Chapter 45: Gone from This World After an Accident

Even the youngest two had gone out. Although they couldn’t work in the fields or help on the threshing ground, they could still do things like picking cotton or gathering stray wheat stalks—tasks that earned them at least five work points a day. In comparison, what Tang Xin could manage was simply too pitiful to look at; her daily work points were less than those of a seven- or eight-year-old child.

But Tang Xin had her own matters to attend to. Whether in the plot of the novel or in the real world she knew, this was still a time of turmoil and special circumstances. There were still several years to go before the college entrance exams and reforms would be reinstated, which meant she would have to stay in the Fengshou Brigade for at least a few more years. She needed to take advantage of the opportunity to understand her environment—who knew, perhaps the things in her spatial farm might prove useful and could help the impoverished villagers.

She hadn’t gone far from the Li family yard when she unexpectedly ran into Li Xuewei from the residence for educated youth. Compared to others, Li Xuewei was the most familiar female educated youth to Tang Xin after Meng Jia, so they both stopped and stood chatting for a while.

Unlike Tang Xin, who had been sent to the countryside for re-education by her father, Li Xuewei came from a family so poor that the very air in her home seemed to ring with poverty. With older and younger siblings, she was the neglected middle child. The parents’ jobs had gone to her older siblings, and the younger ones were still small, so she was made to toil endlessly at home. In the end, Li Xuewei had taken the initiative to respond to the national call; before even graduating high school, she volunteered to go to the countryside to support rural construction. She was open and hearty, and most importantly, she was hard-working and resilient—Tang Xin had a good impression of her.

Seeing that there was no one else around, as everyone had gone off to work, Li Xuewei pulled Tang Xin aside beneath a large tree and asked with concern, “How is it? Are your parents-in-law and sister-in-law treating you well after the wedding? Has anyone bullied you?”

After all, as Meng Jia—Tang Xin’s best friend—had worried more than once, how could her friend have a good life after marrying such a rough man into such a complicated family? Even though, on the surface, the two had fallen out, the big-hearted Meng Jia still regarded Tang Xin as a friend and worried about how her delicate friend would fare. Li Sheng was clearly a coarse man who didn’t know how to cherish a gentle woman; who knew how much hardship Tang Xin would suffer after marrying him? The past couple of days, Meng Jia had gone on about this at the educated youth residence, and hearing it, Li Xuewei couldn’t help but worry too.

That’s why, early this morning, she had deliberately found an excuse to come near the Li family home, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tang Xin—and, luckily, she had come across her just as she left the yard.

Tang Xin felt a warm glow in her heart, knowing the other woman genuinely cared for her, so she gave her a radiant smile. “Everything’s fine. As soon as I married in, my mother-in-law handed the household management over to me. My parents-in-law, husband, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law are all easy to get along with.”

Despite Tang Xin’s words, Li Xuewei didn’t quite believe it—partly because Meng Jia had thoroughly brainwashed her, and partly because, after a few years in the countryside, she knew the Li family’s reputation all too well. Still, she couldn’t do much except repeatedly urge Tang Xin to be careful and good to herself.

Ah, she truly believed it was a pity Tang Xin had married Li Sheng out of spite. After all, not just at the educated youth residence, but within a radius of ten miles, everyone knew that Tang Xin was not only beautiful but also came from a good family. And now? Well, Li Xuewei thought better of saying anything more—just endure, perhaps in a few years they would all be able to return to the city.

So she sincerely advised, “Just live your own life well. Don’t pay attention to what others say.”

From this, Tang Xin could tell something was amiss. “What, has that wretch Meng Jia been talking about me behind my back again?”

Then she smiled and said, “That little vixen used to always swindle food and treats from me, and now that she can’t, is she badmouthing me everywhere?”

Li Xuewei had originally wanted to persuade Tang Xin to make up with Meng Jia—she was always inclined to see the best in people. But hearing Tang Xin’s words and thinking back, wasn’t that exactly what Meng Jia had done? So she honestly told Tang Xin everything Meng Jia had been saying about her at the educated youth residence.

“That’s what she says in public—who knows what she says behind my back? Isn’t it strange? The things my parents send me, is it wrong that I don’t share them with her anymore?”

“Of course not! You’re now the daughter-in-law of the Li family; how could you give things to outsiders?” Li Xuewei replied as if it were only natural.

Tang Xin nodded, then said, “Even though I’m no longer at the educated youth residence, you’re still my good friend. If you ever run into trouble, just let me know. I’ll help if I can. Even if I can’t, at least we can put our heads together and figure something out.”

Li Xuewei was deeply moved. “I know. And you take care of yourself, too. I’ve heard that relationships between mothers- and daughters-in-law and between sisters-in-law are always the hardest after a girl marries—especially with rural women, who can be so unreasonable. Don’t ever suffer in silence. We’re all in the same educated youth residence. If you need help, come to us—we’ll stand up for you.”

Tang Xin lifted her chin with pride and confidence. “Don’t worry, I won’t let myself be taken advantage of.”

Li Xuewei couldn’t help but laugh. The pretty girl, with such a look of pride, didn’t seem arrogant at all—on the contrary, she was utterly endearing.

As the two chatted and laughed, not far away, Meng Jia hid behind a wall, clutching a sickle and watching the pair under the tree. She wished—oh, how she wished—she could kill that smiling, radiant girl right then and there!

Why? Why could she still smile so happily after marrying into that kind of family and likely facing a life in the countryside? Convinced of her own superiority, Meng Jia knew that in a few years the national policy would change and the educated youth would return to the city. But now? Tang Xin had married a country bumpkin, and her father had even threatened to sever ties with her—surely her future would be wretched beyond belief. How could she possibly still smile?

It had to be an act, surely—she was just putting on a brave face for others, wasn’t she? Only by thinking this way could Meng Jia comfort herself. Otherwise, just recalling Lu Liqin’s unwavering gaze whenever he looked at Tang Xin was enough to make her spit blood and die from rage.

Meng Jia thought she was alone, but before she realized, someone else appeared at her side—a woman, whose voice was cold as ice: “Tang Xin is so beautiful that any man would be moved by her. Only if she met with some accident and disappeared from this world would you stop being overshadowed by her.”

Meng Jia’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t help but admire Gao Meitong—such a young girl and yet so vicious at heart. Even though she had lived through this once before and had schemed against Tang Xin, she had never thought of having her killed. But now, these words she had accidentally overheard took root in her heart.