Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets

The next day after returning from the Provincial City, the competition results were already out, and Tang Yue ranked first in the province, while Zhang Tingyu also came in third.

The school specifically commended Tang Yue and Zhang Tingyu. The other two boys only fell a few marks short of the third-placer, Zhang Tingyu.

The school especially awarded Tang Yue and Zhang Tingyu with money. The first place received ten yuan, and Zhang Tingyu, who got third place, also received five yuan. In addition to the money, they were also awarded a beautiful notebook.

Holding that ten yuan, Zhang Tingyu quietly approached and whispered, "I told my mom yesterday, we can save five yuan off the rent."

"Then let me treat you to something to eat as a thank you," Tang Yue said. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Zhang Tingyu pressed her lips together and replied, "Never mind that, I’ll treat you. When you’re more financially comfortable later, you can treat me. Speaking of which, if your dad opens a shop, you’ll have to invite me to taste your uncle and aunt’s cooking skills."

"No problem," Tang Yue responded with a smile, and was soon dragged by Zhang Tingyu to the fast food joint at the back gate of the school. The two stir-fried dishes were truly a delicacy for them, who were always eating in the school cafeteria.

Tang Yue quietly took this kindness to heart.

On Friday, when Tang Yue returned home, seeing those familiar faces, the most beloved relatives in this world, made the longing tucked away in her heart grow even stronger.

Dinner was a cheerful and warm scene with the whole family gathered around the square dining table, chatting and laughing.

Tang Yue’s desire to get her parents and Xiao Jun to move to the county town grew even stronger.

"Mom and Dad, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you," said Tang Yue seriously.

Zhang Hualian’s heart skipped a beat and she asked, "Xiao Yue, is something wrong at school?"

Tang Zhengde just looked at Tang Yue without saying anything, his eyes clearly showing concern.

"No," Tang Yue stood up, handed over the certificate of the provincial competition, the awarded notebook, and the ten yuan, and said, "This is what I got for coming first in the province in the competition. That’s why the school awarded me this."

"First in the province!!!" Tang Jun instantly started to ’wow’ loudly, jumping up and examining the certificate over and over before saying, "Sis, it really has your name on it."

"Slap."

Zhang Hualian slapped her hand down, took the certificate and the awarded notebook to look at them closely, her lips curving into a proud smile, "Zhengde, look, Xiao Yue is really incredible, she’s the first in the whole province."

Zhang Hualian happily handed over the certificate and notebook.

Tang Zhengde praised, "Of course, Xiao Yue is my daughter."

His words were filled with immense pride.

Hearing this, Tang Yue felt an extra warmth in her heart, as in Tang Zhengde’s eyes, she truly was his own daughter.

And from now on, he is her real dad.

"Mom and Dad, there’s another thing. My classmate’s family has a shop and two rooms near the station. I think Dad’s cooking skills are so good, and Mom’s noodles are especially delicious," Tang Yue shared her plans from the bottom of her heart, "The area near the station is crowded, opening a shop there would definitely be profitable."

"Open a shop..." Zhang Hualian immediately hesitated and said, "What if we lose money?"

"And the rent for the shop isn’t cheap, right? What if nobody comes to eat? Wouldn’t that be a huge loss?" Zhang Hualian instinctively thought it was inappropriate.

Tang Zhengde didn’t say anything, but in his eyes, there was also disapproval.

Working in the forestry farm right now, they at least have a steady income, and doing some odd jobs on the side just about sustains their family of four.

If they opened a shop and made money, that would be well and good, but what if they suffered losses?

It’s not a big deal if he endures hardship, but what about Hualian, and the kids’ school fees and living expenses? What then?

"Mom, Dad, I know there are risks in doing business, gains and losses, but near the bus station, just on the way to the market, there are so many people going back and forth every day. If we open a store there that’s affordable and tasty, we won’t have to worry about not having customers," Tang Yue continued to analyze. "Dad chops wood in the forestry farm in the summer, bamboo in the winter. Though the wage is stable, it’s also very tough work, and it’s even dangerous."

Tang Yue even feared that her rebirth might bring that incident forward, so the idea to persuade them grew even stronger.

She continued: "If we open a shop in the county, it would be different. There are two rooms at the back of the shop, so Xiao Jun and I can come home every day. Our whole family can be together every day."

Tang Yue pursed her lips and said, "Dad, Mom, just me studying alone in Wangjiang County, although I help sell things for my uncle every time, I still really want to come back."

"That’s right, I want to come back home too," Tang Jun immediately echoed. "I don’t like living at school, although there are many people... home is still the best."

"That’s true, golden nests and silver nests are not as good as one’s own dog nests," Tang Yue used a common saying.

Zhang Hualian looked at her, both annoyed and amused, and retorted, "How come, in your eyes, our home is a dog nest?"

Zhang Hualian looked around at their clean and tidy home, which could not be associated with a dog nest at all.

"Mom, I was just making a comparison," Tang Yue quickly went over to please her and massaged Zhang Hualian’s shoulders, saying, "Mom, actually I think opening a restaurant there can really make money, and the rent isn’t expensive either. My classmate even had her mom charge us a bit less, it’s less than eight yuan a month."

Zhang Hualian, feeling Tang Yue’s gentle hands massaging her shoulders, truly felt at that moment that her daughter was a caring little padded jacket."

Zhang Hualian was shocked by Tang Yue’s words and quickly turned around, "What? Eight yuan? How much is that for a year?"

"Ninety-five. It was supposed to be a hundred, but Aunt Zhang gave us a five-yuan discount," Tang Yue immediately added.

Tang Zhengde frowned and said, "I heard before that renting a shop was several tens of yuan a year?"

"Dad, there’s also two extra rooms in that shop, I’ve seen the rooms in the back, they’re clean and tidy. They already have beds and sofas; we would only need to bring our clothes to move in. The price is reasonable."

Tang Yue quickly added, "Dad, I just think you work too hard in the forestry farm, and besides, you don’t make much money. Moreover, in a few years, your physical strength will inevitably decline, and by then, doing such heavy work will definitely be very difficult."

"Mom, this is also for Dad’s sake, and Mom, when we make money later, we could even buy a house in the county," Tang Yue painted a picture of their future.

Zhang Hualian sighed and said, "Xiao Yue, you’re talking about buying a house, not to mention ninety-five, even if it’s nine yuan and fifty cents, your parents can’t afford it."

"Ah..." Tang Yue looked at Zhang Hualian in shock, seemingly in disbelief.

Zhang Hualian said, "Your uncle injured his foot at the forestry farm the day before yesterday. He went to the Provincial City to get a plaster cast, which cost a pretty penny." She thought for a moment and added, "Your dad was in such a rush taking him to the Provincial City, he didn’t visit you either."