Chapter 10

“Yes, Third Uncle, He Ting and I just got our marriage certificate.”

Lu Baiwei placed the bottles of Erguotou liquor on the table. “These four bottles of liquor—two are for you, two are for Grand Uncle. You can take them back later.”

Her niece was already thinking of showing respect by buying him alcohol.

Though Erguotou was affordable, Tang Jinghe was pleased with her thoughtfulness.

“Alright, I’ll leave the liquor here. When you and He Ting host the celebration, I’ll come over to join in the fun.”

Lu Baiwei replied, “Well, it won’t be lively yet; we still need to find a place to move into.”

Before Lu Baiwei could say more, Liu Zhi, standing by, chimed in, “This girl is clever, she’s set her sights on those two rooms at the team’s clinic.”

“Old Tang, you and I have worked together for so long, I’m going to do you a favor.”

Liu Zhi quickly explained the situation, and Tang Jinghe was taken aback.

Since his niece had returned to the Lu family two years ago, she had been quite gloomy.

Now, seeing that she finally had an idea, Tang Jinghe felt relieved; this was a good sign.

Liu Zhi had agreed to help, and that meant he wasn’t abusing his power—recommending her for the barefoot doctor position and moving her into those two rooms was perfectly reasonable. And it wouldn’t require the team to allocate land for housing either.

However, as the team leader of the entire Xiangyang team, he still had to maintain a certain level of authority.

He said seriously, “Baiwei, you and He Ting should head back for now. I’ll discuss this with your Uncle Liu and the other comrades at the team office.”

What was there to discuss? Once the two key decision-makers agreed, Lu Baiwei knew this matter was as good as settled. The next step was to move out of the Lu family.

She had already set the hook, just waiting for Lu Jiaojiao to fall for it.

Lu Jiaojiao wouldn’t disappoint her, right?

Having taken care of her housing issue after the marriage, Lu Baiwei walked out of the team office, and He Ting’s gaze remained fixed on her.

“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

He Ting found his new wife to be quite unexpected.

She wasn’t the quiet, reserved type he had imagined. Instead, she was talkative and sharp-witted, completely unlike the timid, crying flower he had expected to marry.

He had even thought the day before that she had been so mistreated, with no way out, and that he had to step in.

But now, seeing how she handled things…

Was it just his impression, or did Lu Baiwei seem more beautiful since they got their marriage certificate? Her face, which used to be pale and dull, now seemed to radiate with a subtle glow.

Maybe it was the sunlight?

“No, it’s just that you’re not what I expected,” He Ting said.

“No, it’s just that you’re not what I expected,” He Ting said.

He sat on the bicycle, “You’ll have to stay at that house for a few more days. Once we get the keys from the team office, we’ll move.”

“I’ll drop you off at home first, then head back to the youth office.”

Lu Baiwei felt there was no need to wait for a few days. She had already set the hook, and now it was time to reel in the catch.

But did He Ting mean that she had been too obvious? Was she overdoing it?

As a wealthy young man from the capital, would he prefer a delicate little flower who relied on him?

Lu Baiwei sat behind him on the bike, “He Ting, I haven’t studied much. I’ll need your help to pass the barefoot doctor exam.”

“Thank goodness you can help me, or I wouldn’t know who else to ask for tutoring.”

Lu Baiwei was overthinking it. He Ting didn’t enjoy the idea of a little flower relying on him.

He only stepped in because they were engaged, and he couldn’t stand seeing her being mistreated.

However, when Lu Baiwei said only he could help her, and He Ting noticed her awkwardness with Liu Zai Cheng, he felt a bit better.

Was he happy about that? He wasn’t sure.

He Ting pedaled the bicycle faster.

Even when Lu Baiwei suggested leaving the things they bought at his youth office and just taking the candy back to the Lu family, he agreed.

But he couldn’t help thinking—how badly had Lu Baiwei been treated by her family that she was so wary and defensive?

With him around, she shouldn’t have to be so guarded.

It could only be said that He Ting, having grown up in a Beijing courtyard, still underestimated Liu Chunhua and Lu Jianguo’s greed. When he finally dropped Lu Baiwei off at the Lu family’s house, he saw it firsthand.

Today was the day He Ting and Lu Baiwei received their marriage certificate, yet Lu Jianguo and Liu Chunhua’s family hadn’t gone to work.

He Ting had just dropped Lu Baiwei off at the door when they heard the noise inside, and Liu Chunhua and Lu Jianguo rushed out with smiles.

“He Ting, you’re here!”

Liu Chunhua’s face was all smiles, her wrinkles deepening as she grinned, and Lu Jianguo was meekly following her.

“How was the marriage certificate process with Baiwei? All smooth?”

“Very smooth!”

After all, they were Lu Baiwei’s nominal parents, and He Ting was being respectful and responding politely.

“Good son-in-law, come on in and let’s talk.”

Liu Chunhua eagerly reached out to pull He Ting in, but Lu Baiwei quickly blocked her.

Liu Chunhua eagerly stepped forward to pull He Ting inside, but Lu Baiwei quickly blocked her.

“Auntie, He Ting doesn’t like people touching him,” she said firmly.

Liu Chunhua awkwardly smiled, “It’s just that it’s the first day after He Ting and Baiwei got their marriage certificate, and your dad and I haven’t gone to work today—we’re waiting for you two.”

“Baiwei must be tired after getting the certificate today!”

“Your dad and I think you should go rest in the room for a bit. We’ll have a few words with He Ting.”

Lu Baiwei had developed a rebellious streak. Earlier in the morning, when they suggested He Ting stay at their house, she didn’t respond.

So, after Lu Baiwei left, Lu Jianguo and Liu Chunhua had already decided to approach He Ting for something.

They had some pretty naive expectations!

Lu Baiwei, however, had plans of her own. She wanted He Ting to experience firsthand what kind of people her parents were, so he wouldn’t be easily swayed by them in the future.

Moreover, she needed to assess the results of her scheme so she could move out of the Lu family’s house as soon as possible.

This time, Lu Baiwei didn’t argue with Liu Chunhua or ask where Lu Jiaojiao and Lu Wenhua had disappeared to. She obediently went back to the small hut where she was staying.

Inside the main room of the Lu family’s house, as soon as Lu Baiwei left, Lu Jianguo and Liu Chunhua couldn’t wait any longer.

Liu Chunhua invited He Ting to sit down, “He Ting, now that you and Baiwei have gotten your marriage certificate, what are your plans for where you’ll live?”

“This is a big deal, you came all the way here from far away to be a youth worker. It’s not easy. We love Baiwei the most, and your father and I think you shouldn’t build a house elsewhere. Why not move in here with us and live?”

“We can all look after each other, right?”

“If you move in, we can just fix up the room Baiwei’s staying in. That way, you won’t have to spend money building a house.”

“You young people don’t know how hard it is to make a living. After you and Baiwei earn money and get your work points, you can hand them over to your dad and me, and we’ll save up to help you two out. That way, when you have children, you’ll have some savings.”

While the idea of saving money for kids sounded nice, the obvious and crude way they were trying to exploit He Ting took him by surprise.

Their words were so calculated, it was like they were practically throwing an abacus at his face.

He Ting suddenly understood why Lu Baiwei had been so eager to get married and leave this family.

Just as he was about to handle the situation diplomatically, an exaggerated scream came from the room where Lu Baiwei was.

“Baiwei…”

He Ting immediately ignored the greedy couple, stood up, and ran towards the source of the scream.