Gu Chengze didn’t know much about Tang Momo’s family situation. What he knew about her family only came from the rumors spread by others. 

Perhaps because he saved Tang Momo, more and more people mentioned her family situation to him these days. 

Every family has its own difficulties. He had no right to criticize the Tang family. He simply thought that if he could help, he should. 

He knew that her family lacked strong laborers and that they likely didn’t have enough food. Since she had just narrowly escaped death, she needed to recuperate, which was why he had delivered eggs to her home. 

Zhao Xiuli didn’t notice the anger in his tone. She took the meat buns he handed over and said hesitantly, “I wouldn’t say they forced her, but I always felt like they used some underhanded method.” 

When Tang Dajun died, his eldest daughter was probably almost fifteen years old, so it only made sense for her to take over the job. At worst, there was Zhang Xiaoli. 

Unexpectedly, Tang Xiaoxue took over in the end. It was said that Tang Dajun’s funeral was not yet completed, but she had already taken over the job. 

The Tang family’s heartlessness was fully displayed after the death of their eldest son, and this was the reason why Zhao Xiuli had always disliked them. 

Tieniu was chewing his meat bun while listening to them talk about this. Suddenly, he interrupted, “I know why.” 

Zhao Xiuli glanced at the kid with a mouth full of meat buns and couldn’t help but rub his head with her hand, deliberately teasing him, “Then why don’t you tell us?” 

Tieniu looked at the two of them a little embarrassed and then spoke softly, “Every time I met Brother Jianan before, he would give me candy. Because I haven’t seen him for a long time, I ran to the Tang family yard.” 

Zhao Xiuli tapped his forehead unhappily, “You just wanted candy, didn’t you?” 

“Grandma, do you want to hear this or not?” Seeing that his thoughts were exposed, Tieniu began to act embarrassed. 

Tieniu tried to recall the situation at that time, “The gate was only slightly open, and before I went in, I heard Aunt Zhang crying. It sounded like they were saying that if she didn’t give up the job, the twins would be given away.” 

“Yes, that’s exactly what I heard,” Tieniu nodded firmly. 

The reason why he remembered it so clearly was that after he went back that day, he specifically asked his mother what ‘giving away’ meant and whether he could be given to his little uncle. His mom answered him with a thin tree branch. 

“This old Tang family is truly despicable. They actually forced a widow and an orphans like this.” Zhao Xiuli slammed the table in front of her fiercely. 

After listening to Tieniu’s words, Gu Chengze lowered his eyes and blinked a few times. The emotions in his eyes quickly disappeared, and when he looked up again, he returned to his usual expression. 

The bowls on the table were shaken. Gu Chengze didn’t expect his grandmother to be so furious. He coughed lightly to remind her that they were outside, not at home, and she couldn’t slam the table. 

Zhao Xiuli soon realized this, noticing the curious glances from people around them. She hurriedly urged the two young ones, “Have you finished eating? If so, let’s hurry and go.” 

After saying this, she deliberately glanced at Gu Chengze. Seeing that he still had a cold expression on his face, she couldn’t help but sigh. 

In recent days, seeing how attentively he cared for that Tang Momo girl, she had thought he had changed. 

After leaving the state-owned restaurant, they went directly to the supply and marketing cooperative. After all, they had important things to do today. 

*** 

On the Tang family’s side, hearing the rumors circulating in the village, they breathed a sigh of relief. 

When news spread that Gu Chengze had saved Tang Momo, they had worried that Zhang Xiaoli might use the situation to push Tang Momo into marrying Gu Chengze. 

If this had been before the family separation, they would have been all for it, but now that the family had divided, and things had gotten so ugly, they naturally didn’t want to see Tang Momo marry well. 

After what happened today, with Zhang Xiaoli’s noble character, even if she had such an idea in her heart, she would give it up. 

Because of this incident, it became the talk of whole brigade, and people’s looks towards Tang Momo grew increasingly strange. 

The people in the wheat field remembered what Tang Momo said yesterday when she gave the water to Gu Chengze and couldn’t help but guess that this might be an excuse for her to deliberately get close to Gu Chengze. 

Tang Momo lowered her head and cut the wheat seriously, as if she was not affected by the eyes around her, but the way she gripped the sickle betrayed her. 

The original plan was ruined because of this, and she forgot that the times were different now. 

Gu Chengze had always been considered a ‘golden son-in-law’ by the people here. At first, when she approached him under the pretense of repaying a life-saving favor, no one thought much of it. 

But with today’s “story,” her earlier approaches now seemed to carry ulterior motives. 

Xu Xiaoyun was clever, and with just such a small “story,” she achieved her desired goal. 

Originally, everyone wanted to “unveil” Tang Momo’s mask in front of Gu Chengze, but everyone became disappointed. They found out that he had entered the city early in the morning. 

Gu Chengze was one of the only two family in Qingshui Brigade who had a bicycle. His trip to the city reminded everyone that he had a bicycle, and everyone became more enthusiastic. 

On the way to the drying yard, Xu Xiaoyun heard everyone discussing the story she told Xiao Laohu yesterday, and she couldn’t help but curl her lips. 

Not long after arriving at the drying yard, Xiao Laohu ran to her again. He pestered her to tell him another story. 

Xu Xiaoyun suppressed her impatience and made up a few random stories to calmed him down. 

She hesitated whether to continue delivering water today. These few days were obviously not a good opportunity to get close to Gu Chengze, and she didn’t want to be the subject of discussion. 

According to the trajectory of her previous life, she only needed to make the people around Gu Chengze retreat, and then wait for Gu Chengze and his grandmother to come to her house to propose marriage. 

Thinking of Gu Chengze’s grandmother, Xu Xiaoyun steeled herself to bring water once more. Even a single glance at Gu Chengze would make it worthwhile. With that in mind, her mood brightened. 

When Xu Xiaoyun arrived at the wheat field with her basket again, she was not greeted with smiles and kindness, but rather with a series of questions. 

“Xiaoyun, it was so hot yesterday afternoon, why didn’t you come to deliver water?” The person who spoke had a gentle tone. 

“Originally, I was going to bring some water but thinking that I couldn’t let you make a wasted trip in the afternoon, so I left my water at home. But you didn’t come at all, which made me thirsty for the whole afternoon.” Yang Zhihua looked at Xu Xiaoyun with a face full of complaints. 

“But when I left yesterday, I told you that I would come tomorrow.” The scene she had imagined didn’t happen, so Xu Xiaoyun weakly explained. 

“When did you say that? We didn’t hear it.” Yang Zhihua looked unhappy. Did Xu Xiaoyun mean that they were wrong? 

Seeing that everyone looked in agreement, Xu Xiaoyun was dumbfounded. This was completely different from what she had imagined. 

She turned her sights to the wheat field, hoping to get help from Gu Chengze, but she couldn’t find Gu Chengze after looking around. 

Gu Chengze wasn’t here—so why had she even come today? Realizing this, Xu Xiaoyun’s expression darkened. “I was just trying to be kind, thinking you’d be thirsty while working, so I brought you water. I had to watch over the drying yard in the afternoon; how could I have brought water then? If you don’t appreciate it, then forget it.” 

After Xu Xiaoyun finished speaking, she grabbed the basket and was about to turn around and leave. 

As she was about to walk away, the most vocal one, Yang Zhihua, was the first to pull her back, clearly unhappy. “Oh, girl from the Xu family, you came all the way here, and now you’re taking the water back without letting us drink?” 

“That’s right, we were just talking.” Everyone was just complaining, but they didn’t expect Xu Xiaoyun to really leave. 

“Fine, if you want to drink, then go ahead. But I really can’t come in the afternoon.” Xu Xiaoyun knew that if she left in a hurry now, she’d offend everyone here, so she relented when she saw their softened attitudes. 

Seeing that everyone came over one after another to drink a bowl or half a bowl of water, only Tang Momo stood there motionless. Thinking of Gu Chengze, who didn’t show up here today, Xu Xiaoyun couldn’t help but raise the corners of her lips; it seems that it really worked. 

Gu Chengze took the initiative to avoid suspicion; doesn’t this also prove that Gu Chengze has no thoughts about Tang Momo? 

Feeling increasingly pleased with herself, Xu Xiaoyun’s voice became more cheerful. “Momo, aren’t you going to come over and have a drink?” 

“No need, I brought some water.” Tang Momo didn’t even turn her head. 

“Oh, right, I almost forgot. You brought water yesterday too, even though you ended up giving it to Comrade Gu. Luckily, I still have some water here.” As soon as Xu Xiaoyun finished speaking, everyone’s eyes once again turned to Tang Momo. 

Yes, Xu Xiaoyun clearly brought water yesterday, and Tang Momo also eagerly gave the water bottle to Gu Chengze. Isn’t this deliberately trying to please Gu Chengze? 

Thinking of this, everyone looked at Tang Momo with scrutiny. 

Tang Momo remained calm and spoke with a hint of sadness: “I thought you came here to deliver water because I was here, so I didn’t want to disappoint you. It turns out I was wrong.” 

Tang Momo’s explanation made sense. The two were good friends. They used to be seen going in and out together and had a good relationship. 

Besides, there are no relatives from the Xu family here. If she is not here for Tang Momo, could it be for these old women? 

Or perhaps she came here for Gu Chengze. Thinking of this, everyone’s eyes fell on Xu Xiaoyun, their gazes filled with curiosity and scrutiny. 

Xu Xiaoyun didn’t expect Tang Momo to be so powerful now. With just a few words, she put her in a difficult situation. Feeling the increasing number of looks on her, she gritted her teeth and nodded. “Yes, I came here because I thought of you.” 

“Xiaoyun, you’re so kind, but won’t this be too much trouble for you? After all, you’re also working to earn points.” 

Tang Momo’s words made everyone suddenly realize an issue. They were all working, enduring the hardship of harvesting wheat under the sun. Xu Xiaoyun had it easy and even had time to come out. No, they needed to find the team leader after work.