The Delicate Darling with Her Rough Man

”So you’ve heard about the other production brigades borrowing grain, too? I heard about it as well. A good friend of mine, who was sent down to the countryside with me, got assigned to a different brigade. Half of their grain was ruined by the rain. With spring on its way, they’re not going to have enough to eat. Their brigade leader is worried sick.”

”It’s a good thing Gu Zhiqing invented the thresher. She’s a real lucky star.”

”You can say that again. Look how well her life is going since she got married. She’s in even better shape than when she first came down to the countryside. And as for that Leng Yuan, he’s usually so quiet and reserved—who would’ve thought he’d be the type to bring his wife good fortune?”

What was Gu Jiaojiao like when she first arrived in the countryside?

She was arrogant and domineering, looked down her nose at everyone, couldn’t do a single thing right, and found fault with everything.

Ever since she got married, she’s really settled down. She seems much gentler, gets along well with the villagers and the other educated youth, and everyone is willing to spend time with her.

Then she made that contribution to the village, and even the brigade leader started to see Gu Jiaojiao in a new light.

In turn, this made the villagers look upon all of the educated youth with more respect.

After all, everyone used to think studying was useless. So many high school students were being sent to the countryside to farm, and even their own children who graduated from high school had to pick up a hoe. But Gu Jiaojiao made everyone understand that an education *is* useful, and that educated people deserve respect.

That was exactly why everyone felt so kindly toward Gu Jiaojiao.

So, the moment Li Hongmei finished speaking, everyone started chiming in at once to praise Gu Jiaojiao.

Li Hongmei was so furious she could have screamed.

’Was that what I meant?’

’I was implying that since Leng Yuan was teaching at the commune, Gu Jiaojiao could only have become a teaching assistant because he pulled some strings.’

’Otherwise, with her abilities, how could she possibly have passed the exam?’

But everyone else had completely misinterpreted her, twisting her words into praise.

’But could she argue?’

’No.’

’Everyone was on Gu Jiaojiao’s side right now. If she tried to argue, she’d just be turning them all against her.’

Li Hongmei gritted her teeth, thinking that Gu Jiaojiao had just gotten lucky and married a good man.

As she thought this, she couldn’t help but sneak a few glances at Hu Ziqiang.

’Hu Ziqiang likes me so much,’ she mused. ’If I suggested getting married, he would probably agree, wouldn’t he?’

’But that’s the sort of thing the man is supposed to do.’

’It’s all my fault for rejecting him so harshly before. Now Hu Ziqiang would never dare to bring up marriage.’ Li Hongmei’s heart ached with endless regret.

For some reason, Hu Ziqiang suddenly shuddered. He felt as if something sinister had its eyes on him, sending a chill straight down his spine.

He glanced around, but the only person nearby was Yun Hao, working beside him. There was nothing else.

’I guess I was just imagining things.’

Hu Ziqiang let out a breath and looked back at Yun Hao. Yun Hao had changed completely since the divorce. The once confident, high-spirited man had not only become quiet and withdrawn, but he now spent his days with his head bowed.

The only time his expression ever changed was when he managed to get a newspaper with Mr. Bai Mu’s work published in it. Otherwise, he was completely expressionless.

He let out a breath and, just to make conversation, said, ”I just saw Gu Jiaojiao heading back. It must be nice being a teacher, not having to do backbreaking work in the fields.”

Hu Ziqiang was just making a casual, envious comment about Gu Jiaojiao.

But the moment he said it, he realized how tactless it was and immediately regretted it so much he wanted to slap himself.

’I really know how to put my foot in my mouth.’

”Yun Hao, that’s not what I meant. I...”

Yun Hao said quietly, ”You don’t have to apologize. There was never really anything between Gu Jiaojiao and me. It was my fault before.”

’I was the one who was blind. I was so determined to hold on to my so-called feelings for Xu Wenwan that I let such a wonderful girl slip away.’

Watching her retreating figure, Yun Hao’s heart filled with endless regret.