With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, Sheng Zexi closed his eyes and fell asleep.
In his dream, it seemed he had returned to those days at the Gu Family's home, which were among his few happy times since his mother's death.
When he woke up, it was already daylight.
He raised his hand to check the time. Six thirty.
Sheng Zexi got up to wash and get dressed. He put on his military uniform; the buttons he used to leave undone while outside were now buttoned up tightly, making him look less casual and more serious and earnest. He picked up his gifts and got in the car.
The car started, kicked up a trail of dust, and headed toward Huaihua Village.
-
"Ningning, get up and have breakfast."
Ningning was woken up by her sister-in-law.
"Coming." Ningning opened the door and saw her sister-in-law right outside.
"Ningning, your big brother already had breakfast and has gone to work at the steel factory," Yang Manman said, glancing at Ningning.
Ningning understood that her sister-in-law was testing her, so she smiled and replied, "That's good. This job opening was earned by big brother—he saved the factory director's kidnapped grandson to get that information. Plus, he passed the recruitment exam himself. This job should rightfully be his."
Hearing this, Yang Manman let out a sigh of relief. Yesterday, after her sister-in-law woke up from jumping into the river, she suddenly said she no longer wanted her own man's job. Such a dramatic change left Yang Manman puzzled, but she figured it was a good thing.
Early this morning, her husband was still hesitating about whether or not to go to work, but she had pushed him out the door. She specifically came to call her sister-in-law to get up, just to double-check.
To be honest, she was really worried that her sister-in-law might change her mind after a night's sleep. If Ningning regretted her decision, the job would still have to be given up—after all, her old man was soft-hearted and doted on his sister.
Ningning glanced around. Except for big brother, who had gone to work at the steel factory, everyone else was at home.
Her father, known as Old Man Gu, was the village chief of Huaihua Team. Her mother, Yao Chunhua, managed the village pigsty. Her sister-in-law, Yang Manman, was the Chinese teacher at the village elementary school—she was from the neighboring Guangming Brigade and had married Big Brother Gu Yunting for love.
Second brother, Gu Yunan, was tall and strong, perfect for farm work. Last year, through a matchmaker, he married Su Miao from Lihua Team. At the end of last month, second sister-in-law Su Miao gave birth to a baby boy and was now doing her confinement.
Third brother, Gu Yunzhou, became the village accountant after graduating high school—he kept the books neatly and efficiently.
"Come, Ningning, have a bowl of fish soup first to nourish your body. Old third got up early and went to the river to catch them for you. Are you feeling alright?" As soon as Ningning sat down, her mother handed her a big bowl of fish soup.
Ningning shook her head and, facing her mother's deep concern, replied, "I'm already fine. By the way, does second sister-in-law have any of this fish soup?"
She hadn't forgotten that second sister-in-law was still in confinement, and the hen meant for her yesterday had been killed, so Ningning had the chicken soup.
"Yes, Ningning, I just brought some to second sister-in-law. She also had the chicken soup yesterday," second brother Gu Yunan said, thinking to himself that little sister seemed more sensible after waking up from the river incident.
Of course, the Gu Family all knew that Ningning used to be a bit pampered and willful, but with their whole family spoiling her, they thought it was quite normal for the young girl to act a bit capricious now and then.
Ningning drank the fish soup with peace of mind. This time, her speedy recovery was thanks to her family's care, as well as the painkillers and sweet wine eggs Sheng Zexi had brought her.
In her past life, after she jumped into the river, she came down with a high fever, then needed IVs, and it took three days of recovery before she barely improved, leaving her with infertility as a lasting problem.
"Ningning, are you sure you want to go through with meeting that Xixi boy?" While having breakfast, Yao Chunhua found a moment to ask.
The moment she asked, everyone in the Gu Family turned to look at her.
Ningning knew she had to make things clear, so she looked up at the family and said, "Mom, after jumping in the river this time, I suddenly realized something. I guess I don't like Wen Zhuqing that much anymore, and I actually think I'd lose out if I married him. He doesn't have a job, doesn't know how to farm, and who knows when he'll be able to return to the city. If I married him now, we'd just end up supporting him—and that's really not worth it."
"This job that big brother got, Wen Zhuqing kept complaining to me about how hard the farm work was, saying he envied big brother's job and urging me to ask for it." Ningning bit her lip a little, her sweet and aggrieved voice soft as she hung her head like a wilted flower.
Yao Chunhua gritted her teeth as soon as she heard that, anger flaring in her eyes. "I knew that kid had a bad heart."
"Yeah, little sister, you really can't marry someone like that. You'd be lucky if you weren't sold out and then still helped him count the money," second brother Gu Yunan chimed in supportively.
Gu Yunzhou quietly clenched his fists. Beating that pale pretty boy yesterday really wasn't enough.
"Mm, I get it. That's why I don't like him anymore. I think I'd be better off marrying a real officer. Besides, Brother Sheng lived with our family before—Mom and Dad, you both know his character best."
Speaking of it, Ningning and Sheng Zexi got to know each other because she rescued him when he was injured and unconscious in the mountains. Of course, she hadn't had the strength to carry him, so second brother brought him back on his back.
She had actually taken him back home because she noticed his military uniform and thought there would be benefits.
She hadn't expected that, after waking, Sheng Zexi would stay at their house for a while due to his mission, recovering from his injuries and pretending to be her distant cousin.
Ningning rather regretted taking him in, since Sheng Zexi was wild and sharp-tongued, making her cry now and then—she was a bit afraid of him.
For a long time, Ningning thought Sheng Zexi disliked her. After all, every time she got up the nerve to tease or flirt with him, he'd ignore her or even run away and yell at her.
Even after dying in her previous life and learning that Sheng Zexi liked her, she still found it hard to believe.
But yesterday, Sheng Zexi's visit and concern made his feelings seem much more real.
The Old Gu Family was shocked at Ningning's sudden change of heart, but figured it was normal for someone to rethink everything after a near-death experience.
After eating breakfast, Ningning went back to her room to start getting ready. Even if today were just for matchmaking, she thought, a girl should look good at any time.
It was winter, cold outside, and most people wore cotton-padded coats—so did Ningning most days. But thinking it looked a little rustic, she took out the camel-colored wool coat she'd saved up for, and put on a pair of little leather shoes.
The long wool coat made her look tall and elegant, and she styled her hair into a loose side braid.
Ningning actually had some makeup. Her complexion was a bit pale, so she added blush and lipstick.
Admiring herself in a little mirror for a while, Ningning suddenly heard a car pull up outside, followed by a burst of lively noise.
Realizing what it was, Ningning's heart pounded with nervousness.