Sister Hu quickly covered her mouth: "Hey, look at my mouth, I'm just talking nonsense!"
Xu Ningyan reminded her, "Auntie, you can't say these things carelessly in the future! If outsiders hear this, they'll really think our uncle got in through some back channels. If someone with a black heart files a report or something, wouldn't our uncle be wronged?"
"Besides, Brother Jiang doesn't have that much ability. He's just an ordinary clerk in Beijing. If he had that kind of ability, he wouldn't have been sent down to the countryside in the first place. Don't you think so?"
Since Jiang Zhiyuan didn't mention Li Jianguo and the others' promotions before she returned to Jingshan County, either it wasn't important at all, or it was something she didn't need to concern herself with.
Therefore, Xu Ningyan tried her best to distance herself from the situation.
Regardless of the truth, at the very least, it should never be admitted that Jiang Zhiyuan played a role in this.
Sister Hu's face turned pale as she recalled her neighbors who had been reported to the Revolutionary Committee for saying the wrong thing and then paraded through the streets.
Only then did he realize that his words were truly inappropriate. If he were not careful, not only would he implicate County Chief Ding, but also Jiang Zhiyuan and the others.
"Xiaoyan, I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean anything by it. I... I promise I won't say anything like that again! Please don't take it to heart—" she apologized and explained, somewhat bewildered.
Xu Ningyan smiled and took Sister Hu's hand: "Auntie, it's okay for us family to joke around a bit, just don't say it again! We don't understand things outside, but we're afraid some people with ulterior motives will try to trick us into talking! Auntie, just be careful in the future, and if someone asks, just say you don't know and brush it off!"
Sister Hu nodded repeatedly.
After this incident, Sister Hu no longer had the energy to gossip.
He sat there blankly, lost in thought and feeling uneasy.
Upon seeing this, Xu Ningyan simply let her go back, otherwise, if she stayed in front of him, Sister Hu would probably be feeling uneasy.
He pulled a roast duck from his luggage and handed it to Sister Hu: "This is a famous roast duck from Beijing. Last time it was too hot to bring it back for fear it would spoil, but it's cold this time, so it's fine to bring it back! Take it back for Uncle Jianguo and the children to try. Don't bother coming over for lunch or dinner. I'm a grown woman, can't I take care of myself? I'm exhausted from a day and night train ride, I want to get some sleep, so I won't eat lunch. I'll go to my aunt's house for dinner tonight, please don't mind that I eat too much—"
Seeing that Xu Ningyan wasn't being distant or polite with her, Sister Hu felt much relieved.
Looking down at the roast duck, it was plump and golden brown. In the cold weather, white fat had congealed on its skin, making it look incredibly tempting.
She immediately accepted the roast duck with a beaming smile: "Alright, Auntie will head back now! Come over for dinner tonight! I won't stand on ceremony with this roast duck! I've lived this long, and thanks to you, I'm only able to eat roast duck from the capital. Oh, I can die in peace now!"
He quickly packed his things and hurried home.
The courtyard only quieted down after Sister Hu left.
Xu Ningyan tidied up a bit, went to bed and dozed off for a short while, when she heard a knock on the door.
As soon as I came out of the house, I heard Lin Hong's familiar voice.
She hurriedly opened the door, and Lin Hong rushed over and hugged her tightly: "You finally decided to come back—"
He carefully examined Xu Ningyan's complexion from head to toe, then nodded in satisfaction: "Gu, Comrade Jiang is quite reliable; he didn't make you lose weight!"
He then pulled Xu Ningyan inside, saying, "It's cold outside, come inside quickly! You've just recovered, don't catch a cold again!"
The two entered the house hand in hand.
Lin Hong placed the items wrapped in a scarf and placed in a net bag on the table: "Haven't had our state-run restaurant's chef's cooking in a long time, have you? Today's lunch is braised chicken with mushrooms and steamed beef. I managed to snag some! Come and try it—"
As he spoke, he opened the scarf, revealing several large lunchboxes inside.
As soon as the lunchbox was opened, a delicious aroma wafted out, and even though Xu Ningyan wasn't hungry, she couldn't help but swallow.
The two were always very informal with each other, and Lin Hong was very familiar with this courtyard, so she went to the kitchen and got the bowls and chopsticks without any trouble.
After washing their hands, each person grabbed a steamed bun and ate it with the vegetables.
After eating and drinking their fill and washing their lunchboxes, the two sat around the stove to warm themselves.
Lin Hong then asked Xu Ningyan, "Are you not leaving this time? Or..."
Xu Ningyan didn't hide anything from Lin Hong: "I came back this time to handle work, return this house, and then I'm going to Beijing."
Lin Hong had guessed it too. After all, Xu Ningyan was poisoned, and Jiang Zhiyuan had traveled all the way from Beijing to pick her up. Knowing Jiang Zhiyuan as she did, she knew he would definitely not let Xu Ningyan return to Jingshan County.
Furthermore, Xu Ningyan is all alone. Although she has these friends, they are not as important as her fiancé, Jiang Zhiyuan.
If an engaged couple is separated for too long, Jiang Zhiyuan, with his qualities, is bound to attract many women. What if he gets into romantic entanglements while Xu Ningyan isn't around?
Therefore, I was mentally prepared.
But when Xu Ningyan actually said it, she felt a little reluctant and sad.
She hugged Xu Ningyan's arm: "Although I also think it's best for you to go to the capital, what can I do if I can't bear to part with you? Once you go to the capital, it will be hard for us to see each other again!"
Xu Ningyan scoffed, "Who said that? Once I've established myself in the capital, with our relationship, I'll be your guide when you go there! You can go whenever you want! And I can even buy you the latest fashions and send them back! Wouldn't it be great if you were the most beautiful woman in Jingshan County?"
Lin Hong's eyes lit up immediately. "You're absolutely right! When you come to the capital, once I've saved enough money, I'll come visit you there. I can save on accommodation fees and wear the most fashionable clothes and shoes in the capital! When are you coming back to the capital?"
They seemed eager to get rid of him.
Xu Ningyan...
After laughing and joking around for a while, the slight awkwardness between them vanished instantly.
Lin Hong then hugged Xu Ningyan, her eyes red: "You have no idea, I was almost scared to death when I found out you were poisoned! How could you be so unlucky? And the person who poisoned you, I heard, is your elder. How could they do such a thing?"
"Are you really alright?" Lin Hong asked, still worried.
Xu Ningyan nodded: "It's really alright! If something had happened, would he have let me come back?"
"Tsk tsk tsk—" Lin Hong couldn't bear to look.
After a long pause, he asked again, "Your in-laws don't seem to have any objections to your going to the capital, do they?"
Xu Ningyan shook her head: "No objection! My future mother-in-law treats me very well, don't worry!"
Lin Hong couldn't help but say, "You can't be too careless! We're not married yet, so it doesn't matter how good he is to you! You'll only know after we're married and have lived together for a while! Don't be silly and listen to everything he says, okay? Even if you go to Beijing, don't live with Comrade Jiang before the wedding, so you don't have to gossip about him after the wedding!"
"Also, if possible, you should find a job in Beijing. If you have an income, we can stand tall! We won't be afraid of anything in the future! Also, you must keep your money in your own hands. If Comrade Jiang gives you his money, take it. Why not spend it? But you are not allowed to give money to their family, understand?"
"You'll feel more secure and have more confidence if you have money and a job! If you really can't stay in Beijing anymore, come back! Don't make yourself suffer! Understand?"
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