Free Web NovelChapter 450: Chapter 450: Adina 3
Tan You offered Tan Lin money, and he didn’t refuse. He now saw Tan You purely as his boss. Why should an employee pay out of pocket for a job? Of course, Tan You herself much preferred this arrangement. With her, it was better to talk money, not feelings.
Military training ended on Friday morning. After the teacher announced their dismissal and told everyone to report back to school on Monday, the other nine girls from her dorm went with Tan You to Tan Lin’s house.
They were exceptionally tight-lipped. Knowing that Tan You and Tan Ying’s relationship was lukewarm at best, they didn’t let on that they were going to her place, even when they ran into Tan Ying on the road. Worried she might follow them, they even hurried away.
Left behind, Tan Ying could only watch their retreating figures, grit her teeth in frustration, and ride her bicycle back to the countryside alone.
They had a lively lunch at Tan Lin’s, after which Tan You walked them to the bus stop at the school gate. By the time Tan You got back to the village, it was already three in the afternoon.
From a distance, she saw the brick-and-tile house. Although it wasn’t as impressive as Tan Lin’s house in town, and was just a few simple, tile-roofed rooms, Tan You felt it was the only place that truly put her heart at ease.
Just as Tan You was heading toward the old house on her electric scooter, a plump woman stopped her. "Tan You, just getting back? Tan Ying came back a long time ago. How come you two didn’t return together today?"
Tan You knew immediately that Tan Ying must have come home to complain, but she wasn’t flustered. "I had other plans. My dad was hosting my dorm mates. They all take good care of me, so he wanted to show his appreciation."
Yang Juan was taken aback for a moment. "Your parents are living in town now? Did they buy their own place? Where are they making their fortune these days?"
A faint, unreadable smile touched Tan You’s lips. "A fortune? Hardly. Tan Ying’s father installs stainless steel doors and windows—he’s raking in the money. Buying a house would be a piece of cake for him, right? My dad’s eyesight is poor, so my mom is the one supporting our family. How much can she make working at a clothing factory?"
"They scraped together the money to buy a house mainly to make it easier for Tan Yue to attend school. Auntie, you only have Tan Ying. My mom has to provide for both me and Tan Yue. It’s not as easy for us as it is for your family."
Yang Juan hadn’t expected Tan You to say that and was momentarily at a loss for words.
Tan You couldn’t be bothered to say more to her. Her opinion of Tan Ying was mediocre, but that didn’t mean she would take her anger out on others.
"Auntie, I’m heading home now. My grandpa is waiting for me."
As for Tan Ying, Tan You didn’t ask a single thing about her. It was clear that she and Tan Ying were not on the same path. It was better for them to just drift apart. After all, they were both growing up and would have their own separate lives in the future.
Back home, Tan Deming was overjoyed to see Tan You. "The roof tiles have been replaced, and the bathroom is finished! Come see if you like it. It’s all done just how you wanted."
Tan You glanced at Wang Hunv. "I can see Grandma is pretty happy with it."
Wang Hunv nodded. "Of course I’m happy. It’s so much more convenient than before."
The bathroom had been converted from the small partition behind the old kitchen—the same little room Tan You had slept in a few days ago. It was now fully equipped with all the necessary washing facilities. Tan You had to admire Tan Deming’s efficiency.
Tan Deming chuckled. "It was nothing. Just like you said, as long as the money is there, is there anything that can’t be done?"
Tan You walked a lap around the old house. "This will do for now. Once I save up some more, I’ll build you a big villa."
Tan Deming wasn’t greedy at all. "This is already wonderful. But if you have the ambition, I won’t stand in your way."
Tan You’s lips curved into a smile. "Don’t worry, I know my limits. Last time my dad brought beef to the school, he said Tan Zhen was back?"
Tan Deming said, "She came back, but we were re-tiling the roof. Who had time to entertain her? Your dad is stingy, too. He just left the beef in the fridge and refused to take it out. He’s probably still holding a grudge about what happened before."
Tan You knew what Tan Deming was talking about. "Tan Zhen is his sister, after all. When his own sister treats him poorly, of course he’s going to remember it. It’s only human nature."
Tan Deming said, "I knew you’d understand. In the end, you’re still on your parents’ side."
Tan You found that amusing. "Of course I’m on their side. They were wronged in the past. Am I supposed to side with the people who wronged them? That wouldn’t be right."
Tan Deming smiled and shook his head. "Are you going to school on Monday?"
"Mhm," Tan You hummed. "I bet we’ll have a placement test as soon as school starts. After all, the high school entrance exam scores don’t tell the whole story. The teachers will want to know their students’ actual skill levels."
Tan Deming had a lot of faith in Tan You. "You’re studying so hard now, you’ll definitely do well on the placement test. I remember your grades have always been great, ever since you started school."
"You really have a lot of confidence in me," Tan You said with a laugh. "Actually, my grades are pretty average. They only looked decent because I was at a rural school. They wouldn’t be anything special in a city school."
Tan You was well aware of her previous academic level. ’I was just a big fish in a small pond.’
Tan Deming said, "If your parents had been able to send you to a city school back then, you wouldn’t have... Sigh."
Tan You was philosophical about it. "You can’t be too demanding of others. My mom has already done more than enough for me. It’s not good to always blame people. I’ll forge my own path from now on."
Tan Deming sighed. "I just feel it’s too hard on you, at such a young age."
Tan You flicked the water droplets from her hands. "You can’t think of it that way. In fact, I really like my current situation. I’m a free-spirited person, and I hate being controlled. Now that I can be my own boss and don’t have to walk on eggshells around anyone, I’m truly content."
"I don’t have to ask them for allowance, I don’t get interrogated about where I spent it, I don’t have to worry about whether I’m falling short somewhere, and I especially don’t have to face them every day on pins and needles. Without all that, I feel incredibly relieved."
Tan Deming said, "Your father... he just grew up without money and couldn’t make much himself later on, which is why he values it so much. In my opinion, money given to you is yours, but your father doesn’t see it that way."
"His favorite line was always, ’Isn’t the money you have from me? What ability do you have to earn money?’" Tan You sneered. "So now that I don’t have to ask them for money, now that I can earn it myself, a huge weight has finally been lifted from my shoulders."
Tan Deming patted Tan You’s shoulder. He knew she’d had a hard life. Some hardships are physical, and some are mental. Tan You had experienced both.
Although Tan You was preoccupied with her upcoming mission, she didn’t let any of her anxiety or worry show. At least, Tan Deming didn’t notice that anything was on her mind.
Seeing that Tan You was quieter than usual today, he assumed she was just tired from military training and that perhaps talking about the past that afternoon had brought up painful memories. So, as soon as dinner was over, he urged her to go to her room and rest. Tan You, of course, wouldn’t refuse her grandfather’s kindness and readily went to her room.
Because she was about to face an unknown world, Tan You had prepared several different plans. No matter what situation she found herself in, or at what age, she had to consider every single aspect.
With the official start of school just one day away, Tan You delayed no longer. She finally set off to complete the first intermediate mission of her life.
