Chapter 16

Before dawn, the Shuangshui Brigade's broadcast sounded on time.

Su Qianqian and Zhou Wenfang couldn't take it anymore, so they asked for leave and planned to go to the county to have a good time.

They washed their hair and changed into beautiful dresses. Just as they sat down on the bus, they saw several young men in Zhongshan suits looking in their direction constantly.

One of them was quite handsome.

Ever since Su Qianqian knew Pei Huaiye liked her, she felt like she was floating.

Zhou Wenfang boasted that she was prettier than Su Qianqian and thought those looks were for her.

For a time, both of them were a little shy and proud.

Su Qianqian bent down to tie her shoelaces and only then discovered Zhou Wenfang and Su Qianqian sitting in front.

She immediately thought of Pei Huaiye giving Su Qianqian canned fruit last night. Su Qianqian felt a sourness in her nose, and that unspeakable grievance made her eyes red again.

So she wasn't a very special existence to Pei Huaiye after all.

His gifts and his concern could be given to other women at any time.

Su Qianqian tried her best to hold back her tears and leaned her head against the window to look at the scenery.

She was wearing a pink dress that made her skin look as clear and pink as a lotus flower emerging from water. Her two braids were black and bright, with a few strands of hair hanging by her ears, and her little face was stunningly beautiful.

Those young men in Zhongshan suits were still looking at her.

Zhou Wenfang poked Su Qianqian with her arm, "Qianqian, look, those young men have been looking at us!"

"Oh, so annoying, shameless! Anyway, I have someone I like!"

"Oh my, who do you like?"

Zhou Wenfang's brain turned, "I know! Is it Pei Huaiye? He has been sending you canned fruit and pheasants for two days in a row! It must be him, right!"

Su Qianqian wouldn't tell her she liked Shen Xunbao, so she just looked out the window without speaking.

Zhou Wenfang was still teasing Su Qianqian.

Su Qianqian in the back seat saw her eyes gradually dim, her heart feeling as if it had been severely pinched. Her little face turned pale, and she thought of all the past, tears almost flowing out.

Su Qianqian bit her lip to restrain her emotions from showing, puffing out her cheeks and cursing Pei Huaiye a hundred times in her heart! She just considered herself to have poor judgment in people.

The bus arrived at the station, and Su Qianqian followed the crowd to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

That tall young man ran after Su Qianqian, "Comrade, please wait a moment."

Su Qianqian was still immersed in sadness and didn't notice.

Su Qianqian and Zhou Wenfang stopped, and Su Qianqian had even thought of her lines for refusal.

But the tall young man went straight past them and caught up with Su Qianqian, "Hello, Comrade, can we get to know each other? My name is Zhang Jun, and I am a worker at the printing factory."

Su Qianqian said lightly, "Sorry, it's not very convenient."

Zhang Jun looked at Su Qianqian's receding figure, feeling unbelievable. This woman actually dared to refuse him?

He was a worker with a seventh-grade salary at the printing factory, and many women were rushing to be good to him.

This woman was beautiful and delicate, looking cold, but it was just to attract his attention.

So what if she had a fiancé? He believed that with his appearance and job, he would definitely get her!

Su Qianqian was so angry her face was distorted, and she said sarcastically, "I thought he was looking at you. How come I can meet Su Qianqian wherever I go!"

Zhou Wenfang watched Zhang Jun walk away without saying a word.

Su Qianqian went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and President Zhang introduced her to everyone. Chen Yan was the first to take the lead in welcoming her.

"Qianqian, we have been looking forward to your arrival every day! Just call me Sister Chen from now on."

"Sister Chen, then I'll trouble you to guide me first."

Time flew by while working. Su Qianqian was smart and understood everything at once. After a morning, she had mastered the work.

She calculated accounts quickly, was beautiful, had a sweet smile, and her voice was sweet and soft. People who were originally impatient in line would extinguish their fire when they walked up to her.

After work, Su Qianqian caught the bus back to the village and met Zhang Jun again.

He said very confidently, "I live in the Qingshan Brigade. Which brigade are you from, girl?"

Su Qianqian's eyes were cold, "Comrade, I have a fiancé, please respect yourself!"

Zhang Jun smiled gently, "Comrade, I'm just making conversation, no other meaning."

When Su Qianqian got off the bus, Zhang Jun's eyes became fierce and lecherous. He followed Su Qianqian secretly to explore the way.

Su Qianqian and Zhou Wenfang witnessed everything from behind, and the two looked at each other, seeing tacit malice in each other's eyes.

This day, Pei Huaiye still had confidential tasks to handle, so he handed two bottles of canned fruit to Yuan Guang, "Be sure to help me give them to Su Qianqian. Go to the Educated Youth Courtyard to find her!"

Yuan Guang smiled knowingly, "Colonel, the same girl who was sitting in the jeep that day?"

Pei Huaiye gave him a look, and Yuan Guang didn't dare to make a sound.

"Okay, I'll drive the bull cart back. Be careful tonight."

Yuan Guang returned to the Educated Youth Courtyard and passed the message to find Su Qianqian.

Dai Xiaohong came out and saw it was Yuan Guang, her voice instantly brightening, "You are the comrade who helped me on the train!"

Yuan Guang laughed loudly, "Yes! My name is Yuan Guang! And you are?"

"Comrade Yuan, my name is Dai Xiaohong. Do you have something to find Su Qianqian for? She went to the county and hasn't come back yet."

"Oh, please pass these two bottles of canned fruit to Su Qianqian. Comrade Su should know who it is from."

Dai Xiaohong took the canned fruit and put it on Su Qianqian's kang.

When Su Qianqian came back and saw she had received Pei Huaiye's canned fruit again, she looked proud, "So annoying, he's not worthy of me, yet he still offers favors all day long."

Li Yun rolled her eyes and didn't speak. Dai Xiaohong looked at her, feeling it wasn't worth it for Pei Huaiye.

At night, the educated youth dormitory was fast asleep. Su Qianqian carefully lifted the quilt and got up. She went to the kitchen to cook as usual.

Finding that her white flour was used up, she casually opened someone else's food, dug out a bowl of white flour, and made dough.

After the meal was ready, Su Qianqian carried a bowl of noodles, brought the canned oranges, and learned to call like a cuckoo twice. Shen Xunbao walked out of the boys' dormitory.

"Eat quickly, there's a poached egg at the bottom of the bowl."

Shen Xunbao pushed his glasses, his smile gentle, "Qianqian, you are so kind, thank you."

Su Qianqian looked at his gentle and handsome profile, her heart overflowing with infinite joy, feeling that she was not far from success.

The next day, Pei Huaiye finished his phased confidential task and could finally rest for a day.

He couldn't wait to drive the bull cart back to the village and happened to meet Su Qianqian who had just gotten off the bus at the entrance of the village.

Pei Huaiye had changed into a military green Zhongshan suit, his beard was shaved, and he had just taken a bath. He was refreshed and incomparably handsome.

He walked up to Su Qianqian in big strides and asked with a smile, "Did you go to the county?"

Su Qianqian glared at Pei Huaiye angrily, her red lips pursed tightly without speaking, pretending not to see Pei Huaiye and walking straight ahead.

Pei Huaiye's enthusiasm was doused with a basin of cold water, and his happy face became gloomy.

He took a few steps and grabbed Su Qianqian's arm, blocking her from leaving.

Pei Huaiye's eyes were dark, and because of his urgency, his voice was much louder, "What's wrong with you?"

This kind of bad man is fickle! Fickle and inconstant! How does he still have the face to be so fierce?!

Su Qianqian puffed out her little face, bit her red lips, and glared at him. That grievance and sourness immediately made her eyes red, and her beautiful peach-blossom eyes were covered with a layer of water vapor.

She raised her chin slightly, her voice firm, "Comrade Pei, please respect yourself! You don't want a reputation, but I do! Please stay away from me in the future!"

Pei Huaiye looked at her tearful appearance, and his heart pinched painfully.

Could it be that he was too attentive, causing her to be gossiped about by people in the village?

"Okay, I'll find a way to solve it as soon as possible. Take these two bottles of canned fruit back and eat them."

Su Qianqian shook off his hand, looked at the canned oranges, her gaze sharp and cold, her voice still trembling, "No need, please stay away from me in the future, Comrade Pei!"

Pei Huaiye was stunned, feeling her cold and disgusted eyes, and gradually let go of his hand.

It wasn't until Su Qianqian's back disappeared and the sky was completely dark that Pei Huaiye gradually came back to his senses.