Chapter 118 Of course, I am now President Tang.

Li Hong also sneered, echoing her daughter's words, "Some men are like that. If you argue with them, they say you're pressuring them. If you only think of yourself, they say you're heartless."

Although her aunt had always been quite sharp-tongued, Tang Mingli felt that what she said this time was absolutely right.

Or to be more precise, some people are just like that.

Li Hong continued to berate Li Dazhu and the Li family, saying they were despicable and didn't even want their own bloodline just to be eligible to have another child.

"But I'm also grateful they don't care, otherwise the child would have been in their hands and who knows how badly she would have suffered." Li Hong looked at her granddaughter with affection before gritting her teeth and cursing the Li family: "They're dreaming! They actually expect someone like Li Dazhu to marry another virgin who's never been married or had children and give them a son. Dream on!"

Tang Mingmei thought so too, and said coldly, "You're just dreaming. You don't know your own limitations."

It wasn't that she was cursing Li Dazhu, but rather that given his circumstances, even if he were to successfully remarry, he would inevitably only be able to marry a woman with some kind of defect who couldn't find a husband.

Don't assume that divorce only damages a woman's reputation; it can also significantly impact a man's.

Tang Mingli knew they needed an outlet for their emotions, so she patiently let them talk.

After the mother and daughter had finished their tirade, she asked Tang Mingmei, "What are your plans for the future?"

Tang Mingmei glanced at her daughter, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. "Of course, the next step is to work hard and raise our child well."

After making up her mind to get a divorce, she no longer looked down on her job at the brown sugar factory, and she gritted her teeth and worked hard no matter how tough it was.

Perhaps it was because of the particularly noticeable change in my work attitude, or perhaps it was because I worked exceptionally hard, but I was even praised by the factory manager this month.

However, upon hearing this, Tang Mingli muttered under her breath, "The work at the brown sugar factory..."

If this trend continues, the brown sugar factory's profits will inevitably only decline. If Tang Mingmei intends to work at this factory for the rest of her life to raise her daughter, she will inevitably face setbacks in the near future.

But it's still early. Tang Mingmei's thoughts might change in a year or two.

She's happy about her recent divorce, so there's no need for me to say anything hurtful.

Hearing her cousin's grumbling, Tang Mingmei asked, "What's wrong with the work at the brown sugar factory?"

Tang Mingli smiled and said, "It's a bit tough, and didn't you say that you only get half pay for half the year?"

"So that's what it is." Tang Mingmei felt a little embarrassed, recalling how she used to complain about working at the brown sugar factory. "I was just ignorant back then."

Even if she only receives half her salary, it's enough to support both of them if the child is healthy. Besides, she lives with her parents now, so there are very few expenses in their daily lives.

Tang Mingli was deeply moved by what she saw.

Tang Mingmei has completely transformed.

Who says that it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature? Letting a woman experience a bad marriage can completely transform her.

"If you encounter any financial difficulties, you can tell me. I'm working now and I can earn money."

She didn't specifically tell anyone that she had taken over Fu Ci's clothing wholesale business, so her uncle's family was unaware of it and were shocked when they heard about it.

Li Hong, in particular, was so shocked that her eyes widened, and after regaining her senses, she felt a pang of sadness.

Marrying into an upper-class family is great; you can get a job as long as you want to.

Fortunately, Li Hong no longer treats Tang Mingli the same way she used to. Suppressing her heartache, she asked, "You're at work? Where are you working?"

She had expected to hear that he worked in a good company, but instead she heard that he owned a clothing store.

"A clothing store? Selling clothes?" Li Hong found it unbelievable.

Tang Mingli thought that she was indeed selling clothes, so she nodded.

"Did the Fu family agree?"

Private clothing stores and department stores are not the same thing.

Selling clothes in a department store is a very respectable job, but selling clothes in a private clothing store is... well, in the past, wouldn't that mean showing your face in public?

How could a family like the Fu family tolerate a woman who married into their family doing such a disreputable job?

Tang Mingli smiled and asked Li Hong, "Why don't you agree?"

Unable to explain why, Li Hong could only say, "This job doesn't seem to match their family's social status, does it?"

"In the eyes of the Fu family elders, there is no distinction between noble and lowly jobs."

Tang Mingmei understood this sentiment all too well.

In her past life, she was blind and thought they looked down on her.

Fortunately, only he knows about his past life, otherwise he would never have the face to face Tang Mingli again.

But Li Hong didn't believe it.

She was about to say something when Tang Mingmei stopped her.

"Mom, don't always judge others by your own standards, and I don't think there's anything wrong with selling clothes."

Tang Jianguo, who hadn't said much until now, finally spoke up to remind them: "That clothing store was opened by Fu Ci, how can it be the same?"

"Oh, right," Li Hong realized.

The clothing store originally belonged to the Fu family. Tang Mingli wasn't just selling clothes; she was clearly the boss's wife.

She smiled, feeling embarrassed about her earlier lapse in composure.

Tang Mingli didn't think her uncle was wrong. Since it was her own clothing store, her mindset was indeed different when she worked there.

During the meal, Tang Mingmei couldn't help but ask a question she was concerned about: "How's business at the clothing store? Do you earn a lot selling clothes in a privately owned clothing store?"

Tang Mingli thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth, so she used Zheng Hao's income as an example.

Hearing all this, Tang Mingmei and her parents were shocked once again.

"So many?!" Tang Mingmei's heart skipped a beat.

The salary Tang Mingli mentioned was equivalent to several months of her salary.

Wow, I never knew you could earn so much money working for a private company! She was so tempted. But then she remembered how unstable working for a private company was, and she calmed down a bit.

She convinced herself that although the salary was high, the uncertainty of tomorrow made her feel uneasy.

She has children now, so she has to think things through carefully before doing anything.

Tang Mingli noticed Tang Mingmei's emotional fluctuations and, after thinking for a moment, added another strong dose of medicine.

"The news says that our country will vigorously develop reform and opening up, and there will definitely be more and more private shops and private factories in the future."

In fact, she knew that the Tang family did not have the habit of watching the news. Even if they occasionally watched it, it was just for entertainment and they never seriously thought about the background of the news.

Sure enough, Li Hong, who was the most impatient, asked blankly, "Why?"

This simple question really stumped Tang Mingli.

After thinking for a moment, all she could say was, "National policies encourage it."

Why encourage it?

"...in order to develop the economy and make everyone's life better and better."

"Is that so?" Li Hong looked at her husband and stammered, "If we want our lives to get better and better, should we follow the policy and do the same?"

Tang Mingli wanted to applaud when she heard this question.

Although Li Hong's brain is straightforward, it's quite accurate.

However, Tang Jianguo said, "How can ordinary people like us control national policies? We should just do our own job well and live our lives honestly."

Tang Mingli didn't think her uncle's words were wrong.

Many people are just suited to a down-to-earth life.

Being able to do as much as one is capable of is a very rare and valuable quality.

What she cared about most was Tang Mingmei's attitude.

In some ways, Tang Mingmei resembled her father.

However, there is a different path in front of her, so that if she can no longer continue on the path she is on, she won't be too desperate.

This was Tang Mingli's intention in saying all this; she didn't want to change anything about them in a short period of time.

-

Time flies, and winter in Guangcheng has taken away the heat of midsummer.

As the weather grew colder, Tang Mingli finally began to find it difficult to get out of bed.

Every day when I open my eyes, although I am awake, my soul is fighting.

Should we get up? Should we brave the freezing cold and go to the store?

Such internal struggles occur almost every day, but every day it is the diligent soul that triumphs over the lazy soul.

Walking on the cold streets, or waiting for the bus at the bus stop, she couldn't help but shout in her heart, "When will I finally be able to buy a car?"

If I had my own car, commuting wouldn't be so painful.

It was another cold morning. She was standing at the bus stop waiting for the bus when she overheard two people next to her talking about the approaching cold air. She couldn't help but shiver.

The news says that due to the influence of cold air, the next few days may be the coldest of the year.

no.

She needs to finish dealing with the urgent matters as soon as possible and not go out in such cold weather.

With this determination, Tang Mingli strode confidently into the store.

Zheng Hao had already cleaned up and opened the store for business. When he saw Tang Mingli come in, he greeted her with a smile, but noticed that her face was tense. He asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Tang Mingli pursed his thin lips and shook his head, telling her succinctly, "Yes."

It's cold.

Her tone was serious, as if this were something very solemn.

But isn't winter just cold?

Zheng Hao was stunned for a moment before he reacted.

"It's really cold today."

Tang Mingli said seriously, "There will be another strong cold front in a few days, making it even colder."

Seeing his boss's serious expression, Zheng Hao nodded in unison, matching his own serious demeanor.

"So if there's anything urgent, deal with it quickly. We'll have a holiday during the days when the cold air comes."

"A holiday?" Li Zhengdao heard the second half of Tang Mingli's sentence as he came downstairs, and asked in confusion, "Why do you suddenly want a holiday?"

Tang Mingli repeated her reason: "Because a cold front is coming, and those few days will be very cold."

"So that's how it is..." No, Li Zhengdao was almost misled, and hurriedly said, "We run a business, and if we don't open for a day, we lose a day's worth of money."

Tang Mingli knew this, of course, but she also knew that on such a cold day, there wouldn't be many people out shopping.

And she really hasn't had a long vacation in a long time.

Fortunately, Li Zhengdao felt that what she said made sense. Since there were not many customers and the losses were not significant, it would be better to simply take a holiday.

Tang Mingli breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself, "Great!" She even began to look forward to the arrival of the cold air.

But before we arrive, let's hurry upstairs and get to work.

As Tang Mingli was carefully reviewing the orders, the phone on her desk rang.

She instinctively grabbed the microphone and said hello. Fu Ci's voice came from the other end, asking if she had time in a few days.

His voice was somewhat excited.

Tang Mingli understood, raised her eyebrows, and asked him, "What's up?"

Fu Ci sighed softly on the other end of the phone and joked, "You're so busy these days, it's hard to imagine you having any free time."

Tang Mingli raised her eyebrows and deliberately said, "Of course, I am President Tang now."