After a hasty meal, Gu Xingping and Gu Xingye first took the younger ones to move stools. Chen Lishu was not very interested in watching movies, so she let Li Xiulan and Zhang Qin go ahead first. She stayed behind to clean up the kitchen.
As soon as she had tidied up and come out, she saw a tall figure standing in the yard.
"Why didn't you go over?" Chen Lishu thought he had gone ahead with the others.
"Waiting for you," Gu Xingdong said. The two then walked towards the outside of the yard together.
The movie had already started by then. The village was dark and quiet. In contrast, the threshing ground at the entrance of the village was brightly lit and bustling with people.
"Cheng Ming, what's wrong with you lately? Why are you always ignoring me?" Zhao Hong stopped Lu Cheng Ming. Seizing the opportunity while everyone else was gone, she finally got to ask what was on her mind.
"You're overthinking it. I've always been like this," Lu Cheng Ming replied absentmindedly.
"You were never like this with me before. Is it because of Chen Lishu?" A girl's sixth sense is often very accurate. Zhao Hong felt a bit wronged as she asked this.
She had given him her purity. Yet he still intended to propose to the Chen family. Although it didn't work out, it still felt disheartening.
"Don't think too much. Her husband is back. How could there be any possibility between her and me?" Lu Cheng Ming replied impatiently, "The movie has been going on for a while. Are you going to watch it or not?"
Seeing that he seemed to be angry, Zhao Hong could only nod.
Chen Lishu watched the two of them walk away and instinctively looked at Gu Xingdong.
The sky was quite dark, and she couldn't see his expression clearly.
"His name is Lu Cheng Ming. He's a sent-down youth in our village. I've only spoken a few words to him. He did propose to my family, but I didn't agree."
As soon as Chen Lishu finished speaking, she felt her hand tighten.
Gu Xingdong held her hand, looked at her sideways, with a slight smile and a twinkle in his eyes. He didn't seem to care.
"If we don't go now, we won't get seats."
Chen Lishu's heart relaxed. She let him lead her by the hand towards the threshing ground.
The threshing ground was indeed crowded with people. Because it was a rare movie screening, in addition to people from their own brigade, many people from other brigades had come after hearing the news.
People were pressed against each other, and it was impossible to squeeze to the front. It was impossible to find Gu Zhao and the others now. The two could only find an empty space on the periphery.
"Comrade Chen Lishu, you're here too?"
As soon as Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong had settled, the person in front and to the side turned around. It was Lu Cheng Ming.
Lu Cheng Ming had clearly seen Gu Xingdong next to Chen Lishu. He instinctively sized Gu Xingdong up. Although he was extremely critical, he still had to admit that in terms of appearance, Gu Xingdong was not inferior to him.
Seeing that it was him, Chen Lishu felt as if she had swallowed a fly. But with Gu Xingdong by her side, leaving immediately would seem as if she was guilty and there was something going on between them.
"Mmm."
Chen Lishu gave a very cold "mmm."
But this sound was a great encouragement to Lu Cheng Ming. He immediately moved from his original position to Chen Lishu's side.
"I was wrong that day. I apologize to you," Lu Cheng Ming said, glancing at Gu Xingdong. There was a hint of provocation in his eyes.
Because they were outside and in front of so many people, Chen Lishu couldn't explain things to Gu Xingdong in detail. She pulled Gu Xingdong over and introduced him to Lu Cheng Ming, "Let me introduce you, this is my husband, Gu Xingdong."
Husband…
Gu Xingdong savored the title twice in his heart and found it very pleasing to the ear.
Gu Xingdong looked at her with her chest held high, her chin slightly raised, her face determined, and her tone proud. His heart felt as comfortable and satisfied as drinking ice-cold soda on a hot summer day.
"I wondered who it was. Isn't this Chen Lishu, the eldest daughter of the Chen family?" Widow Liu appeared behind them at some unknown time. Her voice was not intentionally lowered, immediately attracting the attention of many people around them.
"They say good-looking people are also flighty. She was dating that sent-down youth before, but as soon as she saw the higher betrothal gifts from someone else, she kicked him away. She's been hooking up with my eldest son all day, causing Da Bao to get into a fight with someone for her. She's really something."
Ever since Liu Da Bao was beaten, Widow Liu had completely given up. Since this brat wasn't letting her and her son have an easy time, she would ruin her reputation.
"Auntie, I never dated Comrade Chen Lishu. Please don't say that. She was angry with me about that incident last time, and only today did she get over her anger and speak to me."
Lu Cheng Ming, however, said ambiguous things that could be misinterpreted.
As the two of them spoke, those around who knew the situation would explain, and combined with the current situation, the way people looked at Chen Lishu became a bit different.
Gu Xingdong's brows furrowed impatiently like the character '川'. He had come through gunfire. The awe-inspiring and stern aura of a soldier made the murmurs around him instantly subside.
Seeing Gu Xingdong about to speak, Chen Lishu immediately tugged at his sleeve.
Gu Xingdong looked at her sideways. Chen Lishu shook her head at him. Such a trivial matter didn't require his intervention. Giving him a confident look, Chen Lishu stepped forward, her gaze falling on Widow Liu.
"Aunt Liu, it's important to have self-awareness. You, as a mother, may not know your son's character, but that doesn't mean everyone else doesn't. Liu Da Bao is shorter than a stool and thinner than a carrying pole. He never does anything good, doesn't dare to do anything bad, but constantly commits small wrongdoings. I would have to be blind to fancy him. If your family wants to daydream, at least make it somewhat realistic. A toad wanting to eat swan meat. The mere thought of it makes me sick."
"Hoo—"
As soon as she finished speaking, the surrounding people stopped watching the movie and burst into laughter.
Gu Xingdong watched her little mouth open and close, leaving Widow Liu speechless and wishing she could burrow into the ground. He found it so amusing that he wanted to hug her tightly and kiss her.
"We're here to watch a movie. Don't let irrelevant people affect our mood."
Gu Xingdong put his arm around her, pulling her protectively in front of him, and turned to face the movie screen. As he turned, he cast a light yet impactful glance at Lu Cheng Ming.
Lu Cheng Ming felt his throat tighten as Gu Xingdong's hawk-like eyes swept over him.
Seeing the two of them, the man tall and handsome, the woman feisty and charming, people found them very pleasing to the eye. They felt that they were a match made in heaven.
In contrast, Widow Liu and Lu Cheng Ming were left behind by the crowd, appearing like mere clowns.
"Lishu—"
Xu Ning looked back and saw Chen Lishu, her eyes lit up, and she happily stood up and waved to her.
"Come here, I have space here." Although she tried to lower her voice, it still drew dissatisfaction from the people around her who were focused on the movie.
"Can the person in front sit down? I can't see anything."
Hearing someone speak about her, Xu Ning's face turned a little red.
Chen Lishu pulled Gu Xingdong, pushed through the crowd, and quickly joined her.