“You’ve worked hard, good child.”
Tao Tao had endured many hardships growing up, but she had never cried.

Yang Mei’s words suddenly made tears fall from her eyes. “I… I’m sorry… I…”

Tao Tao wiped her tears in a flurry, feeling panicked, but her tears wouldn’t stop.

She was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t articulate her feelings.

Yang Mei pushed Jiang Zhida aside and embraced Tao Tao. “It’s okay. Auntie understands you. Cry it out. When you marry Da Zi, I’ll be your mother too.”

Tao Tao wasn’t someone who cried easily, but today she couldn’t control her tears.

When she finally calmed down and pulled away from Yang Mei’s embrace, she felt embarrassed. “Auntie, your clothes are wet.”

“It’s fine, they’ll dry soon.”

Yang Mei sat beside Tao Tao and asked her about her childhood, inquiring if she had faced any difficulties in school and who had bullied her.

“In the future, with me, your uncle, and Da Zi around, no one can bully you!”

“Mm!” Tao Tao felt once again that she was blessed by luck to have met Jiang Zhida and that his family was so kind to her.

Jiang Zhida sat on the other side of Tao Tao, gently stroking her hand, listening as she spoke softly to his mother about her past experiences in school.

Jiang Zhida had nearly forgotten what he went through during school, but it seemed that Tao Tao remembered everything.

For her, those times weren’t just about hardship; they were also about her efforts to change her situation and the good people she had met along the way.

“I only focused on studying back then and never made friends. But all my teachers were really nice and encouraged me to work hard to get into university.”

In middle and high school, there was a sense of wealth disparity.

Tao Tao wore two old clothes with several patches, looking rather shabby and like a nerd.

Given that everyone knew her parents’ situation, no one wanted to play with her.

Tao Tao also didn’t want to associate with those who looked down on her.

As long as she had her studies and her parents, that was enough.

She didn’t feel isolated because making friends was never her goal.

As she spoke, her tone was casual; she genuinely didn’t mind the challenges she faced in middle and high school.

She believed that since she eventually got into university, the hardships before that were just part of the process.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhida and Yang Mei felt a pang of sadness in their hearts, deeply sympathetic toward Tao Tao.

Jiang Zhida had never heard Tao Tao talk about these experiences; if Yang Mei hadn’t asked today, she likely would never have shared them.

“I never heard you mention that you faced so many difficulties in school before.”
Jiang Zhida frowned, wishing he could go back to when Tao Tao was in school, transfer to her class, and befriend and protect her.

Tao Tao smiled and said, “They could only assign me more chores; they didn’t dare to play with me. It was no big deal. I didn’t have time to play anyway. Besides, they wouldn’t dare to go too far because they knew if they angered my parents and me, we would fight back.”

Tao Tao barely had enough time to study, so she didn’t care about being isolated or excluded.

Initially, some classmates did want to bully her, but she fought back fiercely when one person came at her, ignoring her own injuries and leaving that person bloodied and bruised.

After that incident, those students were terrified by her determination.

In front of all the teachers, Tao Tao told those classmates, “If you dare to bully me again, I will really beat you into a pulp.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but with blood streaming from her forehead and her piercing gaze, it was particularly frightening, making others shiver.

After that, those classmates never dared to physically confront Tao Tao again; they only resorted to isolation and exclusion.

As Jiang Zhida listened to Tao Tao boast about her defiance, wanting to earn praises from him and his parents, a fire ignited in his heart.

It wasn’t directed at Tao Tao but rather at those who had bullied her.

He gently stroked her head. “You’re really amazing, Tao Tao. But do you remember those people?”

Yang Mei tightened her grip on Tao Tao’s hand, frowning as she asked, “What are they doing now?”

Jiang Dajiu slammed his hand on the table. “A bunch of reckless scoundrels! They’ll become failures in society!”

Tao Tao thought for a moment and replied, “I don’t know what they’re doing now. After I got into university, I haven’t heard any news about them because they didn’t get into university.”

As she said this, a hint of pride filled her voice.

Getting into university was something she could be proud of forever.

Seeing that Yang Mei wanted to ask more, Jiang Zhida subtly gestured for her to change the topic.

Yang Mei asked Tao Tao, “Homeowner, can you go get the calendar?”

Since the New Year was approaching, Yang Mei had already bought the new calendar for the next year.

“There are several good wedding dates coming up in January, a few in February, and some in March as well. The weather will be just right then.”

“January, Mom, we’ll get married in January.”

Yang Mei smacked him lightly, irritated: “No way, January is too rushed. We won’t even have time to complete the basic pre-wedding rituals. Planning a wedding is a hassle; if you want to marry Tao Tao, you need to have the right attitude. Our family doesn’t treat daughters-in-law poorly.”

If the pre-wedding rituals weren’t handled properly, people would gossip when the bride came over.

Yang Mei really liked Tao Tao and didn’t want her to feel even a bit wronged.

“Then February it is, Mom; we can’t push it back any further.”

Yang Mei looked up to speak, but noticed Jiang Zhida’s determined gaze; he was insistent on having the wedding in February.

Yang Mei’s heart skipped a beat, and suddenly she had a bold guess in her mind.

However, she couldn’t directly question Jiang Zhida in front of Tao Tao, so she lowered her eyes to hide her thoughts and continued marking the calendar.

“Alright, it’s about time to start preparing for February. Tao Tao, are your parents free before the New Year? We should visit your family first.”

Tao Tao had been holding her tea since Yang Mei and the others discussed the wedding date, her face red, and she hadn’t said a word.

Hearing Yang Mei call for her, she hurriedly replied, “They’re free. My parents are mainly preparing for the New Year at home and are not taking on any work now.”

“Great. The day after tomorrow looks good. Can I come with Da Zi and his dad to your house then?”

Since they had decided to marry Tao Tao, they needed to meet her parents as soon as possible to discuss gift-giving and the engagement, as well as other pre-wedding matters.

The day after tomorrow was a good choice since going tomorrow would be too rushed, leaving Tao Tao’s parents no time to prepare.

“Sure. I’ll go home and tell my parents.”

Tao Tao left after having dinner at Jiang Zhida’s house, where Uncle Jiang and Yang Mei had prepared a sumptuous dinner for her.

When Tao Tao offered to help in the kitchen, Yang Mei had refused.

This made Tao Tao feel even more surprised and flattered.

During dinner, Jiang Zhida paid attention, ensuring that nothing Tao Tao couldn’t eat was placed in front of her, but there wasn’t much anyway.

Jiang Zhida drove Tao Tao home. Her home was in an old, narrow alley where cars like Jiang Zhida’s rarely ventured in.

Previously, Tao Tao had never allowed Jiang Zhida to drive over; it attracted too much attention.

She didn’t want to be discussed or questioned by many people, and she worried that her relationship with Jiang Zhida might not last, which would lead to even more gossip.

But now that they were going to get married, others would eventually find out who she was marrying, and she felt no need to hide anything.

So when Jiang Zhida asked if she wanted to drive in, Tao Tao nodded.

Tao Tao’s parents knew about Jiang Zhida and had always been somewhat reserved around him.

Hearing the sound of a car at the entrance, Tao Mama came out to help Tao Papa and happened to see Jiang Zhida helping Tao Tao out of the car.

Their eyes widened in surprise as they looked at the small car, not knowing how to react.

This car was something they couldn’t even imagine owning, let alone coming into contact with.

“Tao Tao?”

Tao Papa called her, his eyes filled with questioning.

Tao Tao didn’t explain; she quickly ran a few steps forward, supporting her father with her other arm.

“Brother Da Zi drove me home today.”

Jiang Zhida had already taken the things out of the car’s trunk and walked up to Tao Papa and Tao Mama, making an effort to smile sincerely as he said, “Uncle, Auntie, where should I put these?”

“No, no, we don’t want any of this.”

Tao Papa shook his head repeatedly in refusal, and Tao Mama hurriedly waved her hands, indicating they didn’t want it.

“Tao Tao, you decide where to put it.”

Tao Tao said to her parents, “Dad, Mom, these are Brother Da Zi’s intentions. Brother Da Zi, just leave two items.”

There were too many items; not just Tao Papa and Tao Mama, but even Tao Tao felt flustered receiving them.

Jiang Zhida didn’t listen to her and insisted that she help her parents inside first.

Many neighbors outside had come out, their surprised and envious eyes fixated on Tao Tao’s family.

Jiang Zhida didn’t want to be a spectacle for those people.

The Tao family home was very small, with no yard, just about a 10-square-meter room divided by a door.

Tao Tao lived inside, while her parents lived and cooked in the outer area.

Many families in the capital city lived like this, and everyone got by just fine.