Chapter 44

Hè Yúnqí, despite being just a little boy, carried himself with a proud demeanor that mirrored his uncle Hè Tíng’s indomitable spirit. 

Standing before Lù Bái Wēi, his small, delicate frame seemed so thin, yet he straightened his back like a new recruit awaiting inspection. 

Hè Yúnrán was much the same. 

Although she was visibly weak and listless from illness, as soon as she heard Lù Bái Wēi’s voice, she lifted her soft gaze, her large, grape-like eyes peeking over Hè Tíng’s shoulder to look at her. 

But unlike her older brother’s feigned bravery, Yúnrán was more timid. Her delicate features were tinged with shyness. 

Both children were strikingly beautiful. 

Especially Yúnrán—her soft and gentle demeanor melted Lù Bái Wēi’s heart. 

In her past life, Lù Bái Wēi had regretted never having children of her own. Though Hè Yúnqí and Hè Yúnrán weren’t her and Hè Tíng’s biological children, she was now married to Hè Tíng, which made them a family. 

In her mind, by extension, his niece and nephew were also her children. 

One glance was all it took for Lù Bái Wēi to fall for the two little ones. 

Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at them, the same look she had when she found rare medicinal herbs on the mountain. Seeing her reaction, Hè Tíng felt a wave of relief. 

Though he hadn’t yet discussed with Táng Jǐngchuān what had happened to his father and elder brother back in Beijing, the fact that the children had been entrusted to Táng to be brought to Xiàngyáng Brigade meant that the little ones would be living with him and Wēi Wēi for the foreseeable future. 

Hè Tíng felt a pang of guilt. They didn’t yet have children of their own, and now his wife was being asked to help care for his nephew and niece. 

Thankfully, his Wēi Wēi was kind-hearted and resilient. She didn’t show any displeasure at the sudden arrival of the two little ones. 

“Wēi Wēi, these are my elder brother’s children. My brother and sister-in-law entrusted them to Uncle Táng to bring them here to Xiàngyáng Brigade,” Hè Tíng explained. 

Lù Bái Wēi crouched down beside Hè Tíng. 

Sensing Lù Bái Wēi’s warmth, Yúnrán shyly reached out her tiny hand toward her face. 

Lù Bái Wēi gently took her little hand, pressing it against her cheek and rubbing affectionately, looking completely enchanted. 

Meanwhile, Hè Tíng turned his attention back to Táng Jǐngchuān. The state of affairs in Beijing weighed heavily on his mind. 

“I sent word to my father recently, telling him about my marriage to Wēi Wēi,” he began. 

“I’ve been waiting for a reply. Lately, though, I haven’t received any letters from home. What’s going on in Beijing?” 

Táng Jǐngchuān hadn’t expected Hè Tíng, now a young intellectual in Xiàngyáng Brigade, to actually marry his niece Lù Bái Wēi. 

Having once served as Hè Tíng’s grandfather’s aide and being well-acquainted with his family, Táng Jǐngchuān knew exactly what kind of person Hè Tíng was. 

Because he had once been a guard for Hè Tíng’s grandfather and was familiar with his family, especially his uncle and father, Táng Jǐngchuān knew exactly what kind of person Hè Tíng was. 

This boy had been a handful since he was a child, yet he thrived in the compound. He was fiercely independent and always had his own ideas. 

If it was something Hè Tíng didn’t want to do, forcing him was impossible. 

Back then, the old man had forced him to go to the countryside after discovering that Hè Tíng’s estranged biological mother was living well in Hong Kong. 

Hè Tíng’s father, once a romantic, had died protecting his wife. The Hè family had a spotless reputation, but the one weak point that could be exploited was the issue of the younger daughter-in-law’s identity. 

Both Hè Tíng’s grandfather and his enemies in Beijing had learned about his biological mother’s whereabouts. 

The old man anticipated that his adversaries would use this to attack the family, so sending Hè Tíng to the countryside was also a way to protect the grandson he valued most. 

Years ago, the marriage arrangement between the Hè and Táng families had been voided since Táng Jǐngchuān didn’t have any sisters or nieces to fulfill it. 

Using this old arrangement as an excuse, the grandfather found a reason to send Hè Tíng to Xiàngyáng Brigade as an educated youth. 

Unexpectedly, the ever-independent Hè Tíng had genuinely listened to his grandfather and married Lù Bái Wēi, his niece. 

Now that his most important grandson had settled down in the countryside, the grandfather decided to take the initiative instead of waiting for his enemies to strike. 

He made a decisive move, preempting his adversaries by having the family apply to move to the northwest for reforestation efforts, contributing to the country. He entrusted Táng Jǐngchuān to bring the two young children to Xiàngyáng Brigade to join Hè Tíng. 

“The Qín family has already started making their moves,” Táng Jǐngchuān explained to Hè Tíng. “Originally, it was decided that your uncle’s family would be sent to a farm, and the next step would’ve been to oust your grandfather entirely.” 

“But your grandfather refused to play by their rules. He applied for the reforestation project in the northwest, catching the Qín family off guard. Their plans fell flat.” 

“This move preserved the Hè family’s foundation without suffering significant losses. Once the political climate improves, the family can return to its original position without much effort.” 

“If you hadn’t married Wēi Wēi, your grandfather wouldn’t have dared to make this bold move. His greatest concern was you. Knowing that you’ve settled in Xiàngyáng Brigade and started a family with Wēi Wēi, he entrusted me to bring Yúnqí and Yúnrán here.” 

Táng Jǐngchuān then took out a passbook from his pocket and handed it to Hè Tíng. 

“Since you and Wēi Wēi are married, your grandfather sent me to deliver the family’s savings to you.” 

He pressed the passbook into Hè Tíng’s hand. “This thing has been burning a hole in my pocket. I’m relieved to finally pass it on to its rightful owner.” 

“Your grandfather said you can use the money however you see fit. It’s meant for raising the kids, supporting your marriage, everything.” 

Hearing it was the family’s savings, Hè Tíng opened the passbook. 

While playing with Yúnrán, Lù Bái Wēi snuck a glance at the numbers and the zeros that followed. 

One, ten, hundred, thousand—over 9,000 yuan! Almost 10,000 yuan! 

Ten, hundred, thousand—there were over 9,000 yuan in the account, nearly 10,000 yuan! 

In this era, wasn’t 10,000 yuan equivalent to hundreds of thousands in the future? 

Lù Bái Wēi was startled by such a large sum of money, marveling at how wealthy the Hè family was. 

Of course, Hè Tíng, used to big waves and storms, didn’t show much emotion. He glanced at the numbers briefly and handed the passbook directly to Lù Bái Wēi. 

“Wife, you handle it.” 

Táng Jǐngchuān was momentarily stunned. 

He never expected that the unrestrained troublemaker from the capital’s courtyard would turn out to be a completely submissive husband in front of his niece. 

Such a large sum of money, and he handed over the passbook to Wēi Wēi without even blinking. 

Truthfully, Táng Jǐngchuān still didn’t fully understand why Hè Tíng had married his niece. But seeing how they interacted, the concern he had as an uncle eased considerably. 

As her uncle, he didn’t mind adding to her happiness to ensure no one would look down on her. 

So, Táng Jǐngchuān pulled out ten 10-yuan notes and handed them to Lù Bái Wēi. 

“Wēi Wēi, take this too. This is the wedding gift I prepared for you and Hè Tíng.” 

“Táng Erjiù, this is too much!” 

Did he have to be so generous? It felt like he was treating money like scrap paper. 

Lù Bái Wēi, visibly flustered, waved her hands repeatedly. “Erjiù, this isn’t right. In our brigade, giving a 10-yuan note as a wedding gift is already considered extravagant.” 

Táng Jǐngchuān insisted, while Lù Bái Wēi, looking troubled, finally said, “I already received six yuan from Dàjiù and Sānjiù as wedding gifts. Erjiù, how about I just take one 10-yuan note from you?” 

“Take it,” Táng Jǐngchuān said earnestly. “This money was actually saved by me and your Jiùmā.”  “When your grandfather passed away two years ago, your Jiùmā wanted to take you to the capital and raise you as our own daughter. But your biological father’s family made a big fuss and insisted on taking you back.”