Gu Beizheng let out a muffled grunt. Subconsciously, he reached out and gripped the slender waist in front of him, squeezing the soft flesh there, sending waves of tingling numbness through his fingertips.
As the people around them cast surprised glances, Gu Beizheng tightened his grip, lifted the woman by her waist, and set her back down onto the seat. “Sit properly and stop moving around,” he said in a low voice.
Xu Zhouzhou closed her eyes in awkwardness. This time she really hadn’t stood firm; she wasn’t being a manipulative tease this time.
She stole a sideways glance at the man, who was staring straight ahead with a look of grim determination, like he was marching to his death. She grumbled to herself: Fine, fine, fine. You’re a paragon of virtue who remains unruffled with a woman in his lap. Do you have to make it so obvious?
She pouted, turned her head to look out the window, and ignored him.
When they got off at the station, Xu Zhouzhou paid no attention to Gu Beizheng, who stood to the side watching her, and headed straight for the wholesale market.
Gu Beizheng watched her retreating figure, stood there for a moment, then turned and walked in the opposite direction.
Following the crushing of the “Gang,” the country had undertaken a series of reforms. The economic situation was improving, and small vendors were no longer restricted.
Business at the wholesale market was booming day by day. Xu Zhouzhou wandered around the market, finding a wide variety of goods. She visited a few shops and bought everything she needed.
By the time she came out, the sun was scorching. Xu Zhouzhou had never handled heat well, and she felt dizzy and dazzled.
Looking around, she saw an ice pop vendor nearby. She walked over, bought one, and squatted in the shade to eat it slowly. The icy coolness relieved much of the summer heat.
Just then, two women came over to buy ice pops, chatting and laughing.
“Sister-in-law, did you buy everything?”
“Just about. I’m just missing the breeding medicine for the sow. We’ll go to the veterinary station to buy it in a bit, then head home.”
“Is your sow due for breeding?”
“Yes, long overdue, but it won’t take. The sow seems unwilling.” The two women also moved into the shade, standing beside Xu Zhouzhou, and whispered, “Your Big Brother Cui told me to come into town and buy some medicine to… get it in the mood.”
The woman licked her ice pop and winked with a smile.
The woman next to her giggled and teased, “Then you’d better store that medicine carefully. If Big Brother Cui accidentally eats it, your ‘Number Six’ will be on the way.”
The other woman laughed scoldingly and bumped the woman next to her. “Get lost, you damn girl. If you want to use it, I’ll lend you some. Let’s see if you can get out of bed for three days.”
The two women giggled.
Squatting behind them, Xu Zhouzhou listened with relish. These older housewives really drive fast.
She chuckled a couple of times, then suddenly, her heart gave a jolt. What if… I slipped some medicine to Gu Beizheng?
She shook her head repeatedly in her mind.
“No, no, that’s too shameless.”
“But, in the book, the female lead did drug him. It doesn’t matter; if a frontal assault doesn’t work, use a little trickery.”
“But wouldn’t that count as me forcing him? No, no, better forget it.”
While the two little people in her brain were still arguing, Xu Zhouzhou had already stood up and followed the two women.
Arriving at the entrance of the veterinary station, Xu Zhouzhou blinked, stomped her foot, and followed them right in.
The two women exchanged a few words with the salesperson at the counter, bought their items quickly, and left.
Xu Zhouzhou slowly shuffled over. “Um…”
The salesperson was an older man wearing a white lab coat. He looked at Xu Zhouzhou with a kind, benevolent expression.
“Comrade, what kind of medicine would you like to buy?”
Crap, I forgot to listen for the name of the medicine just now.
She hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and said, “My mom asked me to buy medicine to help pigs breed.”
After saying this, she gave the old comrade a naive, simple look.
The old comrade glanced at her. “How much does your pig weigh? How many months old is it? Is this its first time breeding?”
“Huh? Do you really have to ask such technical questions? That woman just now didn’t seem to say much.” Xu Zhouzhou blinked, looking completely blank.
“Probably twenty-something months? Visually… maybe a hundred and seventy or eighty catties? It should be the first time.” Who knows if it’s his first time? But judging by that kiss last night, he didn’t seem much more skilled than me.
“Whoa, that sow of yours is quite hefty. I’ll get you a packet. When you get home, tell your mom to mix it according to the pig’s weight, understand? If you use too much and that pig gets riled up, you won’t be able to hold it down.” The old comrade spoke as he mixed a packet of medicine and handed it to her.
Xu Zhouzhou took the medicine, her heart pounding with anxiety.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah! Gu Beizheng definitely won’t be able to run away this time.”
“Are you sure you want to do this? Stop now.”
The two little figures in her head began trying to brainwash her from opposite sides.
“Doctor, are there any side effects to this medicine?” Xu Zhouzhou asked, prompted by her conscience.
“Side effects? If you don’t get the dosage right, it could lead to infertility in the sow. That’s why I said to dose it according to weight when you get back, understand?” This little girl doesn’t know anything; I have to explain it clearly.
Infertility? Xu Zhouzhou was genuinely shocked.
“What if—I’m just saying what if,” Xu Zhouzhou leaned over the counter, looking at the doctor earnestly and asking in a whisper, “What if a person accidentally ate this medicine? What would happen?”
Hearing this, the old comrade was so shocked his glasses nearly jumped off his nose. “Little girl, this isn’t a joke. This is veterinary medicine, do you understand? It’s for livestock! If a person takes it? At best, they’ll become infertile; at worst, they’ll drop dead on the spot. This isn’t something to play around with.”
The old comrade looked at Xu Zhouzhou solemnly. “Little girl, you aren’t planning to… huh?”
Seeing the old comrade’s suspicious and probing look, Xu Zhouzhou quickly waved her hands. “No, no, no! I’m just using it for my family’s old sow. Goodbye, Doctor!”
She gave a guilty smile, turned, and fled in a panic.
The old comrade shook his head. Are young people nowadays this wild?
Xu Zhouzhou covered her blushing face and ran out with her head down, only to crash—thud—into something rock hard.
Feeling a bit dizzy, she looked up. Huh? Gu Beizheng? He didn’t follow me, did he? Xu Zhouzhou looked at the man before her in a daze.
“What are you running for?” Gu Beizheng steadied the swaying Xu Zhouzhou, frowning. Why is she so reckless?
Xu Zhouzhou snapped back to reality and blinked. “I didn’t buy anything.”
Gu Beizheng looked taken aback: “……?” Did I ask?
“Why are you here?” Might as well ask.
“Uh…” Xu Zhouzhou collected herself. “I… I came to see the doctor. For my foot.”
“A veterinarian?” Gu Beizheng raised an eyebrow, glanced at the sign, and looked at Xu Zhouzhou with a teasing expression.
“Heh, hehe. This… this doctor treats people too.” Xu Zhouzhou guiltily raised her hand to wipe her sweat, but the packet of medicine she was clutching fell out with a plop.
Gu Beizheng looked down. “You even got medicine? Is the medicine I gave you not working?” He glanced at her foot as he spoke.
“It works!” Xu Zhouzhou used an exaggeratedly affirmative tone, bent down quickly to stuff the medicine into her trouser pocket. “Anyway, I’m leaving now. You go about your business.”
Xu Zhouzhou gave a sheepish smile, turned, and tried to run.
“Wait a minute.”
Gu Beizheng called out from behind her.