Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets
Chapter 70: Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt

These words, Tang Zhenghong has often said them before, but Tang Yue used to ignore them.

But today, Tang Yue felt sorry for Tang Zhengde. He is her stepfather, and in the past, whether in front of others or her, he always protected her, his stepdaughter. He did it to an extent that some biological fathers might not even match.

"Dad, Auntie," Tang Yue walked forward, her clear eyes looking at Tang Zhenghong, who was a few years younger than Tang Zhengde, but was especially capable in handling matters. When she was still a young lady living at home, she was one of the best in the village. Now, many years after marriage, her face looked even older than Tang Zhengde’s due to constant labor.

"Oh? You’re calling him dad now?" Tang Zhenghong was surprised as he looked at Tang Yue, sizing her up from head to toe, his suspicious gaze seemingly curious about when she had started to acknowledge her second brother as her dad.

"I’m not mute, why wouldn’t I be able to call him that?"

Tang Yue retorted, her lips curving slightly as she spoke, "Auntie, I was young and ignorant before, so here and now, I want to apologize to you, Auntie. Just now, I also didn’t notice you. It is said that on the second day of the new year married daughters return to their parents’ house for celebrations, and it’s already the third day. I thought perhaps you wouldn’t come, so I didn’t pay attention. You wouldn’t be angry with a child like me, would you?"

In Qianjin Village, married daughters usually return to their family home on the second day of the new year, but Aunt Three and Aunt Four always visit after the third or fourth day. Despite the distance of crossing another town, the real reason was that Aunt Three and Aunt Four despised the Tang family for being poor, always visiting the relatives on their husband’s side first.

Because of this, Granny Tang had often been upset with Aunt Three and Aunt Four.

"You..." Tang Zhenghong’s face changed, pointing at Tang Yue wanting to scold her, but not knowing what to say, so he turned to Tang Zhengde and said, "Second Brother, look at your stepdaughter, she doesn’t take her Aunt seriously at all."

"Auntie, Tang Yue is right. You should have visited on the second day. It’s already the third day, and not only Tang Yue, even mom is displeased, not to mention what the villagers must be saying about mom behind her back," Tang Zhengde firmly stood behind Tang Yue, like a big tree she could lean on.

"Second Brother, it’s just that something came up at home, that’s why we couldn’t make it earlier," Tang Zhenghong, knowing she was at fault, didn’t have much to say.

"Tang Yue, how come you’ve become prettier?" Chen Lie was in the yard handling things when he saw Tang Yue, circling around in surprise at how she had gotten prettier.

"Being pretty can’t be eaten as food." Chen Gang, who was two years older than Chen Lie, said grumpily, stuffing a cookie into his mouth, "The cookies at our second uncle’s house are really delicious, I want more."

"Here’s more over here." Zhang Hualian came out holding a tray full of snacks and, trying to keep the peace, said, "Zhenghong, Xiao Lie, Xiao Gang, come and have some snacks. Zhengde, it’s the start of a new year, let’s not ruin the harmony."

"Xiao Yue, come over and help." Zhang Hualian pulled Tang Yue into the kitchen, where she started, "Xiao Yue, don’t listen to your aunt’s words. Your dad truly regards you as his own daughter, whether you acknowledge him or not, he has never considered you an outsider."

Zhang Hualian was nervous and worried that maybe because of Tang Zhenghong’s words, their relationship might grow distant, just as it had recently gotten much closer.

"Mom, I didn’t think too much about it." Tang Yue smiled, reassuring Zhang Hualian, and continued, "Mom, about Auntie’s words, I’ll treat them as wind past my ears. Besides, you know what kind of person Auntie is, she wouldn’t bother if there’s nothing in it for her. In previous years, they wouldn’t come before the fourth or fifth day of the new year. Who knows, maybe this year it was about the shop."

"No... really?" Zhang Hualian was skeptical, scrutinizing Tang Yue until she saw that Tang Yue really wasn’t upset by Tang Zhenghong’s words, and only then she felt somewhat relieved.

"Mom, let me ask you, if Third Aunt says she wants to work at your store, what would you say?" Tang Yue changed her way of questioning.

Zhang Hualian furrowed her brows in thought, but before she could answer, Tang Yue asked again, "If you agree to let Third Aunt work there, and then Fourth Aunt also wants to join, what would you do?"

"They have their own work at home, how could that be possible." Zhang Hualian always felt that Tang Yue was overthinking.

However, Tang Yue insisted on hearing Zhang Hualian’s answer, asking, "I mean, what if, if they all wanted to work there? How would you respond?"

"With two people, the store can manage, but adding another person would reduce the earnings, and with two more people, there wouldn’t be much money left to earn." Zhang Hualian was very clear about this point.

"Mom, remember what you’re saying now, adding one more person, it’s not just less money earned, who knows, in the future, who the store might belong to, that could become uncertain too." Tang Yue said meaningfully, also indirectly reminding Zhang Hualian.

Zhang Hualian tapped her lightly, whispering, "Xiao Yue, don’t talk about your Third and Fourth Aunts like that, at most they just want to earn some money together, not like what you suggested."

Zhang Hualian then went out smiling to greet the customers.

Outside, there were not only the voices of Tang Zhenghong but also Fourth Aunt Tang Zhengyue. Unlike Tang Zhenghong who had two sons, Tang Zhengyue had only two daughters. Though she wasn’t as outspoken as Tang Zhenghong, her scheming was no less than his.

Lunch was at Grandma Tang’s house, and just as Tang Yue sat down with her bowl and chopsticks, she heard Third Aunt Tang Zhenghong ask, "Sister-in-law, I heard you opened a breakfast spot in the county and it’s doing really well, making a good amount of money, right?"

Tang Yue and Zhang Hualian exchanged a glance quietly.

Zhang Hualian smiled and said, "Zhenghong, it’s not as exaggerated as you say, it’s just a bit more freedom than working at the forestry station, and the money is about the same."

"How can that be, sister-in-law, we’re family, there are no outsiders here, don’t hide anything." Tang Zhenghong said in a provocative tone, "I’m the second brother’s own sister, if you are really making money, include us too."

"Third sister, second brother treats his stepdaughter just like his own, surely he treats his real sister almost the same," Tang Zhengyue said slowly, seemingly supporting Zhang Hualian, but in fact, she cornered her.

He treats even his stepdaughter like his own, he surely can’t neglect his own sister, right?

Zhang Hualian couldn’t help but recall Tang Yue’s words in the kitchen, she took a sip of soup before replying, "Zhenghong, Zhengyue, it’s not that we’re hiding anything, it’s just that we’ve just started out, and we haven’t even made back our initial investment yet."

Tang Yue silently gave her a big thumbs up in her heart.

Before, mom was always overwhelming by Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt, when Tang Zhengde was around, Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt frequently took advantage, and after Tang Zhengde died, whenever Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt saw mom, they were cold and rude, even worse than strangers.