Chapter 38.1

Based on the relationship between the two families, Ning Shu indeed found it hard to refuse, especially since Lin Zhenxing mentioned buying things for the wedding, making it even harder for her to decline.

This was one aspect she disliked the most. Although she could refuse like her predecessor, she was the one living here now.

Even if she didn’t care about others’ opinions, humans were social animals and couldn’t completely ignore family ties.

“I can lend you the bike, but there are some conditions. My bike is brand new, without any scratches. If there are minor scratches when you return it, you need to repair them, and you’ll cover the repair costs. However, if it’s severely damaged, I won’t accept repairs. You’ll either have to compensate for the bike or pay in cash. Compensation includes the cost of the bike ticket and the bike itself, totaling around 350 to 400 yuan. I need to make this clear; otherwise, it might damage our family relationship, which would be hard to explain later. Do you find this acceptable?”

Lin Zhenxing hesitated. He couldn’t guarantee there wouldn’t be any scratches, and minor scratches needing repairs seemed reasonable.

However, he definitely couldn’t afford to compensate for severe damage. Thinking this way, he decided not to borrow it after all.

“Then… then I’ll think about it.”

Lin Zhenxing felt a bit embarrassed to admit he couldn’t afford it directly, so he phrased it more tactfully.

However, he wasn’t angry at Ning Shu’s words. They all knew Ning Shu’s personality, and him being willing to lend was already beyond his expectations.

Usually, they could use a bullock cart to go to the county town, but during the autumn harvest, the bullock carts were used for transporting crops.

His father (the brigade leader) didn’t agree to use them for other purposes to let the bullocks rest.

Seeing Lin Zhenxing’s frightened expression, Ning Shu realized she might have been a bit ruthless, but everyone had their own way of life.

In some aspects, she didn’t want to change herself because of others, or she would end up feeling stifled.

“Okay, then take your time to think about it.”

“Alright, sister-in-law, I’ll take my leave.”

Watching Lin Zhenxing’s figure, Ning Shu frowned. She seemed to have forgotten something.

Right, she remembered hearing from Yi Bao and Er Bao about Lin Zhenxing’s gossip with educated youths before but didn’t pay much attention.

Later, someone mentioned that Qin Ya and Lin Zhenxing were engaged. So, was Qin Ya borrowing the bike, relying on her relationship with Lin Zhenxing?

Ning Shu didn’t have much impression of Qin Ya, only knowing that she exchanged a piece of candy for Yi Bao and Er Bao’s help picking firewood.

Later, Yi Bao and Er Bao no longer lacked candy and always followed her to pick wild vegetables, so they stopped picking firewood for her.

However, when they were picking vegetables, they saw other children picking firewood for a piece of candy.

The second impression was when Lin Guodong send a letter, She was the one who came to inform Ning Shu.

As for Qin Ya, she reserved judgment since she didn’t know her. With only these two incidents, she couldn’t form an opinion.

But today, if she borrowed a bicycle from someone she didn’t know just because she was engaged to Lin Zhenxing, Ning Shu’s impression of her would deteriorate.

Countryside Cadre Residence

Qin Ya saw that Lin Zhenxing had returned so quickly and couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Zhenxing, did you borrow it?”

Lin Zhenxing said, “No, but Sister-in-law is willing to lend it, but there are conditions.”

“What conditions? Do we need to pay? If it’s about money, that’s fine. We can treat it as renting a bicycle and pay rent,” Qin Ya said indifferently.

After all, she didn’t intend to take advantage anyway, and she was willing to pay rent.

“No,” Lin Zhenxing repeated Ning Shu’s words, “…so let’s not borrow it. It’s okay to have a few bumps and scrapes, but if it’s damaged too much, it’s impossible to buy a new bicycle. We don’t have bicycle tickets either. If we have to pay 400 for compensation, my parents won’t give me 400.”

“So much compensation?” Qin Ya widened her eyes. “She… this…”

She wanted to say, isn’t this extortion? “You’re relatives after all, and we’re both educated youth. This is a bit too much.”

She didn’t want to get married so soon, but working days were too hard. More importantly, her family stopped sending her money.

Although she had some money on hand, it was for emergencies. Since her family stopped sending her money, she didn’t want to spend her emergency money, so she decided to accept Lin Zhenxing’s pursuit and be in a relationship with him.

There’s no way around it. In this rural area, Lin Zhenxing, as the son of the brigade leader, had one of the best conditions.

But still, Ning Shu was happy. She married a military officer, lived in a brick house, and her husband sent money every month.

If she could also live this kind of life, there wouldn’t be much difference between living in the countryside and living in the county town.

Lin Zhenxing smirked. He didn’t think there was anything wrong. In the past five years, Ning Shu’s reputation in the village had been like this.

If one day she became diligent and kind, everyone would find it strange.

“Why are you laughing? Say something.” Qin Ya didn’t like the way he looked at her and felt he was disrespectful.

“You look cute when you’re angry,” Lin Zhenxing said.

“You…” Qin Ya felt like this person was sick. “Then tell me, what should we do now? We’re getting married in a few days, but we haven’t bought anything. I don’t want this kind of marriage.”

Talking about serious matters, Lin Zhenxing also became serious: “Why don’t we walk there? My dad won’t let us take the ox cart on such days. The oxen are the wealth we all need to protect in our brigade. It’s already exhausted from hauling goods every day.”

“But it’s a two-hour walk,” Qin Ya also didn’t like riding the ox cart much because of the strong smell, but compared to walking, she could endure it for a while.

“Then I’ll carry you.” Lin Zhenxing raised his hand and flexed the muscles on his arm. “Don’t worry, I’m very strong.”

Qin Ya did feel a bit repulsed, but she didn’t say it out loud. “We’re not married yet. If people see you carrying me, they’ll gossip. How about… we find a cart, and I’ll sit in it while you push me?”

“Huh?” Lin Zhenxing obviously hadn’t thought of this.

“Why, I’m helping you adapt quickly. Think about it, if we have children in the future, I won’t be able to walk much when I’m pregnant. When we need to go to town or the county, I’ll have to sit in a cart and let you push, so you better get used to it,” Qin Ya said playfully.

As soon as Lin Zhenxing heard her mention children, his mind wandered. He didn’t care whether pushing the cart to the county town for two hours would be tiring.

All he could think of was the image of a pregnant Qin Ya. So, he nodded eagerly, “Let’s go with the cart tomorrow… Wait, didn’t you say you were going with Ren Ling before? Why are you asking me now?”

Qin Ya’s eyes darted around. “I think it’s better for you to come with me. We need both husband and wife to shop for wedding items together.”

If they were riding bicycles, of course, she would go with Ren Ling, but since they were walking, it was better to let Lin Zhenxing push her on the cart.

“Yes, yes, that makes sense,” Lin Zhenxing became even happier.

Until it was time to sleep at night, Ning Shu hadn’t seen Lin Zhenxing coming to borrow the bicycle.

She thought Lin Zhenxing probably wouldn’t come. Not to mention that she had been worried about it all along, because she didn’t want to borrow the bicycle, fearing that Lin Zhenxing would suddenly decide to come and borrow it.

“Mom, why aren’t you sleeping yet?” Suddenly, Er Bao’s voice rang out.

Ning Shu lowered her eyes and met Er Bao’s round and bright eyes. “Why aren’t you sleeping?” she asked impatiently.

Er Bao chuckled, “I’m so hot.” His feet were still restlessly moving under the quilt.

Today, Er Bao leaned against Ning Shu as he slept, and he was hot, which also transferred some heat to Ning Shu.

But Ning Shu slept with her feet outside the quilt when it was hot, so she was much better off than him.

“Mom, can I take off my clothes and pants?” Er Bao was still young, and when he got hot, he liked to take off his clothes and pants.

Ning Shu looked at his shoulders exposed by the vest. He was only wearing a vest and shorts now.

If he took off his clothes and pants again, would this child sleep naked?

“No, it’s not sanitary to take off your clothes and pants, and besides…” After some thought, Ning Shu added, “…if little bugs bite your bottom or where you pee, what will you do? So, no matter where you are, you can’t take off your shorts, understand?” Boys also need to protect themselves.

Er Bao’s eyes widened in fear. “But Mom, what if I need to go to the toilet?”

How can this child have so many strange thoughts? If Ning Shu didn’t have patience, she would have kicked him off the bed. “Except for going to the toilet,” she emphasized.

Er Bao nodded vigorously. “Okay okay… But Mom, what do I do if I’m hot now?”

Ning Shu sighed. “…You go sleep inside.”

Er Bao, with a conscience, said, “Big brother will be disturbed if I sleep inside.”

Listening to him, Ning Shu felt that even though his myriad of strange thoughts made her speechless, she could tolerate it for his concern and consideration for his brother. But…

“I’m not asleep,” Yi Bao’s voice came. He couldn’t wait for Er Bao to swap places with him.

Ning Shu sighed inwardly. Wouldn’t San Bao also be asleep?

Sigh… Sigh…

Impossible, San Bao’s nose could blow bubbles.

“Go to sleep, we need to wake up early tomorrow,” Ning Shu closed her eyes, not intending to continue chatting with them.

Yibao and Erbao, who woke up early every day: “…”

Er Bao: “Mom, aren’t you going to sleep in tomorrow?” His mom used to wake up early when she went foraging or digging bamboo shoots, but she hadn’t done that for the past few days and had been sleeping in late.

Er Bao thought it was nice that his mom was sleeping late, but he didn’t understand why people outside said it was bad for his mom to sleep late.

Ning Shu: “…We’re going to the county town tomorrow.” She couldn’t stand staying at home for another moment.

She planned to go find a job tomorrow.

Yibao turned his little head in surprise. “Mom, are you going to work?”