Out of the corner of her eye, Gu Jia Ning noticed quite a few people in the fields lifting their heads to watch. She knew, some things, she had to set straight.
"Zhao Weihong, it's a fact I fell in the water yesterday, but I slipped and fell by accident. Who told you I jumped into the river over that Wen Zhuqing? Do you have any proof for that? If not, I could sue you for intentionally slandering my reputation," Gu Jia Ning said with confidence.
After all, only she knew if she slipped or jumped.
"This is all over the village, who doesn't know about it?" Zhao Weihong lifted her chin, refusing to back down.
"Oh? Who's been spreading it? Have them come out and confront me and my family face to face." Gu Jia Ning crossed her arms, her eyes sweeping over the people in the fields.
The people caught in her gaze all quickly lowered their heads, pretending to focus on their work.
Those things, they only spread in private, just for talk, who'd dare admit aloud? Old Man Gu was the village chief, Old Third Gu was the accountant, Eldest Gu and his wife—one was the primary school's Chinese teacher, the other was now a worker—and now Gu Jia Ning was rumored to be seeing an officer. The whole Gu Family had a bright future ahead. You'd be stupid to side against them and stick your neck out for the educated youth. What if the Village Chief held it against you later? Or what if you needed help from the Gu Family someday?
"Sister in law Zhang, Aunt Qin…" Zhao Weihong rattled off the names of a few village women known for gossip—those were the ones whispering around her just now.
Hearing their names, they all waved their hands, "No, no, you better not talk nonsense."
"You all—!" Zhao Weihong stomped her foot, her face already dark turning red with anger.
Gu Jia Ning had expected this, full of poise, and raised her voice, "You say my third brother beat up Wen Zhuqing, do you have any proof? Or did Wen Zhuqing tell you himself? If he did, then let him and my third brother confront each other." She remembered well, her third brother always did things on the sly—if he didn't like someone and wanted to beat them, he'd throw a sack over their head in secret.
"You say I'm being promiscuous—so you think I've got something going on with Wen Zhuqing? Are we dating, or even engaged?"
Zhao Weihong thought for a moment and came up empty. It really…didn't seem so.
"No, right? So if it's none of that, why are you questioning me and slandering me and my brother?"
As if remembering something, Gu Jia Ning's eyes turned a little red, her soft voice carrying a bit of grievance, "All I ever did was look after you guys at the Educated Youth Station a little more, because my dad told me to… How did things become so twisted?"
"Looks to me like the one who likes Wen Zhuqing is you."
The moment she was called out, Zhao Weihong's dark face turned bright red and she started fidgeting, "I—I…"
Zhao Weihong wanted to deny it on reflex, but was scared Wen Zhuqing would hear and think she didn't like him after all.
"Forget it, I won't argue with you folks. You educated youth came to Huaihua Village to build a new countryside, didn't you? Hope you can keep your minds on that instead of stirring up trouble all the time."
Zhao Weihong: What? Who's stirring up trouble here, isn't it you? How did this suddenly become our fault?
Before Zhao Weihong could come back to herself, Gu Jia Ning had already walked off with that officer by her side.
And the tone of the crowd had changed already.
The villagers who'd been pricking up their ears to eavesdrop started mumbling—had they really gotten it wrong? Gu Jia Ning didn't like Wen Zhuqing? Did she really just slip and fall in the river yesterday?
If Gu Jia Ning really liked Wen Zhuqing, there's no way she'd be out here today being matched with some other comrade.
Everyone in the village knew Gu Jia Ning's character. If she didn't want something, not a single one of the Gu Family could force her.
But honestly, the educated youth making trouble, that part's definitely true.
Every single one of them just can't sit still.
So, the way the villagers looked at the educated youth grew less and less friendly.
The other people from the Educated Youth Station toiling in the field felt the shift too, and they all started blaming Zhao Weihong.
Zhao Weihong, going back to husking corn, was so furious her eyes were red. "I didn't, it's not what I meant." She looked at Li Juan, seeking help.
Li Juan patted Zhao Weihong's shoulder, her voice gentle, "Weihong, I believe you." But inside she muttered, idiot.
While comforting Zhao Weihong, Li Juan's gaze lingered on Gu Jia Ning's departing figure, a look of contemplation crossing her face.
Zhao Weihong really was useless—just a few words and Gu Jia Ning shut her down completely.
But…
What's with this Gu Jia Ning?
How come she seems so different, like she's gotten smarter?
Is it just my imagination?
Outside Li Juan's line of sight, Gu Jia Ning and Sheng Zexi had unknowingly wandered into the primary school.
It was Sunday, no classes, but the school was open.
Huaihua Primary School was small, a few bungalows enclosing a yard, with a red flag flapping in the wind at the center.
Gu Jia Ning turned, finally lifting her head, as if trying to read something on Sheng Zexi's calm face but finding nothing. Anxious, she asked, "About what just happened… don't you want to ask me anything?"
Sheng Zexi was still savoring Gu Jia Ning's feisty, cat-like antics just now. At her question, he schooled his expression, and grew serious. "Gu Jia Ning, I only want to ask you—are you seeing me because you genuinely want to marry me?"
Gu Jia Ning nodded without hesitation, "Of course."
Sheng Zexi's fingertip gently brushed her eyelids, sending a little tingle. "Look, your eyes are so bright and beautiful, you're not blind. You clearly know marrying me is the best choice."
Gu Jia Ning shot him a glare, dainty brows scrunching up, waving a little pink fist at him. "Sheng Zexi, there you go again, always mouthing off, thick-skinned as ever."
Sheng Zexi stepped back to dodge her fist, watching her bristle like a fluffy cat. He had to press his hand against his lips to stifle a laugh, but quickly collected himself and said earnestly, "As long as we live well together, that's enough for me. I won't ask about the rest."
Truthfully, knowing Gu Jia Ning as well as he did, he'd guessed plenty, but he didn't want to ask.
It felt like asking would just put a knife through his own heart. Even if he didn't like this Wen Zhuqing guy, as long as Gu Jia Ning's future belonged to him, that was enough.
"Comrade Gu Jia Ning, right now, here, beneath this red flag, I, Sheng Zexi, make a vow."
"So long as you don't fail me, I'll never fail you. Those are my words for this life, unchanged until my last breath."
"I know right now you don't like me as much as I like you, but, Comrade Gu Jia Ning, if I do well enough, I hope you'll give me the same in return. Even if it takes time, that's okay."
If I can give you enough love, I hope you'll love me in return—even if it takes time, I don't mind. I have all the patience in the world to wait for you.
The sky was a deep blue, the red flag fluttered, as if silently witnessing its dearest people's soldier confessing his unwavering love and loyalty to his girl.
Those bright, starry eyes collided into Gu Jia Ning's, sweeping right down into her heart, stirring up wave after wave inside her chest.
Gu Jia Ning gave a soft grunt, but when she met Sheng Zexi's serious gaze, she couldn't hold back. "Okay," she replied.
Clenching her little fists, Gu Jia Ning mustered her courage, stepped forward, and hugged his lean waist. She could feel, for a moment, the man's whole body tense up.
"Don't worry, I don't like Wen Zhuqing."
At least, not in this life after being reborn; she wouldn't ever again. In fact, she was still looking for an opportunity to get back at him.
This, she figured, needed to be made clear.
A tiny girl in his arms, all soft and fragrant, Sheng Zexi did his best to keep his grin in check as he gently circled her with his arms—wanting to squeeze her tight but not daring to, afraid to startle her, or hurt her, or scare her off.
"You're already my wife-to-be, of course you can't go liking some pretty boy. Only someone real dumb, real clueless would let themselves get tricked by that pretty face. Don't you dare compare me to him, it'll make me look bad."
The Gu Jia Ning of her previous life—duped by Wen Zhuqing, gullible and foolish, head empty as a shell—thought: That's it, I really can't take it, I want to punch this man so badly.