Chapter 2. The two were close in age, yet their fates were worlds apart...
A flood of plot information caused Tang Mingli's head to throb, but it also made her realize that the world she was in now was the world of a very popular period novel she had once read—"The Beautiful Seventies and Eighties".
The main characters in the book are two cousins from the Tang family, Tang Mingmei and Tang Mingli.
The two were close in age, but their fates were worlds apart.
My cousin, Tang Mingli, lost both her parents at a young age and grew up with her grandparents. After her grandparents passed away, she lived with her uncle's family.
My cousin, Tang Mingmei, was the only daughter of my uncle's family and was pampered from a young age. Even during the most difficult famine years, my uncle and aunt never let her go hungry.
In 1976, Tang Mingmei was nineteen and Tang Mingli was eighteen. The wave of educated youth going to the countryside finally reached the Tang family, and the two children faced the crisis of being sent to the countryside.
Tang Mingmei was the only daughter of Tang's eldest uncle and his wife, so they were naturally reluctant to let her go to the countryside.
Their first thought was to have her take over Uncle Tang's job, but Uncle Tang was an outstanding technician, and the factory couldn't function without him at the moment, so they naturally disagreed with having their daughter take his place.
When the option of finding a replacement job didn't work out, the couple came up with another solution—marriage.
Although it was a last resort and time was short, they still wanted to find her a good marriage since she was their only daughter.
The two recalled something their father had told them when he was still alive: during the war, he had saved the life of a regimental commander, and the two men had made a pact that if their wives gave birth to a boy and a girl, the two children would be betrothed. However, both families later had sons, and the pact was never fulfilled.
Later, the regimental commander was promoted to commander and moved into the family compound. Old Master Tang felt that the two families were too far apart in status, and they gradually lost contact.
Now that they want to find a good family for their daughter, Uncle Tang and his wife remembered this past marriage.
Their logic is simple: both families had sons back then, but wouldn't sons have children too?
So the couple went to inquire about what kind of child the commander's son had.
Upon learning that they had given birth to another son, the couple was overjoyed and, shamelessly, went to each other's homes to revisit the agreement their parents had made years ago.
Although this matter was abrupt, Mr. Fu has never forgotten the life-saving grace he received over the decades.
Holding Tang Mingmei's photo, he asked his grandson Fu Ci if he could agree to the marriage and repay this debt of gratitude on his behalf.
The book describes a man who is so focused on his work that he doesn't care about marriage; he doesn't care if his elders think it's okay.
And so, this marriage agreement, which was separated by a generation, was fulfilled again by Shui Lingling.
In that year, Tang Mingmei married Fu Ci, and Tang Mingli went to the countryside. The fates of the two sisters were like two intersecting lines, drifting further and further apart.
But the gears of fate keep turning.
In 1977, when the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination came, Tang Mingli, who had suffered a lot of hardship and humiliation in the countryside, wanted to change her fate. She worked during the day and studied hard at night.
Finally, this time fate smiled upon her.
Tang Mingli was admitted to university, and she was admitted to the very popular physics major.
However, Tang Mingmei's life after marrying into the Fu family was not as happy and fulfilling as she had initially imagined.
Although the Fu family lived in a small villa, three generations lived together, and she had to face her parents-in-law and grandparents every day when she opened her eyes.
Her husband, Fu Ci, was only focused on his work and rarely spoke to her gently. Tang Mingli was a person with high emotional needs, and she always remembered that this marriage was brought about by her grandfather's life-saving grace, so she often had wild thoughts.
All these factors combined have made the young couple's relationship very strained.
Tang Mingmei often felt suffocated; the beautiful little villa had become a cage that imprisoned her.
Four years have passed in the blink of an eye.
After graduating from university, Tang Mingli joined an important national department and will now dedicate herself to research in the border regions of China.
Tang Mingmei died of depression due to years of unhappiness.
If the story ended here, it wouldn't be enough to become a viral article.
The real climax begins after Tang Mingmei's death.
She was reborn, reborn to the day three days before she was to register her marriage with Fu Ci.
In this life, she vowed to change her destiny.
Therefore, she refused to marry Fu Ci and chose to go to the countryside.
Anyway, the national college entrance examination will be reinstated in a year, and she can change her fate by getting into university.
She believed that Tang Mingli was able to easily get into university in her previous life because the resumption of the college entrance examination was so sudden that no one had time to prepare. As long as one's academic foundation was not bad, they could definitely get in easily.
She was just as good a student as Tang Mingli when she was in school, and she was very confident in herself.
In this life, she never wants to be trapped in that beautiful birdcage again; she wants to live the carefree and unrestrained life that Tang Mingli had in her previous life.
The End.
That's right, just when readers thought the climax was about to begin and were looking forward to the next episode, the book abruptly ended.
The reason this book became a hit is that readers couldn't accept being left hanging here and started furiously criticizing the author.
-
Tang Mingli, realizing she had transmigrated into the book, understood that she had first transmigrated into this world when Tang Mingmei was reborn and refused to marry Fu Ci, even after turning against her parents.
When Li Hong heard her daughter suggest that Tang Mingli marry Fu Ci, she laughed in anger.
She and her husband had to beg for this marriage with great shame, so how could they let their niece get away with it for nothing?
She told her daughter, "Don't even think about it. There are only two days left until you and Fu Ci get your marriage certificate. You have to get married whether you like it or not."
Li Hong was adamant, but that very night Tang Mingmei attempted suicide.
Li Hong and her husband were terrified.
They only have one daughter, how could they possibly watch her commit suicide?
There was no other way but to compromise in the end.
But they were also reluctant to give up this marriage that they had shamelessly begged for, especially since they had already accepted the generous dowry; how could they possibly return it?
In the end, they had no choice but to reluctantly give the money to Tang Mingli.
On the night the decision was made, Li Hong said weakly to Tang Mingli, "Since your sister doesn't want to get married, then you can get married instead."
Saying these words was like a knife to her heart, as if she had given up something precious.
After having her chip replaced, Tang Mingli thought for a few seconds and nodded in agreement.
Having read the book, she knew better than anyone that Tang Mingli's life after being sent to the countryside was not easy.
She felt she had suffered enough in her past life and truly didn't want to suffer again in this one.
Although three generations of the Fu family lived together, their material conditions were genuinely excellent.
Look at the tenement building where my uncle's family lives. It's only about 20 square meters. It was originally a one-bedroom apartment, but later, when Tang Mingmei grew up, they partitioned off a small room without a window.
There was no kitchen; they could only set up a makeshift cooking area in the hallway. If they wanted to use the toilet, they had to go down to the public toilet a few meters away.
Nothing is perfect; you can't have it all.
Since she had already enjoyed material blessings, what did a little mental suffering matter? Tang Mingli understood this very clearly.
But would the Fu family be willing to be temporarily replaced by another family?
-
On the agreed-upon day for obtaining their marriage certificate, Tang Mingli reluctantly went to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Why do we say "bite the bullet"? Because this trip is risky.
Tang's uncle's family didn't understand, but Tang Mingli did; people who keep their promises hate those who go back on their word the most.
When discussing the marriage with the Fu family, they mentioned Tang Mingmei, and the photos they showed them were also of Tang Mingmei.
If the Fu family cannot accept the change of partner and refuses to register the marriage with her, the situation will be quite awkward, and she will be forced to go to the countryside.
Tang Mingli's journey to the Civil Affairs Bureau was not easy.
When Tang Mingli arrived, Fu Ci was already waiting at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau.
She was very surprised when she first saw this man.
The main reason was that she never expected that the man whom Tang Mingmei disliked so much would be so good-looking. The original owner's words of praise did not even describe one percent of his handsome appearance.
With such stunning looks, how could Tang Mingmei be depressed?
If it were her, just looking at that face would make her eat an extra bowl of rice every meal.
It can only be a novel, as expected.
-
Tang Mingli had just walked up to Fu Ci and hadn't even had a chance to explain that the Tang family had changed personnel when she heard him say, "Let's go."
"Wait."
Tang Mingli called out to Fu Ci, who was about to turn around.
She and Tang Mingmei do resemble each other somewhat, but not to the point that they are indistinguishable.
How could he not have noticed?
Tang Mingli was suspicious.
Despite her suspicions, she knew that not clarifying things would only cause her endless trouble, so she honestly told Fu Ci that she was not her cousin Tang Mingmei, and briefly explained the whole story to him.
Now we can only leave it to fate.
Tang Mingli looked at him, feeling as if she were awaiting a verdict.
Fu Ci was also looking at Tang Mingli.
He genuinely didn't notice the change of person just now, since he had only glanced at the photo casually when his grandfather showed it to him.
The person in front of me looked tense, but his eyes were unusually calm.
He even saw determination in those beautiful eyes.
—My determination to marry him.
After a long silence, Fu Ci asked her, "Aren't you Grandpa Tang's biological granddaughter?"
"No, I am."
"That's fine then."
Those three simple words put Tang Mingli's mind at ease.
It seems the Fu family's attitude is that any daughter of the Tang family will do.
-
They successfully obtained their marriage certificate, and a week later, the two families held a simple yet extraordinary wedding at the Guangcheng Hotel.
After the wedding, Tang Mingli left the tenement building and moved into a small villa in the military compound.
Having just married into the Fu family, Tang Mingli was inevitably a little reserved. But she soon discovered that the Fu family elders were actually easy to get along with.
If you're a little sweet-talking and smile a little more, the Fu family will tolerate you no matter how much you want to do things.
As for Fu Ci, he is indeed a bit aloof and focused on his career, not very romantic. Seeking emotional comfort from someone like him would be tantamount to suicide. But Tang Mingli isn't love-struck.
Therefore, when she looked at Fu Ci, she only felt that he had many good qualities.
They are career-minded, so there's no need to worry about them having affairs.
He has a straightforward personality and communicates without beating around the bush.
He is upright and honest, and would not hide his assets from his wife.
Most importantly, he is generous and doesn't think his wife's spending money is a bad habit.
Oh, and there's one more thing that's important.
Young and in great health.
After getting through the initial awkward phase, their sex life, though infrequent, was of high quality and impeccable.
Therefore, after successfully and quickly getting through the adjustment period, Tang Mingli happily integrated into the Fu family's life.
Once you integrate, you'll feel right at home.
If her aunt hadn't suddenly brought it up today, she wouldn't have realized that she had been married into the Fu family for two years.
Sure enough, happy times always seem to fly by.
-
Li Hong cried for a while before she could barely stop crying.
After recounting her daughter's miserable situation in the countryside, she said with heartache, "Mingmei has never suffered like this since she was a child."
Tang Mingli nodded subconsciously.
That's true.
Even though material conditions were poor in those days, Tang Mingmei, as an only child, had not really suffered much.
"I thought the college entrance exam at the end of last year would be an opportunity, but when the scores came out, Mingmei's score was still a bit low and she didn't get in."
Li Hong wasn't telling the truth. In fact, it wasn't just a little bit off, it was a world of difference.
It was last year's college entrance examination that made Tang Mingmei realize that the college entrance examination was not as easy as she had thought.
After realizing what had happened, she frantically wrote a letter to her parents, confessing her naivety, crying and saying she regretted it, and asking them to find a way to bring her back to the city.
But Li Hong wouldn't tell Tang Mingli any of this.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
