Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets
Chapter 81: Showdown (Second Update)

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Showdown (Second Update)

"Xiao Yue is back." Tang Zhengde stopped what he was doing, hesitating to speak.

Zhang Hualian got up and looked at the plaid coat on Tang Yue. Her daughter stood there, looking so pretty that she hardly recognized her.

She wanted to ask Tang Yue to sit down, but she was afraid that the flour on her hands would dirty her clothes. She asked, "Xiao Yue, I heard you sold a dress today for US$ 60?"

"Mm." Tang Yue nodded. This was something her father had seen with his own eyes, so there could be no falsehood about it. Besides, there was no need to hide it.

Now that her father knew, there was no need for her to keep hiding it.

She explained, "Mom, the material of this dress is very good, shipped from Sea City, and the material itself is of high quality, so the price of the dress made is a bit more expensive."

Not to mention, this dress had a unique design, and if she were not so unknown now, the price would definitely be more than US$ 60.

"The dress really looks good," Zhang Hualian said, observing it closely and really feeling its quality, indeed the best she had ever seen.

Zhang Hualian then asked, "Your uncle said that you own one-third of that shop?"

"This is what uncle gave to me." Tang Yue felt a bit embarrassed about this windfall, but now that she had found another way to make money, she felt more at ease about taking that 30% profit.

"Xiao Yue..." Zhang Hualian had a lot to say but didn’t know where to start.

Tang Zhengde sighed and said, "Xiao Yue, I know you’re smart, and I don’t know what your collaboration with Mingli is about, but you’re a Senior High School student now. Xiao Yue, are you worried I can’t afford your tuition, so you’re in a rush to work for Mingli?"

Previously, he had seen how hard it was for Tang Yue to sell clothes for Tang Mingli; she talked her mouth dry, busy non-stop from morning till night.

"Dad, you’re overthinking." Tang Yue hurriedly explained, "I’m just able to help uncle with some things, Dad, you’ve already had a hard time raising me and Xiao Jun."

"Xiao Yue, don’t worry. Although life was hard before, recently the sales of buns and noodles have been quite good. Just give it some more time and we’ll earn more. Then you can focus on your studies and not have to work so hard for Mingli." Tang Zhengde looked at her with a trace of guilt in his eyes.

It was his inadequacy that had forced his daughter to worry about money so early, trying to lighten the family’s burden.

"Dad, please don’t think this way." Tang Yue, worried Tang Zhengde might feel upset, quickly explained, "Dad, I also like working for uncle."

"About your uncle’s business selling clothes, I’ve seen it. Sometimes, you guys have to tidy up, fetching endlessly, after customers try on a dozen pieces. It’s such hard work; how could you possibly like that?" Tang Zhengde looked as if he was saying ’don’t lie to me.’

Tang Yue pursed her lips and said, "But after a sale, that feeling of success makes me very happy. Dad, I know business is good now and we’re making money at home, but I like doing this, and it’s not about the money."

She said this with some trepidation.

Though she loved designing clothes, it didn’t mean she enjoyed being a sales clerk. She urgently needed a lot of money to buy a house and do other things to provide a better life for her family.

"Xiao Yue, school is about to start. If you help your uncle, how can you keep up with your studies?" Tang Zhengde tried to persuade her.

Zhang Hualian also agreed, saying, "Xiao Yue, focus on your studies."

"Mom and Dad, I can definitely keep up with my studies. Didn’t I also rank first in my grade last year while helping uncle?" Tang Yue suddenly felt that ranking first in her grade had its benefits—her parents couldn’t use her grades as an excuse to stop her from doing business with her uncle.

"Xiao Yue..."

Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian took turns persuading her, but Tang Yue remained firm, insisting on doing the business.

Tang Jun came back from playing outside, and Tang Yue, seeing a way out, quickly changed the subject, "Mom, Dad, school is starting soon. Should Xiao Jun go to school in the county or back in town?"

"Can I go to school in the county?" Tang Jun was thrilled as he had just been playing wildly with his new friends and suddenly heard Tang Yue’s words, a bright hope sparkled in his eyes.

He didn’t like boarding, didn’t like being alone at school; he wanted to live at home with mom and dad every day.

"Can he even attend school in the county without a residency registration?" Tang Zhengde’s attention was immediately diverted.

Zhang Hualian uncertainly said, "Probably not?"

If possible, she naturally hoped her son could attend junior high in the county, closer to home, and she could keep an eye on him more often instead of letting him study alone in town.

"Dad, you can go to the school and ask; what if he could actually study there?" Tang Yue suggested, feeling a great relief.

But soon, Tang Yue realized she had relieved her tension too soon.

That evening, Tang Zhengde invited Tang Mingli over for dinner. As for the topic, Tang Yue could guess even with her eyes closed.

It was definitely to persuade Tang Mingli not to let her help anymore, and also about the 30% profit being too much.

The profit being too much, she might accept less, but not letting her help would cut off her income source—how could she bear that?

Tang Yue kept making eye signals to Tang Mingli, fearing he might agree to Tang Zhengde’s request.

Tang Mingli gave her a reassuring look; not to mention Tang Yue didn’t want to leave, Tang Mingli also didn’t want her to go.

As Tang Zhengde just started to speak, Tang Mingli repeatedly assured that he would not take up too much of Tang Yue’s time and would not let her work too hard.

Tang Zhengde had a lot to say, but Tang Mingli’s assurances made it awkward for him to speak. He said, "Mingli, I know you want to help me and help Tang Yue, but isn’t 30% profit too much?"

He had never heard of anyone getting 30% just for helping sell clothes.

"Brother, you don’t understand. If it weren’t for Xiao Yue’s suggestion, I wouldn’t even have decided to do this." Tang Mingli spoke earnestly, "Actually, I should thank Xiao Yue for getting me into this line, and for her vision in accompanying me to Provincial City to purchase stock."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Mingli immediately admitted his mistake, "Brother, I know it was wrong to hide this from you, but it was an emergency situation and I dared not speak up. What if you refused to let Xiao Yue go with me?"