn’t known much about Li Sheng’s affairs, since Tang Xin’s father soon arranged for them to return to the city.

Years later, in their industry, if Lu Liqin was considered the leading figure locally, his rival was Li Kai, far away in the south. In public, Lu Liqin’s image was that of a gentle, loving husband, while Li Kai was known as a ruthless schemer who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. But because he succeeded, people still called him a successful businessman.

Meng Jia had once seen an interview in which Li Kai spoke of his hometown, which was Harvest Village in Five-Star Township, Qinghu County. Nowadays, it was called Five-Star Commune, Harvest Brigade.

If her guess was right, Li Kai should be Li Sheng’s younger brother; the older brother was vicious, and the younger was no less so.

More importantly, Meng Jia knew that the current brigade leader of Harvest Brigade had excellent relations with the Li family. In the future, even when university exams resumed and educated youths could return to the city, the brigade leader’s signature would be required.

If Tang Xin offended such a family, could she ever hope for good days here?

Glancing at Lu Liqin’s unpredictable expression, Meng Jia decided to strike hard. “Yesterday they went to the commune to call Uncle Tang. Today, Li Sheng brought his mother over to… to discuss the engagement with Tang Xin.”

Lu Liqin’s head shot up, disbelief filling his eyes. “Are you serious?”

He seized Meng Jia’s hand, gazing at her hungrily, unwilling to give up. “Are you really telling the truth?”

Meng Jia’s heart hammered; her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Lu Liqin always cared about his image—in both this life and the last, he had never held any woman’s hand besides Tang Xin’s. So even though he gripped her hand so tightly it reddened, Meng Jia only felt her body grow weak.

Her longing deepened. What a wonderful man.

Knowing she had to break Lu Liqin’s hope completely to have her own chance, Meng Jia pressed on. “It’s true. The Li family has already spread word that they’re preparing for the wedding.”

The Li family—again, it was their doing. In Lu Liqin’s mind, he could not believe that Tang Xin, usually impulsive and willful, would truly do such a thing. He was even more convinced that the Li family was plotting.

He suddenly laughed, a strange smile twisting his features. “I should tell Uncle Tang and let him come and discipline her.”

Meng Jia’s heart gave a jolt of regret. Had she been too forceful? Was Lu Liqin planning some new scheme?

That afternoon, Li Sheng helped Tang Xin harvest wheat for the entire afternoon, seemingly tireless. In less than an hour, he completed all the work Tang Xin herself could not have managed in a whole day, then moved on to harvest wheat in two neighboring plots.

Not only had Li Sheng earned Tang Xin’s work points for the next day ahead of time, he had also helped other educated youths. The work in that plot was originally under Li Xuewei’s name, so naturally, she credited Tang Xin with the favor. Tang Xin had once shared biscuits with her, so Li Xuewei now held Tang Xin in even higher regard.

Tang Xin remained in the fields, helping to tie the wheat bundles. Though her bundles were still unsteady, at least she didn’t leave her fiancé to work alone while she rested. For that, Li Sheng was quite satisfied.

Later, finding a moment alone in her room, Tang Xin carefully searched her belongings. Though her parents had often sent money, ration tickets, and items, the original Tang Xin had spent lavishly, and Meng Jia had tricked her out of many valuables.

In reality, all Tang Xin now possessed amounted to one hundred thirty-six yuan, seventy-eight cents—a hodgepodge of bills and coins. The largest were ten-yuan notes, ten in total, with the rest in fives, ones, and even half-yuan and smaller denominations.

All together, it was only this much. She also had a packet of biscuits, a packet of candy, some items stored in her space farm warehouse, and finally, the big gold bracelet from her future mother-in-law.

Tang Xin wanted to sigh. She hadn’t realized how poor she truly was.

Early the next morning, Li Sheng came to the educated youth station looking for Tang Xin. Last night, his mother had spoken to him for half the night, telling him, after much effort, he was finally about to marry.

From now on, he should treat his wife kindly.

A woman, she said, aside from her few years as a maiden, spends her married life suffering and working hard. As a city girl, Tang Xin did not mind their poor background or status and was willing to marry down; they should treat her well in return.