Rebirth begins with an arranged marriage

Chapter 11 Mind's Eye

"Third Uncle, don't worry... I'll explain it to you slowly."

Under Tang Zhengcai's eager gaze, Tang Huaiyi spoke slowly.

There was indeed a divorced female teacher at the county high school, and Tang Huaiyi wasn't making it up. However, given Tang Zhengcai's situation, Tang Huaiyi felt it was unlikely that she would be interested in him.

However, since Tang Zhengcai was so focused on being a sycophant to Widow Ma, racking up gold coins, and even borrowing all the money from Tang Huaiyi's family, Tang Huaiyi had to find a way to get the money back to help ease the financial burden on his family and himself. If he directly asked for the money, Tang Zhengcai would immediately turn hostile. He had just said how he was going to act like a scoundrel and make Tang Huaiyi's father lose face.

Therefore, the money that went out to find a wife must be returned by "finding a wife" again.

"This female teacher is in her thirties and quite pretty. She has a daughter," Tang Huaiyi said. "Her husband likes to gamble. Once, he lost a game and said that if he lost her to someone else, she would have to sleep with that person... She refused, so she divorced her husband, taking her daughter with her."

"Oh dear, what a miserable life... that man is a scoundrel."

Tang Zhengcai clicked his tongue: "Such a beautiful and cultured female teacher, it's such a pity he didn't cherish her. What happened to her husband later?"

"Later he lost everything, and people came to his door demanding repayment, cursing his parents; his parents cried all night, and the next day he hanged himself from the roof beam," Tang Huaiyi said.

Tang Zhengcai exclaimed with delight, "That's good! His death cleans things up!"

"Huaiyi, when are you going to introduce me to someone...?"

"Introduce me to someone?" Tang Huaiyi retorted directly. "You've spent all your money on food, drinks, and clothes for Widow Ma's family. How am I supposed to introduce you to someone?"

"I'll go talk to that female teacher and say, 'This is my third uncle, Widow Ma's lover. What do you think? If it's suitable, the three of you and several children can live together?'"

Tang Zhengcai immediately scratched his head: "Huaiyi, you idiot, why do you talk so rudely?"

"Am I wrong?"

Tang Huaiyi slung the grain over his shoulder and said, "Third Uncle, just focus on taking good care of your widow Ma, and don't think about anything else!"

"Hey! Huaiyi, don't go yet!"

Tang Zhengcai couldn't help but jog a few steps and grab Tang Huaiyi's shoulder: "No, your third uncle has no other choice but to find a wife to settle down with; if you see anyone suitable, why don't you keep an eye out for me and introduce me to someone?"

"That widow Ma..."

Tang Huaiyi asked.

"I have to figure something out myself, maybe then it will work."

Seeing that he still said that, Tang Huaiyi waved his hand: "If you have a way, then go ahead. I won't get involved in your affairs, so as not to blame it on me."

Tang Zhengcai then began to understand.

As long as he doesn't give in and continues to spend money on Widow Ma, Tang Huaiyi won't introduce any female teachers to him.

Although he didn't really believe it and felt he couldn't miss this opportunity with Widow Ma, he said aloud, "Okay, Huaiyi, if that's what you say, then I won't look for Ma Xiangju or anyone else. I'll just wait for you to introduce me to a female teacher."

"Do you think this will work?"

"Sure," Tang Huaiyi said, holding out his hand. "Give me the money."

Tang Zhengcai was stunned: "Money? What money? I'm your third uncle, you'd accept money for matchmaking?"

"I won't accept matchmaking fees; I want my tuition money, six yuan will do."

"Then I won't give it to you," Tang Zhengcai said immediately. "Why would you ask me for money, kid? I was actually thinking of asking you for some."

Tang Huaiyi explained, "Third Uncle, you don't understand. I still owe tuition fees. How am I going to talk to that female teacher?"

"You gave me the tuition fee, and I will go to the female teacher to pay the tuition fee one or two yuan at a time. I will tell her that my family is poor and I really can't afford the tuition fee, but my third uncle has never been married, is hardworking and honest, likes children, and takes care of the family. He gave me the money to pay the tuition fee."

"Think about it, Third Uncle, what's your impression of this female teacher?"

"Her ex-husband was a good-for-nothing, neglected his family, and didn't care about the children. She hated people like that the most. Now that I've put it this way, does the female teacher have a special fondness for you?"

"Then when the time is right, I'll introduce you to someone. Will things work out?"

Tang Zhengcai thought about what Tang Huaiyi said for a moment, and couldn't help but grin with delight.

"Huaiyi, you little rascal, you've really learned a lot from school! You're quite the schemer!"

"Okay, okay, I'll pay for the tuition, but you'd better put in a good word for me and introduce me to someone."

"Okay, no problem!"

Tang Huaiyi smiled and took six yuan from Tang Zhengcai's hand, stuffing it into his pocket: "Third Uncle, don't worry!"

Then, carrying the grain on his back and his schoolbag, he quickly left.

Tang Zhengcai grinned and chuckled twice, overjoyed at the thought of possibly marrying a cultured female teacher from the city.

However, after the initial joy, he looked down at the money and became worried again.

Oh no, this is terrible!

So engrossed in listening to Huaiyi's good news, I forgot about something else right in front of me.

I only had a little over ten yuan on me, which wasn't enough to buy "Dacron" (a type of synthetic fiber), and now that I've taken out six yuan, I'm definitely not going to have enough... Oh dear, how am I going to explain this to Ma Xiangju?

I assured her yesterday that I would go to town today to buy her daughter some "Dacron".

After wandering around the market, state-owned stores, and clothing stores, Tang Zhengcai still couldn't find any "Dacron" to buy by noon. He had no choice but to walk home from the county under the midday sun, feeling dejected.

When he got thirsty on the way, he would drink some water from the ditch. When he got hungry, he would go into the cornfield to pick out the smaller, tenderer corn to fill his stomach. He was even stopped by the landowner once. The landowner pointed at his back and cursed him angrily. Tang Zhengcai returned to Tangmaji Village with a droopy face.

Back in Tangmaji Village, when we arrived at Widow Ma's house, we knocked on the door and there was some commotion inside.

After a while, Widow Ma opened the door: "Who is it?"

"Xiangju, it's me."

"Oh, it's you. What's up?" Widow Ma opened the door halfway and leaned against it as she spoke.

"Is the child at home?" Tang Zhengcai asked somewhat guiltily.

"They're not here, they've all gone to school," Widow Ma said, staring at his face.

"Oh, it's good that you're not here. Xiangju, I said I was going to buy some Dacron for the kids today, but I didn't have enough money on me. We'll talk about it another day..." Tang Zhengcai said.

Widow Ma then understood and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's alright, it's alright, we'll talk about it another day. I know how you mean, thank you so much. Without you, I don't know how my mother and I would manage."

Tang Zhengcai also breathed a sigh of relief: It's good that he's not angry.

"It's what I should do, it's what I should do..."

She felt a little guilty; she really hoped Xiangju wouldn't find out about the female teacher's affair.

After Tang Zhengcai left, Widow Ma closed the door and went inside. A hand reached out from inside and tore open her clothes.

Who is it?

"That dim-witted third son of the Tang family..."

"You scared me! I thought my wife had come."