Chen Lishu saw that everyone had no objections and nodded at Zhao Hong's hand: "What does the title page say?"
Zhao Hong, reminded by her, flipped open the book and glanced at it. It clearly stated: Zhao Hong, this book best expresses my feelings for you - Lu Chengming.
"Comrade Lu originally wanted Xu Ning to deliver it to you. We discovered it was a banned book and intended to quietly ask the branch secretary for his opinion. Who knew you would accuse us without understanding the situation? Zhao Hong, you really are..." Chen Lishu's voice trailed off with a heartbroken expression.
Xu Ning also saw the words on the page. When she returned it, it was still clean. Although she didn't know what was going on, she played along with Chen Lishu.
"Yes, Zhao Hong, you misunderstood Chen Lishu. I was also unsure and wanted to ask for her opinion."
Zhao Hong couldn't hear what they were saying. Her eyes were fixed on the line of words, and her head was buzzing incessantly.
She was too familiar with Lu Chengming's handwriting. She also roughly knew what "Boule de Suif" was about. If Lu Chengming used this book to express his feelings, did he think she was a prostitute? No wonder he hadn't shown the slightest bit of happiness when she told him she was pregnant. He had never thought highly of her, so how could he marry her! Was it only because she had initiated this relationship that her sincere heart had to be trampled on like this?
Lu Chengming didn't understand what was happening at first. When he got closer and saw the words on the page in Zhao Hong's hand, he was shocked: "I didn't write this. I haven't even read this book."
"These are clearly your handwriting. As a grown man, do you dare to do it but not admit it? Zhao Hong, you're a scoundrel!" Zhao Hong threw the book in her hand at Lu Chengming's face, her eyes red, and ran into the house after saying that.
Zhao Hong had indirectly admitted it, and Lu Chengming was speechless. But he quickly reacted and looked at Chen Lishu with a dark gaze: "You did this, didn't you?" Da Feng Novel Network
Chen Lishu spread her hands: "What did I do? The handwriting is clearly yours. Don't be a man who dares to do but not admit it. Think about it, Zhao Hong fought for you. Your relationship is really good."
After speaking, ignoring Lu Chengming's face, which looked like an overturned palette, she secretly winked at Xu Ning, then greeted the branch secretary and the team leader, and Chen Lishu walked home lightly.
...
The next day after breakfast, the Gu family went to work. Chen Lishu and Gu Xingping stayed at home to make 'false collars'.
"Third sister-in-law, my skills are only good enough to sew a flower." Gu Xingping looked at the dress pattern she had drawn several times without success and, feeling defeated, dropped the chalk and stopped.
Chen Lishu stopped the sewing machine, turned her head, and smiled: "Who was it that confidently said such a simple thing couldn't stump Miss Gu?"
Gu Xingping glared at her: "Are you still my sister-in-law, just saying sarcastic things?"
"If you can't do it, you don't have to force yourself. How about I give you three yuan for this 'false collar' like Brother Zhou? You've been to the surrounding factories and are familiar with them. What do you think?"
Gu Xingping's spirits immediately lifted upon hearing her words, changing her previous dejection: "Third sister-in-law, are you serious?"
Chen Lishu teased: "Now you call me sister-in-law?"
Gu Xingping said with a smile: "You are my third brother's wife, so aren't you my sister-in-law? You are my best third sister-in-law."
"Don't try to flatter me," Chen Lishu smiled and continued her work.
In the late afternoon, as Xu Ning was invited to their home for dinner, and thinking she wouldn't have much to eat at the educated youth point, Chen Lishu specifically went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some meat.
Seeing Zhang Xiaoju, she suddenly thought of Gu Xingye's feelings. She didn't know if he had confessed to her, but seeing Zhang Xiaoju's natural attitude towards her, Chen Lishu guessed that he probably hadn't.
After buying the meat, Chen Lishu returned home and made shredded pork with green peppers, tomatoes with sugar, and also stir-fried greens and shredded potatoes with vinegar.
"Why is it so rich today?" Li Xiulan asked, looking at the four dishes on the table when she returned from work.
"Mom, I made plans with Xu Ning to invite her over for dinner yesterday. You know the food at the educated youth point, so I made a bit more."
Li Xiulan nodded: "I see that child is also quite thin. It's not easy for a young girl to be away from home."
Liu Yuemin pouted when she heard Xu Ning was coming: "It's just to mooch a meal. Don't they know how precious grain is now? And the family's conditions aren't that good. Third sister-in-law, you sure know how to pretend to be generous."
Before Chen Lishu could speak, Li Xiulan had already started scolding: "Second daughter-in-law, do you think before you speak? Who is mooching? I think you're the one mooching! The meat and sugar were all bought and prepared by your third sister-in-law. Eat if you have food, and if you keep talking nonsense, you'll have to cook your own meals starting tomorrow."
Since they had separated the family, she saw that this second daughter-in-law was becoming more and more unreasonable. Not only did she not cook every day, but after every meal, she would retreat to her room and do nothing.
"I'm just kindly reminding you." It was much easier to come back and eat ready-made meals, and even have meat occasionally. Liu Yuemin was afraid of cooking her own food and muttered a few words before obediently staying silent.
When Xu Ning arrived, she saw Chen Lishu had made four dishes and felt a bit constrained: "Why did you make so much? I would have brought something if I had known."
"What to bring? Just come to my house with your mouth open. If you're so polite, then go back," Chen Lishu said, feigning anger.
Xu Ning couldn't help but retort in a low voice: "It's clearly you being polite, making so many dishes."
Chen Lishu pushed the rice bowl towards her: "If I were polite, I'd make ten or eight dishes, do you believe me?"
Xu Ning couldn't help but laugh: "Ten or eight dishes? Look how capable you are."
After the meal, Li Xiulan didn't need Chen Lishu to clean up and directly urged her to take Xu Ning back to her room.
This was Xu Ning's first time entering Chen Lishu's room. Although it wasn't large, it was decorated very warmly, making her a little envious: "My family lives in the dormitory building my father allocated. Six or seven people squeezed into a room of twenty or thirty square meters, and it was hard to even turn around. It's much more spacious after coming to the countryside."
"When the college entrance examination is restored, life will get better," Chen Lishu said, moving a stool for her to sit down. Xu Ning smiled and nodded: "So let's all work hard together."
Then, she first explained the problems she didn't understand to Chen Lishu. The two of them then studied for a while before Xu Ning got up to leave as it got dark.
The next day, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingping got up early. Today was the day they had agreed with Zhou Bin to pick up the goods. After two days of work, she had made a total of forty-three 'false collars'.
The sisters-in-law went to the town. Not long after returning to their rented accommodation, Zhou Bin arrived.