Extra 8
Tang Jianye didn't sleep a wink all night. How could he sleep with his beloved girl in his arms? But they didn't do anything. Tang Jianye wouldn't do anything; he couldn't cause trouble for Lai Xiang.
Once he's on the battlefield, his life isn't his own anymore; he can't ruin Xiangxiang's life.
Around four in the morning, Tang Jianye put on his coat and went into the main room. Liu Ting immediately came out from the east room. She asked in a low voice, "How is Xiangxiang? Does she have a fever?"
Tang Jianye shook his head. "No, I was startled awake a few times, but then I fell asleep again."
Liu Ting sighed softly, "Tang boy, you..."
Tang Jianye looked directly into Liu Ting's eyes and said, "Grandma Liu, I like Xiangxiang. If I can return safely from the battlefield, I will marry Xiangxiang."
"What? You're going to the battlefield?"
Tang Jianye nodded, "Grandma Liu, I'm leaving today. You should tell Uncle Lai and Aunt about Xiangxiang. In the future, if Xiangxiang goes there at night, it would be best to have Uncle Lai take her back."
Liu Ting nodded repeatedly, "We were wrong before. We thought that since we're in the village and everyone sees each other all the time, nothing would happen. It won't happen again, don't worry."
Tang Jianye was genuinely worried, but there was nothing he could do. "Grandma Liu, I have to go now. Please take good care of her from now on. She'll be going to be farming soon, and she's never done any farm work before."
"You should stop her from going to work. I'll arrange for someone to send money; it'll definitely be enough to support you."
Liu Ting agreed to everything because she was afraid Tang Jianye would worry. But Xiangxiang was an educated youth sent to the countryside, and it was impossible for her not to do any work.
Tang Jianye went to the police station again. The station chief acted quickly, having already interrogated Er Laizi's confession overnight. He had already arranged for someone to report it overnight, and the results were expected this afternoon.
Tang Jianye instructed the director to send money to Lai Xiang every month. The director had just gotten married, and the couple had a good relationship; he was sure this guy wouldn't steal his wife.
Time flew by, and Lai Jiaxing and the others felt extremely guilty after learning of Lai Xiang's accident. From then on, Lai Xiang stopped going to the cowshed at night. Usually, Lai Jiaxing would come to collect his things, or the rest of them would come to Lai Xiang's house later in the evening.
Spring arrived, flowers bloomed, and it was time to plant crops. Lai Xiang went to work like the other educated youth. Liu Ting told Lai Xiang about Tang Jianye's instructions, but Lai Xiang disagreed. She knew working would be hard, but she wasn't afraid.
Her parents both work in the fields, so she can definitely do it too.
When news of victory arrived from the border region, Lai Xiang hugged Liu Ting and cried for a long, long time. Lai Xiang hadn't received a single letter from Tang Jianye in the past few years. But she knew Tang Jianye was still alive and well.
Before Tang Jianye returned, they received news of Old Ke and Old Xu's return to the city. Having lived together for several years, they were like family. Liu Ting already knew that her daughter was alive, and most likely Tang Yue's mother.
But she had been enduring it all these years. The old man couldn't leave this place. She longed for the day when she could stand openly and honestly with the old man in front of Cuicui.
Not long after Elder Ke and his group left, Lai Jiaxing was reinstated. They took Lai Xiang with them when they left.
"Dad, you've just been reinstated, so why don't I stay here for now? I won't have a job if I go back now, and that wouldn't be good for you," Lai Xiang tentatively asked Lai Jiaxing.
Lai Jiaxing and Wu Jinghua exchanged a glance. Wu Jinghua gently patted Lai Xiang's head. "Xiangxiang, your father and I know what you're thinking. We've already spoken with the village chief. If Jianye comes back, the village chief will give him our address."
Lai Xiang blushed deeply. "Oh dear, I... I didn't mean that."
Lai Xiang is not young now. Lai Jiaxing and Wu Jinghua have thought it over and decided that as long as Tang Jianye returns from the battlefield, they will agree to let Lai Xiang marry him, regardless of his family background.
Finally, Lai Xiang finished packing her things and returned to her original unit with Lai Jiaxing. As soon as she got off the vehicle, a man wearing a clean Lenin suit, gold-rimmed glasses, and holding a bouquet of flowers immediately walked towards her.
Lai Xiang's expression turned pale when she saw the man, who seemed oblivious. "Xiangxiang, welcome home!" he said, handing her a bouquet of flowers.
Although Lai Xiang had spent several years in the countryside, they had no shortage of food and drink, and the winters were long, so Lai Xiang was actually fairer and more beautiful than when she first returned from Kyoto. Chen Zheng was momentarily stunned.
Wu Jinghua and Lai Jiaxing looked somber. Over the years, Lai Xiang had never mentioned Chen Zheng to them. In the past, whenever Xiangxiang wrote to them, she would always mention Chen Zheng a few times in the letter.
The repeated calls of "Brother Zheng" clearly indicated their relationship and proved that they had a very good bond.
But ever since Xiangxiang went to the countryside near their cowshed, she had never mentioned Chen Zheng again. It was as if he had never existed. Several years passed, and then, for some reason, Chen Zheng suddenly reappeared in front of Xiangxiang.
Lai Xiang took a step back and said in a calm voice, "Thank you, but flowers are not necessary."
Chen Zheng took two steps forward. "Xiangxiang, what's wrong? Are you still angry with me? I really had no choice at the time. Xiangxiang, can you forgive me?"
Lai Xiang had already turned around. "Chen Zheng, I'm not familiar with you, so I'm not angry."
Lai Xiang walked towards Lai Jiaxing, and Wu Jinghua took Lai Xiang's hand. The three of them laughed and walked towards their own courtyard.
Chen Zheng chased after them and blocked Wu Jinghua and Lai Xiang's path, his voice urgent, "Xiangxiang, how could we not know each other? I've waited for you for so many years, how could you say such a thing?"
Wu Jinghua remained silent, while Lai Xiang's face remained expressionless. "Chen Zheng, I don't want to talk about what happened in the past. Do you really want me to relive what you said in front of so many people?"
Chen Zheng looked pained. "Xiangxiang, I really had no choice in that situation. If I were involved with you, my family would be sent to the countryside too. Xiangxiang, we can't all go to the countryside with your family, can we?"
Lai Xiang nodded. "Then congratulations on your happy life. But I, Lai Xiang, can't stand people who can't share hardships with me. Chen Zheng, I'll say it again, I, Lai Xiang, am not familiar with you. There is no relationship between us."
After finishing speaking, he went into the yard and closed the gate.
Back home, Wu Jinghua and Lai Jiaxing weren't particularly happy. They sat on the sofa and looked at Lai Xiang. "Xiangxiang, what happened before?"
Lai Xiang smiled at her parents, "Mom and Dad, it's all in the past. I don't want to bring up those bad things anymore, okay?"
Wu Jinghua and Lai Jiaxing knew that Xiangxiang must have suffered a lot. They also knew that if it weren't for Tang Yue, their family didn't know how long they could have survived in the cowshed.
Wu Jinghua hugged Lai Xiang tightly. "Xiangxiang, it's all over now. It's all over. From now on, Mom and Dad will protect you."
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