Gu Qingcheng felt she needed to have a talk with Qin Yue.
Liu Ding's recent condition was indeed not good; he was constantly distracted, with dark circles under his eyes. She had initially thought it was due to lack of sleep, but it turned out he was lovesick?
Liu Ding was the village's top farmer, and Gu Qingcheng relied on him quite a bit. She couldn't let him falter.
However, she wouldn't go around matchmaking either.
Girl help girl!
She wouldn't sacrifice Qin Yue just because Liu Ding was important to the village.
Thus, Gu Qingcheng briskly headed towards the supply and marketing cooperative.
The group of children were still chattering, arguing over who would play Village Chief Dai and who would play Zheng Wuniang…
Gu Qingcheng couldn't help but sweat internally. She hadn't expected to become the person the children wanted to be the most.
This kind of role-playing game, due to her life in the city, where her childhood was filled with studying and tutoring, and interest classes, she never had the chance to play.
But children in the 1980s definitely would have played. In fact, it was the best game for exercising imagination.
When playing this game, children could choose to become people they liked and admired, replaying and imitating their classic lines and actions in their minds. They could be generals, or princes. The least favored individuals would naturally only get to be maids or servants. Everyone played with great enthusiasm. If adults didn't call them, they could play until sunset without wanting to go home.
As Gu Qingcheng approached the supply and marketing cooperative, she saw a young man exchanging mahjong tiles for cured meat.
Qin Yue’s attitude was as warm as ever. She said,
“Wu Jiayang, this is the second time this month you’ve come to exchange cured meat. Are you planning to exchange all your money? Won't you keep some money for famine preparedness?”
“Ai, Chunniang’s family is having a hard time. They have many people. I’m alone and can eat enough. I can help them out as much as I can!”
From their conversation, it sounded like this young man, Wu Jiayang, was exchanging cured meat to win over a girl?
Qin Yue continued to smile and said,
“Yesterday, Liu Shitiao also came to exchange cured meat, saying he wanted to give it to Chunniang. His reason was pretty much the same as yours.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Jiayang’s expression changed slightly. The smile he had on his face faltered. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said,
“I’m sorry, Sister Qin Yue. I won’t exchange the cured meat for now. I'll come back later.”
“Alright.” Qin Yue didn’t blame him for changing his mind about the exchange.
Watching the young man leave, Qin Yue showed a helpless smile.
Gu Qingcheng walked up and tapped the counter with her finger.
When Qin Yue saw Gu Qingcheng, her professional, enthusiastic smile gained a touch of sincerity. This was her savior. How could she not be enthusiastic towards her? Qin Yue smiled beautifully and said,
“Young Master Gu, what would you like to exchange?”
Gu Qingcheng shook her head and said, “I’m not exchanging anything. What’s going on with that Wu Jiayang and Chunniang just now?”
“Oh, you heard? That young man is quite honest. He’s single and works in the farming team. He’s diligent and hardworking. Every month, he’s reluctant to eat or spend on himself, and all the money he saves is given to Chunniang.
It’s not wrong for him to like Chunniang, but that Chunniang isn't exactly a decent person. She’s playing games with multiple people.
I know everyone here best. Many young men are enticed by her, and they actively send her rice and meat. I just can’t stand to see honest people being deceived, so I reminded him a few words.”
“I see,” Gu Qingcheng nodded thoughtfully.
Qin Yue smiled a little sheepishly and said,
“Young Master Gu, am I doing the right thing by doing this? Is it too much?”
“No, it’s good, and you’re doing the right thing!”
Gu Qingcheng also found the girl named Chunniang detestable. It was fine to be in love, but not to toy with people’s feelings.
“Chunniang is playing with fire,” Qin Yue sighed. “With so many young men pouring their hearts out, can she continue to deceive them like this?”
“Yes, one day she’ll get burned. I should go and give Chunniang a stern warning. Uh, never mind. I’m not good at this kind of thing. Let Village Chief Dai handle it.”
Gu Qingcheng knew Dai Fa had his own ways, and she didn’t want to get involved in these romantic entanglements.
“Someone should indeed warn Chunniang. For me, I’ll remind whoever I can.
This month, two or three young men have said they wanted to exchange meat and rice for Chunniang’s family. I reckon Chunniang’s family doesn’t even need to work in the fields anymore. They can eat and drink well relying on this daughter.”
Qin Yue said with disdain.
Gu Qingcheng smiled and said, “Since I know about this, this kind of thing won’t happen in the future. Isn’t this corrupting morals and ruining the village’s atmosphere?
By the way, what about you? Have you thought about remarrying?”
The topic shifted so abruptly and pierced her heart that Qin Yue had no time to prepare. Her face instantly turned red as a piece of red cloth.
“Young Master Gu, why are you suddenly asking me about this?”
Gu Qingcheng smiled and said, “It’s no big deal. If you want to remarry, I’ll definitely support you with both hands. You’re still so young, you can’t be a widow for your entire life.”
As Gu Qingcheng said these words, she suddenly realized how old-fashioned her tone had become. It was like her mother lecturing divorced women in the community.
Oh my god, the subtle influence and heredity were truly terrifying. How had she unconsciously imitated her mother by ninety-nine percent?
“Ai, actually, when I talk about marriage, I think of my dead husband. Whenever I think of him starving to death on the road fleeing famine, I always feel uneasy.
Now that I'm alone and can eat enough, it's good.
If I remarry and encounter such a situation again, I definitely won't be able to bear it.”
With no other option, Qin Yue revealed her true feelings.
“Then if someone likes you very much, you still don’t want to remarry?” Gu Qingcheng shamelessly continued to ask.
“Ai, I’m too scared.”
Qin Yue’s eyes welled up with tears.
Seeing her tears, Gu Qingcheng’s mood also became heavy.
“It’s alright. I was just asking. I have no intention of rushing you to get married. This kind of thing depends on your own judgment. If you don’t have confidence or are unwilling, no one can force you. I’ll just say this.
If anyone forces you, come find me, and I’ll definitely not let him off.”
“Thank you, Young Master Gu. Currently, no one is forcing me,” Qin Yue said quickly.
Hearing her words, Gu Qingcheng suddenly understood. Qin Yue must have rejected Liu Ding, but it wasn't because she disliked or didn't like him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have covered for him just now.
If she had disliked him, she would have taken the opportunity to complain about Liu Ding when Gu Qingcheng was saying those things.
Qin Yue not adding insult to injury indicated that she didn’t dislike Liu Ding.
But the reason for rejecting Liu Ding was precisely the reason she just stated:
Qin Yue was afraid of losing! She feared famine!
This was also a sequela of the trauma of fleeing famine.
Of course, Qin Yue’s words also put some pressure on Gu Qingcheng.
Qin Yue still lacked sufficient sense of security.
Where did the sense of security for the villagers of Phoenix Village come from?
It came from having food to eat and meat to eat in Phoenix Village.
Since Qin Yue was still afraid, it meant Gu Qingcheng hadn’t done well enough and couldn’t provide everyone with a sense of security.