Chapter 139: Early Warning

"Sigh, Brother Li Sheng, you’ve been gone for over a month now. When, exactly, are you coming back?"

For once, Tang Xin didn't spend the evening in her spatial farm; instead, she lay in bed, tossing and turning. People are like that—unable to withstand the weight of their own thoughts. After a busy day, the hollow silence of the night made her longing impossible to suppress.

Since arriving in this timeline, Tang Xin had only occasionally thought about the plot of the book, and even then, only to navigate her current life better. But tonight, she had a dream. She dreamt of what had happened after the original "Tang Xin" witnessed Meng Jia’s rebirth—the events that would have transpired had she never arrived in this world.

In that version of reality, the original Tang Xin and Li Sheng had married under unhappy circumstances, leading to endless arguments. "Tang Xin" had always looked down on Li Sheng, fueled by Meng Jia’s instigation, and had intentionally thrown tantrums to pick fights with Lu Liqin. Forced to marry Li Sheng in the end, "Tang Xin" began to regret it, convinced that Li Sheng was inferior to her "Brother Lu" in every possible way. During their fights, she would spit out the most venomous words, cruelly wounding his masculine pride. It was under those exact circumstances that Li Sheng accepted a mission no one else dared to take, which ultimately led to the accident. And so, the original "Tang Xin’s" tragic life began.

Tang Xin woke up from the nightmare drenched in sweat. In truth, she hadn't thought about the book’s hero and heroine for a long time. Had Lu Liqin and Meng Jia already married? What had brought them together? Tang Xin no longer cared. She had her own life; why dwell on a fictional plot? Yet, why would she suddenly have such a dream? Was it a warning, or perhaps a sign of something to come?

Because she couldn't stop mulling over this question, Tang Xin was somewhat absent-minded as she sat in the courtyard the next day. Even when Li Xihua spoke with her usual stinging, provocative tone, Tang Xin couldn't be bothered to respond.

Just then, she heard someone call out, "Tang Xin."

Tang Xin answered instinctively and turned her head. There, riding a brand-new "Twenty-Eight" bicycle, Li Sheng rolled into the courtyard. He steadied the bike with his long legs, greeted his family, and then looked at his wife with a beaming smile.

Tang Xin hurried over, circling the new bicycle. "Brother Li Sheng, this is..."

Li Sheng handed the bike directly to her. "Come on, wife, you give it a try."

In her past life, Tang Xin knew how to ride a bike, but she had only ever ridden small, lightweight women's bicycles; this was her first time trying such a large model. Fortunately, she was tall enough to mount it easily, and she successfully began riding it around the courtyard. Just as she found her balance, Li Sheng, catching her off guard, hopped onto the back seat. He reached out with his long arms and pulled her into a warm embrace.

He hadn't seen her for over a month, hadn't heard a single word from her, and he had missed his wife terribly. For a moment, he even forgot that they were outdoors and that he should be mindful of his image and the impression he was making.

Tang Xin, however, had not forgotten. She gave a light cough and said, "Comrade Li Sheng, please be mindful of the impression you're giving."

There weren't many people in the courtyard, but his mother and sister were there, and Tang Xin was naturally embarrassed. She didn't even call him "Brother Li Sheng."

Well, Li Sheng wasn't pleased. Although he felt quite proud to have his wife in his arms, he retorted sharply, "Why the 'Comrade'? Am I not your brother anymore?"

*Brother, indeed.* If she weren't busy riding the bike, Tang Xin would have reached out to swat him. At first, she had thought he was the silent, shy type. Now she knew the truth: he was actually a closet flirt! Still, she knew that this was their own courtyard; if they were out in public, Li Sheng likely wouldn't act this way.

Even so, Fang and Li Xihua were stunned, staring at the scene with wide eyes. They exchanged a look, both reading the same message in each other's eyes: *The daughter-in-law, the sister-in-law—she really is a seductive fox spirit.* Since when had they ever seen Li Sheng act so brazenly?

After circling the yard three times, Tang Xin stopped the bike and turned back to smile triumphantly at Li Sheng. Her spirited, elfin expression made the others laugh along with her.

Fang, in particular, finally let out a sigh of relief. She had long since noticed her daughter-in-law’s low spirits over the past two days and had guessed the reason. But this was the kind of situation where she couldn't even offer words of comfort; it was truly her son’s fault, and the Li family had let her down. Her eldest son’s job was demanding, and Fang couldn't bring herself to criticize him, so she could only pretend not to notice her daughter-in-law’s gloom.

Thankfully, her eldest son had finished his work and returned home safely. Seeing her daughter-in-law’s bright smile return, Fang felt as if the sky itself was brighter than usual.

Li Sheng had finished his work and gone straight to the supply and marketing cooperative to pick up the bicycle he had reserved. He had intended to teach his wife how to ride, but she was capable and had not only learned on her own but was even able to carry him. Seeing her impressive skill, Li Sheng felt at ease; with this bike, it would be much more convenient for her to get around when he wasn't home.

When Li Jiang and Li Hai returned from school and saw the bicycle in the courtyard, they were filled with envy. Tang Xin wasn't stingy, and since she already knew how to ride, she took advantage of Li Sheng’s arrival to have him teach his younger brothers.

Li’s father was worried about the bike getting damaged and wouldn't let the two youngest ride it. Li Sheng, however, gave the bike to Li Kai first, teaching him how to mount it and find his balance before attempting to ride. Li Jiang, Li Hai, and Gu Nan, who weren't tall enough, jumped up and down in frustration, while Fang, Li Xihua, Li Xiyue, and Tang Xin watched and laughed. For a time, the small courtyard was filled with joy and laughter.

Seeing the children excitedly swarming around the big machine, Li Zhirong simply went inside to help Fang prepare dinner, knowing the old man would be heartbroken if he saw them drop the bike. After a few tumbles, Li Kai was the first to learn, while Li Jiang, Li Hai, and Gu Nan just couldn't manage it—they were simply too short, and this "Twenty-Eight" was not something they could tame.

Fortunately, Li Sheng didn't play favorites; he had gifts for the younger ones, too. It was a toy car that had cost a full three yuan. When Fang found out, her heart kept palpitating. She scolded herself for giving birth to such a spendthrift, but when she saw how happy the little ones were with their cars, she didn't know what else to say. *Fine*, she thought, *the old man has the real wisdom—out of sight, out of mind.* She would just focus on the kitchen and dinner; why worry about such trivial things? As long as her son and daughter-in-law were capable of earning money, that was enough.

Thinking this, Fang smiled. She wasn't the type to be a nag like her eldest daughter; why had she started acting like such an annoying old woman herself?