Shen Hongwei’s funeral was being held today. Shen Xingqing had already told the commune members earlier that there would be a day off today, so those who could help should go assist, and those who didn’t need to help could just come to eat.
Zhou Chunfeng was called to help in the kitchen, while Zhu Yuxiu and Liu Lanying went over to assist. Shen Qinghe didn’t go. Firstly, she was still an unmarried girl, and usually at these ceremonies, married women would help. Secondly, she had just recently fallen into the water, and everyone knew she was still recuperating.
Shen Xingqing, as the team leader, naturally had to be present. Shen Qingshan and Shen Qingsong, being young and strong, were helping move tables, chairs, or fetch water and chop firewood. Shen Qingbai didn’t go with Zhao Huiru, who had morning classes at the commune; he also went to Shen Hongwei’s house to help. Handsome and refined, and a teacher to boot, Wang Huifen let him host the guests.
Today, the children of the brigade had all gathered together, and several nephews and nieces ran off to play, leaving only Shen Qinghe at home. She was quite happy to have some peace and used the time to make jam from the wild blueberries she picked yesterday.
Making jam was fairly simple. She washed the blueberries thoroughly, drained the water, and mashed them. After adding sugar, she poured the mixture into a pot and slowly cooked it over low heat. She had to keep stirring constantly, otherwise it would burn.
As it cooked, foam appeared on top, which she skimmed off with a spatula bit by bit. She didn’t know how long she had cooked it, but when the pulp became a thick paste and the syrup thickened enough not to drip easily from the spatula, it was done.
Shen Qinghe hadn’t bought special glass jars yet, so she used previously used jam jars, cleaned them, and removed the labels. The deep purple blueberry jam looked quite nice in the clear jars.
Not knowing how it would taste, she didn’t make a full batch. After filling one jar, there was just enough left for her to taste. Sweet and tart, it tasted pretty good.
As for pricing, Shen Qinghe had thought about it. This required a lot of materials, and sugar was expensive, so the price couldn’t be too low—but if it was too high, would anyone buy it? After considering carefully, she decided to price it slightly higher.
These days, only wealthy families would buy something that didn’t fill the stomach, like those three silver fungus pieces. Even if sold at one yuan each, people like Zhou Chunfeng wouldn’t buy them—but at five yuan each, that man bought all three at once. That’s the kind of customer Shen Qinghe was aiming for.
She positioned her blueberry jam as a boutique product: small and refined. So the regular jam jars weren’t ideal. She planned to ask her second brother if they could get smaller jars, about three or four times smaller than the current ones.
This way, each jar contained a small amount, the price wouldn’t be so shocking, and the shelf life of the jam was short—too much, and it might spoil before others could finish it, and they wouldn’t buy again.
…
Around eleven o’clock, Shen Qinghe went to Shen Hongwei’s house. The street was quiet, but as she got close, it became noisy. Neighboring yards had been borrowed, and nearly everyone in Shenjia Bay came—one yard alone couldn’t accommodate everyone.
Everyone had already taken their seats. When Shen Qinghe arrived, Shen Qingsong noticed immediately.
“Little sister, why are you here so early?”
“Early?” She hadn’t attended such events for years and had forgotten the usual timing.
“Well, if dinner starts before twelve-thirty, that’s considered early,” Shen Qingsong said, pointing to the neighboring yard. “Little sister, you go eat at Hongxing’s place. There are plenty of girls over there.”
“Okay.” Shen Qinghe nodded. Her mother and two sisters-in-law were helping in the kitchen, so food would be left for them. She didn’t need to crowd at another table. Her father and brothers were outside helping; they would surely eat at Shen Hongwei’s house.
As an unmarried girl, of course, she would sit with the other girls.
“Hey, Comrade Shen’s here,” Xu Chenfeng nudged Huo Yanxiu.
Huo Yanxiu looked up, catching only a glimpse of a back. He was about to look away when he noticed a strong gaze fixed on him. As a soldier, he immediately sensed the hostility in that look.
Huo Yanxiu glanced at him indifferently.
Xu Chenfeng noticed and smirked, “Little Gu, why are you staring at Captain Huo like that?”
Gu Linchuan choked. Every time Xu Chenfeng called him “Little Gu,” he felt uneasy. They were about the same age, but because Xu’s background was strong, his promotions had come faster—so unfair! If he had the same background, maybe he would already be a captain too.
“Nothing, just looking around,” he replied.
Xu Chenfeng snorted in disdain. What a person.
…
Shen Hongxing was Shen Hongwei’s cousin, and the families had always been close, even building their houses together. As Shen Qinghe reached his yard, she overheard people talking about her and Gu Linchuan.
“Really? Gu Linchuan is involved with Lin Yingxue?”
“Of course it’s true. Otherwise, why would he ignore Shen Qinghe and rush to save that Lin girl?”
“I always found it strange—Gu Linchuan and Shen Qinghe were engaged, weren’t they?”
“Right, but Shen Qinghe is so pitiful. Gu Linchuan really is despicable.”
“Exactly! If it were me, I’d dump him!”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Brother Gu isn’t like that! It’s just that Shen Qinghe allowed another man to see her body, so Brother Gu rejected her!”
“Shen Yaqin, you’re talking nonsense! Qinghe was saved by a soldier. If you say anything more, Aunt Chunfeng will rip your mouth!”
“Shen Qiumiao, you’re the one talking nonsense! I’m just stating facts. Everyone in Shenjia Bay knows she exposed herself. Brother Gu, being a soldier, naturally couldn’t tolerate the humiliation!”
“So you hope that next time you fall into the river, no one rescues you, right?”
Shen Qinghe’s sudden voice stunned the girls. They froze, then blushed with embarrassment, realizing they had been caught gossiping.
“Qinghe, you’re here!” A girl in deep blue homespun spoke excitedly—Shen Qiumiao, who had just quarreled with Shen Yaqin and had been friends with Shen Qinghe since childhood.
“I’ve been at my grandmother’s for the past few days. I only just heard you fell in the water. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now.” Childhood friends’ concern warmed her heart.
Opposite Shen Qiumiao sat Shen Yaqin, delicate-looking, slightly tanned, thin-lipped. Seeing Shen Qinghe, her face briefly showed unease, but she snorted lightly and sat down.
“Qinghe, come sit. There’s a spot here.”
Shen Qinghe sat to Shen Qiumiao’s left. Someone immediately asked, “Hey, Qinghe, is it true you broke off the engagement with Gu Linchuan?”
Shen Qiumiao glared at the girl, “Shen Chunhong, if you can’t speak properly, don’t speak at all. Everyone in Shenjia Bay knows. How could it be false?”
Shen Chunhong pouted. “I just didn’t fully believe it…” Previously, everyone thought Shen Qinghe and Gu Linchuan were extremely pleased with each other.
“Yes, it’s broken off.”
“Good! I always thought Gu Linchuan wasn’t worthy of you.” Shen Qiumiao meant it. Shen Qinghe was beautiful, had a good family, and a good personality. Gu Linchuan, apart from being a soldier and having a good face, had nothing. He was cold, often icy to Qinghe, and no one knew how she had endured it.
Shen Chunhong continued gossiping. “Is it true about Gu Linchuan and Lin Yingxue? Why didn’t he save you and saved her instead?”
Shen Qinghe lowered her lashes, a trace of sorrow on her face. “I… I don’t know…”
Everyone present immediately understood.
“I knew it!”
“Gu Linchuan is despicable!”
“That Lin Yingxue is a shameless woman too…”
“Shen Qinghe, stop lying! Brother Gu isn’t like that! You’re just slandering him because he rejected you!” Shen Yaqin couldn’t sit still as everyone criticized Gu Linchuan.
“What did I say? I don’t think I said anything.”
“Exactly! Shen Yaqin, don’t project your obsession with Gu Linchuan onto everyone. Qinghe sees right through cold-blooded Gu Linchuan!” Shen Qiumiao snorted.
Shen Chunhong also looked disdainfully at Shen Yaqin. “You’re no different from Lin Yingxue—knowing Qinghe was engaged to Gu Linchuan, yet still chasing him. Shameless!”
Shen Yaqin turned pale, lips trembling, “They aren’t married yet. Whether they will is uncertain. Now the engagement is off.”
“You really think that just because Qinghe broke off the engagement, Gu Linchuan will agree to marry you? Pfft!”
Although others remained silent, their expressions conveyed the same sentiment.
“You! You’re bullying me! I’m not eating anymore!” Shen Yaqin suddenly stood, eyes red, looking genuinely wronged.
Shen Chunhong clapped. “Good, now we can have more meat.”
No one tried to stop her, and Shen Yaqin, embarrassed, left.
The remaining girls at the table comforted Shen Qinghe, telling her not to be upset and even introducing potential suitors, making her laugh.
Shen Hongxing’s yard had many tables. The quarrels at their table were overheard, and by midday, rumors about Gu Linchuan and Lin Yingxue had spread throughout Shenjia Bay.
Shen Qinghe only learned of the speed of gossip that evening, when Gu Linchuan angrily showed up at her door.
“How could you go around spreading rumors and ruining Lin Tongzhi’s reputation?” Gu Linchuan looked at her with disappointment. “Do you know the consequences? I’m a man, but Lin Tongzhi is a woman! How is she supposed to survive in Shenjia Bay? You’re a woman too—why make it hard for her?”
“You need to explain to everyone that you were overemotional and said nonsense. There’s no relationship between Lin Tongzhi and me!”
“Also, you must apologize to Lin Tongzhi! She’s magnanimous and won’t make it difficult for you.”
Shen Qinghe sneered and slapped Gu Linchuan across the face. The strike was sudden; he didn’t expect it. Shocked, he exclaimed, “You actually hit me?”
“I hit you!” She slapped him again. “You want me to apologize to Lin Yingxue? Don’t make me laugh! I didn’t say anything. Ask around—did I ever say you two were involved?”
“It’s obvious everyone noticed because your actions were so obvious! Gu Linchuan, you think I’m stupid, but everyone sees clearly!”
Gu Linchuan’s expression changed, and he forced calm. “What are you saying? Lin Tongzhi and I are innocent. As for why I saved her first, I’ve explained it multiple times. Why won’t you listen?”
“Explain it yourself. Let’s see if they believe you,” Shen Qinghe said coldly. “One last time: our engagement is off. Don’t come looking for me again. Understand? If you understand, get lost. If you don’t, get lost anyway!”
Gu Linchuan was speechless. “How did you become like this…”
“If I hadn’t, would I have kept being a fool for you?” Last life, she had been deceived by him repeatedly.
“You…” Gu Linchuan panicked. Could she really know? How did she find out? He had been so careful.
“Get lost.” Shen Qinghe turned and left. Gu Linchuan tried to stop her.
“Didn’t you hear? My little sister told you to get lost!” Shen Qingsong couldn’t hold back. That bastard dared to ask her little sister to apologize to Lin Tongzhi—he must be crazy!
Liu Lanying deliberately poured a basin of water in front of Gu Linchuan. It splashed over him, soaking his clothes and splashing his face.
Seeing him in such a mess, Liu Lanying felt a bit satisfied. She said playfully, “Oh, Little Gu, sorry! It’s so dark I didn’t see you. Are you okay?”
“…I’m fine.” Gu Linchuan didn’t want to lower himself to argue with a village woman. He could only forcefully say, “Qinghe, think carefully. Lin Zhiqing and I really have nothing.”
Then he hurried off.
Shen Qingsong hugged Liu Lanying and grinned. “My wife is amazing! One move, and she drove that bastard away.”
“Of course!” Liu Lanying was proud.