A little scheme to cover up the truth!

Gu Chong switched hands to carry the suitcase. Although he was a little embarrassed, he didn't try to hide his feelings too much.

"I will definitely go to Haicheng when you are there."

His straightforward words undoubtedly made Xue Fu very happy.

This can be considered a promise, a guarantee for her, so she doesn't have to worry too much about the future long-distance relationship.

She would have been happy if he had given it to her.

With her boyfriend personally escorting her to the provincial capital, how could she not be happy!

If it weren't for the strict entry and exit controls of that era, Xue Fu thought Gu Chong would have truly acted as her protector, escorting her all the way to Haicheng.

"Then, let's go!"

Xue Fu excitedly followed him onto the oxcart.

Liu Ling was somewhat surprised to see that the two of them came up together, and that Xue Fu's luggage was still being held by Gu Chong.

Xue Fu sat down next to Liu Ling, while Gu Chong sat outside Xue Fu as a protector.

Taking advantage of her seat, Liu Ling tilted her head and whispered to Xue Fu, "Is he going to the county town... to see you off?"

Since Gu Chong had already gotten on the oxcart, the fact that he was going to take her there couldn't be kept secret any longer.

“Yes,” she said, “not only to the county town, but also to the provincial capital.”

Liu Ling's focus, however, was completely off: "The provincial capital?"

Liu Ling asked in surprise, "Isn't your train on the 26th? So he's going to stay until the 26th too? Where will he stay tonight?"

"you..."

Liu Ling left her words unfinished, but Xue Fu understood the unspoken meaning perfectly.

"What are you thinking about?" Considering the others, Xue Fu lowered her voice. "The captain gave you a letter of introduction. What strange things are you thinking about? You should stay at the guesthouse, one room per person."

Isn't it said that everyone in this era is conservative and innocent? But the female educated youth in the dormitory always like to talk about these kinds of 'accidental flirtations'.

"Oh!" Liu Ling patted her head softly, forgetting about the letter of introduction. "Yeah, that's true. But it's good that he's offering to take you. I was a little worried about you spending the night alone in the provincial capital. Now you don't have to worry about that anymore."

After all, Xue Fu was too beautiful.

Beauty doesn't always bring good things; sometimes being beautiful isn't safe.

With Gu Chong accompanying Xue Fu for the night, Liu Ling felt much more at ease.

Gu Chong, who was sitting in the front, felt several gazes.

He looked back one by one and found that they were the male educated youth from the same educated youth settlement.

They were all men, and he could read the emotions in their eyes and the meaning behind them.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, then ignored it all.

They were all unrelated people.

The weather is nice today; it hasn't rained for several days in a row. The dirt road to the county town is in good condition, at least it's not so bumpy and uncomfortable.

There weren't many people chatting on the oxcart, and everyone kept their voices down, making the whole cart quite quiet. The only sound was the clattering of the oxen's hooves as they moved forward.

Xue Fu did not speak to Gu Chong either.

Since he was going to accompany her to the provincial capital anyway, they still had time to chat!

Moreover, she gets up early in the morning and is a little sleepy at this time, so she doesn't want to talk much.

With a soft sigh, Xue Fu looked out at the bare, unattractive field ridges, leaning half her body on Gu Chong's shoulder, comfortably sitting in the oxcart with his help.

It took more than two hours for the oxcart to reach the county town.

There are only two buses a day between the county town and the provincial capital, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, so they have to make the most of their time.

Xue Fu wanted to take the morning train so she could arrive in the provincial capital in the afternoon.

If she takes the afternoon bus, she'll arrive in the provincial capital late at night and won't get a good night's rest, which is very troublesome.

Liu Ling was in a hurry, as her train to the provincial capital was in the evening, and she could only take the morning train.

So as soon as they got off the oxcart, Liu Ling couldn't help but urge them on.

"Let's hurry, I'm afraid the tickets will be sold out."

As she spoke, Xue Fu also became a little anxious.

Unlike train tickets, bus tickets cannot be bought in advance. Bus tickets can only be purchased at the station on the day of travel.

Xue Fu was also a little worried that because there were so many people, there wouldn't be any tickets left.

After all, the educated youth from the several communes under the county seat were all on holiday these days. Many of them wanted to leave and return to the city.

Gu Chong jumped off the oxcart carrying his suitcase. Xue Fu looked at him and waved, "Let's go."

They arrived at the right time, neither too early nor too late, and bought tickets after showing their identification at the ticket window.

The bus to the provincial capital was more than half full, with seven or eight empty seats, which they could sit in.

Xue Fu hesitated for a second about where to sit, but after seeing that Liu Ling had already found a seat in the back and sat next to a female comrade, she didn't hesitate any longer and sat down with Gu Chong at the double seats on the right side of the aisle.

As she sat down, some memories surfaced in Xue Fu's mind.

She recalled the scene when she first traveled through time, which was also on a bus like this.

At that moment, she felt lost and helpless, surprised and frustrated; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the sky had fallen.

Well, she probably can't go back in this lifetime.

However, her parents are here, and she's mostly settled in. Actually... it's not that bad.

Looking back, Xue Fu recalls many happy moments during this time.

For example, Comrade Gu Chong, who is sitting next to her right now, is someone from whom Xue Fu draws a great deal of security.

Because the driver forced the windows to open, the carriage wasn't stuffy in winter, and there were no unpleasant smells mixed in.

Despite the winding mountain road, Xue Fu did not get carsick.

The view outside the window was one she was seeing for the first time, and she was quite curious, staring at it intently for a long time. Until her eyes felt a little dry, she blinked and looked away.

After Gu Chong got into the car, he was very quiet. He leaned his head back on the seat, tilted his head slightly, and looked at her silently.

Xue Fu noticed his gaze in the blink of an eye; it was deep yet gentle and tender.

Sometimes, no words are needed.

Xue Fu sensed that he was not at ease facing the separation.

At the same time, Xue Fu realized that she was a bit tongue-tied.

She said, "Where's the little snake I gave you?"

Gu Chong: "It's in the bag."

He carefully took out the little snake doll he had been protecting from his chest and placed it open in his palm.

Xue Fu looked at the little snake, which could barely be described as 'adorable', sniffed, and whispered to him, "I'll knit a prettier one next time. This is my first time knitting a doll."

She actually thought she had a talent for knitting.

After all, the scarves she knitted for the two brothers before were so well-made! They looked like they could be sold in a state-run store!

However, the craftsmanship of this scarf and the doll are worlds apart.

But Xue Fu refused to give up; she was determined to knit an even better one for him!

"I remember you were born in 1954. I checked, and 1954 is the Year of the Horse. On your birthday, I'll knit you another little horse! It will definitely be even cuter than this one!"

She's got a problem with this yarn doll.

Gu Chong was touched and warmed by what he heard.

He was already very happy that she was willing to knit him a New Year's gift.

His birthday is at the end of March next year. Even though there are still a few months to go, she keeps it on her mind. Gu Chong thinks Xue Fu is the best girl.