From the corner of her eye, Gu Jia Ning saw many people in the field looking up. She knew she had to turn the tide of public opinion.
“Zhao Weihong, it's true that I fell into the water yesterday, but I accidentally fell. Who told you I jumped into the river for Wen Zhiqing? Do you have any evidence to support your claim? If not, I will sue you for defamation," Gu Jia Ning said confidently.
Only she herself knew whether it was an accident or a deliberate act of jumping into the river.
“The whole village knows about this,” Zhao Weihong retorted, lifting her chin defiantly.
“Oh, who is spreading this rumor? Let them come out and confront me and my family,” Gu Jia Ning said, arms crossed, her eyes scanning the people in the field.
Those who were caught by her gaze quickly lowered their heads, pretending to work diligently.
They only spread those rumors in private, as gossip. They would never admit it publicly. Old Man Gu is the village chief, Third Brother Gu is the accountant, and the eldest brother Gu and his wife are, respectively, the elementary school’s Chinese teacher and a worker. Now, Gu Jia Ning seems to be on a blind date with an officer. The Gu family's future looks bright. They would be foolish to abandon the Gu family and side with the Intellectual Youths. What if Village Chief Gu makes things difficult for them? What if they need the Gu family's help in the future?
“Sister-in-law Zhang, Aunt Qin…” Zhao Weihong called out the names of several gossipy villagers. They were the ones who had been whispering about her.
Upon hearing their names, those people waved their hands repeatedly, “No, no, don’t say that.”
“You!” Zhao Weihong stamped her foot, her face reddening in anger.
Gu Jia Ning, who had anticipated this, raised her voice, “You say my Third Brother beat Wen Zhiqing. Do you have any evidence? Or did Wen Zhiqing tell you personally? If so, I will have my Third Brother and him confront each other.” She remembered that her Third Brother liked to ambush people he disliked.
“You say I am having an affair. Do you think Wen Zhiqing and I have a relationship? Are we dating or engaged?”
Zhao Weihong paused, momentarily speechless. It seemed… it seemed that neither was true.
“Neither, right? Since neither is true, why are you questioning me and slandering me and my Third Brother?”
As if remembering something, Gu Jia Ning’s eyes turned slightly red, and her soft voice carried a hint of grievance, “I just took extra care of you at the Intellectual Youth Point because my father asked me to, why do you misunderstand me like this?”
“I think you’re the one who likes Wen Zhiqing.”
Zhao Weihong’s face turned red, becoming flustered, “I, I…”
Zhao Weihong instinctively wanted to deny it, but she was afraid that if her words reached Wen Zhiqing, he might think she didn’t like him.
“Forget it, I won’t argue with you. You Intellectual Youths are here to build a new countryside in Huaihua Village. I hope you’ll set your minds right and stop causing so much trouble.”
Zhao Weihong: ? You’re the one causing trouble! Why are we Intellectual Youths at fault?
But before Zhao Weihong could react, Gu Jia Ning had already walked away with the officer.
The atmosphere had changed.
The villagers, who had been eavesdropping, murmured, “Did we get it wrong? Gu Jia Ning doesn’t like Wen Zhiqing? Did she accidentally fall into the water yesterday?”
If Gu Jia Ning really liked Wen Zhiqing, she wouldn’t be on a blind date with another man today.
The villagers all knew Gu Jia Ning's personality. She couldn't be forced into anything she didn't want to do by anyone in her family.
However, it's true that those Intellectual Youths like to cause trouble.
They're all restless.
Thus, the villagers' eyes toward the Intellectual Youths turned unfriendly.
Other Intellectual Youths working in the field noticed the change and blamed Zhao Weihong.
Zhao Weihong, back to shucking corn, her eyes red with anger, said, “I didn’t, that’s not what I meant.” She looked to Li Juan for help.
Li Juan patted Zhao Weihong’s shoulder, her voice gentle, “Weihong, I believe you.” In her heart, she cursed her for being stupid.
While comforting Zhao Weihong, Li Juan glanced at Gu Jia Ning’s departing figure, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
Zhao Weihong was so useless. Gu Jia Ning had shut her down with just a few words.
However…
What was wrong with Gu Jia Ning?
She seemed different, smarter?
Was it just an illusion?
Gu Jia Ning, disappearing from Li Juan's sight, had unknowingly walked with Sheng Ze Xi to the elementary school.
It was Sunday, so the elementary school wasn't in session, but the building was open.
Huaihua Elementary School wasn't large. A few small houses formed a courtyard, with a red flag standing tall in the center, fluttering in the breeze.
Gu Jia Ning turned around, lifting her head which had been bowed, seemingly trying to read something from Sheng Ze Xi's unruffled expression, but failing. She anxiously asked, “About what just happened, don’t you want to ask anything?”
Sheng Ze Xi was still recalling how Gu Jia Ning had just been playfully clawing at him like a kitten. Hearing her question, he became serious and said, “Gu Jia Ning, I only ask you, is your intention to go on a blind date with me and marry me genuine?”
Gu Jia Ning nodded without hesitation, “Of course.”
Sheng Ze Xi lightly traced his finger across her eyes, bringing a slight itch. “Look, your eyes are so bright and beautiful, definitely not blind. You must know it’s better to marry me.”
Gu Jia Ning glared at him, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. She raised her small fist, pretending to hit him, “Sheng Ze Xi, you're so annoying and thick-skinned.”
Sheng Ze Xi stepped back, avoiding her small fist. Looking at her like a puffed-up kitten, he couldn’t help but lightly cover his mouth with his fist and chuckle, but quickly resumed his serious demeanor, “As long as you and I live a good life together, I won’t ask anything else.”
Actually, he understood Gu Jia Ning very well and had guessed a lot, but he didn't want to ask.
He felt that asking would only hurt his heart. Though he disliked Wen Zhiqing, as long as Gu Jia Ning's future belonged to him, it was enough.
“Comrade Gu Jia Ning, here, under this flag, I, Sheng Ze Xi, swear an oath.”
“As long as you don't betray me, I will never betray you. These words will remain unchanged for the rest of my life, until the end of my days.”
“I know you don't love me as much as I love you now, but Comrade Gu Jia Ning, if I do well, please give me the same response in the future. Even if it’s slow.”
If I give you enough love, I hope you can love me too, even if it takes time, it's okay, I have enough patience to wait.
The sky was blue, the red flag fluttered, as if witnessing the love between its beloved people's soldiers and their spouse, whispering their passionate love and unwavering loyalty.
Those bright eyes suddenly collided with Gu Jia Ning's, spreading to her heart, stirring wave after wave of emotions within her.
Gu Jia Ning softly snorted, but looking at Sheng Ze Xi's earnest eyes, she couldn't help but reply, “Okay.”
Clenching her small fist, Gu Jia Ning, summoning her courage, walked closer and gently embraced the man's lean waist. She could feel the man's body tense the moment she hugged him.
“Don’t worry, I don’t like Wen Zhuqing.”
At least, after rebirth, she wouldn't like him in this life. She even planned to take revenge on him.
She needed to make this clear.
With the petite girl in his arms, filled with a soft and sweet fragrance, Sheng Ze Xi tried to suppress the corners of his mouth from rising wildly. He gently wrapped his arms around her, wanting to hug her but afraid to, afraid of being abrupt, or hurting her, or scaring her.
“You’re my future wife, of course you can’t like other Good Cops. Only someone stupid and foolish would be fooled by a Good Cop. Don't compare me to that Good Cop; it lowers my status.”
Gu Jia Ning, who had been fooled by Wen Zhuqing in her previous life, stupid and foolish: I can't take it anymore, I really want to hit this guy.
"