Song Qiang had his doubts, but right now, finding food was the priority. He could only hurry along with the others to collect the grain.
Zhoushui County wasn’t large, but with a coal mine nearby, it had some industry and was somewhat wealthier than other places.
Song Qiang and the others followed the soldier to a location and loaded a truck full of grain. Someone then arranged for them to drive back to Qingshantun together.
The snow had stopped by now, but the roads were still buried. Fortunately, the military vehicle was extremely capable. After driving through the night, they finally arrived at Qingshantun.
Dawn had just broken. Shen Qiuqiu was lying on her man’s broad chest, dreaming of eating Peking duck. Drool was dripping onto his chest.
Gu Zhouye was also asleep when he suddenly heard someone shouting outside.
“The grain is here! The grain Xiao Yi borrowed is here!”
Shen Qiuqiu woke with a start and looked at Gu Zhouye.
“What’s going on?”
The two got dressed and went outside. Several male educated youths, faces flushed, were carrying grain into the houses. Xiao Yi was standing at the front of the truck, talking to a soldier.
Shen Qiuqiu looked at Gu Zhouye.
“Didn’t you borrow this grain? How is it becoming Xiao Yi’s achievement?”
Gu Zhouye stared at Xiao Yi and didn’t say anything. Impatient, Shen Qiuqiu was about to march over and argue when Gu Zhouye picked her up and carried her back inside.
Shen Qiuqiu looked at Gu Zhouye, annoyed.
“Why didn’t you let me go call him out? That garbage doesn’t lift a finger when it’s time to work, but the moment there’s credit to claim, he sticks his head out. So disgusting.”
Gu Zhouye reached out and patted Shen Qiuqiu’s head.
“Don’t worry. This kind of thing — he can’t fake it. Just wait.”
The forestry station had told them to solve their own food problems. Lin Dazhi had the remaining male educated youths build a small temporary structure to serve as a kitchen.
By now, Ding Rui and a few other female educated youths who were decent cooks had already started cooking.
Xiao Yi first went to Bai Xueying’s room. The two had been on very bad terms due to what had happened earlier. But after not seeing each other for a while, when Xiao Yi saw Bai Xueying’s slightly haggard face, he felt a strange stirring in his heart. He took her hand.
“Xueying, I was confused before. I did a lot of thinking while I was in the county. I still love you in my heart. Let’s have a good life together from now on.”
Bai Xueying nodded. She docilely leaned into Xiao Yi’s arms, but there was no longer any smile in her eyes.
“A big shot in the military thinks highly of me. Maybe I can get a government position. When I do, I’ll take you away with me.”
Hearing this, Bai Xueying stood up in surprise and delight.
“That’s wonderful! I always knew you were the most promising person in Qingshantun.”
Xiao Yi and Bai Xueying spent some time together, then he asked about how Gu Zhouye had been doing lately. Bai Xueying let out a cold laugh.
“I heard he almost didn’t make it back last night. He’s lucky to be alive. Why are you asking about him?”
Xiao Yi sneered.
Back in their room, Shen Qiuqiu and Gu Zhouye were catching up on sleep when Xiao Yi knocked on the door. He was holding some medicine, wearing an expression of deep concern for Gu Zhouye’s health.
Shen Qiuqiu opened the door with a sour look.
Xiao Yi smiled a plastic smile. “Qiuqiu, no matter what, we used to be together. There’s no need to give me such a long face, is there?”
Without waiting for an invitation, Xiao Yi walked inside, sat down on a chair, and placed a bottle of medicine on the table.
“This is medicine for bruises and strains that I brought from the county. Gu Zhouye, since you go out hunting every day, you should find it useful.”
Gu Zhouye let out a cold laugh.
“You’re being kind?”
Gu Zhouye was extremely blunt with his words, but Xiao Yi wasn’t angry. He let out a cold laugh.
“You have your skills to return to the city, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely out of options. The military leaders have already said they’ll support me.”
Gu Zhouye looked at Xiao Yi, his disdain practically overflowing.
“Since when do you know any military leaders?”
Xiao Yi shot back confidently, “That’s none of your business. I’ve delivered the medicine. I’m leaving.”
Xiao Yi put the medicine down and was about to leave when he suddenly turned to look at Shen Qiuqiu, his expression one of contempt.
“Oh, right. You’ve been married for a while now, and still no sign of anything. Could it be that Gu Zhouye has some kind of problem?”
Shen Qiuqiu kicked Xiao Yi out the door.
“You idiot — go die!”
Shen Qiuqiu glanced at Gu Zhouye and quickly tried to comfort him. “He’s just jealous. It’s a shame he’ll never get to experience how impressive you really are.”
Shen Qiuqiu had no real-life experience in her past life, but she had plenty of literary experience. During this time, she had truly come to appreciate how good people from the old days were physically.
Gu Zhouye didn’t know how to respond. He picked up the axe from the room and went outside to chop firewood.
At noon, Shen Qiuqiu went to the newly built canteen to get food.
Wang Lixia was in charge of the ladle. When she saw Shen Qiuqiu, she let out a cold snort.
“Oh, the deadweight still has the nerve to come eat?”
Shen Qiuqiu was furious.
“This grain was borrowed because my man caught spies. Why shouldn’t I eat?”
Wang Lixia clearly didn’t believe her. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at Shen Qiuqiu.
“Stop talking nonsense. Spies aren’t that easy to catch. Xiao Yi begged everyone in the county to get that grain.”
Ding Rui quickly pulled Shen Qiuqiu aside. Seeing the clearly displeased faces of the educated youths behind her, Shen Qiuqiu suppressed her anger.
After getting her food, she returned to their room. Gu Zhouye had already chopped the firewood, and the kang had been reheated — the room was very warm.
He had also reheated the leftover meat from the day before, so the meal was quite plentiful.
But Shen Qiuqiu was still very upset. Gu Zhouye, however, looked distracted. There was a letter sitting next to him. Shen Qiuqiu frowned.
She wondered if this letter was from Bai Kerou. So she put down her bowl, went over to Gu Zhouye, and leaned her whole body against him.
Gu Zhouye said helplessly, “It’s broad daylight.”
Shen Qiuqiu kissed Gu Zhouye, then took advantage of his distraction to snatch the letter. Before she could even open it, Gu Zhouye sternly snatched it back.
“Who said you could look?”
That shout really angered Shen Qiuqiu. She didn’t even feel like eating anymore. She stood up and reached for the letter again.
“I want to see it!”
Gu Zhouye hadn’t expected Shen Qiuqiu to be so stubborn. In a panic, he threw the letter directly into the stove. That infuriated Shen Qiuqiu.
She grabbed Gu Zhouye by the collar, her face full of fury. “Who wrote you that letter? Was it Bai Kerou?”
Gu Zhouye shook his head.
“No. It’s just a letter from home. Don’t overthink it.”
Gu Zhouye’s voice was very calm, which finally helped Shen Qiuqiu, who had been caught up in her emotions, to cool down. She had really gotten carried away these past few days, throwing tantrums at Gu Zhouye.
There was never much feeling between them to begin with. At the start, she had just been attracted to his looks. Why was she acting like they were in a real relationship?
Shen Qiuqiu sat down and started eating. She glanced at Gu Zhouye with feigned nonchalance.
“If you’d said so earlier, I wouldn’t have wanted to see it.”