Chapter 246 (First Update) The whole family works together towards a common goal...
"secret?"
"It's a secret," Tang Mingli said, getting excited.
She grabbed Tang Xin and pulled her to sit beside her, pressing, "What secret?"
Meanwhile, the other members of the Fu family in the living room also quietly pricked up their ears.
Who doesn't have a bit of a gossipy streak?
With so many people in the living room, Tang Xin had reservations.
Tang Mingli realized what was happening and pulled Tang Xin into the room.
With no one else around, Tang Xin could no longer hold back and said to Tang Mingli with red eyes, "Auntie, my mom has found a boyfriend."
Tang Mingli had always known that her cousin had a boyfriend.
She thought her uncle's family must know, but judging from Tang Xin's attitude, they probably didn't know all along.
That's true, Tang Xin is only a few years old.
However, what Tang Mingli was more concerned about was that Tang Xin seemed to dislike her mother having boyfriends.
She asked Tang Xin directly, "You don't like it when Mom has a boyfriend?"
Tang Xin shook her head. "No, I didn't think that way."
"Then why are you crying?"
"I just don't really like my mom's boyfriend."
"Why? What's wrong with her boyfriend?"
“He is six years younger than my mother,” Tang Xin said.
She overheard her grandmother asking her mother how old her new boyfriend was.
Upon hearing about the age difference, Tang Mingli couldn't help but exclaim in her heart, "Wow!"
Goodness, a younger brother!
However, even though he is six years younger, he is already thirty-one or thirty-two, which is quite mature and stable for his age.
However, since the child was in discomfort, Tang Mingli dared not appear too excited.
She asked her niece with concern, "Do you mind if your partner is six years younger than your mother?"
Tang Xin nodded: "They're too young. I'm afraid my mother will be scammed."
So that's the reason.
She truly is her mother's little darling.
She reassured Tang Xin, "Your mother has been hurt in relationships before, she won't be so easily fooled by men again."
Tang Xin nodded, but she was still worried.
"He's six years younger than me, can he take responsibility for my mother?"
Tang Mingli thought to herself, "Silly child, wouldn't it be your mother who can't take responsibility?"
However, Tang Mingli could not say such things to the child, so she could only promise him, "Auntie will help keep an eye on things and won't let your mother be deceived."
"Then I'm relieved." Tang Xin smiled through her tears.
After feeling relieved, she explained to Tang Mingli, "Auntie, I don't mind Mom remarrying at all. My scumbag father remarried, so why can't my mom find her own happiness?"
"Good child, it's so good that you think this way."
Tang Mingli's heart softened, and she felt gratified for her cousin.
Although her marriage to Li Dazhu left her scarred, having a caring child like Tang Xin is a kind of compensation from God.
After revealing their secret, the two came out of the room.
The Fu family elders were incredibly curious, but they didn't dare to ask, so they had to suppress their curiosity for two days until Sunday night when Tang Xin was picked up by her grandmother and taken back to her own home.
First, Madam Fu casually mentioned Tang Mingmei, then casually asked, "I wonder what the secret Tang Xin mentioned about her mother was the other day."
Fu's mother chimed in, "Yes, that day she said she discovered my secret. I wonder what secret that child discovered."
Although it was supposed to be a chat between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, their eyes were fixed on Tang Mingli.
Tang Mingli felt there was no point in hiding it. The main issue was that her cousin had never intended to conceal any of her past relationships. She might just bring it up in a casual conversation someday.
But she knew that her mother-in-law and grandmother were quite traditional, and if they found out that her cousin's new boyfriend was six years younger than her, it might be quite a shock.
Therefore, she could only speak selectively, only mentioning that Tang Xin had discovered her mother had found a boyfriend.
Madam Fu and her mother weren't particularly gossipy people; once their curiosity was answered, they didn't delve into the details.
Both of them still felt that Tang Mingmei was still young, and it would be a good thing if she could find a suitable partner again.
However, when the weekend came two weeks later, they suddenly changed their minds.
Another weekend, and cold air has arrived.
The two families, who hadn't had a meal together in a long time, had hot pot at Fu's house.
Because Fu Yu and Tang Xin really liked sour soup hot pot, Tang Mingli even bought a half-and half-half hot pot to enjoy with it.
While they were enjoying their meal, Tang Mingmei took the initiative to talk about her relationship.
It's clear that this relationship makes her very happy.
Since she brought it up herself, Fu's mother became curious about her boyfriend.
Everything was fine until she heard that he was six years younger than her, and Fu's mother was stunned.
Not only was she dumbfounded, but the other elders, apart from her uncle and his wife, were also dumbfounded.
Mrs. Fu asked in a daze, "So much smaller? Isn't that a bit unreliable?"
Tang Mingmei smiled and shook her head: "No, he's more mature than his peers."
"But he's six years younger than you. If his family finds out, will they agree?"
This is not something Tang Mingmei is considering, so she said frankly, "This is the problem he has to face. If he brings this problem to me, I will seriously reconsider our relationship."
Having already been persuaded by her daughter, Li Hong said, "My dear in-law, I understand how you feel. When we first found out that her boyfriend was six years younger than her, her father and I were so worried that we couldn't sleep. But my daughter made a very good point: why is it that a six-year age gap between a man and a woman isn't a problem, but an age gap between a woman and a man is?"
The speaker may have said it without thinking, but the listener took it to heart, and Fu Ci immediately thought of himself.
He is almost seven years older than his wife.
He had to make a statement on this matter and firmly stand by Tang Mingmei's side.
"Love knows no age. As long as it is sincere, the age difference is not a problem."
Her son's words made Fu's mother realize that she had gone a bit too far, and she quickly explained, "I didn't mean anything inappropriate, Mingmei, please don't misunderstand."
“I don’t misunderstand, I understand what you mean. You’re just worried that he’s too much younger than me and that this relationship won’t work out.” Tang Mingmei accurately stated what Fu’s mother meant.
Fu's mother nodded vigorously.
Madam Fu suddenly remarked, "Men don't live as long as women, so being a few years younger is fine too."
Such philosophical words left everyone silent for a few seconds.
"It seems...that's really true...hahahahahaha." Tang Mingli laughed, unable to contain herself.
She smiled, and the others smiled too, even the two children who didn't quite understand what the adults were talking about.
Besides resigning.
Fu Ci really couldn't laugh.
Although it was something my grandmother blurted out, there is indeed data to prove that women have a longer average lifespan than men.
He was also a few years older than his wife.
If he really passes away first, his wife won't have to live alone in this world for many years.
Just thinking about it makes his heart ache.
He must persist in exercising so that he can live a long life.
...
We finished the hot pot.
Everyone ate to their heart's content.
After cleaning, everyone sat around the coffee table in the living room, chatting and watching TV.
During a commercial break in the TV series, they announced how many days were left until the Spring Festival of 1994.
Madam Fu then asked Li Hong, "Where are you spending the New Year this year?"
Li Hong laughed and said, "We don't know yet. What about you guys?"
“We’ll go back to Guangcheng for a while, and we’ll go back when Xiaoyu starts her winter vacation.”
Hearing that Madam Fu was going back to Guangcheng for the New Year, Li Hong also wanted to go.
They spent the Spring Festival here last year. Although they were happy to be together as a family, for some reason, it felt a bit deserted compared to spending the Spring Festival in Guangzhou.
Tang Mingmei noticed her mother's sudden disappointment and smiled, "Mom, why don't we go back to Guangcheng City for the New Year this year?"
"Is that alright?" Li Hong was overjoyed, but also worried. "The closer it gets to the New Year, the better the business will be. It would be a pity to close up shop early."
"It's okay to skip a day or two."
“Then let’s go back to Guangcheng for the New Year.” Li Hong was visibly very happy.
At that moment, they never imagined that this decision would bring them so much trouble.
-
Twenty-seven years old.
Tang Mingmei and her family boarded a bus back to Guangcheng.
At the end of the year, many cars leave Shenzhen. The buses they were on were stuck in traffic from the moment they left the station until they were out of Shenzhen.
When we arrived at Guangcheng Station, it was already past 5 p.m.
By the time I rushed back to the tenement building, it would probably be dark.
It gets dark very early in winter.
The house has been unoccupied for more than two years, so it definitely needs a thorough cleaning before it's safe to move in.
Thinking about all this, Li Hong became somewhat anxious.
"The blankets and such have been unused for so long, they must smell musty, but there's no time to take them out to air them in the sun. What should I do?"
Li Hongchou.
Tang Mingmei thought the problem was simple and laughed, "Why don't we stay at a hotel for the night and go back to the tenement building tomorrow morning?"
It's so simple, and this gives you plenty of time to clean and air out the blankets.
After becoming wealthy, problems that once seemed significant become insignificant.
She liked this feeling.
-
Li Hong hadn't been back for over two years, and when her neighbors in the tenement building saw her, their enthusiasm was genuine and heartfelt.
She had intended to work, but instead spent the entire morning receiving visiting neighbors.
Every time a group of people arrives, we chat for about half an hour.
Fortunately, Tang Mingmei and Tang Jianguo were the main workers. They carried the quilts downstairs to air them out and cleaned both rooms.
Seeing this, Li Hong felt more at ease chatting with her neighbors.
People I didn't like before have all become adorable after not seeing them for so long.
Whether it's Li Hong looking at the other person, or the other person looking at Li Hong.
“Shenzhen’s environment is truly nurturing; you look younger and younger since you went there.”
“You didn’t come back for the Chinese New Year last year, and we all thought you would never come back.”
"Nowhere is a tenement building as comfortable as a new apartment in Shenzhen. I don't want to come back either."
...
Three women make a play, five or six women together make a very lively play.
Tang Jianguo smiled as he watched his wife, who got along well with the neighbors, and continued cleaning the kitchen and toilet with great enthusiasm.
He actually prefers a wife like this.
My ex-wife was prickly and always wanted to attack anyone.
He had always assumed that his wife was just like that. But after his wife and daughter started setting up a stall together, he realized that his wife hadn't always been like that.
Her past life was too hard, which made her tough and unruly.
After things got better and she felt more secure, she was able to stay calm and peaceful.
Tang Jianguo's diligence drew envy from his neighbors.
“Ah Hong, you really have a life of hardship before happiness. You suffered when you were young, and now you enjoy the blessings of your daughter and husband in your old age. Look at your Jianguo, how diligent he is. He keeps the house cleaner than any of us women do. You can tell he does it all the time. Unlike my husband. When he was working, he would come home from get off work, cross his legs, and wait for his meal. Now that he doesn't have to work, he still crosses his legs and waits for his meal.”
Li Hong felt pleased to hear these words, but her mindset has changed a lot now, and she will no longer stab others in the heart so easily.
"Oh dear, Jianguo is only diligent today. Usually, I'm the one who does all the housework."
"Look at how smug you are, you should be happy."
"No, no, there isn't."
Li Hong smiled with exceptional flirtatious charm.
It's so nice to go back to Guangcheng for the Spring Festival; the neighbors are all so welcoming.
As lunchtime approached, the neighbors went home to prepare lunch, and the Tang family, who had been bustling all morning, finally quieted down.
Tang Jianguo finally cleaned the kitchen, but he also discovered many problems in the process.
The pot in my house hasn't been used for more than two years and has become so rusty that it's completely unusable.
We don't have many honeycomb briquettes left, and they might not be enough to last through the next few days of the Spring Festival.
Rice, oil, seasonings, and other condiments all need to be bought new.
Buying so many things wasn't about the money, but about the limited time.
Li Hong laughed and said, "Isn't today only the 28th day of the lunar year? There are still two days left."
Tang Mingmei laughed at her mother: "Mom, you're confused. This year, the 29th of the lunar year is New Year's Eve."
"Isn't that tomorrow?" Li Hong was getting anxious. "We also need to buy fruits and snacks, and we're in such a rush."
“It’s okay, we’ll divide the work. Mom and Dad, you go buy the pot and honeycomb briquettes, I’ll go buy rice, oil, and seasonings, and Tang Xin will go to the nearby grocery store to buy some sunflower seeds and snacks. We can clean the living room tonight.” Tang Mingmei decisively assigned tasks.
Everyone worked together to make this year a success.
When the whole family works together, even big difficulties become small difficulties.
-----------------------
Author's Note: The lottery results are in! Did anyone win? The odds must have been pretty high. Let's see who won!!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
