80s Transmigration: The Young Widow's Hustle to Riches-Chapter 209 - 205: One Must Have a Conscience

Zhang Guangming and his wife surveyed the Wang family’s courtyard. They found the house, though a bit old, to be spacious and tidy.

What pleased them most was Yang Liqun’s good nature—she seemed easy to get along with. Wang Zhixue was down-to-earth, hardworking, and sharp. Most importantly, he was handsome and had a fine character.

Out of the five members of the family, four were earning money—everyone except the third child, who was still in school. They had even bought a storefront in the city. The entire Zhang family agreed that Yuru had found a good match.

Wang Zhixue brought out cups of sweetened hot water to the main room. He smiled at Lin Changyou, Zhang Guangming, and his wife. "Grandpa Lin, Uncle, Auntie, please have some water. I’m going to help my mom dig up some taro."

Yu Xiufang smiled and gave her daughter a gentle nudge. "Yuru, go help him!"

"Okay!" Zhang Yuru’s face flushed as she followed Wang Zhixue out.

Yu Xiufang said to Lin Changyou, "I’m going to help Zhixue’s mother with the cooking fire."

Lin Changyou waved a hand. "Go on, all of you go help. I’m going to go see where Little Douzi is studying."

Yu Xiufang glanced at the sky. "It’s late. Little Douzi should be out of school by now."

"That’s fine. I’ll just take a stroll over and have a look."

Lin Changyou called out to Wang Zhixue, who was digging taro in the vegetable patch, then ambled off with his hands clasped behind his back.

Just outside the Wang family’s home was a vast rapeseed field. The plants were already half a foot tall, with the thicker stalks as wide as a ring finger. The lush green expanse was a lovely sight.

Lin Changyou followed the path back toward Lin Lan’s house. He saw the courtyard gate was open and heard the sound of Little Douzi’s voice, so he happily went inside.

"Grandpa! Hahaha!" Little Douzi ran cheerfully toward Lin Changyou. "Auntie said you were here, but I didn’t believe her!"

Lin Changyou slipped his hands under the boy’s arms and lifted him high. "Whoa! My dear grandson, you’ve gotten taller again. Grandpa can barely lift you anymore."

"My mom says I grew a whole notch!" Little Douzi said, grinning at him. "Grandpa, put me down! I want to show you the picture books and storybooks Uncle Xiangyang bought for me yesterday."

"Alright!"

Lin Changyou set Little Douzi down. Hand in hand, the old man and the young boy went into the east wing. Little Douzi ran to an old chest in the corner and opened it, revealing it was filled to the brim with picture books.

"Uncle Xiangyang took me to the scrap collection station to buy them. When you go back, you can take some to Cousin Jun, Cousin Qing, and our other cousin."

Lin Changyou nodded. He picked up one of the books, then led the boy to sit on the edge of the bed. Looking at him with affection, he asked, "Douzi, do you like Uncle Xiangyang?"

"I do!" Little Douzi said without a moment’s hesitation. "Uncle Xiangyang and I made a pinky promise. He guaranteed he’d be good to my mom and that he wouldn’t drink, hit people, curse, or gamble."

’What a tragedy. Forcing a child this young to worry about such things!’

Lin Changyou’s heart ached. "If Douzi likes him, then Grandpa likes him too!" He pulled the boy onto his lap. "If you like studying, Douzi, you must study hard. An educated person has the most opportunities in life."

"I know, Grandpa," Little Douzi said, beaming at Lin Changyou. "Uncle Xiangyang said he’s going to take me to sit the entrance exam for the City No. 1 Elementary School next year. If I do well, I can enroll there."

"The City No. 1 Elementary is a great school! My dear grandson is so bright, you’ll definitely get in!"

Looking at his sensible, clever grandson, Lin Changyou still felt a flicker of worry. ’I’ve lived for decades, seen and heard plenty. I understand that even with their own biological children, parents can play favorites.’

’I’m not asking Li Xiangyang to treat Little Douzi as his own son. As long as he doesn’t mistreat the boy, that’ll be enough.’

Lin Yuezhen came out with sweetened water and pastries. When she saw no one on the porch, she walked to the door of the side room. Inside, she saw the old man and the young boy, completely absorbed in the picture books.

She placed the refreshments on a square stool by the bed and gestured to Lin Changyou. "Uncle, are Zhixue and Yuru getting engaged?"

"Both families are happy with what they’ve seen on this visit, so they should be planning the engagement banquet soon." Lin Changyou looked at her. "What about your own situation? Have you decided what to do?"

"We’re older, so we won’t have a big celebration. We’ll just invite a few relatives and friends for a meal. Brother Yong said he’d like to ask you and Auntie to preside for us."

"Alright!" Lin Changyou agreed readily. "To register the marriage, you’ll have to go back to get the official papers. Are you planning to tell Guohui?"

Lin Yuezhen’s expression dimmed as she shook her head. ’I’ve done a lot of thinking these past few days. When I think of my brother and his family, all I feel is a chilling disappointment. My own flesh-and-blood brother... he treated me worse than a pig in a sty.’

’If Uncle, Auntie, and Little Lan hadn’t taken me in, the grass on my grave would be overgrown by now. A person has to have a conscience. Betraying kindness brings its own punishment.’

Lin Changyou sighed. "Regardless of the past, you two are brother and sister. You have to tell them about your wedding banquet. Whether they come or not is their choice, but if you don’t say anything, you’ll be the one in the wrong. People from the brigade will talk."

"Besides," he added, "if you don’t invite Guohui and his wife to the banquet, knowing what they’re like, they might forbid you from visiting your parents’ graves."

Lin Yuezhen knew his concerns were entirely possible. At the thought of being unable to visit her parents’ graves during the Hanshi and Qingming festivals, she felt a surge of indignation but had no choice but to nod.

RING... RING... The sound of a bicycle bell came from the gate. Little Douzi’s eyes brightened, and he tugged on Lin Changyou’s arm. "Grandpa, Mom and Uncle Xiangyang are back!"

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Li Xiangyang rode his bicycle into the courtyard, a pushcart in tow. Lin Lan followed close behind.

Lin Lan’s face lit up when she saw Lin Changyou. "Dad, what are you doing here?"

"Uncle Lin!" Li Xiangyang added with a smile.

"Yuru’s family is visiting the Wangs, so I thought I’d stop by and see you," Lin Changyou replied with a smile. He looked at the couple with satisfaction. "It’s getting colder. Running the stall must be much harder work now."

Lin Lan laughed. "It’s not so bad, we’re only out there for a few hours. Are Yuru and her family happy with the Wangs?"

"Very happy!" Lin Changyou said, helping pull the pushcart onto the porch. He looked at Li Xiangyang with a broad smile. "Xiangyang, thank you for taking such good care of Little Lan and Little Douzi."

Li Xiangyang pulled off his gloves, smiling. "I’m happy to do it."

Lin Yuezhen brought out a basin of hot water and began setting the table for dinner. Lin Changyou waved his hand, telling her not to set a place for him. As the matchmaker, he had to eat at the Wang family’s home that evening.

That was the custom. On the bride’s family’s first visit, the matchmaker had to accompany them throughout. Anything that was too awkward for the two families to say to each other directly had to be passed through the matchmaker.

Li Xiangyang smiled. "Uncle, I’ll give you a ride over on my bicycle."

Lin Changyou wanted a chance to speak with Li Xiangyang alone, so he nodded with a smile. "Alright. Thank you for taking the trouble."

Before the two could leave, Wang Zhixue ran into the courtyard. Seeing that Lin Lan’s family hadn’t eaten yet, he bent over, resting his hands on his thighs to catch his breath. After a few ragged gasps, he said, "Grandpa, Aunt, please come to my house for dinner tonight."

Lin Changyou gestured toward Li Xiangyang. "Xiangyang was just about to give me a ride over, and here you are."

Wang Zhixue looked at Lin Lan and Lin Yuezhen. "Auntie, you should both come along."

Lin Lan gestured at the dishes on their table. "You see, our dinner is already laid out. We’ll visit next time."

"It’s cold out; the food will keep until morning. You can have it for breakfast. Aunt Yuru is waiting for us!" As he spoke, Wang Zhixue went to take Little Douzi’s hand. "Douzi, come with your cousin and eat at your great-aunt’s house."