Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s
Chapter 78 - 076 The Indestructible Tian Tian

Chapter 78: 076 The Indestructible Tian Tian

After that farcical scene, everyone gradually dispersed.

Li Xiaoqin held Tiger’s hand as she walked alongside Aunt Zhong, listening to her sigh, "Ah, I never realized Tian Tian was that kind of person before. That’s why looks don’t really matter much. What’s important is being earnest and dependable. For us farming folk, sincerity is what we value the most."

"Greedy people are never satisfied," Tian Sangsang said indifferently. Clearly, they had the money to repay their debts, yet they schemed to marry her off to Brother Biao. If this wasn’t greed, what was it?

"I’m not so sure about that," Aunt Zhong replied, even though she couldn’t read many words, she understood the implication. "At least greed can be dealt with. What’s most terrifying is a malicious heart."

Li Xiaoqin didn’t seem interested in this moral discussion. Covering her mouth, she chuckled gleefully, "Chen Guilan used to brag about her daughter Tian Tian all the time. Now look at them—their plans have fallen apart, and I want to see if her precious Tian Tian can still find a husband! Remember the village chief’s son who used to stay close to Tian Tian? Well, now any sensible person wouldn’t dare get involved with her."

Rural paths stretched before them, flanked by sprawling fields. Tian Sangsang carried Meng Shuyan in her arms and took a deep breath.

To be honest, though this place lacked the reinforced concrete, skyscrapers, bustling traffic, and neon-lit bars of the modern city, it carried its own kind of rustic charm. The road was made of dirt, the edges adorned with green grass. It was a pristine, unpolluted environment graced by green mountains and clear waters, free from smothering smog. When she was still in school, she used to long for the modern hustle and bustle. But later, when her life in the big city turned into a frenzied grind, she often found herself yearning for her simple, rural home.

Still, she refused to resign herself to being trapped in this small village. Youth was meant to be bold and ambitious. Even if you ended up battered and bruised, you wouldn’t regret it later. You might even manage to carve out a brilliant future. Back then, she had been particularly fixated on money. Because yes, who doesn’t love money? Most of hers had gone into her father’s medical bills, leaving her little time to remember what kind of life she truly wanted in the first place.

Now, given a second chance, she aimed to become a prosperous yet carefree person. Through her own efforts, she wanted to build a bright, limitless future for both her son and herself!

Back home, Tian Sangsang grabbed a towel, wrung it with water, and wiped Meng Shuyan down, beginning a lecture, "Son, from now on, whenever you run into people like Brother Biao, don’t talk back to them. If it weren’t for the fact that there were others around today, you could’ve been beaten up."

"Mom." Meng Shuyan paused, his pale cheeks slowly turning red. "I talked back precisely because there were people around watching."

"You cheeky little devil." Tian Sangsang tousled his hair, smiling wryly. "Why are you like this? But Mom still likes you. Ahem—Mom wants to ask, why are you so certain that Brother Biao isn’t your father?"

"Because I just know." Holding the Jade Thumb Ring in his little hand, Meng Shuyan frowned adorably. "Mom, I’ve looked in the mirror. I’m so good-looking—there’s no way my dad could possibly look that ugly."

And just like that, you mercilessly ruled your mom out, too...

...

"Ah, look quickly—it’s Tian Tian!"

"Run! My mom said she kidnaps kids!"

"She takes children to abandoned houses where ghosts eat them!"

A group of little boys playing with a pile of sand scattered in a panic at the sight of a young woman walking ahead.

Chen Ming, who was holding a hoe and heading home, caught sight of the delicate and frail figure. Instinctively, he wanted to step forward, but his feet felt nailed to the ground, refusing to budge.

"Chen Ming," came her soft voice not long after. A faint fragrance followed as Tian Tian stopped right in front of him, biting her lip, her expression pitifully fragile.

Chen Ming had always been weak to this look of hers. Whenever she acted this way, he couldn’t stand his ground. He turned his head aside, avoiding her gaze.

"Why haven’t you come to look for me anymore?"

Chen Ming frowned. "Tian Tian, I’m very disappointed in you. What you’ve done is too much."

Her eyes reddened as tears rolled down her face. "Nobody’s speaking to me, and now even you won’t care about me. I thought you were different from them, but you’re just the same. You didn’t even ask me about anything before condemning me."

"Ugh... Why are you crying? Why do you always cry at the drop of a hat..." Chen Ming let out a frustrated sigh. "Seriously, you’re made of tears or something. I saw everything with my own eyes—what more is there to ask?"

"You only saw the surface. You don’t know the real truth," Tian Tian wept. "I know I’m unlucky. I was born into this family with a dad like that. My dad lost money gambling and even used me as collateral. What could I do? I was scared too. My grandma proposed matchmaking Tian Sangsang; we really only wanted to help her, to find someone well-off for her to marry. Kidnapping Yanyan was my fault, but I didn’t want to do it. It was my grandma who forced me."

Chen Ming stared at her with his deep black eyes, silent as if weighing the truth of her words.

Tian Tian wiped away her tears and meekly added, "I swear I didn’t know my mom had hidden money. If I had known, I would’ve used it to pay the debt. Do you really not believe me? You always said you liked me, but now you don’t trust me. I don’t care how others think of me, but I care how you see me. You say you’re disappointed in me—well, I’m just as heartbroken because of you."

Chen Ming’s gaze began to burn with intensity, and his heart pounded wildly. What did Tian Tian mean by this? Why did she care about his opinion? Could it be... she liked him too?

He blurted clumsily, "Tiantian, are you telling the truth?" On second thought, what she said wasn’t entirely unreasonable. Tian Tian had always been obedient. If her grandma had ordered her to do something, she wouldn’t have dared refuse. Yet how could she be so submissive? What she did was clearly wrong—even if you obey, you can’t commit such deeds! What if someone had died?

"You still don’t believe me!" Tian Tian’s pointed, delicate face turned pale as she covered her mouth and spun around to run.

"Hey... Tiantian..." Chen Ming reached out and grabbed her. He was torn—on the one hand, he felt she might be lying; on the other, she was the girl he loved, and he thought he should give her a chance.

"Chen Ming!" Tian Tian took the opportunity to throw her arms around him, burying her head in his chest and sobbing uncontrollably. "Everyone’s abandoned me. If you do too, what am I going to do? My mom says no one in the city will want me anymore and that she’ll marry me off to a crippled widower. I’m so scared..."

The embrace he had once fantasized about came so suddenly that Chen Ming froze in place. With the warm, delicate woman in his arms, his breathing quickened. But he still mustered the resolve to push her away gently, his face slightly flushed but his eyes sharp. "Tiantian, you know I’ve always liked you. If you’re willing, we can get married. I may not be highly educated like city folks, but I can still give you a good life. But I hope you’ll stop doing bad things. I’m willing to forgive you."

Hmph, she knew no man could resist her tears. Tian Tian wiped her tears away and smiled brightly, her eyes curving into charming crescents. "As long as you trust me, that’s enough." She always believed in keeping all her options open. Zhou Zheng’s situation was stable—they were on the same page. And she couldn’t abandon Chen Ming either; after all, his family was one of the wealthiest in the village.

"Brother! What are you saying to her?" Not far away, Chen Ying stomped her foot in fury. "Mom’s calling you to come home for dinner!"

"You should go back. Chen Ying is waiting impatiently," Tian Tian pushed him lightly, offering a gentle, understanding smile.

"Okay," Chen Ming replied foolishly, turning to leave but glancing back every few steps.