On the third day of the twelfth lunar month, Qingshantun was buzzing with excitement.
Most educated youths didn’t have much money. The original Shen Qiu had a little bit — sent by her father back home. Gu Zhouye was completely broke. Fortunately, Comrade Ding Rui generously shared some of hers, which allowed Shen Qiuqiu to buy some melon seeds, peanuts, pastries, and two pounds of liquor to keep up appearances.
The young soldier who had gone hunting with them last time brought Gu Zhouye a wild pheasant. Old Auntie Li contributed some dried vegetables and mixed flour.
Shen Qiuqiu made a big pot of stewed chicken with mushrooms, plus steamed mixed-flour buns. It turned into quite a respectable feast.
There was no helping it — times were just too hard.
Shen Qiuqiu brought the dishes inside. She spotted Gu Zhouye standing off to the side and quickly called him over.
“If you’re really uncomfortable, go outside and get some fresh air.”
Gu Zhouye shook his head. He picked up the cigarettes from the table and began awkwardly passing them out to the men.
His hand was trembling as he spoke. Shen Qiuqiu couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
Shen Qiuqiu was naturally talkative, and before long, she had blended in with everyone. Gu Zhouye stood to the side, a cigarette in his hand, watching Shen Qiuqiu’s lively presence among the crowd.
He couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Wang Dayong hadn’t wanted to come, but his father had insisted. As soon as he walked in, he saw Gu Zhouye. Remembering what he had done before, Wang Dayong’s expression soured, but he still spoke. “Gu Zhouye, congratulations.”
Back then, Wang Dayong and Gu Zhouye had had some issues. Add Xiao Yi’s instigation to the mix, and he had grown to particularly dislike this cold, aloof educated youth.
But now Xiao Yi was refusing to marry Bai Xueying, no matter what. And Bai Xueying was from Qingshantun. Wang Dayong’s father had given him an absolute earful.
“Thanks. Come in and have a seat.”
Shen Qiuqiu noticed this exchange and smiled. Ding Rui leaned in and whispered to Shen Qiuqiu, “Your husband is like a piece of wood — the kind that’s been frozen in a snowdrift for hundreds of years. What do you see in him?”
Shen Qiuqiu gave Ding Rui a mysterious smile.
“You’ll understand after you get married.”
Ding Rui froze. One of the married female educated youths laughed and said, “He must be good in bed, obviously. Gu Zhouye is big and strong — looks like he’d be very good.”
Gu Zhouye was thin-skinned. He quickly stepped outside. The cold air hit him, and he coughed a few times. When he looked up, he saw Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi glared viciously at Gu Zhouye.
“Gu Zhouye, I don’t know what kind of love potion you’ve fed Shen Qiuqiu, but she was my fiancée after all. All you get is someone else’s leftovers.”
Gu Zhouye wasn’t angry. He just looked coldly at Xiao Yi.
“Leftovers? Your child is going to have a leftover father soon.”
Xiao Yi didn’t get it at first. By the time he did, Gu Zhouye had already gone back inside. Xiao Yi hurried after him. The moment he stepped in, he saw Shen Qiuqiu laughing and chatting radiantly with the crowd.
The original Shen Qiu had always been good-looking — otherwise, her family wouldn’t have arranged the engagement. It was just that after coming here, she ate poorly, slept poorly, and cowered all day. Now, open and articulate, she seemed even more beautiful than Bai Xueying.
Everyone naturally noticed Xiao Yi’s arrival. Song Qiang stood up and said with a smile, “Xiao Yi, you’re here! Have a seat.”
Xiao Yi found a place to sit down. The lively atmosphere instantly died. Xiao Yi felt uncomfortable himself, but he had wanted to come.
He truly couldn’t understand why Shen Qiu, who had been so devoted to him before, was now married to someone else and so clearly happy.
Shen Qiuqiu caught Xiao Yi staring at her and understood immediately.
“Xiao Yi, why didn’t Bai Xueying come?”
Xiao Yi’s expression turned sour. He coughed lightly.
“She’s not feeling well.”
“I heard you’re not planning to marry her. That can’t be true, can it? How can you be such a bastard? She’s pregnant with your child. If you don’t marry her, are you trying to drive her and the baby to their deaths?”
Shen Qiuqiu’s words were extremely harsh. Everyone knew that Xiao Yi didn’t want to take responsibility because he didn’t want to stay in the village.
Shen Qiuqiu continued, “I know you have someone in the county looking out for you.”
Xiao Yi hadn’t expected Shen Qiuqiu to be this direct. He stood up.
“I have something else to do. I’m leaving.”
“Don’t go. Have something to eat and drink first.”
The room was crowded with people. Someone stuck out a foot — accidentally or otherwise. Xiao Yi tripped and fell toward the door. Gu Zhouye quickly and smoothly opened it. Xiao Yi went sprawling face-first into the ground, even knocking out one of his front teeth.
Now he had no choice but to go to the village clinic. Shen Qiuqiu thought she was such a good person.
The group partied until late. Shen Qiuqiu collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. Gu Zhouye efficiently washed the dishes, scrubbed the pots, and mopped the floor.
Shen Qiuqiu lay sprawled on the bed.
“You should have seen that bastard’s expression. He actually had the nerve to show up. Did he really think I’d be nice to him? How ridiculous.”
Shen Qiuqiu crawled to the edge of the bed and carefully observed her husband, who was working in just his long-sleeved undershirt. She watched his lean, powerful waist.
“Gu Zhouye, do you think I might have your baby in my belly too?”
Gu Zhouye was so startled that his broom clattered to the floor. He frowned. “That’s impossible. It was only once.”
Shen Qiuqiu sat up, crossed her legs, and looked at the man before her with displeasure.
“It was more than once.”
Gu Zhouye’s handsome face reddened against his will — again. He washed his face and sat down as far away from Shen Qiuqiu as possible.
“We probably don’t. We can’t have a child.”
Shen Qiuqiu was getting angry. She lunged and locked her arm around Gu Zhouye’s neck.
“You’re really planning to divorce me as soon as we get back to the city? Believe me, I’ll strangle you, you bastard!”
Shen Qiuqiu was genuinely furious. Could it be that this bastard really had an old flame?
Gu Zhouye helplessly pulled Shen Qiuqiu’s arm away.
“I’m doing this for your own good.”
Shen Qiuqiu lay flat and looked at Gu Zhouye sideways.
“Then do something good for me again.”
Gu Zhouye looked at the woman lying on the bed, feeling a wave of helplessness. His teacher had sent him a secret letter. When he returned to the capital, he would have to enter a classified unit. He had no idea when he would come out.
How could someone like Shen Qiu, who loved liveliness and excitement, ever wait for him?
Shen Qiuqiu kicked Gu Zhouye’s thigh with her foot.
“What are you pretending for? Hurry up.”
Gu Zhouye sighed.
“How?”
Shen Qiuqiu jolted upright, pushed Gu Zhouye down onto the bed, and kissed him.
“You’re hopeless. Do I really have to show you everything? Tonight is our wedding night, you know.”
Gu Zhouye looked into Shen Qiuqiu’s eyes. For once, he didn’t blush.
“Shen Qiuqiu, what exactly do you like about me?”
Shen Qiuqiu hated it most when people asked her that question. She slapped Gu Zhouye.
“I’ve told you hundreds of times. Why don’t you understand? I just — simply — like you. The person.”
The furrow in Gu Zhouye’s brow smoothed out. A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Like me? Like what about me?”
Shen Qiuqiu was truly exasperated.
“Your performance.”
Gu Zhouye froze. A feeling of “I knew it” washed over him, tinged with resignation.