Chapter 166: Is It Solved?

Although Father Li had missed out on the opportunity to study since childhood due to circumstances beyond his control, he never believed that reading was useless.

He could not quite understand what was wrong with this era; instead of encouraging people to study, everyone was blindly sent down to the countryside to farm.

In truth, those young people were entirely unsuited for agricultural labor. It would have been far better, as his daughter-in-law had suggested, for everyone to focus on their respective strengths and do what they did best.

Furthermore, although Father Li himself lacked formal education, he made no attempt to hide his respect and admiration for scholars. Now that the family had the means, it was indeed best for everyone to learn a little more.

At the very least, once they could read and write their own names, they would not be so easily deceived when venturing out to do things.

This time, not only did Madam Fang and Tang Xin support and encourage everyone to learn to read and write, but even Father Li promised publicly that they would all study under Tang Xin and that those who performed well would receive rewards.

Tang Xin certainly did not want to dampen everyone's enthusiasm, so the next day she prepared to go to the commune to buy some stationery and supplies. To her surprise, no sooner had she ridden her bicycle out of the Eighth Production Team than she spotted Lu Liqin.

Moreover, Lu Liqin was standing upright by the roadside, waving to greet her.

With no other choice, Tang Xin had to stop her bicycle and said with a polite smile, "Hello, Educated Youth Lu."

Seeing nothing in her eyes or expression toward him except a perfunctory smile, Lu Liqin felt as though his heart was being wrung out: "You call me Educated Youth Lu?"

Do you remember? When we were little, you always called me Brother Lu.

Yet Lu Liqin also clearly knew that those were the days when they were both still young. From what point in time had she stopped calling him "Brother Lu"?

It seemed to be after Meng Jia appeared?

Tang Xin wore a look of utter earnestness: "If I don't call you Educated Youth Lu, what should I call you?"

Then she reminded him: "I am already married, and you are married too."

A dull pain flared in his chest once more. Fighting back his sorrow, Lu Liqin asked, "Is he good to you?"

"Good, exceptionally good," Tang Xin replied without a moment's hesitation.

…………

After a long silence, Lu Liqin finally asked, "Why did you rush into marriage?"

Why didn't you wait for me? Didn't we agree to return to the city together and get married?

Lu Liqin did not actually voice this question aloud, because he knew that the so-called agreement was merely an unspoken tacit understanding between them.

In reality, they had never explicitly stated it or had an open and honest conversation about such a topic.

It was just that previously, Lu Liqin believed there was a tacit understanding between them. Around this time last year, he had been pleading with Father Tang while also asking his own parents to pull strings and use their connections.

He had originally intended that once they returned to the city together, they could obtain their marriage certificate and truly become a family.

It was also because they had not yet turned eighteen when they were sent down to the countryside; otherwise, Lu Liqin would have long since wanted to marry his young girl and bring her home.

Yet now—

Reason told Lu Liqin that things had reached this stage and were beyond redemption.

Leaving aside the fact that he was already married and she had wed someone else, neither of them could afford to do anything that would ruin the other's reputation or damage the other's family relationships.

Still, a lingering grievance remained in his heart. So today, having unexpectedly run into Tang Xin outside by himself, Lu Liqin finally decided to muster the courage to get things clear.

Tang Xin simply found it amusing, and she actually chuckled out loud: "Do you think asking this now has any meaning?"

Had the original owner of the body heard Lu Liqin ask such a question, her heart might have been churned by turbulent waves, but the present Tang Xin would not.

Yet seeing the conflicted expression on Lu Liqin's face, Tang Xin ultimately lacked the heart to ignore it and intended to make everything clear to him once and for all.

It could also serve to resolve the issue completely, preventing any future trouble for herself and the Li family.

"Alright, I know. Are you thinking in your heart that you came down to the countryside with me for my sake, yet I ended up doing something to wrong you?"

"I—"

"Did you really come down to the countryside for my sake?" As soon as Tang Xin asked this, she saw Lu Liqin's brows twitch violently. Without waiting for him to speak, she continued, "The three of us came down to the countryside together, and then you helped the delicate Meng Jia with her chores while admonishing me to be diligent, brave, and work hard."