Chapter 5: Ningning, Are You Sure You Want to Meet with Zexi?

With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, Sheng Zexi closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

In his dreams, he seemed to return to those days at the Gu family home—a rare period of happiness since his mother’s passing.

When he woke up, it was already daylight.

He raised his hand to check the time: 6:30.

Sheng Zexi got up, washed, and put on his military uniform. Unlike before, when he would leave the buttons undone for comfort, this time he fastened them all neatly, looking much more proper and serious. He picked up the gifts and got in the car.

The engine started, kicking up a swirl of dust as he drove toward Huaihua Village.

—

“Ningning, get up and have breakfast.”

Gu Jianing was woken by her sister-in-law.

“Coming,” Gu Jianing replied, opening the door to see her sister-in-law standing there.

“Ningning, your big brother already had breakfast and went to work at the steel factory,” Yang Manman said, glancing at Gu Jianing.

Gu Jianing knew her sister-in-law was testing her, so she smiled and said, “That’s good. The job offer was something big brother earned by saving the factory director’s kidnapped grandson, and he passed the recruitment exam himself. The job should be his.”

Hearing this, Yang Manman breathed a sigh of relief. After all, yesterday, when her sister-in-law woke up after jumping into the river, she suddenly said she didn’t want her brother’s job anymore. The change was so drastic that Yang Manman was left confused, but it was a good thing.

This morning, her husband was still hesitating about whether to go to work, but she pushed him out the door and came to wake her sister-in-law—just to double-check.

Honestly, she was afraid her sister-in-law might change her mind after a night’s sleep. If she did, the job would definitely have to be given up—her husband was too soft-hearted and doted on his little sister.

Gu Jianing glanced around. Except for her big brother, who was at the steel factory, everyone else was home.

Her father, known as Old Gu, was the village head of Huaihua Brigade. Her mother, Yao Chunhua, managed the village pigsty. Her sister-in-law, Yang Manman, was the elementary school’s Chinese teacher, originally from the neighboring Guangming Brigade, and had married her big brother, Gu Yunting, for love.

Her second brother, Gu Yunnan, was tall and strong, a real hand at farm work. Last year, through a matchmaker, he married Su Miao from Lihua Brigade. At the end of last month, her second sister-in-law gave birth to a baby boy and was now in confinement.

Her third brother, Gu Yunzhou, became the village accountant right after graduating high school—he kept the books quickly and accurately.

“Come, Ningning, have some fish soup to nourish yourself. Your third brother caught this in the river this morning. Are you feeling alright?” As soon as Gu Jianing sat down, her mother brought over a big bowl of fish soup.

Gu Jianing shook her head and, feeling the warmth of her mother’s concern, replied, “I’m fine now. By the way, did Second Sister-in-law get some fish soup too?”

She hadn’t forgotten that her second sister-in-law was in confinement. The chicken meant for her yesterday had been killed, and she’d had chicken soup.

“Yes, Ningning, I just brought some to her. She had the chicken soup yesterday too,” Second Brother Gu Yunnan quickly replied, thinking to himself that his little sister seemed much more sensible since waking up after jumping into the river.

The Gu family all knew that Gu Jianing used to be a bit spoiled and willful, but with the whole family doting on her, it seemed normal for a young girl to be a little capricious sometimes.

Gu Jianing drank the fish soup with peace of mind. This time, her quick recovery was thanks to her family’s care, as well as the painkillers and sweet wine-boiled eggs Sheng Zexi had brought.

In her previous life, after jumping into the river, she developed a high fever, needed IV drips, and took three days to barely recover—leaving her with infertility as a lasting consequence.

“Ningning, are you sure you want to meet with that Zexi boy?” During breakfast, Yao Chunhua found a moment to ask.

At this, everyone in the Gu family looked over.

Gu Jianing knew she needed to explain clearly. She looked up and said, “Mom, after jumping into the river this time, I suddenly realized that I don’t like Comrade Wen that much anymore. And I think marrying him would be a real loss for me. He doesn’t have a job, can’t work in the fields, and who knows when he’ll get to go back to the city. If I marry him now, it’ll be up to me and our whole family to support him. It’s just not worth it.”

“As for big brother’s job, after he heard about it, he kept complaining to me about how hard farm work is and said he envied big brother for having a job. He even tried to talk me into asking for the job for him.” Gu Jianing bit her lip, her voice soft and aggrieved, head lowered like a wilted flower.

Yao Chunhua’s face darkened with anger. “I knew that kid was up to no good.”

“Exactly, little sister, you can’t marry someone like that. You’d end up getting sold off and still help him count the money,” Second Brother Gu Yunnan agreed.

Gu Yunzhou clenched his fists. Beating up that pretty boy yesterday was letting him off easy.

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I don’t like him anymore. I’d be better off marrying a military officer. Besides, Brother Sheng has stayed at our house before—you and Dad know his character best.”

As for how Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi met, it was because she found him injured and unconscious in the mountains and brought him home. Of course, she didn’t have the strength herself—her second brother carried him back.

She’d brought him home mainly because he was in a military uniform and she thought there might be some benefit.

Unexpectedly, after Sheng Zexi woke up, he stayed at their house for a while to recover, under the pretense of being her distant cousin, because of his mission.

Gu Jianing somewhat regretted bringing him back. Sheng Zexi was proud and sharp-tongued, and she’d often end up in tears after being scolded by him—she was actually a little afraid of him.

She’d always thought Sheng Zexi disliked her. After all, whenever she’d plucked up the courage to tease or flirt with him, he’d always been unmoved, even running away and scolding her.

Even after her death in her previous life, when she learned Sheng Zexi liked her, it still felt unreal.

But his visit and concern yesterday made it feel a bit more real.

The Gu family was shocked by Gu Jianing’s sudden change of heart, but they figured that a brush with death could really change a person’s outlook.

After breakfast, Gu Jianing went back to her room to get ready. Even if today was just a meeting, she wanted to look her best—actually, she wanted to look her best at all times.

It was winter, and most people wore cotton-padded jackets. Gu Jianing usually did too, but she thought they looked a bit old-fashioned. After some thought, 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. She styled her hair into a loose side braid.

She did have some makeup—her complexion was a bit pale, so she applied some blush and lipstick.

Admiring herself in the small mirror, Gu Jianing suddenly heard the sound of a car outside, followed by a commotion.

Realizing what was happening, her heart began to race with nervous anticipation.

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