With a sigh, Sister Yang said no more.
She just thought that if Gu Zhiyuan really lacked martial ethics and was going to become a modern-day Chen Shimei (a notorious figure in Chinese folklore known for abandoning his wife), she could simply introduce Xu Ningyan to a better partner later.
Although his reputation might be a little bad, Xu Ningyan's conditions are actually quite good for a county town.
She has a stable job, no family burdens, and no worries about supporting her parents' family after marriage. She's much more down-to-earth than those city girls with good reputations.
With that thought in mind, Sister Yang stopped worrying and started to think about her relatives and those of Old Ding's family.
If you find a suitable one, keep an eye out for it; you can't let someone else get it for free.
For a fleeting moment, Sister Yang even thought that it might be better if Gu Zhiyuan didn't come back.
However, she was a kind-hearted person after all, and she immediately dismissed that idea.
After Sister Yang's words that morning, it wasn't long before almost all the employees inside the department store knew that Xu Ningyan's fiancé had returned to Beijing, leaving her alone in the county.
When we went to the cafeteria for lunch, everyone looked at Xu Ningyan with pity and sympathy.
Most people already guessed that Gu Zhiyuan would not return after going back to the capital, and Xu Ningyan would probably become a discarded woman.
Even the cafeteria chef was exceptionally generous with the food today. Xu Ningyan's lunchbox contained significantly more food than others, and the meat slices weren't spilled out; he was given plenty.
Lin Hong, who was standing to the side with envy, muttered to herself, "If the head chef could serve me this much food every day, I would be happy to let Zhou Zi'an live in the capital forever!"
Nowadays, when it comes to eating meat, the fattier the better.
The department store has plenty of money, so it buys meat directly from the meat processing plant, which naturally has fat that's three fingers thick.
The stir-fried pork slices are translucent and glistening with oil.
Xu Ningyan didn't like eating fatty meat slices, but seeing that Lin Hong was really craving them, he simply picked out all the fatty meat from his lunchbox and gave it to her before she ate any.
Hearing this, he couldn't help but laugh: "Would you dare say that to Zhou Zi'an?"
Lin Hong gave Xu Ningyan a guilty smile and picked up a piece of meat, stuffing it into her mouth.
He whispered, "I said they're all worrying for nothing! They don't know what kind of person Comrade Gu is, but I do. Before he left, he already told my dad, my brother, and my girlfriend to take good care of you! He even left his phone number, saying that if you have any difficulties and keep them from him, we should call him!"
Xu Ningyan paused in her chopsticks, unaware that Gu Zhiyuan had entrusted so many people to him.
For a moment, I didn't know what to feel. Even the food in the lunchbox tasted bland.
Lin Hong continued, "You didn't see it, but your Comrade Gu usually has a stern face and speaks to everyone in a businesslike manner. But the other day when he told my dad and brother to take care of you, he completely dropped his airs. He even sold his bicycle to my brother for half price, which made him so happy that he patted his chest and said he treats you like his own sister!"
“My dad even joked that from the day he met your Mr. Gu until that day, it was the first time he had ever been so nice to him!”
"My boyfriend also said that your boyfriend asked him to come to your place every few days to check on you, because he's worried about you being home alone, even though you have a dog!"
...
Lin Hong continued talking, and Xu Ningyan became increasingly guilty as she listened, losing her appetite in the process.
I had to force myself to eat lunch.
I would often drift off into thought during my afternoon work.
Sister Yang and the others in the office saw this and understood that although the young girl seemed calm and fine, she was probably actually quite unsure and scared inside.
Otherwise, why have you been so lost and dejected all day?
In the late afternoon, the weather was hot and dry. Xu Ningyan lazily lay on her desk, staring blankly outside.
Li Jianguo strode in from outside, and seeing Xu Ningyan's expression, he glared at her with a look of disappointment: "Xiao Xu, come in with me for a moment."
Xu Ningyan followed her into the office inside.
Li Jianguo flipped through the documents in his hand without looking up.
Pack your things, you're going on a business trip starting tomorrow!
Xu Ningyan was taken aback: "Where to?"
"Go back to Hongxing Commune for a business trip and be stationed there for half a month! Investigate whether there are any other projects that can be explored in Hongxing Commune. We need to go to the countryside and conduct on-site investigations in the brigades, understand?" Li Jianguo emphasized the words "stationed there" and "on-site investigations in the brigades."
Xu Ningyan immediately understood that Li Jianguo also knew about Gu Zhiyuan's return to Beijing and was afraid that she would do something rash, so he asked her to go back to the Tuanjie Brigade under the guise of a field visit to clear her mind.
His eyes lit up immediately.
And you know what? Summers in Tuanjie Brigade are much better than in the county town.
Her little courtyard was nestled against the mountainside, with trees and water. The temperature was lower than in the county town, both day and night, making it a perfect place to escape the summer heat.
Seeing that Xu Ningyan understood, Li Jianguo smiled slightly and lowered his voice: "Go back and relax for the next two weeks, and you'll also avoid listening to those gossipy old women. Xiao Gu came to see me before he left and asked me to take good care of you. Do I need his instructions? Just go back with peace of mind. Don't worry, even if Xiao Gu really wants to be a heartless man, we're not afraid! Your uncle is here!"
"The capital is far away, and I can't protect you there, but in this small town, I still have a say!"
Li Jianguo was afraid that Xu Ningyan would overthink things, after all, this girl had given up her formal job for Gu Zhiyuan.
Gu Zhiyuan suddenly returned to the capital. Although he was sincere when he entrusted this girl to me before he left, it was clear that he genuinely cared for Xu Ningyan.
But who can predict what will happen in this world? Even if people are thousands of miles apart and their hearts have truly changed, what can you do to them?
Therefore, Li Jianguo was not very optimistic about the two of them. He just felt sorry for Xu Ningyan and didn't want her to stay at the workplace and listen to those gossipy women talking behind her back, which would affect her mood.
Xu Ningyan naturally appreciated Li Jianguo's good intentions.
After get off work, I go home and pack my things.
There wasn't much to pack, except for a few changes of clothes, and some seasonings and food to avoid attracting attention.
The next morning, he rode his bicycle to the bus station, bought a freight ticket, tied the bicycle to the roof of the bus, and, with his henchmen, wobbled back to the Red Star Commune.
It was only a little past ten o'clock when we arrived at Hongxing Commune, and the sun was already blazing hot.
If we walk back, we'll probably get a tan like a black person along the way.
Fortunately, Xu Ningyan brought the bicycle back. After unloading it and pushing it to the repair shop next to the bus station to get it adjusted, Xu Ningyan rode the bicycle towards the Tuanjie Brigade.
Early summer has arrived, the trees are lush and green, and the road is lined with green rice paddies. In addition to dust, the air is filled with the fragrance of grass and wildflowers.
When we arrived at the Tuanjie Brigade, it was only a little past 11 o'clock, but the sun was blazing, and most of the adults were staying at home to cool off.
Only the little kids, who aren't afraid of the heat or the sun, get tanned like black mudfish, and don't even wear pants while washing dishes by the river.
Xu Ningyan rode through the procession without alerting anyone and rode towards her own yard.
As soon as the lackey entered the brigade, he ran off and disappeared in no time.
Xu Ningyan didn't bother with it; it would naturally come back by nightfall anyway.
As I pushed my bicycle near the cowshed, I realized that since I hadn't been back for a while, the cowshed had expanded, with two more rooms added. I guessed that more people who had been sent down to the countryside had been assigned to live here.
The cowshed door was tightly closed. Xu Ningyan had just pushed the cart past when he saw someone crawl out of the cowshed.
The two men, both with glasses, stared at each other, stunned.
Xu Changfeng? What's Aunt Xie's youngest son doing here?
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