CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42 RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER’S ABILITIES (SECOND UPDATE)

"No way." Tang Mingli refused to believe it, they were so happy when they were together.

Tang Yue looked at him suspiciously, "Uncle, you don’t still have feelings for... her, do you?"

"No." Tang Mingli denied, and seeing her disbelieving expression, he laughed helplessly, "Your uncle isn’t that kind of person. Besides, she’s already married, even has a child. Don’t worry, your uncle has no intentions of breaking up someone else’s family."

"Even if you wanted to, she wouldn’t be with you." Tang Yue said unceremoniously.

Worried about hurting her uncle, Tang Yue quickly added, "Uncle, such a woman isn’t worth your dedication, nor is she worth waiting for. In the future, we’ll earn lots and lots of money, buy houses, and luxury cars. You will definitely meet someone who truly loves and understands you."

"She won’t despise you for not having money, she’ll only care if you both truly love each other." Tang Yue earnestly said, "Uncle, you deserve someone better."

"Really?" Tang Mingli was incredibly touched by Tang Yue’s passionate words.

No one knew that his love for Qi Yufei was real. He truly wanted to work hard to earn money for her and give her a better life. He had dreamt countless times of their wedding, but in his midnight reveries, it was always Qi Yufei heartlessly breaking up with him.

No matter how much he pleaded, Qi Yufei’s every word pierced his heart, crushing his hope bit by bit.

Over the years, he thought he had forgotten her, but today, when Qi Yufei appeared before him, his heart was in turmoil.

"Of course it’s true. In my heart, uncle, you’re the best. Stop thinking about it, it’s getting late. We need to rush to get the clothes to the stall to make more money, to buy a house." Tang Yue interrupted his thoughts. Only by immersing oneself in busyness can one forget the pain.

"Uncle, if you’re tired, go home for a rest. I’ve got this." After a busy morning, Tang Mingli looked very weary. She took the initiative and said, "Uncle, health is the capital of revolution. You’ve done well enough these days. I’ll take care of the stall this afternoon. Don’t worry, I assure you I won’t mess up the money."

Tang Yue pretended to be playful.

Tang Mingli smiled lightly. He had a great fondness for this niece who wasn’t related by blood. He could hardly remember what the quiet and reticent Tang Yue used to be like. Now, she always had a sweet smile, and those clear, bright eyes were completely different from her previously hostile gaze.

"Uncle, you need to go stock up on goods tomorrow, so go get some sleep," Tang Yue urged.

Tang Mingli didn’t feel tired originally, but thinking about stocking up tomorrow and going to the Provincial City at midnight, he worried about getting less sleep and didn’t dare to sleep on the bus, so he didn’t refuse.

After several trips to stock up, Tang Mingli had found a truck driver. He would go to the Provincial City at midnight, hitching a ride on the truck, and then return by coach. This way, he saved a night’s stay and quite a bit of bus fare.

Every time they restocked, Tang Yue had to sort out the clothes, usually starting from when Tang Mingli returned and staying busy until almost dark, before returning to school.

*

Tang Yue had just taken her books and sat down, planning to sunbathe and memorize her textbooks when someone took the seat next to her.

"What are you doing?" Tang Yue turned to look at Zhang Tingyu.

Zhang Tingyu naturally raised the book in her hand, "Studying."

"Oh." Tang Yue quietly moved away.

Zhang Tingyu also didn’t pay attention and silently read her book.

After reading a book, Tang Yue liked to silently recite it from memory, not looking at the book while she recited quietly to herself.

Although Zhang Tingyu seemed to be reading, she listened carefully to Tang Yue’s recitation and realized she knew it too. The book was somewhat difficult, and it took her a long time to memorize, but she would always miss a word or two.

She carefully compared her memory to Tang Yue’s recitation and discovered that Tang Yue did not miss a single word from beginning to end. She was surprised and asked, "Tang Yue, how do you do it? Why do I always miss a few words?"

It was clear that Zhang Tingyu had also memorized the book; she conversed with Tang Yue without any pressure.

The usual competitive edge was absent, and as Zhang Tingyu and Tang Yue interacted, they developed a sense of mutual admiration. After spending time together, it was evident that Zhang Tingyu belonged to the class of top students.

Tang Yue and Zhang Tingyu expanded their conversation from one book to countless other topics, and the atmosphere between them was unusually harmonious.

"Tang Yue, I’ll tell you, I will still surpass you in exams in the future," Zhang Tingyu said with a sense that she still had more to say as she left.

"Okay." Tang Yue nodded with a smile.

From then on, the two of them took to reciting books on the sports field during their lunch breaks, establishing an unspoken rule. They quizzed each other on classical poetry and texts. Whenever one made an error, they would immediately correct each other and discuss the meanings, making the lunchtime pass by exceptionally quickly.

Zhang Minmin originally didn’t believe it, but when she saw Tang Yue and Zhang Tingyu getting along so well with her own eyes, she found it incredible. On the way home, she deliberately stopped Zhang Tingyu and asked, "Tingyu, didn’t you hate her? Why do you spend every day with her now?"

"Who said I hated her?" Zhang Tingyu retorted.

Zhang Minmin furrowed her brow and said, "Why don’t you hate her? She’s already getting good grades, yet she still works so hard. And those eyes, as if they can speak for themselves. At school, she always acts so... indifferent. Everyone knows her family is poor in the village, and even her father is just a stepfather, not her real dad."

"She doesn’t have a real dad?" That was news to Zhang Tingyu.

Zhang Minmin said with a bitter smile, "Don’t you find Tang Yue annoying?"

"Not at all," Zhang Tingyu answered without a second thought. "As for what you call ’indifference’, does she have to smile at everyone and greet them all? Why haven’t I seen you greet her every day?"

"Hey, Zhang Tingyu, I am your real cousin," Zhang Minmin wasn’t happy that Zhang Tingyu was taking Tang Yue’s side.

"Exactly because you are my real cousin is why I’m telling you this. If it were someone else, I wouldn’t even bother," Zhang Tingyu said irritably. "We’re in high school now, focus more on your studies. Once you graduate and get into a university, if you want to date someone, your second aunt won’t object."

Zhang Tingyu reminded her.

Zhang Minmin’s face changed, and she immediately retorted, "Who’s dating someone? Zhang Tingyu, you make it clear, who’s dating someone?"

Zhang Minmin stood in front of Zhang Tingyu looking guilty, causing Zhang Tingyu to sigh inwardly. Despite her uncle being such a savvy man, how come Minmin didn’t learn a bit of it?