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◎The King of Scrolls, Day Thirty◎

Jiang Wanzhou's fingers tightened suddenly as she gripped the cloth.

She looked up and met Zhou Qingyu's unfathomable eyes, which no longer held the usual aloofness, but rather seemed to conceal a turbulent sea.

“Zhou Zhiqing, I need to think about it. You go back first, okay?” She opened her mouth, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something.

From the next room came Shen Xinglian's voice coaxing Shen Mingyuan; these familiar sounds had become indistinct background noise.

Only Zhou Qingyu's gaze remained, burning her with an unbearable intensity.

Zhou Qingyu didn't press her any further.

He walked slowly, his shadow stretching long in the sunlight.

Jiang Wanzhou looked at that figure and suddenly remembered how he had squatted down to chop jujube wood yesterday.

It turns out that back then, he had these unspoken words hidden in his heart.

"Wanzhou, what are you daydreaming about?" Shen Xinglian carried Shen Mingyuan out.

The little guy had just taken a bath, and his face was rosy like a ripe apple.

"Zhou Zhiqing is gone?"

"Hmm." Jiang Wanzhou looked away, took Shen Mingyuan and teased him a bit. The little guy giggled and grabbed her fingers with his chubby little hands, which cooled her burning cheeks a little.

"What did he just say to you?" Shen Xinglian leaned closer and asked in a low voice, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"He didn't say anything." Jiang Wanzhou avoided her gaze and carried Shen Mingyuan into the house. "Mingyuan should be asleep now, right?"

Shen Xinglian watched her flustered figure and smiled helplessly.

This girl, everything is written all over her face.

The next morning, Jiang Wanzhou, carrying the two completed manuscripts, intended to mail them again at the commune post office.

She walked to the village entrance and saw Song Zheng pushing a bicycle.

"Comrade Jiang, are you going to town?" Song Zheng asked with a smile. "I'm going to town to buy some things, can I give you a ride?"

Jiang Wanzhou paused for a moment, then looked at his bicycle, which was Zhou Qingyu's.

She felt a little awkward, but still waved her hand and said, "No need, I can take the oxcart myself."

"Get in, it's on the way." Song Zheng patted the back seat.

Jiang Wanzhou hesitated.

"Then I'll have to trouble you." She finally sat down, carefully gripping the metal back seat.

The bicycle moved forward steadily, and Song Zheng's voice came from ahead: "What are you going to town for?"

"Buy some things."

“That’s good,” Song Zheng said with approval.

Jiang Wanzhou smiled but didn't reply.

The wind blew past her ears, carrying the scent of fresh grass from the fields. She watched the trees along the road recede one by one, but for some reason, she thought of Zhou Qingyu.

Upon arriving at the town's post office, Jiang Wanzhou received a letter from Shuipudan.

The weight that had been hanging over her heart finally lifted a little.

Song Zheng looked at her and said, "Actually, I didn't do it on purpose when I delivered the foam mat yesterday."

Jiang Wanzhou was stunned for a moment.

He scratched his head, sounding a little embarrassed: "Brother Zhou is actually worried that you might run into some trouble, so he wants to protect you."

Jiang Wanzhou then realized that he was explaining what happened yesterday.

Zhou Qingyu's sudden confession had an ulterior motive.

She smiled and said, "I know, Zhou Zhiqing is a very nice person."

Song Zheng looked at her and suddenly said, "Jiang Wanzhou, I think you're pretty good."

These words came so suddenly that Jiang Wanzhou's face flushed red.

"I need to buy something else." She turned around in a fluster. "Thank you for bringing me here."

Song Zheng watched her hurriedly run away, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, but it quickly returned to its gentle expression.

Jiang Wanzhou didn't dare to ride in Song Zheng's car again and walked quickly back to the village.

As soon as I arrived at the village entrance, I saw Zhou Qingyu.

“Zhou Zhiqing?” She stopped in her tracks.

Zhou Qingyu looked up and saw her, and paused in her tracks.

“Zhou Zhiqing, I already know that you had other reasons for saying those words. I'll just pretend I forgot about it.”

Zhou Qingyu felt a tightness in her chest, as if something was blocking her heart.

He didn't answer, but simply said, "Okay."

She sighed and walked home.

As soon as she arrived at the courtyard gate, she saw Shen Xinglian standing there waiting for her, holding a freshly steamed cornbread in her hand: "Are you hungry? Eat something."

Jiang Wanzhou took the cornbread, took a bite, and found it tasteless.

"What's wrong? Didn't you send out the manuscript?" Shen Xinglian noticed that something was wrong with her.

“I got it, but I haven’t looked at it.” Jiang Wanzhou sighed. “It’s just that I feel like Zhou Qingyu is angry again.”

She told Shen Xinglian about what happened in town, including Song Zheng's comment, "I think you're pretty good."

After hearing this, Shen Xinglian couldn't help but laugh: "Silly girl, what's there to worry about?"

"I don't want to offend any of them," Jiang Wanzhou said with a bitter face.

“This isn’t about offending anyone.” Shen Xinglian patted her shoulder. “It’s about what you really think. Song is gentle and polite, while Zhou is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. They each have their own merits, but when it comes to living together, you have to choose the one who can stand up for you.”

Jiang Wanzhou lowered her head, munching on the cornbread in her hand, and remained silent.

She understood the reasoning behind Shen Xinglian's words.

But the jumbled emotions in my heart are not something that can be easily sorted out.

Instead, she didn't feel that everyone liked each other very deeply.

No matter what happens in the future, let's get the house built first and settle down.

—

Jiang Wanzhou had just finished preparing the last meal when she heard her mother, Liu Cuihua, crying out at the top of her lungs from the village entrance.

"Everyone, come and judge this! My heartless daughter! To curry favor with the educated youth, she's even disowned her own mother!"

Shen Xinglian was holding Shen Mingyuan while airing out the quilts when she heard this, her hand trembled, and a corner of the quilt fell to the ground.

She looked at Jiang Wanzhou, her face pale: "What happened?"

Jiang Wanzhou knew without a doubt that Liu Cuihua was up to her old tricks again.

Ever since they were caught stealing grain, Liu Cuihua has never given them a kind look.

"I'll go take a look." Jiang Wanzhou went outside.

Half the village had already gathered outside the courtyard gate. Liu Cuihua sat on the ground, slapping her thigh and wailing.

Jiang Husheng stood to the side, his face flushed red, but he only dared to whisper, "Mother, don't say anymore."

"I won't say anything? If I don't say anything, will this little bitch utterly disgrace the Jiang family?" Liu Cuihua suddenly raised her voice, pointing at Jiang Wanzhou who had just come out. "It's her! Ever since those two educated youths from the city came, she's been completely distracted! She's been bringing eggs to this one, hitchhiking with that one, and even sneaking off to the educated youth settlement at night! If word gets out, how will the girls in our Hongxing Brigade ever get married!"

These words were like a bucket of dirty water, thrown at my head.

Several gossipy aunties immediately started whispering among themselves, their eyes darting around Jiang Wanzhou with disdain and curiosity.

"What nonsense is Mom talking about!" Jiang Wanzhou trembled with anger. "When did I secretly run off to the educated youth settlement? Did you see me?"

"How come I didn't see you?" Liu Cuihua got up from the ground, spitting all over Jiang Wanzhou's face. "The night before last, I got up in the middle of the night and saw you coming back from the direction of the educated youth settlement! You weren't going to find those two educated youths, were you going to find a ghost?"

"The night before last, my sister-in-law and I went to pick up my brother!" Jiang Wanzhou laughed angrily.

Liu Cuihua was momentarily speechless, then threw a tantrum: "Do you think we're all fools?! An unmarried girl, having ambiguous relationships with two men, aren't you ashamed? I'm ashamed of myself!"

"You!" Jiang Wanzhou was so angry that her vision blurred. She had never seen such a person who turned black into white.

"Mother! Stop talking!" Jiang Renzhou grabbed Liu Cuihua. "Wanzhou isn't that kind of person!"

"You idiot! You're siding with outsiders!" Liu Cuihua shook off his hand and lunged at Jiang Wanzhou again. "Today I'm going to tear this little bitch's mouth apart and teach her a lesson in shame!"

"stop!"

A cold, clear voice suddenly rang out, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhou Qingyu standing outside the crowd.

His face was ashen, his gaze like ice, fixed directly on Liu Cuihua: "Who did you just call unclear?"

Liu Cuihua shuddered under his gaze, her arrogance immediately diminishing by half, but she still stubbornly insisted: "I... I'm talking about my daughter, what's it to you?"

"Jiang Wanzhou helped the team control swine fever, made up rhymes about disease prevention, and taught the members how to disinfect. Wasn't everything she did aboveboard?" Zhou Qingyu took a step forward, her aura so intimidating that no one around dared to utter a sound. "She checked the records with me for team matters; she taught Song Zheng how to weed, which was instructed by the brigade leader. You're slandering her reputation without even knowing the facts. What are you up to?"

"I...I..." Liu Cuihua was speechless when asked the question, her eyes darting away.

At this moment, Song Zheng also arrived after hearing the news. He pushed through the crowd and stood next to Jiang Wanzhou.

He looked at Liu Cuihua, his tone gentle yet firm: "Aunt Liu, Comrade Jiang is a good girl, we can all see that. Isn't it inappropriate for you to tarnish her reputation in front of outsiders like this?"

When the two educated youths spoke up for Jiang Wanzhou at the same time, the expressions of the onlookers immediately changed.

The sister-in-law, who had been cheering just moments before, now fell silent, her gaze towards Liu Cuihua filled with disdain.

Her daughter has done so much for the team, and instead of feeling sorry for her, the mother is throwing mud at her. That's really not right.

Jiang Weiguo also rushed over upon hearing the news. After hearing the whole story from those around him, he was so angry that his beard bristled: "Liu Cuihua! Haven't you made enough trouble? Jiang Wanzhou is a hero in our team. Are you trying to make the whole commune know that our Hongxing Brigade can't tolerate good people by slandering her like this?"

"Captain, I..." Liu Cuihua still wanted to explain.

"Shut up!" Jiang Weiguo shouted sternly. "If you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll report you to the commune for disrupting the unity of the production team and send you to the farm to reflect on your actions!"

Liu Cuihua was then frightened.

She glared at Jiang Wanzhou fiercely, then was half-dragged, half-pulled away by Jiang Husheng. Before leaving, she didn't forget to say, "You just wait!"

As the crowd gradually dispersed, several familiar aunties came over and patted Jiang Wanzhou on the shoulder to comfort her: "Wanzhou, don't take it to heart, that's just the kind of person your mother is."

"Yeah, everyone knows what kind of girl you are, no one believes her."

Jiang Wanzhou forced a smile.

Harsh words can be as chilling as a summer's heat. Although no one completely believed Liu Cuihua's words, there were always some who would remember them.

"Are you alright?" Zhou Qingyu walked to her side.

Jiang Wanzhou shook her head, her eyes a little red: "I'm fine, thank you."