Rebirth in 1986: Unforgettable Regrets

Mo Siyu was silent for a while before he asked, "Xiao Yue, will you blame me?"

Mr. Tang had an accident, and Mrs. Tang fell ill; at this time, Xiao Yue was under the greatest pressure. As her fiancé, he should have been by her side when she was sad and distressed, but he...

"Uncle Mo, you have your own work to do, I can understand," Tang Yue said with a bright smile, and her clear laughter transmitted through the phone. She asked, "Uncle Mo, you didn't get hurt, did you?"

Mo Siyu paused and replied, "No."

Tang Yue unconsciously stiffened her face, her hand holding the phone also involuntarily tightened, and she asked, "Uncle Mo, you promised not to lie to me."

"Cough." Mo Siyu cleared his throat and said, "Xiao Yue, it's just a minor injury."

"Bed 37, time to change the dressing," the nurse's voice arose.

Tang Yue's voice immediately rose a few notches as she accused, "Uncle Mo, didn't you say it was a minor injury? Why are you still in the hospital? Where exactly are you hurt?" Her voice was filled with urgency and concern.

"Xiao Yue, really, it's nothing, I can run and jump around," Mo Siyu hurriedly comforted, deflecting the subject, "How are Uncle and Auntie Tang doing now?"

"Hmph," Tang Yue pouted, thinking to herself that she couldn't trust his words and wouldn't be at ease until she saw him safe and sound with her own eyes.

Tang Yue replied, "My dad is already fine, and my mom's illness is better too. You don't have to worry. Which hospital are you in? How long do you have to stay?"

"The team's medical room, probably a week," Mo Siyu answered. "Xiao Yue, when will you return to Jing City? Your leave should be over by now."

"I asked for a few more days off, I might not be able to go back for a while," Tang Yue answered, reminding Mo Siyu to take good care of himself before hanging up the phone.

No, it won't do to pin all hopes on Mr. Meng, who she hadn't met. What if Mr. Meng spoiled his child, what would become of the garment factory then?

She couldn't just wait for something to happen.

Tang Yue's eyes were bustling with thoughts as she walked out of the factory, encountering many workers, among them was one named Liu Xihua.

The very first worker who signed a contract with the factory, Liu Xihua, left a deep impression on her. Moreover, Liu Xihua, now a team leader, was diligent and responsible — Uncle and Factory Director Ding Chao often praised her.

"Sister-in-law Xihua," Tang Yue called out with a smiling face.

Liu Xihua, seeing Tang Yue, squinted her eyes into a smile, "Xiao Yue, haven't you gone to your class yet?"

"Not yet," Tang Yue's gaze fell on the basket Liu Xihua was carrying to buy vegetables. "Sister-in-law Xihua, are you going to buy vegetables?"

"Yeah, I specifically came by to check on the factory. When will the factory start working again?" Liu Xihua asked with concern. Previously, when she couldn't earn money and was at a loss, she found her way to the garment factory. The wages from the garment factory helped her survive.

Now, her husband's illness was cured, and he found a job nearby; her salary was increasing, and their child could afford to go to school. It could be said that the garment factory was the place of her revival, her second home.

The garment factory was having trouble, and Liu Xihua struggled to sleep every night. During the daytime when she had nothing to do, she would come to check on the factory, anxious to not miss any news.

"We'll definitely start work in a few days," Tang Yue answered so.

Liu Xihua heaved a sigh, "It's been several days already."

Tang Yue smiled lightly, not knowing how to respond. She wanted to say something, but then held back, some things weren't for her to say.

After parting with Liu Xihua, Xihua bumped into Deng Lanhua and her family with their children. Naturally, Xihua greeted them. Qi Song, holding the child, casually remarked, "The garment factory has been doing so well, never shortchanging the workers' wages. Such a good factory would be a real pity if it had to close."

"Just that." Liu Xihua said excitedly, as if she had found someone who truly understood her.

Qi Song casually remarked, "I think you should go ask the county officials to see what's really going on, to find out why the clothing factory is being criticized. If there's anything wrong, you can make changes, right? You're not causing trouble; you're just asking questions."

Liu Xihua's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly left the scene.

Deng Lanhua looked at Qi Song suspiciously and asked, "Are you suggesting that Sister-in-law Xihua should lead the workers to the county to cause a scene?"

"I never said that," replied Qi Song, shaking his head quickly. "Lanhua, don't wrongly accuse me. I just suggested asking questions, that's all. There's nothing excessive about it."

While holding Leilei in his arms, Qi Song skillfully steered the conversation away.

*

Qianjin Village.

Granny Tang came back home from a stroll outside and asked suspiciously, "What's going on? Why hasn't anyone been going to the factory to work these past few days?"

Usually, people would rush back even after just one day off, but now, several days have passed.

"Mom, what are you mumbling about?" Wang Aihua, who was cracking melon seeds and watching TV, chuckled occasionally at the scenes playing out on the screen. Tang Zhengyuan was doing well at the clothing factory, bringing home a good paycheck each month. Wang Aihua just had to cook meals for Granny Tang and prepare weekend meals for Tang Min.

In addition, she had to look after her pregnant daughter-in-law.

Right, it was Guo Li, Tang Xian's wife, who, after a previous miscarriage, was pregnant again after moving in. Considering her future grandson, Wang Aihua treated Guo Li quite well.

Cough, even if Wang Aihua wanted to be unkind to her, she couldn't. Tang Zhengyuan had made it clear; if anything happened to this grandchild, Wang Aihua would be held responsible.

As a result, Wang Aihua nearly worshipped the ground Guo Li walked on.

"Aihua, Zheng Yuan hasn't been working these past few days, but he hasn't been home either?" Granny Tang asked.

"Even if the factory is closed, they don't get any time off," replied Wang Aihua without turning her head.

Granny Tang continued to inquire, "All these villagers who work normally wouldn't miss a single day. Why have they been at home for so many days without going to work?"

"I don't know, and I have no idea when the factory will open again either." Wang Aihua, engrossed in an exciting moment on the TV, replied offhandedly.

Granny Tang asked worriedly, "Aihua, there's nothing wrong with the factory, is there? What do you mean you don't know when it will open?"

"Oh~" Wang Aihua blinked in surprise.

Granny Tang pressed on, "Aihua, has something really happened at the factory?"

Wang Aihua swallowed hard, her eyes darting around anxiously, then she said, "No, nothing's wrong, Mom. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

'Whack.'

Granny Tang slapped the table forcefully, causing the plate of melon seeds Wang Aihua had been holding to jitter.

Wang Aihua felt a jolt in her heart and quickly sat up straight, not daring to say anything else. She inwardly cursed, wishing she could slap herself for slipping up. Tang Zhengyuan had specifically instructed her not to tell Granny Tang, to avoid causing her worry. Now that she knew, what were they going to do?