Tiedan imitated the adults with a disdainful snort, "Whoever wants to take advantage means they know, with us here, don’t you think about entering our brigade’s..."
After a moment’s thought, he added seriously, "... village entrance."
The other kids pumped their arms in unison, "Right, no thinking about entering our brigade’s village entrance."
Qian Dilai had no way to deal with these village kids and glared at them hatefully before running off.
Tiedan lifted his chin proudly, waving his arm, "Let’s go report to the boss."
"Sure thing," one of the youngsters agreed passionately, his face flushing with excitement.
They had done a fine job and even taught the wicked witch a lesson; Goudan would surely be pleased with them.
The safety of the brigade, they would protect!
"The boss must be in the library now, let’s go."
Saying so, a group of kids vanished into the Brigade Department.
-
Meanwhile, Lin Tang and Gu Yingzhou were recording the gift money ledger at home.
One read while the other wrote, the halo of light spilling over them both, creating an air of tranquil nostalgia.
"Professor Kong gave fifty, wow that’s a lot," Lin Tang commented on the cash gifts from the man’s friends and relatives.
It was higher than her monthly salary.
A zero less would be closer to reality.
Compared to the paltry fifty cents and one yuan from others, that’s more like it!
Gu Yingzhou looked indifferent, "Keep it, he has a high salary, this isn’t much to him."
Working at a high-profile research institute, he earned a few hundred a month, so fifty wasn’t a lot.
Besides, if someone had saved his daughter, he wouldn’t blink an eye at giving hundreds.
There are always things more important than money.
Lin Tang mentioned this without much thought, not really feeling any particular way.
After all, she had just over a thousand in savings and nearly a thousand in honorarium yet to be received; she was quite rich.
Thinking about the remittance on its way, her eyes curved into crescent moons.
Gu Yingzhou adored the young girl’s smile; her eyes seemed to be steeped in summer stars, melting anyone’s heart with tenderness.
"What are you smiling at?" he asked with a low chuckle.
Lin Tang, who was busy writing, looked up at him and replied with a smile, "I’ve achieved financial independence, isn’t that worth celebrating?"
Financial independence in an age when supplies were scarce, who would dare dream of it?
Most importantly, not only was she financially independent, but she also had endless supplies...
Isn’t that worth being happy about?
Gu Yingzhou hadn’t expected it to be for that reason, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily lifted.
Taking out a small passbook, he placed it on the table and slid it in front of Lin Tang.
"Take a look!"
Lin Tang raised an eyebrow upon seeing the words ’Current Savings Account Passbook’ on the pale yellow booklet.
...Was he being this proactive, emmm.
They weren’t even married yet.
Curious about the money inside, she opened it and her eyes suddenly fixed in shock.
"!!!"
Six thousand six hundred sixty-six.
So much more than hers.
Gu Yingzhou noticed the smile on the young girl’s face had faded, and her expression had stiffened a bit.
Frowning slightly, with a hint of bewilderment, he asked, "What’s wrong, not happy?"
Wasn’t the young girl fond of money?
Lin Tang forced a smile, "I feel insulted."
She had just been proud of her savings, and in the next second, she felt like her face had been metaphorically slapped.
Barely under three thousand vs. six thousand six hundred sixty-six.
She was instantly outclassed.
Who would be happy with that?
What a blow!
Gu Yingzhou softly stroked the young girl’s silky hair, saying, "...It’s all yours."
He had never been short of money, and he had saved up that sum for a long time, wanting to give it to Tangtang since they were dating, but she refused.
Now that they were finally engaged, she couldn’t refuse, could she?
Lin Tang: "?!"
She was a bit slow to react.
"Why are you giving me money?" she asked in a daze.
And so much at that, wow.
Gu Yingzhou calmly said, "It’s normal to give money to one’s wife for safekeeping, isn’t it?"
"We’re just fiancés now, not yet husband and wife," said Lin Tang, pushing the passbook back across the table as she spoke.
"It’s the Gu Family tradition; I can’t break it with me, take it!" Gu Yingzhou didn’t even touch the passbook again, his tone brooking no argument.
It was as if if Lin Tang refused again, he’d become a family sinner.
Lin Tang’s mouth twitched slightly.
The Gu Family had such a fine tradition?
"Fine, I’ll take it. It’s money, after all. Who would push money away unless they were a fool?" Saying so, Lin Tang accepted the passbook.
Hehe, with that, was her savings about to break ten thousand?
In an era when a hundred yuan was a fortune.
Her savings were nearly ten thousand!
Seeing his fiancée accept it, a smile spread in Gu Yingzhou’s eyes.
After so long, and a change in their status, he had finally managed to give her the money.
Thinking thus, he reached over and tapped the ledger in front of Lin Tang.
"Continue."
Lin Tang: "..."
She cast a rueful glance at the man and resumed writing.
Her eye caught the man’s sharp handwriting on the other side of the ledger, and she sighed.
To think they’d have to write one page each for a gift ledger, was this the romance of a science man?
Lost in these stray thoughts, Lin Tang continued scratching away with her pen.
Soon she finished a page.
"Phew~"
About to shake out her hand, Gu Yingzhou took it and began to massage it gently.
"Thank you, Zhouzhou," Lin Tang said sweetly.
Her smile was sweeter than honey.
Gu Yingzhou massaged slowly and methodically, as if absorbed in an important task.
After a while, Lin Tang wriggled her fingers and said, "Alright, you write the rest."
"Okay, I’ll write."
Li Xiuli came in to deliver a thermos, seeing the two side by side at the desk, one softly reciting, the other writing with their heads down, in a harmonious atmosphere, like two college students studying.
"There’s hot water in the pot, pour whatever you want yourselves."
Gu Yingzhou stood up, setting down his pen, "Thank you, Mom."
"No need to stand, you’re at home. Be at ease," Li Xiuli waved off, "I’m just here to bring water, keep busy with your work."
After speaking, she left the room.
Lin Tang pulled Gu Yingzhou down to sit, urging him, "Hurry up and write."
She was tired, having gotten up too early, and wanted to finish early so she could rest.
After half a day’s work, the two finally completed the gift ledger.
Gu Yingzhou found a delicate bag to put the ledger away neatly.
Lin Tang, watching the man’s earnest profile, teased, "Why even use a bag for this, are you planning to keep it forever?"
He was even more attentive than a girl.
Gu Yingzhou actually nodded, "I do intend to keep it for a lifetime, to look back on slowly with you."
He liked to preserve memories, especially those with Tangtang.
These things might seem ordinary now, but decades later, when they reopen them, he hoped the feelings would be just as they are in this moment.
Unexpectedly, Lin Tang’s heart softened, as if gentle hands had caressed it.
"Alright, you’ve invited me, and I’m honored."
Just then, Gu Ren entered.
"Are you done with your work?" she inquired.
Lin Tang nodded, her face beaming with smiles, "All done."
"You’ve worked hard," Gu Ren said softly with a smile, "It’s getting late, should we head back to the county?"
Winter was approaching, the days were short, and it was nearly dark already.
Gu Yingzhou stood up, "Yes, let’s go."
After saying this, he looked at Lin Tang and said, "We’re heading back now, rest early."