Chapter 166: Unfazed by Wind and Rain

Meanwhile.

Tang Banxia welcomed Old Mrs. Song and Song Yu into her home once again.

Old Mrs. Song had not come empty-handed; she was carrying a basket of eggs, two salted dried chickens, and a large chunk of pork—all of which were rare and precious items.

"Educated Youth Tang, what our family did regarding Da Hai was truly disgraceful. Please accept these things. If you ever need anything in the future, just give us a word, and our family will not hesitate for a second."

After putting down the items, Old Mrs. Song directly stated her stance.

Everyone has selfish motives, but they also have a conscience. Moreover, she had a good relationship with Educated Youth Tang, and Educated Youth Tang had always been very kind to Carp Baby.

"Aunty, aren't you making fun of me?" Tang Banxia pushed the basket back slightly. "How could I possibly take your things?"

"Besides, Captain Song already explained everything this morning, and he and I reached a consensus. Let's just let this matter pass."

To be honest, Tang Banxia really hadn't taken the incident to heart. She didn't need the job, and neither did her friends or family. Of course, she could have used it to sell for money.

However, to use a rather privileged phrasing, money was something that was fine as long as it was enough. Furthermore, trading a job for a sense of guilt from the koi protagonist's family was far more profitable to her than money.

"As I said before, Aunt Song, it's all in the past. If you really feel uneasy about it, just make two pairs of cloth shoes for me and Xiaobai. The cloth shoes you make are the most comfortable."

Tang Banxia smiled as she cracked a walnut for Song Yu. "I'm usually quite busy and don't have the time to sole shoes."

Hearing this, Old Mrs. Song felt a wave of deep emotion. "Xiao Tang..."

Tang Banxia was left between laughter and tears, and cracked a walnut for her as well.

When it came to certain matters, different positions meant different priorities.

Had she just transmigrated and still needed to do backbreaking farm labor, she certainly would not have given up the job.

But now, she didn't have to work in the village, her apprentice Liu Hongfen could handle minor illnesses, and her daily routine consisted of studying medicinal herbs and researching delicious food, all while receiving a monthly salary.

This kind of semi-reclining lifestyle where she could still do what she loved was her ideal state of existence.

Why bother going to a textile mill to be a workshop laborer?

As for that fellow Wen Mubai, he definitely couldn't endure that kind of hardship either.

"Xiao Tang, since you've put it that way, Aunty won't say any more. But I'll repeat this: whenever you need anything, just shout out at any time."

Old Mrs. Song stopped with the overly polite words; they would just let their actions speak for their family from now on.

"Keep these things, and we won't disturb you any longer. Carp Baby, come along with Grandma."

"Goodbye, Sister Xiao Tang."

The grandmother and granddaughter came and went in a hurry, solely to make the Song family's stance clear and let Educated Youth Tang know that their family were not ungrateful ingrates.

Left behind in the room, Tang Banxia looked at the items on the table, smiled, and put them away.

Reason is reason, and affection is affection.

Undeniably, by acting this way, the Song family truly left her feeling quite comfortable.

Thus, when Wen Mubai returned, he immediately noticed that his wife looked to be in a very good mood. "Wife, did you pick up some money?"

Tang Banxia gave him a sidelong glance. "How vulgar. Do I have to pick up money to be in a good mood?"

"How could that be?" Wen Mubai offered an ingratiating smile. "I was just curious! Did something happy happen?"

"There." Tang Banxia pursed her lips, signaling him to look at the table. "I picked up some pork."

Wen Mubai looked over. "Where did this come from?"

"Aunt Song brought it over."

"They still have some conscience, then," Wen Mubai muttered. "It wasn't in vain that we were good to them."

You must know, he had already prepared to go find Song Hai for a 'chat' in a couple of days. His wife might not care, but he certainly couldn't bear to see her wronged.

"All right." Tang Banxia punched him lightly. "Let's discuss something with you?"

Wen Mubai took out the meat, eggs, and noodles he had brought back and replied, "What is there to discuss? You make the decisions, I'll listen to whatever you say." His self-awareness regarding his position in the household was exceptionally clear.

These words were pleasant to the ear and heartwarming, and Tang Banxia expressed her satisfaction. However, a marital relationship required mutual maintenance. "I'm thinking we should build two more rooms, right next to ours."

"It's only right." Wen Mubai started cutting the meat into small pieces. "Are two rooms enough?"

With his father-in-law and mother-in-law coming over, they certainly couldn't continue living in the cowshed. Their own courtyard had the pharmacy built in, leaving no extra space, so they would have to build outside.

This was also fine; it wouldn't disrupt their privacy as a couple. By opening a doorway in the wall, it would be no different from a single household.

"That's true, building two more rooms is fine too." Tang Banxia gave Wen Mubai a meaningful look. "Just in case there isn't enough space later."

Anyway, they weren't short on money.

"It's just that during this period, you'll have to suffer a bit and stay in the pharmacy." Their house only had one habitable room for sleeping.

If her parents moved in, having four people in one room wouldn't sound very appropriate, so they would have to move the bed over and let Wen Mubai and Father Tang make do in the pharmacy until spring arrived.

The ground was still frozen solid right now, making it impossible to dig foundations or build houses.

Hearing this, Wen Mubai's face fell in misery. "Fine..."

There was really no other choice; they couldn't possibly let his father-in-law and mother-in-law keep living in the cowshed.

Seeing his aggrieved little expression, Tang Banxia burst out laughing and gave him a quick "mua". "All right, all right, I'll reward you properly once the house is built, okay?"

"What kind of reward?" Wen Mubai indicated that he wasn't someone who was so easily coaxed.

Tang Banxia leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words. Wen Mubai's eyes lit up, and his face beamed. "Are you keeping your word?"

"When have I ever not kept my word?" Tang Banxia slanted a glance at him.

Wen Mubai was overjoyed and planted a kiss on her lips. "My Banxia is the best!"

"Get away, I'm busy." Tang Banxia pushed him aside. "Go clean that fish, and make a pickled cabbage and fish stew for dinner. After you're done cleaning it, go to Sister Sun's house and ladle some pickled cabbage."

Having received certain promises, Wen Mubai worked with extra enthusiasm. "Alrighty!"

Tang Banxia prepared the side dishes, washed her hands, put on her cap, and headed toward the cowshed.

The few people inside the cowshed were still pressing mud bricks. Seeing Tang Banxia approach, they simultaneously halted their work and silently fixed their gazes upon her.

Old Man Su couldn't help a hint of critical judgment. "Comrade, who are you looking for?" How could a grandson of the Su family ever live off a woman?

Did this old man seem a bit unfriendly toward her?

The thought flashed through her mind, but Tang Banxia didn't dwell on it. She wasn't a piece of paper currency universally loved by everyone; if he wasn't friendly, so be it.

She walked straight up to Su Nan and Tang Minxun and said openly, "Dad, Mom, let's go home for dinner."

???

Old Man Su and the three members of the Jiang family experienced an earthquake in their pupils!

They looked at Su Nan and the other, then looked at Tang Banxia, their brains failing to process the situation.

"Baby?" Su Nan murmured.

Tang Banxia smiled and linked her arms through theirs. "Let's go, Xiaobai has prepared a whole table of dishes at home."

She wanted to do this openly and honestly; only then would the villagers show respect to her parents.

Although this era placed great emphasis on class background, it varied by place and by person. In Guyue Village, Tang Banxia was confident she could protect her parents.

Not to mention, she was currently a woman under the state's protection; being a little unconventional didn't matter.

Her confidence stemmed from her own capability.

Along the way home, linked arm-in-arm with her parents, she ran into many people. She stopped to greet every single one of them and took the opportunity to introduce her parents.

Without giving lengthy explanations, she simply stated that these were her mom and dad.

And the villagers were very polite, greeting them warmly as if they had no idea Su Nan and Tang Minxun were living in the cowshed.

Along the way, Su Nan and Tang Minxun transitioned from initial shock to calmness, adapting quite rapidly.

Their baby was simply the best! No matter where she went, she was the absolute best!

Bringing her father and mother back home, she found that Wen Mubai wasn't there. The only occupants in the house were two youths with stiff, straight backs, looking left and right as if wondering what on earth was going on.

Su Nan instantly tightened her expression, deftly slipped out of Tang Banxia's grip, and lunged forward into an attack...