CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: OLDER SISTER

"Second sister, don’t worry, when I grow up, I will protect you." Tang Jun stood in front of Tang Yue, patting his chest and promising, his youthful face determined.

Tang Yue gave a playful smile and deliberately said, "Then you have several years until you turn eighteen, are you not going to protect me during that time?"

"How could I not, sister, I will definitely protect you," Tang Jun said excitedly.

"This is what true siblings are like." Zhang Hualian watched the affection between the siblings and couldn’t help but feel tears welling up in her eyes.

In the past, every time she saw Tang Jun and Tang Yue together, they were like oil and water, always finding each other displeasing whenever they met.

Zhang Hualian was anxious in her heart; even though they were the closest siblings, they were worse than enemies.

"Yes, Xiao Yue has grown up, and so has our Xiao Jun." Tang Zhengde said emotionally, praising him, "Xiao Jun, this is what a real man does. In your life, you only have this one sister. If you’re not good to her, then who should you be good to?"

"Dad is right, I will definitely be good to my sister in the future." Tang Jun nodded, thinking about their previous disdain for each other, he couldn’t even remember why he would dislike such a good sister.

"Xiao Yue, you are my daughter, Tang Zhengde’s daughter. Although there is no blood relation between us, in my heart, you are my own daughter," Tang Zhengde solemnly said: "The words of Tang Min were just spoken in anger, don’t take them to heart, after your mom and I pass away, everything we leave behind will belong to you and Xiao Jun."

"Thank you, Dad." Tang Yue had become very used to calling him ’Dad’, sometimes even wondering why she wasn’t Tang Zhengde’s biological daughter.

This thought flashed by, and Tang Yue smiled lightly, "Dad, don’t worry, I won’t take Tang Min’s words to heart."

"By the way, I bought you guys something." Tang Yue opened her backpack, other than the homework she brought back, the rest were the things she bought for them.

"You bought us something?" Zhang Hualian’s voice unconsciously raised.

Tang Yue took out a pair of Liberation shoes and handed them forward, "Dad, your Liberation shoes have been patched up so many times, wear this new pair instead. And mom, the soles of your shoes are so worn they let water in, don’t hesitate to wear these cloth shoes."

Liberation shoes are durable; when choosing the cloth shoes, Tang Yue hesitated for a long time between white and black. White shoes look good but get dirty easily, and she was unsure if Zhang Hualian would even wear them.

In the end, she chose black cloth shoes.

"Xiao Yue, these must have cost several dollars, where did you get the money?" Zhang Hualian looked at the shoes, thinking that her daughter bought them made her reluctant to wear them, feeling heartache, "Xiao Yue, my shoes can still be worn, you should wear better ones at school."

"Mom, wasn’t I working for my uncle for the last two weeks? He gave it to me," Tang Yue said smilingly. She made quite a bit of money on the last trip for supplies, although she needed to save for the next trip, but her uncle gave her ten yuan when she came back.

"Your uncle also doesn’t earn money easily, he has helped us a lot in the past," immediately said Zhang Hualian.

Tang Zhengde also said, "Xiao Yue, how much money did your uncle give you?"

"Uh..." Tang Yue touched her nose and said, "I spent it all on buying these things."

"Mom, Dad, don’t worry about giving me living expenses next week, I’m going to the county tomorrow, I still need to help watch the stall at my uncle’s place," Tang Yue explained, "The money I borrowed for my last surgery, I will definitely save up to pay back next month."

"Xiao Yue, save the money you earn for yourself, your mom and I will pay back the borrowed money," Tang Zhengde looked at Tang Yue with relief, thinking about other families’ daughters who at Tang Yue’s age only care about spending money, asking their parents for pocket money to buy snacks and clothes.

But in his family, Tang Yue was already making her own money, and not only that, she was using her earnings to buy them shoes.

Tang Yue was so sensible, he felt his life was worthwhile.

The villagers often talked to him, especially when Tang Yue got sick and was hospitalized, they all spoke with him.

"She’s not your biological daughter, you’ve done enough by sending her to the hospital for treatment. Whether she survives or not, let fate decide."

"Tang Yue still has grandparents, right? Let them pay. How can you, as a stepfather, be the one to pay?"

"Who knows if the surgery carries any risks? What if you spend the money and she doesn’t survive? Wouldn’t that be a loss?"

Even his mother, Granny Tang, advised him.

However, Tang Zhengde was determined to save Tang Yue and stubbornly knelt in front of Granny Tang to plead for money.

Now, Tang Yue stood gracefully, prettier than any other girl in the village. Tang Zhengde dreamily recalled the first time he met Tang Yue; back then, he and Zhang Hualian had just started dating. Tang Yue, just over two years old, was as beautiful as a doll and fondly called him ’Daddy’ in a childlike voice.

At two years old, Tang Yue knew nothing; she liked sticking close to Tang Zhengde, and he adored her immensely.

At that time, he expressed to Zhang Hualian that from then on, he would love Tang Yue as his own daughter for the rest of his life.

After he and Zhang Hualian got married, Tang Yue also continued to affectionately call him ’Daddy.’ Despite being poor at that time, their family was very happy. A year later, they had Tang Jun. As Tang Yue grew up, things seemed to start changing.

Tang Yue, who was only four, suddenly refused to call him daddy.

Instead of calling him dad, she called him uncle. Whenever she saw him, she no longer clung to him like before, but instead looked at him disfavorably, her eyes filled with defensiveness and resentment.

Tang Zhengde was really upset at that time because his elder brother’s family had revealed her true parentage, causing Tang Yue to distance herself from him. He had a big argument with his brother. No matter how Tang Zhengde tried to make it up to her, Tang Yue remained guarded, as if to say he had stolen her mother.

As time went on, and she grew up, Tang Yue’s personality became fixed, and whenever the family sat together, she was always the quietest one, not close to her brother Tang Jun either.

"Tang Yue has truly grown into a beautiful young woman, getting prettier and prettier," Tang Zhengde remarked thoughtfully, comparing her to how she looked when she was younger. Although her features matured quite a bit, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes remained unchanged.

"Dad, have I not always been pretty?" Tang Yue proudly said and didn’t linger on the topic of money. Instead, she resolved in her heart to earn well and eventually help her parents open a small shop in the county or something, which would be great.

"That’s right, my Xiao Yue has always been beautiful," Tang Zhengde praised.

Zhang Hualian playfully scolded, "Xiao Yue, you’re not even embarrassed."

"Mom." Tang Yue grinned and moved closer to ask, "Don’t you think I’m beautiful?"

"Sis, you’re the prettiest," Tang Jun chimed in, his eyes already on her backpack, as he ingratiatingly asked, "Sis, you are my real sister, what did you buy me?"