Chapter 9: Finished Eating His Pork Buns

As soon as Tang Xin heard Meng Jia’s name, she exploded on the spot: “I don’t want it. Take your meat buns and give them to your dear Meng sister.”

Lu Liqin’s handsome brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He was about to say something more when Miss Tang, fuming with anger, pushed him straight out the door.

With a loud bang, the door was slammed shut in his face.

Unexpectedly, the door opened again from the inside. Lu Liqin thought perhaps Tang Xin had changed her mind, but all she did was thrust the lunchbox back into his hands.

Lu Liqin could only shake his head with a wry smile. This girl was growing taller by the day, but her temper seemed to be growing right along with her. If this continued, after their marriage, it would be difficult for her to get along in the Lu family.

Of course, at this point, Lu Liqin still believed Tang Xin was just speaking out of anger. He was convinced that they would marry in the end.

He had work to rush through and no time to linger, so he left the lunchbox in the kitchen, intending to save it for that little rascal to eat in the evening.

But that night, Tang Xin didn’t have the meat buns either; she was nowhere to be found at the educated youth point—off running about who knows where.

Just as Lu Liqin had finished steaming the buns over boiling water, Meng Jia drifted in like a ghost, looking at his lunchbox with a pitiful, forlorn expression.

Being the gentleman he was, Lu Liqin had no choice but to offer her the meat buns.

He thought she’d just eat one.

But after finishing one, Meng Jia reached for another, and Lu Liqin, unable to refuse, could only watch helplessly as she devoured every last bun.

As for Tang Xin, she had gone out because a clay monkey had run to the educated youth point to fetch her. Only when she got outside did she find that it was Mother Li who wanted to see her.

The old lady smiled gently, whispering, “My girl, I was afraid you wouldn’t take to the food here at the educated youth point, so I made you some pancakes. Have a taste, and if you like them, I’ll make them for you again.”

Having been frightened by past public denunciations, Mrs. Fang now never dared speak loudly to anyone.

But inside, she thought, What a lovely girl. If she could really become my daughter-in-law, I’d get to talk to my pretty girl every day.

And make her delicious food!

Now, Mrs. Fang didn’t dare linger; like a thief, she slipped the basket of pancakes into Tang Xin’s hands and hurried away.

Almost caught off guard, Tang Xin quickly called after her, “Thank you, Auntie. It’s getting dark and the road is slippery—be careful.”

Mrs. Fang replied, “It’s all right. That rascal will help me find my way.”

It was then that Tang Xin noticed the clay monkey who’d fetched her was now helping Mother Li along as they left together.

The food in the basket was mouthwatering, and since she hadn’t had dinner yet, Tang Xin couldn’t be bothered to go back. She found a clean-looking stone by the roadside and sat down.

There, she began to savor the pancakes Mother Li had made for her.

They were simple chive and egg pancakes, probably fried in peanut oil, with dough kneaded until it was springy and chewy. The filling was generous, and the pancakes tasted so good that Tang Xin nearly swallowed the basket along with them before finally managing to fill her stomach.

Only then did she have time to ponder the meaning behind this gesture. Clearly, Mother Li wanted her as a daughter-in-law, but why so secretive?

And what about Li Sheng—what was his attitude?

Sigh, the brigade leader said Li Sheng wouldn’t be back for another three days.

Why was it that only one day had passed, yet Tang Xin already found herself missing her “fiancé”?

Yes, at this point, Tang Xin had already decided unilaterally that Li Sheng was her fiancé, full of confidence about changing the ending of the novel.

With such a kind future mother-in-law, Tang Xin smiled to herself, already daydreaming about her blissful married life...

After eating her fill, Tang Xin sat for a while longer before contentedly returning to the educated youth point.

There she ran into the delicate little white flower, who seemed to have something to say but looked hesitant and pitiful. Tang Xin ignored her.

She could only wail inwardly, because harvesting the wheat was so important that none of the educated youth could escape it.

She’d already taken a day off today; tomorrow, the brigade leader would never let her off again.

Oh, in two lifetimes, she’d never had to toil under the scorching sun like this.

But the next day, Tang Xin still got up early and went to work as she should.

Her Happy Farm had already leveled up and could now grow corn and potatoes. When the time came, she’d find a way to give some to her future mother-in-law so she could make potato pancakes and roast corn.

Just imagining it, Tang Xin’s mouth was watering.

But when she saw that, in the plot next to hers, Lu Liqin was working hard to help Meng Jia, Tang Xin’s anger surged again.

The attraction between the male and female leads was undeniable: Lu Liqin was always so stern with her, insisting on impartiality.

And yet, here he was, helping Meng Jia with her work.

Upon closer comparison, Tang Xin realized that Meng Jia was even slower at harvesting wheat than she was—she felt like a little labor dynamo by contrast.

Lu Liqin, intent on his work, didn’t notice, but Meng Jia spoke up:

“Oh, Tang Xin, why are you slacking off again? Really, since we’re all in the countryside now, you need to adapt to life here. Even if the work is hard and tiring, you have to—”

“Why aren’t you working yourself? Why do you need your dear Brother Lu to help you?” Tang Xin retorted with a cold laugh.

Meng Jia’s eyes immediately filled with tears, her expression frail and pitiful—tsk, tsk—

As expected, someone appreciated it: Lu Liqin instantly snapped, “Tang Xin!”

He sighed, then, for once, patiently explained, “Meng Jia isn’t slacking off on purpose—she’s not feeling well.”

“If she’s not well, she should take time off and see a doctor, not put on a Lin Daiyu act in front of me. Isn’t this just so you can call home and complain to my father? Go ahead, and tell him while you’re at it: I’m getting married, so he won’t be able to control me anymore.”

This jab stung Lu Liqin again. Meng Jia, meanwhile, stared at Tang Xin in horror, eyes wide: “Tang Xin, don’t say that.”

Tang Xin arched an eyebrow, looking smug. “You just want to marry Lu Liqin, don’t you? You and your white lotus mother—always pretending to be innocent and virtuous. Don’t worry, Brother Lu is all yours; nobody’s competing with you.”

Now Meng Jia was truly terrified. She didn’t know how Tang Xin had seen through her, but she knew she absolutely couldn’t let Lu Liqin think so, too.

So, Meng Jia simply burst into tears, sobbing as pitifully as ever, while hurriedly explaining it was all a misunderstanding—she would never think such a thing.

Tang Xin lifted her chin and challenged her directly: “Do you dare swear, on your life and your mother’s, that you’ll never have those thoughts?”

Meng Jia was startled anew.

Of course she didn’t dare—people took such oaths seriously in this era.

Especially since she had been reborn—she wouldn’t dare offend the heavens.

Lu Liqin, on the other hand, was secretly delighted, convinced that Tang Xin was only jealous because he was being kind to another girl.