Chapter 342 Speculation
Zhao Lujun came to deliver something to Shen Lingyu, but he didn't expect to run into Song Lubai here.
Song Lubai said with a smile, "You said before that we fellow townsmen should get together, but you haven't come to see me yet. You two seem to have a good relationship."
Zhao Lujun opened the yellow paper containing the fried hemp leaves and said rather embarrassedly, "I'm very busy every day, and I only managed to come today. Ask Shen Lingyu how long it's been since I last came to the regimental headquarters."
Shen Lingyu chimed in, "Yes, I only see him a few times a year."
Zhao Lujun handed the things in his hand to Song Lubai and said, "I'll give you half, don't be shy."
Song Lubai called Wei Yang over loudly, grabbed a handful of hemp leaves and put them in Wei Yang's hand, "These are hemp leaves made by my fellow Henan province, Zhao Lujun. You probably haven't tried them before, so try them."
Wei Yang took a bite, crunched it down, and said, "It's crispy and crunchy, delicious."
Zhao Lujun said, "I still have some left, I'll send you some more."
Song Lubai waved her hand: "No, sesame is a rare thing. You should keep it for yourself. I feel bad accepting your things, and you shouldn't feel bad coming to me. We're from the same hometown, and it's only right that we help each other out."
Zhao Lujun smiled and said, "I'll remember that. I won't be polite in the future."
Wei Yang took out a cigarette and handed it to Zhao Lujun, asking, "Comrade Zhao, have you settled into life here yet?"
Zhao Lujun took out a match, lit it for Wei Yang, and then lit the one in his own hand. He exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "In another three or four months, I will have been here for almost two years. I can work better this year than last year. Last year, like this batch of new educated youth, I wanted to run away when I saw the blisters on my hands. This year is much better."
Song Lubai said with a smile, "You two talk first, Comrade Shen and I will go over there and have a chat about what women usually talk about."
Once they were a short distance apart, Song Lubai asked directly, "I think Zhao Lujun treats you quite well."
She wasn't there to be a matchmaker, nor was she interested in it; she just had some doubts.
Shen Lingyu said awkwardly, "We're from the same hometown, and he's helped me a lot."
Song Lubai asked with interest, "Has he mentioned dating you?"
Shen Lingyu said awkwardly, "He did mention it, but I don't want to get married again."
What Song Lubai really wanted to ask was what her relationship with Zeng Jie was, but she couldn't bring herself to ask.
After rambling on for a while, she finally asked the question.
"I heard from others that you and Zeng Jie dated, is that true?"
Shen Lingyu exclaimed "Huh?" and then asked angrily, "Who's talking nonsense? I've never dated him. He's the one who shamelessly pestered me."
After saying that, Shen Lingyu said a little angrily, "Song Lubai, what exactly did you come here for today? Just say what you want to say directly, don't beat around the bush. I consider you a friend, and friends don't talk about other empty words."
Shen Lingyu regretted saying those words as soon as she did.
Whether in Yangcheng or the Sixteenth Regiment, it was actually Song Lubai who helped her more.
Her attitude made her seem a bit ungrateful.
She felt guilty, but couldn't bring herself to apologize.
Song Lubai knew that her question would make Shen Lingyu uncomfortable, but she just couldn't hold it in.
"I was just asking casually, don't be angry. If you're not dating him, you're not dating him. You really can't listen to other people's nonsense. I've been hearing a lot of people say that Zeng Jie was a good comrade who saved a child from drowning. It's such a pity that he was harmed by bad people at such a young age."
Shen Lingyu's face stiffened slightly. She forced herself to appear natural in front of Song Lubai. "It's such a pity that he died so young. Has the police station found the murderer yet?"
Song Lubai shook her head and said, "I don't know how the investigation went. It's too cold, so I won't talk to you here. Come to my house next time."
The couple left, and Zhao Lujun and Shen Lingyu stood together watching them walk away.
Seeing Song Lubai turn around, Zhao Lujun smiled and waved to her.
Zhao Lujun said, "Comrade Song is a very nice person; he even brought you food."
Shen Lingyu walked towards the vegetable garden with a bad expression. After making sure she was far enough away from the house, she said in a low voice, her face pale, "Can you please stop interfering in my business? Can't you stay away from me?"
Zhao Lujun's good mood vanished instantly, his smile fading. "What's wrong with you now?"
He looked suspiciously in the direction Song Lubai had left. "What did Comrade Song say to you? Why are you suddenly like this?"
Shen Lingyu clenched her fists and said, "I don't need anyone to tell me anything, I just feel that you scare me."
Zhao Lujun's tone was slightly urgent, "How could I harm you? Why are you afraid of me? I will only help you! I only want to see you do well."
Shen Lingyu took two steps back and asked, "Did you kill Hu Xiaoqing?"
Zhao Lujun didn't speak, but looked at her with sincere and aggrieved eyes.
Shen Lingyu remembered that a few days after Zhao Lujun said to her, "Zeng Jie must die," Zeng Jie died.
She already had a suspicion at that time.
She never expected that even Hu Xiaoqing was killed by Zhao Lujun.
When her suspicions were confirmed, Shen Lingyu felt a chill run through her body.
The silence lasted for a long time, with only the howling of the north wind in the world, the cold wind stinging their faces.
After a long pause, Zhao Lujun asked softly, "Did Song Lubai say something?"
Shen Lingyu keenly sensed something was off about Zhao Lujun's tone.
She shook her head and said, "She didn't say anything. She just said that we fellow villagers can get together more often in the future, and asked if you wanted to date me."
Zhao Lujun's eyes lit up instantly, and all the gloomy feeling around him disappeared.
He said impatiently, "You know, I don't mind that you've been married before, nor do I mind that you're older than me. And don't say that people will gossip because you're older than me. There are men in our group who are more than ten years older than women. What if the men and women are reversed? I don't mind, so why should you mind?"
Zhao Lujun rambled on and on.
Seeing that Shen Lingyu remained silent, Zhao Lujun grabbed her hand and said, "Some men are not human. If you don't want to be bullied by men anymore, marry me. I will always protect you."
Shen Lingyu remained silent, but Zhao Lujun said fiercely, "If anyone bullies you again in the future, I won't be polite to them."
This is what Shen Lingyu fears most.
She didn't want to get married again, but Zhao Lujun killed two people for her, and she was afraid that if something happened again, Zhao Lujun would do the same thing.
Song Lubai seemed to have guessed something. She was worried that Zhao Lujun would find out and do something, and she was also worried that Song Lubai would find some evidence.
"Let me think about it."
Zhao Lujun then released her hand. "You must tell me when you've thought it through."
Zhao Lujun walked back with ease, after all, this was the first time Shen Lingyu had given in.
Shen Lingyu couldn't feel at ease.
Although she initially wished she could kill Hu Xiaoqing and the beast Zeng Jie, she only thought about it and didn't have the courage to put it into action.
Her feelings for Zhao Lujun were complicated.
She was both grateful to him and, deep down, afraid of him.
What should we do?
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