Rebirth begins with an arranged marriage

Chapter 47 Carrying Wheat

Tang Zhengcai almost lost face after being asked that question by Tang Huaiyi.

It wouldn't have mattered if Tang Huaiyi had been wrong, but he just happened to be right.

"Huaiyi, you child... don't meddle in adults' affairs..." he said embarrassedly, holding a cigarette.

Tang Huaiyi immediately laughed: "Third Uncle, what are you saying? If I really didn't care about your affairs, would I be the one introducing you to a wife?"

Tang Zhengcai immediately realized he was in the wrong and was speechless.

Seeing Tang Huaiyi smiling with his siblings Tang Huaili and Tang Xiaoli, he couldn't help but sigh, overcome with emotion, "Alas!"

"What's going on, Uncle? Can you talk to me?"

As Tang Huaiyi spoke, he instructed his third brother and younger sister to take the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar home.

Tang Huaili and Tang Xiaoli didn't leave; they watched eagerly, wanting to see what the commotion was about.

With them there, Tang Zhengcai couldn't say anything directly, so he mumbled something vague: "Just like your grandma said..."

That means you saw Old Jia going in and out of Widow Ma's house with your own eyes?

Tang Huaiyi smiled and said, "Third Uncle, isn't that perfect?"

"She doesn't have feelings for you, so you should give up on that idea and move on."

"Tomorrow is Monday. Change into clean clothes, shave, take a good shower, and come to the school to see me. Talk to Teacher Xu there. If this marriage goes through, you can stay in the city and live a good life. Why would you care about these things in the village?"

"Even if it doesn't work out, our family will help you find a truly good wife. We can't let her marry someone as filthy as Widow Ma."

Tang Zhengcai was initially angry and heartbroken: "Huaiyi, tell me, I treated her so well, how could she treat me like this? I've never even been close to her, and she's already with Jia Laoyi..."

After saying that, he said regretfully in a low voice, "I originally thought that even if Teacher Xu from the city looked down on me, a farmer, I could still have a future if I came back and got together with her."

"Third Uncle, you should stop now," Tang Huaiyi reminded him. "I know you want to get married and don't want to miss any opportunity, but you shouldn't be so indecisive in the future."

"Otherwise, you'll end up like Widow Ma, making other women wait for you."

Tang Zhengcai sighed dejectedly, head bowed. "Sigh, someone like me, what woman is waiting for me?"

"Even Widow Ma from the village looks down on me, how could a city teacher possibly be interested in me?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Huaiyi, completely disillusioned by Widow Ma's situation, became dejected. Just as he was about to offer some words of comfort, a woman's voice drifted from afar: "Zhengcai, you're here! I was just looking for you today!"

Tang Zhengcai was immediately jolted awake, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Tang Huaiyi looked in the direction of the sound and saw a woman walking over with a smile. She looked much like an ordinary woman in the village and walked over with an air that suggested she was not an outsider to Tang Zhengcai.

As they drew closer, Widow Ma greeted Tang Zhengcai with a smile, "I'm calling you, why aren't you saying anything?"

Tang Zhengcai glanced at her, wanting to explode, but ultimately held back, his voice low and hoarse: "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing else, my daughter asked me to ask you if you're still going to buy the Dacron clothes. If not, she's not waiting anymore," Widow Ma said with a smile. "I gave her a scolding. I told her that your Uncle Zhengcai is a man of his word, he always keeps his promises, how could he forget?"

Tang Zhengcai looked at her with a complicated expression, without saying a word.

If there were women who could potentially become his wife, Tang Zhengcai would willingly hand over his money upon hearing this; but if these women were having an affair and wouldn't let him touch a single hair, wouldn't he be a terrible fool to still hand over his money?

Widow Ma finished speaking with a smile, but seeing Tang Zhengcai's expression, she sensed something was wrong: "Zhengcai, what's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Then, tentatively, he asked, "Are you really worried about the money?"

"If you really don't feel it's right, we women don't necessarily want you to spend money on things. If you don't want to buy it, then don't buy it."

"Just live your life properly from now on, and don't make the kids excited for nothing and keep them craning their necks to wait for something all day long."

As she spoke, she looked pitiful and even wiped her eyes, as if she was wiping away tears because the child had been wronged.

Tang Zhengcai subconsciously wanted to argue, after all, he really wanted to buy Dacron clothes for Widow Ma's daughter. However, when he thought about what Old Jia did when he entered Widow Ma's house, and how the pitiful Widow Ma had been trying to be nice to him but hadn't given him a discount, Tang Zhengcai's anger burned away all his previous intention to please her.

"Yes, we need to live a good life from now on."

Tang Zhengcai said stiffly.

Hearing this, Widow Ma was caught off guard and then became furious.

Well, you're a pathetic bachelor begging to marry me, Widow Ma, and can't find a wife anywhere in the surrounding area, yet you're talking tough to me now.

You think you're worthy?

I'll wait until you come begging to me another day, then I'll give you a good beating!

Widow Ma's tone dropped from feigned pitifulness, and she coldly retorted, "Yes, you can live your life from now on!"

He then turned and walked away quickly.

She took more than ten steps in one breath, but did not hear footsteps or Tang Zhengcai's words of regret behind her. Widow Ma was surprised, slowed her pace, and quietly turned around.

What's wrong with Tang Laosan? Has he changed his personality?

Looking back, Widow Ma saw Tang Zhengcai staring at her back with red eyes. She felt relieved and secretly delighted.

I knew it! If Tang Laosan can't find a wife, he'll have to keep coming back to me.

Trying to get under his thumb another day is not something that Liang Liang can do well!

His steps suddenly became more forceful, and he strode forward without ever looking back.

…………

Watching Widow Ma leave, Tang Zhengcai's eyes were indeed red, and he was lost in thought for a long time.

Then I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.

Even without Teacher Xu, he couldn't go back to this widow Ma.

In short, he gets angry if he doesn't buy things for her family, and if he does, he praises himself as a good person and a real man... He has nothing else to say, he is nothing at all.

"Huaiyi, come home with me."

Tang Zhengcai said.

Tang Huaiyi asked in confusion, "Third Uncle, what's wrong?"

"You'll see when you come with me," Tang Zhengcai said.

Tang Huaiyi nodded and urged Tang Huaili and Tang Xiaoli to go home again: "Mother needs oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar to cook. You two should go back quickly and not bother with the commotion."

After his third brother and younger sister left with the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, Tang Huaiyi followed Tang Zhengcai to his home—Tang Zhengcai had his own home, a two-room mud-brick house without a courtyard wall.

After entering the house, Tang Zhengcai didn't say anything, but took out ten yuan and stuffed it into Tang Huaiyi's hand.

Tang Huaiyi was taken aback: "Third Uncle?"

"Keep it." After saying that, Tang Zhengcai went inside and carried a full sack of wheat. "Come on, let's go to your house."

"Third Uncle, what's wrong with you...?"