If Gu Qiu hadn't been quick-eyed and deft-handed, Cong Tong might have fallen into the water and choked to death.
When he carefully examined the suspicious thing on Cong Tong's body, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
...
After trying hard to calm himself down, Gu Qiu finally managed to free his hand and carefully pinched that damn leech.
He gritted his teeth and pulled it hard.
"Ah—"
Cong Tong woke up at this moment. Seeing Gu Qiu's appearance, she asked warily, "What are you doing?"
Gu Qiu shook the leech in his hand, and a black hair was swaying in his hand.
Cong Tong's face changed drastically. Gu Qiu noticed something was wrong and took a closer look. Damn it! What an embarrassing situation!
"I didn't mean it!"
In a hurry, Gu Qiu explained.
Of course, Cong Tong knew that he didn't mean it, but in this situation, the more he explained, the more embarrassing it would be.
Gu Qiu was quite sensible and said, "You put on your clothes first. I'll wait for you over there."
It took a full half an hour for Cong Tong to come out after putting on her clothes.
The clothes that hadn't dried completely and the underwear that could still be squeezed out water were very uncomfortable to wear. But it was much better than being poisoned by the caterpillars on the mountain just now.
On the way back, Cong Tong kept her head down and walked forward, not daring to look directly at Gu Qiu's eyes at all. Gu Qiu was also too embarrassed to greet her again, and the atmosphere along the way was really strange.
Cong Tong secretly blamed herself in her heart. She should have known better than to be so curious and follow him into this big mountain. Now that such a thing had happened, how could she face others in the future?
Gu Qiu also thought to himself that he was really embarrassed today. Finally, he met a girl he liked, but now it was so awkward. I'm afraid they wouldn't even dare to meet each other in the future.
Damn it, God! Aren't you playing tricks on people?
Just as they were about to return to the entrance of the village, Xie Buyuan appeared out of nowhere. When he saw Cong Tong, he shouted excitedly, "Tongtong! Tongtong!"
When Cong Tong saw Xie Buyuan, she didn't answer and walked over angrily.
Xie Buyuan was a bit puzzled, "What's going on?"
Gu Qiu, who was lagging behind, finally caught up. Xie Buyuan shouted at Gu Qiu, "Who are you? Did you bully her?"
Gu Qiu didn't know Xie Buyuan, but he could vaguely guess the relationship between the two. Cong Tong already had a boyfriend? This was really a pity.
He ignored Xie Buyuan and walked straight ahead.
It was six or seven miles from Luojiachong to the township government, and they could only walk.
Cong Tong had already walked ahead, and Xie Buyuan caught up. "Hey, I'm asking you a question!"
Gu Qiu glanced at him and said, "Which law stipulates that I must answer when you ask me a question?"
Xie Buyuan was so angry that he rushed up and raised his hand to hit Gu Qiu, "Damn it! You brat, you're tired of living!"
Gu Qiu grabbed his wrist and squeezed harder and harder, making it impossible for Xie Buyuan to move at all. Cong Tong heard the noise behind her and stopped to shout, "Are you done yet?"
Gu Qiu let go of Xie Buyuan. Xie Buyuan glared at Gu Qiu and chased after Cong Tong, "Who is he?"
Cong Tong stopped and stared at him sideways, "What do you mean? Do you want to quarrel?"
Surprisingly, Xie Buyuan was defeated by Cong Tong's imposing manner. He drooped his head dejectedly and said, "I'm just worried about you. Did this brat bully you?"
"It's none of your business."
Cong Tong was very unfriendly.
Xie Buyuan was so angry that he stamped his feet and said, "Cong Tong, you don't have to be so mean to me. Our relationship is arranged by fate, and no one can change it."
Cong Tong got angry. Her eyebrows stood up, and she pointed ahead and shouted, "Get lost, Xie Buyuan! Get lost!"
It was okay if he didn't mention this matter. Once he mentioned it, Cong Tong's emotions became extremely excited.
Xie Buyuan didn't dare to lose his temper in front of Cong Tong. He gave Gu Qiu a resentful look, snorted and said, "You brat, remember this!" Then he turned around and left.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
Gu Qiu walked with Cong Tong. Perhaps the appearance of Xie Buyuan had diluted the previous embarrassment. Cong Tong still held her hands in front of her chest, pulling at the shirt without buttons.
"Sort of, but not really."
"What's going on?"
Gu Qiu didn't understand. Cong Tong's answer was ambiguous.
Cong Tong raised her head, biting her lip, "Our two families are very close. He and I grew up together since childhood. Suddenly one day, they proposed to match us together."
There was a faint sense of helplessness in Cong Tong's tone.
This made Gu Qiu think of Chen Yan for no reason.
Perhaps people's lives are always full of many helplessness. It is precisely these involuntary decisions that create the bumps and hardships in life.
When you struggle desperately, you may overcome these difficulties, or you may fall into decline.
Throughout history, marriages arranged by parents' orders and matchmaker's words have ruined countless beautiful love stories. Even in today's society, whether in the civil society or within the system, the practice of forming alliances for various purposes still emerges in an endless stream.
Even in this small county town of Anping, such a thing could happen. Gu Qiu couldn't help but feel a bit regretful, "What's his background?"
Cong Tong said softly, "The Xie family."
"The son of Director Xie from the Investment Promotion Office?"
Gu Qiu asked in surprise.
Cong Tong nodded, "He's the son of Xie Bisheng, who is your immediate superior. His uncle is Secretary Tang, the top leader of the county Party committee."
Gu Qiu slapped himself hard.
The world is really too small. How could it be such a coincidence?
He was sent away by Xie Bisheng because of Chen Yan's matter. Who would have thought that in this remote mountainous area, he could still meet the daughter-in-law that Xie Bisheng had arranged for his son? Thinking of the ambiguous things that happened between them, Gu Qiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Xie Bisheng, Xie Bisheng, you've lost more than you gained.
You didn't succeed in getting Chen Yan, but instead got your future daughter-in-law involved.