For a moment, my feelings were a bit complicated. "We already agreed that I was going to introduce her to you, but this little girl... No, I have to find a chance to talk to someone about it."
Shen Wuqiu felt a strange tightness in her chest. She thought it was because she was thirsty, so she put down the food container in her hand, opened a bottle of water, took a small sip, and then didn't want to drink anymore.
Seeing her sullen expression, Zhao Jiujiu assumed she was jealous. "See? You were being stubborn with me before, saying you weren't interested in him. Now that you see how popular he is, you're feeling uneasy, aren't you?"
“…I didn’t,” Shen Wuqiu insisted. “My aunt just likes to impose her own ideas on me.”
Zhao Jiujiu scoffed at her, speaking bluntly in front of Daiying, and said in a low voice, "Let me tell you, Lingyu is innocent and lively. It's one thing if she doesn't please her parents, but don't blame your aunt for not warning you, nowadays men like her type, she's beautiful and innocent, and easy to get along with."
Her words were like adding fuel to the fire for Shen Wuqiu, making her feel even more suffocated. "Aunt, please stop talking."
There's a right balance to this kind of thing: when you push things along, you have to be careful with the timing and the level of intensity. If you push too hard at once, it'll backfire.
Daiying interjected, "Alright, alright, stop talking. Wuqiu must be tired from standing for so long. Why don't you go sit down and rest over there?"
"No need, I need to talk to Uncle Zheng about something and then I'll head back." Shen Wuqiu waved her hand, just in time to see Uncle Zheng walking towards them, so she stopped chatting with them.
She had something important to say, so Zhao Jiujiu didn't say much more, only asking, "When we get back, I'll drive you home?"
Shen Wuqiu: "No need, I'll just ride in Dad's tricycle."
Zhao Jiujiu: "The tricycle isn't comfortable to sit in, so why don't you have your dad drive it back?"
Shen Wuqiu: "Then how will you get back later?"
Zhao Jiujiu: "I'll drive them back in my tricycle."
Shen Wuqiu nodded and did not refuse. Just then, Uncle Zheng came over, and she took the opportunity to tell him about Boss Zhang's order for bayberries.
Uncle Zheng: "After we've picked enough for Boss Wang, should we come to pick the rest this evening, or first thing tomorrow morning?"
Shen Wuqiu thought for a moment: "They won't be fresh if left out overnight, let's pick them tomorrow. Let's hire a few more people and get to work earlier tomorrow."
Uncle Zheng thought so too, "Okay then."
After discussing it with others, Shen Wuqiu called for her father to go home.
Because they have to pick bayberries before dawn tomorrow, Uncle Zheng will sleep in the makeshift shed built in the bayberry orchard. Zheng Xinghe doesn't plan to go back either, and will just squeeze into the shed with his father.
When Mr. Shen found out about this, he scolded the two of them: "This shed is just for people to rest temporarily. These days, when the bayberries are ripe, we need someone to keep watch at night. There's no other way. Xiao Zheng can't stay there. It just so happens that Junjun went back to the company, so let Xiao Zheng sleep in his room."
Just then, Shen Wujun returned to the company, and his room became available, so Shen's father let the father and son stay in that room.
Uncle Zheng waved his hand in refusal: "That won't do."
Unlike the city, everyone in the village lives their lives with their doors open, so there's a lot of gossip. Zheng Xinghe is an unmarried young man, and Shen Wuqiu is an unmarried young woman. If they let someone stay overnight, it's bound to cause controversy.
Mr. Chen waved his hand: "Why not? I know what you're thinking. Society is more open-minded now, and there aren't so many rules. Xiao Zheng, don't go to the bayberry orchard with your dad. Sleep at home tonight."
Zheng Xinghe smiled and declined, saying, "It's been many years since I've had a proper chat with my dad. Tonight, we can have a long talk by candlelight."
Zhao Jiujiu couldn't help but sigh again, "Look at this child, how pleasant his words are."
After saying that, she looked at Gu Lingyu as if possessed, and sure enough, she saw the person rolling their eyes at her in a sarcastic tone.
See? This young girl is already smitten!
No, I have to talk to someone about it.
There are plenty of good men in the world, why does this young girl have to fall for Qiuqiu's man?
So, that very night, Zhao Jiujiu followed Gu Lingyu into her room.
"Lingyu, your aunt has something she wants to talk to you about."
Gu Lingyu looked at her, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating, and asked curiously, "What does Auntie want to tell me?"
Looking into the boy's innocent, wide eyes, Zhao Jiujiu hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "What do you think of Xiao Zheng?"
Gu Lingyu's expression instantly changed: "Not good at all."
Zhao Jiujiu looked at her with a serious expression: "Tell your aunt the truth."
Gu Lingyu stared at her toes, thought for a while, and then reluctantly said, "Okay, he's a good person."
Zhao Jiujiu's heart sank instantly. See? She knew it; this girl had feelings for someone. "Well… your aunt was young once too, and knows that in life, you meet many people and like many people. You're still young… there's no need to rush things… maybe it's just…"
Gu Lingyu blinked at her and said, "Auntie, I definitely won't like many people. I will only like one person in my life. Once I've chosen someone during my heat, I won't change my mind."
Zhao Jiujiu: "..."
Chapter 62, Second Update
After staring at her for a full two minutes, Zhao Jiujiu swallowed hard, moistening her dry throat, and choked out three words with mixed feelings: "Heat?"
Gu Lingyu nodded, then, remembering something, took the initiative to explain to her, "Oh, Auntie might not know, but the estrus period I'm talking about is the period when one seeks a mate to mate and reproduce."
Of course she knows what heat is!
But... she felt like she was starting to not understand the little girl anymore.
Zhao Jiujiu was completely speechless at this moment, staring blankly at her. After a long while, she finally stammered, "So, according to you, you're not planning to give up?"
Gu Lingyu tilted her head and thought for a moment, still feeling a little confused, "Give up what?"
“Give up…the person you like during your heat?” Zhao Jiujiu said this with unusual difficulty.
Gu Lingyu nodded firmly, looked at her seriously, and then took her hand. "Aunt, although I know Zheng Xinghe is a decent person, I'm a decent person too. So, Aunt, you certainly won't let this good fortune go to outsiders, right?"
Zhao Jiujiu thought to herself, how can this not be called "keeping the good stuff in the family"? If we really have to divide people by kinship, then Gu Lingyu is the outsider, isn't she?
However, the little girl looked up at her, her eyes filled with sincerity and earnestness, almost overflowing with light.
What an adorable girl!
It's really hard to refuse.
But then I thought about my own niece, and she's such a wonderful girl.
Zhao Jiujiu took a deep breath and turned her face away. "These days, it's not just about parental consent and matchmaker's words. The most important thing is that both of you are willing. If it's just wishful thinking on your part, it won't work."
Upon hearing this, Gu Lingyu's face immediately lit up with joy, thinking that she had relented. She immediately assured her, "Don't worry, Aunt, I will definitely try my best."
"..." She had already said so much, Zhao Jiujiu really couldn't bring herself to be ruthless, and she also felt guilty towards her niece Qiuqiu, so she secretly brushed her hand away and walked out, "Alright, I won't disturb your sleep anymore."
Gu Lingyu couldn't understand her complicated and heavy feelings at all. She happily saw her to the door and said goodbye to her affectionately: "Good night, Aunt. I knew you were the best."
Hearing her sweet words, Zhao Jiujiu couldn't help but smile. "Sweet talk."
Gu Lingyu playfully stuck out her tongue. "No."
Zhao Jiujiu: "Since you say I'm the best, then who's number one in your heart?"
Without a second thought, Gu Lingyu replied, "Sister."
Zhao Jiujiu pouted, "You just said I was the best."
Gu Lingyu: "My aunt is the best, and my older sister is the most important."
Zhao Jiujiu pinched her nose, "Couldn't you say something nice to your aunt?"
Gu Lingyu laughed, "I can't lie to my aunt." As she spoke, she leaned close to Zhao Jiujiu's ear and said, "My aunt is now third in my heart."
Zhao Jiujiu: "Second place is still the kids?"
Gu Lingyu nodded, "Don't tell Mother."
Zhao Jiujiu was amused by her furtive little expression, and then, thinking of something, asked, "What about Xiao Zheng?"
That spoils the mood.
Gu Lingyu's expression changed instantly, "He's not important at all."
In Zhao Jiujiu's view, this was clearly just a shy and reserved excuse from a young lady.
My mood, which had just started to relax, became complicated again, and I didn't plan to say anything more to her.
Gu Lingyu didn't pester her for more words. After watching her leave, she couldn't wait to slip into Shen Wuqiu's room.
Seeing that she hadn't turned into a cat by now, Shen Wuqiu was a little puzzled. "Why aren't you going to sign in in front of Dad? He'll start worrying again later."
Gu Lingyu: "I'll go after I finish talking to my sister about this."
Seeing her beaming face, Shen Wuqiu was quite curious. "What good news? You look so happy. You were giving me a hard time at the bayberry garden this morning."
Gu Lingyu ignored her last sentence and said, "Sister, let me tell you, Auntie chatted with me tonight."
Shen Wuqiu: "What did your aunt talk to you about that made you so happy?"
Gu Lingyu was still a little shy. After hesitating for a few seconds, she said, "My aunt agreed to let you marry me. She said that the most important thing for two people to be together is mutual consent, not just one-sided consent."
"..." Shen Wuqiu looked at her strangely, "Are you sure you didn't hear wrong?"
“I’m sure I heard correctly.” Gu Lingyu nodded firmly. “She also asked me what I thought of that guy surnamed Zheng. I said he was a good person, but I also told my aunt that I’m definitely not bad either. You see, when my aunt asked me this, wasn’t she asking me who was more worthy of me, that guy surnamed Zheng or me?”
"..." Shen Wuqiu looked at her with mixed feelings—the communication barrier caused by racial differences was finally not just happening with her. She wondered if her aunt would be furious when she learned about tonight's conversation, given the cat's understanding of the situation.
"Sister, why are you looking at me like that?"
Shen Wuqiu took a deep breath, calming the turmoil in her heart into a calm surface. So, all the words she wanted to say came out as just three simple words: "It's nothing."
Gu Tiehan didn't think much of it. "I really like my aunt now. When we get married, I'll definitely serve her an extra cup of tea."
In their spirit cat clan, the tea served at the clan leader's wedding carries the blessings of the entire clan, and not just anyone is entitled to enjoy it.
Shen Wuqiu's lips twitched. "You're overthinking things."
Gu Lingyu took it as a compliment to her foresight and casually added, "Of course, on the first night I slept with my sister, I had already thought of a name for the child."
"..." Shen Wuqiu didn't want to be curious, but she couldn't help it. "What's your name?"
"Big Mao, Second Mao, Third Mao, Fourth Mao."
"..." Shen Wuqiu didn't want to talk to her anymore, so he pushed her to the door and said, "Go and say hello to your father."
Gu Lingyu still had a lot to say, but she obediently turned into a cat and went to find her father, Shen.
No sooner had she left than Zhao Jiujiu came over and knocked on Chen Wuqiu's door.
This person just has a tendency to join in the fun.
If Zheng Xinghe weren't so sought after, Zhao Jiujiu would have thought he was a good candidate for her nephew-in-law, but there was no need for him to become her nephew-in-law.
But now that she sees the girl is determined to be with him, she feels like she's suffered a huge loss.