Chen San was the name of that old widower.
His surname was Chen, and he was the youngest son in his family, spoiled into an idle, good-for-nothing temperament.
Years ago, his family had arranged a marriage for him, but he loved to drink.
Whenever he got drunk, he beat his wife.
His first wife was beaten to death by him.
No family in the village with any conscience would push their daughter into such a fire pit.
That was why he hadn’t found a suitable match all these years.
Gu Zehai didn’t want to push his daughter into a fire pit either, but if it weren’t for his own daughter, Wan’er wouldn’t have gotten hurt, let alone fainted.
His fifth brother’s temperament—anyone could see a few traces of his rudeness.
If he didn’t find a way to get money to the fifth household, with his parents’ temperament, they would surely punish him and Qiu Ju again.
Gu Zehai had no other choice.
Besides, a girl should marry when she came of age.
Ting’er was now at the age for matchmaking, and a bride price of eighty-eight yuan wasn’t a small sum.
The more Gu Zehai thought about it, the more he felt Chen San was a decent marriage candidate.
The guilt he had originally felt slowly faded away.
“Whether you agree or not, this matter is settled.”
Hearing Gu Zehai’s words, Gu Ting’er stared at him with her clear black-and-white eyes, trying to find some trace of regret on his face.
But on Gu Zehai’s honest-looking face there was only an unquestionable firmness, without a hint of guilt.
As if marrying such an old widower who liked to beat his wife were an honor for her…
Gu Ting’er’s face instantly turned cold.
She said nothing, her gaze sweeping past the room where Gu Wan’er was.
Then she turned and left.
When Gu Wan’er came out of her room, she only saw her retreating figure.
She couldn’t help calling out, “Sister Ting’er…”
Whether it was because her body was weak and her voice too soft, or because Gu Ting’er didn’t want to respond to her, the other’s footsteps didn’t pause for even a moment—instead, she quickened her pace.
Gu Wan’er wanted to chase after her, but was held back by Sun Xiaoya beside her.
“Big brother, if Ting’er really doesn’t want to, then forget it… Just consider it, consider it our Wan’er’s bad fate…”
“If she hadn’t ended up with useless parents like me and Zemu, Wan’er wouldn’t be unable to even come up with money for a doctor…”
As Sun Xiaoya spoke, her eyes reddened, and without waiting for Gu Zehai to respond, she led Gu Wan’er back into the room.
Gu Ting’er came back to her senses just in time to hear her mother’s words.
Her brow furrowed slightly. “Mom, my injury really is fine!”
She emphasized it again, her tone somewhat helpless.
“Now that you’ve done this, won’t Uncle be even more determined to force Sister Ting’er to meet that old widower?”
Sun Xiaoya helped Gu Wan’er sit down on the edge of the bed, a hint of a smile on her face as she said gently, “Who she meets is none of my business. Your mother only wants to confirm that you’re all right.”
“If your grandfather weren’t going to pick up the educated youths arriving today, your father could have driven the village tractor to the county town.”
Gu Wan’er pressed her lips together and said helplessly, “Mom… now that you’ve done this, Sister Ting’er will definitely be forced by Uncle to marry that old widower. Her whole life will be ruined.”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
Sun Xiaoya knew her daughter was kind-hearted and close to Gu Ting’er, so she wasn’t at all surprised by what she said.
“If she hadn’t taken you into the mountains, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt. I didn’t make any unreasonable demands.”
Just as Gu Wan’er was about to say something else, a burst of commotion suddenly came from outside the house.
Curious, she leaned out the window and saw several dark figures standing vaguely at the village entrance.
The rumbling sound of a tractor was very noticeable in the village.
Every time, everyone would gather together to watch the tractor set off and return.
This time, however, the villagers gathered at the village entrance were not there for the tractor, but for the educated youth who had come down to the countryside.
The tractor stopped at the village entrance, and before the educated youth riding on it could even get off, a large crowd of villagers surrounded them.
“Everyone, step back! What is this, watching a monkey show?”
Gu Zhigang was the village’s production team leader, and his authority carried great weight.
As soon as he spoke with a cold face, everyone made way so the educated youth could get off the vehicle.
At Gu Wan’er’s coaxing, Sun Xiaoya had also brought her daughter to the village entrance.
Although Gu Ting’er had the original owner’s memories, those memories felt like viewing flowers through a fog, separated by a layer.
Facing the villagers who were both strange and familiar to her, Gu Wan’er couldn’t help feeling a little nervous. She hid behind Sun Xiaoya and looked toward the educated youth getting off the tractor.
Soon, her attention was drawn to one of the educated youth.
That young man was slender, wearing a white dacron shirt with an army-green jacket draped over it, which made his figure look tall and straight.
His features were also very handsome.
His upturned peach-blossom eyes were filled with coldness, and his brows were slightly furrowed, as if something were troubling him.
All the young women at the village entrance couldn’t help letting their eyes rest on him.
Gu Wan’er was naturally no exception.
She had originally thought that, having lived through the age of information explosion and seen countless handsome men and beautiful women, and with her own looks being nothing to scoff at, she would no longer be unable to look away just because someone else was good-looking.
Yet she hadn’t expected that shortly after arriving here, she would see someone so stunning.
He was truly good-looking, and that fabric looked top quality too… How could someone like that come to their village?
Among his fellow educated youth, seeing everyone’s attention drawn to one person, some couldn’t help feeling jealous.
“Just as I thought—capitalist airs through and through. We’re certainly not cut from the same cloth as that stinking intellectual.”
Stinking intellectual?
Gu Wan’er was taken aback, and her gaze couldn’t help drifting back to his face.
Gu Zhigang spotted Gu Wan’er and Sun Xiaoya, and his originally stern expression immediately softened, a smile appearing on his face.
He walked quickly toward Gu Wan’er.
Noticing that Gu Wan’er’s gaze was fixed on one of the male educated youth, he frowned slightly. “What happened to Wan’er’s forehead?”
From the original owner’s memories, Gu Wan’er knew that among the children in the family, Gu Zhigang, this grandfather, favored the original owner the most.
If she told him now how she got injured, Grandpa would surely take his anger out on Sister Ting’er…
No, better to divert Grandpa’s attention first!
“Grandpa, who’s that person in the white shirt?”
Gu Zhigang’s attention was indeed diverted. He looked in the direction of Gu Wan’er’s gaze and asked with a doting tone, “Do you like that young man?”
At this question, Gu Wan’er’s face instantly flushed red.
Even though Gu Zhigang had already lowered his voice, his booming voice wasn’t restrained all that much, and the people around them still heard his words, all turning to look.
Feeling the gazes directed at her, Gu Wan’er’s face grew even redder. “Grandpa!”
Seeing his granddaughter’s flustered look, Gu Zhigang realized his earlier question had been rather inappropriate.
He coughed, feigning composure. “Qiao Yan, take these educated youths to the rooms that have been arranged for them.”
“Zhong Heyang, come with me!”
The man in the white shirt immediately walked over to Gu Zhigang’s side.
So his name was Zhong Heyang…