Chapter 1322: Heart-to-Heart

"Then why can’t your marriage be like that?""Actually, Grandpa already gave me a chance. It’s just that I don’t have anyone I like."

The two cousins lay silently on the kang, Wang Menglin also lost her sleepiness, both of them were worried about their cousin. Sometimes being too sensible causes harm.

Tao Chunhe and Yang Zhongyi arrived home.

"Why did you bring so much meat? We haven’t slaughtered pigs in our village yet. But there should be no shortage of meat."

"I hunted it myself, left sixty pounds for you guys, and the rest was given to the cafeteria."

"I also want to go hunting, but the village doesn’t allow it."

"That’s because this year Wei Kaiyun and the others aren’t here, otherwise you would have the chance to go hunting."

"Yeah, there’s no hope this year.

Are you going back today? You have a vacation too, why don’t you stay for a few days?"

Yang Zhongyi shook his head, he was eager to avoid it, so why would he stay?

"I’m leaving now. The camp needs me."

Tao Chunhe shrugged. Although he didn’t have a woman he loved, he could tell that Yang Zhongyi didn’t agree with the marriage and didn’t like his sister.

But that’s normal, in their families, how many couples are truly in love?

"We have some desserts at home, do you want any?"

Yang Zhongyi shook his head again, "No need, I don’t like sweets."

Yang Zhongyi walked back home, feeling very calm. Recently, his family had been calling him more frequently. They probably knew that the heads of the two families had agreed on the marriage.

Even though the girl he loved had mercilessly rejected him, he just couldn’t accept it.

Why should his marriage be manipulated by them? He didn’t want that kind of life.

After sending Yang Zhongyi off, Tao Chunhe felt bored and went to the educated youth spot.

Actually, he rarely came here, except for the last time when a few people helped him.

He brought cigarettes along; he smoked, but it wasn’t an addiction.

The male educated youths were playing cards, some already had many paper strips stuck to their faces.

Seeing Tao Chunhe come over, Shen Youjun immediately invited him to sit down.

"Do you want to join?"

Tao Chunhe shook his head, "I don’t like gambling. You play, I’ll watch for fun."

The female educated youths in the opposite house heard Tao Chunhe’s voice. Some wanted to come over.

Especially Pan Xiaoying. She used to want to get familiar with Tao Chunhe but didn’t have the chance; he never came over. She had gone twice, but he didn’t let her in.

This was definitely an opportunity. Ever since Yan Shuping had an incident, she had been scared and restrained her intentions.

But since Tao Chunhe came over himself this time, she had to make a good impression.

The educated youths from Han Family Village were pursuing her, and she knew she didn’t have much time to choose, missing this opportunity was missing the chance. But she still wasn’t reconciled.

If there were better options, who wouldn’t be willing to compromise?

Hou Wenhui watched Pan Xiaoying sarcastically, truly insatiable. In front of that educated youth, she acted, but now with better conditions, she couldn’t sit still.

"Guo Shuling, shall we go see them play cards?"

Guo Shuling, who always had low presence, hurriedly shook her head, "I’m not going; I don’t like gambling." She could say she hated it, because her dad had gambled the family into bankruptcy, leading them into a life of poverty.

"Fine, don’t go. Tang Wenjing, Hu Xiangting, are you two going?" She didn’t call Hou Wenhui, fearing her prowess. She couldn’t provoke her.

Both shook their heads. They didn’t like it either, and besides, they had no special thoughts about these male educated youths, so of course they wouldn’t go near.

"Well, if you’re not going, I’ll go myself."

Watching Pan Xiaoying leave, they busied themselves with their tasks.

Guo Shuling was making padded shoes for the male educated youths; they provided the materials and paid one yuan for a pair.

So her hands never rested. It was necessary; the one-time subsidy for coming to the countryside was left at home, and she only brought five yuan visibly, along with ten yuan she’d saved over the years.

She thought there would be monthly subsidies, but not a penny came. Although she earned over twenty yuan in work points, the year’s expenses were sizeable, and her family kept writing for money.

The educated youths living together knew her situation, and although their days were tough, they were much better than Guo Shuling.

Everyone did what they could to help her, and Guo Shuling was truly empathetic.

This winter, she helped them make padded clothes, dismantle and clean quilts, and now make padded shoes, earning over ten yuan.

Hou Wenhui continued reading, though she’d read those books several times, in inactivity, she wasn’t willing to do needlework, it was too straining on the eyes.

Tang Wenjing and Hu Xiangting were closer, they came together. Both were doing needlework, but it was at soles. The work consumed shoes greatly, so they made several pairs while they had time.

Pan Xiaoying entered the male educated youths’ room, the others looked at her; a woman entering a male educated youth room was inappropriate, but she boldly came in.

After a brief silence, they went back to their activities, though no one greeted her; after all, there was still a gender distinction.

Pan Xiaoying didn’t mind this. Her target was Tao Chunhe; the rest were irrelevant.

"Mr. Tao, I heard your voice and came over. I’d like to borrow a book from you."

She’d thought of an excuse; she couldn’t just say nothing.

Tao Chunhe didn’t even look up, still engrossed in watching the card game.

Pan Xiaoying paused, he couldn’t not hear her. What did this mean?

"Mr. Tao, I’d like to borrow a book from you."

Still no response.

Pan Xiaoying felt very wronged; even if you don’t want to lend, say something.

Still not giving up, she asked loudly once more.

"Behave yourself." Tao Chunhe said only those two words.

But those two words were the most hurtful. Pan Xiaoying ran out with reddened eyes.

Shen Youjun winked at Tao Chunhe. Tao Chunhe laughed. The other male educated youths pressed their lips to hold in laughter; although they didn’t like Pan Xiaoying, they lived together, and she was a girl, so going too far wasn’t good.

Tao Chunhe most disliked pretentious women. Ugly and always self-satisfied, truly confirming the saying ’ugly people are troublesome.’

"That was quite a harsh remark." Shen Youjun gave him a thumbs up.

"Just speaking the truth; women should be reserved. Otherwise, they’ll be disrespected."