Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets-Chapter 1228: Overthinking It

"Zhang Qiang, thank you for helping me so much. I haven’t received my salary yet, so I can’t repay you. I’ve made several of these pancakes, which my mom taught me to make. They’re really tasty and can be eaten on the train," Yan Wei said, feeling a bit embarrassed as she handed over the pancakes. "Though they’re not worth much, they’re still good when cold."

"Thank you." Zhang Qiang took the pancakes, and even through the bag, he could smell their fragrance.

"No need. I should be the one thanking you." Yan Wei quickly waved her hand. "If it weren’t for you finding me a job and a place to stay, I might be wandering the streets. I will definitely repay you in the future."

"I need to go to work, so I’ll head off now."

Saying that, Yan Wei turned and trotted away.

"What did she give you?" Liu Cuixong peered at the bag in Zhang Qiang’s hand, as the aroma wafted over.

"Pancakes, for us to eat on the way. Grandma, Mom, she had to go to work, so she didn’t greet you," Zhang Qiang explained.

"Well, it’s nice of her. She’s a good girl," Elder Mrs. Zhang said as she watched Yan Wei’s figure recede, offering no further comment.

Liu Cuixong glanced at the pancakes; though they smelled good, how much could a pancake be worth?

"I also think she’s very nice," Zhang Min said with a smile, turning to Liu Cuixong. "Mom, don’t you think so too?"

After speaking, Zhang Min whispered in Liu Cuixong’s ear, "Mom, you can’t let unfounded worries damage the relationship between mother and son, right?"

Liu Cuixong immediately nodded, "Yes, at least it wasn’t for nothing that we helped her."

Zhang Min: "..."

They boarded the train and opened the pancakes Yan Wei had made midway. Tang Yue praised, "These pancakes are really good. They’d taste even better with some sauce."

"Good? Xiao Yue, have a few pancakes and you’re won over?" Liu Cuixong remarked in the compartment with only women.

There were Elder Mrs. Zhang, Tang Yue, Zhang Min, Liu Cuixong, and the two children Zaozao and Chenchen, yet Liu Cuixong didn’t hold back, saying directly, "Xiao Yue, you don’t want Qiangzi to marry Yan Wei, do you? She’s an orphan and doesn’t match our Qiangzi, right?"

"Aunt, you’re wrong about that."

Tang Yue finished the last bite of her pancake and said, "It’s Qiangzi’s freedom to marry whoever he wants. He’s an adult now. We can’t interfere or stop him just because we’re family. Besides, what’s wrong with being an orphan? Why can’t an orphan get married?"

"Moreover, compatibility isn’t for us to judge," Tang Yue stated earnestly and objectively. She sympathized with Yan Wei’s situation, but that didn’t mean Yan Wei couldn’t have love or marriage, nor did it imply Yan Wei should be considered inferior in marriage.

"Xiao Yue, don’t you care about Qiangzi?" Liu Cuixong, holding back for a while, finally replied.

"Aunt, I truly care about Qiangzi. Do you want Qiangzi to marry someone he doesn’t love for life? Or do you think if you don’t like the person Qiangzi wants to marry, then he shouldn’t marry her?" Tang Yue countered.

Liu Cuixong was left speechless.

Zhang Min cleared her throat to smooth things over for her mom. "Sister Xiao Yue, my mom’s just worrying over nothing."

"Just worrying over nothing. It’s Qiangzi and his future wife living a lifetime together, not you and his wife," Elder Mrs. Zhang chimed in, fully agreeing with Tang Yue.

"Fine, fine, I’m just inexperienced," Liu Cuixong sighed, but her eyes still displayed concern.

Worried that Liu Cuixong might trouble Yan Wei again, Tang Yue said, "Aunt, I think you’re overthinking it. Even if Qiangzi has feelings for her, Yan Wei is genuinely grateful to him without any ulterior motives."

To put Tang Yue’s words more bluntly, even if Zhang Qiang wants to marry, Yan Wei might not want to, or like Zhang Qiang.

Of course, the start of their relationship was good, but as for the future, no one can predict it.

"My Qiangzi is so great; how could she not have any thoughts?" Liu Cuixong doubted, first criticizing Yan Wei but now thinking Yan Wei lacked foresight.

"Aunt, if they truly belong together, even if you forcibly separate them, they might end up together after all sorts of twists and turns. Aunt, wouldn’t that unnecessarily harm the relationship between mother and son?" Tang Yue advised earnestly.

Had it been the old Liu Cuixong or Zhang Qiang, Tang Yue wouldn’t have said much.

Liu Cuixong fell silent, not knowing whether she heard Tang Yue’s words or not.

Wangjiang City.

Granny Tang and Elder Mrs. Zhang looked at the familiar sights of Wangjiang City, feeling immensely close to them. Granny Tang said, "Sea City is great—big houses, lots of people, and many cars—but I always love home."

Hearing the familiar dialect, Granny Tang truly felt she was home.

"Yes, I love home too. As the saying goes, ’golden nests and silver nests are not as good as my own doghouse’," Elder Mrs. Zhang’s eyes crinkled in a smile. Having witnessed her grandson Lian Qingyang’s wedding in person, Elder Mrs. Zhang felt extremely happy and content with her life.

Now, she just waited for Zhang Qiang to get married so she could see her great-grandson.

While Elder Mrs. Zhang silently hoped for this, though Liu Cuixong disapproved of Yan Wei, Elder Mrs. Zhang liked her just fine. As long as Qiangzi liked her, she had no objections. As long as the girl’s character was good, nothing else mattered. Elder Mrs. Zhang just hoped to have a great-grandson soon so she could meet her deceased husband with some closure.

After a full day on the train and another bus ride, everyone was exhausted, so they stayed overnight in Wangjiang City.

Tang Zhengde’s house, Tang Mingli’s house, and Tang Xian’s house all had places to stay in Wangjiang City, so there was no worry about accommodation.

"Honey, when are you coming home?" Si Yu originally thought Tang Yue would return to Jing City. Who would have thought she’d go to Sea City instead? Si Yu’s longing was palpable over the phone, his tone full of hope that Tang Yue would return.

"It’s rare to return to my hometown," Tang Yue smiled, her lips curving. Though Si Yu couldn’t see her across the phone, she could feel his longing. "I want to stay a few more days."

"Zaozao and Chenchen have to go to school," Si Yu said.

"No worries, I’ve already taken a few days off for them," Tang Yue replied, wanting to stay a few days in her hometown.

"But they’re in elementary school now, and taking frequent leaves isn’t good," Si Yu complained, "Honey, didn’t you say we shouldn’t take the kids out of school casually?"

"It’s a special occasion," Tang Yue’s eyes turned into crescents with her smile. "Don’t worry, Zaozao and Chenchen won’t fall behind in their studies at home." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Si Yu: ’...’

Zaozao and Chenchen’s grades were top-notch. Was he really worried about their grades?