Just when he didn't know what to do, Zhou Xuenong quietly came over and asked him, "Zhang Jianjun, what are your plans for your marriage with An Maixiang?"

Zhang Jianjun tightened his grip on the notice, and then he said, "Look, if you get into college, you can go back to the city, and you'll have a bright future. An Maixiang is just a country girl, she's definitely not worthy of you. I don't have much ambition, and I failed the college entrance exam. If you're going to give up on your relationship with An Maixiang, I'll do it. Anyway, there's no chance for me to go back to the city, so marrying the captain's daughter wouldn't be bad. Maybe in the future we'll become one of our own, and he can even arrange an easy job for me."

Zhang Jianjun turned his head and looked at her, his eyes full of coldness.

Zhou Xuenong's nonchalant expression was instantly frozen.

He had a hunch that if he continued to say such nonsense, not only would he lose their brotherhood, but he would also be unable to avoid a beating today.

Under Zhou Xuenong's horrified gaze, Zhang Jianjun seemed to have made up his mind, stood up and walked out.

Lin Xiangdong came over and asked him, "Zhou Xuenong, I think you did it on purpose. An Maixiang didn't receive the notice, and Zhang Jianjun is feeling very upset right now. Why did you provoke him? What if he gets angry and beats you up? If Shen Xiangzhi is not here, my fighting ability can't help you."

Zhou Xuenong said nonchalantly, "I am not trying to help him. He is so conflicted that he has been sitting here since he got the notice. If I don't provoke him, how can he see his true feelings? Don't make the wrong choice, or it will be too late to regret it later."

Compared to the quick marriage of Shen Xiangzhi and An Hongdou, Zhang Jianjun and An Maixiang are a couple that they have watched grow up together. It would be a pity if they just broke up like this.

But whether what Zhou Xuenong said was really just to provoke Zhang Jianjun, or he really had some intention in his mind, only he himself knew.

After all, whether in appearance or knowledge, An Maixiang was extremely outstanding, and was no worse than the female educated youth in their educated youth center.

When they first came here, they were young and didn't care too much, but after a few years, they are all grown men in their 20s, and it is normal for them to have someone they like.

It’s just that some people, while they are in love, are taken advantage of by others first.

When Zhang Jianjun arrived at the An family, Miao Hong was comforting the sad An Maixiang.

After seeing Zhang Jianjun coming, she no longer had her previous enthusiasm. She probably thought that Zhang Jianjun passed the exam while An Maixiang failed. In addition, there was a gap between the city and the countryside, so there was no hope between the two of them.

Zhang Jianjun, still holding the notice in his hand, calmed himself down and spoke first, "Aunt, I want to take Mai Xiang out for a walk."

Miao Hong understood that he wanted to talk to her daughter alone.

Thinking about the time the two children had spent together, she was unwilling to just abandon Zhang Jianjun, this outstanding son-in-law, so she pulled An Maixiang and winked at her, "Maixiang, I just came to see you, you two should go out together."

An Maixiang thought that although there was no hope between the two of them, it would be better to make some things clear than for him to leave in a confused state.

Wiping the corners of her eyes to hide the tears, An Maixiang pretended to be strong and stood up, "Let's go."

She tried her best to appear calm, but her words came out sounding so hoarse.

Zhang Jianjun suddenly felt heartbroken. He was always polite, but for the first time he did something inappropriate in front of his elders. He took An Maixiang's hand and walked away without saying a word.

Miao Hong's eyes suddenly lit up, and she waved to Andelai in the yard, "Old man, come and take a look, is there still hope between these two children?"

Andelai lowered his eyes and sighed, "Let them deal with their own affairs. Even if the two children really can't get along, it's not Jianjun's fault..."

All I can say is, things are unpredictable.

Now he was just glad that he had listened to Hongdou's advice and did not let the two children get married.

Think about what happened in the village during this period. Because the college entrance examination was resumed, several families who had married into the educated youth were in a state of chaos and quarreling.

Now that the college entrance examination results are out, those who failed should be able to settle down. As for those who passed and are already married, you can just laugh at their mocking smiles, because I'm afraid there will be more trouble to come.

At that time, he didn't know that shortly after the college entrance examination, the policy of allowing educated youth to return to the city would be implemented, and at that time, there would be a big commotion.

After crossing the bridge, there is a winding mountain road.

It hadn't rained for quite some time, so the land was dry and the ground had been compacted by the people passing by. Apart from some dust from walking on it, it was quite flat.

Zhang Jianjun held An Maixiang's hand and walked for a long way. They stopped only when there was no one around.

Looking at the tall man in front of her, An Maixiang pursed her lips and said with disappointment: "Congratulations, you can return to the city after you pass the university entrance exam."

Just a few days ago, they were still discussing what to do if they could pass the exam, but now, they didn't even dare to think about that scene.

"Besides congratulations, do you have anything else to say to me?" Zhang Jianjun asked her.

"Yes." An Maixiang controlled her emotions and tried not to be embarrassed, but she still couldn't help trembling her lips. "Take care of yourself in the future."

"Mai Xiang, let's get married." Zhang Jianjun's tone was not a question, but an unusually affirmative one.

An Maixiang was surprised for a moment, but it was only a split second before she regained her senses, "Jianjun, you are too impulsive."

Perhaps this was also her chance to use marriage to cling to him and thus lock him tightly.

But she understood more clearly that this was just the momentary reluctance and guilt that surged in his heart when he received the notice and was about to face the choice of abandoning her.

After all, the two have been dating for so long, there must be some feelings for each other, and it is normal that he can't let go for the time being.

But as time went on, when she could no longer move forward hand in hand with him and could only become a burden in his life, feelings would always fade with the passage of time.

By then, all she could bring to him was endless boredom.

An Maixiang didn't want this to happen, otherwise she wouldn't have listened to An Hongdou and put the marriage aside for the time being. Instead, she would have relied on him even before the college entrance examination was resumed.

Sometimes An Maixiang thought about it and hated herself for being too rational.

But she also thought that an irrational person might gain temporary happiness due to the impulse at hand, but would have to pay the price with a lifetime of sorrow. That was too tragic and she didn't want that.