CHAPTER 367: CHAPTER 367: UNCLE LIAN

"I’m here too." Tang Jun squeezed in, insisting on putting his hand on top too, looking as if he was afraid they’d leave him behind.

"Of course, how can we be a family without you?" Zhang Hualian looked at her son and daughter, feeling completely content.

On the opening day, the business was especially booming.

There’s no need to mention the Mo Family, even the Luo Family, Factory Director Ding Chao, and the employees from the factory, many came to support.

Even though it’s a restaurant, the prices are still quite affordable. There are delicious dishes, of course, there are also some ordinary dishes.

Tang Yue was so busy until the afternoon that she didn’t even have time to eat before she had to rush to Jing City. There was no choice; even though university life is more flexible, she had already taken leave before because of Mr. Tang’s matter, and taking leave again, she felt too embarrassed to speak to her teachers.

Finally having a holiday and being able to come back to be with her parents and Xiao Jun, she felt very satisfied.

On the train, Tang Yue ate the lunch and dinner her parents had prepared for her.

Now that the weather was getting colder, the rice and dishes would surely get cold, and cold food wouldn’t taste as good, so Mr. Tang specially made scallion pancakes and roasted chicken, wrapped in several layers of cloth. Now, when taken out, it still retained some warmth.

Fresh snow pears, golden and bright, exceptionally good-looking and tasty, and very juicy.

The stir-fried chestnuts tasted the same as the sugar-coated chestnuts Tang Yue had in the future, especially delicious.

Now was the season for fresh chestnuts, and right before returning to Jing City, Tang Zhengde specially stir-fried a lot so they could have something to eat on the way, and for the remaining raw ones, he let them take to Jing City to enjoy.

Tang Yue and Bai Qing simply ate something and then lay down to rest in the sleeping compartment.

This time, they bought sleeper tickets. Being able to lie down on a train was already a delightful thing.

Originally, Tang Yue was to return by herself, but Bai Qing insisted on coming along. In addition to being grateful, Tang Yue also tried not to put herself and Bai Qing at any inconvenience when traveling.

Deep in the fall, not yet winter, the weather was already quite cool, especially in the second half of the night, with the biting cold wind. The train was not warm, but both of them brought thick coats to drape over themselves and didn’t feel too cold.

Upon arrival in Jing City, the two rested briefly and then went to class.

"Sister Xiao Yue, I brought you something delicious." As soon as Lian Qingyang saw Tang Yue, he eagerly offered up the treat, saying, "This is chocolate from abroad, give it a try."

Tang Yue, who had been on the train for a whole night and hadn’t eaten much in the morning, was quite hungry at this point and ate several pieces of chocolate and drank a cup of milk, finally feeling much better.

Bai Qing went straight for the chocolate in Lian Qingyang’s hand, her favorite thing to eat. She munched and commented, "Tastes not bad, do you have more?"

"Yes, there’s a box at home. How about I bring it over when I go back? There are many other snacks too," Lian Qingyang said cheerfully. These past few days without them, Lian Qingyang was like a frostbitten eggplant.

"Okay." Bai Qing immediately agreed, having no resistance to food at all.

Most of the treats Lian Qingyang brought over in the past ended up in Bai Qing’s stomach, and a smaller portion in Tang Yue’s.

In the evening, everyone gathered together for dinner, even Zhang Tingyu found time to join. Hearing about Tang Yue’s family opening a restaurant, she was very moved.

Lian Qingyang asked curiously, "Was Sister Xiao Yue’s home very poor before?"

"Uh..." Zhang Tingyu was taken aback by this direct question. She cleared her throat and diplomatically said, "It wasn’t very affluent."

"Tingyu, just say what you want to say," Tang Yue said with a light laugh. She had no intention of hiding anything, for these matters were all known. She said, "Even though my family wasn’t wealthy before, in fact, we were somewhat poor, I had a warm home."

"Mom and Dad loved each other dearly, and though Xiao Jun and I would sometimes quarrel and fuss, we were very close."

Tang Yue thought about how the four of them used to be together every day in the past, and occasionally her uncle’s family would come over for meals. Those days felt genuinely comfortable.

"Sister Xiao Yue, I really envy you," Lian Qingyang looked at Tang Yue and felt that everything she talked about seemed so distant from him.

His family was very rich, unimaginably so for ordinary people, but having the family together for meals as Tang Yue described was a rarity.

Father Lian He was always buried in endless work. Even when he was home, he would wear a stern face. If his sister and he slipped in their grades or made a mistake, they would be punished harshly without mercy.

In his memory, he had never seen his father laugh heartily.

Mother Xiang Yazhi was always busy playing mahjong and taking care of her beauty, providing endless funds to him and his sister with only a simple question if they needed money or anything else, furnishing whatever was lacking.

They had everything except for love.

Lian Qingyang had stayed at the Tang Family’s house for a couple of days before. Although it was small and even cramped, it was very warm. Meals there were not consumed in silence; instead, they cheerfully discussed the funny events of the day.

"I feel very blessed to have the love of my parents. It doesn’t matter if we are a bit poor, we are all still young and can earn money," Tang Yue said earnestly, her gaze falling on Lian He as he entered. She didn’t mean to say these things on purpose; they were simply the truth.

Lian He’s smile was bitter. He had thought coming to deliver some things would have been an excuse to see his daughter, but he hadn’t expected to overhear such a conversation.

Under the light, Tang Yue’s face seemed coated in a layer of soft glow, her eyes and brows gentle.

Tang Zhengde truly treated his daughter as his own. Otherwise, Xiao Yue wouldn’t be who she was now.

"Father," Lian Qingyang warmly invited Lian He in, and specially asked Tang Yue, "Sister Xiao Yue, can my dad join us for dinner?"

Lian Qingyang didn’t say "our dad," but simply "my dad."

Tang Yue nodded her head; it was just a dinner, after all.

Lian He was ecstatic, eagerly handing over a box of snacks he had brought and saying, "Xiao Yue, I bought these, some snacks that you girls should like."

Zhang Tingyu watched Lian Qingyang’s father with some curiosity, thinking, why did he seem to be trying to please Tang Yue?

Qin Anyu already knew the inside story and had a clear understanding of the scene.

Bai Qing had no immunity to food at all.

Tang Yue did not refuse and said, "Then on behalf of everyone, I thank Uncle Lian."

A single "Uncle Lian" was enough to turn all of Lian He’s excitement into bitterness and gloom.

After dinner, as Tang Yue and the others chatted, Lian Qingyang and his father sat aside with no opportunity to join in the conversation, and even when Tang Yue occasionally responded, it was only to Lian Qingyang.

With the age difference between Lian He and several young girls, it was impossible for him to join in much of the conversation. Yet, even though it was awkward, he didn’t want to leave, as it allowed him to see his daughter.