Chapter 190, 1989—The Spring Bud Project…
The Spring Festival of 1989 seemed no different from previous years, but the longer Tang Mingli stayed in the Fu family, the more she understood one sentence—happiness is repetition.
If every ordinary day is filled with joy, why would you complain about having too many?
However, there's one downside to this kind of peaceful and happy life: it makes time seem to fly by.
Before we knew it, it was already the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.
Since Aunt Caiping left, Gu Lin has been the one who visits Grandpa Fu and Grandma Fu every Spring Festival.
In the first year, Yang Tao would accompany him.
Perhaps realizing he couldn't gain any benefits from the Fu family, he was never seen again.
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year this year, Gu Lin arrived as promised.
Ten years into her marriage, she no longer retains any of the girlish charm she had when we first met.
The trials and tribulations have ultimately left a deep mark on this woman who was once cherished and pampered.
Madam Fu felt a pang of heartache seeing her like this. Several times she wanted to say something, but she kept shutting her mouth. All she could do was keep putting food into her bowl during the meal, as if eating well would make her gain more weight.
Gu Lin naturally felt the care from her maternal uncle's family. While stuffing food into her mouth, she kept urging the old lady Fu, who was serving her food, to eat more.
Madam Fu smiled and said, "I'm old and can't eat much. You young people should eat more."
“Aunt, I’m already over thirty.” A hint of sadness flashed across Gu Lin’s face when she mentioned her age.
Tang Mingli paused in her chopsticks.
I hadn't even remembered if I hadn't thought about it; she's thirty this year.
It is said that one should be established by the age of thirty. When I was in my twenties, I did think about what I would be like at thirty.
Now, without realizing it, I've entered my thirties, but I feel like nothing has changed. I still feel like I'm in my early twenties.
However, she also knew that it was because she was happy.
For most people, the years after thirty are the most difficult.
With elderly parents to care for and young children to raise, both generations depend on him.
As she thought about it, Tang Mingli felt a little sorry for Gu Lin, but the next second she hated her for being so weak.
If she had even a bit of her cousin's courage, she wouldn't have been stuck in the quagmire of the Yang family for ten years.
Ten years.
For better or for worse, time has never been kind to anyone.
After lunch, Tang Mingli was given the rare opportunity to wash the dishes.
Gu Lin helped tidy up the dining table. She was about to go sit down in the living room, but when she saw Tang Mingli washing dishes alone in the kitchen, she decided to go and help her.
Tang Mingli stopped her: "No need, no need, I'll wash them. I only get a few chances to wash dishes all year round, so let me do my job."
Gu Lin couldn't argue with her cousin-in-law and had to give up.
Looking down at her hands covered in bubbles, I could still clearly see that they were fair, delicate, and beautiful hands, clearly showing that she hadn't done much manual labor.
Looking back at myself.
She glanced down at her hands, which were folded alternately in front of her abdomen, and felt ashamed, wanting to hide them.
These hands are old and rough, like those of a woman in her fifties or sixties.
Over the years, her hands have done countless jobs for the Yang family.
Washing dishes, doing laundry, mopping the floor, cooking... Even in the dead of winter, I had to endure the pain and work despite getting frostbite.
In that family, her only value seemed to be in doing chores.
She had been annoyed and given up, but as long as Yang Tao and the Yang family gave her a little kindness, she couldn't help but soften and compromise.
Sigh, looking back, it was all my own fault; I can't blame anyone else.
She used to think that her cousin's wife was lucky to marry someone like her cousin and to a family like the Fu family.
But after her grandmother passed away, she had more contact with her great-uncle's family and realized that there is no such thing as absolute good fortune.
My cousin's wife is able to thrive in this family; it's truly her own skill.
Take myself for example, I always feel very relaxed and comfortable when I'm with my cousin's wife. If she weren't in the house, she would definitely feel a little nervous and uneasy every time she came over. But because she's here, she looks forward to the fourth day of the Lunar New Year every year.
She's comfortable to be around, making people want to trust and be close to her—that's perhaps the unique charm of my cousin's wife.
Tang Mingli chatted with Gu Lin while washing the dishes, but noticed that Gu Lin was lost in thought, her eyes filled with sorrow and desolation.
Tang Mingli was startled and quickly turned off the running water tap, asking with concern, "Gu Lin, tell your sister-in-law, has something happened?"
Gu Lin then came to her senses and quickly shook her head: "No, what could possibly happen during the New Year?"
“Gu Lin,” Tang Mingli said seriously, “I know everyone has their own privacy and secrets they don’t want to tell others. But if you really encounter any difficulties, don’t bear them alone. You have family in this world.”
These words almost brought tears to Gu Lin's eyes, and for a moment she even wanted to speak.
But in the end, he didn't say anything, he just nodded.
"Sister-in-law, I'm going out to keep my aunt and uncle company."
After saying that, Gu Lin turned around as if fleeing.
He said he was accompanying someone, but after leaving the kitchen, he turned around and went into the bathroom.
Tang Mingli watched her retreating figure and sighed helplessly.
She couldn't guess if Gu Lin had encountered something, after all, there were problems everywhere after marrying Yang Tao.
Gu Lin went home around 3 p.m.
No sooner had she stepped out of the Fu family's door than Old Madam Fu said with concern, "I feel like Gu Lin seems to have something on her mind."
Hearing that her grandmother thought so too, Tang Mingli realized that she wasn't overthinking it.
Tang Mingli could only think of one possibility that could make her so sorrowful, given that her marriage was already a complete mess.
"Could it be that Yang Tao did something to wrong her?"
As soon as Tang Mingli said this, she was met with unanimous denial from Madam Fu and her mother.
"No way."
"That can't be right."
Tang Mingli asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Why did both elders think it was impossible?
Madam Fu said, "Yang Tao is a Party member, and his workplace is respectable. Does he not want his future if he dares to do something like this?"
Fu's mother gave a similar reason, nodding in agreement: "If there are problems with one's conduct, one could be expelled from the Party and disciplined by one's work unit."
Tang Mingli nodded in agreement, acknowledging that her grandmother and mother-in-law were right.
Then you can't guess why Gu Lin's eyes were filled with sadness.
-
After the New Year, I resigned and went back to work in Shenzhen.
His main tasks at the beginning of this year are twofold: first, to manage the two factories well; and second, to prepare his new home as soon as possible so that his family can come and stay for a while.
In mid-April, the new house in Shenzhen was finished.
Tang Mingli drove her family to Shenzhen, held a simple housewarming ceremony, and that was it for moving in.
Fu Ci had planned to stay here for a while, but on the third day, while he was working in the office, he received a call from Zhang Guihua.
Zhang Guihua told Fu Ci that people from the Children's Foundation had called looking for Mingli.
Fu Ci guessed that there must be some progress on the matter from last year. He knew how much his wife valued this matter, so he didn't dare to delay and went home that noon to tell her the news.
Both of them understood that their plan to stay for a short time would likely have to be shelved.
Tang Mingli felt somewhat guilty. She had brought her whole family here with great ambition, but after only a few days, she had to go back. Fu Ci would definitely feel disappointed.
She quietly took Fu Ci's well-defined hand and whispered, "I'll go back by myself. The rest of you can stay here. The foundation shouldn't take too long. I'll come over as soon as I'm done."
Fu Ci asked with a smile, "Are you willing to part with your daughter?"
"It's alright, it hasn't been that long."
Fu Ci sighed, as if this was indeed the best solution.
The family won't be able to stay here for much longer; my daughter will be starting kindergarten in September.
He had looked into it, but still felt it was better for his daughter to attend kindergarten in Guangcheng.
The kindergartens here, whether in terms of teachers or environment, are not as good as those in Guangcheng.
He could only tell his wife, "Take good care of yourself even when you're home alone."
Tang Mingli laughed: "How could it be just one person? There's Aunt Guihua too."
Fortunately, Zhang Guihua was there, otherwise Fu Ci would definitely not have felt at ease.
-
The next day, Tang Mingli drove back to Guangcheng alone.
She was already feeling sad as soon as she left Shenzhen city, and couldn't help but wonder what her daughter was doing.
At this moment, she understood even more her husband's longing for their daughter.
However, she was in a worse situation than her husband. Their new home in Shenzhen didn't even have a telephone installed, so she couldn't even hear her daughter's voice.
Good heavens, just thinking about it makes me feel like I can't go on forever.
Who would have thought that someone who lived such a carefree life would become so worried and anxious after having a child?
Fortunately, after returning home, I contacted the foundation and learned from them that they were working on implementing a plan to help the girl. This good news immediately eased my sadness.
"By the way, we named this project the 'Spring Bud Project,' and all the donations received will be used to help impoverished girls who have dropped out of school return to campus."
Upon hearing the words "Spring Bud Project," Tang Mingli shuddered and got goosebumps all over.
She was very familiar with those four words; in her previous life, she was able to go to school thanks to the Spring Bud Project.
It seems as if an invisible hand drew a circle in her destiny.
"...Comrade Mingli, are you listening?"
Tang Mingli quickly replied, "I'm listening, I'm listening. This plan is great, this plan is fantastic."
The staff member said, "It's all because of your suggestion. Last year, we went to many places to investigate and found that the phenomenon of girls dropping out of school in impoverished mountainous areas is indeed very serious."
...
The two talked a lot on the phone and finally agreed to meet in person the next day.
Firstly, the foundation also wanted to hear what suggestions Tang Mingli had.
Secondly, let's discuss the issue of Tang Mingli's special donation.
Regarding the donation, Tang Mingli thought that she could just transfer the money directly and didn't understand what else needed to be discussed.
The next day, after listening to the staff's explanation, I realized that what they meant by "negotiation" was discussing how to hold a donation ceremony.
Tang Mingli waved her hand and refused, saying, "There's no need for a ceremony. I'll just transfer the funds directly into the foundation's special account."
The staff member asked in bewilderment, "You've donated such a large sum of money, don't you really need to hold a special donation ceremony?"
"No, no, really no need."
The staff were both surprised and impressed.
"Comrade Mingli, you are truly a person of noble character and integrity."
Tang Mingli had only heard the term "noble character and integrity" in TV dramas; she never imagined that one day she would hear it used to describe herself.
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