Awaken: I See Tags, I Rewrite My Life-Chapter 39: Hidden Truths

When Huang Hongyun finishes venting, Yan Xiaomai’s place will be turned upside down by him.

Tian Xiang watched everyone with a sense of resignation.

"Dear family members of the Mechanical Factory, since everyone knows Huang Hongyun isn’t a good person, when he comes back, we can’t just stand by and watch, doing nothing! You are all brave and caring citizens; you should know how to punish evil and promote good. We can’t just sit back and watch the orphaned and widowed being bullied! Isn’t that the right thing to do?"

Everything Mr. Tian said was right.

But...

A little old man like Huang Hongyun, whoever encounters him is in trouble.

Also, it’s a family matter, a father-in-law and a daughter-in-law.

The group of people laughed awkwardly and dispersed soon afterwards.

Tian Xiang helped Yan Xiaomai pick up the still usable matchboxes from the floor.

Yan Xiaomai felt embarrassed, "Mr. Tian, no need to bother yourself; I’ll do it with my dirty hands."

Mr. Tian?

Tian Xiang didn’t stop her hands and laughed, "Don’t be so polite, just call me Tian Xiang or Mr. Tian."

Mr. Tian didn’t sound very impressive.

"Alright."

Seeing she insisted on helping, Yan Xiaomai let her.

As the two were tidying up the mess, Huang Qidong peeked out from behind the doorway, confirmed Huang Hongyun was gone, and hurried out to help clean up.

The three gathered the usable matchboxes into a bamboo basket; Tian Xiang estimated roughly over a hundred were damaged.

Pasting a hundred matchboxes only earns eight cents, now with over a hundred suddenly damaged, Yan Xiaomai’s week of work was wasted.

Due to Tian Xiang’s prior assistance, Yan Xiaomai appreciated her and invited Tian Xiang inside.

Originally it was just a polite remark, but Tian Xiang cheerfully went in without hesitation.

Yesterday, through the doorway, Tian Xiang saw the mother and son’s living conditions were cramped and narrow.

Today, upon closer inspection, the inside was otherwise tidy, just overwhelmed with unassembled matchboxes. Plus, with the mess Huang Hongyun caused earlier, the place was in disarray, leaving little room to move.

Yan Xiaomai quickly cleaned up.

Tian Xiang helped a bit, and soon enough it looked decent.

Yan Xiaomai wanted to make Tian Xiang some brown sugar water, but Tian Xiang refused.

"No need to trouble yourself; I’ll sit for a bit and leave."

Bought with earnings from matchbox pasting, better not.

Seeing Tian Xiang truly didn’t want it, Yan Xiaomai pulled over a small stool to sit.

Huang Qidong stayed by his mother’s side, his curious big eyes gazing at Tian Xiang.

This sister is so pretty.

Tian Xiang smiled and handed him two glass candies.

"Here, for you."

These were candies Tian Xiang bought last time to coax some children for Widow Jiang’s information; they weren’t all given away, only these two were left.

Huang Qidong hadn’t eaten candy for a long time, wanted them, but didn’t dare reach out, looking at his mother for approval.

Yan Xiaomai laughed, "Mr. Tian gave them, go ahead."

Huang Qidong took them, immediately peeled one open, and popped it in his mouth.

Tian Xiang remarked, "Your son looks a lot like you."

Those eyes, as if they were made from the same mold.

Yan Xiaomai smiled contentedly, "Everyone says that."

Tian Xiang: "But the little fella is too thin, scrawny arms and legs. He’s five years old now, right? He’s growing, cannot afford to skimp on his nutrition."

Tian Xiang said as she placed her lunchbox to the side.

"A block of tofu, nothing special, use it to make a bowl of soup for the child."

How is tofu not special?

It requires ration tickets!

Yan Xiaomai quickly waved her hands, "No, no, Mr. Tian, take it back for yourself, I can’t accept this."

Yan Xiaomai wasn’t great with words, but her attitude was clear—she wouldn’t accept it.

In the past, when the factory union visited with relief items, she’d receive them, but those were from the factory’s dedicated funds.

Today, this tofu was clearly bought out of Tian Xiang’s own pocket.

Looking at the uneasy attitude of Yan Xiaomai, Tian Xiang smiled, "You really won’t take it? I specially went to the market to buy it! Don’t be so polite with me, today I came over just to better understand your situation."

Tian Xiang sighed, "Mr. Feng already told me almost everything. I understand your difficulties; frankly, I sympathize a lot. Let’s not talk about how things were handled before; moving forward since I’m here, resolving your issue is my work priority. I will do my utmost to help you and Du Zhiqiang overcome this problem and achieve lifelong happiness."

Tian Xiang spoke sincerely; Yan Xiaomai shed tears.

For two months, there had been no action from the union; she thought everyone had given up.

"Mr. Tian, let me thank you first."

No matter the outcome, she was touched by Tian Xiang’s intentions.

Tian Xiang: "We haven’t resolved anything yet, so no rush to thank me.

Your situation requires collective effort, including yourself."

Yan Xiaomai nodded earnestly, "Mr. Tian, whatever you need me to do, just say the word."

Tian Xiang: "There’s nothing specific, just yesterday, after hearing about your situation, I thought long and hard. I can’t understand why your father-in-law Huang Hongyun is so determined? Insisting you marry Huang Wenbiao, what’s his motive? It seems quite odd to me."

Yan Xiaomai’s expression stiffened, she closed the lunchbox with the tofu inside.

"He can’t let go of his grandson Qidong."

Everyone says it, but Tian Xiang doesn’t believe it.

Tian Xiang lowered her gaze, recalling what Hu Honglian told her last night.

"Isn’t Old Huang’s younger son working at the Mechanical Factory instead of his brother? He’s neither handicapped nor stupid and surely can find someone, why insist on marrying his sister-in-law?"

Tian Xiang shook her head; she couldn’t tell either, finding it troubling.

Huang Hongyun’s stated reason is not wanting his grandson to be without care, yet the person Yan Xiaomai plans to marry lives right in Red Fifth Street, not far; her grandson is close enough to visit, see, and watch, so there’s no logical reason for him to hang on relentlessly.

Hu Honglian: "They’re not the only lineage; his younger son can marry and have children too. If he wants a grandson, he can simply have more! Why torment each other? In my opinion, Huang’s father and son either have a screw loose, are inflexible, or did something wrong that they’re afraid would be exposed if the daughter-in-law married out."

Afraid to let the daughter-in-law marry out?

Tian Xiang couldn’t understand what that meant.

Hu Honglian gave her daughter a tofu ticket, "It’s hard to refuse gifts and favors. If you go empty-handed, no one will entertain you. Bring some stuff, and if they accept it, ask whatever you like; if they refuse to talk, the items won’t be received, and you take them back, later mom will stew them with cabbage for dinner..."

So, Yan Xiaomai is unwilling to speak.

Is it reluctance, or fear?

Tian Xiang: "The knife beneath your pillow is for Huang Wenbiao, right? Has he come to harass you?"

While helping tidy up earlier, Tian Xiang inadvertently spotted it.

Huang Wenbiao has a hooligan reputation; such behavior wouldn’t be surprising.

Yan Xiaomai tightly clenched her hands, "Actually, Zhiqiang lives in the next room, but sometimes he works night shifts..."

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