Chapter Seventeen: Unable to Accept Support from Her Family

Tang Xin knew perfectly well—this was a man gentle to an almost unreasonable degree. All his considerations were out of fear that his family would be too much trouble, that she might not live happily. He never stopped to think about what a pampered, indolent city girl like herself could possibly do in his household.

So Tang Xin deliberately furrowed her brows, speaking in mock distress, “Oh, how can you say such things? They’re your family—why would you see them as a burden?”

“I—”

“Don’t worry, after we’re married, I’ll do my duty as a daughter-in-law. And I’ll help you take care of your younger siblings.” Tang Xin’s smile was bright and generous.

This was her way of telling everyone present that she meant every word—she was absolutely serious, not just paying lip service to the man before her.

Affected by her smile, for reasons he couldn’t explain, Li Sheng found himself anticipating the life they called ‘marriage.’

Then Li Sheng realized how foolish he was—why worry about such unrealistic problems?

“Are you sure your parents would agree to you marrying someone from the countryside?” Li Sheng hadn’t forgotten Lu Liqin’s attitude; he likely represented the elders’ opinions in Tang’s family. Li Sheng knew well enough that if it were up to him, he’d be reluctant to let a beloved, pampered daughter marry a rustic country boy.

Whatever crossed Tang Xin’s mind, she suddenly smiled, but Li Sheng felt there was something forced and sorrowful in that expression.

But immediately, Tang Xin rallied herself, her laughter open and hearty. “You’re the one I’ve chosen. My parents won’t object.”

Li Sheng gazed at her, silent.

Tang Xin was patient; she smiled back at him, eyes twinkling.

The two of them looked at each other for a full minute before Li Sheng finally conceded.

He spoke at last, “If we’re really going to get married, there are a few conditions you must agree to.”

“Oh? Just now you kept saying you didn’t want to marry me, and now you’re already setting terms?” Tang Xin laughed with the roguishness of a street tough.

Li Sheng looked at her seriously. “First, we’re going to call your parents—I need to hear them say yes with my own ears.”

“No problem.”

“Second, once we’re married, you’ll be part of our family. You can’t accept financial support from your parents anymore.”

Tang Xin burst out laughing, “Oh, my dear Li Sheng, do you lack confidence in your own abilities, worried you can’t provide for your wife and children? Or do you have some misunderstanding about my parents? Do you think I’m the sort to sponge off my family?”

If anything, her father would long since have been charmed by Madam Bai and her daughter, and it would be up to her to find ways to support her mother.

“Marriage is something we build ourselves. Like drinking water, only we know its warmth or chill. Help from others is fleeting—our lives are our own to live. Li Sheng, as long as we work together, things at home will only get better.”

At this moment, Li Sheng could hardly remain calm—he clenched his fists tightly to restrain his impulses.

He—he couldn’t do anything; they weren’t truly married yet, and he could not destroy the reputation of Comrade Tang.

Li Sheng was not a man for dithering. Since they had already talked things through, there was no need to delay. He went straight to borrow a bicycle from the team, intending to take Tang Xin to the commune to make the call.

Tang Xin went back to the educated youth dormitory to change and prepare. Yet, as she reached the gate, she ran into Meng Jia once more.

Chin held high, nostrils flared, she strode past, determined to ignore the neurotic heroine of this rebirth story. As for that inexplicably attached male lead—they could both go their own way.

Tang Xin was wholly focused on forging a new life, severing all ties with her past.

Unexpectedly, it was Meng Jia who stopped her, her face anxious, “Have you seen Brother Lu?”

Lu Liqin had been missing since early morning, and when he didn’t show up for work, others only said he’d taken a leave. No one knew why, and Meng Jia was feeling unsettled. Though she’d resolved to seize her own opportunities from now on, she had followed Lu Liqin for years—it was hard to simply stop caring about that man.

“Why not tie a string to him, then you’d always know where he is?” Tang Xin blinked, offering the suggestion in all seriousness.

Meng Jia’s tears spilled over instantly; she thought Tang Xin was insulting not only Lu Liqin but herself as well. “Tang Xin, how could you say such a thing?”

So tiresome—she wasn’t a stutterer, so why did she always mumble and hesitate?

Tang Xin simply stepped aside, darted past Meng Jia, and ran off.

Even from a distance, she could still hear Meng Jia’s breathless, exasperated voice behind her:

“Tang Xin, where are you going now? Are you trying to shirk your work again?”

Tang Xin had no interest in arguing; if a person’s reputation could be destroyed so easily by a few careless words, then that only proved they had failed in their own character.

When Tang Xin hurried to the meeting spot, she saw Li Sheng pedaling a sturdy black “28” bicycle her way.

In this era, a bicycle was as precious as a Lamborghini. Only the wealthiest families in the Harvest Brigade owned one. The one Li Sheng rode belonged to the collective, usually reserved for the brigade leader’s business trips.

Li Sheng, tall as he was, didn’t even need to dismount. He stopped the bicycle with one long leg and waited for Tang Xin.

Ah—so this is what it means to see beauty in the eye of the beholder. In Tang Xin’s eyes, this man was simply dazzling in his handsomeness.

Li Sheng handed Tang Xin a small bag, bulging with unknown contents. She took it, settled herself on the back seat, and without thinking, reached forward to wrap her arms around his lean waist.

Li Sheng stiffened immediately, quickly prying her hands off. “We can’t do that—we have to mind our behavior.”

Tang Xin pouted coquettishly, “Aren’t we courting? Can’t I hold you?”

Li Sheng replied earnestly, “Not until we’re married.”

“But dating is supposed to lead to marriage. The Leader said: ‘Romance without marriage in mind is just playing around.’ Are you playing with my feelings?”

Li Sheng fell silent. He knew he could never outtalk her.

So, Li Sheng pedaled steadily, while Tang Xin, forbidden to hold his waist, had to balance herself by pressing her heels against the bike’s rear bar.

Once she got used to the speed and found her balance, Tang Xin unhurriedly opened the little bag Li Sheng had given her.

Actually, it was more like a schoolbag.

Inside was another small bundle, this one made of cloth. Opening it, she found several still-warm steamed cornbread buns. They seemed to be made from cornmeal with a bit of fine white flour and sorghum mixed in. The fragrance was mouthwatering; they must taste delicious.