Chapter 10: My Life’s Inherent Carelessness

“Son, why don’t you marry Sun Pan’er? I see she’s devoted to you, just graduated from high school, looks fairly neat and tidy, and is diligent with her work…”

Zhang Caifeng was utterly exhausted, fearing that if she continued pushing, more trouble would arise.

Besides, in her heart, Lu Youyou was not a good match—flirtatious and weak, unable to shoulder a burden or carry a load. Marrying her home would be like worshiping a statue.

Sun Pan’er had been here for three years. Though she couldn’t compare to the countryside girls who had worked since childhood, she could still earn six or seven fen a day, unlike those lazy ones who barely made enough to support themselves by year’s end.

Gu Shuchen remained silent. Zhang Caifeng wracked her brain, trying to persuade him further.

“You’re about to take the exam to become a commune teacher; you can’t afford any disruptions at such a critical moment.”

Gu Shuchen clenched his fists, breathing heavily, but for the sake of the commune position, he had to endure no matter what.

That night, Zhang Caifeng escorted Sun Pan’er back to the educated youth dormitory. She didn’t want to see the “bad luck star,” so she left without entering.

However, none of this dampened Sun Pan’er’s spirits. She entered the room with a radiant smile, sneezing as she went.

Everyone gathered around, chattering to learn the news. Despite her heavy nasal voice, Sun Pan’er’s smile never faded.

“Comrade Gu Shuchen and I are engaged. We’ll invite everyone to our wedding banquet!”

Lu Youyou popped a vitamin tablet into her mouth and sucked on a piece of ginger candy, moving to the spot farthest from the source of infection.

Some people caught colds but found love—truly, congratulations were in order.

The next morning, Lu Youyou got up and, once again, pretended to go gather pig grass when she suddenly heard someone call her name.

“Comrade Lu Youyou, there’s a telegram for you.”

Stars seemed to sparkle in Lu Youyou’s eyes—finally, the postman had arrived!

After many young educated youths were sent to the countryside, letters and packages were rare, let alone telegrams. Curious onlookers slowed their pace on the way to work.

In the 1970s, a telegram was just a single sheet of paper, openly visible to anyone who unfolded it.

Lu Youyou grabbed the thin slip before anyone else, smiling gratefully at the postman.

The young postman blushed deeply and pulled out an even thinner sheet.

“This remittance slip is yours too.”

Lu Youyou thanked him again. The young man’s face turned redder as he murmured, “Serving the people,” while the bicycle bell tinkled in the air.

Lu Youyou hadn’t expected Gu Qingye to be so considerate, even sending money for the train ticket.

Upon closer inspection, the telegram was written like a letter, opening with a twenty-some-character apology.

“Comrade Lu, is there an emergency at home?”

“Such a long telegram must be important, right?”

“What could it be? If it were serious, there wouldn’t be a remittance.”

Lu Youyou covered herself well, leaving the onlookers to speculate wildly, tinged with faint jealousy. After all, when she arrived, she came with large bundles and lived comfortably among the educated youth.

Only Sun Pan’er guessed the truth—both telegram and remittance could only mean Gu’s eldest brother in the military.

Among all in Qiaoshan Village, she was the one most eager for Lu Youyou to leave, hoping she wouldn’t delay even a single day.

“It must be Lu’s fiancé. Are they about to get married? Congratulations!”

This was the gentlest tone Sun Pan’er had ever used, usually reserved only when speaking to Gu Shuchen.

Wang Shuhui clapped her hands to gather everyone’s attention.

“Alright, don’t be late for work. If you have business, Comrade Lu, go ask the team leader for leave.”

Though Lu Youyou never outright denied the village rumors, witnessing this scene firsthand struck the educated youths deeply.

The earliest batches with connections had returned to the city; those without support and unable to endure had married off. No one truly wished to stay in the countryside for life, but there was no choice—the days were too harsh.

Some didn’t believe in fate and persevered year after year; others, like Sun Pan’er, had fixed their sights on a “prized catch” and refused to let go.

But someone like Lu Youyou, who found an officer fiancé within a month and could marry and follow the army, even the most steadfast couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.

With so many discussing, the gossip spread quickly. Having been overshadowed by Sun Pan’er’s moment, Lu Youyou once again topped the village gossip charts.

In the team office, Gu’s father smoked a dry tobacco pipe, silently staring at the application before him.

This was Lu Youyou’s first private encounter with him since arriving.

Though Zhang Caifeng and Gu Shuchen were the ones making a scene publicly, Gu’s father could not have been unaware of their actions, revealing him to be a cold-hearted scoundrel.

To have been team leader in Qiaoshan Village for so many years, he must be adept at pretending—perhaps the villagers had hopes for the promising young officer in the Gu family. Yet, the whole family was corrupt to the core.

“Team Leader, the marriage report from Brother Gu has been approved. Please sign and stamp the application. I need to go to the commune office this afternoon to handle the procedures. Also, could you provide a letter of introduction?”

Lu Youyou adopted a businesslike tone; both sides understood that maintaining a facade of peace was the last shred of dignity.

The team leader squinted, took another drag of his pipe, his weathered face full of reluctance.

“Comrade Lu, the documents haven’t reached me yet. It might be difficult to issue the letter of introduction. Why don’t you check what paperwork is missing and come back once everything’s complete?”

So the old man was just waiting, intent on making things difficult if he couldn’t block her outright.

When Gu Qingye had no news, she could endure. Now that the procedural issues were resolved, Lu Youyou wasn’t afraid at all.

“I thought Gu Shuchen wanted me to leave quickly. Why is your family divided on this?”

The team leader’s brow twitched.

“What do you mean? What does this have to do with Shuchen?”

Lu Youyou was blunt.

“I’m a carefree person who loves to blurt things out. If I get upset someday and accidentally reveal some of Gu Shuchen’s secrets…”

The team leader’s aged face stiffened for a moment. His wife had told him the young girl knew nothing—how could she?

“Comrade Lu, you jest. What secrets could Shuchen have?”

“So about Gu Shuchen’s trip to the county hospital…”

“Enough!”

Lu Youyou smiled, welcoming the interruption. Even mentioning that scoundrel’s name multiple times felt like tarnishing her own mouth.

“Comrade Lu is an educated person. You’ve surely heard the saying, ‘Harmony in the family leads to success in all endeavors,’ right?”

They say an essential skill for officials is thick skin; even a minor official like the team leader was a master at it.

When needed, Gu Qingye was family and his wife was obliged to treat the family well. When not needed, the eldest son was just a useful tool, a source of grain and remittance slips that could benefit the family even after death.

Lu Youyou was somewhat disgusted but, seeing the scoundrel father reluctantly sign and stamp, decided to endure five more minutes and save her revenge for after leaving.

After leaving the team office, Lu Youyou headed straight to the branch secretary’s home.

The branch secretary’s daughter had just graduated high school that year, with good grades and a pleasant disposition.

The position of commune teacher was perfect for such an ambitious and promising young person; as for that scoundrel, he could stay wherever he felt most comfortable.