Jiang Jinwang was first shocked, then unhappy, and even a little angry.
He rarely got rejected, and he also rarely experienced the taste of being rejected. It had always been others flattering him, especially those women. Every one of them, when facing him, smiled brightly and spoke softly, showing their best side in front of him.
Only Gu Yijia had always been indifferent, and at this moment she even said she did not know him.
Jiang Jinwang remembered the scene when he first met Gu Yijia.
Several factories in the city had held a social gathering, letting the young men and women in the factories take part, which was also a disguised form of matchmaking.
At that time, he was at a blind date with a female comrade from the textile factory. The other party was a city girl, looked pretty good, was very good at dressing herself, and her family conditions were also good. Both her parents were cadres at the neighborhood office, and she herself was a regular worker at the textile factory.
However, when Gu Yijia appeared, the blind date partner he had originally thought looked not bad instantly became bland and flavorless.
At that time, Gu Yijia had come to the county town to look for Gu Mingyue.
The two sisters walked together, and even Gu Mingyue’s delicate face became bland, making Gu Yijia look like the beautiful woman described in ancient poetry, standing alone beyond the world, distant and beautiful.
Just one glance was enough to make him fall in love.
At that time, he could not wait to come before Gu Yijia and introduce himself.
Back then, Gu Mingyue could not hide the delight in her eyes at his arrival at all, clearly having taken a liking to him. However, Gu Yijia had no expression whatsoever, and even avoided him.
After Jiang Jinwang went back, he rejected the blind date partner and could not let go of Gu Yijia. He sent people to inquire about her.
It was easy enough to inquire. There were too few girls who looked as beautiful as Gu Yijia, and since she was a regular customer at the hospital, plus with Gu Mingyue around, it did not take much effort.
After finding things out clearly, he could not wait to have a matchmaker go to their home to discuss marriage. Although later, because he had to be wary of Chen Aifang, he had not gone there to propose for the time being, he had always been thinking about Gu Yijia.
After finally running into her on the street, he felt that this was fate between them.
But Gu Yijia actually said she did not know him?!!
However, seeing Gu Yijia’s face, the anger in Jiang Jinwang’s heart miraculously vanished. The weather was already hot, and walking under the sun left him drenched in sweat, making a person irritable and restless. Yet when Gu Yijia’s pair of clear, bright eyes looked over, it was like a breeze had brushed past, instantly sweeping away the heat and impatience in his heart.
Jiang Jinwang’s expression eased a little as he smiled. “Comrade Gu, we’ve met several times. How can you not know me? Has Comrade Gu’s health gotten better? Why have you come to the county town today?”
Gu Yijia did not speak.
She lowered her eyes, and when she thought of the plot of that period novel, she felt uncomfortable.
The original owner had never thought of marrying Jiang Jinwang, and she also would never have any such thoughts. Just thinking that the original owner would die a miserable death because of his forced marriage made her suddenly have the urge to humanely destroy him.
Yes, in the past her temper had been this explosive. Unfortunately, her body was not up to it now, so she could not explode for the time being.
The old ladies around looked at them in confusion. They really knew each other?
They glanced at Jiang Jinwang. The male comrade’s clothes did not look like those of an ordinary person, so his family conditions should be very good. However, they liked Gu Yijia, this little girl, more. Seeing that Jiang Jinwang’s eyes were glued to the little girl the whole time, he inevitably seemed a bit frivolous.
Jiang Jinwang looked at Gu Yijia and could not help but step closer.
“Actually, I’ve wanted to visit you these past few days. Your family should have told you about us being in a relationship. What do you think of me? Have you considered dating me…”
“No!” Gu Yijia refused cleanly and decisively. “Comrade Jiang, I’m not familiar with you. Please don’t say this kind of thing in front of me, so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.”
Jiang Jinwang froze again.
This was not within his expectations. He had not thought that after he had made himself so clear, Gu Yijia would still refuse him.
In his heart, Gu Yijia was a quiet little fairy, but she was weak and often ill. He had heard that just going to the hospital every month to see a doctor and buy medicine cost quite a bit of money. A man without some money really could not support such a sickly woman, which was also why he was not worried about another man getting there first. He had time to plan slowly.
“Comrade Gu!” Jiang Jinwang’s face stiffened. “Comrade Gu, I heard that your health is not good. I’m sure you can’t find a partner in the countryside, and I’m willing to marry you. That is already…”
He was actually never a person with a good temper. If Gu Yijia had not been so beautiful, he would not have been patient enough to keep grinding away with her.
Being refused by her in front of other people, he only felt like he had nowhere to put his face.
Before he could finish, the old ladies around were unhappy.
“Oh my, young man, how can you talk like that?”
“Is that how you talk to a female comrade?”
“Exactly. Even if the female comrade’s health is not good, she doesn’t eat your family’s rice. Is it necessary for you to despise her? Besides, the female comrade herself said she’s not familiar with you. Why are you still spouting nonsense here? Watch your rotten mouth!”
“You look decent enough, but I didn’t expect you to have such a filthy mouth.”
“Where did this stinking hooligan come from? The little girl has already said she doesn’t know you. It’s obvious she doesn’t want to give you a chance. Why don’t you hurry up and get lost?”
“…”
The old ladies spoke one after another, and Jiang Jinwang’s face turned green and red all at once. He was so angry he almost burst into flames.
He had grown up this big and had never been spoken to like this before.
What was worse, these old ladies were sharp-tongued and did not give him any face at all.
In the eyes of these old ladies, of course they were more inclined toward Gu Yijia, who could talk with them.
Gu Yijia was pretty, obedient, and clever. Although she was dressed very plainly, that bearing of hers did not look like that of an ordinary person at all, and there was no need to belittle her like this.
What was wrong with the little girl being sick? Her own family would worry about her. She had not even talked about a partner yet, so what right did he have to worry?
Jiang Jinwang finally got angry. “Do you know who I am?”
These old women, one and all, looked sharp. They were definitely the kind who would torment a young daughter-in-law at home.
Give them an inch, and they would take a mile.
The old ladies would not indulge him. They snorted right back, “Who are you? Why should we know?”
They did not need to know who he was. What era was this now? Old society’s tricks were not allowed anymore. If this male comrade dared to do anything, they would dare to report him to the public security bureau.
One old lady picked up the carrying pole beside her and made as if to hit him. “Why don’t you get lost already? Do you want us to beat a hooligan?”
“I’m not a hooligan!” Jiang Jinwang was a little collapsing. What hooligan thing had he done?
The old lady said righteously, “You’re pestering a little girl. If that’s not a hooligan, what is it?”
Jiang Jinwang said, “I’m trying to date her…”
“If the little girl doesn’t want to, that’s just being a hooligan!”
Jiang Jinwang: “…”
Just as the old lady was about to use the carrying pole to drive Jiang Jinwang away, someone hurried over.
“Director Jiang.” The person turned their head to look, “Jiajia, why are you here too?”
Gu Yijia looked coldly at Gu Mingyue, who had come running over, glanced at the clothes on her body, and said lightly, “To buy cloth.”
She was not blind. Although Gu Mingyue’s tone when speaking to her sounded very delighted, there was actually no sign of delight in her eyes.
Gu Mingyue was suspicious in her heart. Could it be that Gu Yijia had specially come to the county town to look for Jiang Jinwang?
Her heart tightened, and she turned to say to Jiang Jinwang, “Director Jiang, are you here to look for Jiajia? Jiajia’s health isn’t good, and she rarely comes to the county town. Should we take her over to the state-run restaurant to sit for a while? It just happens to be noon. Let’s go eat a meal together.”
Jiang Jinwang kept his face stiff and did not speak.
The old ladies looked at each other, then at Gu Yijia, then at Gu Mingyue. What was this suddenly appeared female comrade doing? Why did she seem to be faintly flattering that male comrade?
This female comrade was dressed no worse either, and she looked like a respectable person.
No matter what condition a female comrade was in, if she was the one rushing over eagerly, she was cheap, and the man would also look down on her a bit.
That was also why they were protecting Gu Yijia.
Besides being warmhearted, they also could not stand Jiang Jinwang’s aggressive manner. You’re a male comrade, being so fierce to a little girl, and you still want to date her? It was already good enough that they did not go to the public security bureau to report you for being a hooligan.
The commotion here drew the attention of quite a few people.
Seeing this, Chen Aifang, who was standing in line, felt her heart tighten. She asked a nearby auntie to help hold her place in line, then strode over quickly.
“Jiajia, what’s wrong?”
Chen Aifang first sized up her younger sister-in-law. Seeing that she was fine, she looked at Jiang Jinwang and Gu Mingyue, and her heart immediately soured.
Ever since she learned that Jiang Jinwang had sent someone to look for Third Aunt Gu and wanted to find a matchmaker for her younger sister-in-law, she had been extremely averse to Jiang Jinwang. As for Gu Mingyue, anyone with eyes could see her intentions toward Jiang Jinwang.
If possible, she would rather these two got together and stopped harming her younger sister-in-law. Her younger sister-in-law was weak and could not be made to worry or be sad.
Chen Aifang said with a smile that did not reach her eyes, “Director Jiang is here too. That’s just right, I have something to say to Director Jiang. Our Jiajia is still young and won’t be dating for the time being, so we can only disappoint Director Jiang’s kind intentions. If you want to find a partner, our Mingyue is actually not bad.”
Gu Mingyue immediately lowered her head in some embarrassment, sneaking glances at Jiang Jinwang.
Jiang Jinwang’s face was gloomy. Even if he was not going to date Gu Yijia, there was no need to shove any cat or dog at him. What kind of thing was Gu Mingyue? She was not particularly pretty, and she was only a temporary worker at the textile factory. What kind of woman did he not have? How could he possibly date her?
Gu Mingyue naturally could also see Jiang Jinwang’s expression, and she felt a wave of embarrassment.
“Also, please ask Director Jiang not to go looking for anyone to come and say this or that in front of our Jiajia anymore. Her health is not good, and she can’t spend energy worrying. Director Jiang wouldn’t want anything to happen to our Jiajia either, right?”
“If one day Jiajia faints again, and the public security thinks that this is Director Jiang’s responsibility…”
“All right, if Director Jiang has anything to do, then hurry up and go do it!”
“…”
Chen Aifang fired off her words in one smooth burst, not giving the slightest bit of face. Jiang Jinwang’s face turned dark.
He was not stupid. How could he not hear Chen Aifang’s threat?
This was saying that if he still wanted to pester Gu Yijia, they would simply report it to the public security for handling, and at that time they could casually pin a hooligan charge on him… although he was not so scared as to that extent, he could not afford to lose that face.
Jiang Jinwang left with a dark face.
Gu Mingyue hesitated for a moment, but still hurriedly followed after him, which made that group of old ladies immediately look down on her.
This girl really was not smart. For a girl who rushes at a man, what man would cherish her?
After driving away Jiang Jinwang, Chen Aifang gave Gu Yijia a few more instructions, thanked the group of old ladies for protecting her younger sister-in-law, and hurried back to the line.
She acted briskly and very neatly.
The old ladies liked capable daughters-in-law like this, and all praised Chen Aifang before continuing to chat with Gu Yijia.
Gu Yijia quite agreed. Her sister-in-law really was capable. She herself had not done anything, and the male lead was already driven away by her sister-in-law. Looking at that enraged, dark-faced appearance, who knew whether he would give up on wanting to marry her.
If he could give up, that would be even better.
Her body was not good right now, and even going out the door required her to be very careful, afraid that she would faint halfway there. She did not have the energy to walk through the plot at all. Why was it not good enough for the man and woman leads to be directly locked together? Why did they still need her, a sickly person, to be their wingman?
Gu Mingyue hurriedly caught up to the Jiang Jinwang ahead.
“Director Jiang.”
Jiang Jinwang’s steps paused. He turned his head to look at her, his expression gloomy.
Gu Mingyue gathered her courage and said, “Don’t be angry. My sister-in-law has always had this kind of temper. Jiajia’s health isn’t good, so she’s more protective…”
Originally Jiang Jinwang did not want to pay attention to her. Later, thinking of something, he suddenly asked, “If I want to marry Comrade Gu Yijia, what do you have to do?”
Gu Mingyue’s face instantly stiffened.
“You don’t have a way either?” Jiang Jinwang looked at her disappointedly, then turned around to leave.
Gu Mingyue’s heart tightened, and she quickly called out, “Director Jiang!”
At this moment, Gu Mingyue somehow had a premonition that this was her only chance!
Jiang Jinwang clearly had not put her in his eyes, and he probably could not even be bothered to remember what she looked like. The only thing she could rely on now was the identity of being Gu Yijia’s older sister, and that was why Jiang Jinwang was willing to stop and listen.
There were many female comrades in the factory who wanted to marry Jiang Jinwang, and among them there were even city girls with good conditions. Compared with them, she had nothing.
In such a short time, Gu Mingyue had already made her choice.
She said, “Director Jiang, if you really want to marry Jiajia, I can help you.”
Jiang Jinwang finally looked at her properly and asked with interest, “How are you going to help me?”
Gu Mingyue bit her lip and said, “I’ve had a good relationship with Jiajia since we were little. Jiajia listens to me very much.”
Jiang Jinwang immediately felt somewhat pleased, and did not doubt Gu Mingyue’s words.
Gu Mingyue would not go so far as to trick him. Such a lie could be exposed with a simple investigation, and only a smart person would not do that.
“If you can get Gu Yijia to marry me, I can help make your textile factory job become regular, and at the same time introduce you to a city partner.”
This condition was extremely generous, and it was also something many country people would be unable to refuse.
Gu Mingyue reluctantly agreed.
Compared to a regular worker slot in the city, she more wanted to marry Jiang Jinwang. As long as she could marry into the Jiang family, wouldn’t that be better than a job in the city?
The Jiang family was big and wealthy, with money and power. Only a fool would give up Jiang Jinwang and choose someone else instead.