It was impossible for him to complete such a large amount of work alone; Qiao Ci must have contributed significantly.
Thinking of Qiao Ci, Lu Ming looked at Li Wushuang, who was slightly bent over and hadn't moved for a long time, and couldn't help but frown.
Compared to Qiao Ci, a genuine rich girl from the city, Li Wushuang, a girl who grew up in the fields, seemed overly delicate.
Lu Ming looked at the boundless fields, tugged at his collar, and a baseless sense of annoyance and heat surged in his heart.
Zhou Ye arrived in the city with Qiao Ci around noon. The civil affairs bureau staff were on their lunch break, so the two had to wait until 2 p.m. to return.
Thinking that Zhou Ye hadn't eaten, Qiao Ci took him to a restaurant and ordered a few dishes.
Zhou Ye touched the few meager bills in his other pocket, calculating if the money was enough to pay for the meal.
Looking at the exquisite and delicious food served, Zhou Ye's lips tightened into a straight line. Cough, cough, the money in his pocket was probably not enough.
However, he was really hungry. As soon as the food was served, after Qiao Ci picked up her chopsticks, he ate ravenously.
Qiao Ci rarely saw her "cub" so down on his luck. She didn't eat much herself, only constantly served him food. Every time she served Zhou Ye, he would smile sheepishly at her and then continue to eat heartily.
It felt a little bit obedient.
After the meal, when Qiao Ci paid the bill, Zhou Ye handed his 1 yuan and 8 jiao to Qiao Ci: "From now on, you'll manage the money in our family. I'll find a way to earn money to support you."
Thinking of earning money, he remembered what he had told Qiao Ci earlier about wanting to join the army. Joining the army didn't seem to earn much money...
However, by doing more work, he could get more allowances. Anyway, he was young and had endless energy.
He secretly vowed to work hard and not let her suffer with him. She would have whatever others had.
Qiao Ci didn't stand on ceremony and took back his 2 yuan and 8 jiao. After paying, she saw that it was almost time and waited directly at the civil affairs bureau.
Taking photos, filling out forms, and getting the certificate were all done in one go.
Throughout the process, Zhou Ye was in a daze. He just remembered whatever the staff told him to do, for fear of doing something wrong. He tried his best to do his best.
Qiao Ci held the red booklet and looked at Zhou Ye. The handsome man's brows and eyes had a rare gentleness, and his forced smile revealed his clean white teeth.
He was quite cute.
Seeing Qiao Ci's fingers brush over the eyebrows and eyes in his photo, Zhou Ye coughed dryly: "We're married now. I'll make sure you have a good life."
Although she felt he had reversed his words, Qiao Ci gave him a very accommodating "mm-hmm" and replied, "Let's go home."
Home?
Hearing these two words, Zhou Ye felt an ineffable emotion. Then his lips curved into a big smile, and he said in a clear voice, "Okay, let's go home."
Before leaving, the two bought some more things, then got into the car and returned to Longtian Village.
It was already dark when they returned.
Zhou Ye thought that since they were husband and wife now, they would be living together tonight, and he felt a faint anticipation.
Although they had received their certificate, he didn't know if Qiao Ci was willing to make it public immediately. She was a educated youth from the city, and he was just an orphan with an unknown father.
If her parents knew their daughter had been "abducted" by him, would they be angry and want to beat him to death...
Moreover, he hadn't even given her a wedding yet, and they had gotten their certificate so haphazardly...
In just this short while, countless thoughts flashed through Zhou Ye's nervous mind. He never knew he could overthink things like a woman, but he didn't dislike this feeling.
Unexpectedly, when Qiao Ci got close to her lodging, she said goodbye to Zhou Ye: "See you tomorrow."
Zhou Ye extended his awkward hand, reached out a little in front of him, and said dryly, "See... you tomorrow."
Then he fled back to his small courtyard as if escaping.
Looking at his bare walls, Zhou Ye was glad Qiao Ci hadn't moved in. Otherwise, with such a dirty and messy environment, she, a delicate educated youth, would surely not be used to it.
He took out the little red booklet and happily looked at it a few times. Then Zhou Ye carefully put it into a small box and rolled up his sleeves, preparing for a thorough cleaning.
Looking at the newly bought bedding, pillowcases, and toiletries, Zhou Ye was full of fighting spirit. Even if the conditions were not ideal now, he had to make Qiao Ci comfortable!
Lu Ming came out for some fresh air and happened to see Qiao Ci and Zhou Ye returning with a large pile of things. After Zhou Ye left, he went up and knocked on Qiao Ci's door.
When she opened the door and saw it was Lu Ming, Qiao Ci frowned, her voice carrying obvious displeasure: "Is there something?"
"Yes, come out for a moment. It's not convenient to talk here." There were people around, and it was inconvenient to say certain things, Lu Ming whispered.
"There's nothing inconvenient. Let's talk here." Qiao Ci wouldn't go out with him. Things were already unclear before, and now she was a married woman, so she naturally couldn't give anyone a chance to gossip. "If you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, leave quickly. You're delaying my sleep."
"Qiao Ci, you weren't like this before." Lu Ming disliked Qiao Ci's impatient attitude. She used to be gentle and shy with him.
Not like now, being as hard as a wooden stick.
"How I am has nothing to do with you. If you have nothing, get lost, okay?" Qiao Ci looked at him with disdain, as if she were looking at some useless trash.
"Regarding Shuangshuang and me, it's true that I wronged you first." Lu Ming said this in a low voice, then continued,
"But you can't just give up on yourself like this. Zhou Ye has a bad background and family circumstances. Getting involved with him will only ruin you. You won't win me back by degenerating like this. Think about it yourself."
"Is there something wrong with your head?" Qiao Ci pointed to his head.
"...What?" Lu Ming looked at Qiao Ci in disbelief. The usually gentle and shy Qiao Ci would actually scold him?
"I said you have a problem with your brain, go to the hospital and get it checked. Your house isn't by the sea, yet you dare to be so nosy? Without a decade of brain disease, you wouldn't be able to say such things that even dogs would shake their heads at. Bye." Qiao Ci unleashed a barrage of insults and closed the door.
Lu Ming, furious, went to knock on the door. Qiao Ci's voice was cold: "If you knock again, I'll beat you into a vegetative state, understand?"
At this moment, the other educated youths around started pointing and discussing him. Lu Ming clenched his fists and could only leave first.
Good advice cannot persuade a damned fool. He had already warned her. Whatever happens to her from now on is none of his business.
He just needed to complete his down-to-the-countryside task.
Seeing Lu Ming leave, Little Spoon breathed a sigh of relief. If it hadn't stopped her just now, the host's iron fist would definitely have landed on Lu Ming's shameless face.
Fortunately, the host's disposition was already quite gentle. If it were at the beginning, without a good beating, Lu Ming wouldn't have been able to walk out of here upright.