Before dawn, the loudspeaker of Shuangshui Production Brigade rang out right on time.
Su Qianqian and Zhou Wenfang couldn’t take it anymore. The two asked for leave, planning to head to the county town for a proper stroll.
They washed their hair and changed into pretty dresses. As soon as they sat down on the bus, they noticed several young men in Zhongshan suits repeatedly glancing in their direction.
One of them was even quite handsome.
Ever since learning that Pei Huaiye liked her, Su Qianqian felt as if she were floating on air.
Zhou Wenfang, who considered herself prettier than Su Qianqian, assumed those looks were meant for her.
For a moment, both women felt shy—and proud.
After bending down to tie her shoelaces, Su Qingyue finally noticed that Su Qianqian and Zhou Wenfang were seated in front of her.
Her mind instantly replayed the image of Pei Huaiye delivering canned fruit to Su Qianqian the night before. Her nose stung, and that indescribable sense of grievance welled up again, reddening her eyes.
So to Pei Huaiye, she had never been all that special.
His gifts, his concern—he could give them to other women just as easily.
Su Qingyue fought back the tears, leaned her head against the window, and stared out at the passing scenery.
She wore a pink dress that made her skin look as clear and soft as a lotus fresh from water. Her two braids were black and glossy, wisps of hair falling by her ears. Her small face was stunning beyond words.
Those young men in Zhongshan suits were actually looking at her.
Zhou Wenfang nudged Su Qianqian with her elbow.
“Qianqian, look! Those guys keep staring at us!”
“Ugh, so annoying—no shame at all! Anyway, I already have someone I like!”
“Oh my god, who do you like?”
Zhou Wenfang’s mind raced.
“I know! It’s Pei Huaiye, right? He’s brought you canned fruit and wild chicken for two days in a row! It must be him!”
Su Qianqian had no intention of telling her that she liked Shen Xunbao. She simply looked out the window and said nothing.
Zhou Wenfang continued teasing her.
In the back seat, Su Qingyue’s eyes gradually dimmed. Her heart felt as if it had been violently clenched. Her small face turned pale, and memories of the past nearly brought tears spilling out.
She bit her lip, forcing herself not to show it, and cursed Pei Huaiye a hundred times over in her heart—telling herself she had simply misjudged him.
When the bus arrived, Su Qingyue followed the crowd toward the supply-and-marketing cooperative.
The tall young man chased after her.
“Comrade, please wait a moment.”
Su Qingyue was still lost in sadness and didn’t notice him.
Su Qianqian and Zhou Wenfang stopped. Su Qianqian had already prepared her lines to reject him.
But the tall young man walked right past them and caught up with Su Qingyue.
“Hello, comrade. May I get to know you? My name is Zhang Jun. I work at the printing factory.”
Su Qingyue replied coolly,
“Sorry, it’s not convenient.”
Zhang Jun stared at her retreating figure in disbelief. She actually dared to reject him?
He earned a Level-Seven worker’s wage at the printing factory. Plenty of women threw themselves at him.
This woman was beautiful and aloof—surely she was just trying to catch his attention.
So what if she had a fiancé? With his looks and job, he was confident he could win her over.
Su Qianqian was so angry her face twisted. She sneered,
“I thought he was looking at you. Why does Su Qingyue show up everywhere?”
Zhou Wenfang watched Zhang Jun walk away without saying a word.
At the supply-and-marketing cooperative, Director Zhang introduced Su Qingyue to everyone. Chen Yan was the first to welcome her.
“Qingyue, we’ve been waiting for you every day! From now on, just call me Sister Chen.”
“Sister Chen, I’ll trouble you to show me the ropes first.”
Time flew by once she started working. Su Qingyue was quick-witted and picked things up immediately. By noon, she was already getting the hang of it.
She calculated quickly, was pretty, smiled sweetly, and spoke with a soft, honeyed voice. Even customers who’d been impatient in line calmed down once they reached her.
After work, Su Qingyue rushed to catch the bus back to the village—and ran into Zhang Jun again.
He said confidently,
“I live in Qingshan Brigade. Which brigade are you from?”
Su Qingyue’s gaze turned icy.
“Comrade, I have a fiancé. Please show some self-respect.”
Zhang Jun smiled gently.
“Comrade, I was just making conversation. I don’t mean anything else.”
When Su Qingyue got off the bus, Zhang Jun’s eyes turned vicious and lewd. He quietly followed her, scouting the way.
Su Qianqian and Zhou Wenfang witnessed everything from behind. They exchanged a look, both seeing the same malicious understanding in each other’s eyes.
……
That day, Pei Huaiye still had a confidential mission to handle. He handed two cans of fruit to Yuan Guang.
“Make sure you give these to Su Qianqian. Go find her at the educated youth compound.”
Yuan Guang smiled knowingly.
“Colonel, still the girl who sat in the jeep that day?”
Pei Huaiye shot him a sharp look, and Yuan Guang immediately shut up.
“Alright, I’ll take the ox cart back. Be careful tonight.”
Yuan Guang returned to the educated youth compound and passed along the message, asking for Su Qianqian.
When Dai Xiaohong came out and saw Yuan Guang, her voice brightened instantly.
“You’re the comrade who helped me on the train!”
Yuan Guang laughed heartily.
“That’s right! My name’s Yuan Guang. And you are?”
“Comrade Yuan, my name is Dai Xiaohong. Are you looking for Su Qianqian? She went to the county town and hasn’t returned yet.”
“Oh. Then please pass these two cans of fruit to Su Qianqian. She’ll know who they’re from.”
Dai Xiaohong took the cans and placed them on Su Qianqian’s kang.
When Su Qianqian returned and saw the canned fruit from Pei Huaiye again, she looked smug.
“So annoying. He’s not even worthy of me, yet he keeps fawning over me.”
Li Yun rolled her eyes and said nothing. Dai Xiaohong glanced at Su Qianqian, feeling that Pei Huaiye really wasn’t worth it.
Late at night, when the educated youth dormitory was fast asleep, Su Qianqian carefully lifted the quilt and got up. As usual, she went to the kitchen to cook.
Finding her own white flour used up, she casually opened someone else’s grain sack and scooped out a bowl of flour to knead dough.
Once the food was ready, Su Qianqian carried a bowl of noodles, brought along a can of mandarin oranges, and imitated the call of a cuckoo twice. Shen Xunbao soon came out of the men’s dormitory.
“Eat quickly. There’s a fried egg at the bottom of the bowl.”
Shen Xunbao pushed up his glasses, smiling gently.
“Qianqian, you’re really kind. Thank you.”
Looking at his refined, delicate profile, Su Qianqian felt an overflow of joy. It seemed she wasn’t far from success anymore.
……
The next day, Pei Huaiye finished a phase of his confidential mission and finally had a day to rest.
He couldn’t wait to drive the ox cart back to the village—and happened to run into Su Qingyue just as she got off the bus at the village entrance.
Pei Huaiye had changed into an army-green Zhongshan suit, shaved his beard, and just finished bathing. He looked refreshed and strikingly handsome.
He strode up to Su Qingyue and asked with a smile,
“You went to the county town?”
Su Qingyue shot him an annoyed glare. Her red lips pressed tightly together, she said nothing, pretending not to see him as she walked straight ahead.
A bucket of cold water was poured over Pei Huaiye’s enthusiasm. The joy on his face darkened.
He took a few quick steps, grabbed Su Qingyue’s arm, and stopped her from leaving.
His eyes darkened. In his urgency, his voice rose sharply.
“What’s wrong with you?”
This bad man—so fickle, so two-timing! How did he even have the nerve to be this aggressive?!
Su Qingyue puffed out her cheeks, biting her lip as she glared at him. The grievance and bitterness surged up at once, reddening her eyes. A sheen of tears covered her beautiful peach-blossom eyes.
She lifted her chin slightly, her voice firm.
“Comrade Pei, please show some self-respect! You may not care about your reputation, but I do! From now on, please stay far away from me!”
Seeing her on the verge of tears, Pei Huaiye’s heart clenched painfully.
Had he been too attentive, causing her to become the target of village gossip?
“Alright. I’ll find a way to resolve this as soon as possible. Take these two cans of fruit back and eat them.”
Su Qingyue shook off his hand. Looking at the mandarin orange cans, her gaze turned sharp and icy, her voice trembling.
“No need. Please stay far away from me from now on!”
Pei Huaiye froze.
Feeling the cold disgust in her eyes, he slowly loosened his grip.
Only after Su Qingyue’s figure disappeared and night fully fell did Pei Huaiye gradually come back to himself.