The Vicious Ex-Wife Stripped Me Bare, and Now the Commander Is Seeing Red Every Day - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: How About Letting Ye Shiyu Know Gu Yan Is Here First?

“What nonsense are you talking!” Father Gu rebuked Mother Gu, giving her a shove.

Mother Gu also regretted her words as soon as they escaped her mouth. She looked at Gu Yan: “Xiao Yan, Mom didn’t mean it that way. Mom misspoke; don’t take it to heart.”

Gu Yan watched Mother Gu shift from the height of anger just a moment ago to being cautious and wary now.

“Mom, I understand what you mean. There has never been anything between Ye Shiyu and me, and I will not fail Lin Ning for everything she has done for me.”

Gu Yan’s declaration allowed both Mother and Father Gu to breathe a sigh of relief. Mother Gu looked at him: “It’s for the best that you think this way.”

Father Gu nodded beside them, letting out a long breath: “Alright, it’s late. Let’s all get some rest. We don’t know what the situation will be tomorrow.”

As he spoke, Father Gu let out a yawn and turned to beckon Mother Gu. The two of them supported each other as they went to another corner to lie down on the straw mats.

They covered themselves with blankets woven from the same straw pulp.

In the current weather, the straw pulp was manageable, but it wouldn’t do once the weather turned cold.

I wonder if we can get a cotton quilt; even a tattered or old one would be fine! Father Gu thought to himself as he gradually drifted into a deep sleep.

On the other side, Lin Ning and Gu Rou had finished washing up. Lin Ning was applying face oil when Gu Rou crept over quietly.

Lin Ning looked at her: “Not sleeping? What did you run over here for?”

Gu Rou wore a fawning smile: “Sister, can I sleep with you?”

Lin Ning looked at her with amusement: “Want to sleep with me again? Come on then!” She didn’t refuse.

Gu Rou giggled and pounced onto the bed, lifting the covers and diving in. “Sister, your bed smells so good!” As she spoke, she grabbed the quilt and took a sniff.

Lin Ning also got into bed and tucked herself in. “Aren’t the quilts on my bed and yours the same? Even the face oil we use is the same. How could mine be more fragrant than yours?”

Gu Rou: “It’s just fragrant; it’s the scent on you, Sister. As long as I smell Sister’s scent, I’m not afraid anymore.”

Lin Ning’s smile faltered. “Afraid? What are you afraid of?”

Gu Rou acted a bit awkward. “It’s not exactly ‘afraid,’ it’s just that I thought about starting work tomorrow. I’ve never labored before and don’t know how to do it. What if I embarrass you, Sister?”

Hearing this, Lin Ning reached out and stroked her head. “You’re worried about that? No need to worry, Sister is here! I’ll help you.”

Gu Rou looked up at her, still somewhat concerned: “Then will I hold you back, Sister?”

Lin Ning’s gaze was very warm. “Don’t think too much. You won’t be the only one holding things back tomorrow.”

Gu Rou: “???” Her eyes widened, not quite understanding what her sister meant.

Lin Ning laughed. “Tomorrow is the first day of labor for all the educated youths. Everyone is from the city and it’s their first time doing farm work; we certainly can’t compare to the villagers who work all year round. So, holding things back is inevitable. Don’t worry so much; there’s a process of adaptation. Once we adapt, we’ll be able to keep up.”

Gu Rou didn’t know if these words were meant to comfort her. They sounded like it, but who comforts people like this?

Her words were essentially: Since everyone is going to hold things back anyway, if we’re going to be embarrassed, we’ll all be embarrassed together?

Gu Rou blinked. So her incredibly capable sister would also hold things back?

Lin Ning looked at her face, which was struggling with confusion and self-torment. “Alright, alright. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally sink. Stop thinking and go to sleep.” After saying that, she closed her eyes. If she didn’t sleep now, she wouldn’t have any energy tomorrow.

Gu Rou nodded. Fine, sleep.

Sister was right; after all, when the boat reaches the bridge, it naturally… wait, what did Sister just say?

When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally sink?

Isn’t it “go straight”?

Is it straight or sink…?

Carrying this question, Gu Rou fell asleep.

When they woke up again, it was to the sound of the village loudspeakers.

Opening her eyes, Gu Rou grumbled with the irritability of someone just woken up: “So noisy!”

Lin Ning: “Don’t complain about the noise. Get up quickly; we have to gather at the Great Brigade Headquarters at six o’clock.”

Hearing the word “six,” Gu Rou first glanced at Lin Ning. “What time is it now?”

Lin Ning: “It’s 5:20. Get up quickly; I’m going to make breakfast.” She went out first.

Gu Rou fumbled her way off the bed, reaching for the watch at the bedside to check the time while muttering: “Why so early? It’s not even light outside!”

The educated youths at the station felt the same resentment. Suddenly awakened, they scrambled to get up in a panic.

Yet, no one thought about the matter of making breakfast.

By the time everyone finished washing up, it was too late for breakfast.

Everyone hurriedly grabbed some walnut cakes or biscuits and headed out, munching as they walked. Totally inexperienced, they hadn’t even brought water.

As for Gu Rou and Lin Ning, thanks to Lin Ning’s preparation, the two sisters not only finished breakfast unhurriedly, but Gu Rou also had two eggs tucked in her hand, while Lin Ning carried two thermoses of warm water as they strolled leisurely toward the Headquarters.

At the Headquarters, besides the educated youths, many villagers had gathered as well.

Lin Ning and Gu Rou stood in the section for educated youths. They stood slightly toward the back, but with a glance, they could see Ye Shiyu not far away, munching on dry walnut cakes without any water.

Lin Ning gave one of the thermoses to Gu Rou. “Take this to Comrade Ye to drink.”

Gu Rou looked at the thermos. “What about you if I give it to her?”

Lin Ning: “Isn’t there another one? The two of us won’t finish both.”

Gu Rou thought about it and took it: “Alright then!”

She navigated through the crowd to Ye Shiyu’s side. “Comrade Ye, didn’t you bring water? My sister and I brought two thermoses; here’s one for you.”

Ye Shiyu looked up and was stunned to see her. She lowered her eyes to look at the thermos being offered.

She was tempted but also hesitated: “Is… is this okay?”

Gu Rou didn’t think there was anything wrong with it and pushed the thermos forward a bit more. “Drink. My sister told me to give it to you.”

She felt that since her sister was being kind, she couldn’t let that kindness go to waste. “Doing good deeds anonymously” didn’t exist in her book. She wanted the whole world to know how good her sister was!

Ye Shiyu was surprised and looked up toward Lin Ning.

Lin Ning couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she saw Ye Shiyu look her way.

Then, Ye Shiyu took the thermos and gave a slight, appreciative nod toward her.

Lin Ning: “…!”

Is she thanking me?

Did that girl Rou tell her I was the one who offered the water?

Lin Ning also nodded back at her, then lowered her head, stopping her gaze.

It was just some water, yet the girl was so serious about it.

Well, should I reveal the news that Gu Yan is here to her first?

In light of how serious she is!

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