When I go to college, you’ll all be unemployed, so let’s see how you act then. Xu Xiaoyun thought proudly. 

Gu Chengze had already heard about going to college from Tang Momo, so he was not surprised to hear Xu Xiaoyun mention it again. He just glanced at Xu Xiaoyun calmly and said, “What should I regret?” 

“If you had just listened to me, you wouldn’t be changing your career now. Gu Chengze, you would have been a high-ranking official in the future. Now you’ve ended up like this, are you regretting it?” Xu Xiaoyun couldn’t help but laugh after saying this.” 

Retribution, this is the retribution for Gu Chengze rejecting him. He deserved it all. Who told him to reject her? 

“Why should I regret it? What’s wrong with changing my career? As long as I feel it’s worth it there’s nothing to regret,” Gu Chengze didn’t know what he had achieved in his previous life. Even if it was as Xu Xiaoyun said, it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter if he couldn’t be a high-ranking official. As long as he felt it was worth it, it was fine. 

Gu Chengze’s indifferent expression provoked Xu Xiaoyun. “Stop pretending; I know you regret it. Don’t you wish you had listened to me and married me?” 

Gu Chengze looked at her with pity. “If thinking like that makes you feel better, then go ahead.” 

After that, Gu Chengze ignored Xu Xiaoyun and rode away on his bicycle, thinking on what to buy when he came to visit. 

Looking at the back of Gu Chengze riding away, Xu Xiaoyun clenched her palms tightly. Pretend, pretend, you will all regret it. 

Gu Chengze will be just a laid-off worker in the future, so he is not worthy of her. 

Thinking this, Xu Xiaoyun slowly turned and left, determined to live a better life than them. 

Gu Chengze quickly brushed off Xu Xiaoyun’s words. No matter what achievements he made in his previous life, he did not regret his current choice. 

Although he felt a little regret about not being able to stay in the military, if given a chance to do it again, he would still make the same choice, so there was really nothing to regret. 

When Gu Chengze arrived in the city, it was still early. No one was at Tang Momo’s house. He thought about it and went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy something first, and then went to the food factory to wait for Tang Momo to get off work. 

“Momo, are you going back tonight?” Hu Jie asked softly. 

“Yes, I need to go back for a bit,” she replied. She needed to think about how to encourage Gu Chengze to study together. 

“Your partner is still in the city, right? ” Wang Qian said with a teasing look on her face. 

“He went back this morning. He’ll report to the machinery factory in a few days.” Tang Momo guessed that Gu Chengze would spend more time with Zhao Xiuli in the next few days. 

“When the time comes, you must bring him to meet us.” They hadn’t properly met Gu Chengze yet. “Sure, you bring your partner too,” Tang Momo smiled and nodded at Wang Qian. 

When Tang Momo stepped outside the factory, she was surprised to see Gu Chengze waiting outside. She quickly run to him, “Why are you here?” 

After Tang Momo finished speaking, she found something on the back seat of his bicycle and immediately had a guess in her mind. 

Sure enough, she heard Gu Chengze explain, “I dropped by unexpectedly last night, which was impolite, so I’m here to make up for it today.” 

“My mother doesn’t mind.”  

But, although she said that, Tang Momo still felt sweet inside; who wouldn’t like the feeling of being valued? 

“This is a matter of formality, and I can’t be negligent. Besides, as soon as I got back, Grandma insisted that I visit formally.” 

“You told Grandma Zhao?” Tang Momo didn’t expect him to inform Zhao Xiuli as soon as he came back. 

“I couldn’t wait to share this good news with her,” Gu Chengze said and smiled broadly. 

“What did Grandma Zhao say? She didn’t blame me, right?” To be honest, Tang Momo felt a bit worried, especially since she was the one who decided to hide it first. 

“How could she blame you? She was so happy.” Gu Chengze couldn’t hide the happiness the he’s feeling right now 

“It’s good that she doesn’t blame me.” Tang Momo let out a sigh of relief. 

“Then, when you have time, should we go back?” Gu Chengze said this while subconsciously clenching his fists. 

Tang Momo didn’t refuse. “Yes, but I can only go when I have a break.” 

Upon hearing this, Gu Chengze slowly loosen his clenched palms after hearing this, and his tense mood also relaxed. 

“That also reminds me, when are you free? My roommates want to meet you.” Tang Momo suddenly remembered how her college roommates before used to do the same things: when someone got a boyfriend, they’d bring him to treat everyone in the dormitory to a meal. 

“I’m free anythime.” The smile on Gu Chengze’s lips grew bigger, so was she going to introduce him to her friends? 

Tang Momo thought about it and realized that he would be very busy in the first few days before reporting to the machinery factory, so she might as well do it soon. 

“Then let’s do it tomorrow.” 

“Do I need to prepare anything?” Gu Chengze couldn’t hide his smile.  

“Just prepare money and tickets.” Tang Momo playfully winked at him. 

Gu Chengze felt like a feather had lightly brushed against his heart. He suppressed his excitement and said gently, “So when will we take your Jianan and the twins out to eat?” 

“You decide.” Hearing that he still remembered Jianan and the twins, Tang Momo felt even happier.  

The shoe factory was closer, so by the time they returned, Zhang Xiaoli and Tang Jianan were already back. 

The twins rushed to the door when they saw the two. “Sister, Brother Chengze!” 

Tang Momo reached out and rubbed the heads of the two little ones, “Have you been obedient today?” 

The two little ones nodded at the same time, “Obedient.” 

“Then this is your reward.” Gu Chengze took out the snacks he bought from the supply and marketing cooperative and handed them to the twins. 

“Thank you, Brother Chengze.” Seeing the snacks, the twins spoke even more sincerely. 

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Xiaoli came out of the kitchen and looked at Gu Chengze with some confusion. “Xiao Gu, don’t you need to stay home with Aunt Zhao?” 

“Aunt, I came over in such a hurry yesterday that I lost my manners; I’m sorry.” Gu Chengze said as he placed the items on a nearby table. 

“Next time you come, you don’t need to buy anything.” Zhang Xiaoli’s good impression of him in her heart increased because of his action, which at least showed that he valued Momo. 

“I understand, Aunt.” Gu Chengze nodded obediently. 

“Then you should join us for dinner tonight, but for now, you can all do your own things outside,” Zhang Xiaoli said before heading back into the kitchen.  

At this moment, Tang Jianan was doing his homework in the main room. 

Tang Momo thought, maybe this is the opportunity, so she walked into the main room first. Sure enough, Gu Chengze quickly followed her. 

Tang Momo casually picked up the textbook on the table and looked at Gu Chengze, “Do you still remember this knowledge, or have you already returned everything to the teacher?” 

“I should still remember it,” Gu Chengze replied uncertainly. 

Tang Momo snorted lightly, realizing she shouldn’t have too many expectations, considering the overall situation. 

“But I plan to study high school textbooks recently,” Gu Chengze added, glancing at Tang Momo and noticing her lips curve upwards, making him smile as well. 

“Why do you suddenly want to study high school textbooks?” Tang Momo asked and pretended to be confused. 

“Learning is a lifelong process, and besides, it’s always useful to gain more knowledge.” 

“With such thoughts, it seems Comrade Gu is quite enlightened,” Tang Momo said and gave him a thumbs up. 

“I haven’t been to high school, so I might find it difficult to study, and I don’t know who to ask for help,” Gu Chengze pretended to be distressed and looked at Tang Momo. 

At that moment, Tang Jianan, who had been focused on his homework, suddenly looked up, “You can ask my sister. She’s also studying high school textbooks and has already covered many pages.” 

Gu Chengze pretended to be surprised as he looked at Tang Momo, “So you’re also studying? Can I come to you if I don’t understand something in the future?” 

“Of course, we can learn together and make progress together.” Tang Momo was also serious about this relationship, so she naturally wanted Gu Chengze to be admitted to university. At least when they encountered problems, they wouldn’t have too many disagreements. 

“Then it’s settled.” Gu Chengze didn’t expect this to be so easy. 

“Yes, when you start going to the machinery factory, you can come over after work.” Anyway, Gu Chengze has a bicycle, so it’s convenient to go. 

“What are you talking about? Wash your hands and get ready to eat,” Zhang Xiaoli called them from the kitchen door. 

“We’re coming,” Tang Jianan said as he put away his textbook and looked at the two, “Let’s go.” 

“We didn’t buy anything in advance today, so let’s just eat casually. Xiao Gu, please don’t mind,” Zhang Xiaoli said as she handed Gu Chengze a bowl of rice. 

Gu Chengze quickly extended his hands to take it, “Auntie, this is already good. I’m not particular with what I eat.” 

The food quality is indeed good in Qingshui Brigade, but it’s just average in the city. 

Everyone enjoyed their meal, and after talking for a while, when Gu Chengze said he had to leave, the two little ones looked reluctant. 

Gu Chengze patted their heads gently and said in a soft tone, “I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.” 

Tomorrow, Momo would take him to meet her friends, so he needed to go back and prepare for it. 

“Okay, then Brother Chengze, be careful on the road.” The two little ones waved at him reluctantly. 

Gu Chengze’s eyes met Tang Momo next to him, and he left with a satisfied look after seeing her wave to him.  

After Gu Chengze left, Zhang Xiaoli glanced at Tang Momo and casually said, “Xiao Gu is not only a good person but also polite. He really values you.” 

Tang Momo knew Zhang Xiaoli was intentionally saying this for her to hear. She smiled and nodded, “Indeed, otherwise, I wouldn’t agree to date him.” 

Seeing the smile on her face, Zhang Xiaoli understood and patted her shoulder with a somewhat helpless tone. “Anyway, just pay attention.” 

Well, maybe this is what people say that the more the mother-in-law sees her son-in-law, the more she likes him; so now the weight of herself in Zhang Xiaoli’s heart is not as important as Gu Chengze. 

***

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