Zhao Mingyue hadn't expected Cheng Yonggang to call her out in public. She wanted to pretend she didn't know him, but she had just turned around, and pretending not to know him now would be too fake. So she pointed at herself and asked, "Did you call me?"
Cheng Yonggang was instantly hurt. Zhao Mingyue didn't recognize him! They were from the next village, and they had often been together—watching movies, attending meetings, and doing group activities. Although they had never interacted directly, was his presence really that weak? But at this moment, he could only bite the bullet and say, "Don't you recognize me? I'm from Chengjia Village. My name is Cheng Yonggang."
Zhao Mingyue pretended to suddenly realize something: "Oh, it's you."
When Yu Youfen saw that the two of them were chatting, she quickly told Zhao Mingyue and went to catch up with her father and brother ahead, leaving them some space. Zhao Mingyue didn't even have time to call them back. What a considerate girl.
Cheng Yonggang smiled, thinking he looked quite dashing: "Did you walk here? Would you like to ride on my bicycle?"
In those days, a bicycle was equivalent to a Santana in later years, a very high-class item. No wonder Cheng Yonggang would push a brand new bicycle to talk to him.
Zhao Mingyue shook her head: "No need, thank you. I'll walk back. It's not far." Although it's not far, it's still seven or eight miles, and it would take an hour to walk even if you walk fast.
Cheng Yonggang was a little embarrassed after being rejected by Zhao Mingyue, but he still politely said, "Then I'll walk with you."
Zhao Mingyue waved her hand: "If you have something to do, go back first. I'll walk slowly."
Cheng Yonggang was a little confused. What did he lack compared to others? Why didn't Zhao Mingyue even give him a second glance? He said, unwilling to give up, "Let me walk with you. It'll be more interesting than walking alone."
Zhao Mingyue remained silent. She glanced at Yu Youfen and her siblings walking ahead, not too far away, and prepared to catch up. She really didn't want to waste time with Cheng Yonggang, afraid that if she stayed any longer she would start to want to strangle him: "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Cheng Yonggang quickly spoke up: "Wait, I just want to ask, why did you reject me?"
Zhao Mingyue didn't even glance at Cheng Yonggang: "We're not a good match."
Cheng Yonggang said, "We haven't even dated yet, how do you know we're not compatible?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "I don't want to." Then she strode forward.
Cheng Yonggang quickly caught up: "Wait, I want to say something to you."
Zhao Mingyue stopped in her tracks.
Cheng Yonggang said, "Do you have someone in your heart?"
Zhao Mingyue felt this was her private matter and had nothing to do with Cheng Yonggang. Besides, she wasn't thinking about anyone else at the moment, so she said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I really don't like you. Goodbye." After saying that, she quickly turned and ran away, regretting it as she ran. She wished she could never see him again.
Cheng Yonggang said resentfully from behind, "How do you know you don't like someone if you don't spend time with them?"
Zhao Mingyue thought to herself, "Even if I liked a tree root or a rock, I could never like you. I feel like killing you right now. Get as far away from me as possible and don't come here to embarrass yourself. Next time we meet, don't expect me to be so polite."
Receiving no response, Cheng Yonggang angrily slammed the handlebars of his bicycle against the ground. Suddenly remembering it was a new bike, he quickly looked down to check for damage. When he looked up again at Zhao Mingyue, she was already a slender figure with her back to him. Why didn't she like him? In terms of height, looks, education, family background, and future prospects, what aspect of him was lacking? She hadn't even given him a second glance; this was a huge blow to his pride as a man.
Wang Qiulan had been following them not far behind. When she saw Zhao Mingyue leave Cheng Yonggang behind, she felt both happy and angry. She was happy that Zhao Mingyue hadn't agreed to Cheng Yonggang's proposal, but she was angry that Zhao Mingyue had no right to refuse him. What did she have to offer? With her family background, she should be grateful if someone was willing to marry her.
She composed herself and caught up with the dejected Cheng Yonggang: "Oh, what a coincidence, it's Yonggang."
Cheng Yonggang glanced at Wang Qiulan, knowing she was from Moon Bay, but couldn't recall her name. They had gone to and from the movie together that night, so he couldn't pretend not to know her. The fact that she called him by his name so affectionately made her intentions obvious. He nodded, "You haven't gone back yet either?"
Wang Qiulan said, "I stepped into a pothole while walking and twisted my ankle. Could you give me a ride?"
Cheng Yonggang glanced at her feet but couldn't see anything wrong with them. He still agreed, "Okay. Come on up."
Wang Qiulan smiled and held onto the back of the bicycle, but because she was short and her legs were short, the 28-inch bicycle was a bit too high for her to get on. She chuckled and said, "This bicycle is so high."
Cheng Yonggang stretched out his arm and supported her elbow: "I'll help you."
Wang Qiulan was overjoyed. She helped Cheng Yonggang up to the back seat of the car. She wasn't afraid of being seen. The more people saw, the better. Then people would say that the two of them were dating.
Cheng Yonggang did indeed want to use Wang Qiulan to show off to Zhao Mingyue. "If you don't want to be with me, there are plenty of others eager to be with me." As he rode his bicycle past Zhao Mingyue, he rang his bell loudly, attracting the attention of the people in front. Everyone turned to look at Cheng Yonggang and Wang Qiulan, making way for them. Wang Qiulan, sitting behind Cheng Yonggang, glanced sideways at Zhao Mingyue, a smug smile playing on her lips, blatantly defiant, as if Cheng Yonggang were about to marry her.
Yu Youfen looked at Cheng Yonggang and Wang Qiulan: "What's going on with them?"
Zhao Mingyue shrugged and pouted, "How would I know?"
Yu Youfen said, "I heard that man was proposing to you, so why are you hanging out with Wang Qiulan again?"
Zhao Mingyue laughed and said, "Who told you that? It's nonsense! They're all irrelevant people, let them be, don't pay them any mind." She didn't want to have anything to do with Cheng Yonggang.
Yu Youfen looked at her but didn't say anything.
Cheng Yonggang and Wang Qiulan rode their bicycles, leaving a group of pedestrians far behind. Cheng Yonggang then asked Wang Qiulan, "Are you familiar with Zhao Mingyue?"
Wang Qiulan paused for a moment: "We're very familiar with each other. What's wrong?"
Cheng Yonggang thought for a moment and said, "Does she have a boyfriend?"
Wang Qiulan touched her braid and chuckled softly through her nose: "I don't know about that. She has many male friends, even our village secretary has a close relationship with her. I don't know which one is her boyfriend."
Cheng Yonggang was taken aback: "Your village party secretary? Shen Xuyue?"
"That's right. Mingyue has high standards; she wants to marry someone from the city. She doesn't want to be a farmer in the countryside," Wang Qiulan added fuel to the fire.
Cheng Yonggang frowned: "Is that so?"
Wang Qiulan said, "Yes. Although I am her good friend, I have to say something fair. Mingyue has a really bad temper. She is a very arrogant person, not very sociable, and doesn't get along with others. If you upset her, she will be sarcastic and very mean-spirited. However, outsiders generally don't know this. They all know that she is very beautiful and capable, which is true. Everyone can see that."
Wang Qiulan played her hand very well; she didn't just belittle Zhao Mingyue, but praised her while putting her down, which made her seem very genuine. Cheng Yonggang listened in silence, lost in thought. Behind him, Wang Qiulan secretly covered her mouth and chuckled; she was having such a wonderful day.
When they arrived at Moon Bay, Cheng Yonggang put Wang Qiulan down: "I won't see you into the village, you can go back by yourself."
Wang Qiulan got out of the car and nodded her thanks: "Thank you so much today, otherwise I don't know how I would have been able to come back."
Cheng Yonggang said casually, "It was nothing."
Wang Qiulan turned around and took a step, then stopped and said, "Actually, I don't think Zhao Mingyue is a suitable candidate to be a wife. I think you don't need to focus your attention on her alone."
Cheng Yonggang's feelings for Zhao Mingyue date back to when she was in junior high school. He wouldn't be easily swayed by a few words from Wang Qiulan. He frowned and said, "What you said might be true, but I think she's not only capable and beautiful, but also a very thoughtful person. I hope my future spouse will be a woman like her. It's understandable that she has high standards, given her good qualities. I will work hard to meet those standards, and I'm sure I can work in the city and become a city dweller in the future. I won't let her down. Thank you for telling me so much today." Without even asking Wang Qiulan's name, he got on his bike and drove away.
Enraged, Wang Qiulan stomped her feet repeatedly, then accidentally stepped into a mud puddle and twisted her ankle. She limped back, wincing in pain, seething with anger, and blamed Zhao Mingyue for everything.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com