Out of the corner of her eye, Gu Jia Ning noticed many people in the field looking up, and she knew that she had to set some rumors right.
"Zhao Weihong, it's true that I fell into the water yesterday, but it was an accidental slip. Who told you that I jumped into the river for Wen Zhiqing? Do you have any evidence for what you're saying? If not, I might sue you for deliberately damaging my reputation," Gu Jia Ning stated boldly.
Anyway, whether it was a slip or a jump, only she knew for sure.
"This story has spread all over the village. Everyone knows," Zhao Weihong raised her chin, unwilling to back down.
"Oh? Who's spreading this? Let them come out and confront me, along with my family." Gu Jia Ning crossed her arms and glanced at the people in the field.
The ones she glanced at quickly lowered their heads, pretending to focus on their work.
Those words, they only spread them privately as gossip, never admitting it publicly. After all, Old Man Gu is the village chief, Old Third Gu is the accountant, Eldest Gu's couple—one is the village primary school's language teacher, the other now a worker. And now Gu Jia Ning seems to be paired with a military officer. The whole Gu Family has a promising future. They would be foolish to abandon the Gu Family and stand by the youth from the city; what if Village Chief Gu made things hard for them, or if they needed the Gu Family's support in the future?
"Sister-in-law Zhang, Aunt Qin..." Zhao Weihong called out several names of the village's gossipy women, who had just been whispering in her ear.
Upon hearing their names, they all waved their hands, "No, no, don't say that."
"You all!" Zhao Weihong stomped her foot, her face flushed in anger, which was almost turning red.
Gu Jia Ning, who had anticipated this, confidently said, "You claim my third brother beat up Wen Zhiqing, do you have proof? Or did Wen Zhiqing tell you himself? If so, then I'll let my third brother confront him." She remembered that when her third brother disliked someone and wanted to beat them up, he liked to do it secretly by putting a sack over their head.
"You say I'm fooling around, do you think I'm having an affair with Wen Zhiqing? If so, am I dating him or already engaged?"
Zhao Weihong recalled and was momentarily speechless. It seemed, it seemed that neither was true.
"Neither, right? Since neither is true, on what basis are you questioning and defaming me and my third brother?"
Seeming to remember something, Gu Jia Ning's eyes reddened slightly, her soft voice carrying a hint of grievance, "I'm just taking care of you guys living at the youth spot on my father's instructions, why do you have to misinterpret me like this?"
"It seems you're the one who likes Wen Zhiqing, isn't that right?"
Zhao Weihong, having her feelings exposed, turned red and flustered, "I, I..."
Zhao Weihong subconsciously wanted to deny it, but feared the news would reach Wen Zhiqing, making him think she wasn't interested.
"Forget it, I won't argue with you. You youths are here in Huaihua Village to build a new rural area. I hope you can keep a straight heart and stop causing trouble."
Zhao Weihong: ? The one causing a lot of trouble is you, isn't it? How did it become our fault as city youths?
By the time Zhao Weihong reacted, Gu Jia Ning had already walked away with that military officer.
Meanwhile, the village's perspective had shifted.
The villagers who had been eavesdropping couldn't help but murmur. Had they gotten it wrong? Did Gu Jia Ning not like Wen Zhiqing? Was it truly an accidental fall into the water yesterday?
If Gu Jia Ning really liked Wen Zhiqing, she certainly wouldn't have been meeting with another man today.
The villagers all knew Gu Jia Ning's character; no one in the Gu Family could force her into something she didn't want.
However, it's true that those youths love causing trouble.
Each of them is restless.
As the villagers started looking at the city youths with suspicion, those toiling away in the field began blaming Zhao Weihong.
Returning to husking corn, Zhao Weihong's eyes reddened with anger, "I didn't mean it that way." She looked at Li Juan for help.
Li Juan patted Zhao Weihong's shoulder gently, "Weihong, I believe you," she said softly, while silently cursing her as a fool.
While comforting Zhao Weihong, Li Juan's sidelong glance was on Gu Jia Ning's departing figure, deep in thought.
Zhao Weihong really was useless, defeated by just a few words from Gu Jia Ning.
But...
What's the deal with Gu Jia Ning?
How come she feels different, like she's gotten smarter?
Is it just an illusion?
Disappearing from Li Juan's view, Gu Jia Ning and Sheng Zexi had unknowingly walked to the primary school.
It's Sunday today, and there are no classes, but the school is open.
Huaihua Primary School isn't big, comprising several single-story buildings surrounding a yard, in the center of which stands a flag fluttering in the wind.
Gu Jia Ning turned, finally lifted her head, hoping to discern something from the calm face of Sheng Zexi, but to no avail. She anxiously asked, "About what happened just now, don't you have anything to ask?"
Sheng Zexi recalled Gu Jia Ning's catlike tantrum and solemnly replied, "Gu Jia Ning, I only ask you this: Is your desire to marry me genuine?"
Without hesitation, Gu Jia Ning nodded, "Of course."
Sheng Zexi gently brushed a finger across her eye, tickling her slightly, "Look at those bright eyes. They're not blind for sure; marrying me is obviously a good choice."
Gu Jia Ning glared at him, her delicate eyebrows furrowed as she raised a small pink fist, ready to strike, "Sheng Zexi, there you go again! Your mouth's so cheeky, and your skin's so thick."
Sheng Zexi took a step back, dodging her little fist. Seeing her like a fluffed-up kitten, he couldn't help but hide a laugh behind his fist, then quickly composed himself and said seriously, "As long as you live well with me, that's all that matters. I won't ask about anything else."
In fact, he knew Gu Jia Ning quite well and had guessed a lot, but he chose not to ask.
He felt that asking would hurt him, even if he was annoyed by Wen Zhiqing. As long as Gu Jia Ning's future belonged to him, it was enough.
"Comrade Gu Jia Ning, now, here, in front of the red flag, I, Sheng Zexi, vow."
"As long as you remain true to me, I will never betray you. This promise stays for life, until my final breath."
"I know right now, you don't love me as much as I love you, but Comrade Gu Jia Ning, if I do well enough, in the future, could you give me the same in return? Even if it takes time."
If I give you enough love, I hope you can love me the same, even slowly. It's okay; I have the patience to wait.
The sky was blue, the flag fluttered, as if witnessing its beloved soldier pour out passionate love and unwavering loyalty to his partner.
Those sparkling eyes hit Gu Jia Ning's gaze, spreading waves through her heart.
Gu Jia Ning hummed softly, but staring into Sheng Zexi's earnest eyes, she couldn't help but agree, "Okay."
Clenching her small fists, Gu Jia Ning gathered courage, stepped forward, and gently hugged the man's lean waist, feeling his body tense up the moment she did.
"Rest assured, I don't like Wen Ziqing."
At least, since her rebirth, she wouldn't like him in this lifetime, and she even wanted to find time to get back at him.
This point needed clarifying.
The petite girl in his arms, surrounded by a soft fragrance, Sheng Zexi tried hard to suppress his wildly rising lips, gently circling his arms, hesitant to hug too tightly for fear of startling her or causing any discomfort.
"You're going to be my future wife. Of course, you can't like some pretty boy. Only someone dim and clueless would be tricked by that pretty boy. Don't compare me to that pretty boy; it would devalue my class."
Gui Jia Ning from a past life, tricked by Wen Zhqing, dim and clueless: That's it, can't hold back any longer, really want to hit this man.