Chapter 8

“I think she’s just jealous that Comrade Lu is prettier than her and more well-liked,” said the woman who had just called Lu Lanlan a vixen.

Gu Yu looked at the woman and sneered.

“I think so too. Living under the same roof with such a malicious person, Comrade Lu is really pitiful.”

“Forget it, let’s not talk about it. People like her hold grudges. If she decides to take revenge on us one day, it won’t be good,” the woman who called Lu Lanlan a vixen shivered under Gu Yu’s gaze and tugged at the woman beside her. “Let’s go back to work.”

The women spat in Gu Yu’s direction before turning away to resume their work.

Gu Yu was furious but also saw their true colors.

—-

At 3:30 in the afternoon, Fu Chunian knocked on Lu Lanlan’s door.

She was woken up by the noise and followed Fu Chunian to the village supply and marketing cooperative.

“Did the manager assign you a plot for growing vegetables?” Lu Lanlan casually asked.

“Yes. The village will send a tractor to town the day after tomorrow. We’ll go buy some vegetable seeds then,” Fu Chunian glanced at Lu Lanlan, his face full of happiness.

“I can’t go. I get carsick on tractors,” Lu Lanlan said. “When I came here, I almost threw up from all the shaking.”

“What about a bicycle? Do you get dizzy on a bike?” Fu Chunian asked.

Lu Lanlan looked up at him. “You’re not thinking of buying a bicycle, are you?”

“Of course not. Some families in the village have bicycles. We can borrow one,” Fu Chunian said, though in his mind, he was already considering buying one. He didn’t know how long he’d be staying here, and having a bike would make it easier to take Lu Lanlan out.

“That works, but we just got here. Do you even know the way to town?” Lu Lanlan asked.

“It’s fine. I’ll follow them once, and I’ll remember the route. After that, I can take you on the bike,” Fu Chunian said.

Lu Lanlan looked at him acting like the perfect boyfriend and chuckled.

“There’s no one else here. You don’t have to act so convincing. If you keep pretending like this, what if you get too into the role?” she teased.

Fu Chunian paused for a moment and said, “Alright, I get it.”

They had almost reached the supply and marketing cooperative, so they dropped the subject.

—-

Inside the cooperative, Lu Lanlan spotted the man she had seen at the clinic in the morning.

“Comrade Lu,” Xu Jianguo immediately greeted her with a smile.

“Comrade Lu, is your hand feeling better? I’ve already explained everything to the others, so you won’t have any trouble because of it. Don’t worry.

I even bought some things to bring to you as an apology.”

“There’s no need. As long as you’ve explained, that’s enough,” Lu Lanlan said coldly.

Xu Jianguo acted as if he didn’t notice her coldness and continued, “That won’t do. I caused you trouble, so I must apologize. Besides, I’ve already bought the items.”

If you’ve bought them, then take them home.

Just as Lu Lanlan was about to refuse, Fu Chunian, standing beside her, spoke first.

“If you really want to apologize, then stay away from my girlfriend. Don’t let people misunderstand. That would be the best apology.”

Girlfriend?

Xu Jianguo finally looked at Fu Chunian. “Who are you?”

“I just arrived today. I’m a fellow educated youth and Lu Lanlan’s classmate. She agreed to be my girlfriend during lunch. So, you’d better stay away from her,” Fu Chunian declared his claim.

Xu Jianguo looked at Lu Lanlan in disbelief.

Just one lunch, and she became someone else’s girlfriend?

“Yes, I already have a boyfriend. I don’t want any misunderstandings, so please keep your distance,” Lu Lanlan said.

“Impossible. That’s impossible,” Xu Jianguo couldn’t believe it.

Fu Chunian frowned. “We’ve studied in the same school for six years and liked each other for a long time, haven’t we, Lanlan?”

Lu Lanlan nodded. “Yes.”

Hearing that, Xu Jianguo felt a deep pang of pain in his chest, but he still didn’t want to give up.

“Lanlan, I’m a good person too. If you spend more time with me, you’ll see that. Can you give me a chance?”

Fu Chunian stepped forward and pulled Lu Lanlan behind him.

“Comrade Xu, standing in front of me and asking my girlfriend to give you a chance—this kind of behavior is morally questionable.”

“If you don’t correct this mindset, I don’t mind reporting it to the authorities and having them re-educate you.”

Xu Jianguo froze.

That kind of re-education wasn’t just a simple lecture from a teacher.

The supply and marketing cooperative clerk, who was Xu Jianguo’s relative, quickly stepped in. “Comrade, you’re mistaken. Jianguo isn’t trying to sabotage your relationship, is he, Jianguo?”

Xu Jianguo glanced at Lu Lanlan behind Fu Chunian but said nothing and left the cooperative.

The clerk hurriedly reassured them, “Don’t worry, he won’t do anything. His father, Village Chief Xu, will talk to him properly.”

Fu Chunian glanced at the clerk and said, “He’d better.”

After buying some daily necessities, Fu Chunian and Lu Lanlan returned to the educated youth dormitory.

Since they had decided to pretend to be a couple in public, they would naturally have their meals together. There was no need to buy separate cooking utensils.

Fu Chunian paid half the money for the pots and bowls, and Lu Lanlan accepted it.

“Don’t worry. No one will dare approach you anymore,” Fu Chunian said.

Lu Lanlan glanced at him with a smile. “Do you think he’ll have his father make trouble for us?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything,” Fu Chunian raised his hand to pat her head but hesitated and put it down.

—-

The next day, everyone in the village and the educated youth dormitory knew that Lu Lanlan and Fu Chunian were dating.

When Lu Lanlan went to work, Fu Chunian walked beside her. The other male educated youths who had previously been interested in her no longer dared to approach.

When collecting tools, Lu Lanlan greeted Auntie Xu with a smile, but the woman was no longer as friendly as she had been the day before.

When they were assigned work, Lu Lanlan was paired with Auntie Xu again, while Fu Chunian was sent to work with Xu Xiangdong—Auntie Xu’s son.

Out in the fields, Auntie Xu buried herself in her work and ignored Lu Lanlan.

Unlike yesterday’s tasks, today’s work was different, and Lu Lanlan didn’t know how to do it. She hesitated before approaching Auntie Xu.

“Auntie, how do I do this?”

“Like this,” Auntie Xu demonstrated quickly and said, “If you don’t get it, just watch for a while, and you’ll learn.”

Her attitude was perfunctory, a stark contrast to her enthusiasm from the previous day.

Lu Lanlan couldn’t figure out why Auntie Xu’s attitude had changed so drastically.

She hadn’t offended her, had she?

Thinking back to yesterday, they had parted on good terms. Auntie Xu had even happily invited her to visit her home.

Could it be because she had taught her so much yesterday, and she hadn’t shown enough gratitude?

After thinking it over, Lu Lanlan concluded that must be the reason.