Chapter 27 (Bonus Chapter for Labor Day) 1979...

Li Hong was stunned by her daughter's reaction, thinking that she had spoken too harshly and frightened her.

But is it really too heavy?

Li Hong wept, feeling only endless regret now.

I regret spoiling her all these years. Because she is my only child, I always compromised and gave in whenever things went against her wishes.

Before, she was just a little spoiled, far from being as spoiled as she is now.

What exactly did she experience during those two years in the countryside that turned her into this?

Li Hong's tears flowed like a burst dam, surging down her face.

Two years ago, she should have hardened her heart and forced her daughter to marry Fu Ci. Even if it made the child hate them, even if the family relationship was not harmonious after marriage, she wouldn't have had to worry about whether the child could live well in the Fu family.

Even if the Fu family is the worst, they are still upright gentlemen and would never do something like the Li family. They made things seem very reasonable at first, but once they had you cornered and there was no turning back, they immediately revealed their true colors.

If their daughter marries into the Fu family, the couple won't have to worry about her being abused, especially since the two families have a long-standing bond of gratitude from the previous generation.

But it's too late to regret it now; what's done is done, and there's no going back.

The thought of a family like the Li family made Li Hongzhen feel as if a knife was hanging over her neck at all times.

They planned everything for their daughter, so why did they compromise again and again on her marriage, leading her to make one mistake after another and sinking deeper into a quagmire from which she could not extricate herself?

Tang Mingmei had never seen her mother cry like this before, and it made her feel uneasy.

Was she really wrong?

In this life, she insisted on her own opinions and made others compromise with her. How was that wrong?

In her previous life, she compromised her whole life, and no one said she was right.

What exactly is right?

Tang Mingmei couldn't understand it, and her frustration overwhelmed her, causing her to lose her temper and yell at her mother.

"Enough, what are you crying for? I'm getting married, not having a dead husband."

This roar startled Li Hong, and even temporarily stopped her tears.

"Don't complicate simple things. Since ancient times, it's always been a battle between a daughter-in-law and her husband's family, either the east wind prevails over the west wind or the west wind prevails over the east wind. What's wrong with me being a little assertive and forcing them to compromise on this banquet? Even if they are dissatisfied with me because of this, do you think I'm afraid of them? I have a job, and I can support myself."

This last sentence gave Tang Mingmei immense confidence.

Yes, in this life she has a formal job.

Otherwise, would Li Dazhu have abandoned the temporary worker at the sweater factory and firmly chosen himself?

This sudden idea stunned Tang Mingmei herself.

So subconsciously she knew that it wasn't that Li Dazhu's feelings for her were so deep that he couldn't live without her, but rather that she was superior to that blind date in every way.

But the next second she changed her mind.

She is superior in every way; that is an indisputable fact.

There's no doubt that Li Dazhu likes her.

The wedding is in a few days; she shouldn't be overthinking things.

Anyway, everything has been done according to her wishes, so she can just focus on preparing to be a bride.

Tang Mingmei convinced herself and also tried to persuade her mother.

What's the point of trying to persuade Li Hong? Can this matter just be stopped?

They could only swallow their anxiety and distress, and tried their best to give their daughter a grand wedding.

The wedding banquet was over, and neither family wanted the wedding to go smoothly, so neither brought it up again.

Two days before the wedding, Li Dazhu's former blind date learned that he was going to marry someone with a stable job. Perhaps provoked, she decided to cause trouble again and even threatened to come back and make a scene on the wedding day if he didn't compensate her for her losses.

On this day, Tang Mingmei's father happened to come to the Li family to discuss and confirm some matters related to the wedding.

Witnessing all of this, Li Hong's vision went black and she fainted.

When I woke up again, things had calmed down.

But her anger could not be quelled. She had endured so much for her daughter, but now all her efforts had been in vain. In front of Li Dazhu's parents, she slapped Li Dazhu across the face.

Anger flashed in Li Dazhu's eyes, but he held back and gently comforted his future mother-in-law, who was clearly so angry that she had lost her temper. He patted his chest and assured her that the matter had been completely resolved and that the other party would never appear again.

Li Hong angrily asked, "How was it resolved?"

This couldn't be kept secret any longer, so Li Dazhu told the truth: "I compensated her with one hundred yuan."

Li Hong sneered: "Didn't you say you spent all your savings on the betrothal gifts? How come you have another hundred yuan?"

Li Dazhu and his family remained silent.

Li Hong understood that they weren't speaking, but why did her husband's eyes dart away and he dare not look at her?

After thinking for a few seconds, she belatedly realized what was happening and punched her husband's chest several times.

"Was it you?"

Tang Jianguo neither denied it nor stopped his wife, letting her hit him.

His heart ached far more than when his wife beat him.

Li Hong cried, "How can this be? How can you pay so much money to marry off your daughter?"

In a corner where she couldn't see, Li's mother rolled her eyes upon hearing this and thought to herself, "People with good conditions can even help their sons-in-law get jobs when they marry off their daughters. What's wrong with spending a little money?"

However, when she heard Li Hong angrily say "I'm not getting married," she immediately panicked.

This marriage absolutely cannot fall through. If it does, what good girl will her son be able to marry?

So he quickly lowered his stance, apologizing and comforting her, and promised that he would treat Tang Mingmei well after she married into the family and would never let this daughter-in-law suffer any grievances.

These words somewhat comforted Li Hong, and with her husband's encouragement, she gradually calmed down.

-

While waiting for her parents to return home, Tang Mingmei was also busy. Thinking about becoming a bride, she wanted to do her best to dress herself up.

So I went to a highly-regarded auntie in the neighborhood to have my face done.

Of course, this requires payment.

In fact, after the destruction of the Four Olds, very few young women still make things like twisting dough before getting married.

She didn't do it in her previous life, nor when Tang Mingli got married. Her mother also told her that it was unnecessary, as it was too painful.

In this life, she wanted to be different, so she took advantage of her mother's absence and came to do it before the wedding.

It hurt a lot, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.

After the procedure, she looked at her face in the mirror and saw that it was indeed much smoother and more delicate. She felt that all the pain was worth it.

In this life, she will surely be happy.

After the facial treatment, I returned home to find my parents already back.

She asked happily how things went at the Li family's house today, and her parents both said it went very well.

At first, she didn't think much of it, until she noticed that her mother's eyes were red and swollen, clearly indicating that she had been crying.

"Are you sure nothing went wrong? Your eyes are all swollen from crying." She grabbed her mother and pressed her for an answer.

On the way back, Tang Jianguo had already talked to his wife, telling her that the wedding was coming up soon and she shouldn't worry about those trivial matters, and that everything should be about the bigger picture.

Therefore, Li Hong could not really tell her daughter, but only said, "Thinking that you are about to go and live with someone else, I couldn't help but cry on the way back."

So that's what it was about. Tang Mingmei chuckled to herself, realizing she had been overthinking things.

The thought that she wouldn't be able to see her parents every day after she got married made her feel heartbroken, and tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't bear to miss wishing her mother a happy birthday.

"I can't bear to part with you all."

These words brought tears to Li Hong's eyes again.

Even Tang Jianguo's eyes reddened.

That night, the family of three, facing an uncommon separation, became unusually harmonious and affectionate.

-

Despite some setbacks, the day finally arrived.

Tang Mingli and Fu Fuci arrived early to see Tang off the bride. After the ceremony was over, they accompanied her to the Li family.

No matter how elaborate the wedding preparations are, in the end, the memories are mostly filled with chaos and turmoil.

Unlike her wedding, Tang Mingmei's wedding banquet was held at home.

The huge courtyard was filled with dozens of tables, which was quite a sight.

When they arrived, the people who came to help were already busy at work. Even though the air was filled with the smell of sulfur dioxide, it couldn't stop the aroma of the food from wafting in.

From the moment she smelled the aroma of the food, Tang Mingli began to look forward to it.

The Li family must have hired someone skilled in cooking to help with the meal; the aroma of the rice doesn't lie.

She sat quietly in her seat, waiting while watching this lively scene that seemed so out of place with them.

During that time, she saw Li Baohua.

Whether Li Baohua truly resented her or had been warned by someone, the former friends now tacitly ignored each other.

That's good, anyway, Tang Mingli really doesn't want to have anything to do with her anymore.

She was just waiting for the meal to start so she could enjoy it and then leave.

Watching groups of people chatting and eating sunflower seeds, she turned to her husband and asked, "What do you think?"

"What do you mean, how?" Fu Ci didn't know what she meant. If she meant the scale of the banquet, then it was definitely grand, with more than a dozen more tables than they had back then.

Thinking about all this, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty and asked in a low voice, "Do you think we invited too few people back then?"

Tang Mingli rolled her eyes at him. This kind of excitement was for show, and she hoped that as few people as possible would come.

"I'm asking you, are you used to the noise around you?"

"So that's what it is," Fu Ci smiled and said honestly, "I'm really not used to it."

Even though he had seen bigger scenes before, this noise made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Tang Mingli shared the same sentiment and casually remarked, "It seems we're the same kind of people."

After hearing this, Fu Ci earnestly emphasized: "Of course we are the same kind of people. There is a saying that goes, 'People who are not of the same kind will not enter the same door.'"

Tang Mingli laughed when she heard this and told him, "That's not how you use that phrase."

People of different kinds don't belong together; this saying is often used to describe people who share the same bad character traits.

Fu Ci laughed too. That was indeed not the right way to put it, so after thinking about it, he changed his wording.

"We share the same goals and ideals."

They even share the same goals and are starting a business together.

Tang Mingli was so happy that she covered her mouth and laughed.

Surrounded by people in the distance, seemingly laughing and having a great time, Tang Mingmei couldn't help but look towards Tang Mingli.

Seeing the two chatting and laughing together, he couldn't help but frown.

Li Dazhu, who was standing nearby, noticed this and muttered in dissatisfaction, "Today is our big day, who are you frowning at?"

This tone startled Tang Mingmei again.

How dare he speak to me like that?

Looking at Tang Mingli's side, even if she couldn't hear it, she could imagine that Fu Ci must be speaking softly and gently.

No, impossible. How could he possibly speak softly and gently to someone?

Tang Mingmei's face turned pale, and she could only force herself not to look in that direction.

Don't think about anything else. Today is the happiest day of her life. She wants to look back on this day with happiness.

-

Tang Mingli enjoyed a very satisfying wedding feast.

Not only is the food delicious, but the homemade glutinous rice wine is also very tasty.

It was sweet, not bitter at all, and even though she wasn't a big drinker, she couldn't help but have a couple more glasses.

She underestimated the effects of the glutinous rice wine, and as a result, she was unable to stand on her own when she left.

Fortunately, Fu Ci was there and was able to help her leave.

As the saying goes, alcohol emboldens people, and with a slight intoxication, Tang Mingli became bolder.

Fu Ci said she was drunk and couldn't walk, so she needed to take the bus home.

She insisted on nestling in his arms.

However, the afternoon sun was really strong, and she quickly changed her mind, pouting and saying, "I don't like summer. When will spring come?"

Fu Ci had to support her, stop her from fiddling with his clothes, and soothe her as she became increasingly agitated from the heat.

But he still smiled good-naturedly and said, "Spring? That'll have to wait until next year."

"Next year? That sounds like a long time from now."

"Not long, time flies."

Fu Ci wasn't lying to her; time really can pass very quickly.

Realizing that the policy couldn't be implemented in a short time and his plan couldn't be carried out, he took her to a cool city, where they spent the rest of the summer.

When he returned to Guangcheng in the autumn, he showed her around the city in detail.

Winter was too cold, and all she wanted to do was hibernate, but he said the scenery in the north was beautiful, so he took her for a walk outside.

In an era when travel was inconvenient and even required a letter of introduction, he actually took her to so many cities.

When Tang Mingli returned to Guangcheng near the Spring Festival, she still found it unbelievable.

"What are you thinking about? You've been back for days, and you're still exhausted?"

Fu Ci's voice pulled Tang Mingli back to reality.

She said in a daze, "I was thinking how time flies, it's already spring again in the blink of an eye."

Spring of 1979 finally arrived.