The tractor rumbled forward, and the noise of the tractor surrounded her ears, the people sitting in the tractor also had to shout to talk. 

Through the memories of the original owner, Tang Momo confirmed that the person who had spoken to them earlier was the female protagonist, Xu Xiaoyun. She recalled that the novel started with her rebirth. 

The trigger of her rebirth was drowning in the water. Tang Momo looked through the memory of the original owner and did not find any relevant memory. It seems that this incident should not have happened yet. 

Perhaps because she had read the novel, Tang Momo had no particularly good feelings toward Xu Xiaoyun. 

Although the novel describes Xu Xiaoyun’s kindness and understanding and explained that her mistakes were due to her and Gu Chengze’s long periods of separation and the fact that Gu Chengze was a straight man who didn’t know how to show care.  

Tang Momo thought that a mistake was still a mistake. Before marrying Gu Chengze, she already knew that his job would prevent him from staying by her side all the time—how could she not have known that? 

Moreover, if she didn’t want to live with Gu Chengze, there was obviously a better way to deal with it, but she chose the most humiliating way for Gu Chengze. 

Even if she had been reborn and now regretted her actions and wanted to repent, Tang Momo still felt uncomfortable. Why should Gu Chengze be at her mercy, discarded when she pleased and reclaimed when she wanted? Just because she had been reborn, did that erase the harm she had caused him in their previous life? 

“Tang Momo, why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?” Xu Xiaoyun touched her face and looked at Tang Momo uneasily. When Tang Momo was lost in thought, she happened to be staring at her face. 

At that moment, the tractor happened to stop to pick up more passengers, and everyone’s eyes turned toward Tang Momo. 

Facing Xu Xiaoyun’s puzzled eyes, Tang Momo pulled forced a smile. “Sorry, I haven’t recovered for the past two days, so I’m always in a daze.” 

When everyone heard Tang Momo say this, they remembered what happened to her before, and at this time everyone’s topic returned to what happened that day. 

“If you ask me, this is all thanks to the kid from the Gu family. Otherwise, it would be too late to find out the next day.” The aunt who spoke looked at Zhang Xiaoli and Tang Momo after she finished speaking. 

“That’s right. This trip to the city is mainly to pick up something to thank Xiao Gu,” Zhang Xiaoli nodded in agreement. 

When Xu Xiaoyun heard them mention Gu Chengze, a hint of shyness flashed in her eyes. The whole Qingshui Brigade knew the purpose of Gu Chengze’s return this time. 

She remembered how, two days before Gu Chengze returned, Grandma Zhao had come to her house and chatted with her mother for a long time. Although she was chatting with her mother, her eyes often fell on her. 

After Grandma Zhao left, everyone in the family was guessing her purpose. When Gu Chengze came back to look for a match, everyone understood Grandma Zhao’s intention. 

Because of this matter, she went to the city today just to buy a new set of clothes. 

Seeing that everyone was discussing other things, Tang Momo finally breathed a sigh of relief. After reading so many novels, she was sure the best move was to stay away from the male and female protagonist and just live her own life. 

But thinking that her life was saved by Gu Chengze, she couldn’t just sit there and watch. 

But she was afraid that her good intentions would lead to bad results. What if Gu Chengze was actually willing? After all, Xu Xiaoyun was considered the ideal wife candidate in Qingshui Brigade. 

Not only was she beautiful, but she was also kind and gentle, and many people liked her. 

Seeing that Tang Momo began to be dazed again, Zhang Xiaoli was a little worried and hesitated whether to go to the hospital for another check-up. 

She clenched the purse at her waist, thinking that if life wasn’t so difficult, she wouldn’t have considered touching this money. 

“Mother, it’s time to go down. What are you thinking about?” Seeing that everyone else had almost left, Tang Momo gently pushed Zhang Xiaoli next to her. 

“Oh, we’re here so soon, let’s go.” Zhang Xiaoli took Tang Momo and went directly to the state-owned restaurant. 

Tang Momo couldn’t help but widen her eyes. Can their family afford to eat here in their current situation? 

She knew that Zhang Xiaoli was worried about her since she had just recovered from a serious illness, but Tang Momo knew her own condition well enough, so she quickly shook her head and refused. “Mother, let’s finish our errands and eat when we get back.” 

“It’s okay, Momo, don’t worry. Mother was thinking about it before. I have been reluctant to spend the money your father left. Wait for me here, I will be back soon.” Zhang Xiaoli stuffed some money and food ticket to Tang Momo before walking away. 

After Zhang Xiaoli left, she recalled the original owner’s memories and realized that her late father had been employed at a shoe factory. 

Logically, after Tang Dajun passed away, Zhang Xiaoli should have taken over his job. If not her, then at least her as the eldest daughter. But in the end, the job went to their aunt, Tang Xiaoxue. 

What exactly happened is unclear; the original owner’s memory doesn’t have any details. She only remembers Zhang Xiaoli coming back with red eyes one day. 

Before Tang Momo could think about it, her meat buns and porridge arrived soon. Smelling the fragrance, Tang Momo’s stomach growled. 

This time she did not hesitate. It would be hypocritical not to eat after spending the money. 

After Tang Momo finished eating, Zhang Xiaoli did not come back, so she could only stay here and wait for her to come find her. 

Tang Momo actually did not believe what Zhang Xiaoli said just now. Tang Dajun’s monthly salary not only had to support their family, but also had to be confiscated. How could there be any extra money? 

When she went out in the morning, she noticed Zhang Xiaoli’s nervousness. She glanced at her waist from time to time. She guessed that there was something hidden there. She should have gone to change something just now. 

Since Zhang Xiaoli wanted to keep it a secret, she acted as if she didn’t know anything. She planned to wait and gradually uncover the truth over time. 

Zhang Xiaoli ran all the way over, with a layer of fine beads of sweat on her forehead. She was going to take Tang Momo directly to the supply and marketing cooperative but was stopped by her. “Mother, you should eat something too. Didn’t you say that Father left the money?” 

Tang Momo’s last sentence made Zhang Xiaoli swallow her refusal. She nodded. “Alright, I’ll also bring back a meat bun for your brother and the twins.” 

“Okay, you sit here. I’ll go.” Tang Momo glanced at Zhang Xiaoli’s thin frame. Since Tang Dajun’s death, Zhang Xiaoli had been supporting the whole family. It was then that Tang Momo realized that not every mother was like her birth mother. 

“Mother, eat slowly.” Seeing that Zhang Xiaoli was eating a little hurriedly, Tang Momo asked for a glass of water for her. 

“I’m fine. We need to hurry, or we’ll miss the tractor back, and we’ll have to walk.” She didn’t mind, but Momo’s health was still weak, and she couldn’t walk for so long. 

“It’s okay mother. We shouldn’t take that long.” Tang Momo said and even helped her straighten her back. 

Although Zhang Xiaoli agreed, she didn’t slow down, so Tang Momo could only shrug helplessly. 

*** 

Xu Xiaoyun and her brother had eaten at home before heading out. As soon as they got off the tractor, they went straight to the supply and marketing cooperative. Supposedly, she was here to accompany her brother to buy things for his wedding, but in fact, she joined him to buy a new set of clothes. 

She was already of marriageable age, and her family had mentioned getting new clothes several times. She could come this time, thanks to Grandma Zhao’s visit to their home. 

Gu Chengze was a soldier, and not only did he get an allowance every month, but he also didn’t have any formal in-laws after she got married, so her mother attached great importance to this matter. 

Xu Xiaoyun had met Gu Chengze once that day. Although he was not the kind of gentle man she liked, and this made her a little disappointed, she thought that if she married him, she would have a monthly allowance and would not have to work. She thought it was good, at least better than the other people in the team who came to propose marriage. 

“Xiaoyun, what are you thinking about? Come and see how this is. Your brother has been coveting it for a long time.” Xu Zhengfu pointed at the watch on the counter and waved to Xu Xiaoyun. 

“Brother, do you want to buy a watch?” Xu Xiaoyun bit her lip unconsciously when she spoke. The family had no money to buy a watch unless they used her future betrothal gift. 

“Not now, I will buy it after we get the betrothal money before buying it.” After Xu Zhengfu finished speaking, he looked at the watch on the counter again. He heard from his mother that if the Gu family arranged the match early, the betrothal gift would be at least two hundred. 

Xu Xiaoyun lowered her eyelids and wanted to say something but didn’t say it. Although her mother was also good to her, she knew that as long as it came to her brother’s affairs, they would stand by his side. 

“I’m telling you; you better hurry up and secure Gu Chengze and don’t let anyone take advantage of you,” Xu Zhengfu said and raised his chin towards Tang Momo. 

Given how hard life was for the Tang family, if Tang Momo got any ideas, this great match might be ruined. 

“Brother, what are you talking about? We haven’t even gotten that far yet,” Xu Xiaoyun said, glaring at Xu Zhengfu with some displeasure. 

Xu Zhengfu looked at her casually. “Isn’t it a done deal? Who in the production team can compare to you? Besides, his grandmother even came to our house to check you out.” 

Seeing that Zhang Xiaoli and her daughter were about to approach, Xu Xiaoyun quickly said, “Don’t talk nonsense about things that don’t exist.” Then she went to look at the cloth. 

Xu Xiaoyun was skilled with her hands. She glanced at the new clothes at the supply and marketing cooperative and roughly knew how to make them, so she planned to buy the fabric and make the clothes herself to save money. 

Tang Momo didn’t expect to meet Xu Xiaoyun and her brother in the supply and marketing cooperative. She didn’t want to have too much interaction with Xu Xiaoyun, so she took Zhang Xiaoli to another counter. 

Zhang Xiaoli looked at her in confusion. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you like to go to Xiaoyun the most in the past?” 

“You said it was before. Ever since Father passed away, every time I went to their house, their family has been cold and distant,” Tang Momo spoke the truth. This was also why the original owner had stopped visiting the Xu family. 

Even though Xu Xiaoyun would always apologize on behalf of her family with a regretful expression and ask her not to take it to heart, the original owner never returned after visiting twice. 

Zhang Xiaoli understood the principle of ‘the tea has cooled before it is even drunk.; She sighed, “If you don’t like it, then don’t go in the future.” 

“Yeah, I won’t go anymore,” Tang Momo agreed firmly. 

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, the mother and daughter went directly to the agreed place to wait for the tractor. There were already quite a few people waiting there. 

Xu Xiaoyun spotted Tang Momo in the crowd. She had originally wanted to greet her but reconsidered due to her mother’s warnings and Tang Momo’s previous attitude, so she decided against it. 

Tang Momo didn’t expect that, while returning home, she would later hear news of Xu Xiaoyun falling into the water and falling unconscious by evening. 

Her heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, what was bound to happen would eventually come.