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◎Day Thirty-One of the King of Scrolls◎
Liu Cuihua's crying and fussing was like a pebble thrown into the calm waters of the Red Star Brigade, creating ripples.
In the following days, the rumors spread like wildfire through the village.
Jiang Wanzhou went to the river to wash clothes. Just as she put down the washing mallet, she heard Er Ya's mother and Aunt Wang whispering behind her.
"Look at her, no wonder she managed to hook up with two educated youths..."
"I have to say, he's the most impressive-looking guy in our village."
"That's right! The day before yesterday, I saw Song, the educated youth, riding his bicycle with her to town. The two of them were very close!"
Jiang Wanzhou gripped the water mallet tightly, splashing water high into the air. She turned around abruptly, and the two men immediately fell silent, awkwardly averting their gaze.
Aunt Li was sewing shoe soles when she saw Wanzhou come in. She put down her needlework and sighed, "Wanzhou, it's not that I'm being nosy, but for a girl, her reputation is more precious than anything else."
“Auntie, I’ve done nothing wrong.” Jiang Wanzhou’s voice was strained.
"That's true, but there are too many people talking," Aunt Li shook her head. "Your aunt was telling me yesterday that if you don't settle down, no one will dare to marry you in the future."
Even Zhang's son, Xiaozhu, kept asking her, "Sister Wanzhou, my mother said you're going to marry an educated youth? Is it that generous Brother Zhou, or Brother Song who gives out candy?"
Jiang Wanzhou pinched his cheek and smiled wryly: "What do you know, little kid? Go play in the mud."
Rumors, like vines, grew wildly in the corners of the Red Star Brigade, suffocating Jiang Wanzhou.
When she went to the threshing ground to dry the corn, she could always feel a sticky gaze on her back, as if countless needles were pricking her.
It was going to rain that night, so Jiang Wanzhou prepared to bring the corn inside.
Zhou Qingyu suddenly popped out of the ground next to her, startling her.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Wanzhou steadied the straw in her arms, her heart beating a little fast.
He clutched a flashlight in his hand, the beam of light waving on the ground: "Waiting for you."
"What are you waiting for me for?" Jiang Wanzhou lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye.
"Let's find somewhere to talk," Zhou Qingyu said in a deep voice. "To the river?"
Jiang Wanzhou hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
She really wanted to make things clear to him that if things continued like this, not only would her reputation be ruined, but he would also be dragged into it.
The two walked side by side toward the river, neither of them speaking.
The setting sun cast long shadows of them, which occasionally met, only to separate again as if struck by lightning.
When they reached the riverbank, Zhou Qingyu turned off the flashlight.
"Don't take what the village says to heart," he said first, his voice softened by the evening breeze.
"I didn't take it to heart," Jiang Wanzhou said stubbornly, but her foot unconsciously kicked at the pebbles on the ground. "Anyway, people can say whatever they want."
“But I do care,” Zhou Qingyu suddenly said, her voice not loud, but it felt like a stone hitting Jiang Wanzhou’s heart.
She looked up at him abruptly; in the moonlight, his profile was clearly defined, and his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.
"What do you care about?" Her voice trembled slightly.
"I care whether you have been wronged, and I care what others say about you."
Zhou Qingyu took a step forward, instantly closing the distance between them. The scent of soap emanating from him wafted over. "Jiang Wanzhou, I don't believe those words. But I know they're like knives, stabbing you painfully."
Jiang Wanzhou's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
She had been putting on a brave face these past few days, pretending not to care, but his words almost caused the pent-up grievances in her heart to burst forth like water breaking through a dam.
"There's nothing I can do about the pain." She turned her face away, gazing at the moon's reflection in the river. "Who told me I'm Liu Cuihua's daughter? Marrying me will only bring more trouble."
“This has nothing to do with her.” Zhou Qingyu said seriously, “You are you, Jiang Wanzhou, the one who stayed up all night to prevent the spread of disease in the pigsty, the one who made up rhymes to teach everyone how to disinfect, the one who would rather eat wild vegetables herself than leave eggs for Comrade Shen. I saw all of this.”
He said so much in one breath that Jiang Wanzhou was stunned.
She never imagined that he would remember all the little things she did.
"Why are you telling me all this?" She sniffed, trying to hold back her tears.
Zhou Qingyu remained silent for a moment. The moonlight shone on his face, revealing his tightly pursed lips.
After a long while, he seemed to have made up his mind, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension: "Jiang Wanzhou, I want to make things clear to you."
Jiang Wanzhou's heart was beating even faster. She had a vague idea of what was going on, but she wasn't sure.
"My feelings for you are not those of an ordinary comrade," he said, looking into her eyes and uttering each word clearly.
Jiang Wanzhou's mind went blank, as if countless bees were buzzing inside.
"Don't scare me, Zhou Zhiqing." She took a step back, the pebbles under her feet hurting painfully.
“We…we’re just ordinary comrades. You’re an educated youth from the city, and I’m a country girl. We’re not a good match.”
“Whether we’re compatible or not isn’t determined by our backgrounds.” Zhou Qingyu took a step forward, her gaze intense. “I only care about you as a person. Jiang Wanzhou, I want to be your girlfriend, I want to live with you, and I want to protect you no matter what happens in the future.”
Jiang Wanzhou looked into his earnest eyes, which reflected the moonlight and her own reflection.
His quiet care and unassuming protection over the past few days have now been answered.
“But the villagers will talk,” Jiang Wanzhou said, her voice trembling with tears. “They’ll say I’m trying to marry above my station, that you have no taste.”
Zhou Qingyu interrupted her, her tone resolute, "The person I, Zhou Qingyu, have taken a liking to is none of anyone else's business. If you're willing, I'll ask Aunt Zhang to go to your house tomorrow to propose marriage, so everyone knows that I want to spend my life with you, and that I'm sincere."
Jiang Wanzhou was completely stunned, and tears finally fell, splashing onto her chest and leaving a small wet patch.
"Don't be impulsive." She sniffed. "This is not a small matter. Think about it again."
"I've thought about it for a long time." Zhou Qingyu took something out of his pocket and put it in her hand.
It was a jade pendant tied with a red string, its warm, smooth jade gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
“This was left to me by my mother. She said she was going to give it to my wife. You can keep it for now. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to give it back to me. I will only ever fall for you in this life.”
"It wouldn't be good if others saw this!"
Jiang Wanzhou quickly hid the jade pendant, her palm aching from the pressure, but her heart felt warm.
She looked at the man in front of her, who was usually like an iceberg, but now his eyes showed tension and sincerity.
"I..." She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but was interrupted.
“You don’t need to answer me now.” Zhou Qingyu smiled, her expression softening considerably. “Tell me when you’ve thought it through. But I need you to know my thoughts; I can’t let you be wronged by those ridiculous rumors.”
He raised his hand as if to wipe away her tears, but withdrew it halfway through, saying only, "I'll take you home."
Why did you interrupt me? I agreed. Let's not let anyone see this, I'll go back by myself.
Jiang Wanzhou shoved the jade pendant into his hand, saying, "This is too precious, I can't accept it."
Zhou Qingyu didn't take it, but just looked at her and said, "I'm at ease leaving it with you."
Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, Jiang Wanzhou finally gripped the jade pendant tightly and put it in her pocket.
When she got home, Shen Xinglian was holding Mingyuan and waiting for her in the yard. When she saw her return, she quickly came up to her and said, "Why are you so late? I was about to come looking for you."
Jiang Wanzhou didn't speak, but her hand kept gripping the jade pendant in her pocket, her fingertips burning hot.
"Why is your face so red?" Shen Xinglian followed her in. "Who did you go out with?"
"Nobody." Jiang Wanzhou avoided her gaze and went to hug Shen Mingyuan. "Zhou Qingyu wants to talk to me about something."
"What did he say to you?" Shen Xinglian's eyes lit up.
Jiang Wanzhou recounted everything that had happened by the river.
After hearing this, Shen Xinglian slapped her thigh and laughed, "I knew he was interested in you! He's even taking the initiative now, that's great."
Jiang Wanzhou blushed and glared at her.
"I'm not making this up." Shen Xinglian leaned closer and lowered her voice, "Wanzhou, tell me the truth, have you fallen for him?"
Jiang Wanzhou lowered her head, looking at the water gradually boiling in the pot, the steam blurring her vision.
Am I tempted? I think so.
From the moment he squatted in the farm tool shed making a club for her, from the moment he stood in front of her to confront Liu Cuihua, from the moment he earnestly confessed his love under the moonlight.
Her heart was no longer as calm as it appeared on the surface.
"I don't know," she said softly. "He's a sent-down youth from the city, it feels like he'll be a lot of trouble."
“So what if you’re from the city? People from the city also need to eat and sleep, and they also need to find someone who cares about them.” Shen Xinglian interrupted her, “What’s wrong with you? That’s why you’re under even more pressure now. Study hard for the college entrance exam. Zhou Qingyu will definitely go back to the city.”
Jiang Wanzhou didn't speak, but her heart felt like it was being tickled by something, itchy and restless.
The next morning, Jiang Wanzhou had just finished sweeping the yard when she saw Aunt Li leading Aunt Zhang toward her, both of them with smiles on their faces.
"Jiang girl, are you home?" Aunt Li called out loudly, "I've brought you good news!"
Jiang Wanzhou took a deep breath and went to meet her.
Aunt Zhang smiled and took her hand: "Jiang girl, I'll be frank. Zhou Qingyu asked me to ask you if you'd like to date him. When this child told me yesterday, her face was all red, and you could tell she was sincere."
Looking into Aunt Zhang's sincere eyes, and recalling Zhou Qingyu's earnest face under the moonlight last night, Jiang Wanzhou's hesitation suddenly vanished.
“Aunt Zhang.” Jiang Wanzhou took a deep breath and showed him the handkerchief she had embroidered overnight, with bamboo crookedly embroidered on it. “Tell him I’m willing.”
Aunt Zhang paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Oh! Good girl! I'll go tell her right away! I guarantee Zhou, the educated youth, will be overjoyed!"
Granny Wang and Aunt Zhang were both stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Jiang Wanzhou smiled too.
It feels so good to be chosen by someone.
Not far away, Zhou Qingyu leaned against the door frame, watching the red figure swaying in Jiang Wanzhou's yard, and couldn't help but smile.
He could finally stand openly beside her, providing her with a safe haven.
[Author's Note]
[Kiss][Kiss][Kiss]
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