Zhou Liang felt like cursing when he heard this. Gu Xingdong’s marksmanship was renowned throughout the entire battalion, nearly perfect. Gambling against him was akin to giving away money for free.
"I..."
"Good, I’ll take that as a yes." Gu Xingdong didn’t give him a chance to refuse, pulling his elbow back and locking him as he dragged him towards the shooting range.
Wu Zheng suddenly became excited, as if he had forgotten he’d just been fleeced by Gu Xingdong. He quickly ran after them, volunteering, "I’ll be your referee."
...
Chen Lishu and Gu Xingping rode their bicycles back to the village that afternoon. When they arrived home, Li Xiulan and the others were still working in the fields. Chen Lishu started cooking, while Gu Xingping, with something on her mind, couldn't focus on any chores. She craned her neck, almost stretching it three feet long, before finally spotting Li Xiulan and Gu Shoufu returning.
"Mom, Dad, I have some good news! I got into high school!" Gu Xingping ran over as soon as she saw them.
"Oh my, that's wonderful! My daughter got into high school." Li Xiulan had also been worried about this for the past few days. Hearing Gu Xingping’s words, she slapped her thigh, didn't even step into the yard, and turned to head for the supply and marketing cooperative.
"Mom's going to buy some groceries to celebrate tonight."
Their family had four sons and only one daughter. Although the elderly couple didn't spoil their children like others, they still favored her, which was why they were so keen on sending her to school.
Gu Xingping smiled and stopped her. "Mom, my third sister-in-law has already cooked several dishes. Hurry home and eat."
"Little sister, congratulations," Zhang Qin and Gu Xingguo said with smiles as they walked into the yard.
"What's there to congratulate? The real celebration will be when we eat your wedding candy," Gu Xingye teased from the side.
"Slap." Li Xiulan hit the back of his head unceremoniously. "You're about to get married, don't be so glib all day long."
Chen Lishu emerged from the kitchen and happened to overhear this, asking out of curiosity, "Mom, is my fourth brother getting married?"
"Yes," Li Xiulan said while fetching water to wash her hands. "We're discussing it. They've been dating for about half a year, and your father and I are thinking of holding the wedding after the autumn harvest."
"Third sister-in-law, you don't know, but fourth brother's bride is very precious. A sewing machine and a bicycle are essential, not to mention the thirty-six legs. And that's not including four quilts and eight sets of clothes. All those miscellaneous things added up, it's enough to marry all three of us." Liu Yuemin couldn't help but say with a hint of sourness.
"Now that conditions are better, the bride price changes every year. Besides, the bride's family said they don't want any bride price; they'll bring it all with them," Zhang Qin said, helping to explain when she saw Gu Xingye's expression falter.
Liu Yuemin pouted. "Just because their family says they don't want it? Hmph, the village secretary's daughter is indeed more precious than us."
Seeing that the others in the family had unpleasant expressions due to Liu Yuemin's words, Chen Lishu smiled and said, "Second sister-in-law, that's not right. Who is more precious than whom? One's life is lived by oneself. Besides, we've already divided the family. If fourth brother is willing to use his money to marry his bride, it's the same as second brother willingly giving you all his money, isn't it? If you like those things, you can use money to buy them, can't you?"
Liu Yuemin had never thought about it this way before. Hearing Chen Lishu’s words, she thought about it carefully and realized that, as Chen Lishu said, fourth brother would definitely be short of funds after marrying his bride. They, as a couple, were different; they had already saved quite a bit of money. Thinking this way, she felt much more balanced.
Seeing that her second daughter-in-law, who had been sulking for days, was so easily convinced by her third daughter-in-law's few words, Li Xiulan looked at Chen Lishu with admiration.
Chen Lishu could guess Liu Yuemin's thoughts to some extent. She always liked to compare herself to others, so Chen Lishu simply followed her lead and found a way to balance her feelings.
After dinner, Chen Lishu went to the village secretary Zhang Changhe's house. After several interactions, especially with Gu Xingye’s connection, Zhang Changhe readily issued the certificates for Chen Lishu and Gu Xingping.
As she was coming out of Zhang's doorway, she ran into Zhao Hong entering the courtyard. After not seeing her for a while, she looked much thinner and gaunter, nowhere near as plump as she was when she was a young girl.
"I'm going back to the city."
Seeing Chen Lishu, whose complexion was rosy and her face filled with happiness, Zhao Hong, for some unknown reason, blurted out these words as she passed by.
Chen Lishu didn't stop her steps and didn't even give her a glance, walking straight past her.
Looking at Chen Lishu like this, Zhao Hong felt both helpless and angry. She suddenly turned back, stared at Chen Lishu’s retreating figure, and said loudly, "We'll be assigned jobs when we get back to the city. His family..."
Seeing that Chen Lishu had already disappeared, Zhao Hong felt an indescribable emotion surge within her, making her chest feel heavy and stifled, with nowhere to vent.
The next day, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingping, after getting everything ready, took their certificates and returned to town.
Due to inconvenient transportation, this trip would last at least ten days to half a month. After tidying up their belongings at home, Chen Lishu visited the Ding and Wang families, and also informed Zhou Bin and Nan Haitao separately before boarding the train with Gu Xingping the next day at noon.
Their first destination was Shanghai. Since there was no direct train, they had to take this train to S City first and then transfer.
It was Gu Xingping's first time traveling so far, and she was so excited that she couldn't sleep well all night. After getting on the train, her initial curiosity soon gave way to sound sleep.
Chen Lishu looked at her sleeping so soundly while sitting and felt a bit envious.
At that time, to buy a sleeper berth on a train, one needed connections and an introduction letter from their unit; otherwise, it was impossible to get one.
The summer was hot, and the train smelled strongly. Although she tried her best to endure it, Chen Lishu still quietly ran to the restroom to throw up twice.
The train was delayed as usual, and they arrived at the provincial capital station around 1:30 PM. Because it was a major station, the train would stop at the platform for fifteen minutes.
As she had arranged to meet Gu Xingdong, Chen Lishu kept watching for movement outside.
The station was crowded with people, and the train had over ten carriages. It would be difficult for Gu Xingdong to find her, but Chen Lishu spotted the tall figure in army green amidst the crowd at a glance.
The moment she saw Gu Xingdong, Chen Lishu quickly leaned out of the train window and waved in his direction, "Xingdong, over here!"
Gu Xingdong heard the sound, looked up, quickly locked onto his target, and agilely reached Chen Lishu’s side.
"This is a national pass I borrowed from a comrade. Buy whatever you like when we go out."
Chen Lishu looked at the bulging envelope he handed her, unsure how many passes were stuffed inside, and felt a wave of warmth.
Going anywhere now required passes; having money but no passes meant one couldn't buy anything. She had already prepared herself to just look and not buy if necessary, but she didn't expect this man had already considered it for her.
"Plop."
Chen Lishu suddenly leaned out and quickly kissed him on the cheek. "Husband, you're so good."