“Mine?” Ding Lan looked at Gu Beizheng blankly.
“Sis, this is Big Brother Daming’s compensation money. It’s eight thousand yuan in total. Keeping cash at home isn’t safe, so I deposited it for you at the savings bank.”
Gu Beizheng had been running around handling this matter for the past few days, and finally managed to get it done before he left.
“Didn’t you say… didn’t you say…”
Didn’t you just say there was no compensation, only a fine? How did so much compensation money suddenly appear?
“If those two bloodsuckers knew you had this much compensation money, would they let you off? Now that their hopes are cut off, keep this money safe yourself and don’t show it easily, understand?” Gu Beizheng explained seriously.
He had been thinking about how to hide it from that family of vampires. Since he ran into them today, he just went with the flow and set up this trap.
“I’ve already spoken to the mine. They won’t talk about this compensation money. Just keep it safe. This is what Daming left for you.”
Ding Lan gripped the bankbook tightly, clutched her chest, and tears fell. “This was exchanged for Daming’s life.”
Gu Beizheng squeezed his sister’s shoulder.
“Sis, actually Big Brother Daming would want you to live well too. When you’ve thought it through, let me know, and I’ll come pick you up.”
Ding Lan nodded slightly. “Let me keep him company for another two years.”
Gu Beizheng sighed slightly and nodded.
…..
The next day after school, Xu Zhouzhou went to the town’s supply and marketing cooperative to buy a bottle of wine, a roast duck, and some vegetables, preparing to treat Gu Beizheng to a meal.
At home, Gu Beizheng was packing his bags, planning to set off for the unit early tomorrow morning.
“Uncle, Uncle!” Xiaotao ran into the room in a hurry.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Beizheng wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“Teacher Xu asked me to remind you not to forget to go to her place for dinner tonight.” Xiaotao panted.
Gu Beizheng’s lips curved. “Alright, I know.”
“Brother Beizheng.” A coquettish voice came from outside the courtyard.
Looking up, Zhao Ying walked over gracefully.
“Brother Beizheng.”
Gu Beizheng took one look, then lowered his head to continue packing. “Something up?”
The smile on Zhao Ying’s face stiffened. “My dad said he wants to treat you to dinner tonight to send you off.”
“No need, thank you.”
She thought she might be rejected, but didn’t expect to be rejected so bluntly.
“Brother Beizheng, everything is ready at home. I made several dishes, and… and prepared a pot of good wine. Just come sit for a while.”
Wang Guihua had already lectured her daughter well: Opportunity knocks but once. Seize the last chance, dose the medicine heavily. Once a cup of wine goes down, if he can still control himself, he isn’t a man.
Although Gu Beizheng was rigid, he wasn’t stupid. He could see Zhao Ying’s intentions clearly.
“Comrade Zhao.” Gu Beizheng looked up. “If you didn’t understand what I said yesterday, I’ll say it again. I don’t plan to get married yet, and even if I did, I wouldn’t consider you. It’s not that you aren’t good, but we have no feelings for each other, so don’t waste time on me.”
Being rejected so directly, Zhao Ying’s face turned red instantly. Tears swirled in her eyes as she choked out, “No feelings because we haven’t interacted. Feelings need to be cultivated slowly. You didn’t give me a chance.”
“Why should I give a chance to cultivate feelings to someone I don’t like?” Gu Beizheng looked at Zhao Ying indifferently.
She, Zhao Ying, was the village head’s daughter. She wasn’t bad looking and had been chased by the village boys since she was little. When had she ever suffered such a grievance?
Tears fell pat-pat onto the ground. “Gu Beizheng, you’re just bullying me because you know I like you.”
The girl before him was weeping like a pear blossom bathed in rain. Gu Beizheng frowned impatiently. “Comrade Zhao, I am not bullying anyone. Marriage is free; you have the freedom to like someone, and I have the freedom to reject someone. There’s no need to force it, right? Please go back, and thank Uncle Zhao for his hospitality for me.”
Since he had put it that way, Zhao Ying still had her pride. She huffed, turned her head, and stormed out.
“Uncle, you’re so cruel. Auntie Zhao Ying is crying.” Xiaotao fanned the flames from the side.
Gu Beizheng glanced at her. “Uncle hates women crying and whining the most.”
Xiaotao wrinkled her nose. “You find it annoying when my mom cries too? Or when I cry?”
Gu Beizheng smiled at her. “You two are different. When you cried, didn’t I coax you with candy?”
Xiaotao smiled happily and tilted her head to ask, “Uncle, then if Teacher Xu cries, do you find it annoying?”
Gu Beizheng paused for a moment. “Annoying.”
…..
When Gu Beizheng arrived at the school dormitory, the sky was already growing dim.
In the center of the room stood a small square table set with four dishes and two wine glasses.
“I’m sorry, I went a bit late and couldn’t buy anything fancy.” Xu Zhouzhou looked at Gu Beizheng apologetically.
“It’s fine.”
Gu Beizheng sat down on the stool and casually placed the bag he was carrying onto the table. “Here, this is for you.”
“What is it?” Xu Zhouzhou opened the bag. It was actually the dress she had tried on yesterday.
“For me? Why?”
Gu Beizheng lowered his eyes and said in a casual tone, “My sister said the dress didn’t suit her; she didn’t like it. Since you tried it on, you can have it.”
Xu Zhouzhou held the dress. “I told you at the time that the size probably wouldn’t fit your sister, but you insisted on buying it. It cost twenty yuan! It’s so expensive; what a waste of money…”
“Do you want it or not?” Gu Beizheng lifted his eyes, interrupting her chatter.
“Yes!” Xu Zhouzhou answered immediately. “I want it.” Why wouldn’t I? It can’t be returned anyway.
Xu Zhouzhou stroked the dress, and a thought struck her. Could it be… She asked, “Gu Beizheng, you didn’t buy this dress for me from the start, did you?”
Gu Beizheng’s hand holding his chopsticks trembled, and the peanut he had just picked up rolled away.
“You… Teacher Xu, you’re flattering yourself a bit too much.” Gu Beizheng swallowed, his throat tight.
Xu Zhouzhou watched as the tips of his ears slowly turned red and couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. This man’s “bashful switch” is located on his ears.
“Alright then. To express my gratitude and sincerity, can I put it on now?”
Gu Beizheng glanced up at her, then stood up and walked out the door.
Xu Zhouzhou changed into the clothes. “Okay, you can come in now.”
Gu Beizheng pushed the door open and entered. His eyes lit up instantly. Under the dim light of the tungsten bulb, Xu Zhouzhou wore the pale green dress, her hair tied in a high ponytail. Her large eyes sparkled; she was as beautiful as a sprite.
He took a deep breath and sat back down at the table.
“Does it look good?” Xu Zhouzhou asked.
“Let’s eat,” Gu Beizheng replied, avoiding the question, his eyes lowered.
Xu Zhouzhou wrinkled her nose at him and sat down at the table as well.
She poured two glasses of wine. “Thank you for helping me so many times. Let me propose a toast to you.”
Gu Beizheng glanced at her, picked up his glass, and downed it in one go.
Xu Zhouzhou’s eyes flickered. Drinking so readily? If I had known…
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you drinking?” Gu Beizheng looked at her dazed expression and asked in confusion.
“Oh, I’m drinking.” Xu Zhouzhou picked up her glass and took a sip. The white liquor was too strong; she couldn’t help coughing twice, and her face flushed red.
“Can’t handle alcohol?” Gu Beizheng raised an eyebrow.
“Not really.” Xu Zhouzhou gave a small smile.
In her past life, Xu Zhouzhou had a unique talent: she could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. Living with her grandmother as a child, she had never drunk alcohol, so she hadn’t known she possessed this ability.
After entering university, she went to a dinner with her roommates. The four of them drank a case of beer. The other three were dead drunk, but aside from a slightly flushed face, she had no reaction at all and stayed sober enough to take care of her three roommates all night.
She just didn’t know how this body—the original host’s body—handled alcohol. Regardless, today she had to get drunk, whether she actually was or not.
“Then don’t drink,” Gu Beizheng said, reaching for the glass in her hand.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll drink a little, you drink a lot. This wine is expensive; the shopkeeper said it’s aged wine, very tasty.” Xu Zhouzhou poured another glass for Gu Beizheng and handed it to him. “Taste it.”
Looking at the wine glass presented to him, Gu Beizheng glanced at the fair little hand holding it, took the cup, and drank it all in one gulp.
“Good, right? Then… then drink some more.” Xu Zhouzhou poured another glass and pushed it in front of him.
Gu Beizheng looked at the glass, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
“No, no! I just want you… want you to eat and drink well.” Xu Zhouzhou scratched her eyebrow guiltily.
T/n: You can support the original author here.