Chapter 8

“My wife and brother-in-law,” Lu Huaijing introduced Tang Wan and Tang Zhou openly to the brigade leader. Then he turned to Tang Wan and said,

“Wife, this is our Shiping Brigade’s Leader Lu.”

When Lu Huaijing had received his father-in-law’s telegram, he had hurriedly submitted a marriage report to his superiors, worried about Tang Wan’s social background. He had even requested expedited approval. By the time he returned, the report had been processed, making Tang Wan officially his wife.

The brigade leader’s mouth formed an “O” shape, and his tobacco pipe nearly fell to the ground.

Well, well—this wasn’t just a fiancée; she’d gone straight to being his wife! His daughter was going to cry her heart out!

“Hello, Brigade Leader.”

Tang Wan stood gracefully in front of the brigade leader. Compared to his troublesome daughter, she was leagues better. No wonder Lu Huaijing had no interest in his daughter.

The brigade leader nodded with a complicated expression. “Hello, hello.”

His puzzled gaze shifted to Tang Zhou. Why would someone bring their brother-in-law along to a wedding?

For now, Lu Huaijing didn’t feel like explaining. He glanced at the crowded ox cart and politely said to the brigade leader,

“Brigade Leader, there are too many people. We won’t take the ox cart. You go ahead.”

“Alright, then.”

The brigade leader didn’t insist, but his feelings were conflicted. He was already planning a serious talk with his daughter to stop her from longing for someone already married.

As the ox cart slowly moved away, Tang Zhou let out a quiet sigh of relief. The brigade leader’s scrutinizing gaze had made him very uncomfortable.

“Zhou Zhou, treat your brother-in-law’s home like your own,” Lu Huaijing said, noticing Tang Zhou’s unease.

Tang Wan smiled, feeling good. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him.”

“Alright, you two chat. I’ll go borrow a bicycle.”

Lu Huaijing told them to wait while he went off. Once he was gone, Tang Wan reached out and gently ruffled Tang Zhou’s hair.

“Zhou Zhou, even if we don’t rely on your brother-in-law’s family, I can still take care of you.”

“But…” Tang Zhou hung his head. “Brother-in-law’s family will definitely think I’m just extra baggage.”

“If they don’t like it, I’ll take you and live on our own.”

Tang Wan had already considered the possibility of the marriage falling through. With her parents sent away, staying with Lu Huaijing avoided a lot of trouble.

“You’re the best, Sister,” Tang Zhou said, deeply moved. “When you’re old, I’ll take care of you—and so will my kids.”

Tang Wan: …

That won’t be necessary.

Just then, Lu Huaijing appeared, pushing a Phoenix-brand bicycle. He patted the bike’s crossbar.

“Zhou Zhou, you sit in the front.”

Tang Zhou: …

Though he looked reluctant, after seeing others trudging back on foot, he quickly climbed onto the crossbar.

Lu Huaijing then motioned for Tang Wan to sit on the back.

“Won’t this be too heavy?”

Tang Wan’s skepticism was reasonable. After all, the three of them weighed several hundred pounds together, not to mention their luggage. She doubted the bicycle could handle it.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

Lu Huaijing secured the suitcase to the front basket. Tang Wan held the cloth bag as the bicycle sped toward the Shiping Brigade.

The road was nothing like the smooth asphalt of later years—just a bumpy, uneven path. The jolts left Tang Wan’s backside numb, her face filled with discomfort.

That was until they passed the ox cart in the distance.

Ugh…

Yu Juan was on the ox cart, vomiting miserably, while the other educated youths traveling with her looked equally pale and unwell.

By comparison, Tang Wan suddenly didn’t feel so bad.

It’s true—most of the time, perspective makes all the difference.

As Lu Huaijing pedaled, he began introducing his family members to Tang Wan. She did her best to remember the basics.

The bicycle glided over an arched bridge, revealing a village with smoke rising from chimneys—it was the time when every household was preparing meals.

Tang Wan suddenly felt a bit nervous. As Lu Huaijing pedaled through the village, many curious onlookers craned their necks, trying to get a glimpse of Tang Wan.

“Jingyazi, who’s this?”

“My wife!”

Lu Huaijing loudly answered the villagers’ questions along the way, leaving Tang Wan blushing furiously.

This man has no shame!

Still flustered, Tang Wan was startled when Lu Huaijing pedaled into a courtyard and called out, “Mom, we’re back!”

Tang Wan: !!!

That was sudden.

The bicycle came to a stop, and Tang Wan’s gaze fell on the people eating in the large courtyard.

There were about seven or eight people, all with sallow complexions, gathered around a large round table sharing a meal.

Lu Huaijing’s father had died heroically a few years ago. He and Wang Dani had raised four sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Lu Huairen, was married to Li Cuihua; they farmed at home and had one son and two daughters. The second son, Lu Huaide, was married to Wang Shuhua; both were factory workers and had two daughters.

The third was Lu Huaijing himself. The fourth, Lu Huali, was already married. Lastly, there were the youngest siblings, the unmarried twins Lu Huayi and Lu Huamei.

Truly a bustling and prosperous family.

Wang Dani, who was distributing steamed buns, suddenly stood up, her face full of excitement.

“The third is back!”

“Mom!”

Lu Huaijing, equally emotional, had red-rimmed eyes—it had been three years since he’d last returned on family leave.

“You’ve lost weight, lost weight,” Wang Dani said with tears in her eyes as she patted his shoulder. It was a touching moment, until a sharp, sour voice cut through the air.

“Is this delicate-looking woman, who can’t carry or lift, really our third sister-in-law?”

Tang Wan followed the voice to see a short woman with a sullen expression.

Before she could respond, Lu Huaijing’s face darkened. “Big Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that?”

He stepped forward to shield Tang Wan and Tang Zhou, making Lu Dasa’s wife, Li Cuihua, take a step back in frustration. She pouted and said,

“I didn’t mean anything. I just think, as your sister-in-law, it’s only right to hope you find a wife who’s well-built and good for childbearing.

“She’s so thin and frail—I bet she can’t even have kids…”

“Li Cuihua, shut your mouth!”

Wang Dani shouted angrily, making Li Cuihua tremble and hurriedly hide behind her husband, Lu Huairen.

“Don’t listen to your sister-in-law’s nonsense,” Wang Dani said, turning to Tang Wan with a warm smile. “You marrying into our family is a blessing for us.”

Before liberation, Wang Dani had worked as a maid for a wealthy family. Tang Wan’s elegant demeanor was exactly to her liking. No wonder her late husband had thought about bringing this girl into the family even after his death.

The more Wang Dani looked at Tang Wan’s fair, refined features, the more she liked her. Her gaze swept warningly over the crowd in the courtyard.

“Listen up, all of you. The wife the third has chosen is the daughter-in-law I’ve chosen. If anyone has a problem with it, they can keep it to themselves!”

Her commanding demeanor left Tang Wan admiring her. Tang Wan smiled warmly and said,

“Mom.”

“Yes!” Wang Dani replied cheerfully, her joy palpable, much to the irritation of everyone else in the courtyard.

Li Cuihua’s eyes darted mischievously.

“Mom, we don’t have the right to comment on who the third brother marries, but I heard her background isn’t good. We can’t afford to be implicated by her!”

Although Wang Dani had never explicitly said it, Li Cuihua could tell from Tang Wan’s appearance that she was a pampered city girl.

“Huairen, control your wife!” Wang Dani barked, her anger flaring. She quickly ran to the courtyard gate and peeked outside. Fortunately, it was mealtime, and everyone was busy eating at home.

After locking the gate, she hurried back inside. Meanwhile, Lu Huairen pulled Li Cuihua aside with a gruff voice. “Say less, will you?”