Chapter 18

Zheng Tianchao’s eyes widened even further as he pointed at his daughter as if she had brought home a boyfriend to declare her independence.

Lin Xiumei awkwardly pulled her daughter away while trying to ease the tension among the others. “Children speak without restraint.”

With Zheng Xiaocheng’s innocent remark, the previously tense atmosphere relaxed considerably.

Lu Yongzhang set down the items he brought by the door, and Zheng Tianchao pointed at them, his expression one of skepticism as if to say, “What are you bringing these for?”

“Brother!” Zheng Xiaorou couldn’t help but tug at Zheng Tianchao’s arm. “Let’s eat?”

Zheng Tianchao, the eldest of the Zheng family, was fearless in the face of the world, unafraid of his father or mother but wary of the three women in his life: his wife, daughter, and younger sister.

Once Zheng Xiaorou spoke up, he indeed softened his demeanor, albeit reluctantly pouring a glass of wine for Lu Yongzhang.

Zheng Tianlei glanced at the bottle, biting his tongue to hold back his comments.

While he wanted to be Brother Lu’s sidekick, he was even more curious about how his sister really ranked in Lu Yongzhang’s heart.

He hoped for some candid revelations after a few drinks.

Lin Xiumei was a good cook, and with Zheng Tianlei’s lively presence, plus Lu Yongzhang’s efforts to remain humble, the atmosphere at the table gradually grew warm.

Unbeknownst to them, Zheng Tianchao ended up drinking too much, his face flushed as he began to clink glasses with Lu Yongzhang, eventually opening up and speaking from the heart.

“Little Lu, our family may not have much, but we have two brothers!” Zheng Tianchao said, his bloodshot eyes intensely fixed on the person he had previously criticized. “We may be okay with many things, but we absolutely cannot allow her to be wronged.”

Lu Yongzhang also appeared to have drunk quite a bit; his words were bold, yet his expression was particularly earnest. “Elder brother, I won’t let her be wronged!”

They clinked glasses again, as if the louder the clink, the more sincere their intentions became.

Zheng Tianlei, being considerate, took the wine glasses from both of them. “Brother, why don’t you two talk? Let’s hold off on the drinking for now. How about I get you both some tea instead?”

“Little brat, why are you butting in?” Zheng Tianchao was clearly drunk, spewing words indiscriminately. After finishing, he stood up and called for Zheng Xiaorou. “I need to talk to you alone.”

With nowhere else to go, Zheng Tianchao led his younger sister to a shared pantry, closing the door behind them.

“What’s going on?” he asked, still tipsy. “Didn’t the letter say you were talking to Cheng Qian? Why is there a different person now?”

Zheng Xiaorou lowered her head, knowing that her brother must be confused about the situation.

By chance, she had forgotten to mention it to him.

It felt inappropriate to discuss the past, given how strange it all seemed; it was better to focus on the future.

Thinking this, Zheng Xiaorou said, “Brother, I’m just pen pals with Cheng Qian. I misunderstood and thought that I was dating. Now, I understand that being with Lu Yongzhang is what dating truly means. I like him, so please don’t make it hard for him.”

Saying the words “I like him” made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“I’m not making things difficult for him!” Zheng Tianchao whispered fiercely.

After a long pause, he rubbed his face and added, “I’m just afraid you’ll be wronged. Don’t be fooled by how confidently he speaks now, saying he won’t let you suffer. Who knows what will happen in the future? Have you met his parents? What kind of people are they? I’m just worried that they’ll give you a hard time one day. We can’t help you with anything except our strength! I never want you to be wronged again!”

By the end of his words, the tall man’s eyes had reddened slightly.

The person who should be sent down as an educated youth should have been him. There were only two choices among the Zheng Family’s three children. Among Zheng’s siblings, Zheng Tianlei was still young, leaving only him and Zheng Xiaorou eligible.

Both logically and emotionally, it should have been his turn to go.

But Father Zheng insisted that Zheng Xiaorou be the one to go, claiming that their grandfather was about to retire and only Zheng Tianchao was of the right age for the position.

Later, he learned that not only was their grandfather still alive and hadn’t retired at that time, but even if he had, he could have retained the position for a while.

However, it was too late for him to realize this. In order to avoid putting him in a difficult position, Zheng Xiaorou completed the paperwork overnight and left for Yunnan with the other young people from the neighborhood.

Thanks to his younger sister’s self-sacrifice, he secured a stable job at the food factory and successfully married Lin Xiumei.

Without his sister’s sacrifice, he might have had nothing to show for himself, never daring to dream of the life he now had with a wife, children, and a home.

Zheng Xiaorou had no idea he had thought so much in such a short time.

She recalled Qin Yijun’s gentle demeanor: “His parents are both intellectuals and really nice people. They don’t seem like the type to make things difficult for others…”

Zheng Tianchao had never thought that his obedient and gentle little sister would stand up for an outsider like this.

He held back his sour emotions and ruffled his sister’s hair like when they were children: “No man is a good thing. Look at Cheng Qian; he was so nice to you before, and now he seems so disgusting, doesn’t he? I’m just afraid you’ll be bullied by outsiders.”

“Brother, I think he’s different…”

Zheng Tianchao knew that his little sister, despite her gentle and obedient appearance, had always been more opinionated than both of the brothers.

If she said so, it meant she had already made up her mind about this man outside.

“Alright, if you want to date him, then go ahead. If he doesn’t behave, I’ll do everything I can to help you deal with him!”

The siblings talked for a while longer before returning to the room.

Zheng Tianlei was helping Lin Xiumei clean up the dishes on the table when he noticed Lu Yongzhang squatting on the floor, playing with Zheng Xiaocheng and her building blocks.

Lu Yongzhang turned to look at them, and just as he had stacked the blocks, the little girl, not yet five years old, poked at them with her chubby little finger, sending the blocks scattering with a loud clatter. She giggled, “Uncle, build again!”

“Okay,” Lu Yongzhang replied patiently, continuing to stack the blocks while teaching her the shapes of the blocks.

Whether she understood or not, Zheng Xiaocheng nodded her head eagerly like a little chick pecking at grains.

Zheng Tianchao was stunned by this incredibly warm and harmonious scene.

Their house was too small, and the only time they could enjoy some intimacy as a couple was when their daughter stayed at Lin Xiumei’s parents’ home.

Plus, with Zheng Tianchao working long hours, he felt exhausted when he returned home; all he wanted to do after eating was lie down.

It seemed he had never played with his daughter like Lu Yongzhang did.

When Lin Xiumei saw Zheng Xiaorou come back, she pulled a piece of fabric out of the wardrobe. “Little sister, I saw this fabric at the market yesterday and thought it would be perfect for you. It didn’t even require a ticket, so I bought a yard and a half for you. Come with me, and let’s check the size.”

With that, she dragged her to the bathroom.

Their bathroom was shared on the first floor, and Lin Xiumei only closed the outer door. She leaned in closer and whispered, “Xiaorou, you need to hold on to this boyfriend. He’s really a good guy, and you can tell he’s capable!”

After saying that, she glanced at the door and quickly added, “Whatever your parents say, don’t let him know. You mustn’t let it affect your relationship. Your brother is doing pretty well at work. Once he finishes training, he’ll be the team leader in the biscuit workshop, and he can expect a raise next year.”

Zheng Xiaorou understood. Her father must have boasted in front of Lin Xiumei, claiming that the Lu family would certainly help her brother.

She felt a warmth in her heart, realizing someone in the family stood by her side, empathizing with her situation. She gently replied, “I understand. Thank you, sister-in-law.”

“You two are doing well together. I think this man is reliable and deserves you.”

Lin Xiumei had always felt guilty toward this sister-in-law. If she hadn’t taken Zheng Tianchao’s spot to go to the countryside back then, her family would surely not have allowed her to wait.

Who knows, she might have married someone else by now and wouldn’t have the loving life she had today.

Once the two women finished their quiet conversation, they returned to the table, where sunflower seeds and tea had already been set out on the Eight Immortals table.

Zheng Tianchao looked up at them and said, “It’s getting late; you two should head back early.”

“Okay,” Lu Yongzhang replied as he stood up, gently stroking Zheng Xiaocheng’s head and saying warmly, “Uncle will play with you next time.”

The little girl wasn’t satisfied and ran over to hug his thigh, showing her stubborn side: “I don’t want to! Uncle, I want to keep playing!”

Zheng Tianchao stepped forward and lifted his daughter away. “They have to take several bus rides to get back, and if they don’t nap, they won’t have any energy all day!”

Not being able to take a nap was a terrifying thought for Zheng Xiaocheng. Reluctantly, she released Lu Yongzhang’s pant leg and looked up at him with a pitiful expression, extending her chubby little finger. “Then let’s make a pinky promise.”

Lu Yongzhang was momentarily stunned. He had no memory of the “pinky promise” and, despite being very adaptable, didn’t know how to respond.

Seeing him hesitate, the little girl became anxious. She reached out and grabbed his hand, hooking their pinkies together with seriousness. “Pinky promise, for one hundred years, no changing!”

Zheng Tianchao cleared his throat and instructed his younger brother, “Tianlei, stay behind and help your sister-in-law wash the dishes and sweep the floor. I’ll drive you back later.”

“Why do I have to do that, brother—”

“Why are you talking nonsense?” Zheng Tianchao glared, ignoring Zheng Tianlei’s cries, urging them to leave. “Just hurry back!”

What had begun as a lively trio was reduced to just the two of them on the way back.

Zheng Xiaorou understood this was a chance for them to be alone together. Just moments ago, she had been bold while speaking to her brother, but now she felt awkward. Fortunately, the shade of the trees concealed her unnatural expression well.

“Your brother is a really good person,” Lu Yongzhang broke the silence first.

“Yes, when I was little, my parents worked the night shifts at the factory, and my brother raised me. Later, when Tianlei was born, I took care of him, and we grew up like that, looking after each other.”

Zheng Xiaorou spoke softly. Lu Yongzhang could picture her barren and monotonous childhood through her calm words.

As the second child in the family, she was the one least noticed by the adults.

The eldest enjoyed the benefits of being the only child, while the youngest was favored. Zheng Xiaorou, the middle child, received none of her parents’ attention.

In her past life, by birth order, she was also her father’s second child. With an adored eldest sister and a cherished younger brother, even the servants dared to bully her.

Lu Yongzhang looked down at her, his gaze intense. “What did your brother and sister-in-law say to you just now?”

Recalling their private conversation made Zheng Xiaorou feel a bit shy. “Oh, it was nothing much. They just praised you.”

Without realizing it, they had walked to the bus station, but neither of them stopped. Instead, they continued along the shaded path, sharing an unspoken understanding.

Gradually, something in the air felt different. The atmosphere around them became thick as if an invisible barrier had formed, creating a separate space for them.

Lu Yongzhang wanted to keep walking like this forever.

He had initially intended to find a better moment when it was just the two of them, and everything was quiet. But suddenly, he didn’t want to wait any longer; he wanted to say it now.

He stopped, pulled out a velvet bag from his coat pocket, and held it out to her. “Xiaorou, I have something I want to give you.”

She took it and opened the bag, revealing two light yellow porcelain cups. Looking up at him with a hint of suspicion, she asked, “What are these?”

“These are rhinoceros horn cups given by the painter Xu Shengpei to his wife for her sixtieth birthday…”

Lu Yongzhang paused, feeling the fierce pounding of his heart, then continued, “Xiaorou, I like you. I really, really like you. Let’s officially start dating, okay?”

—o—o—o—

T/N: Ahh!!! I know you’re smiling too~