“Dad, don’t worry. I swear on my life and my beliefs that I will treat Ningning well.”

“When I have the time, I will definitely bring Ningning back to visit you,” Sheng Zexi solemnly promised.

“Good, good.”

Gu Jianing looked at her family, whose eyes were red with emotion, and felt her own eyes welling up. “Dad, Mom, brothers, and sisters-in-law, I will be fine, I really will.”

In this lifetime, she would strive to live well.

She would never waste the opportunity of being reborn.

Amidst the crowd, Gu Jianing was led by Sheng Zexi into the jeep.

However, there was a small incident along the way.

When the firecrackers were set off, Gu Jianing was startled and instinctively hid closer to Sheng Zexi.

Sheng Zexi quickly shielded her and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you afraid of firecrackers?”

Gu Jianing hummed in agreement, though it wasn’t the firecrackers she was afraid of—it was the flames.

It wasn’t until she got into the car that Gu Jianing felt better.

Sheng Zexi glanced at her before taking the driver’s seat, though a hint of doubt lingered in his eyes. He had noticed how Gu Jianing instinctively flinched at the sound of the firecrackers and the fear in her eyes.

Had Ningning been injured by firecrackers before?

But he remembered that when he used to stay at the Sheng family, Ningning wasn’t afraid of firecrackers.

For now, Sheng Zexi suppressed his doubts and started the car.

The plan was to drive the jeep around Huaihua Village, then return to the Gu family for the vows and the wedding banquet.

Gu Jianing’s room had already been decorated as the bridal chamber, and tonight, Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing would stay there.

Grandpa Sang and Grandma Sang would also stay at the Gu family tonight.

Tomorrow, the elderly couple would return to Beijing, while Sheng Zexi would take Gu Jianing with him to the military base in the northwest.

The jeep slowly started moving, and many people, especially children, ran after it, creating a lively scene.

The jeep passed by the educated youth’s residence.

Those who hadn’t been invited came out to watch.

“Gu Jianing is so lucky to marry an officer from Beijing.”

“I heard that Officer Sheng’s parents didn’t come this time. I wonder what’s going on. Maybe his parents don’t approve,” Zhao Weihong said with a sour tone.

Others agreed, thinking it made sense. Who would want their son, an officer from a big city, to marry a country girl?

No matter how beautiful the girl was, it wouldn’t change her rural household registration.

“Who says marrying into a big city is a good thing? Besides, being a military wife isn’t easy. If something happens, she might end up…”

The rest of the sentence was left unsaid, but everyone understood.

In any case, they were jealous of Gu Jianing and couldn’t bring themselves to say anything nice about her and Sheng Zexi. But they didn’t dare say too much, fearing that their words might get back to the Gu family and earn their resentment.

If Gu Jianing had heard their envious remarks, she would have said that these people were just sour grapes.

If they had the same opportunity, they would probably be scrambling to take it.

Perhaps speaking ill of others brings its own retribution, because just then, the jeep suddenly made a sharp turn, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The dust directly flew into the mouths of those who had been spouting sour remarks.

“Damn it, how are they driving?”

“Cough, cough, my mouth is full of sand.”

Not only were their mouths full of sand, but their hair was also covered in dust, leaving them looking disheveled.

By the time they finished brushing off the dust, the jeep was already far away, leaving only its rear in sight.

The children who had been following the jeep hadn’t left yet, and some had overheard their envious remarks. Now, the children made faces at them, chanting, “Bad people, bad people, talking bad, eating sand!”

“You little brats!”

“Run!”

The children scattered and continued chasing after the jeep.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Gu Jianing asked Sheng Zexi in the car.

Sheng Zexi, with his hands on the steering wheel, nodded without hesitation. “Of course, I did it on purpose.”

“They thought I couldn’t hear them. Hmph.”

“Their foul mouths deserved a taste of sand. That was letting them off easy.”

Gu Jianing couldn’t help but laugh, though she gave him a thumbs-up. “Well done.”

When a man stands up for you, you should praise him.

That way, he’ll be encouraged to do even better in the future.

Besides, she had also heard what those people said.

Gu Jianing was also a bit angry. She was a petty person and didn’t think “being petty” was a bad thing.

If someone belittles or insults you, you should give it back to them.

Be petty.

Otherwise, these people will only push their luck!

For this reason, Gu Jianing felt that she and Sheng Zexi were quite well-matched.

Soon, the jeep also passed by the Bao family’s house.

Wen Zhuqing, who was in the yard washing clothes, happened to see it. Beside him sat Bao Shanyan, cracking melon seeds.

Bao Shanyan watched the jeep flash by, a hint of envy in her eyes.

She also wanted to ride in such a jeep.

Bao Shanyan knew that the people in the car must be Gu Jianing and her officer husband.

Gu Jianing was really lucky. Like her, she was a country girl, yet she managed to marry an officer from Beijing.

Men are all the same—they only care about looks.

Compared to her own robust figure and rough face, Gu Jianing’s slender figure and delicate, beautiful face were things Bao Shanyan envied.

She was so jealous that sometimes, when her violent temper flared up, she wished she could find a way to ruin Gu Jianing’s flower-like face.

But Bao Shanyan restrained herself.

She knew that Gu Jianing had the backing of the Gu family, which was not something she could afford to provoke. Especially now that Gu Jianing had married an officer, and after the incident where she had schemed against Wen Zhuqing, leaving him with no evidence and swallowing a bitter pill, Bao Shanyan realized that Gu Jianing was not as simple as she seemed. She was actually quite cunning.

It was better to avoid such people.

As she was lost in thought, Bao Shanyan suddenly noticed that the noise beside her had stopped.

Turning her head, she saw that Wen Zhuqing, who had been washing clothes, had stopped and was staring intently in the direction where the jeep had gone.

From Bao Shanyan’s angle, she couldn’t see Wen Zhuqing’s expression or the emotions in his eyes.

But remembering that Wen Zhuqing had once been involved with Gu Jianing, Bao Shanyan’s face darkened.

She stood up and kicked Wen Zhuqing.

Caught off guard, Wen Zhuqing fell into the basin of water.

The basin, full of water, tipped over, and the cold water soaked his pants, sending a chilling sensation through him.

“What are you looking at? There’s nothing to see.”

“What, are you still thinking about Gu Jianing?”

Wen Zhuqing clenched his teeth, his hands tightening into fists. He wanted to kill Bao Shanyan, but the pain from the beatings she had given him over the past few days still lingered, making him too afraid to fight back.

He could only suppress his anger, raise his head, and say in a gentle tone, “Shanyan, it’s nothing. I just heard the sound of the car and instinctively looked up. I have no relationship with Comrade Gu Jianing.”

“Hmph, you’d better remember that. She’s married to an officer from Beijing. She wouldn’t look at someone like you. You’d better live honestly with me and not have any ulterior motives, or else…” Bao Shanyan narrowed her eyes, threatening Wen Zhuqing before turning and walking back into the house.

Wen Zhuqing watched Bao Shanyan’s retreating figure. If she had turned around at that moment, she would have seen that Wen Zhuqing’s expression had completely changed. The gentleness was gone, replaced by a look of malice and ruthlessness.

Over the past few days, he had come to understand that Bao Shanyan was a hot-tempered woman who liked to resort to violence. Wen Zhuqing felt that if things continued this way, he might end up being beaten to death by Bao Shanyan.

No, he had to find a way to escape and break free.

And as for Bao Shanyan—one day, he will make sure she dies!