Rebirth begins with an arranged marriage

Chapter 69 The Betrothed

"Huh? Your injury is healed?"

After the three birds landed, Tang Huaiyi was able to identify which crow, besides the owl and the crow from yesterday, had come to him for help and was the one that Guan Xiaolin had taken back to feed.

The crow cawed softly, which probably meant that it could fly now.

Tang Huaiyi held the crow in his hand and stroked it carefully, feeling that it would take time for the crow to fully recover: "Don't push yourself. Go back and rest properly, and fly again when you're fully recovered."

The crow cawed softly and gently pecked at his palm.

"Yes, I know, I won't forget you. Come back when you're fully recovered..." Tang Huaiyi smiled as he smoothed the bird's feathers, broke off a piece of bread, and gave it to each of the three birds.

The owl cooed softly but didn't eat.

Tang Huaiyi chuckled: "I almost forgot you're a carnivorous bird of prey... If it's not to your liking, then forget it."

The crow that came from Guan Xiaolin's house only took a small peck and didn't eat much.

Tang Huaiyi knew that Guan Xiaolin liked the crow and must have fed it well, so he didn't force her.

The other crow doesn't eat much either. It's September now, and there are plenty of insects and other food available, so it's relatively easy for it to find something to eat.

Tang Huaiyi gave both cornbread buns to the crow, telling it to save them for later.

It went back and forth twice, placing the cornbread between the branches on its head.

After spending some more time with the three birds, Tang Huaiyi returned to his dormitory.

The dormitory lights were still on. Song Siyuan and Ma Laixi from Class 1, along with Li Jialiang from Class 2, were chatting and laughing. The topic of conversation was no longer He Genbao, but rather Teacher Monkey Butt.

"That monkey's butt is really shameless, claiming he fought off a thug... Our whole class was almost fooled by him!"

"Our class is the same!" Li Jialiang said. "You wouldn't believe it, right after class, some students went over to express their admiration for Hou's buttocks, saying, 'Teacher Hou, you are such a brave and good teacher.'"

"Later, when we asked Teacher Xu, we found out that this was not true at all!"

Another student from Class 2 said, "Teacher Xu is in a good mood today. She hasn't cried all day. Do you know why?"

"Is it because you asked to take the day off from work tomorrow?" Li Jialiang said with a smile. "You'd be happy if you didn't have to go to school tomorrow."

"That's true."

Tang Huaiyi listened and naturally knew that Teacher Xu was taking the day off tomorrow because she had become his third aunt and was going home with his third uncle to meet his parents-in-law and pack up the things his third uncle had left in the village.

From tomorrow onwards, Uncle San will stay in the county town permanently and will no longer appear in Tangmaji Village as often.

As they were talking, the dormitory lights were turned off by the power switch.

Someone suddenly shouted, "Go to sleep already, or someone will complain again..."

The dormitory was quiet as the students gradually fell asleep.

A low sob echoed from a corner.

Tang Huaiyi heard it clearly; it was He Genbao, probably crying under the covers.

But he didn't say anything.

The next morning, classes continued.

At noon, Tang Zhengcai stood at the classroom door with a grin, with Teacher Xu beside him, also smiling.

"Huaiyi, come on, let's go to my house for dinner!"

Tang Huaiyi was somewhat surprised: "Third Uncle, you've come back from the village?"

"Yes, I'm back," Tang Zhengcai said with a smile.

"Was your journey home smooth?"

Tang Huaiyi asked.

Tang Zhengcai's smile paused slightly, then he smiled nonchalantly and said, "Everything went smoothly. Your grandparents and parents have all met Ruyun. We've also agreed that my land, my house, and everything else inside will be left to you, Huaiyi."

"Third Uncle, you're really staying?" Tang Huaiyi asked in surprise.

"Of course, I'll stay in the city and take care of Ruyun and Xiaoya from now on."

Tang Zhengcai smiled and waved to Tang Huaiyi, "Let's go, let's go home for dinner."

Tang Huaiyi hesitated for a moment, then turned to look into the classroom.

Today is quite different from the day before yesterday... The day before yesterday, Tang Zhengcai and Teacher Xu met for the first time. They were both very awkward. Tang Huaiyi naturally couldn't bring anyone else along, and he didn't even stay long himself.

Today, the two have already obtained their marriage certificate. This is a more casual way of inviting elders to their home for dinner compared to other occasions.

Should we invite Li Xiujuan to join us for a nice meal? This girl is clearly lacking in nutrition.

As a teacher, Xu Ruyun used to be too preoccupied with grief and despair to pay much attention to others' feelings. Now, with her family reconciled and new hope for life rekindling her vitality, she noticed Tang Huaiyi looking into the classroom and said with a smile, "What's wrong, Huaiyi? You've already made plans to eat with the other students? Why don't you just bring them to your house for dinner?"

Tang Huaiyi readily agreed, "Okay then, thank you, Third Aunt!"

Xu Ruyun smiled and didn't think much of this small matter of eating. She assumed that Tang Huaiyi was inviting his close friends to his home for dinner.

Unexpectedly, Tang Huaiyi waved to the classroom, and a man and a woman walked out.

"Tang Huaiyi, what's up?" Song Siyuan asked.

Tang Huaiyi said with a smile, "Song Siyuan, my third uncle is getting married to Teacher Xu. Do you want to come and have dinner together?"

"Huh?" Song Siyuan was quite surprised. "Your third uncle and Teacher Xu? When did that happen?"

"In the next couple of days? Let's go have dinner together?"

Tang Huaiyi said that it wasn't that he was taking on too much, but that it was a joyous occasion, and since he had already invited people over, it was difficult to refuse them.

Tang Zhengcai thought the same as Tang Huaiyi and also called out to Song Siyuan, "Let's go, let's go to my house for a meal."

Song Siyuan glanced at Teacher Xu, a little embarrassed: "I ordered food from the cafeteria, so I won't go—Tang Huaiyi, shall I help you get Li Xiujuan's food?"

Seeing that he was unwilling to go, Tang Huaiyi did not force him: "Well, thank you."

"Then I'll go to the cafeteria too..." Li Xiujuan said softly after Song Siyuan left.

"Don't be so polite," Tang Huaiyi said with a smile. "Come on, let's go eat together."

Li Xiujuan was a little embarrassed, but since Tang Huaiyi had said that, she kept quiet and followed with her head down.

Xu Ruyun looked slightly surprised: "What's going on with you two—"

Tang Zhengcai suddenly remembered: "Huaiyi, isn't this your fiancée from Lijia Gou?"

Valen Hsu was very interested: "What happened? Tell me."

The four of them walked and talked until they reached the teachers' residence in a corner of the campus. Xu Ruyun had already understood the efforts that Tang Huaiyi and Li Xiujuan had made to get into school, and Tang Zhengcai was also full of shame.

If he hadn't been so desperate to find a wife, his elder brother's family wouldn't have been in such dire straits. In the end, it was Tang Huaiyi who found him a city wife he never dared to dream of in his life.

"You two have it tough, you really need to study hard..."

As Teacher Xu was speaking, someone called out from the side, "Tang Huaiyi, what are you doing with Teacher Xu?"