Chapter 216

“What?” Yu Xiangyang could hardly believe his ears, “Vegetable? Noob?”

Yu Xiangnian laughed mercilessly, “Isn’t that the case? You, who only chases after girls and pulls their braids around the courtyard, and Cheng Jingmo, who has barely spoken ten sentences to a woman, are discussing love advice together? Isn’t that funny?”

Being mocked, Yu Xiangyang felt like he was being hit hard, but since it was Yu Xiangnian, he could only endure it.

“You say Cheng Jingmo is a noob, I agree. But I’m not a noob! There are many girls who like me, I just don’t like them!” he said proudly.

“Alright, alright! Cheng Jingmo is a noob.” Yu Xiangnian was still laughing. “I guess you had some intimate interaction with Xia Qingyun today, so you’re both excited and troubled, right?”

“What do you mean ‘again’?” Yu Xiangyang said unhappily. “Nothing has happened between us. We’re in a pure relationship!”

“Oh…” Yu Xiangnian tested him and found out.

It seems that the rumors about Yu Xiangyang kissing Xia Qingyun were just groundless.

“Nothing has happened, so why are you so excited?” Yu Xiangnian asked.

Yu Xiangyang said with some frustration, “I just feel sorry for Xia Qingyun.”

“Why do you feel sorry for her?”

“Everyone knows she’s dating me, but my parents don’t approve of our relationship. Making her wait like this, I feel like I’m taking advantage of her. It’s really unfair to her.”

Yu Xiangnian countered, “Isn’t your time your own? Why don’t you think you’re the one being taken advantage of?”

Yu Xiangyang’s eyes widened, “I’m a man! How could I be taken advantage of?”

“So what if you’re a man? Men should keep their integrity and protect their reputation!”

Yu Xiangyang: “…”

Yu Xiangnian said with conviction, “Yu Xiangyang, you and she are in a voluntary and equal relationship. No one is forcing anyone to wait for the other. If you’re sincere with her and haven’t done anything inappropriate, there’s no question of who is taking advantage of whom! As for how things develop in the future, no one can predict. As long as you have a clear conscience, that’s enough!”

Yu Xiangyang frowned, “That may be true, but after all, I’m a man. I can handle it and I’m not afraid of gossip, but for her, it’s not good.”

Yu Xiangnian said, “If she wants to be with you, she needs to be prepared for that.”

Yu Xiangyang asked again, “What about persuading my parents? How’s that going?”

Yu Xiangnian retorted confidently, “Can the iron will of these revolutionary fighters be easily persuaded?!”

Yu Xiangyang: “…” This was also within his expectations.

Just then, Cheng Jingmo returned.

Yu Xiangyang glanced at Cheng Jingmo and said dejectedly, “Noob, you’re back.”

Cheng Jingmo: “?”

Cheng Jingmo knew that Yu Xiangyang was about to start talking about his love life again.

Cheng Jingmo was not interested in other people’s love affairs.

He parked his bike, drank a large glass of cool water, and said, “Aren’t you going back? The dormitory lights are about to go out.”

Yu Xiangyang complained, “Are you trying to chase me away?!”

Cheng Jingmo looked like he wanted to write “Get lost” on his face.

Yu Xiangyang could definitely read Cheng Jingmo’s expression.

The more Cheng Jingmo tried to get him to leave, the more he refused to go!

Cheng Jingmo also understood Yu Xiangyang’s expression and said, “Let’s go, I’ll walk you out. We can talk as we go.”

Cheng Jingmo led the way out, and Yu Xiangyang had no choice but to follow.

Yu Xiangyang looked at the two similar silhouettes and felt a pang in his heart.

Cheng Jingmo seemed to be in a low mood.

Even though he always wore that same expression, she could feel it.

Throughout the walk, Yu Xiangyang talked about his relationship with Xia Qingyun.

Cheng Jingmo listened, but it seemed like he wasn’t really paying attention!

Yu Xiangyang talked about how he held Xia Qingyun’s hand and how Xia Qingyun was waiting for him.

But one thing Cheng Jingmo did catch was: Yu Xiangnian thought he was a noob!

Was he really a noob? Where was he lacking?

After dropping Yu Xiangyang off at the entrance of the residential area, Cheng Jingmo finally spoke.

“Yu Xiangyang, do you know how many people in our country still can’t get enough to eat? How many children can’t go to school? How many subversive elements want to split our country?”

Yu Xiangyang was taken aback.

Cheng Jingmo continued, “Yu Xiangyang, you shouldn’t be immersed in these love matters all the time! You’re a man, and more importantly, a soldier. You have a mission, a responsibility! Think carefully about what you should be doing!”

Yu Xiangyang: “…”

Cheng Jingmo went on, “You grew up in good conditions, able to eat well and go to school. When you grew up, you joined the army and everything went smoothly. You have no burdens and should have grander aspirations, to serve the country and the people. Instead of constantly thinking about whether she likes you or you like her!”

“Yu Xiangyang, I don’t know Xia Qingyun well, but I know your parents only want the best for you. If this relationship is causing you distress and confusion, I suggest you take some time away from it and view it from an outsider’s perspective.”

“If after a period of calm you’re still sure that you want Xia Qingyun, then I’ll help you figure out a solution.”

Yu Xiangyang felt both stunned and embarrassed by Cheng Jingmo’s words.

Cheng Jingmo, who usually said little, had lectured him at length today for some unknown reason.

Finally, Yu Xiangyang awkwardly said, “Got it, I’m heading back.”

Cheng Jingmo returned home, cleaned up, and went to his room.

Yu Xiangnian, hiding behind the door, hugged him from behind and asked, “What’s wrong? You were fine when you left, but now you seem unhappy.”

Cheng Jingmo clasped her hands that were around his waist and said, “Nian Nian, I feel so powerless.”

His tone was much weaker than usual.

“What happened?”

Cheng Jingmo recounted the events of the afternoon.

It turned out that he had ridden his bike to the village to learn about radio technology from Zhang Guoping, only to stumble upon a group of women beating Zhang Guoping’s wife.

Zhang Guoping’s wife, He Meiying, was a scholar of foreign cultures and had been sent down to the village with Zhang Guoping.

As an intellectual, He Meiying was not as capable at manual labor as the village women.

These women had long been unhappy with her, and today, when one of the women scolded He Meiying, she retorted a few words, leading to a mob attack.

The women stripped her of her clothes, and the other villagers just watched, offering no help.

Zhang Guoping tried to protect He Meiying and was also beaten.

Fortunately, Cheng Jingmo arrived in time. The crowd, seeing he was a soldier, reluctantly stopped. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened to the couple!

Even though the women stopped, they continued to curse.

Even the name He Meiying became a reason for their insults.

Cheng Jingmo said, “People like them have a greater purpose. Take our military district, where there are so many people yet no radio experts. Yet talents like these are stuck in the fields, unable to contribute.”

“I want to do something, but I don’t have the ability.” Cheng Jingmo sighed softly.