Hu Honglian was daydreaming about Lu Feng becoming her son-in-law when she looked up and saw her daughter return home.
This child finally knows how to come home.
Yikes!
There’s someone behind her, dressed in a white shirt and a vest. His demeanor isn’t simple at all; he’s quite a character.
But it’s too dark to see his face clearly.
But it must be Lu Feng!
Hu Honglian was delighted, initially planning to greet them but thought better of it and held herself back.
Can’t be too eager, like we desperately cling to people, it’s beneath us.
Even if greetings are called for, Lu Feng should take the initiative, not me, the elder, going over there.
Hu Honglian crossed her arms, lifted her chin slightly, and put on an air of importance.
Unfortunately, Tian Xiang had no intention of introducing Meng Cheng’an to her mother.
If she did bring him over, her mom could end up interrogating him about his ancestors for eighteen generations, as if they’d be getting married tomorrow.
Tian Xiang parked the car by the roadside and said to Meng Cheng’an, "My place is just in that courtyard up ahead. That’s my mom waiting at the gate for me."
Meng Cheng’an turned the car around, "I’ll head back then."
Tian Xiang waved at him, "Alright, thanks a lot this time. Let’s find time for me to treat you to a meal!"
He helped out a lot this time, and since she turned from a supporting role into a minor villain, she definitely owed him a meal.
Meng Cheng’an smirked, "Alright."
The two parted ways, and Tian Xiang went up to Hu Honglian.
Hu Honglian, incredulous, "Xiao Lu just left?"
What kind of attitude is that!
Came without even saying hello to me.
Xiao Lu?
Tian Xiang snickered, "Mom, that’s not him."
"Ah? Then who is it?"
"A friend."
"What kind of friend? Which company? When did you meet? Why did he bring you back? Did you dance with him at the ball? Is he from the Mechanical Factory?"
Hu Honglian’s questions were like a machine gun firing away.
Tian Xiang clicked her tongue, "Mom, just an ordinary friend."
"An ordinary friend bringing you home?"
"It’s late, isn’t it?"
Hu Honglian’s face was full of confusion.
The mother and daughter entered the courtyard, and the first gossip lover, Aunt Pan, diagonally opposite, stood at her window and asked, "Xiangxiang, you’re back so late? Where did you go to play?"
Hu Honglian said, "She went to her aunt’s to play. This child, lost track of time."
With nothing concrete about Lu Feng yet, Hu Honglian certainly couldn’t say her daughter went to a dance at the Mechanical Factory.
Aunt Pan pursed her lips and said to her youngest daughter-in-law, who was about to sleep, "Can you really forget the time while playing? Sounds like nonsense to me."
Pan family’s youngest daughter-in-law resignedly said, "Mom, it’s late, let’s sleep."
A bit irked by the lack of gossip, Aunt Pan was about to draw the curtains when her eyes lit up.
Hey, something’s happening!
By the stone steps outside the Tian family gate, Tian Chuying appeared out of nowhere, glaring sideways at the returning Hu Honglian and her daughter.
The large compound where the Tian family was located was one of those old siheyuan (courtyards) that had been converted.
In the past, it was a residence for wealthy families, with rooms, corridors, and a courtyard in the middle.
After decades of remodeling, it now barely resembles its original state. Surrounding areas have been divided into small independent households, with the courtyard being the only shared space among the five families.
The two households of the Tian family lived adjacent to each other, sharing a small stone step.
Tian Chuying stood by the stone steps, for what reason, whether to come or go was unclear.
Hu Honglian, hands on her hips, said, "Tian Chuying, what’s with that look? Didn’t get enough of the community’s ideology classes? And you still dare to glare at us!"
In recent days, after the incident of Tian Chuying snatching a bride, Hu Honglian, holding the moral high ground, would erupt at the sight of the neighbor.
Tian Chuying couldn’t out-talk the battle-hardened Hu Honglian and always avoided her.
Tonight, however, she suddenly had the guts to show up.
Tian Chuying ignored Hu Honglian and stared intently at Tian Xiang, "You went to the dance at the Mechanical Factory tonight."
Hmm?
Hu Honglian blinked, puzzled. How did she know about the Mechanical Factory dance?
Did she attend too?
Impossible. During dinner, people from the community came to ask Tian Chuying to clean up the market area, something that typically keeps one busy past eight o’clock. How would she have time to attend a ball?
No one had mentioned the Mechanical Factory dance to anyone.
But Tian Chuying was reborn!
She remembered that in the previous life, it was at this very ball that Tian Xiang and Lu Feng almost confirmed their relationship.
Afterward, their relationship stabilized, and in less than two months, Lu Feng brought things over for an official visit, and Tian Xiang also went to the Lu Family, making their relationship official.
While Tian Chuying was running errands and working temporary jobs at the clinic, Tian Xiang had already joined the Red Five Street Textile Factory and become a regular worker.
In this life, Tian Chuying thought things would be different, but it turns out...
Tian Chuying gritted her teeth, "Did you go to the dance or not?"
Tian Xiang smiled faintly, "Yes, so?"
Tian Chuying’s heart skipped a beat, "You, did you get together with Lu Feng?"
This time, it wasn’t even her going for a blind date, yet why did everything return to square one??
Tian Chuying felt like she might go crazy.
Her frantic look appeared pathetic in Tian Xiang’s eyes.
Tian Xiang, as if giving alms, said to Tian Chuying, "I’m not with him, nor will I ever be with him. Don’t associate me with that garbage; it makes me feel uneasy."
After speaking, Tian Xiang went to park her bicycle under the eaves.
Tian Chuying stood there, dumbfounded, "Are you for real?"
Tian Xiang didn’t bother replying to her.
Hu Honglian spat and said, "Not sleeping in the middle of the night? No wonder, you’re here dreaming about men! Tian Chuying, I’ve watched you grow up, and I just realized how shameless you are. Truly a disgrace to the Old Tian Family!"
The mother and daughter went inside, shutting the door with a bang.
Being rebuked, Tian Chuying was also angry, but she wouldn’t give up on Lu Feng.
In her previous life, when everyone looked down on her, Lu Feng was a glimmer of warmth.
This life offers a chance to start over, and this little hurdle was no reason for her to back down.
Second house of the Tian family.
With his daughter returning so late, Tian Weibing, the father, was worried and scolded her a bit.
Tian Xiang smiled mysteriously at the two elders and said, "Dad, Mom, you have no idea, tonight I did something big, beneficial for the country and the people!"
Tian Xiang couldn’t wait to share the story about Lu Feng.
Tian Weibing sighed, "Enough with the talking, hurry up and wash up for bed."
Beneficial for the country and the people? She made it sound like she invented nuclear weapons and spacecraft.
Hu Honglian yawned and said, "There’s hot water in the thermos, pour it yourself. Your dad has an early shift tomorrow."
Typically, the family of three would be fast asleep by this hour.
The couple went straight back to their room and closed the door.
Tian Xiang couldn’t force them to listen, so she mumbled, "Missing out is your loss."