These past few days, as he lay in bed in pain, both the female educated youths from the educated youth point and the village girls had brought him plenty of food.

The fish soup before him was exchanged by Zhao Weihong with a local villager.

“Wen Zhiqing, be careful not to spill the fish soup,” Zhao Weihong said, quick to react as she instinctively reached out to steady the bowl. Her fingers accidentally brushed against Wen Zhuqing’s cool ones, causing her face to flush red before she quickly withdrew her hand.

While she verbally reminded Wen Zhuqing to hold the bowl steady, her blushing face was lowered, savoring the sensation of having touched Wen Zhuqing’s hand, her heart blooming with joy.

Wen Zhuqing thanked her, oblivious to Zhao Weihong’s unusual behavior, and lowered his head to drink the fish soup, his mind preoccupied with what Zhao Weihong had just told him.

Zhao Weihong had relayed the village rumors of the past two days, as well as what Gu Jianing had said when they had met.

Even Wen Zhuqing, who had been confident about Gu Jianing’s feelings for him, couldn’t help but doubt: Had Gu Jianing really changed? Was she truly planning to marry that officer named Sheng Zexi, and not just playing hard to get?

In fact, over the past two days, Gu Jianing, who was the most likely to visit, hadn’t come at all.

He had heard that Gu Yunting had already returned to work.

Wen Zhuqing had a vague feeling that Gu Jianing was slipping out of his control.

No, he still needed to find time to meet Gu Jianing in person and ask her directly.

If she was just playing hard to get and didn’t really intend to marry that officer Sheng, then it would be fine. But if she had truly changed, then…

Wen Zhuqing’s eyes darkened.

The prey he had set his sights on—how could he let her escape so easily?

Meanwhile, Gu Jianing, whom Wen Zhuqing regarded as his prey, had just come out from her grandmother’s old house. On her way, she overheard many villagers discussing Wen Zhuqing’s “popularity” after being beaten up.

Gu Jianing’s grandparents had two sons and one daughter.

The eldest son was her father, and the younger son was her uncle. According to Huaihua Village tradition, the elderly lived with the youngest son. After her aunt married and her grandfather passed away, her grandmother had decided to divide the family property. She lived with her younger son in the old house, while the eldest son, Gu Jianing’s father, was given more money to build a new house.

Although the family had been divided, the two brothers had a good relationship, especially since Gu Jianing’s grandmother didn’t favor boys over girls. Both her uncle’s family and her grandmother doted on Gu Jianing, often saving delicious treats for her in secret.

This time, after settling her engagement with Sheng Zexi, Gu Jianing naturally went to inform her grandmother and uncle’s family.

Thus, she left the old house in high spirits, only to hear Wu Meili and a group of aunties gossiping about how Wen Zhuqing had been receiving much attention from the female educated youths and village girls while they were digging up sweet potatoes in the fields.

As she approached, their voices grew louder and more excited.

Were they deliberately talking for her to hear?

This Wu Meili—Auntie Wu—she remembered. This woman had once tried to marry her daughter off to Gu Jianing’s eldest brother. But at that time, her brother was already in a relationship with Yang Manman, so of course, he couldn’t consider anyone else. Moreover, Yao Chunhua didn’t like the idea of becoming in-laws with Wu Meili.

So, the matchmaking had naturally been rejected.

But Wu Meili and her daughter seemed to hold a grudge.

She remembered that in her past life, her eldest brother and sister-in-law had never had children, and this Auntie Wu had spread countless rumors in the village, calling her sister-in-law a “hen that couldn’t lay eggs.” The words were extremely harsh. If her brother had at least held a worker’s job, it might have been better, but she had given that job to Wen Zhuqing. In the end, her brother failed at everything he tried, while Gu Baozhu’s husband, who had originally been a carpenter, later made a fortune by customizing furniture.

Later, whenever Wu Meili and her mother, Yao Chunhua, argued, Wu Meili would say things like, “A blessed daughter doesn’t enter an unblessed family,” implying that the Gu family was unlucky, while her daughter was blessed. This not only mocked the Gu family but also elevated Gu Baozhu.

However, in this life, such things would not happen again!

Gu Jianing thought to herself, could this Auntie Wu be trying to provoke her into causing a scene at the educated youth point?

Causing a scene was out of the question for her.

However, she felt that Wen Zhuqing needed to be dealt with.

She knew all too well that beneath Wen Zhuqing’s gentle and refined exterior lay a ruthless and venomous snake. Clearly, she had become Wen Zhuqing’s prey, and he wouldn’t easily let her go until he had drained her of all her value.

It was possible that after learning of her engagement to Sheng Zexi, he would stir up trouble.

Therefore, she needed to figure out how to deal with Wen Zhuqing. Even if she couldn’t resolve the issue completely, making him suffer a bit would be good. At the very least, after she married Sheng Zexi and moved to the military base, Wen Zhuqing wouldn’t be able to scheme against the Gu family.

Gu Jianing kept this in mind as she slowly approached Wu Meili and the others.

Wu Meili, catching sight of Gu Jianing out of the corner of her eye, spoke even more enthusiastically.

Over the past two days, she had not only heard about Gu Jianing’s engagement to an officer but had also seen the man.

The officer seemed quite impressive, and Wu Meili secretly thought to herself that the officer must be blind to have chosen Gu Jianing. Her own daughter was so much better.

She thought it would be better if Gu Jianing continued to chase after Educated Youth Wen.

Although Wu Meili was now praising Wen Zhuqing, saying how good he was and how popular he was among the girls, deep down she didn’t like these weak, bookish educated youths. She found them unreliable, with only their looks and smooth talk to recommend them. Just look at how Gu Jianing had been fooled by Wen Zhuqing before—not only had she given him food and drink, but she had even jumped into the river to pressure her brother into giving his job to Wen Zhuqing.

Although later Gu Jianing claimed it had been an accident, and Gu Yunting had gone back to work, denying the rumors, Wu Meili didn’t believe it.

She hoped Gu Jianing would continue chasing after Educated Youth Wen, so that the entire Gu family would surely be dragged down.

In fact, Wu Meili’s instincts were correct. In her past life, hadn’t Wen Zhuqing used Gu Jianing and drained the entire Gu family of all their value?

“…I think Educated Youth Wen is really quite good. He’s good-looking, has a good personality, and I hear he can even recite poetry. He’s from Shanghai too. Whoever marries him will become a Shanghainese,” Wu Meili praised Wen Zhuqing lavishly.

Gu Jianing approached, crossing her arms, her voice sweet and deliberately puzzled as she asked, “Auntie Wu, do you really think Educated Youth Wen is that good?”

Wu Meili turned around, as if she had just noticed Gu Jianing, and knowing that her words had been overheard, her eyes brimmed with laughter. “Yes, I think Educated Youth Wen is very good. He’s an excellent candidate for a husband or son-in-law.”

“Oh, really? Then if Educated Youth Wen were to become your son-in-law, wouldn’t you be overjoyed?” Gu Jianing batted her beautiful almond eyes, pretending not to grasp the deeper meaning behind Wu Meili’s words, and went along with her.

“Of course I’d be happy,” Wu Meili said, even though she didn’t actually like educated youths, she had to agree with Gu Jianing’s words now.

“No wonder you look so happy, Auntie Wu. So Educated Youth Wen is going to be your son-in-law,” Gu Jianing said as if she had just realized something.

Wu Meili was confused. What did she mean? What was this about Educated Youth Wen becoming her son-in-law?

Gu Jianing blinked, feigning surprise. “Auntie Wu, didn’t you know? Your Zhenzhu likes Educated Youth Wen. Oh, and did your family cook meat today? I think I saw Zhenzhu planning to bring some to Educated Youth Wen. What, Auntie Wu, you didn’t know?”