Chapter 8: Don’t Worry, I Don’t Like Wen Zhuqing

Out of the corner of her eye, Gu Jianing noticed that quite a few people in the fields had lifted their heads to watch. She knew that some rumors needed to be set straight.

“Zhao Weihong, it’s true that I fell into the water yesterday, but it was an accident—I slipped and fell. Who told you I jumped into the river for that Wen Zhiqing? Do you have any proof for what you’re saying? If not, I could accuse you of deliberately slandering me.” Gu Jianing spoke with confidence.

After all, whether she slipped or jumped, only she knew the truth.

“This story’s all over the village—everyone knows about it,” Zhao Weihong said, lifting her chin stubbornly.

“Oh? Then who’s spreading it? Let them come out and confront me and my family.” Gu Jianing crossed her arms and swept her gaze over the people in the fields.

Anyone she looked at quickly lowered their heads and pretended to be hard at work.

These rumors were only ever whispered in private, just gossip—no one would dare admit to spreading them openly. After all, Old Man Gu was the village chief, Gu’s third brother was the village accountant, and the eldest Gu couple—one was the primary school’s language teacher, the other now a factory worker. Now Gu Jianing seemed to be seeing a military officer. The whole Gu family had a bright future. Only a fool would side with the educated youth against the Gu family. What if the village chief made things difficult for them? What if they needed the Gu family’s help someday?

“Zhang Saozi, Aunt Qin…” Zhao Weihong called out the names of a few notorious village gossips—the very ones who’d been whispering in her ear just now.

But as soon as they heard their names, they all waved their hands. “No, no, don’t talk nonsense.”

“You guys!” Zhao Weihong stomped her foot, her face flushing red with anger.

Gu Jianing, who had expected this, raised her voice, “You say my third brother hit Wen Zhiqing—do you have any proof? Did Wen Zhiqing tell you that himself? If so, I’ll have my third brother confront him right now.” She remembered well that her third brother, if he wanted to beat someone up, always did it secretly, with a sack over their head.

“You’re saying I’m having an affair—so you think I’m involved with Wen Zhiqing? Are we dating? Engaged?”

Zhao Weihong thought for a moment, but couldn’t say a word. It seemed… it seemed none of that was true.

“So, none of that happened. Then what right do you have to question or slander me and my third brother?”

As if remembering something, Gu Jianing’s eyes grew a little red, and her voice took on a hint of aggrieved sweetness. “I was just following my father’s instructions, taking a bit more care of you educated youth living at the Zhiqing Point. Why would you misunderstand me like this?”

“If you ask me, the one who likes Wen Zhiqing is you, isn’t it?”

Zhao Weihong, exposed, turned beet red and flustered. “I—I…”

She wanted to deny it, but was afraid the rumor would get back to Wen Zhiqing and he’d think she didn’t like him.

“Forget it, I won’t argue with you anymore. You educated youth came to Huaihua Village to help build a new countryside. I hope you can set your hearts straight and stop stirring up so much trouble.”

Zhao Weihong: Huh? Who’s the one stirring up trouble? Isn’t it you? How did it suddenly become our fault?

But before Zhao Weihong could react, Gu Jianing had already walked off with the officer.

And the mood in the crowd had shifted.

The villagers who had been eavesdropping couldn’t help but mutter: Could they really have gotten it wrong? Gu Jianing doesn’t like Wen Zhiqing? She really just fell in by accident yesterday?

If Gu Jianing really liked Wen Zhiqing, there’s no way she’d be meeting another man today.

Everyone in the village knew Gu Jianing’s personality—if she didn’t want to do something, no one in the Gu family could force her.

But it was true that those educated youth liked to stir up trouble.

One by one, they were all restless types.

So now, the villagers’ gazes toward the educated youth grew unfriendly.

The other educated youth working in the fields sensed the change and started blaming Zhao Weihong.

Back at the corn pile, Zhao Weihong was so angry her eyes turned red. “I didn’t mean it like that!” She looked to Li Juan for help.

Li Juan patted her shoulder gently. “Weihong, I believe you.” But in her heart, she cursed her for being an idiot.

While comforting Zhao Weihong, Li Juan’s gaze lingered thoughtfully on Gu Jianing’s retreating figure.

Zhao Weihong really was useless—just a few words from Gu Jianing and she was completely shut down.

But…

What’s up with Gu Jianing?

She seems different, smarter, even. Is it just my imagination?

Meanwhile, Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi had somehow wandered into the primary school.

It was Sunday, so there were no classes, but the school was open.

Huaihua Primary School wasn’t big—just a few single-story buildings forming a courtyard, with a red flag flying in the center.

Gu Jianing turned, finally lifting her head, as if trying to read something from Sheng Zexi’s calm face, but found nothing. She could only ask nervously, “Don’t you have anything to ask about what just happened?”

Sheng Zexi was still thinking about how Gu Jianing had just acted like a little wildcat, baring her claws. At her question, he grew serious. “Gu Jianing, I just want to ask you one thing: Are you sincere about meeting me and wanting to marry me?”

Gu Jianing nodded without hesitation. “Of course.”

Sheng Zexi gently traced her eyes with his fingertip, making her feel a little ticklish. “Look at these bright eyes—so pretty, definitely not blind. You must know marrying me is the better choice.”

Gu Jianing shot him a glare, her delicate brows furrowing as she raised her little pink fist, pretending to punch him. “Sheng Zexi, there you go again, running your mouth and being so shameless.”

Sheng Zexi stepped back, dodging her fist. Seeing her all puffed up like a kitten, he couldn’t help but laugh, fist pressed to his lips. But he quickly straightened up and said seriously, “As long as you’re willing to live a good life with me, I won’t ask about anything else.”

He actually understood Gu Jianing quite well, and had guessed a lot, but he didn’t want to ask.

It felt like asking would just hurt himself. Even though he disliked that Wen Zhiqing, as long as Gu Jianing’s future belonged to him, that was enough.

“Comrade Gu Jianing, right here, under this red flag, I, Sheng Zexi, make a vow.”

“As long as you never betray me, I will never betray you. This promise will never change, not until the end of my life.”

“I know you don’t like me as much as I like you right now, but, Comrade Gu Jianing, if I do well, will you give me the same in return someday? Even if it takes time.”

If I give you enough love, I hope you’ll love me back—even if it takes time. I have the patience to wait.

The sky was blue, the red flag fluttered, as if witnessing the most beloved soldier of the people confessing his burning love and unwavering loyalty to his beloved.

Those bright, star-like eyes crashed into Gu Jianing’s, stirring up wave after wave in her heart.

Gu Jianing gave a little hum, but as she gazed into Sheng Zexi’s earnest eyes, she couldn’t help but reply, “Okay.”

Clenching her little fists, summoning her courage, Gu Jianing stepped forward and gently hugged the man’s lean waist. She could feel his body tense the moment she touched him.

“Don’t worry, I don’t like Wen Zhuqing.”

At least, not in this lifetime—not after being reborn. In fact, she was even planning to get back at him someday.

This, she had to make clear.

The petite girl in his arms, soft and fragrant, made Sheng Zexi fight to keep from grinning like a fool. He gently circled her with his arms, wanting to hug her tightly but not daring to, afraid of startling or hurting her.

“You’re my future wife now, of course you can’t like some pretty boy. Only someone dumb and empty-headed would fall for a guy like that. Don’t compare me to him—it’d only lower my standards.”

Gu Jianing, who in her past life had been fooled by Wen Zhuqing, dumb and empty-headed: I can’t take it anymore, I really want to hit this guy."