Chapter 44: Extracting Information, Then Heading to the Countryside!

At this moment, Li Junsheng was already on his way to the nearby state-run restaurant, accompanied by Li Xiaoyu and Tang Liang. The place wasn’t far, so the three of them simply walked.

Li Xiaoyu clung to her father’s arm, looking a little anxious.
“Dad, is it really alright if my mother doesn’t come to this dinner today?”

“Of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be? Isn’t it enough that your father is here to make decisions about your marriage?”

Li Junsheng understood his youngest daughter’s concerns. Her mother, Ma Yulian, had shown no interest in her marriage, and this had clearly wounded her. Their home had always been ruled by Ma Yulian’s word, and it was only natural for Li Xiaoyu to worry that without her mother’s presence, her marriage discussions with Tang Liang might fall through.

Ma Yulian was known for her harshness and domineering ways. If not for the need for her approval, Li Xiaoyu wouldn’t have even brought up the question. Now, with only her father in charge, Li Xiaoyu was instantly delighted. Her father was always more approachable than her mother—if he was the one making decisions, there was a good chance she and Tang Liang could be together.

“Dad, you’re so good to me. But lately, I feel like you’ve changed a lot.”

Li Xiaoyu beamed up at Li Junsheng, her hand still holding his arm. Her radiant smile left him slightly dazed—for him, it had been many, many years since he’d last seen his youngest daughter look so happy.

Now, with his daughter safe and sound at his side, Li Junsheng felt deeply content. He thought back to his previous life, to the excruciating pain he’d felt when he saw her cold, bloodless body.

He turned to Li Xiaoyu and said earnestly, “Before, I was muddleheaded. I knew your mother often went too far, but to keep the peace at home, to avoid divorcing her, I always chose to give in, even at the expense of you, your sister, and your second brother.”

“But now I’ve realized there’s no need to sacrifice so much. You and your siblings are grown; you shouldn’t have to live in such grievance. I just regret coming to this realization so late…”

If he could have been reborn in his youth, he would never have put his three children through so much pain—he might not have even married Ma Yulian at all. A woman like that, let someone else deal with her; he’d wish her and Chen Dazhu a lifetime together!

Seeing her father’s change of heart and newfound resolve, Li Xiaoyu truly felt happy for him.

The three of them arrived at the state-run restaurant, and Tang Liang handed the menu to Li Junsheng, inviting him to order.

Soon, the server brought out simple yet delicious dishes, served on old-fashioned plates painted with peony flowers.

In these times, the portions were solid and generous—nothing like the dainty servings of forty years later, where a sprig of mint was added for show and the prices soared sky-high.

Tang Liang opened a bottle of wine, poured a glass for Li Junsheng, and proposed a formal toast.

“Uncle, let me toast you. Thank you so much for your hospitality today and for going to all this trouble.”

Li Junsheng shook his head, took a sip of the wine, and began to question Tang Liang about his family background.

“How old are your parents this year? If they’re younger than me, you ought to call me Uncle, not Father-in-law!”

“My father is forty-eight, my mother forty-five. So I should indeed call you Uncle,” Tang Liang replied.

Li Junsheng nodded. Tang Liang’s parents were still relatively young—at least for the next ten years, they could help with future grandchildren, so Tang Liang wouldn’t be tied down at home.

Whatever Li Junsheng asked, Tang Liang answered without reservation or deceit. He was nothing like Sun Gui, who’d spout empty flattery in hopes of glossing over the truth.

After some thought, Li Junsheng decided to test him further. “Xiaoyu is my youngest daughter, and I’ve always treated her better than my other children. If you truly want to marry her, she deserves everything that others have.”

He wanted to see if Tang Liang would think his family was greedy or fond of comparing themselves to others. If Tang Liang started haggling and bargaining, Li Junsheng would have to reconsider this marriage.

Unexpectedly, Tang Liang didn’t bargain at all. Instead, he said earnestly, “Uncle, I understand what you’re saying. I love Xiaoyu, and I would never want her to feel wronged.”

“If I marry Xiaoyu, I will prepare the three must-haves and one sound that are all the rage now, and the dowry will be at least eighty-eight yuan. All I ask is that you trust me and give me a little more time!”

At this point, Tang Liang looked a bit embarrassed and anxious.

“To be honest, I can only afford half the three must-haves and eighty-eight yuan dowry at the moment. But my salary is stable, and I live frugally. It won’t be long before I save the rest.”

Though Tang Liang didn’t try to lower the requirements, he was clearly facing difficulties. Li Junsheng was satisfied that he wasn’t trying to shirk responsibility, but he also didn’t want his daughter to be kept waiting too long.

If the couple were to have a child before marriage, in these times, Xiaoyu would be the subject of endless gossip.

He thought about it and deliberately asked, “Your parents aren’t old. Can’t they help out with your wedding?”

Tang Liang hurried to explain, not wanting to be misunderstood. “My parents have saved money for my marriage, but I didn’t take it. I want to rely on my own ability to bring Xiaoyu home.”

“Otherwise, even if my parents could help with the wedding, if I couldn’t support Xiaoyu myself, I couldn’t guarantee her a stable life after marriage. That’s why I didn’t take their money.”

Li Junsheng nodded and took another sip of wine. What could he say—this young man his daughter had chosen was ambitious.

And he was responsible, able to think so far ahead.

After Li Junsheng nodded his approval, both Li Xiaoyu and Tang Liang grew nervous, uncertain of what he was really thinking. Would he refuse to let the two of them meet again just because Tang Liang couldn’t provide the full dowry and gifts at the moment?

“Dad, don’t just drink. What do you really think about me and Tang Liang?” Li Xiaoyu asked, picking up food for her father as she spoke.

Li Junsheng smiled helplessly. “What can I think? We’ll just wait a little while for Tang Liang. You two can keep seeing each other, and I hope he won’t let me down.”

At those words, Li Xiaoyu was so happy she nearly jumped, and Tang Liang grinned from ear to ear, his face aglow with joy.

“Uncle, don’t worry. I definitely won’t disappoint you!”

“Thank you, Dad!”

Both Li Xiaoyu and Tang Liang thanked Li Junsheng, who hadn’t expected his daughter to be so delighted. It seemed she truly liked Tang Liang.

He was rather satisfied with Tang Liang himself, so he might as well let them continue seeing each other.

With the marriage matter settled, Li Junsheng made small talk with Tang Liang, learning that Tang Liang’s family lived in a rural village. He then asked, “Tang, are you busy this afternoon? If not, come with me to the township.”

Tang Liang immediately straightened up. “Uncle, I took the day off from the factory today. I can accompany you to the township—are we going to meet my parents, or is it something else?”

Li Junsheng waved his hands. Tang Liang had misunderstood.

Li Xiaoyu blushed shyly. “Dad, isn’t it a bit early to meet Tang Liang’s parents?”

“We’re not going to see his parents. I’ve got other business to attend to. When it’s time for the families to formally meet, we’ll choose a proper occasion and make it a grand affair.”

Li Xiaoyu grew even more curious. What business could her father have in the countryside? But Li Junsheng merely smiled mysteriously, offering no further explanation.