Chapter 141: The Tortured Tang Moling
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Tang Moling listened intently to their movements. When they left, he wanted to open his mouth, but in the end, he didn't say a word.
He thought for a moment. This was probably for the best. If he and Mu Jingzhe had been discovered today, he wouldn't have minded. However, it would have affected Mu Jingzhe's reputation adversely. Then, Old Lady Mu might have caused a ruckus and Mu Jingzhe might have even been drowned in saliva.
Tang Moling had Mu Jingzhe in his heart and was now considerate when it came to her. Thus, he remained quiet and waited for Mu Jingzhe to come and find him.
Meanwhile, Mu Jingzhe's group rushed over to Li Hua's house.
Li Hua and his mother were still asleep. Li Hua had just returned from the smelly toilet. He didn't care that the water was cold. He had just washed away the stench on his body.
Li Hua hadn't expected that his plan would end with Mu Jingzhe using brute force. He had been beaten up quite badly by Mu Jingzhe. Not long after he woke up, he saw that he was in the bathroom, covered in filth. He was furious.
However, the most important thing was cleaning himself up.
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Li Hua's mother was waiting for him. She hadn't gone to look for Li Hua because she was the one who closed the mill.
When she had seen that Li Hua was wholeheartedly thinking about Mu Jingzhe and had even asked her for help, Li Hua's mother's heart had softened and she'd agreed.
When she'd gone to lock the door, because it was her first time doing such a thing, she'd felt too flustered and hadn't noticed that the voice inside wasn't Li Hua's. She'd hurriedly locked the door and run away.
After running home, she had hoped that everything would go smoothly and that her son would be able to fulfill his wishes. She hadn't expected him to come back like that.
Before Li Hua's mother could ask any more questions, Mu Jingzhe and her group went to look for them.
"Li Hua, even though I didn't agree to your marriage proposal, you can't hate me so much that you'd deliberately use sesame seeds to harm me. You clearly know that I'm allergic to sesame seeds, yet you still added sesame seeds into the mutton!"
Mu Jingzhe didn't say anything else and simply treated this matter as his revenge after his rejected proposal.
Li Hua hadn't expected that he would be discovered even after suffering. "I didn't. Why would I harm you?"
Li Hua wanted to explain that he hadn't thought of harming Mu Jingzhe back. He'd just wanted to get Mu Jingzhe. However, explaining that he'd wanted to take advantage of Mu Jingzhe and become her savior wouldn't sound good. Such an explanation would make him appear even more shameless.
He was stuck. Li Hua's mother was shocked. She hadn't expected things to turn out like this. She wanted to know what was going on. She wanted to know who the man she had been locked up with was.
However, other villagers also went there together. They didn't hear them mention a man, and from the looks of it, Mu Jingzhe didn't seem to have done that sort of thing.
Because she was so flustered, she didn't listen carefully and only vaguely heard a male voice. Judging by the way things appeared now, she began to suspect that she had heard wrong. Perhaps there had been no man inside, only Mu Jingzhe.
But that didn't seem right either. Why would Mu Jingzhe be speaking like this if she had been alone? It really had seemed like a male voice…
Li Hua's mother wanted to think about it some more, but a second later, her thoughts were sent flying away by Shao Qiyang.
When Shao Qiyang saw Li Hua's guilty look, he couldn't help but make a move.
Previously, when Li Hua had suddenly come to propose marriage, Shao Qiyang had been furious. Due to his identity, he hadn't dared speak carelessly, afraid that he would ruin everything. He was also afraid that he wasn't worthy of Mu Jingzhe.
Li Hua, on the other hand, had gone straight to their door to propose marriage. Despite being rejected, he'd refused to give up time and again. Now, because he had been rejected, he'd even directly harmed her. How could Shao Qiyang tolerate this?
The place where Li Hua had been beaten by Mu Jingzhe was still hurting, and here he was, being beaten again. How unlucky. However, when everyone heard the commotion and learned what he had done, they all accused him of doing bad things and told him to stop harming others.
Li Hua had a nosebleed, and his eyes were black and blue. It was a tragic sight. Li Hua's mother was standing aside, looking heartbroken and helpless. She didn't dare say a word.
They still had to survive in Great Eastern Village. Now, they had incurred the wrath of the entire village. If the villagers found out that he'd actually had other plans, who knew what everyone would think of them? In the future, he could forget about getting a wife.
Li Hua pitifully apologized to Mu Jingzhe. Mu Jingzhe felt a little better and asked curiously, "But how did you know that I'm allergic to sesame seeds?"
It had been a long time since she'd had an allergic reaction. Perhaps only Li Zhaodi and her family remembered it. Logically speaking, no one else should know, let alone Li Hua.
Li Hua didn't hide anything. "I heard Mu Xue mention it the other day."
Realization dawned on Mu Jingzhe. The Mu Family naturally knew about her allergies, but she hadn't expected Mu Xue to still remember it. It was likely because it was Mu Xue's candy that Mu Jingzhe had snatched. However, she had never shown her any concern before, so why would she suddenly mention it?
Mu Jingzhe found it a little strange, but based on what Li Hua said, it seemed like she had revealed it subconsciously.
Mu Jingzhe couldn't help letting the children take care of her when they went back in the middle of the night. Shao Qiyang even asked if she should go to the hospital to get checked.
"No, it's fine. I just felt uncomfortable earlier, but I feel much better now. It's not a big problem. I'll be fine if I don't eat that again in the future."
Mu Jingzhe waved her hand. "It's already midnight. Go and rest. Don't you have to work tomorrow?"
After working for an entire day and suffering from allergies, Mu Jingzhe was exhausted and quickly fell asleep.
Before falling asleep, she had a vague feeling that she had forgotten something. However, before she could remember it, she drifted off to sleep because she was too exhausted.
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As for Little Bei, after she fell asleep, she secretly turned on the flashlight to see if Mu Jingzhe was alright.
Since she was sleeping with Mu Jingzhe, she took the initiative to observe Mu Jingzhe's condition and said that she would watch Mommy.
Little Bei knew that allergies were no joke, so she didn't dare be careless. Afraid that she would fall asleep, she secretly pinched herself a few times to stay awake. She guarded Mu Jingzhe for more than an hour. Only when she saw that Mu Jingzhe was sleeping soundly did she relax and fall asleep.
The next day, Little Bei woke up late. When dawn broke, she was still sleeping soundly. Mu Jingzhe also woke up later than usual.
When she got up, Shao Qiyang had already gone to work. He'd only left a note for her to rest well. If anything happened, she would have to go to the hospital.
After washing her face, Mu Jingzhe felt like she had forgotten something. Upon thinking about it carefully, she looked at the water in the basin and finally remembered what she had forgotten—Tang Moling!
She had left Tang Moling stranded in the mill last night!
She had promised that she would go look for him, but after venting her anger, she had accidentally forgotten about it.
Mu Jingzhe couldn't be bothered to wipe her face. She immediately ran all the way to the mill. "Tang Moling, are you alright?"
"Alright? How could I possibly be alright!" Tang Moling's furious voice rang out. There was a tinge of grievance to his angry voice, as well as a nasal tone.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was so busy last night that I forgot all about it."
Mu Jingzhe ran over and saw Tang Moling's pale face. Tang Moling's eyes were red as he stared at her.
"I didn't do it on purpose. I really didn't do it on purpose." Mu Jingzhe quickly rescued Tang Moling and untied the rope that was still tied around his hands.
Tang Moling had been tied up the entire night, so his wrists were a little red and swollen. He lay on the ground for a while and didn't get up, looking like he had been tortured the entire night. If Mu Jingzhe didn't know better, she would have suspected that she had done something to Tang Moling.
Chapter 142: Mu Jingzhe, You Have To Take Responsibility For Me
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Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Tang Moling was still unaware of the dangerous thoughts running through Mu Jingzhe's mind. Half of his body was numb, and he was freezing.
"If you don't come soon, I'm going to die of exposure and suffocation."
The millstone was made of stone. Tang Moling, who had been on the millstone, had slept on it the entire night. Although it wasn't winter yet, the mountains in late autumn were still very scary. After all, the temperature would drop during the night.
It was already cold outside, not to mention that he had been left freezing on a cold stone surface the entire night. Furthermore, the water vapor was heavy.
Not only was he cold, but he had also been holding it in. After all, he had entered last night and hadn't had the chance to go to the bathroom ever since. He had been left stranded for a night. It was really due to his tenacious willpower that he hadn't flooded the place and destroyed the millstone of Great Eastern Village.
It wasn't like Tang Moling hadn't thought of coming down himself, but his hands had still been tied and his movements had been restricted. Plus, he couldn't get up, and the millstone was also high. If he fell, he wouldn't know where he would land. The area below was small, and it was either made of cement or stone.
Tang Moling had been afraid that he would end up bleeding at the impact, so he could only endure this and wait for Mu Jingzhe to return. He'd waited and waited, but it was completely quiet outside. There was no longer any sound of activity, and Mu Jingzhe was nowhere to be seen.
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Tang Moling hadn't expected Mu Jingzhe to forget about him. As time had gone by, he'd gotten so angry that he'd even cursed. He had also shouted for help.
However, the entire village was asleep, and the mill was noisy. There was no point in screaming. Tang Moling had pitifully stayed on the cold stone mill the entire night and stayed up until dawn. He didn't know how he'd survived and didn't dare think about how he had done it.
Tang Moling glared at Mu Jingzhe with clenched teeth. Mu Jingzhe didn't even dare look at Tang Moling. This time, she really felt guilty.
"I really didn't do it on purpose. I'm really sorry."
"You're really…" Tang Moling felt that Mu Jingzhe was his nemesis. He had never suffered like this before.
It took a while for Tang Moling to recover. When he did, he felt a lump in his throat, and snot was about to flow out.
After freezing for an entire night, he'd inevitably caught a cold again. It was the second time he had caught a cold before winter.
Mu Jingzhe felt Tang Moling's body temperature the moment she carried him down. Upon hearing him sniff, she felt even guiltier and quickly handed over the handkerchief in her pocket.
"It's new. I haven't used it many times."
Tang Moling looked at the brand-new handkerchief, and his expression finally softened. He took it from her and wiped himself. "Wait for me," he said before he left to settle some personal matters.
In the past, Mu Jingzhe would have left if she'd wanted to. She wouldn't have waited there obediently. However, she had just left him stranded there the entire night, so she could only wait there obediently.
She had to properly apologize again. It was her fault that Tang Moling had caught a cold once more.
Speaking of catching a cold, Mu Jingzhe recalled the handkerchief she had given him. She had made it herself at home, along with a lot of them, but she used them very quickly.
She was used to throwing away tissues, but she was still not used to using handkerchiefs. She couldn't accept reusing them repeatedly.
Speaking of that, Mu Jingzhe had no choice but to complain. Apart from the fact that she didn't have a phone or an internet connection, what she found more inconvenient was the fact that there wasn't any tissue paper or sanitary napkins.
There were all kinds of sanitary napkins in the modern era. Thin and thick, with a different texture, and various designs for one to choose from. However, there were none here!
It was true that there was no such thing. It was already very common overseas, but there were very few in China during this period. They might not even be able to buy some in the city, except in a big city like Ocean City.
The sanitary napkins that everyone used were the kind that were very wide and long. There were even people in Great Eastern Village who used the sanitary belts1 used in ancient times.
When Mu Jingzhe had transmigrated and used toilet paper during her first menstruation there, it had left a deep impression on her. Its poor absorption ability aside, it could leak at any time, and she was even afraid that it would leak while she was walking. It was simply torture. She didn't even dare move when her period came, afraid that she would leak.
Besides, she feared that she would sneeze when she woke up, and the paper would erupt like a volcano. Afraid that the blood would leak out, she went to the bathroom more than ten times a day. Even in her dreams, she dreamed of getting sanitary napkins.
The last time she had gone to Ocean City, the first thing she had bought was sanitary pads. She'd bought quite a lot of them, and she hated that she couldn't stock enough to last her ten years.
Apart from the issue of sanitary pads, there was also the issue of toilet paper. There were currently only large sheets of toilet paper, and there wasn't any rolled toilet paper or boxed tissues. At first, Mu Jingzhe got used to using toilet paper in place of handkerchiefs. Although the paper was different, she couldn't care less, as she needed to use it.
However, every time she took it out, it would attract everyone's strange gazes. Li Zhaodi also told her not to use it, saying that toilet paper was only used by women during their periods.
Mu Jingzhe could only follow the flow and make many handkerchiefs. She would rotate between them and wash them after usage. She would also often make new ones for the children.
Fortunately, she could make them herself. Otherwise, it would have been useless no matter how many handkerchiefs she bought in bulk.
Due to the huge stimulation, now that she had earned some money, Mu Jingzhe wanted to invest in the production of paper and sanitary pads. This wasn't just because there were no competitors in this market yet. She was also doing it for herself.
During this period of time, she had been trying to find out what she could about the relevant situation. She could directly import production equipment from overseas. She'd even found out that there was a paper manufacturing factory in the city that was on the verge of bankruptcy.
There was nothing wrong with the paper manufacturing factory itself. It was said that the finance department had taken the money and run away. All of a sudden, the capital chain was broken and couldn't be maintained.
It wasn't impossible for Mu Jingzhe to acquire it. Her next step was acquiring the paper manufacturing factory that was on the verge of bankruptcy and changing it to produce toilet paper and sanitary pads.
In the future, she was going to live a life without a lack of paper rolls and tissue. She would be able to use sanitary pads without worrying.
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Mu Jingzhe's mind was momentarily jumbled up by all these thoughts. By the time she came back to her senses, Tang Moling had already returned.
Now that he had solved his biggest problem, Tang Moling's expression was no longer as dark, but it was still ugly. When he saw that she was still around, his expression became slightly better.
"I caught a cold because of you." Tang Moling complained, the nasal tone of his voice intensifying.
Mu Jingzhe could tell as well. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I'll definitely be responsible for your treatment fees."
"Do I lack money?" Tang Moling's face darkened. "Mu Jingzhe, you have to be responsible for me."
Mu Jingzhe felt that his words were quite misleading. Responsible for what? "Then I'll take you to the hospital for treatment?"
"That's more like it." Tang Moling turned his head. "Let's go. My car is at the village entrance."
Mu Jingzhe also knew how to drive, so he threw the car keys to her.
Mu Jingzhe quickly caught the keys. "I can take you to the hospital, but I have to go home and inform the kids."
"Okay, go ahead."
"Should I inform Mu Xue for you?" Wouldn't it be better for Mu Xue to take care of him at a time like this?
"No." Tang Moling immediately refused. How could he tell Mu Xue when he came out after lying to her last night?
"Why?" Mu Jingzhe guessed. "Are you two having a fight? If you're having a fight, you'll definitely make up with her if you call her now. After all, she'll surely feel sorry for you now that you're sick."
Tang Moling saw that Mu Jingzhe was speaking very logically, as if she was thinking of him and Mu Xue. It was obvious that she hadn't taken what he'd said last night to heart. She was still the same person who was always thinking about him and Mu Xue.
Chapter 143: Men Love Bad Women
Still fuming, Tang Moling couldn't help but ask, "Then how are you going to explain to Mu Xue why I caught a cold? How are you going to explain to her that we were locked up together last night?"
Mu Jingzhe was at a loss for words. They hadn't done anything, but it would be troublesome if there was a misunderstanding.
"But it wouldn't be nice not to tell her about it. There's nothing going on between the two of us. I don't think she'll be upset if you explain it clearly. The most important thing between two people in a relationship is trust and honesty…"
Tang Moling couldn't take it anymore and interrupted Mu Jingzhe. "Alright, I'm afraid I'll pass on the flu to Xiao Xue. Is that a good enough reason?" He cooked up a random excuse, not wanting to hear Mu Jingzhe say those words again. He had already confessed his feelings to her, yet she still had this attitude. Just thinking about it made him angry.
He hadn't expected Mu Jingzhe to believe his casually cooked-up excuse right away. After all, this was all dog food[1].
"Alright, then go over quietly. Don't let anyone notice you. I'll be right behind you."
This time, Tang Moling didn't retort. Although the way they were going about it made it feel like they were hiding something scandalous, this made him feel an indescribable secret thrill.
He and Mu Jingzhe finally had a secret and were about to take action behind the scenes.
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Looking at Mu Jingzhe's back view as she hurried home, Tang Moling lowered his head to look at the handkerchief. The corners of his lips curled up slightly, and he suddenly thought that catching a cold wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Look, he'd gotten Mu Jingzhe's handkerchief and created an opportunity to be alone with her out of thin air. He had even made her feel guilt.
At the thought of Mu Jingzhe driving him to the hospital and taking care of him, Tang Moling exhaled. He took a detour to another road that the villagers rarely took and walked toward the place where his car was parked.
When Mu Jingzhe returned home, the children were all up. When they saw her, they hurriedly asked what was wrong.
After some thought, afraid that everyone would misunderstand and think that she had deliberately hidden Tang Moling, Mu Jingzhe simply recounted how Tang Moling had been accidentally locked up with her last night.
"Don't tell anyone about this. Don't let others misunderstand. I have to take Tang Moling to the hospital, as he is sick because of me. Be good and go to school."
"Mommy, if you want to drive, I'll go with you. I'll take care of him," Shao Dong immediately offered.
"No, you have to go to class."
"I can take a leave of absence. Our teacher has gone away for training, and there's no one to teach the class. It'll just be a self-study session." Shao Dong pulled Mu Jingzhe. "Mom, take me there. If anything comes up, I can run errands. Also, if we meet someone familiar, it'll be better if I'm around."
In case someone gossiped…
The last sentence made Mu Jingzhe waver, but she said, "I'm afraid that he'll pass the cold to you."
"I can wear a mask."
In the end, Mu Jingzhe agreed to Shao Dong's suggestion and handed the younger ones over to Shao Xi to take care of. "Today, your maternal grandma won't be going to the market to sell buns. You can go look for grandma and ask her to cook something delicious for you guys."
Mu Jingzhe passed the house key to Shao Xi. Shao Xi took it and said, "Okay, don't worry about us. You can go without worrying."
Mu Jingzhe packed up and went to look for Tang Moling with Shao Dong.
When they arrived, Tang Moling was already there, resting against the car. He adjusted himself, trying to figure out how to make the most of his time alone with Mu Jingzhe.
However, although he kept thinking about it for a long time, when Mu Jingzhe appeared, there was a little tail behind her—Shao Dong. A mask-wearing Shao Dong at that.
"What is he doing here?" When he looked at the things in Mu Jingzhe's hands, he realized that there was a military water bottle, a blanket, and food. His heart warmed up. "Did he come to bring these things for you?"
"No, Uncle Tang. I heard that you are sick, so I came to take care of you since Mommy will be driving."
In the Mu Family, only Li Zhaodi's family of three acknowledged the kids. The others weren't their relatives, so they didn't call Tang Moling 'Uncle[2]'.
As Shao Dong didn't like to speak much to outsiders, it was rare for him to say so much. However, Tang Moling felt his heart turn cold.
"What's there to take care of? It's not like I'm seriously ill. I don't need you to take care of me. Besides, you're just a child. What do you know about taking care of someone?"
He wanted to spend time alone with her, so he didn't want this little tail.
"Since you're going to the hospital to have a checkup, we have to be more careful. Although I'm young, I have experience. Uncle, don't decline."
While the two of them were talking, Mu Jingzhe had already turned the key in the ignition. She hurriedly nodded. "Yeah, Little Dong is incredible."
Shao Dong curled his lips into a smile. Tang Moling knew that there was no way he could shake off this little tail. He opened the door to the passenger seat in frustration and was about to get in when Shao Dong stopped him.
"Uncle Tang, don't sit in the front. You can sit in the back so that you'll lie down and I'll be able to take care of you."
Tang Moling: "…"
He wasn't even qualified to sit in the passenger seat?
Tang Moling was pulled to the back by Shao Dong. When they were on the road, Shao Dong mimicked the way Mu Jingzhe used to take care of him in the past and laid Tang Moling down. He then covered him with a blanket and used his small hand to touch his forehead to see if he had a fever. He did it properly and was very responsible.
"Uncle Tang, you can drink some hot water. You'll recover faster if you drink more hot water when you catch a cold." He even fed him hot water.
Mu Jingzhe, who was driving at the front, looked pleased and proud. Little Dong was really a good child.
She was very touched and satisfied. Little Dong was also glad to see that he could help.
Tang Moling: "…"
This wasn't what he had imagined. Mu Jingzhe should be the one taking care of him instead of this brat.
No matter what Tang Moling thought, Shao Dong took care of him all the way to the county hospital. He was diagnosed with a mere cold. The doctor prescribed some medicine for him and asked him to go back and rest. He didn't need to be hospitalized.
Tang Moling had miscalculated once again. He'd wanted to be hospitalized and have Mu Jingzhe take care of him.
However, even though he couldn't stay in the hospital, he had his own tricks. He hinted that Mu Jingzhe should take care of him at home, but Mu Jingzhe didn't agree this time.
"Even if you have a temporary residence, there should be someone who can take care of you there. It's not appropriate for me to come. If you're afraid, I'll inform Mu Xue."
Tang Moling could tell from Mu Jingzhe's expression that she was serious. Although she was apologetic, that was all she could do.
She was aware of the boundaries and would never cross them even by just one step.
Tang Moling said that there was no need to inform Mu Xue and then watched as Mu Jingzhe heartlessly left with Shao Dong.
Tang Moling was furious, but he had to admit that he couldn't forget the heartless Mu Jingzhe.
People often said that women loved bad boys. He felt that it could also be said that men loved bad women. Despite knowing how cruel Mu Jingzhe was to him, he still went crazy thinking about her.
After recuperating for two days, Tang Moling finally recovered from his cold. He had compromised with himself and was even more certain of his feelings now. He was indeed a jerk. He'd had a change of heart and liked Mu Jingzhe more than Mu Xue.
Recognizing this reality, Tang Moling didn't know how to face Mu Xue. The engagement had to be annulled. He had already confirmed his feelings, so he couldn't go on with the engagement. This was unfair to both Mu Xue and Mu Jingzhe.
But what should he tell Mu Xue? Just as he had no clue how to deal with the current situation, Mu Xue suddenly came looking for him.
[1] a public display of affection
[2] Uncle as in an Aunt's husband, not a random uncle
Chapter 144: Call Off The Engagement Then
Mu Xue had been having a hard time lately.
That day, Tang Moling had suddenly gone to the village. In the end, before the two of them had even had a proper conversation, he'd left in a hurry and disappeared without a trace.
Coincidentally, that night, Li Hua's attempt to harm Mu Jingzhe had been exposed. Because it was she, Mu Xue, who had revealed that Mu Jingzhe was allergic to sesame, she couldn't tell if she was guilty or just flustered. She even went to Mu Jingzhe to apologize.
Although Mu Jingzhe didn't say anything, Mu Xue felt very upset. Besides, Tang Moling hadn't contacted her ever since.
Mu Xue felt that the two of them were drifting further apart from each other. She started to panic and couldn't help but look for Tang Moling. It was only then that she realized that Tang Moling was sick again.
"Why didn't you send me a message when you got sick? I'm your fiancée, yet I didn't even know you were sick. Have you ever treated me as your fiancée?"
Mu Xue was completely disappointed. "Tang Moling, if you plan to continue behaving like this, let's call off the engagement."
She was only expressing her disappointment. In reality, she had never thought of breaking off the engagement. However, Tang Moling sighed and unexpectedly agreed to it.
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"Okay. We'll call off the engagement then."
Tang Moling had just been fretting over how to broach the subject with Mu Xue. Seeing that Mu Xue was also in so much pain, he became even more certain of his decision to end the engagement. Although he didn't feel good about it, he agreed.
"I let you down this time. I'll go to the Mu Family to ask for forgiveness afterward. I just hope you can forgive me. As compensation, I'll leave you all the things I gave you in the past. If you want a house, I can give you a house in the county. I can also give you a car."
Tang Moling tried to make it up to her and said, "If Grandma makes things difficult for you, I'll talk to her. I'll speak with her until she understands."
If Old Lady Mu wasn't satisfied, he could give her a sum as compensation. That was everything he could do for her to end this relationship.
Tang Moling was really sincere. Given Mu Xue's current salary and the Mu Family's financial situation, they probably would never be able to earn what he'd promised.
Although Mu Xue hadn't managed to get married, the marriage hadn't taken place after all. It was just an annulment of the engagement. It wasn't a loss to end up with a house, a car, and money.
Tang Moling was sincere. After all, he had truly loved Mu Xue, sincerely apologized, and considered her feelings.
However, these words seemed like a bolt out of the blue to Mu Xue. The reason she was conflicted and in pain was because she didn't want to break up with Tang Moling.
Alas, Tang Moling had agreed. No matter how much Tang Moling thought of her, she only felt fury, disappointment, and humiliation.
She gave Tang Moling a tight slap across the face, her first time slapping someone.
"You put it very nicely. It isn't because you've had a change of heart? Tang Moling, I didn't expect you to choose Mu Jingzhe in the end. I can cancel the engagement, but you're not allowed to be with Mu Jingzhe. That's my only request."
Tang Moling frowned. Just as he was about to say something, Mu Xue quickly said, "I'll remember all the humiliation you've made me feel today! Our engagement is nullified. Don't ever appear in front of me again and don't even think about showing off with your filthy money. I don't care for it!"
Mu Xue's pride wouldn't allow her to accept those things.
Mu Xue turned around and left. When she came out, she lost control of her tears and was overwhelmed by anger and despair.
She hated Mu Jingzhe, and she also hated Tang Moling. She hated that she couldn't rip up the two of them. She didn't understand how Mu Jingzhe had snatched Tang Moling away.
For some reason, Mu Xue suddenly understood what Mu Jingzhe had felt in the past. Mu Jingzhe probably wanted to snatch away her things because she had always seen Mu Xue obtain everything and everyone was fond of Mu Xue.
At that moment, Mu Xue's mind was filled with thoughts of snatching Shao Qiyang and Tang Moling back.
Mu Xue went back to the Mu Residence with red eyes. Old Lady Mu asked her what was going on out of concern, but Mu Xue didn't say anything. However, Old Lady Mu soon found out what was happening when Tang Moling came to end the engagement.
Tang Moling said that he'd realized that the two of them weren't compatible with each other during the engagement period and he hadn't made Mu Xue happy either. Thus, he had come to end the engagement.
Old Lady Mu had dreamed of Mu Xue leading a blissful life after she married into a rich family. Unable to accept the annulment of the engagement, she immediately blew up and started scolding and hitting Tang Moling.
Tang Moling accepted all of it and gave Mu Xue a house in the county and a car.
He even gave Old Lady Mu a sum of money for the annulment of the engagement. His attitude was very clear. He admitted his mistake and even knelt down.
However, he was determined to end the engagement. Old Lady Mu collapsed from anger.
She realized that no matter how much she fussed, it was useless. She couldn't force Tang Moling to marry her, so she was forced to accept this reality and accept what he had given Mu Xue.
The news spread quickly, and everyone started discussing it.
Old Lady Mu aged several years in an instant. Mu Xue, who used to smile at everyone, also lost her smile and fell silent.
She ignored the gazes and gossip of other people and continued her lessons without complaining. She only slowly lost a lot of weight.
Mu Xue was, after all, an outstanding girl everyone had watched grow up. Upon seeing her like this, everyone stopped gossiping about her. Especially after they found out what Tang Moling had compensated her with, they were only left feeling envious.
Mu Jingzhe was completely dumbfounded after this dramatic turn of events.
The male and female protagonists, who were supposed to be a confirmed couple, had actually broken up with each other? She had transmigrated into a sweet, doting romance novel, right? Why was there such a sad storyline?
Could it be an obstacle designed to enhance their relationship? Mu Jingzhe felt that it was possible.
In short, this should have nothing to do with her, right? Although they'd been locked together that night, nothing had happened.
If something had happened between her and Tang Moling that night and she had threatened him with a pregnancy or something, their breakup would have had something to do with her. But she hadn't done anything.
'Don't think too much. Don't scare yourself. Mu Jingzhe, everything will be fine. No matter how many twists and turns the male and female leads go through, they will ultimately end up together.'
Mu Jingzhe convinced herself and patiently waited for the duo to reconcile.
Because the two of them had broken off the engagement, she was also conflicted. In the end, she decided to focus on her career and wait for them to resolve this issue.
After Mu Jingzhe confirmed many things, she finally went to the city. She used the money she had earned during this period to acquire the paper manufacturing factory. Whatever amount she lacked, she would borrow from the bank.
It just so happened that there was a national poverty alleviation fund, which was basically a non-interest loan. How could she miss such a great opportunity? Mu Jingzhe naturally wouldn't let it slip, and she believed that she would be able to repay the loan.
Mu Jingzhe felt that this was a great thing, but many people didn't dare to go. The number of people who took the loan was especially low because many people were still old-fashioned thinkers. They felt that one shouldn't get a loan unless it was absolutely necessary because they were afraid that they wouldn't be able to pay it back. They feared that if a father had a debt, the children would be implicated and saddled with debt.
Hence, when Mu Jingzhe went to apply for a loan, she attracted a large group of people who came to watch. They felt that she was unbelievable.
In this day and age, even men didn't dare take out a loan. In the end, she, a woman, had gone to do it? She was probably the first person in the entire city to do so, maybe even the entire county.
When Mu Jingzhe asked for a loan, the staff who attended to her confirmed it over and over again and even reported it to the higher-ups. Thus, Mu Jingzhe underwent several confirmations.
Chapter 145: Shocking Confession
Mu Jingzhe thought that she was there to confirm her qualifications, so she answered the questions seriously, including the reason for the loan and her ability to make money.
These days, when Mu Jingzhe sold goods, it wasn't just a cash transaction. The transactions went through the bank, and they could verify this by checking her account. Thus, she did have the ability to repay the loan.
"Although I'm still young, I'm already the head of a household. This is my identification."
Mu Jingzhe placed the documents on the table. After the bank staff confirmed it, they calmed down.
This was real. Mu Jingzhe really wanted to get a loan. However, there was no concept of a successful career woman in that era. Everyone was shocked. In the end, they concluded that she had no choice but to be so strong because her husband had passed away.
In the end, Mu Jingzhe successfully borrowed money and completed the acquisition of the paper manufacturing factory. She even signed a ten-year contract for a mountain that was linked to the paper manufacturing factory.
Bamboo had been planted all over the mountain, and it was the main material of the paper mill. Bamboo would grow after being chopped, and its growth period was shorter than that of other trees. It was a very good material.
After doing this, Mu Jingzhe didn't have much to worry about. She planned on taking on two or three more mountains like this.
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Ji Buwang had originally thought that if Mu Jingzhe didn't have enough money, he could lend her a portion. In the end, Mu Jingzhe took care of the loan herself.
When he heard that she'd managed to get a loan, the admiration in Ji Buwang's eyes deepened. "Very impressive."
He admired Mu Jingzhe's courage and insight.
Mu Jingzhe was ashamed of being praised like this. "It's nothing. You don't understand. This is nothing to me. I feel ashamed when you praise me like this."
It wasn't like she was better than everyone else, but she had seen countless mortgage companies in the modern era.
Ji Buwang swallowed the rest of his words. "Alright, I won't say anything then."
After a lot of understanding, with Ji Buwang's help, Mu Jingzhe finally managed to purchase equipment and machines to start producing toilet paper and sanitary napkins.
Mu Jingzhe didn't lay off the paper mill's employees, but she said that there would be changes going forward. If the employees weren't willing to adapt, they could leave.
The employees panicked at first, afraid that they would be fired. Even though they were still worried after hearing her words, no one left. They only wanted to try their best to survive.
Their attitude made Mu Jingzhe very happy. She felt that it wouldn't be long before they could start selling.
At the same time, Mu Jingzhe also bought some machines that could produce hair ornaments. In the future, not all of them would be man-made.
The factory had yet to be officially established, but it was already semi-automatic. It would be even faster in the future.
When the villagers saw that Mu Jingzhe had bought these machines, they were even more impressed by her. They repeatedly praised her for her capabilities and the children she was raising.
Everything went smoothly for Mu Jingzhe. She was initially in a good mood, but after she was done, she received a shock.
Tang Moling, whose breakup with Mu Xue was supposed to be an obstacle that spiced up and strengthened their relationship, didn't reconcile with Mu Xue. Instead, he came to find Mu Jingzhe and made his ultimate move.
"Mu Jingzhe, I like you."
Tang Moling didn't confess his love to Mu Jingzhe right after he broke off his engagement to Mu Xue. Instead, he waited a while. However, he didn't delay it for too long, as a long delay might bring trouble.
When he used to have no feelings for Mu Jingzhe in the past, he hadn't noticed anything. However, after falling in love with Mu Jingzhe, he sensed that Shao Qiyang didn't have any good intentions and had designs on his sister-in-law.
Tang Moling cursed him in his heart for being shameless, but after thinking about it, he felt that it was only natural. Mu Jingzhe was outstanding, and Shao Qiyang was living with her. As time passed, it was normal for him to be attracted to her.
Previously, Shao Qiyang had liked Mu Xue, just like him. Now, he liked Mu Jingzhe. He had good taste, but this wasn't something to be happy about.
That was because he still remembered the conversation between Mu Jingzhe and Li Zhaodi earlier about Mu Jingzhe taking down Shao Qiyang or something. He was afraid that Shao Qiyang would benefit from being in a favorable position, so he didn't dare delay for too long.
Tang Moling was sincere. This time, he didn't ask her to be responsible for him or anything. After all, nothing had happened, and there was nothing to be responsible for. He only said that he liked her.
Seeing that Mu Jingzhe seemed to be in a daze and wasn't responding to him, Tang Moling repeated himself.
"It's true, Jingzhe. I've fallen for you. It's not a dream."
Tang Moling had dressed up meticulously. When he saw Mu Jingzhe, he even gave her a charming smile with eyes filled with adoration. It was all his fault for treating Mu Jingzhe so badly in the past. That was why she couldn't believe it.
However, she would definitely be touched when she registered what he had just said. After all, it was he, Tang Moling, who was confessing his feelings for her. He had done so much for her.
In reality, Mu Jingzhe was only shocked and frightened. She raised her hand and slapped herself. "I must be dreaming."
All of this was definitely just a nightmare.
Mu Jingzhe tried to convince herself, but her face hurt.
Tang Moling was shocked by Mu Jingzhe's actions and quickly grabbed her hand. "What are you doing? You don't have to hit yourself like this no matter how delighted you are."
He smiled helplessly. "You don't have to be so moved—"
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Mu Jingzhe struggle out of his grasp as if she had seen a ghost. She took a few steps back with a guarded expression.
"Moved by what? Tang Moling, are you crazy? Are you trying to kill me?"
She had actually torn apart the main couple? She couldn't bear the blame for the crime of causing the golden couple to break up.
Perhaps they were just making use of her because they'd quarreled? But even if they were using her, she would end up in a tragic state!
Mu Jingzhe stared at Tang Moling with a guarded, angry gaze. "Tang Moling, even if I offended you last time, you don't have to take revenge on me like this. I was also a victim last time!"
Tang Moling, who was almost thrown to the ground by Mu Jingzhe, took two steps back before stabilizing himself. He was stunned by Mu Jingzhe's reaction.
"No. Why would I hurt you? I'm not crazy. This isn't revenge. I really like you—"
"Stop!" Mu Jingzhe couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "Tang Moling, if I did anything wrong, I'll change! Don't scare me. I'll reflect on myself. I don't even know what I did wrong. I really only wish you and Mu Xue the best."
She had always spoken favorably of Mu Xue and she sincerely wished for them to get married as soon as possible. She, the cannon fodder, would only be safe if they got married and left this place.
She had always been secretly cheering for the love between the male and female protagonists, trying her best to enhance their love. In the end, Tang Moling suddenly claimed that he liked her, the useless supporting actress, and didn't like the female protagonist, Mu Xue?
Mu Jingzhe couldn't stand the shock. She touched her heart, which had suffered a heavy blow. "Tang Moling, if you wanted to take revenge on me, you've succeeded. Please stop."
During this period of time, Tang Moling had thought of all kinds of reactions Mu Jingzhe could possibly have, including disbelief, delight, and so on, but none of them had been like this.
"Mu Jingzhe, what must I do for you to believe that I'm sincere and I'm not seeking revenge?"
"You already told me that you like me. Isn't this revenge? You belong to the female protagonist… Mu Xue. If you're suddenly acting like this, aren't you trying to speed up my death?"
"But I really mean it!"
After shouting, Tang Moling looked at Mu Jingzhe's suspicious, guarded gaze and felt troubled for the first time.
Mu Jingzhe didn't believe he was being sincere.
Chapter 146: Mu Xue's Hatred
Tang Moling had originally thought that because he had been engaged to Mu Xue, and Mu Jingzhe's current situation was so special, he'd need to make some effort. However, in the end, he'd fallen flat on his face the moment he'd confessed.
He would never have thought that things would end up like this. This made him feel even more depressed than a simple rejection. He was the dignified Tang Moling, and this was the first time in his life that he had confessed his feelings so sincerely. How had he ended up like this?
Tang Moling took deep breaths and tried his best to calm down. "Mu Jingzhe, I know you're probably startled. I won't force you. Calm down and go back to think about it. Please believe that I'm sincere."
He'd give Mu Jingzhe time to calm down and accept him. He thus raised his hands and stepped back.
"You should reconcile with Mu Xue as soon as possible. Stop saying you're sincere about me." Mu Jingzhe ran off after shouting.
It was impossible for her to believe him. It was also impossible to remain calm, but she could wait.
She could wait until Tang Moling and Mu Xue's conflict was over. In any case, she would rather die than be cannon fodder, lest they take revenge on her in the future.
When she got home, Mu Jingzhe told the children to stay away from Tang Moling in the future. Although the children were curious, they agreed obediently.
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When Mu Jingzhe returned to the village, she inevitably met Mu Xue. When she saw that Mu Xue had lost weight, she couldn't help but feel pity for her. She sighed in her heart. This was originally a novel about sweet, doting love, but now, it was a little sad.
Because Mu Xue's gaze was so cold, Mu Jingzhe didn't approach her. She was speechless and vexed. This time, she felt wronged. She really hadn't done anything to snatch Tang Moling away.
Mu Xue watched as Mu Jingzhe's figure disappeared into the distance. She subconsciously exerted strength with her hands, and when she regained her senses, she saw a few nail marks on her palm.
She had wanted to visit Mu Jingzhe countless times to ask her why she had ruined her happiness, but she was way too proud to do such a thing. She also didn't want the villagers to laugh at her.
Now, she was already a joke. People said that she was picky and had ended up being a spinster. After getting engaged, she had still been rejected. They said that she had no self-awareness and wanted to marry a rich person. No wonder she'd fallen flat on her face.
They had no idea that Mu Jingzhe was involved in this.
Mu Jingzhe had been startled by Tang Moling and had already finished all the work she needed to do, so she didn't go out for the next few days and stayed in Great Eastern Village to tutor the children.
They had not given up on skipping grades. They were still working on it hard.
It was rare for them to have a few peaceful days. It was only during the weekend, when it was time to study at the art school and exchange books at Ji Buwang's house that Mu Jingzhe took the children out.
There seemed to be new books every time they went to Ji Buwang's house. The five kids were already used to going to his house to read and borrow books. They treated the Ji Residence as a real library.
Of course, it was even better than a library. They could read anything they wanted, and there was also a soft sofa. They could eat snacks when they got hungry and have soft drinks when they got thirsty.
Initially, Mu Jingzhe thought that the Ji Family simply had a lot of books, but through observation, she could tell that something was wrong. It seemed like Ji Buwang was constantly adding more books.
Recently, even foreign language books had appeared. Furthermore, these foreign language books seemed carefully chosen. To be specific, they were books on the two foreign languages that the kids had learned. The books were also similar to fairy tales; the text was short, and there were pictures. Even Xiao Wu could read them.
The five kids were very happy when they saw this. "Teacher Ji, can we borrow these books?"
"Of course." Ji Buwang nodded.
The children smiled and gathered together to look. Mu Jingzhe looked at Ji Buwang with a complicated expression. "Those are new, right? You added new books to the existing collection, right?"
Previously, Ji Buwang had confessed his feelings and said that they could raise the children together. After that, Ji Buwang hadn't spoken about his feelings for her again or insisted.
However, these days, he seemed to indeed be keeping his promises step by step. He wanted her to see if he was worthy of her trust and if he was genuine about wanting to take care of the five kids.
Ji Buwang didn't deny it. "Yes, it's rare for them to like something so much, so we naturally have to show them more. It's good to read more books. Many parents would be thrilled to have kids who love to read."
Ji Buwang explained about the foreign language books. "I saw that they were learning pretty fast, and their vocabulary has already reached a certain level. They also dare to speak the language, but their writing and reading capacity are relatively poor. The teachers at the art school said that increasing their reading capacity would be good for them. Compared to reading the translated version, reading the original version is more helpful when it comes to learning, so I added these books."
"Was it too much trouble?" Mu Jingzhe was a little embarrassed, as she felt that she wasn't doing enough.
"It was no trouble. I just bought a few books. The people close to me do go overseas every now and then," Ji Buwang said casually. In reality, he had specifically asked someone to go overseas to purchase these books. They were all suitable for local elementary and high school students.
He had specifically applied for a visa to leave the country for the sole purpose of buying these books. It might sound unbelievable, but that was exactly what he had done. Once he got familiar with the country, he would be able to find a good channel.
Though Ji Buwang made it sound breezy, Mu Jingzhe wasn't a fool and knew it couldn't have been simple.
"Thank you so much. I don't even know what to say."
Ji Buwang said frankly, "You're welcome. I want to get along with them, and the effect is not bad. Their attitude toward me has become much better."
At this point, Ji Buwang paused. "Of course, it would be even better if I could make you look at me in a different light." He was proving his sincerity to Mu Jingzhe.
Mu Jingzhe laughed. "Yes, I'm looking at you in a whole new light."
"That's good. I've achieved my goal then." Ji Buwang spread out his hands. "Since you're now looking at me in a different light, you can stay for dinner before going back. I've asked you before, but you've always refused."
The reason Mu Jingzhe had rejected his offer before was because she felt that she hadn't accepted Ji Buwang yet. They were causing him enough trouble, and she had felt that it would be too thick-skinned of them to actually stay for dinner.
However, since Ji Buwang had already done so much for them, in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say no.
When she agreed, a sumptuous meal was served in less than half an hour. There were some dishes that Mu Jingzhe liked to eat, and there were also some that the children liked to eat. They had all been prepared by Ji Buwang himself after gathering intel.
This was the first time the children were staying for a meal, but because these were their favorite dishes, they thanked Ji Buwang and ate freely.
Mu Jingzhe had mixed feelings as she ate. The children might not have thought of this, but when she saw the dishes get served so quickly, she realized that these dishes must have been prepared beforehand.
But Ji Buwang had not mentioned this beforehand. What if she had refused? Wouldn't the dishes have gone to waste?
Or did Ji Buwang prepare a meal in advance for them every time they went and he invited them to stay for dinner, just like today?
Normally, when a guest was asked to stay for a meal, the host would tell them if he had prepared the food beforehand, thus making it difficult for others to say no. However, Ji Buwang had never done that.
If Mu Jingzhe had refused today, she might not have known this.
Mu Jingzhe didn't ask Ji Buwang to confirm this, but for the first time, she seriously considered whether she wanted to date a man.
Chapter 147: Retribution
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Previously, Mu Jingzhe had been focused on earning money and raising the five children. Even though Ji Buwang had confessed his feelings, she hadn't had the time or energy for this.
However, these days, Ji Buwang had indeed shown her his sincerity.
After dinner, it was already dark, so Ji Buwang drove them back.
It was Ji Buwang's first time in Great Eastern Village, but he was sensible enough to only take them to the village entrance and didn't even get out of the car. He was considerate enough not to make things difficult for Mu Jingzhe.
Logically speaking, Mu Jingzhe should have invited Ji Buwang to her house for some tea. However, her identity as a widow would invite gossip if he was seen at her house, and Mu Jingzhe was in the limelight now. If the villagers really saw Ji Buwang, who knew what would happen.
Mu Jingzhe was in a difficult position. Knowing that, Ji Buwang simply waved at them and left after they got out of the car.
Mu Jingzhe watched Ji Buwang's car drive away and stood there for a moment before turning around to go back.
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The next day, after taking the children to school, Mu Jingzhe unexpectedly saw Tang Moling outside the village. Tang Moling had come to look for her.
"Mu Jingzhe, did you not let the children go to art school just to avoid me?"
Tang Moling had given Mu Jingzhe a week to accept it, thinking that she ought to have calmed down after a week.
He had specifically gone to the art school to look for them after class in the afternoon, but he had not managed to find them. He'd even gone to the county library, but they hadn't been there either.
Tang Moling didn't know that Mu Jingzhe and the children had gone to Ji Buwang's house. He thought that Mu Jingzhe was trying to avoid him, so he'd let his imagination run wild. In the end, he couldn't help but run over to look for Mu Jingzhe the next day.
Mu Jingzhe's hair stood on end when she saw him. "Why are you here? Are you trying to do me in? When the villagers see you looking for me, they will definitely misunderstand and think that I snatched you away. Old Lady Mu and Mu Xue won't let me off."
"I've already broken off my engagement to her. You and I have to get together sooner or later." Tang Moling frowned.
Mu Jingzhe looked at Tang Moling, then looked around to calm down. "Are you really done with Mu Xue?"
"Of course. Otherwise, why would I go so far as to end the engagement?"
"So you were serious before. You're not joking or taking revenge?" Mu Jingzhe tried her best to calm down.
"Of course not. Who would take revenge on someone by making such a joke?" Seeing that she had finally accepted it, Tang Moling heaved a sigh of relief. "Don't worry, if they're unhappy or spout nonsense in the village, I'll find a way to deal with it."
Mu Jingzhe shook her head. "How are you going to deal with it? Money isn't omnipotent. Forget it, don't rush into talking about this. If what you said is true, then I'll give you my answer first. I don't like you, so it's impossible for anything to happen between us. Remember, it's impossible."
She had seen the love between Mu Xue and Tang Moling before. Although she'd tried her best to accept the fact that Tang Moling had had a change of heart, she rejected him without hesitation.
She was only wary and suspicious of this confession.
Tang Moling's face stiffened. "Impossible?" Why had she used such an absolute word?
"That's right. Regardless of whether it's true or not, it's absolutely impossible. Please don't come looking for me again in the future." Mu Jingzhe nodded her head. Feeling that she had made herself clear, she left immediately.
Tang Moling wanted to chase after her but was stopped by Mu Jingzhe. "Don't force me to knock you out."
Tang Moling gritted his teeth and stood still. "I won't give up. I'll come and find you again."
The more he spoke, the faster Mu Jingzhe ran. Soon, she disappeared without a trace. Judging by the way she ran, those who didn't know would think that wild dogs were chasing after her.
Tang Moling smacked the car angrily. As he hesitated, having no clue whether to continue looking for Mu Jingzhe or go back, he turned around and saw Mu Xue.
Mu Xue was standing behind him and looking at him coldly.
"When did you arrive?" Tang Moling frowned.
"When Mu Jingzhe came over." Mu Xue had followed Mu Jingzhe over. Although she had been far away and hadn't heard everything, she had heard Tang Moling's last sentence clearly.
"You came to find Mu Jingzhe after all." At that moment, Mu Xue wished that she wasn't so sensitive, but she had already predicted everything.
"Tang Moling, I can tolerate you breaking off the engagement, but I can't accept you being with Mu Jingzhe. Now that you're with her, how am I supposed to face everyone?"
If Tang Moling really married Mu Jingzhe, she would become a complete joke. Mu Xue couldn't tolerate it. She definitely wouldn't allow Mu Jingzhe to find happiness and marry Tang Moling by trampling on her.
One Shao Qihai was enough.
1
"My only request is that you don't be with her. Can't you do that?" Mu Xue asked.
"I didn't promise you this back then. Forgive me for not being able to do it." Tang Moling could only apologize. "I'm sorry for hurting you."
After apologizing, Tang Moling changed the topic. "But I hope you don't take your anger out on her. My change of heart wasn't because she seduced me. She has never done such a thing. If you want to blame someone, blame me. She's innocent. I fell in love with her, and it has nothing to do with her. Don't cause her trouble with Grandma."
When she heard his words, Mu Xue's face was full of mockery. "You're already so protective of her. How do you expect me to believe that she didn't seduce you? Tell me how I'm inferior to her. Tell me what she did to make you so devoted to her."
Tang Moling frowned. "Mu Xue, can't we part peacefully?"
"No way. If you go after Mu Jingzhe, we won't be able to part on good terms. I won't let Mu Jingzhe off, and the Mu Family won't let her off either. I'll tell everyone about the unscrupulous way she snatched my fiancé. Since she did it, she must pay the price."
Mu Xue's suppressed hatred erupted at that moment.
Tang Moling looked at the unfamiliar Mu Xue and closed his eyes. "Mu Xue, I told you she didn't seduce me. She doesn't like me at all. You must have seen it for yourself just now. She kept rejecting me. She kept hoping that you and I would be together, but I couldn't control myself."
"I don't believe you. There must be a reason you're so protective of her. Do you know what sort of person Mu Jingzhe is?"
Mu Xue gritted her teeth. "She will snatch anyone who likes me. If she can't, she will ruin his reputation. Shao Qihai, Shao Qiyang, Zhang Fei, Li Hua, and you are all the same. Last time, she said that Li Hua took revenge on her. Who knew that they…"
"Don't mention Li Hua. He's just a piece of trash." Tang Moling couldn't help but interrupt her. "He was up to no good. He only wanted to bully Mu Jingzhe…"
At this point, Tang Moling reacted and stopped abruptly, but it was too late.
"What do you mean? How do you know this? Hadn't you already left?" Mu Xue's expression changed slightly.
Tang Moling hesitated for a moment. "I was going to leave, but Mu Jingzhe seemed to be feeling unwell, so I followed her. In the end, I was locked in the mill."
Mu Xue's pupils shrank. "The two of you…"
"Don't jump to conclusions. Nothing happened between us. I'm only telling you this because I hope you won't get the wrong idea about her. Li Hua did have ill intentions, and she really didn't seduce me. I just completely understood my feelings that night."
Tang Moling explained a lot, hoping that Mu Xue wouldn't think too much about it. He had accidentally let this matter slip, so if he didn't explain things clearly, he was afraid that Mu Xue would misunderstand.
However, Mu Xue could not hear anything. Her ears were buzzing, and none of his words registered in her mind. There was only one word left in her mind—retribution.
Chapter 148: Jealousy
Back then, while Li Hua had been beside her, Mu Xue had purposely revealed that Mu Jingzhe was allergic to sesame. She had thought that if Mu Jingzhe got married, Tang Moling might give up.
She'd wanted to protect her relationship, but in the end, she realized that she had dug her own grave. She had completely lost her love and Tang Moling.
Tang Moling said something else, but Mu Xue couldn't hear anything. She turned around and walked back, mumbling about retribution.
She'd only done a wicked deed once. It was just that one time. Why would she suffer through such intense retribution?
She blamed Tang Moling and hated Mu Jingzhe. In the end, it was her own fault.
Mu Xue couldn't even cry anymore. She didn't know how she got home either. When she got home, she broke down and fell seriously ill.
Old Lady Mu's heart ached terribly. She felt that Mu Xue had fallen ill because she was really upset. When she heard Mu Xue mention Mu Jingzhe in her dreams, she became resentful. When Mu Xue woke up, she asked, "Xiao Xue, did that wretched girl Jingzhe cause trouble again? Just you wait, I'll deal with her."
Old Lady Mu's eyes were filled with hatred. If this was really Mu Jingzhe's doing, she would kill her. The marriage she had been waiting for so long had been canceled. Old Lady Mu was even more disappointed and furious than Mu Xue.
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"No, Grandma, don't go." Mu Xue reacted, pulling Old Lady Mu back. "Grandma, don't go. It's all my fault."
If she had not known the cause, she might have let Old Lady Mu go. However, now that she knew, she could only blame herself.
After Tang Moling accidentally blurted out the whole incident to Mu Xue, he felt really regretful. He kept an eye on Great Eastern Village, afraid that there would be hurtful rumors about Mu Jingzhe.
After waiting for a few days, he didn't hear anything about that. However, he heard that Mu Xue had fallen sick. He felt quite upset about that.
He even found an excuse to get a doctor to go to Great Eastern Village to treat Mu Xue. He only heaved a sigh of relief when he found out that Mu Xue had recovered.
Now that winter had come, knowing that Mu Xue felt cold going to class, he even anonymously donated a lot of things, saying that it was hard on the teachers.
Tang Moling was afraid that others would find out, so he donated some thick, cotton-padded clothes to the kids as well, thinking that Shao Dong and his siblings could benefit from it.
When it came to the five kids, Tang Moling had always been a little jealous. In the past, it used to be because of Mu Xue, but now, he felt even more jealous because of Mu Jingzhe. He felt indescribable jealousy.
In reality, the five kids didn't need the cotton-padded clothes. In the past, they would definitely have wanted them, but now, Mu Jingzhe had already bought thick, cotton-padded clothes for them, and they could also buy some themselves, so they didn't take any.
They left these cotton-padded clothes to their classmates who needed them more.
When winter came, Mu Jingzhe didn't like to go out because it was too cold. She felt like her hands were freezing no matter what she did.
During the weekend, the five kids had to go to art school to study. Shao Qiyang took the initiative to adjust his shift as much as possible so that he could take them there.
Thus, Mu Jingzhe made them a set of gloves, a scarf, a hat, and earmuffs to keep the five kids warm.
Because she had also made a set for herself, when she thought of Shao Qiyang coming and going in the rain every day and even running around outside, she also made him a set.
He did not have a wife, so as his sister-in-law, she could only take care of him for now.
Mu Jingzhe was always afraid that the kids would catch a cold due to the freezing temperature, so she made them thick cotton pants and shirts, covering them up so firmly and completely that only their eyes were visible.
"Don't let yourself be exposed to the wind on the way, okay?"
"Okay."
Shao Dong nodded obediently. Shao Qiyang also got obediently dressed, covering up thickly and firmly as he watched her warn the kids. Now, he was the most enviable among his colleagues, as he was fully equipped and his hands and ears wouldn't get frostbite anymore.
Although he was clumsy most of the time and would sweat after walking for a certain distance, this was much better than getting frostbite on his ears and hands.
This was the warmest winter Shao Qiyang had ever experienced, and it was all thanks to Mu Jingzhe.
This warmth made him think that he didn't necessarily have to get together with Mu Jingzhe or anything. As long as Mu Jingzhe stayed at home and this warmth continued, he wouldn't have a problem being Mu Jingzhe's brother-in-law for the rest of his life.
Shao Qiyang led the children on the way energetically. Xiao Wu, who was on his back, was quite sensitive to emotions. "Uncle, are you happy today too?"
"How did you know, Xiao Wu?" Because of Mu Jingzhe, Shao Qiyang was indeed in a splendid mood.
"I can tell." Xiao Wu chuckled and said, "I'm really happy too."
Shao Qiyang's good mood lasted until he got off work. He tried to be as fast as possible, but he was still a little late. When he reached the art school, class had already ended for some time.
He was still worried that the kids would suffer from the cold wind at the entrance, but in reality, they did not. Shao Dong and the rest were waiting for him, but they were waiting in a small car.
It was Ji Buwang's car. There were many snacks in it, and there was even hot water to drink. The five kids were playing and reading in the car, looking very much at ease.
"Uncle is here."
As soon as Shao Qiyang went over, Xiao Wu saw him and hurriedly opened the car door to get out.
Ji Buwang also got out of the car and greeted Shao Qiyang with a smile. "It's cold outside, so I told them to wait in the car."
The two of them had met each other in Ocean City last time and had figured out each other's intentions.
Shao Qiyang nodded stiffly. "Sorry to trouble you, Teacher Ji." He couldn't tell the kids off, for they had done nothing wrong.
Ji Buwang shook his head. "It's no trouble at all. I like them very much. Besides, I'm Jingzhe's friend. I'm more than happy to take care of them. If they didn't insist on waiting for you to come, I would have brought them home for dinner before taking them back."
Ji Buwang paused for a moment before adding, "Actually, I want to discuss something with you. If you're busy next time, I can bring them back."
"We shan't trouble you." Shao Qiyang gritted his teeth and turned him down. "I can bring them back. Jingzhe prepared scarves, gloves, and hats for us. We won't be cold with these, right, Shao Dong?"
Shao Qiyang touched the scarf on his body. He was obviously hinting that Mu Jingzhe had made these for them.
Although he couldn't afford a car yet, he had Mu Jingzhe's warm clothes.
Ji Buwang's gaze scanned Shao Qiyang's scarf and gloves. He pressed his tongue against the inside of his lower jaw and smiled. "Is that so?"
"Mm. Shao Dong, let's go."
Sensing that the atmosphere was a little tense, the kids did not say much and bade Ji Buwang farewell before obediently following Shao Qiyang.
Ji Buwang smiled as he watched them leave. Only when they were out of sight did he reveal how aggrieved he felt.
"I want gloves, a scarf, and a hat too. And that thing on their ears." Jingzhe hadn't even given that to him.
Shao Qiyang, her younger brother-in-law, was as cunning as his older brother, Shao Qihai. He made use of the fact that they lived together as brother-in-law and sister-in-law to deliberately make Mu Jingzhe lower her guard and take care of him.
Ji Buwang couldn't help but say, "How hateful."
On the other hand, Shao Qiyang's good mood was completely gone. He had previously thought that if Mu Jingzhe remained in the Shao Family, he could remain unmarried for the rest of his life.
However, looking at the situation now, that was impossible. Ji Buwang was watching eagerly from the side, so how could he let Mu Jingzhe go?
Although he wasn't familiar with Ji Buwang, he could tell that he came from a well-to-do family. Otherwise, he wouldn't have a car. Also, his aura was no joke.
He was still very inadequate compared to Ji Buwang. Shao Qiyang didn't know what he could use to compete against Ji Buwang
No, he couldn't go on like this. He had to make a change.
Chapter 149: Everyone In the Family Works On Their Career
Shao Qiyang once again felt a sense of urgency. He could no longer continue working as an employee. If he continued working as an employee, he would only fall further and further behind. He wouldn't be able to catch up and would end up being completely unable to compete.
He was clearly living in the same house as Mu Jingzhe, so he should be enjoying the benefits of being in such close proximity to her. However, the truth was that he had been busy with work and he was always late to find out if something happened at home. Thus, he was unable to protect Mu Jingzhe and the kids.
He couldn't give Mu Jingzhe and the kids a better life either. Even Shao Dong, Shao Xi, and Little Bei had started to earn money. They were all doing better than him. Only he had remained the same.
With that small salary, how could he be worthy of Mu Jingzhe?
Not only had Mu Jingzhe become a popular star in the village, but she'd also invested in a factory. Once the factory got on track, she would be even more different from the past.
Everyone in the family was improving, and he was the only one making no progress.
Shao Qiyang had been working for a long time, and it wasn't like he hadn't detected some business opportunities. It was just that he didn't have any capital and thus didn't dare take action.
However, he had to take action this time. It just so happened that Mu Jingzhe had taken out a loan a few days ago. He had also inquired about the loan. Initially, he had been afraid that there would be a trap. He'd thought that if Mu Jingzhe had any difficulties, he could shoulder the debt in the future.
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At the end of the day, after doing some research on the loan and seeing that Mu Jingzhe didn't seem to have any problems with it, he was tempted.
If he saved up money before taking action, who knew how long it would take him to take action. However, Mu Jingzhe and the kids continued to advance. Besides, they didn't forget to encourage Shao Qiyang from the sidelines, allowing him to finally make a major decision in his life.
He wanted to take out a loan to set up his own business. He wanted to start a shipping company. Unlike what Shao Qihai had done before, he wanted to set up a shipping business that would deliver small parcels.
He hadn't worked for nothing in the past two years. During these two years, Shao Qiyang had made many contacts and seen many markets.
In this two-year period, the item sent most often had been letters. However, many people didn't only want to send letters but also many other things. Alas, they wouldn't offer such a service unless there was a critical situation. The main reason was that the price wasn't cheap and the delivery time was very long. Many times, parcels were damaged, which was very inconvenient.
If Shao Qiyang wanted to do it, he would first do it in the province. Then, he would do it outside the province in the future. This would not only make it convenient for everyone, but it would also make it easier for everyone to pass on their love and care.
Shao Qiyang made a decision. When he returned home, he told Mu Jingzhe about his decision. He wanted to hear her opinion and see her attitude.
Upon hearing Shao Qiyang's words, Mu Jingzhe couldn't help but think, 'Isn't this basically a courier company?'
In the book, Shao Qiyang had later opened a delivery company that eventually became quite big. Down the road, his business even expanded overseas and became a listed company.
However, Shao Qiyang hadn't seemed able to do it so quickly. It seemed like he'd only started to do it after a few years, when he had saved enough money. Step by step, he'd eventually made it big.
She hadn't expected that he would bring forward his plans by so many years. Also, it was very bold of him to take out a loan.
Mu Jingzhe couldn't help but reflect on herself and think that he might have been influenced by her. However, after giving it some thought, she felt that it was totally doable.
Computer networks had not been popularized yet and there was no online shopping, so the current delivery industry was much worse than in the modern era. However, as everyone's days were getting better and better, the demand would only increase.
Just like Shao Dong's scavenging venture, it would be good if he could seize this opportunity to take over the market.
After careful consideration, Mu Jingzhe nodded. "I think it can be done." She consolidated and explained the basic operations of some delivery companies in the modern era, especially those that fit the present best. She then encouraged Shao Qiyang.
"If this is done well, it's possible. The market will get bigger in the future."
When Shao Qiyang heard Mu Jingzhe's affirmation and then heard what she said, he finally smiled, and his confidence increased. "Then I'll give it a try!"
"Okay, if there's anything you need help with, just tell me." Mu Jingzhe nodded. She was very happy with the atmosphere of the entire family as they worked together and influenced each other.
Their family's days were getting better and better, and the children would have fewer opportunities to go astray in the future.
While Mu Jingzhe and Shao Qiyang were busy with their careers, the five kids didn't lag behind. Mu Han, Li Zhaodi, and Mu Teng did not do so either.
Mu Teng and Li Zhaodi were still selling buns. In winter, business wasn't bad, but there was also a problem—Great Eastern Village was too far away from town, and it was really cold. If they went to sell buns, they would freeze completely
Even with Mu Jingzhe's hat, scarf, and gloves, it was useless. Their hands were still covered in frostbite. Also, they had to wake up and return home when the sky was dark, sleeping only about three to four hours a day.
Mu Jingzhe felt that this couldn't go on, so she advised Mu Teng and Li Zhaodi to just rent a shop in town.
It wasn't that Li Zhaodi and Mu Teng hadn't thought about it before, but they were a little hesitant. "We've almost saved enough money. We originally wanted to get a house before or after the New Year and rent a storefront… but this money might not be enough."
"What's there to hesitate about? We'll rent one first and save up later. There's no rush to build a house in the village. We can build or buy a house in the town or in the county. We don't necessarily have to build a house in the village."
Mu Han had finally left the village, and Mu Jingzhe would be leaving soon as well. They couldn't very well keep staying in Great Eastern Village. Although she wasn't sure where she would end up residing, it was almost time for commercial housing to be launched. Once that happened, she would naturally have to start buying property. Otherwise, she would be letting down her identity as a transmigrator.
Actually, Mu Teng and Li Zhaodi already had one foot out of the village, so why would they insist on building a house in the village?
If their house was built in the village, they wouldn't have much time to live in it in the future. In the end, they'd still have to go outside. Anyway, she would definitely bring them out with her when the time came. It would be easier to take care of them if they were by her side.
Mu Jingzhe thought very far ahead, but her words made Li Zhaodi and Mu Teng swallow their saliva. "You mean buy or build a house elsewhere? Can we do it?"
"Of course." Mu Jingzhe nodded. "We could build one in Great Eastern Village, but we can wait until you start missing our hometown or you have spare money. There's no rush."
"But when your younger brother gets married in the future, won't he need to have a new house?" Li Zhaodi still had an old-fashioned way of thinking.
"Mom, are you silly? He can just buy a house in the city. You don't have to worry. Mu Han can earn money now. Let him earn his own house."
Mu Jingzhe held their hands. "Stop working so hard. It's more important to take care of your health. You can buy and eat whatever you like. We'll take care of everything else."
"We're still young. It's time to work hard." Mu Teng was happy that Mu Jingzhe was filial, but he retorted, "Even if we don't help you two, we can't possibly drag you down."
"Don't think that way. The best way to help us is by taking care of your own health."
Mu Jingzhe made the decision for them. Soon, they rented a small shop in town to sell steamed buns, as well as a house behind the shop. This way, it wouldn't be so hard on them in the future, and they wouldn't have to fear the wind and rain.
When Mu Han heard of the couple's decision, he even sent them some money.
"This child has to work so hard to pick up rubbish every day, yet he still sends money back." Li Zhaodi looked at the money and secretly told Mu Teng that she felt like everything was a dream now. Her children were filial and promising, and she was even doing business in town.
Although Mu Teng told Li Zhaodi not to set her sights so low, in his heart, he thought that he actually didn't dare dream of having all this.
Chapter 150: You're Tang Moling's Uncle?
Mu Jingzhe was so busy that she forgot all about the worrisome Tang Moling, making the latter quite anxious.
Tang Moling went to look for Mu Jingzhe twice in succession, wanting to prove his feelings to her, but Mu Jingzhe always said, "What do you want to prove? Don't be rash."
Perhaps it was because he had committed too many misdeeds in the past, but Mu Jingzhe didn't believe that he was sincere about her. She was only wary of him and remained firm and resolute in her belief that he loved Mu Xue wholeheartedly.
Tang Moling was furious, but there was nothing he could do about it. After all, Mu Jingzhe didn't seem to be lying. It appeared that she really thought so. She only said that it was impossible between them and then started to hide from him.
Tang Moling felt like he was about to have a heart attack. After taking two days to calm down, he finally managed to meet Mu Jingzhe again.
"Mu Jingzhe, how long are you planning to hide from me? Are you planning to hide from me forever?"
Mu Jingzhe felt a headache coming the minute she saw him. "Yes, I'll say it again. Tang Moling, it's impossible for anything to happen between us. Stop looking for me."
Tang Moling suppressed his anger. Now that he had seen how Mu Jingzhe was avoiding him, his heart turned cold. He had to admit that Mu Jingzhe really didn't like him. It was impossible for anything to happen between them.
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He was overwhelmed by disappointment and despair. "You really don't like me at all? What exactly is it about me that you're unsatisfied with?"
"I don't like you at all. It's impossible for anything to happen between us. Tang Moling, stop looking for me. I'm begging you."
One shouldn't do anything more than three times, but he had done it more than thrice. Upon hearing the word 'begging', Tang Moling lost his composure. "Begging? You're begging me not to look for you again? Do you know how many women beg me to look for them?"
"Then go look for them!"
"Mu Jingzhe!" Seeing her attitude, Tang Moling flew into a rage out of humiliation. "Do you really think I won't do that? Or do you think you can do whatever you want just because I like you?
"I can tell you with certainty that you won't be able to find a better man than me. If you let me slip by, you'll be destined to be mediocre for the rest of your life. Do you know who I am? How dare you reject me like this! If I really go find them, you'll regret it!"
Mu Jingzhe: "…"
Seeing that Mu Jingzhe was silent, Tang Moling exhaled to calm himself down. "Let me put it this way, Mu Jingzhe: As long as you find someone better than me, I'll give up on you. As long as you find someone better."
"No, Tang Moling. This isn't decided by status or money. Be rational."
"I can't be rational." Tang Moling was stubborn. "Find that someone, or you won't be able to reject me."
Mu Jingzhe was getting impatient as well. "Tang Moling, that's enough. Don't force me to say something unpleasant."
She couldn't be bothered to speak with him any longer and thus turned to leave. However, Tang Moling stopped her. "Are you angry? You can't find someone who's better than me, right?"
There was a flash of triumph in his eyes, and a second later, he heard someone cry out, "Jingzhe!"
Tang Moling frowned and looked in the direction of the voice. His smug expression changed. "Uncle?"
Why was Uncle here? Wasn't Uncle in a coma? Hadn't the doctor said that he couldn't possibly wake up?
Thinking he was seeing things, Tang Moling rubbed his eyes and looked again.
This time, he could clearly see that it was really his uncle.
Tang Moling watched as his uncle walked up to him, raised an eyebrow, and pulled his hand away.
"Tang Moling, you've grown up. You've already learned how to get physical with a girl? You're really rough too."
Tang Moling felt as though his wrist was about to be crushed and froze. The pain told him that everything was real.
He stared at Ji Buwang and was momentarily left speechless.
"Ji Buwang, what are you doing here?" Mu Jingzhe thought she had heard Tang Moling call him 'Uncle' but she wasn't sure. After asking, she gave them a strange look.
"I came over as soon as I saw you." Ji Buwang had naturally come over upon seeing a man tug at Mu Jingzhe. Based on his voice and physique, he could confirm that this man was Tang Moling.
Ji Buwang glanced at Tang Moling. "Why are you here? Do you know each other?"
It had been four years since they'd last met, and this nephew of his had changed quite a bit. If they'd met on the street, he might not have been able to recognize him if he didn't speak.
Ji Buwang's tone was calm, but Tang Moling's expression changed drastically, and he finally found his voice.
"Uncle, when did you wake up? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Oh, I woke up earlier. I heard that you were busy wooing a young lady and getting engaged, so I didn't inform you." After saying that, Ji Buwang didn't look at Tang Moling. Instead, he looked at Mu Jingzhe's hand, which had been held by Tang Moling just now. "Luckily, it's not red. Little Ling, you shouldn't be so rough with girls. Apologize to Jingzhe quickly."
Tang Moling's mind was a mess. He apologized in a muffled tone and then asked, "Uncle, how did you two meet?"
"Us? We've known each other for a long time." Ji Buwang asked in turn, "How did you two meet?"
"He's my cousin-in-law." Tang Moling didn't know what to say, so Mu Jingzhe answered.
Tang Moling immediately retorted, "We've already broken off our engagement." How could she say this when he had already confessed his feelings to her?
Mu Jingzhe choked, and Ji Buwang frowned. "Why are you speaking like this? You have no manners."
This time, it was Tang Moling's turn to choke. The way Ji Buwang was lecturing him made it seem like he was trying to distinguish the difference in seniority between him and Mu Jingzhe. However, he didn't dare retort. After all, this wasn't just anyone else. It was his uncle.
He was only a few years older than him, but he was indeed his young uncle, who was like an older brother and father to him.
Looking at Tang Moling's choked expression, Mu Jingzhe finally asked to confirm it, "He's your biological uncle?" Why is the world so small?"
"Mm, this is the child my older sister left behind. He's my biological nephew." Ji Buwang nodded suggestively. "You can call him Little Ling from now on. If he's as rude as he was just now, tell me and I'll teach him a lesson."
Mu Jingzhe: "Uh, okay."
Their relationship was very surprising, and she felt like she needed time to digest it.
Tang Moling was even more shocked than Mu Jingzhe. He was in a daze. At that moment, Tang Moling recalled the familiar figure he had occasionally seen when he'd taken Mu Jingzhe and the kids to art school. At the time, he had thought that his eyes were playing tricks on him. He had even thought that his uncle was still unconscious and couldn't possibly be there.
Looking at the situation now, that was Uncle, right?
"Uncle, when did you get here?"
"Me? A long time ago. I'm taking advantage of my break to be a teacher at the art school."
"So that figure really was you…" Tang Moling muttered.
Ji Buwang also remembered something. "Oh, you're talking about seeing me previously? I remember seeing a familiar shadow before. So that was you. You brought her to school?"
Ji Buwang narrowed his eyes dangerously, and Tang Moling felt choked up when he saw it.
Every time his uncle acted like this, it meant danger. His butt hurt out of reflex. "Uncle, don't look at me like that…"
Ji Buwang retracted his gaze and told Mu Jingzhe, "This child is immature. He still behaves like a kid."