21
Although Zhang Wenfang’s words carried a hint of implication, Shen Zhiwen seemed not to notice and let out a light chuckle. “The girls in Dayan Village are indeed all very simple and adorable, honest and kind-hearted—qualities rarely found among city folks.”
Why the need to throw shade? Was he banking on the fact that no city people were around? Jiang Suisui, a city dweller in her past life, felt the urge to roll up her sleeves.
Zhang Wenfang, basking in Shen Zhiwen’s compliments, could barely contain her smile. She hurriedly lowered her head, shyly twirling her braid, and said in a saccharine voice, “Educated Youth Shen, don’t tease me. City girls are all pampered and delicate. How could someone like me, born and raised in the fields, possibly be cuter than them?”
Jiang Suisui shuddered at her cloying, simpering tone—the sudden personality switch was utterly terrifying…
Shen Zhiwen, however, maintained his signature literary youth smile without flinching. “Many people might prefer polished beauty, but I’m different. I’ve always believed that flowers growing wild in the fields are the most natural and fragrant just like Comrade Wenfang.”
“Eep!” Zhang Wenfang was done for. She cupped her cheeks and let out a helplessly shy squeal.
“Ugh!” Jiang Suisui finally couldn’t hold it in and turned away to silently retch.
Song Weizheng, who’d been face-to-face with her during that retch: “…”
Jiang Suisui was completely speechless. A greasy guy like Shen Zhiwen would have been an instant turn-off in modern society, yet here he was treated like a treasure. She had to admit—the “simple” label was definitely accurate.
Zhang Wenfang, clutching her flushed cheeks, cooed, “Educated Youth Shen, we don’t have much time. Let’s not waste it here. Since we rarely make it to town, let me show you around.”
Before Shen Zhiwen could respond, Jiang Miaomiao cut in, “Yeah, you two go enjoy yourselves! I’ll stay here with my cousin, don’t worry about us.”
Jiang Suisui: ??? Who asked you to stay?
Ignoring Jiang Suisui’s bewildered expression, Jiang Miaomiao beamed and linked arms with her, putting on a show of sisterly intimacy.
Shen Zhiwen hesitated. “Miaomiao, don’t you want to come with us? Or maybe Comrade Suisui could join too—the more the merrier.”
“No!”
“No thanks.”
“No way!”
Zhang Wenfang, Jiang Miaomiao, and Jiang Suisui all rejected in unison.
“I… I…” Jiang Suisui frantically regretted ever saying hello. Now she couldn’t shake them off!
She glanced around, then her eyes lit up. Taking a step closer to Song Weizheng, she freed herself from Jiang Miaomiao’s grip and smiled at the group. “Hehe, I actually already made plans with someone today, so I won’t be joining you all.”
As she spoke, she secretly tugged at Song Weizheng’s shirt hem from behind.
Song Weizheng frowned slightly but stayed silent, and didn’t refute her.
Only then did Shen Zhiwen turn his attention to Song Weizheng, his brow also furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Perhaps it was an instinctive male rivalry, but he’d felt a dislike for this man the moment he laid eyes on him. Dressed in ragged burlap, poor and sour-looking. And that wheat-colored skin—so rustic! Always wearing that cold expression, looking down on everyone, when he was nothing but a country bumpkin. Hmph.
If Jiang Suisui could hear Shen Zhiwen’s inner monologue, she’d be cackling: You’re short and you’ve got nerve? A towering 1.85-meter guy looking down at you—what’s the problem!
Well, 1.85 meters was her estimate and in the book, the absolute perfect height for a guy, hehe! Any taller would be a pain—craning her neck would be exhausting.
Shen Zhiwen sized Song Weizheng up for a few seconds, then snorted. “It’s fine. Come along we don’t mind.”
Jiang Suisui wanted to scream: Who gave you the right to say you don’t mind? I mind! I!!!
After a two-second internal tantrum, she suddenly dropped her head in a show of shyness and mimicked Zhang Wenfang’s earlier tone. “Oh my, this is so embarrassing… I didn’t want to spell it out, but… actually, he and I are dating. Since we rarely get out, we wanted some alone time, so we’ll pass on joining you.”
“Oh my, I’m so ashamed!” She cupped her cheeks as if too mortified to show her face—but beneath her palms, her expression was nearly contorted with cringe.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Two lifetimes, and she’d never been this awkward!
Jiang Miaomiao’s lip twitched: What a smug little wench! Stealing the man I had my eye on and flaunting it in my face!
Zhang Wenfang sighed inwardly: She really does like Song Weizheng!
Shen Zhiwen: What the hell? A poor loser like him has a girlfriend?
Li Daidi, who’d been silent the whole time, twisted her fingers: Are we leaving or not…
Even Song Weizheng’s face stiffened slightly, though his usual poker expression made it hard to notice.
But a doubt flickered in his mind: Could it be that both Xiao Xue and Grandma Jiang had asked him to keep an eye on Jiang Suisui at the market because she’d orchestrated it? Just to get more alone time with him? He glanced at her, his gaze deepening.
“Alright, we’re short on time, so we won’t hold you up any longer. See you, hope you have fun!” Jiang Suisui blurted out the words in a rush, then grabbed Song Weizheng’s sleeve and dragged him off.
To his credit, Song Weizheng didn’t hold her back—his long legs carried him along as she pulled him away.
“Well…” Shen Zhiwen was left speechless. Every village girl he’d met before had been pretty eager; this was the first time one had bolted so frantically.
He could only offer an awkward observation: “They really are quite devoted to each other…”
“They just got engaged a while ago,” Zhang Wenfang said, then added with a hint of confusion in a softer voice, “And their feelings are already this strong?”
“…” Jiang Miaomiao, who’d just been shown up and left behind, was stewing in her own emotions. She forced a smile and said, “What are you talking about? It was all my grandmother’s doing—she pushed them together and wanted them to spend more time building their relationship. She even told me to keep an eye on Suisui so she wouldn’t let her childish temper flare up and embarrass herself in front of her sweetheart. So of course I have to stick with them.”
She let out a sigh and continued, “Anyway, I’ve got to catch up with them now, or I’ll lose them in a minute.”
With that, she took off hastily as well, not even sparing Shen Zhiwen a second glance.
Shen Zhiwen’s expression gradually turned bewildered—why did everyone seem to be fleeing in a fluster?
“Educated Youth Shen,” Zhang Wenfang sidled up to him, her tone expectant. “Let’s go too. They’re heading the opposite way from us. Aren’t you going to buy books?”
Shen Zhiwen snapped back to attention. “Right, right—I need to buy books. Let’s go, Comrade Wenfang, and Comrade Daidi. If either of you are interested in any books, I’d be happy to make some recommendations.”
The three fell into step together and headed off in the direction opposite to where Jiang Suisui and the others had gone.
On the other side, Jiang Suisui had barely dragged Song Weizheng by his sleeve for a few steps before he ended up taking the lead.
“Wait, wait, wait!” Before long, she was panting. “That’s enough, we don’t need to run anymore!”
Song Weizheng stopped and glanced back at her, saying flatly, “I wasn’t running. Only you were.”
Jiang Suisui: ?
Song Weizheng looked down at her, his meaning unmistakable.
She glanced down at her own short legs and suddenly got it then felt indignant. So what if you’ve got long legs? She was only seventeen—she still had time to grow!
After sulking for a moment, she spoke up meekly, “Sorry about that, what I said back there in front of everyone… It was just a temporary excuse, hehe…”
“You probably didn’t want to hang out with them either, right? So I had no choice.” Jiang Suisui blinked at him, seeking agreement.
Her apologetic tone came out a little soft and obedient. Song Weizheng paused, caught off guard. Remembering her earlier saccharine act, he found this voice much more pleasant to the ear.
He quirked his lips slightly and said calmly, “Suit yourself.”
With that, he raised his arm and handed her the basket of eggs he’d been carrying. “Here. The supply and marketing cooperative is just ahead. After you exchange your goods, make sure to keep everything safe. Be back at the spot by noon—don’t miss the oxcart, or you might not make it home.”
Jiang Suisui took the basket, feeling a little miffed. “I know… I’m not a kid.”
She paused, then asked curiously, “You’re not going to the cooperative?”
Song Weizheng shook his head. “I’ve got somewhere else to be.”
He didn’t add anything more after that. Jiang Suisui was still curious, but she knew she had no right to pry.
She nodded. “Alright then, go do your thing. Um… see you at the oxcart!”
She waved at him, then turned and headed off toward the cooperative.
Song Weizheng watched her cheerful retreating figure and felt an inexplicable lift in his mood.
Then he gave a small smile, shook his head slightly, and turned into a narrow alley. With practiced ease, he wove through the tangled network of lanes, making several turns until he completely vanished from sight.
“Um… excuse me, is this where the line starts?” Jiang Suisui had just arrived at the supply cooperative when she was hit by the sheer crush of people. Inside the store, it was packed with bobbing heads; outside, a long queue snaked around. She craned her neck for a while, finally found what seemed to be the end of the line, and timidly asked the girl in front of her—who had braids reaching down to her waist.
The long-braided girl glanced back at her warily. “Yeah, right here. Don’t even think about cutting in!”
Feeling oddly targeted, Jiang Suisui said, “Huh? I wasn’t planning to cut I was just asking.”
“Good.” The girl’s expression relaxed a little, then she started complaining, “You have no idea several people have already tried to cut in line. I’ve been standing here forever and haven’t moved an inch. I’m so mad!”
Jiang Suisui was curious. “Is the cooperative always like this? With this many people?”
The long-braided girl gave her a once-over. “First time here?”
“Mm-hmm!” Jiang Suisui nodded eagerly, putting on her best obedient-learner face.
“Then you’ve picked quite a day—your first time and you hit a lucky one.” The girl, probably bored out of her mind from queuing, started chatting with Jiang Suisui. “The cooperative is usually busy, but today it’s especially packed!”
Jiang Suisui: “Why?”
The long-braided girl: “You don’t know? I figured everyone for miles around had heard by now! There’s a big event at the cooperative today—buy one get one free on cotton cloth!”
“Oh…” Jiang Suisui vaguely remembered someone mentioning it on the oxcart. “That is a pretty good deal…”
“And that’s not all! They’ve got new stock today—diqueliang (polyester-cotton fabric)!” The girl grew excited just talking about it. “I’ve heard diqueliang is amazing—looks good and durable. It’s a shame we’ve never been able to buy it around here, but now it’s finally here!”
Jiang Suisui knew what diqueliang was—it would be phased out long before later generations but in this era, it was practically a premium product, and everyone took pride in owning a piece of it.
She looked up at the sea of people stretching before her and thought to herself—well, she’d just witnessed a taste of 1970s sales promotions and shopping frenzies firsthand.
**