Chapter 4

When they came back from buying vegetables, Tang Huan was still studying under the grape trellis, writing on the table with a pen in his hand.

Seeing Tang Huan’s seriousness, Xing Cui sighed, “It’s no use for this child to study at home all day. He still needs to go to school and listen to the teacher’s lectures. Ask your dad to ask your uncle Xu if he can let Tang Huan repeat the grade.”

Meng Zeyan, who was following behind her, heard it all. He glanced at the small figure sitting on the grape trellis, then went back into the house from the other side.

In the evening, when Meng Qinghe got home from get off work, he found out that his eldest son had returned. He happily took out a small bottle of white wine and wanted to have a drink with him.

Tang Huan sat next to her mother-in-law to eat, but the smell of wine always drifted towards her.

The taste had an indescribable fragrance and was a bit tempting, but she had never tasted it before.

Father-in-law and eldest uncle each put a small cup in front of her and mother-in-law, but she didn’t put any in front of them, which meant that they were not allowed to drink…

I haven’t tried it, so why do I feel a little greedy?

I want to drink, but I don’t dare to open my mouth…

Tang Huan ate in silence, listening to his father-in-law chatting with his eldest uncle. The shrimp were delicious, but they had to be peeled, which I don’t like.

The fish meat is tender, the sauce is fragrant and delicious.

“By the way, Zeyan, if you have nothing to do these days, go see your Uncle Xu and ask him if he can allow Tang Huan to repeat his grade in their school.” Meng Qinghe had not discussed this with his wife, but they had surprisingly similar ideas.

Meng Zeyan raised his eyes and looked at Xing Cui. His mother had just said this in the afternoon. Didn’t she say that Old Meng should go?

How did it become his business in just such a short while?

Xing Cui saw Meng Zeyan’s look and didn’t understand. “Why are you looking at me? Your dad asked you to go, so go~”

When her father-in-law mentioned this, Tang Huan still had food in his mouth. When his mouth was empty, he quickly stopped him: “Mom and Dad, no need. I…I’ll go ask myself later.”

She just wanted to take a look at it at home first and then look for a school next semester, so that she could reduce contact with people.

“Where are you going to ask? You are not familiar with this place, so let your brother go! They have been studying in this area since they were young.” Xing Cui made the final decision and did not give Meng Zeyan any chance to refuse.

She was picking at her clothes quietly again. Meng Zeyan looked away and continued to eat. “I’ll ask tomorrow.”

The old couple was satisfied, but Tang Huan began to lose her appetite, as if she had caused too much trouble for others.

She could see that her uncle was ready to refuse at first.

No one mentioned it again, and Tang Huan didn’t have the courage to refuse.

Tang Huan thought she was just asking and it might take a while to get the result, but she didn’t expect that the next day when she just got up and went out to wash, her uncle came back from outside.

She was squatting beside the vegetable garden, brushing her teeth, her mouth full of foam.

Meng Zeyan originally wanted to tell his mother first and ask her to tell Tang Huan. Unexpectedly, by such a coincidence, she was squatting in the yard.

That small and slender person, especially wearing white clothes today, looks like a little mushroom when he squats there. She looks like a child no matter how you look at her, no wonder Comrade Xing Cui treats her like a child.

Since they had met, Meng Zeyan simply told her directly and walked to the opposite side of the vegetable garden where Tang Huan was squatting.

“Pack your things, I’ll take you to school this afternoon.”

Tang Huan squatted on the ground and looked at him confusedly, not knowing whether to pick up or put down the toothbrush in her hand. She had not finished brushing her teeth yet! How can you talk like that?

Why do we have to go to school in the afternoon? The efficiency doesn’t need to be that high!

Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash cup and spit out the foam in your mouth quickly.

Now that he could speak, Tang Huan didn’t know what to say. After a long while, he uttered two words without confidence: “Oh, OK.”

Without saying much, Meng Zeyan smiled, turned and left.

Tang Huan squatted on the spot, silently put the toothbrush into his mouth again, and carefully brushed every corner.

My mind started to wander. What should I pay attention to when going to school? Why did you go to school? Not ready yet…

In her previous life, Tang Huan’s experience in high school was not a pleasant one. Her classmates didn’t talk to her and would avoid her when they passed by her. Sometimes I was hospitalized for so long due to illness that when I went to class again, even my desk was gone.

She has no friends, no parents, and her only brother is busy making money to keep her alive.

After brushing her teeth, Tang Huan returned to her room, opened the closet, and tiptoed to take out a small iron box from the top shelf of the closet. Inside the iron box was a red hand-sewn bag, which contained all her belongings.

The total amount was 735 yuan. When getting married, Meng Zeyan gave the original body 500 yuan as a betrothal gift, and the original body saved more than 200 yuan herself.

Tang Huan has hardly spent any money since she came here. All household expenses are covered by her parents-in-law, who sometimes even give her money.

It’s ok to let them eat and drink for free sometimes, but we can’t ask them to help with tuition fees.

Tang Huan took out a ten-dollar bill and put it in his pocket, thinking about paying the tuition for the afternoon classes at school.

Xing Cui didn’t expect Meng Zeyan to be so efficient, even better than her husband, and she praised him several times whenever she got the chance.

After praising her son, she ran over to instruct Tang Huan, standing at the door of her room and saying to her: “Tang Huan, have you prepared your school bag? And your homework books and pens.”

Tang Huan was sorting out his textbooks and shook his head, “I’ll sort out the textbooks first and buy them later.”

“Mom will go with you and help you figure out what you need.” Xing Cui couldn’t help but want to worry more. In her eyes, Tang Huan was so well-behaved. He was small and thin, with a quiet personality and seemed to have no temper.

Tang Huan raised his eyes and smiled at his mother-in-law, and said obediently: “Okay, thank you, Mom.”

“What’s there to thank me for?” Xing Cui felt weak at the sight of Tang Huan’s smile. This child was too well behaved. “Come and call me when you’re done.”

“Um.”

Tang Huan piled all the textbooks together and counted them to make sure none were missing, then took out five dollars from the cabinet to buy a schoolbag, paper and pen.

She took the money and went to the main house to call her mother-in-law. She walked into the house as usual and saw Meng Zeyan sitting on the sofa watching TV. She unconsciously took a step back and left the house.

By the time I realized what was happening, she was already standing outside the door…

Meng Zeyan looked up at her. His usual smile was gone, and there was an invisible sense of oppression in his eyes.

Tang Huan turned around and quickly walked down the steps, standing under the grape trellis and whispering into the house: “Mom, I’m fine.”

Meng Zeyan frowned slightly. Is he that scary?

Comrade Xing Cui didn’t seem to hear what she said. Meng Zeyan stood up and walked over to knock on the door. “Mom, your sister-in-law is looking for you.”

“Coming~” Xing Cui replied from inside the house.

Hearing her words, Meng Zeyan walked back and sat back on the sofa and continued watching TV.

Tang Huan didn’t hear her mother-in-law’s response, and didn’t know whether she heard him or not. She wanted to shout again, but her uncle was watching TV, which seemed inappropriate.

I don’t have the courage to go in.

Why don’t you just sit here and wait? Mother-in-law will always come out.

In less than two minutes, the mother-in-law walked out of the room. Tang Huan stood up and said to her, “Mom, I’m done packing. Shall we go?”

“Let’s go!” Xing Cui also finished packing, and the two of them walked outside.

If you want to buy school bags and stationery, you have to go to the department store, which is a bit far and takes more than ten minutes by bus.

Two cents per person, Xing Cui bought a ticket as soon as she got on the bus, so Tang Huan didn’t have a chance.

There are empty seats on the bus, but they are not together. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat separately, one in front and one in the back.

Xing Cuijian started talking, and soon started chatting with the lady next to her. There was also a female comrade next to Tang Huan. She looked a little pale and was holding her stomach with her hands, as if she was in some discomfort.

Tang Huan glanced at her and wanted to ask her if she was feeling unwell. I tried to open my mouth but couldn’t.

My fingers unconsciously scratched the stool I was sitting on. I finally mustered up the courage to ask the female comrade if she needed help, but she got off the bus at her stop and left.

After a while, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law also arrived at the bus stop, which was right next to the department store.