Chapter 31

What did Lu Baiwei just realize?

Lu Baiwei glanced at her face and casually said a few words, as if she had grabbed Lu Jiaojiao by the throat.

Lu Jiaojiao not only closed her mouth successfully but also shyly covered her face, unwilling to let Lu Baiwei continue looking at her.

He Yan, who had come with Lu Jiaojiao, was speechless.

With such little resilience, she dared to provoke Lu Baiwei?

Lu Jiaojiao was truly inexperienced and playful.

If Lu Jiaojiao hadn’t gotten her the barefoot doctor exam spot and used her husband’s connections with Yin Zhihui and his sisters, He Yan wouldn’t have bothered teaming up with such an idiot.

When He Ting walked into the room, his gaze turned cold as he looked at her and Lu Jiaojiao.

He Yan realized that Lu Jiaojiao was now of no use to her.

“He Ting, I didn’t mean to compete with Lu Baiwei for the position of barefoot doctor,” He Yan said in a soft voice, as if apologizing for showing up.

“You know, before coming here as an educated youth from Haicheng, I worked as a temporary nurse in a hospital for a few months. I know how to bandage wounds.”

“I’m confident that I am more suited to the role of brigade health worker than your wife, Lu Baiwei.”

She bit her lip, her eyes glistening as she added, “Jiaojiao signed me up. I just want to give it a try.”

“He Ting, this is a fair competition between me and Lu Baiwei.”

“Comrade He, whether or not you are suited for the role of brigade health worker is not for me or my wife to decide,” He Ting responded coldly.

“It’s up to the doctors at the county hospital who are in charge of the examination.”

He Ting’s response was dismissive.

When she didn’t move, clearly not intending to leave, He Ting told her directly, “Do you still have something to say?”

He Yan was far more composed than Lu Jiaojiao.

He Ting’s intent was obvious, and she didn’t feel awkward.

Instead, she turned her eyes toward Lu Baiwei and smiled, trying to negotiate, “Lu Baiwei, can I go with you to the county town for the exam tomorrow?”

“We could go together, and you could give me a ride on your bicycle.”

What kind of audacity was that?

She wanted his wife to give her a ride?

Before Lu Baiwei could respond, He Ting refused flatly: “No, I’m taking my wife to the county tomorrow.”

In her past life, Lu Baiwei helped Yin Zhihui with the clothing business, and later even opened a clothing factory. It could be said that once she had a piece of fabric in her hands, Lu Baiwei could think of a whole bunch of clothing designs.

In her past life, Lu Baiwei helped Yin Zhihui with the clothing business, and later even opened a clothing factory. It could be said that once she had a piece of fabric in her hands, Lu Baiwei could come up with a whole range of clothing designs.

The fabric that He Ting gave her, she had thought about making a blouse-style skirt or a trendy top with flared sleeves and elastic at the bottom.

However, these were still times when frugality and simplicity were emphasized. Most people wore clothes made of blue-gray coarse cloth.

Without fabric coupons, many in the brigade still wore patched clothes.

She wasn’t like Liu Cuifang from the neighboring brigade, an educated youth from the capital who dressed more uniquely. As a rural girl born and raised here, wearing fabric made of duoqiao cotton was already quite noticeable. She needed to remain low-key.

Lu Baiwei suppressed the urge to be more extravagant.

She would wait for a couple of years, when the policies would loosen, and then show off her skills!

In the end, Lu Baiwei turned the fabric He Ting had given her into a simple blouse and paired it with blue-gray pants.

Her figure was slender, and this simple style looked good on her.

After trying on the outfit she had made, she spun around and showed He Ting.

His eyes lit up, and he complimented her, “My wife really is beautiful.”

Indeed, after marrying He Ting, she never lacked food, and with better nutrition, her complexion had become more vibrant.

The duoqiao cotton blouse clung to her body, and He Ting could clearly see that his wife had a good figure—where there was supposed to be curves, there were curves; where she should be slim, she was slim.

He Ting, being a young man full of vitality, had grown even more fond of his wife after spending so much time with her. He couldn’t help but glance at her, and his attraction to her grew stronger.

He couldn’t stop himself from looking at her in the places where her figure stood out, and He Ting thought he was being quite the rogue.

But Lu Baiwei remained oblivious, and she spun around again at his praise.

“Weiwei, don’t get dizzy!”

It was as if He Ting was holding back something, his usually calm eyes darkening. When he spoke, his voice was husky.

Worried that Lu Baiwei might fall, He Ting reached out to steady her.

His warm hand touched her waist, sending a searing heat through her body. The intense warmth made her shiver slightly, and the strong scent of his masculinity enveloped her. Lu Baiwei’s face flushed red.

She couldn’t understand it. She had lived two lives, but she still couldn’t control herself around He Ting.

It must be because this man was just too handsome!

“I am a little dizzy,” she said, feigning dizziness, and leaned into him as she swayed.

He Ting immediately held her.

He was much taller than her, a giant at over six feet, and as Lu Baiwei pressed against him, she could feel his heart pounding rapidly in his chest.

The room was silent, and the two of them stayed close, both of them blushing and staying that way for quite a while.

The room was quiet, and the two of them stayed close, their faces flushed, for quite a while.

As the night deepened, Lu Baiwei thought to herself that after being married for so long, it was about time to take care of what needed to be done.

However, He Ting’s hand, which had been resting on her waist, trembled as he pulled it away. “We need to get up early tomorrow for the county exam. Let’s rest early tonight.”

“Weiwei, you cook, and I’ll go get some water from the creek for a bath.”

Lu Baiwei didn’t want to make things awkward, but unfortunately, He Ting was a pure, innocent young man who couldn’t take the next step when the time was right.

It couldn’t always be like this between a married couple.

Lu Baiwei tossed and turned as she thought about it. Before falling asleep, she felt a sense of regret and made plans in her head. Once she became the barefoot doctor for the brigade, she would clear out the main room and make space for the sick to lie down. After all, if a young educated youth or team member fainted and was sent to the health center, they would need a place to rest.

These thoughts distracted her from the slight tension she felt before the exam.

The next morning, after breakfast, He Ting rode his bike to take Lu Baiwei to the county town for the exam.

On the way, they ran into He Ting’s old classmate, He Yan, and Zhao Lingling, who were also heading to the county town.

When He Yan saw He Ting riding with Lu Baiwei, she was excited. She waved her hand wildly from a distance and stood in the middle of the road, blocking He Ting’s bike.

The shortcut to the town’s commune was a much wider dirt road, large enough for tractors.

He Ting didn’t stop. He kept pedaling toward them.

He Yan stretched her hand out to block the bike, but He Ting simply steered around her.

“Hey, hey, He Ting, don’t go!” He Yan called out.

She ran after them and said, “He Ting, let me ride with you and your wife to the county town.”

Only then did He Ting stop his bike.

He Yan thought he had agreed and excitedly turned to Zhao Lingling. “Lingling, you don’t need to go with me to the county anymore. You can go back to the educated youth spot.”

Zhao Lingling couldn’t believe it.

She had gotten up early to accompany He Yan to the county exam, only to be abandoned halfway through?

Seeing that He Yan was set on sending her away, Zhao Lingling turned around with a hurt expression and walked off.

He Yan urged Lu Baiwei, who was sitting on the back of the bike: “You sit on the front rack, and I’ll sit in the back.”

Lu Baiwei didn’t move.

He Yan grew anxious. “You’re not going to let me sit on the front rack, are you? If you don’t mind, I’ll sit up front.”