Things got better after we arrived at Yongquan Village Brigade.

She finally felt at ease knowing that the village head was very kind and the villagers were also very kind.

The snacks she ate before were all mailed by her parents. She paid other educated youths to pick them up for her.

Now that I have someone to rely on, being able to go out and eat with Chen Yifei is something I've been looking forward to for a long time!

She was both nervous and excited to be able to buy groceries, cook, and let her future husband, Chen Yifei, taste her cooking.

After Chen Yifei left, she watched him go as usual before going into her dormitory.

Wang Mei was already waiting inside. Seeing her teasing smile, she asked, "Qingqing, what do you think of Chen Yifei now?"

"That Chen Yifei is really good, I can see that. He really has his heart set on you."

He Runqing sat down and touched the cheongsam dress he had given her; she hadn't worn such a dress in a long time.

The villagers all said that it was indecent for a girl to wear a skirt, so she gradually started wearing polyester pants.

But when Chen Yifei gave her this dress, it was as if she had returned to the time when she lived in the city and was pampered by her parents, and she was also worthy of being loved.

"Xiaomei, I think Chen Yifei is a very, very good person. He's been very good to me too. I want to... be good to him as well."

Wang Mei stared into her eyes: "Not only that. Qingqing, I know you. You're not interested in anyone. You have such excellent looks, but those male educated youths tried everything they could to seduce you."

"Ah...don't talk nonsense," He Runqing said, somewhat shocked. "Don't tell Chen Yifei what you said. I don't want him to misunderstand. I haven't been in contact with anyone."

"Yeah, you haven't even noticed that someone is pursuing you. You care about Chen Yifei. You didn't have anyone in your heart before, but now your heart is all over him."

“You like him, that’s why you want to be good to him, and you’re completely focused on him. I didn’t realize that before, but now I understand.”

Wang Mei looked at her best friend with a smile in her eyes.

At first, I felt sorry for Qingqing, that she had encountered such a thing.

Who would have thought that, by sheer chance, she would meet her destined soulmate? What an interesting twist of fate!

Upon hearing this, He Runqing nodded: "Today, I think I felt that emotion. Just like in the book, when I saw that he didn't come, I was more worried about his safety. When I saw that he gave me something, I was very happy."

“I want to treat him the same way, and I want to be a good wife.”

The two best friends lay in bed, having a late-night chat.

As she said this, Wang Mei nodded: "Yes, your heart has already gone with him."

"Since that's the case, you should take the initiative. If you want to be good to him and like him, then be good to him! Don't be shy, do what you want to do. The relationship is your own."

He Runqing was somewhat puzzled: "Is there a need to be in such a hurry... I still don't quite know how to get along with gay men."

My time with Chen Yifei was the only time I spent so much time with a male friend. The older brother in the Shanghai compound, supposedly my childhood sweetheart, hadn't spoken a word to me since we grew up and matured.

Wang Mei knew that her best friend was a slow-paced person.

But it's also important to make it clear to her:

"Chen Yifei is no longer the hoodlum he used to be. He's rich now, and everyone can see how good he is to you. This marriage is a good thing. It was just a compromise at first, but it has to be said that Chen Yifei's circumstances have improved."

Now that Chen Yifei is selling mushrooms, I've heard that the few thugs who follow him are going up into the mountains every day to pick mushrooms, earning five yuan a day.

Even working as a youth at the educated youth settlement, you couldn't earn that much in a month... People who followed Chen Yifei could earn this much, let alone Chen Yifei himself.

This hoodlum has unknowingly become a hot commodity.

Wang Mei continued:

"Leaving aside Zheng Fang's regret, all the female comrades in our educated youth settlement are now hoping to marry him. How rare are reliable in-laws and reliable husbands these days?"

"These are all realities, and although they may not be pleasant to hear, we have to be clear about them. You know that the women in our area are capable of anything."

"So there's nothing wrong with you bravely expressing yourself, doing what you want to do, and holding on to what you like."

“Men like proactive girls!” Wang Mei said, glancing at her figure. “But you should wait until after marriage to have sex. It won’t take long anyway.”

The moment this topic came up, the two of them started fighting.

"Xiaomei, you're teasing me again."

"You've never even been in a relationship, how do you know so much about these things!"

Wang Mei waved her hand and said maturely, "Haven't you ever seen a pig run even if you haven't eaten pork? When I was at home, all I had at the bottom of my drawer were some romance novels... all picked up from various street stalls. Never mind, you wouldn't understand."

Although they bickered and fought afterwards, she remembered everything Wang Mei said.

Say what you mean and be brave enough to express yourself.

Otherwise, Chen Yifei might accidentally belong to someone else.

The thought of this possibility made He Runqing feel breathless. She even felt a pang of sadness and unease.

Before going to the countryside, she was lively and cheerful, and she would actively strive for what she wanted. However, in the past few years in the countryside, she has indeed seen many negative aspects.

She has grown up and learned to be silent. Now, when she thinks of Chen Yifei, this man she can rely on, her heart warms again.

He will protect himself; she trusts him unconditionally!

I slept well all night.

The next morning, He Runqing arrived at the Chen family's door and waited.

Perhaps because it was the first time he had taken the initiative to find Chen Yifei, he was a little excited and got up even earlier than Chen Yifei.

She was just supposed to wait at the door, but Chen Xue, who was absentmindedly brushing her teeth with her enamel mug, saw her and said somewhat awkwardly, "Sister Chen Xue."

"You're here to see Chen Yifei, right?" Chen Xue instantly snapped to attention and quickly pulled him inside. "He's still asleep! You woke him up. I delivered the mushrooms to the state-run restaurant today, and he said he had something to do. Now that I think about it, it was to keep you company, wasn't it?"

Chen Xue covered her mouth and laughed, feeling really good watching her younger brother fall in love.

Hearing this, He Runqing felt even more embarrassed and could only run into the house, as she knew Chen Yifei's room.

She was very curious about what Chen Yifei's room looked like, but unfortunately she didn't see it last time she came.

After knocking cautiously on the door and receiving no response, Chen Xue opened the door and said, "He's sleeping very soundly, just go in and call him."

He Runqing stood at the door, and you could hear his even breathing. The room was neatly arranged with very few things, and the bed sheet was light blue.

She walked closer to his bedside and glanced at his sleeping face. Hmm... he was very handsome. She wondered, how come boys have such long eyelashes?

As he spoke, he reached out to touch it.