By the end of June, sumr had arrived, and the weather began to heat up as the final exams rolled around as expected.
Before the exams, Tang Mingli reminded once more, "Xiao Jun, if you can score perfect hundreds on the exams, I’ll get you a pair of toad sunglasses."
"And what if I score in the nineties?" Tang Jun’s eyes spun, knowing full well that perfect hundreds were impossible, especially with the essay in Chinese, he couldn’t score a perfect hundred.
Even in mathematics and English, there would be at least a few points deducted, and if the questions were too difficult, losing ten or more points was also highly possible.
"Nineties..." Tang Mingli dragged out his tone, eyeing the short-sleeved shirt on him, "I’ll get you a new outfit."
"It’s a deal." Tang Jun imdiately agreed. Though toad sunglasses were nice, clothes weren’t bad either. He pulled on Tang Mingli’s pinky, fearing he might back out.
Tang Mingli smiled wryly and said, "Xiao Jun, when have I, your uncle, ever deceived you?"
"There’s none in the past, but who knows about the future." Tang Jun pursed his lips, "Pinky promise, hang yourself, no changes allowed for a hundred years, if you lie to , then you’re a dog, no, a stupid pig."
Tang Mingli: ...
Tang Yue, unable to hold back, let out a soft chuckle. Sotis Tang Jun appeared quite mature, reliable in his actions, but at other tis his childishness erged in full force. If Uncle Mingli really didn’t want to keep his promise, even a pinky promise might not an he’d keep his word.
"Xiao Jun, just do well on your exams, if you score in the nineties, you can have less howork during the sumr vacation," Tang Yue chid in too.
Tang Jun’s eyes imdiately sparkled, igniting a blazing fire within him. There was only one thing on his mind now: to do well on the exams, get a new outfit, and reduce his howork load.
This past half year, Tang Jun had to do test papers every week, which nearly made him vomit.
*
"Mom, can we move into this house now?" Tang Yue looked around the cleaned-up bungalow, which seed much newer with so tidying up and a fresh coat of white paint inside and out. All the useless stuff had been thrown away, leaving the place quite spacious.
Four rooms in total, and even the two at the back had decent lighting. The rooms weren’t big, but they could fit a bed, a wardrobe, and still have space for a desk.
But with the family’s current financial situation, these items had yet to be purchased.
"In a few days. Your dad has already asked your Uncle Four to do so carpentry. Once the beds are made, we can move in," Zhang Hualian finished saying, Tang Yue’s expression changed, she asked, "You’re saying Dad asked Uncle Four to make them?"
"Mhm." Zhang Hualian nodded, seeing the concern in her face, she inquired, "What’s the matter? Your Uncle Four is a carpenter, isn’t it perfect for him to do this job?"
"That’s fine." Tang Yue pursed her lips, thinking about what a fuss Uncle Tang would make once he found out.
If Granny Tang wanted to live here, she wouldn’t oppose, but as for Uncle Tang and Aunt Tang, heh, better forget it.
Since they hadn’t co yet, Tang Yue didn’t ntion this, not wanting to upset her mother.
After the exams, Tang Jun stayed in the county permanently.
The results hadn’t been released yet, and taking advantage of the newly started holiday, Tang Jun spent every day at ho doing howork.
With the start of the sumr vacation, Tang Yue got busier. Tang Mingli’s store was understaffed, with just him unable to handle it alone, and Tang Yue also planned to make ti to visit Deng Lanhua’s place, so that she could make more clothes in the sumr, and thus earn more money.
Three days later.
Granny Tang ca with Uncle Tang and Wang Aihua’s family.
Tang Yue had just served noodles to so guests when she saw Granny Tang and family arrive outside the shop.
"Granny, co in," Tang Yue’s heart skipped a beat as she welcod Granny Tang with a smile.
No matter how bad Granny Tang felt, she would not lash out at Tang Yue, especially since she was a stepdaughter.
It was Granny Tang’s first ti at the shop, and she followed Tang Yue to the backyard with a sullen face, never cracking a smile.
In the yard, a table was set up, and Tang Yue quickly offered so tea eggs saying, "Granny, would you like to try a tea egg? They’re really tasty."
"Granny." Tang Jun ran out quickly, chatting affectionately with Granny Tang.
Granny Tang called him a ’good grandson’ and then fell silent.
After eating a tea egg handed over by Tang Yue, Granny Tang also had a bowl of at noodles.
"Wow, Uncle’s shop is doing really well," Tang Min said enviously, finishing even the soup, "These noodles are cooked so well."
"What? The noodles I make aren’t tasty?" Wang Aihua raised her voice.
"No," Tang Min pursed her lips, "Mom, I’ve never tried these before, can’t I even say that?"
"The business is so good; no wonder they were able to buy a house after just half a year," Wang Aihua said sarcastically. Yesterday, Tang Zhengyue suddenly returned to her maternal ho, and Wang Aihua wondered if she had co back for Granny’s cooked eggs out of season.
To her surprise, she heard Tang Zhengyue tell them about Tang Zhengde purchasing a house and looking to hire their family for carpentry.
Wang Aihua didn’t believe it at first, but Tang Zhengyue was very certain, which made Wang Aihua believe it true to a great extent. Although Tang Zhengyue usually swayed with the direction of the wind, gravitating towards whoever had money, when it ca to speaking, she wasn’t one to brag.
This news sparked a fire of jealousy in Wang Aihua’s heart that instantly flared up.
Once upon a ti, their family lived better than Tang Zhengde’s. Tang Zhengyuan worked at the timber yard and also held a village position, which brought in a little more money.
Now, the roles had reversed. Tang Zhengyuan was almost recovered from his injury, but all the work in the fields was helped by Tang Zhengde and Tang Mingli.
As for the tasks in the mountains, Tang Zhengyuan could only sit at ho, watching as no money ca in. Wang Aihua was anxious, but every ti Granny would provide so money, and Wang Aihua, thinking of the decent life at ho, didn’t feel it was much of an issue.
But now, hearing that Tang Zhengde’s family had bought a house in the county town, it was a big deal for her. Wang Aihua stirred up Tang Zhengyuan and also Granny Tang, and so at seven this morning, they took the bus and arrived at Tang Zhengde’s shop just after eight.
Even before entering the shop, one could see that they were doing well. The location of their house purchase was still unknown. In the future, their son Xiao Jun would beco a city dweller, and even that stepdaughter would be considered a city person.
Why should her own son and daughter only have a rural hukou and be able to attend school only in the countryside?
Tang Xian was about the sa age as Tang Yue, sporting semi-long hair, or to be precise, the kind that’s long among boys, with just the hair at the front being long and flicking about with each turn of speech.
With business so good, Tang Zhengde only managed to call out ’Mom’ before he continued bustling around until 9:30, when the custors were gone, and he finally stopped. He had a sip of water, not having had a chance for breakfast yet.
Reviews
All reviews (0)