Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets
Chapter 54: Nourishing the Body

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Nourishing the Body

"Tang Zhengde, have you lost your mind? Turning down such a good opportunity at the forest farm, just like that? Doesn’t your family of four need to eat and drink anymore?" Granny Tang was truly on the verge of being angered to death by Tang Zhengde. To think that other people were bending over backwards for a chance at the job at the forest farm, yet he just gives it up on a whim.

"I slaved through thick and thin to raise you and your siblings, hoping that you’d take care of me in my old age. Who knew every single one of you would give me nothing but worries." Granny Tang lamented, having pulled through the hard task of raising her children, she looked forward to enjoying her old age, only to be let down by Tang Zhengde giving up such a great opportunity at the forest farm.

Tang Zhengde cleared his throat and said, "I’m planning to do something in the county."

"What are you planning to do?" Granny Tang pressed.

"Well, I’m not bad at cooking..." Tang Zhengde hadn’t even finished mentioning opening a shop.

Granny Tang interrupted, "So, you’re going to be a chef? At which restaurant? Did Mingli introduce you to it?"

"No, I plan to open a small shop of my own," Tang Zhengde barely finished his sentence.

Granny Tang began to scold, "Zhengde, I know you cook tasty meals, even your fried rice noodles are delicious, but opening a shop isn’t that easy. Setting up a shop would cost at least a few tens of yuan, and if there’s no business, that’s an entire year wasted."

"Zhengde, don’t follow Mingli’s footsteps. All these years Mingli hasn’t brought home anything but a few dollars, always switching from one thing to another."

"You have a family and children. Without the forest farm job, what if the shop fails? What would your whole family do then, just live on the wind?"

Granny Tang tried to advise with earnest concerns, turning to Zhang Hualian and said, "Hualian, won’t you talk some sense into him? If the shop is a loss, you’ll have nothing to fall back on when you come back."

Although trading is now permitted, the older generation still believes there’s a greater risk of losing money.

"Mom, I’ve thought this through very carefully. Even if I end up losing money, I will accept it," Tang Zhengde said determinedly, persuading her, "Besides, how can you be so sure it’ll fail? I’ve already picked out a location for the shop, it’s in the alley from the bus station to the market. The place has lots of foot traffic. There’s only one breakfast spot and a stir-fry place there, and it’s bustling with business all day long."

"You’ve even picked out the location?" Granny Tang’s face darkened, had he been planning this all along and kept it from her?

If it hadn’t been for quitting the forest farm job, wouldn’t she, as a mother, been kept in the dark?

"Tang Zhengde, aren’t you something." Granny Tang called his full name with undeniable anger on her face, glaring at Tang Zhengde who once was so little in her arms, and now has his own wife and children who’ve grown up.

As his mother, she could no longer control him.

Granny Tang, however, calmed down at this moment. Pressing her lips together, she said, "Let me tell you, Tang Zhengde, if you lose money, don’t come borrowing from me."

"Mom." Tang Zhengde looked at her incredulously; his business hadn’t even started, and she was already talking about him losing money.

"What, am I wrong? Do you think opening a shop in the county is that easy?" Granny Tang glared at him, annoyed. She then turned to Tang Yue, "Was this your idea?"

Granny Tang couldn’t say she particularly liked or disliked Tang Yue, but having her own son treat someone else’s daughter as his own didn’t sit well with Granny Tang. After countless failed attempts to dissuade, she didn’t want to argue any further as it would only lead to a fight with Tang Zhengde’s stubbornness.

It had been due to Tang Yue that they had once made such a fuss about splitting up the family.

"Mom, Xiao Yue has nothing to do with this," Tang Zhengde instinctively defended Tang Yue.

"Just keep protecting her. I want to see if she treats you well in the future," Granny Tang stormed off angrily.

"Zhengde, maybe I should go ask my brother for a loan?" Zhang Hualian said with a sigh, "Now that the shop has been rented, we should keep running it. Then, our family of four can be together every day."

Zhang Hualian showed through her actions that she intended to support Tang Zhengde’s decision.

That afternoon, after lunch, Zhang Hualian brought over some vegetables from the house and deliberately took the last hen they had.

Seeing Zhang Hualian bringing so much stuff, Zhang Huafeng asked, "Sis, what’s with bringing all this when you’re coming over?"

"It’s just a hen, for Cuihong to replenish herself," Zhang Hualian inquired, "How is Cuihong doing? Is she feeling better?"

"She’s been recuperating at home for a while and is much better," Zhang Huafeng said enthusiastically, ushering Zhang Hualian in and quickly making a fire. The weather was getting colder and colder, and without a fire, the house felt too chilly.

"That’s good. How about mom?" Zhang Hualian, who knew her way around the house well, went directly into Elder Mrs. Zhang’s room.

"Mom is out in the vegetable garden," Zhang Huafeng replied, then called out towards the backyard garden, "Mom, sis is back!"

"Hualian is back?" Elder Mrs. Zhang happily harvested some fresh radishes and cabbages from the garden. Seeing her daughter return, a face full of wrinkles beamed with a smile.

"Mom," Zhang Hualian greeted her joyfully. It had been a long time since the mother and daughter had seen each other, and there were naturally a lot of intimate conversations to catch up on.

For lunch, Elder Mrs. Zhang especially prepared several dishes and even took out some meat from the house.

Liu Cuihong, seeing the lavish meal, said sarcastically, "Hua Feng, last time Minmin came home begging for meat, you said we had no money to buy it."

"Cuihong," Zhang Huafeng said somewhat awkwardly, "Didn’t we just have meat last time?"

"Slam." Liu Cuihong put her bowl down forcefully, scooped up half of the plate of stir-fried meat with peppers into her bowl, and said, "I’ve been losing so much weight, it’s time to nourish myself."

Zhang Huafeng, seeing the plate now missing a large portion, looked awkwardly at Zhang Hualian. He wanted to say something but was at a loss for words.

Elder Mrs. Zhang’s mouth trembled with anger. Her daughter had come home with difficulty, intending to help her replenish her health, yet her daughter-in-law couldn’t even tolerate that.

"Mom, Cuihong has weakened this time; she does need to properly nourish herself," Zhang Hualian quickly interjected.

Zhang Hualian hung her head, having grown accustomed to Liu Cuihong’s behavior.

Since Liu Cuihong married into the Zhang Family, Zhang Hualian, with her two-year-old Tang Yue, had married into the Tang Family. Over the years, Liu Cuihong feared that she would benefit from her parental family and had never ceased giving her hard looks both overtly and covertly.

This time she came to borrow money. Zhang Hualian just thought of keeping a low profile. As long as she could borrow the money, it didn’t matter if she got a few harsh words.

After the meal, before Zhang Hualian could clearly state her purpose for visiting, Liu Cuihong spoke, "Sis, you’re bringing vegetables and a hen—not just to nourish me, right?"

Liu Cuihong raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Zhang Hualian. The message was clear: you brought so many things today; you’re here to borrow money, aren’t you?