Chapter 5

As they watched, a plump woman with a face full of flesh led a dirty-looking man toward them.

“Comrade Gu, I’m Erlai’s mother. I came here today to arrange a marriage between you and my son. Just look at Erlai—he’s quite the fine young man.”

“You two are a perfect match. If you marry my son, you won’t have to work in the fields anymore.”

Before Wang Qini could finish speaking, Li Guihua and Zhao Xiangxiu burst into laughter.

Wang Qini was speaking enthusiastically when their laughter interrupted her, and she looked at them with dissatisfaction.

“What are you two laughing at?”

“Wang Qini, everyone knows that people need dignity, just like trees need bark. But we’ve never seen someone as shameless as you. How can you even think of introducing your son to Comrade Gu?”

“He doesn’t even bathe once a month—what girl would want to marry him?”

Wang Qini’s mother had given birth to seven daughters before finally having her, so she was named “Qini” (Seventh Girl). Similarly, Wang Qini herself had four daughters before finally giving birth to her precious son, Erlai.

Hearing them criticize her son, Wang Qini became furious.

“What’s wrong with my son? No matter how good she is, she still ended up in the countryside. My son is a perfect match for her! Just look at her, all foxy-looking. If my son fancies her, it’s her good fortune from a past life!”

“Wang Qini, watch your mouth! Comrade Gu is a good girl.”

Guihua and Xiangxiu stood up for Gu Nian, and soon, they were arguing fiercely with Wang Qini.

Gu Nian found them annoying. Where did this ridiculous woman come from? Did they think she wouldn’t get angry?

Talking was pointless. Gu Nian stepped forward and delivered four loud slaps to Wang Qini, making her see stars.

After regaining her senses, Wang Qini charged at Gu Nian like a madwoman.

“You dare hit me? I’ll fight you to the death!”

The result? Wang Qini was beaten up so badly that she went home with a swollen face and bruises.

Guihua and Xiangxiu thought Gu Nian was right to hit her, and Gu Nian agreed with them.

Now, everyone in the village knew Gu Nian was not someone to mess with. To be honest, many villagers had thought about marrying her into their families.

But after today, no one would dare to push their luck.

On her way home, Wang Qini looked at Erlai.

“Son, of all the girls you could like, why did you choose such a fierce one?”

Erlai hadn’t picked Gu Nian himself; someone had told him to marry her.

“Mom, I don’t care—I want a wife! Please find me a wife, okay?”

“Alright, I’ll find you one.”

Wang Qini only had one son, so she couldn’t ignore his wishes.

Erlai thought he had lost hope, but during dinner, the woman who had talked to him earlier came to see him again.

Erlai told her everything that had happened in the fields.

“Erlai, are you stupid? You’re a man! If people saw you and Gu Nian together, what could she do? She’d have no choice but to take responsibility!”

Erlai thought about it and realized she was right. Seeing that he understood, the woman left.

That night, Gu Nian delivered freshly steamed meat buns, a wild chicken, and a wild rabbit to her adoptive parents. On her way back, she felt someone following her.

She stopped and waited. Sure enough, the person crept closer. Turning around, she saw Erlai grinning lewdly.

“Comrade Gu, don’t struggle. Just come with me and be my wife.”

Gu Nian didn’t bother responding. If she could fight, why waste time talking?

Two punches later, Erlai was clutching his face and kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy.

“Stop! You’re going to break my face!”

“Speak! Who told you to follow me?”

“No one! I came on my own!”

Erlai refused to tell the truth, afraid that if Gu Nian got angry, he’d never get a wife.

Ding! Host, your sixth mission in the book-transmigration world has arrived. Please find out who instructed Erlai and deliver a face-slapping counterattack.

“Alright.”

“Let me ask differently—do you want a wife?”

“Yes! More than anything! Do you have a way to get me one?”

“Yes. The person who told you to come after me—she’s your wife. Why don’t you go after her instead? Just use the same trick she suggested for me.”

“You’re right!”

Erlai wondered why he hadn’t thought of that. He immediately ran off.

Gu Nian smiled. No need to rush; the person behind this would reveal themselves soon enough. Feeling pleased, she went home and slept soundly.

Since the autumn harvest was approaching, the village chief had given everyone a break. On this day, all the educated youth were taking an ox cart to the county.

They had been saving money for a whole year just to have a good meal before the harvest began.

On the ox cart, Gu Nian saw Ji Yunchen and He Yirou exchanging flirtatious glances. It was clear that they were now in a relationship.

Next to her, Shen Yuling still seemed unaware, gazing longingly at Ji Yunchen.

Ji Yunchen kept a calm expression but secretly enjoyed having two girls vying for his attention—it gave him a sense of pride.

Gu Nian couldn’t stand watching anymore. What a hypocrite.

The ox cart soon reached the county, and everyone got off and went their separate ways.

Gu Nian headed to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy fabric. She wanted to make winter clothes for her adoptive parents and the two professors.

On the way, she saw fellow educated youth Jia Xueli sneaking into an alley, followed by Ye Qing.

Gu Nian knew that alley—it led to the black market.

Jia Xueli was known for living well at the educated youth point. Sun Dantong, her roommate, had mentioned that she had ways to trade for fine grains.

It seemed that Jia Xueli and Ye Qing were stocking up before the autumn harvest.

Sun Dantong also disappeared down another street, but Gu Nian didn’t bother with them.

At the cooperative, she used up all her fabric coupons to buy materials. She also spent all her soon-to-expire ration coupons.

She wasn’t planning to return to the county before the harvest—it was rumored to be exhausting, and she’d be busy collecting firewood in the mountains.

She bought egg cakes, malted milk, White Rabbit candy, peach crisps, Jiangmi sticks, and fruit candies—all to send to her adoptive parents.

She also planned to bring them meat and grain to help them get through the harvest season.

Lately, she had been secretly adding spring water to their food, and thankfully, their health had improved.

After shopping, she went to a state-run restaurant and packed twenty meat buns along with some cooked dishes. The harvest would be too tiring for her to cook daily.

She ran into several educated youth at the restaurant, but they all ate separately without greeting one another.

On the way back, everyone had happy expressions—it was clear they had enjoyed their trip to the county.

That night, Gu Nian delivered supplies to her parents, who were deeply grateful to have her as their daughter.

Two days later, just before the harvest began, something major happened at the educated youth point.

Gu Nian thought it would be about Sun Dantong’s affair with Accountant Liu’s eldest son, but to her surprise, it was something else entirely.