Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - 5 Granny Tang

These past few days, working in the forest farm during the day and moving bricks for two hours at dusk, although tiring, by the time school starts, accumulating ten yuan should be enough.

"Hualian, I've inquired about the tuition for high school. We can first pay half and owe the rest. That way, once my forest farm wages are paid, it should cover the tuition. The money earned from moving bricks will help us get through these months."

"Zhengde, thank you." Zhang Hualian said with gratitude, not knowing what else to say besides 'thank you'.

Zhang Hualian has been married into the Tang Family for thirteen years, and Tang Zhengde has been really good to her.

"We are a family, no need for formalities." Tang Zhengde thought for a moment and then explained, "Don't take my mother's words to heart, I will definitely support Xiao Yue's education. Xiao Yue has such good grades, it would be a waste not to pursue education."

"Mmm." Zhang Hualian nodded, unable to bear the thought of stopping Tang Yue from studying.

"Zhengde, you've had it tough, doing so much every day." Zhang Hualian always felt indebted to Tang Zhengde, grateful for her fortune in marrying him.

"She is my daughter too, how about compensating me?" Tang Zhengde whispered in her ear; in the darkness, Zhang Hualian, embarrassed, bit her lip, afraid of being heard by others.

Early morning, with the chirping of birds, Tang Yue dragged the still sleepy Tang Jun to start running around the village.

Tang Jun went from initial resistance to no longer being able to resist.

Fortunately, where they lived was not crowded, so they just ran around in circles, not encountering many people.

"Tang Yue, can't you let me sleep a bit more?" Tang Jun, barely able to keep his eyes open, followed Tang Yue running. For the past month, aside from doing formulas, memorizing texts, completing question papers, and practicing writing, he hadn't gone out to play at all!

"You go to sleep; if Dad doesn't let you study, I won't care." Tang Yue said while running, still feeling out of breath even after several days of running.

Tang Jun, puffing angrily, still followed her.

After a month of recuperation, Tang Yue's health had fully recovered.

During the day, Tang Yue took the time to tutor Tang Jun, and in the evening, to save on electricity, apart from during dinner, they sat in the courtyard to cool off.

Under the star-studded night sky, in the Tang Family's courtyard, amidst the clear sounds of reading, there were occasional corrections made by Tang Yue.

Tang Zhengde sat in the rocking chair, lying down after a tiresome day, snoring away.

Zhang Hualian was busy in the kitchen.

*

"What, Zhengde won't let Xiao Jun attend middle school?" Granny Tang, hearing her grandson Tang Xian's words, immediately flared up.

Putting down her chopsticks, Granny Tang, without even finishing her dinner, stormed angrily to the next door. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she pointed at Zhang Hualian and berated, "Zhang Hualian, you shameless woman, how could you have the nerve to encourage Zhengde to prevent Xiao Jun from attending middle school so your daughter could go to high school!"

"Our Tang Family has treated you well, how could you be so heartless!"

"Poor Xiao Jun, his own father has turned into a stepfather."

Granny Tang lamented and sobbed; were it not for Tang Zhengde stepping in, Granny Tang's slap might have landed on Zhang Hualian's face.

"Mom, you're overthinking it. Who's stopping Xiao Jun from studying? I never said Xiao Jun couldn't study," Tang Zhengde hurriedly explained.

"Then what's with Xiao Jun recently, not going out to play at all, just staying home doing homework?"

"After raising you for fourteen years, you finally call him 'dad'?" Granny Tang didn't take Tang Yue's words to heart at all; she found it strange for all these years, Tang Yue never showed a good expression towards Tang Zhengde.

Granny Tang, as a mother, saw everything and was anxious, but her son Tang Zhengde always protected Zhang Hualian and her daughter, and there was nothing she could do.

Not to mention, Tang Yue's recent appendicitis flare-up cost over forty yuan, making Granny Tang even less fond of Tang Yue.

"Granny, I was wrong before." Tang Yue admitted her mistake; her feelings towards Granny Tang were complicated.

Ever since she was little, being scolded as "wretched girl" by Granny Tang was a daily occurrence, and even during festivals, Granny Tang wouldn't spare her a glance.

However, if something serious happened to her, Granny Tang wouldn't just stand by and watch.

Take this recent incident for example, she quietly asked her mom, and Granny Tang contributed twenty yuan, which even caused Uncle Tang to get mad at Granny Tang.

Granny Tang was typically harsh with a soft heart.

"Has the sun risen from the west?" Granny Tang raised her eyebrows, sizing up Tang Yue. Since she had returned to the courtyard home, she hadn't really looked at her properly. Tang Yue, still the same person, no longer had her previous hostility. With her hair tied in a ponytail, she looked spirited, and her eyes seemed as if they could speak.

She indeed looked more pleasant than before.

"Mom, don't look at Xiao Yue like that, she'll feel embarrassed," Tang Zhengde cleared his throat, his face still stinging where Granny Tang had hit him.

"Hmph, you always shield her."

Granny Tang patted the dust off her clothes and said, "Since it's not true, I'll just go home to eat. I haven't even had a full meal yet."