Life is not satisfactory eight out of ten

“Sister-in-law Xiulian… such an intimate way to call her!” Runye heard Zhao Dongchuan address her “love rival” in such a familiar way and said softly, a little jealous.

“Sister-in-law Xiulian is a very good person!” Zhao Dongchuan gave Runye a definitive reply.

Tian Runye had many questions she wanted to ask on the way, but now that she was sitting here, those questions seemed to be stuck, and she didn’t know where to start.

Looking at the stammering Tian Runye, Zhao Dongchuan also felt a strange sense of emotion. It had, after all, come to this point. Although he knew from the beginning that this was inevitable, he couldn't help but feel a touch more pity for Runye at this moment.

For Tian Runye, Sun Shaoan was not only her childhood sweetheart but also her “older brother in love” from when she first experienced infatuation in her youth. Her love began without her knowing how, and she was deeply devoted.

As she grew older, she had to face this “sharp” problem: her father Tian Futang’s opposition, and her Second Aunt’s strong efforts to set her up with Li Xiangqian for a political marriage. However, recently, her Second Aunt hadn’t been pressing her, as if the matter didn’t exist, which relieved a lot of her pressure.

Currently, Li Xiangqian was still relentlessly pursuing her. Yuanxi County wasn't large to begin with, and they were both figures most beloved by gossips. The slightest stir would lead to rumors, and now, it was widely rumored that she and Li Xiangqian had already met with parents and were “engaged.”

Thinking of all this made Tian Runye even more haggard.

She had just breathed a sigh of relief, but a while ago, her younger brother Runsheng returned from home. When she was in Second Uncle’s courtyard, she heard Runsheng say that Brother Shaoan had actually brought a girl from Shanxi back to Shuangshui Village.

He hadn't gone to exchange for improved seeds; instead, he had “privately” gone to Shanxi to find a wife and was planning to get married during the Spring Festival.

This sudden blow made her dizzy and disoriented.

Oh, heavens, she never dreamed that while she was tirelessly fighting for their future, Sun Shaoan had become a “deserter”!

At that moment, she truly wanted to run back to Shuangshui Village, regardless of anything, to find Sun Shaoan, to question him about everything, to make him send that girl away. No matter what, she would make a scene and make Shaoan marry her.

But she wasn't that kind of person after all. Reason told her she couldn't do that. Doing so would completely ruin the Tian family’s reputation. She couldn't imagine how her father Tian Futang would react; he probably wouldn't have the face to stay in the village.

Moreover, as a people’s teacher, years of upbringing told her that she couldn't just indulge in her own “personal grievances”!

She was desperate, even thinking of dying several times to end her life.

But she wasn't living in this world alone; she still had her parents, her younger brother, her Second Uncle and Second Aunt, so many relatives.

From then on, she grew increasingly haggard, as if she had a terminal illness. She didn't even dare to look at herself in the mirror.

Because of this, she didn't attend the “Date Picking Festival” in Shuangshui Village, which she usually went to every year. She didn't know what face to show her Brother Shaoan and her future “sister-in-law.”

Feeling distraught, she suddenly remembered Du Lili, a classmate who worked at the Huangyuan Cultural Center. They had always been classmates and were as close as sisters.

So, she took a few days off and came here.

Before coming, she hadn't expected to meet Zhao Dongchuan. She had thought Zhao Dongchuan was still living in Shuangshui Village.

Zhao Dongchuan saw Tian Runye sitting on the sofa, lost in thought and silent, and guessed that she was immersed in troubled thoughts. So he didn't speak either, just quietly drank his tea.

Let time wash away all sorrow!

After a good while, Tian Runye finally recovered from her sad emotions and realized that someone was still sitting across from her, which made her feel a bit awkward.

After a moment, Tian Runye said, “I’m sorry, Dongchuan, I…” She wanted to say something but didn’t know how to tell Zhao Dongchuan.

“It’s alright, I understand. I know a little about what’s going on between you and Brother Shaoan!”

“Sister Runye, don’t blame me for being direct, but in my opinion, Sister-in-law Xiulian is the most suitable person for Brother Shaoan!” Zhao Dongchuan drained his cup of tea and looked at Tian Runye seriously as he spoke.

“Although you and Brother Shaoan grew up together as childhood sweethearts, nowadays you are a people’s teacher, eating public food, while Brother Shaoan is still toiling in the fields, and that family is such a mess.

It’s one supporting three (Wang Manyin and Lanhua’s family, Sun Yuting’s family, and their own family). Even if you don’t mind, Brother Shaoan does. He ultimately still hopes you can find a good family and not suffer with him!”

“Those were from a practical perspective. From an emotional perspective, Shaoan actually needs a wife who can help and assist him. I’m afraid you can’t do that. Even if you were together, the outcome might not be very good. The daily grind after the initial passion might shatter all the past beauty!”

“Sister-in-law Xiulian fell in love with Shaoan at first sight and is deeply devoted. She is willing to ‘extend his life’ for him. She has been dealing with the land since she was young, has a strong physique, and innate resilience. The important thing is that her family doesn’t require a bride price and doesn’t look down on his family’s poverty!”

“Strictly speaking, I shouldn’t be saying this, but I always feel that you often get stuck in a rut! Of course, it’s easy to talk when you’re not in my shoes. I’m just expressing my opinion; ultimately, it’s up to you.”

Tian Runye was a little dazed listening to Zhao Dongchuan’s long speech. She hadn’t expected Zhao Dongchuan to seem to know everything, analyzing their situation so clearly.

She didn’t blame Zhao Dongchuan for being direct. In fact, she had thought about and considered these very same principles herself late at night when all was quiet.

She just felt unwilling to accept it!

Yes, unwilling to accept it. As a youth, she and Brother Shaoan once dug and ate “wild grass” together in spring. She and Brother Shaoan once swam naked in the Dongla River in summer, playfully smearing mud on each other.

She had also been on Shenxian Mountain in autumn, where Shaoan climbed barefoot up the cliff edge to pick strings of bright red sour dates for her.

They had walked hand in hand across the frozen surface of the Dongla River in that cold, desolate winter, and searched for exquisite porcelain fragments together in the jujube forest of Miaoping Mountain and the grass of Jinjiawan.

All these beautiful memories made her unwilling to accept it.

But was this unwillingness due to Shaoan’s evasion, or because she didn’t want to let down that beautiful period of time?

“Alas…” A long sigh!

Tian Runye exhaled a turbid breath, as if releasing all the past unwillingness.

“Thank you!” Runye said calmly, looking at Zhao Dongchuan.

Zhao Dongchuan wasn't actually very good at comforting people. He had spoken a great deal with righteous indignation, but without much conviction. He was merely expressing his thoughts from watching TV dramas and reading the original novel, telling them to Runye.

He didn't expect Runye to “suddenly awaken” all at once. One should not preach kindness without having experienced others’ suffering.

He couldn't interfere too much. Their own future was for them to decide…