Chapter 4

Xie Huaxiang remembered clearly that her father, Xie Yiping, had gone out to look for Shen Tingsheng after throwing a tantrum at home. He had searched the bus and train stations, and had even gone to all the guest houses nearby, but he could not find him.

After that, he had no other choice. With Xie Yiping's honest character, it was impossible for him to take ten days to half a month off from the factory and travel thousands of miles to look for Shen Tingsheng.

Thus, this matter was left unsettled.

At that time, Xie Huaxiang's attention was focused on Jung Yongcheng, that scumbag, and did not pay much attention to this matter. It was all in the past.

After that, it was a casual joke. Xie Yiping said that if they were in the olden days, Xie Huaxiang would have to keep her promise and marry into the countryside of Yunnan. However, she did not know how to do any work. If she went to the countryside, she would be despised by her mother-in-law.

Xie Huaxiang was curious. After asking, Xie Yiping told her about the past.

It was said that when Grandpa Xie joined the army, he passed by Yunnan. He was not used to the humid and hot climate there, so he suddenly fell ill. In order to speed up the march, the army left him in a farmer's house in the mountains to recuperate. At that time, he was on the verge of death. Fortunately, the owner of the farmer's house, Shen Laohuan, carried him on his back and traveled more than 30 miles overnight to seek medical treatment. Only then did he save his life.

Before leaving, Grandpa Xie and his savior, who was also the owner of the Shen Family, Shen Laohuan, exchanged tokens of trust with each other. They agreed that after they had children in the future, they would become in-laws. In the end, both families gave birth to sons, so this agreement was left to the third generation.

Grandpa Xie was a very trustworthy person. He had never forgotten his savior's family. When Xie Huaxiang was born, Grandpa Xie was very happy. This was because the Shen Family gave birth to a boy three years ago, and Grandpa Xie even named him. When this girl was born, wouldn't the two families be able to fulfill their promise of marriage?

Thus, Grandpa Xie quickly wrote a letter to the Shen Family and told them about this matter. He repeatedly reminded them that when the children of the two families were of age, they must remember to come and propose marriage.

In fact, the Xie Family never received a reply from the other party. They were far away, so they didn't know whether the Shen Family had received it or not. As time passed, they gradually stopped mentioning this matter. After Grandpa Xie passed away, Xie Yiping never mentioned this matter to her daughter.

Although Hu Aichun had heard about this matter, he boasted that he was a person of the new era. He didn't care about these feudal dross at all. Thus, he had long forgotten that the older generation had once arranged a marriage for his daughter. Recently, Xie Huaxiang was at home looking for a job. Thinking about it, she was already 18 years old this year. If she found a partner to date for two years, she would be 20 years old. It was just the right age to get a marriage certificate. Thus, she was asking her colleagues all over the world to help introduce her to a partner.

Suddenly, a poor country boy came to the door and took out a piece of cloth, saying that it was a token of trust. Hu Aichun directly treated him as a liar and picked up a broom to chase him out.

When Hu Aichun heard the news and rushed back, the young man was long gone. In a fit of anger, he quarreled with his wife, blaming her for chasing away his father's savior.

At that time, Xie Huaxiang, who heard her parents quarrel, was on Hu Aichun's side. A person who hadn't contacted her for decades suddenly came to her door and took out a piece of cloth, saying that it was a token of trust. Who would believe him?

Moreover, Xie Huaxiang was also a person who had received a new education. When she heard the word "engagement," the first thing that came to her mind was feudal persecution and oppression of women. She was full of disgust. Moreover, the young people around her advocated free love. If her friends knew that she had a feudal arranged marriage, they would laugh at her to death!

At that time, Xie Huaxiang secretly rejoiced in her heart. Fortunately, her mother was strong enough to chase him away. Otherwise, if he really wanted to force her to return the favor, it would be enough to give the Lao Xie family a headache.

That boy surnamed Shen was tactful. After he failed to come to her house the first time, he never came again. Xie Huaxiang gradually forgot about this matter.

If it weren't for the things that happened later, Xie Huaxiang might not have remembered that she had ever heard the name Shen Tingsheng.

It was ten years later that she actually met Shen Tingsheng.

At that time, Xie Huaxiang had suffered the hardships of life. Her husband cheated on her best friend, she was divorced, she lost her job, and her parents were laid off one after another. She was tortured emotionally and financially. She was forced to change from a rich young lady who didn't know the hardships of the world to a haggard old woman who was fussy about daily necessities.

When she was forced into a desperate situation, Xie Huaxiang started a business. She started by pushing a small cart on the street to sell breakfast and supper. Slowly, her business improved. She had just bought a shop on the old street and was preparing to officially open a restaurant when suddenly, an accident happened.

The family of three was in a car accident when they went out. Her parents were seriously injured and unconscious. Xie Huaxiang's cheeks were disfigured because of broken glass. At that time, she urgently needed a large amount of medical fees. However, the driver ran away from the accident. Xie Huaxiang took out all her family's savings and couldn't afford the medical fees.

Xie Huaxiang shamelessly called her ex-husband, Jung Yongcheng, to ask for help. However, not only was he not willing to help, he also severely insulted her. At that time, an elegant and refined man suddenly appeared and solved this urgent problem for her.

This man was Shen Tingsheng. At that time, he was already a famous farmer and entrepreneur. The enterprise group he founded was the leader of the province's tax payers. He had been widely publicized on newspapers and television many times. He stood at a height that ordinary people like Xie Huaxiang couldn't reach.

Although he received timely treatment, Xie Huaxiang's father passed away because of his serious injuries. Although Hu Aichun was saved, she suffered a great blow from losing her husband. Her physical injuries were also very serious. After that, she was bedridden for a few years. A few years later, she sadly passed away.

After suffering such a heavy blow, Xie Huaxiang once had the thought of committing suicide. For so many years, it was Shen Tingsheng who had been by her side. He helped her walk out of her self-enclosed world bit by bit and showed her a bigger and better world. He also spared no effort to help her. From a small fast food restaurant, she became the president of a famous chain of restaurants.

It could be said that Shen Tingsheng was Xie Huaxiang's benefactor. Without him, Xie Huaxiang wouldn't have been able to walk out of the valley and live a self-reliant and successful life.

At that time, Shen Tingsheng was really a hot eligible bachelor. Not only did he have a successful career, but he also sat on a family fortune of hundreds of millions. He was also very handsome, had good taste, good temperament, and kept himself clean. His reputation was also very good.

His personality was also very good. He was cheerful and humorous. Getting along with him was like a spring breeze.

As a woman who stayed by his side all year round, how could such an outstanding man not fall in love with him?

For so many years, Shen Tingsheng hadn't been married. It seemed that he didn't have a close woman by his side. Sometimes, Xie Huaxiang felt that there might be someone in his heart. Maybe he had been emotionally hurt before, so he closed his heart. Sometimes, she felt that it was enough for him to have a career. He didn't put his thoughts on romantic relationships at all. No matter how outstanding the women who appeared by his side were, they were far from worthy of him.

However, Xie Huaxiang never dared to ask, nor did she dare to reveal her feelings. Even if it was a little bit related to this topic, she couldn't wait to run away.

She felt inferior, not only because she had been divorced, but also because of the aftereffects of the car accident. Her face couldn't be completely restored even after many plastic surgeries. She could calmly stand in front of the camera and show her damaged face to the national audience in front of the TV. However, she never dared to dream that Shen Tingsheng, who was like a prince charming, would fall in love with her like this.

In fact, now that she thought about it, the bits and pieces of their daily interactions showed that Shen Tingsheng actually liked her. However, at that time, she was too sensitive and too paranoid. She stubbornly hid in her shell and refused to come out. She was too unapproachable. Shen Tingsheng was afraid of scaring her, so he never officially revealed his feelings to her.

It wasn't until the moment before she died that she realized that the two of them had missed each other for so many years when Shen Tingsheng revealed his true feelings.

"Ouch!"

Xie Huaxiang, who was immersed in her memories, suddenly felt a sharp pain in her arm. It turned out that Hu Aichun was pinching her arm. As he pinched, he muttered, "Stupid girl, we were talking. Why are you in a daze? I called you a few times, but you didn't respond."

"Ah?

What? "

Xie Huaxiang was still in a daze. Scenes of the past flashed through her mind like a merry-go-round. Her mood was as hot as boiling water. In her previous life, she could be considered to have experienced the vicissitudes of life. Although she still looked like a young girl who didn't know much about the world, in fact, she was already an old auntie with a heart that had experienced the vicissitudes of life.

"Didn't you just say that there are guests at home? How many are there?"

Although Hu Aichun was a little unwilling, he didn't want to lose face in front of outsiders. Therefore, he was already thinking about what to buy at Tong Fu Alley so that he could spend less money and still be presentable.

Xie Huaxiang said, "It's just Shen Tingsheng. But let me tell you, my father values him a lot. If you don't treat him well, my father will definitely be angry."

It seemed that Hu Aichun was the one in charge of the Xie family. Xie Yiping obediently listened to his wife. In fact, Xie Yiping was the backbone of the family. Hu Aichun still relied on him a lot.

This could be seen from Xie Yiping's death in her previous life. From then on, Hu Aichun couldn't find the meaning of living anymore. Every day, he lived in a daze like a walking corpse. After a few years, he passed away.