Chapter 595 - 594: What Is a Journalist (4)

After the village chief finished speaking, Fang Yulan, in the crowd, wanted to retort that they had Zhao Wenming, but she lacked the confidence to say anything.

She truly wanted to refute him with confidence, but a glance at the television set made the words die in her throat.

As much as she hated to admit it, Su Li really was the only university student in all the surrounding villages, and she had even been the city’s top scholar back in the day.

In truth, Su Li had always been brilliant. It was only due to various personal reasons that they had deliberately ignored her accomplishments.

Driven by jealousy, they had spoken sourly of Su Li. They didn’t really know what a journalist was, but they’d never bothered to find out, choosing instead to deliberately belittle the profession.

And now, just as they were questioning if being a journalist was as good as being a teacher or a factory worker, Su Li had appeared on television, powerfully showing them exactly what a journalist was in her own way.

Whether it was better than being a teacher or a worker was a matter of personal opinion, but it was certainly not something to be deliberately slandered and belittled.

Su Li’s segment was very short. She was gone in a flash, and soon the news broadcast ended, but the people of Xinghua Village remained stunned, unable to process what they had just seen.

They were truly dumbfounded, utterly astonished, because Su Li had just appeared on the television—that rare, incredible, highly-prized object.

She appeared on TV! My god.

The shock of that moment was something the people of Xinghua Village would not forget for a long time.

Though they were unwilling to admit it, a sense of awe—and fear—had taken root deep in their hearts.

From then on, whenever they mentioned Su Li, they no longer deliberately disparaged her. And after that, if they happened to see her by chance, their eyes would hold that same look of awe.

This reverence would persist, and even deepen, with every future appearance Su Li made on television.

Aunt Li stood in the crowd and swallowed hard. She wanted to say something, but no words came out.

The TV drama that half the village had been following finally started. Usually, everyone would be excited, their eyes glued to the screen, but tonight, they were all somewhat distracted.

After a good while, everyone’s attention finally returned to the television.

Meanwhile, at the Tang Family home, Tang Yuanxiao tucked Mrs. Tang into bed. He then took the soiled trousers and bedding she had used that day and headed toward the river.

Flashlight in hand, Tang Yuanxiao washed them in the river.

By the time he finished, his hands were completely frozen. After hanging the laundry to dry, Tang Yuanxiao dried his hands and rubbed them together for warmth, then stepped out of the Tang Family home under the faint moonlight.

He stood in the quiet of the night, staring blankly ahead for a moment.

This was his farewell. He was saying goodbye to his hometown once again.

He was saying his goodbyes, but his mind couldn’t help but drift to Su Li.

He remembered the brief time they had spent together when he returned to visit family.

His gaze drifted unconsciously to the apricot trees not far away.

’The apricot blossoms... are blooming again.’

Tang Yuanxiao’s mind conjured the image of Su Li under the apricot tree back then, with petals fluttering around her in the sunset.

’So beautiful...’

Tang Yuanxiao closed his eyes and let out a breath.

He would probably never forget the way Su Li looked at that moment for the rest of his life.

He didn’t want to forget it, either. It was one of his few beautiful memories, one he wanted to cherish forever.

Tang Yuanxiao glanced toward the threshing ground and was about to head back to the Tang Family home when he heard a commotion coming from the village chief’s house nearby.

"Teacher Su was on TV!"

"Teacher Su is so pretty."

During the commercial break, the children ran outside—some to pee, others just to run around wildly.

Tang Yuanxiao’s steps faltered, and then he broke into a run.

"Su... Was your Teacher Su on TV?"

When the children nodded affirmatively, Tang Yuanxiao hurried into the village chief’s house.

Commercials were playing on the television; there was no sign of Su Li.

Tang Yuanxiao froze for a moment, then looked awkwardly at the crowd of people filling the main room and the courtyard.

"Yuanxiao, you’re here to watch TV too? Come, sit." The village chief recovered and beckoned to Tang Yuanxiao, handing him a stool he had made himself.

Unable to refuse, Tang Yuanxiao sat down awkwardly.

Everyone greeted Tang Yuanxiao one after another, until the TV drama began.

The drama started, but there was no Su Li.

Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes were on the television, but his gaze was vacant. It was clear he wasn’t paying any attention to the show.

The village chief glanced at Tang Yuanxiao a few times. Knowing what he was hoping to see, he leaned in and whispered.

"Su Li was on just now, but she won’t be on again."

Tang Yuanxiao nodded awkwardly and mumbled a reply.

He stayed for a little while longer before making an excuse and leaving.

Returning to the pitch-black Tang Family home, Tang Yuanxiao looked up at the sky, at the countless stars scattered across the night. His gaze locked onto the brightest one.

"You finally... got to shine..."

Su Li was like that star in the sky; she was finally shining brightly.

Wu Sheng was saying something similar.

"My Su Li, she shines brightly wherever she goes."

When Su Li started her internship at the television station, Wu Sheng had anticipated that she would likely be just as formidable as she was at the newspaper office.

So, he had made an agreement with Su Li early on: if she was going to appear on television, she had to tell him in advance so he could be ready to record it.

After Su Li started her internship, Wu Sheng went ahead and bought a set of TV recording equipment, just so he could record and save her on-screen appearances.

Su Li couldn’t win the argument against him, so she agreed with a smile and later told him when it would happen.

When the news aired the next day, Wu Sheng found a way to record it.

Tang Mo was very envious. He wanted to record it too, but Su Li felt one copy was enough, so she didn’t let him buy the equipment.

Although Tang Mo was disappointed, he was still obedient and just watched attentively at home.

While the people of Xinghua Village were in a state of shocked jealousy, Wu Sheng and Wu Qihua had already praised Su Li in a thousand different ways, talking until their mouths were dry.

At home, Wu Qihua played the videotape of Su Li’s appearance on repeat. Wu Sheng also showed it off smugly to others. The pride in their eyes was impossible to hide.

Of course, everyone else played along and showered them with compliments.

They genuinely thought Su Li was incredible.

Wu Sheng also broadcasted the news with great fanfare at his military base, singing her praises endlessly.

With all this, the talk about Su Li not being good enough for Wu Sheng died down significantly.

It hadn’t vanished completely, but there was truly much less of it.

The news of Wu Sheng and Su Li’s official engagement was no longer a secret either.

Li Xian and Ye Xilan had also heard about it long ago.

Regarding the engagement, Li Xian had complicated feelings. He felt both relieved and regretful. The relief was natural—he was glad Wu Sheng was finally settling down, and Su Li was a good kid.

The regret, of course, was because he couldn’t attend the engagement ceremony and could only offer his silent blessings.

While Li Xian was relieved, Ye Xilan was extremely dissatisfied.

Because Li Xian had warned her, Ye Xilan didn’t dare cause any trouble, but her internal dissatisfaction was practically overflowing.

Even though that incident had happened with Bai Xinyue, and Bai Xinyue wasn’t a suitable match, Su Li wasn’t either!

If not Bai Xinyue, there could be a Li Xinyue or a Zhao Xinyue! In any case, with Wu Sheng’s status, he should have a wife who was a good match in terms of social standing, not someone like Su Li!

’Having a bad family background is one thing, but she’s also divorced and comes with baggage. It’s simply unbearable.’

Ye Xilan was dissatisfied with Su Li as a person. Even after Su Li published more news articles and appeared on television, Ye Xilan remained dissatisfied.

No matter how outstandingly Su Li performed, the fact that she had been married before would always be a point of dissatisfaction.

This was prejudice, a deeply ingrained idea, just like how in ancient times, even a princess would be considered an unsatisfactory match if she had been married before.