Shen Meng felt Lu Zhenping’s gaze burning hotly. She tilted her head slightly, her heart in turmoil. Although they had only been together for a few days, she could tell that this man was upright and resolute, someone she could entrust herself to. Moreover, their communication had been very harmonious, stirring emotions and growing fondness within her.
Thinking about how she used to handle project pitches and dinner meetings with ease, and even though she was inexperienced in relationships, she should not be this indecisive. Moreover, the children were a consideration. Maybe it was worth a try!
"I trust you, whether you’re in the army or at home, as long as we can live a good life."
Lu Zhenping’s eyes brightened, understanding that she was accepting him as he gripped her hand tightly.
"Okay."
Shen Meng looked at the money in her hand and pursed her lips before speaking: "I should tell you about the bricks and tiles. You know the situation with my family’s old house, it’s been made of mud bricks for decades, and not to mention the thatched roof is rotten, the walls are constantly being eroded by rain, losing earth and crumbling. If we don’t repair it soon, it’ll be hard to survive the winter. I saw that we have some money at home, so I borrowed it. In the next few days, we should be able to start building, just that... we’re still a bit short."
"How much?"
Shen Meng suddenly raised her head and looked at him, steadying her heart before saying, "Around three hundred yuan, mainly because I want to build it larger. Xiao Bin is at the age for marriage, before long he’ll be able to seek a match. If our house looks nicer, good families might consider him for their daughters."
It was no surprise Shen Meng was astonished. These days, every purchase was calculated down to the smallest detail, ten yuan was enough for a rural family to save for a long time, let alone her asking for hundreds at once. That would be a huge sum for any household.
"The money is in your hands, spend it however you want. Earning money is my job, spending it is yours."
"Just like that, you don’t want to manage it at all, or have anything else to say?"
Lu Zhenping gave her a teasing look, sensing the playfulness in her question, and he couldn’t help but smile.
"What’s there to say? You already mentioned your family’s house isn’t habitable. How could I stop you? In the future, you don’t need to specifically tell me about spending money, just consult with me if any problems arise."
Shen Meng smiled, very satisfied with his response.
"Then how about we visit my family’s home tomorrow? Mingyang and the others have a day off, and it wouldn’t be right for you not to visit since you’re back."
"Okay, as you wish."
Lu Zhenping watched Shen Meng’s happy expression and suddenly realized that life was quite good this way. He patted her hand, telling her to put away the money, as he still needed to cook. There were two boys at home who were at the age of growing; if they didn’t eat enough, they would surely be hungry by noon.
After Shen Meng put the money away, she looked at Mingyang and Mingliang sleeping on the kang bed. A warm feeling filled her heart. She suddenly remembered the fortune teller she had met when she first had the premonition of time traveling.
He had said that her good days were coming. Could it be this very moment!!!
Shen Meng couldn’t help but move closer to Ming Fang and Ming Kai, softly touching Ming Kai’s little face. The little guy stirred and then let out a laugh, turning over and kicking his feet onto Ming Fang’s body, his mouth slightly open, dribbling a shiny thread of drool. She chuckled to herself and leaned in to give him a kiss.
After breakfast, Shen Meng packed a basket, took Mingyang and the kids to school, while Lu Zhenping and Ming Kai were arranged to work in the private plot. With extra labor, Shen Meng had no desire to toil in the fields herself!
Teacher Zheng stood at the school gate with a low ponytail, wearing a red checked top and a scarf of the same color scheme around her neck, waiting for the children coming to school. She occasionally chatted with parents who were dropping off their kids, discussing their children’s performance at school. Even some families, despite hardships at home, were still keen on sending their children to school.
After all, having someone literate in the family was considered quite a point of pride.
"Hello, Teacher Zheng!"
Lu Mingyang and the kids clearly respected Teacher Zheng a lot, greeting her from a distance and hopping excitedly to her side, forgetting the wound on their buttocks.
"Hello, hello, class is starting soon, hurry into the classroom, you’re almost late again!"
Teacher Zheng’s words made Mingyang, Mingliang, and Ming Fang blush with embarrassment. They gave her a shy smile and then pointed towards Shen Meng, "Teacher, this is our mother, she came specifically to see you."
"Hello, Teacher Zheng!"
"Hello, elder sister-in-law, did you come to ask about Mingyang and the others’ classes? They’re very bright and focused during lessons. Especially Ming Fang, this little girl is a good seedling. If your home can afford it, you must let her continue her studies!"
Teacher Zheng was a little anxious inside. Most of the children at the school were boys, and there were very few girls. Even if there were, families usually only allowed them to study for a couple of years before keeping them at home to work. She had been helpless about it during her years in the countryside.
"As long as they’re willing to study, I will fully support them. Don’t worry, Teacher Zheng."
"That’s good, that’s good. I won’t hide it from you, your three children are very diligent in their studies, staying in the classroom to read even after class. If something at home holds them back, they’ll seek help from a teacher. They’re really sensible."
Mingyang, Mingliang, and Ming Fang turned red with Teacher Zheng’s praise and shyly glanced at Shen Meng, quickly looking away when they noticed their mother also gazing at them gently.
"If they study well, I’ll be at ease. Mingyang, Mingliang, Ming Fang, go to the classroom first; I have something to discuss with Teacher Zheng."
"Okay, mother."
After the three children left, there weren’t many students coming, and Teacher Zheng, seeing that Shen Meng seemed to want to have a lengthy chat, invited her into the office. Other teachers had already gone to supervise morning readings, leaving just the two of them. Shen Meng got straight to the point.
"Teacher Zheng, thank you for taking care of my three children recently. We’ve had one thing after another at home, which has affected the children’s schooling, causing trouble for the teachers. I really am sorry. Here’s some dried vegetables and mushrooms from our home, and some rice noodles brought over from Diannan by my husband. You can share them with the teachers, as a token of our family’s gratitude. These aren’t worth much, but please do accept them, Teacher Zheng!"
Teacher Zheng didn’t refuse too much; she knew this was the rural folks’ way of showing gratitude. Yet she didn’t really want to accept since her family sent her money and tickets monthly to prevent her suffering. She didn’t want the rural folks’ efforts to go to waste. She looked at the items, which were all ordinary, and put her mind at ease.
"In addition to this, I’d also like to ask you, Teacher Zheng, whether it would be possible for me to attend school too?"
Teacher Zheng: "Hm???"