Xu Ningyan regretted it!
She shouldn't be sitting on the back; she should be riding in front with Gu Zhiyuan on the back!
I never expected that this guy, who seems to be all-around capable, would be so unreliable when it comes to riding a bike.
"Big brother, are you alright?"
Gu Zhiyuan's mind was still mostly on Xu Ningyan, who was startled and reflexively wrapped her arms around his waist.
Hearing Xu Ningyan's question, she seemed a little distracted: "I'm fine, it's just that the road is a bit difficult to walk on! Hold on tight to me!"
Xu Ningyan looked down at the potholes on the road. The road conditions were indeed bad. If she were riding a bike, she would probably experience the same bumpy ride.
He was about to let go, but he hugged her tighter: "Big brother, ride slowly! Please don't let me fall—"
Gu Zhiyuan was both annoyed and amused. He looked down at the hands wrapped around his waist, and his gaze softened slightly. He subtly increased the force of his foot on the pedal.
After a bumpy ride to the main road, which saved half the time, Xu Ningyan was forced to hug Gu Zhiyuan five times and bumped into his back three times. The worst time was when she almost knocked Gu Zhiyuan off his seat.
Xu Ningyan even suspected that this wasn't a bicycle, but a bumper car!
Finally, they reached the main road. Xu Ningyan's bottom was numb from the bumpy ride, and her whole body was numb too.
So when Lin Hong saw the two of them, Gu Zhiyuan in front of her was full of vigor, with a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth and a slight redness at the tips of his ears. He looked much brighter.
Xu Ningyan, on the other hand, was listless and dejected. He staggered as he got out of the car, and his gait was quite strange.
Lin Hong was puzzled. Wasn't she supposed to be getting takeout from a state-run restaurant? Why did it look like she was being robbed?
Xu Ningyan greeted Lin Hong, and the three of them entered the machinery factory.
It was difficult for three people to ride one bike, so Xu Ningyan refused to get back on, saying she just wanted to walk around and get some exercise.
Lin Hong naturally accompanied her, and decided to let Gu Zhiyuan go to the Lin family first.
Seeing Xu Ningyan's awkward gait and the way she kept subtly rubbing her lower back and buttocks, Gu Zhiyuan immediately realized that she had been jostled too much.
She was too embarrassed to look any longer, fearing that Xu Ningyan would become angry.
I could only pretend I didn't know, nod, and leave.
After Gu Zhiyuan had walked away, Xu Ningyan dragged Lin Hong to the side of the road and made her stand in the way while she gently rubbed her bottom.
Lin Hong then realized what was going on and couldn't help but laugh: "Were you in a hurry, so you took the back road?"
Xu Ningyan nodded with a wronged expression.
Lin Hong couldn't hold back her laughter and covered her mouth with her hand: "You guys don't come to the county town often, you don't know that in our Jingshan County, apart from these two main roads, all the other alleys are difficult to walk on. On sunny days you'll be covered in dust, and on rainy days you'll be covered in mud! And you guys obviously have no experience, who doesn't put a mat on the back of their bicycle?"
Xu Ningyan had no idea about this and could only smile wryly.
Thankfully, after moving around for a while, I didn't feel so bad anymore.
The two chatted and laughed as they walked back to the Lin family home.
As soon as I entered, I sensed that something was off.
In the living room, Mr. Lin looked helpless and guilty: "Xiao Gu, I'm so sorry! I'm afraid the factory job will have to be put on hold for now. But don't be discouraged! You can learn from me for a while, and after some time, I'll mention it to the supervisor again—"
When he said this, Lin's father barely dared to look at Gu Zhiyuan's face.
I can't imagine what kind of expression someone would have if they were suddenly told that their hopes had been dashed.
Gu Zhiyuan, however, remained remarkably calm and rational, as if he had experienced too much and had long anticipated that getting into the factory wouldn't be so easy.
Instead, he sincerely thanked Mr. Lin: "Director Lin, thank you! I'm so sorry to have troubled you! You don't need to feel bad for me, I was prepared for this!" He then gave a wry smile.
Not to mention Lin's father, even Lin's mother and Lin Hong showed expressions of reluctance.
In recent years, they have seen those with "bad class backgrounds" suffer too much injustice, but given the current environment, who dares to say or do anything?
Lin's father felt even more guilty: "Don't worry, you can learn from me for a while, and there will always be opportunities."
Gu Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment: "Will this cause trouble for you and your family?"
Lin's father waved his hand confidently: "What trouble could there be? Just come and rest assured! But can your production team let you come out and learn?"
That's the most important thing.
Xu Ningyan has the right to speak on this matter; nowadays, every time she comes to the county town, she brings benefits and advantages to the Tuanjie Brigade.
The brigade leader and the party secretary are both cunning old foxes, and so are the people in the production team. Even if it's for their own benefit, they'll turn a blind eye.
Moreover, Gu Zhiyuan brought a letter of introduction, so there's nothing to fear with that.
At worst, she can just go back and get another letter of introduction after a while.
With Xu Ningyan's statement, Lin's father felt even more at ease.
Only then did everyone feel like eating.
Fortunately, because of the hot weather, the food was still warm despite the long delay.
Looking at the braised fish and braised pork hock, even a family like the Lin family, who had no worries about food and clothing, rarely ate such dishes on a regular basis, especially since they were made by a master chef from a state-run restaurant.
Lin's parents were increasingly satisfied. Xu Ningyan and Gu Zhiyuan were such good at interpersonal relationships that it was comfortable to be around them.
After the meal, Lin's father pulled Gu Zhiyuan into the inner room.
After finishing her tidying up, Lin's mother went out to chat with her neighbor.
Lin Feng hasn't come back for the past few days, and Lin Hong and Xu Ningyan couldn't stay still, so they decided to go out for a walk.
On the way, they encountered Lu Kai and Lin Feng, who seemed to be in a hurry.
They looked tired, their brows furrowed with worry, and they were arguing heatedly as they walked.
Upon seeing Lin Hong, Lin Feng and Lu Kai stopped in their tracks.
Lin Feng pulled Lin Hong aside and said something.
Lu Kai and Xu Ningyan were left standing in place.
Lu Kai glanced at Xu Ningyan, then, recalling what Lin's father had done earlier that day, his eyes darkened, and he asked, "Who are you to the Lin family?"
Xu Ningyan rolled her eyes at Lu Kai: "What's it to you?"
Lu Kai's face darkened, and he was about to say something.
Lin Feng and Lin Hong seemed to be arguing over there.
Both of them looked unwell. Lin Hong seemed very angry, slapped Lin Feng's hand away, turned around, and pulled Xu Ningyan towards home.
Lin Feng hesitated, but ultimately remained silent.
When Lu Kai looked over, he took the lead and said, "Let's hurry up, they're still waiting for us!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Kai lost all other thoughts and hurriedly headed towards the factory area.
Back at the Lin family home, Gu Zhiyuan was about to take his leave, holding a book given to him by Lin's father, when he was about to go out.
He happened to run into Xu Ningyan and Lin Hong, so he said something to the flustered Lin Hong at the door and rode his bike out of the residential area.
Seeing that there were few people on the roadside, Xu Ningyan comforted him, "Brother Gu, it's because the factory leaders are short-sighted and unlucky that you didn't get a job! Who knows, they might be begging you for a job in the future! We'll put on airs then, hmph!"
Gu Zhiyuan smiled and agreed, "Alright, when they're begging me for mercy, I'll play hard to get!"
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