"This matter is truly where our Liu Family has wronged you, and I never expected that boy to dare to come and break off the engagement while I was away..."
His tone still sounded sincere, which somewhat deflated Lin Lu's anger.
Lin Lu waved his hand, "Since the marriage is already called off, let's just let bygones be bygones, no need to bring it up again."
"Just like Guohui from your family said, from now on, our families will have nothing to do with each other when it comes to marriage."
"Even if Guohui became a formal worker or even the Factory Director, my family would not go over and take any advantage of you..."
Liu Dazhu felt utterly ashamed upon hearing this.
Inside, he couldn't help but feel some resentment.
What Guohui did was indeed wrong.
But he had already been beaten and scolded for it.
Why did the Lin Family have to harp on it?
Although Liu Dazhu felt dissatisfied inside, he didn't show it on his face at all.
"Brother Lin, aren't you slapping my face with those words? What's this talk of taking advantage or not?"
"Whether that kid will have any good fortune is still uncertain, he might even be sent back here in a few days..."
As he spoke, he pushed the things he had brought over.
"This is a little token of my sincerity, some snacks and fabric for Lin Tang. I hope Lin Tang will not hold it against Guohui, I'm truly sorry."
Lin Lu pushed them back, not accepting them at all.
"No need for that, what Guohui said is right.
The new era has come, and arranged marriages should indeed no longer exist.
You should take back this apology gift, Tangtang does not lack such things."
Perhaps, in the future, they might even have to thank Liu Guohui for the favor of not marrying her!
"Ah! In any case, this is our fault, please forgive us, Brother Lin."
After saying this, Liu Dazhu stood up and quickly walked towards the door.
Lin Lu came back to his senses, took the things, and hurriedly went after him.
"Dazhu, your things, we really don't need them at our house, please take them back."
Liu Dazhu stopped and asserted without allowing refusal, "Since Lin Tang doesn't need these things, just consider them as a thank you gift for the time you saved me, Brother Lin. Let me find some peace of mind."
With a single sentence, a gift given, he felt as though he had repaid the life-saving debt.
Then he left the Lin Family courtyard.
Lin Lu watched his hastening departing figure and heaved a deep sigh.
If he had known... if he had known earlier, he would never have agreed to this marriage.
-
The Liu Family.
When Yang Chunfang saw the old man come back empty-handed, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on her face.
The old man really was foolish, always giving away good things.
The Lin Family wasn't so great either.
Courageous enough to accept so many nice things without worrying about bursting.
Hmph, so greedy.
As soon as Liu Dazhu saw his wife's expression, he knew she was displeased again.
He shook his head and a wry smile appeared on his face.
Did he really want to give those things away?
Weren't all these messes caused by his son and wife with their superficial eyes?
None of them considered that Lin Tang's maternal uncle, Lin Fu, was the Captain, a man with great power.
He was just a custodian, carrying out tasks under their power.
If he truly angered the Lin Family, whether he could even remain a custodian was uncertain.
Unable to help herself, Yang Chunfang complained in a low voice, "The Lin Family really has a big appetite, accepting so many good things without fear of spoiling their hands.
None of our families are rich, it's not easy for our family to save those good things, how can they have the nerve?"
Liu Dazhu was reluctant too.
But as a man, he could afford a slightly broader perspective.
In his eyes, as long as the rift between the two families was eliminated.
He could continue as the brigade's custodian, and those things could be saved up again.
"Enough, don't talk about it.
If it weren't for you and Guohui taking matters into your own hands, I wouldn't have had to personally apologize.
Do you think things aren't messy enough?
Don't go wandering outside for these next couple of days. Wait until this blows over before you go out and chat with people..."
Feeling guilty, Yang Chunfang was internally frustrated but said, "Alright, alright, I got it."
Inside, she became annoyed at the village gossips.
All so talkative!
Meanwhile, back at the Lin Family.
Li Xiuli finished cooking and raised her voice to call everyone, "Dinner's ready!"
The voice traveled from the kitchen, carried by the wind to the courtyard, and then reached Lin Tang's room.
Soon, a group of people bustled toward the courtyard.
"Mom, are we eating in the courtyard today?" Lin Tang asked while washing her hands.
As Li Xiuli was setting the table, she turned around at the sound of her daughter's voice.
"What's the matter? Do you think it's cold? If you think it's cold, we can eat inside."
"It's fine. Let's eat outside." It's too dark inside.
"Alright."
After setting the table, everyone took their seats.
The plate of yellow, stir-fried eggs on the table was tantalizing the souls of the Lin Family members.
Delicious!
So very delicious!
Lin Lu picked up a little with his chopsticks for Li Xiuli, then added a little to his own bowl.
He said, "Let's eat," and the dining table immediately hummed with activity.
Everyone unanimously reached for the fried eggs with their chopsticks.
When Li Xiuli saw Zhou Mei greedily grab a large portion for herself, her face turned a shade darker, and her eyes went slightly cold.
It wasn't that she, as a mother-in-law, was stingy and couldn't stand to see her daughter-in-law eat well.
It was just that her second son's wife was too greedy.
After all, there were so many in the family, and they only had five fried eggs in total.
The eggs diminished significantly with Zhou Mei's single grab.
She didn't consider anyone else at all.
This was bound to upset Mother Li, wasn't it?
Zhou Mei sensed something was off and met her mother-in-law's icy stare as she lifted her head.
The next second, her hand trembled.
A chopstick full of eggs almost fell on the table.
Scary～
She was almost scared enough to pee, okay!
Zhou Mei took a minute to calm her racing heart.
Without changing her expression, she divided the chopstick full of eggs, giving half to Lin Qingshui.
"Husband, here's some egg for you."
Lin Qingshui was somewhat baffled, looking at her as if he'd seen a ghost.
Was his wife possessed?
Of course, Zhou Mei noticed his odd expression and pushed her chopsticks forward again, "If you don't want it, give it back to me!"
Before she could take it back, Lin Qingshui scooped it into his mouth from his bowl, "How could I not want it?"
Never mind half a chopstick; he wouldn't think a whole plate was too much!
Zhou Mei faced his smug eyes.
Looking at the opposite side, where the older brother and sister-in-law were sweetly exchanging food, she felt her whole body suffocate with frustration.
"..." She didn't want this man anymore!
Goudan and Choudan, the children, didn't care about the adults' thoughts, blissfully eating the eggs with joy on their faces.
They chewed each bite of egg until it lost its flavor before slowly swallowing it, as if they were imprinting the taste forever in their memories.
Too delicious!
Fried eggs are even tastier than steamed eggs!
"Fried eggs are delicious!"
"Eggy is delicious!"
The two little ones looked utterly contented, causing the adults at home to feel a bitter sweetness in their hearts.
These times...
Lin Tang noticed that after the first bite, her parents barely touched the eggs again.
She pursed her lips, reached out to pick up some eggs, and placed them into her parents' bowls.
"Dad, Mom, you eat too.
In a few days, I'll go to the county to see if there are any factories hiring. Our family won't be poor forever."
She needed to find a job first.
Otherwise, even if she checked in for good stuff in the system, she wouldn't be able to use it.
In these times, the most desirable jobs were in the public sector; she had to find a factory to work in first.
Lin Lu and Li Xiuli felt a warm sensation in their hearts and thought the eggs tasted much better.
"It doesn't matter if we're poor or not. As long as you siblings are doing well, your father and I are at ease," Li Xiuli said with a smile.
In her heart, she didn't expect her daughter could land a job.