"What's wrong, Jingyao? Was that letter from that scoundrel? How could someone be so shameless? You even mailed him the 'New Marriage Law,' yet he's still clinging to you like a leech."
"No, it was a letter from my younger brother."
Lu Jingyao hurriedly folded the letter, afraid that her two overly "enthusiastic" roommates would see what was written inside.
"No, Jingyao, your expression isn't right. If it were a letter from your brother, you wouldn't look so awful.
Don't be embarrassed. If you have any difficulties, just say so. We can all help you solve them together."
"Exactly! Our way of thinking is bound to clash with those old, vile customs, but that is also our responsibility.
We have a duty to enlighten those ignorant people and help them become open-minded and progressive."
The two roommates chattered on and on, quickly leaving Lu Jingyao utterly at a loss. She finally began to wonder whether accepting the "concern" of these two roommates in the first place had been a mistake.
After coming to the capital for university, Li Ye had written Lu Jingyao one letter a week for several consecutive months, successfully igniting the flames of gossip among the warmhearted sisters in the dormitory.
They were all older young women who had gone up to the mountains and down to the countryside. Their tongues were battle-hardened; how could the still-green Lu Jingyao be any match for them?
After round after round of "loving concern," they had finally coaxed the details of her entanglement with Li Ye out of her.
Lu Jingyao was deeply conflicted. She wanted to escape the cage of her past completely, but she also feared that her family back in Qingshui County would suffer retaliation from the Li family.
When Father Lu had said, "If Li Ye gets into university next year, I won't oppose the two of you," Lu Jingyao had clearly sensed her father's fear and retreat.
And after listening to Lu Jingyao's account, several of her roommates had immediately been filled with "righteous indignation."
In this era when everything was being renewed, how could a university girl, one of heaven's favored children, still endure the moral shackles of that vile old society?
Criticize them. They had to be criticized.
Even if that Li Ye had already agreed to break off the engagement, his family's attitude was far too atrocious. They had to be harshly criticized.
The girls offered scheme after scheme: a letter severing ties, returning the betrothal gifts, a law book. Their combination punches came in a well-ordered set, determined to smash that country toad's daydream to pieces.
Now it seemed that Lu Jingyao's plan had succeeded. Li Ye had demanded back that Phoenix 26 bicycle in public, which was practically an open break with her, a complete severing of ties.
But this was not the outcome Lu Jingyao had wanted!
What Lu Jingyao had originally hoped was that Li Ye could "understand" her, support her "noble and pure freedom," then take the initiative to dissolve the conflicts between the Lu family and the Li family, settling this grievance where no one could say who was right and who was wrong.
Based on Lu Jingyao's understanding of Li Ye, he should have been able to recognize his own mistakes, show a man's sense of responsibility, and persuade the Li family not to pursue the matter.
Only Li Ye could resolve this peacefully and quietly.
But according to the scene described in her brother's letter, Li Ye seemed to have become a complete stranger.
In the tone of her two roommates, that meant this toad simply did not know what was good for him!
As she thought of this, that tall, lean, handsome-to-the-brim toad somehow crept into Lu Jingyao's heart.
Lu Jingyao hurriedly shook her head hard, forcing herself to become rational again.
She did not want to keep entangling herself with Li Ye. She did not want to endure that stifling feeling of being given charity again.
"What's wrong, Jingyao? Don't bottle up your anger. Let Older Sister here see your brother's letter, and we'll give you some ideas."
Lu Jingyao's reaction was like fuel to the flames, making the waters of her two roommates' gossip swell and burn, leaving their hearts itching and sizzling with discomfort.
Lu Jingyao was somewhat irritated, yet she could not bring herself to reject her roommates' good intentions. At that moment, Liu Muhan from the upper bunk suddenly spoke.
"Xu Xue, Ma Li, this is Lu Jingyao's private matter after all. Aren't you two showing a little too much concern?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Xu Xue immediately said, "You city children like you, Liu, simply don't know how unruly country people can be.
If you don't believe me, ask Ma Li. How many Educated Youth who went to the countryside were tricked into giving up their bodies by country people, only to be unable to return to the city and regret it for the rest of their lives?"
"."
Liu Muhan glanced at Xu Xue and Ma Li, then withdrew back into her blankets.
Though she shared a dormitory with Lu Jingyao and the others, a faint barrier had formed between them because of certain differences in their living habits.
She normally did not speak much with her roommates. This time, she simply could not stand by and watch any longer, so she gave Lu Jingyao a reminder. Whether Lu Jingyao listened was still up to her.
Lu Jingyao also seemed to realize something. She said to Xu Xue and Ma Li, "It's nothing. My younger brother wants to take next year's college entrance examination early, so he wrote to ask for my opinion."
He Xue said somewhat skeptically, "Isn't your brother only in his first year of high school? You're letting him take the college entrance examination next year?"
Lu Jingyao smiled. "He studies pretty well. He just wants to give it a try. Even if he doesn't get in, it'll still give him one more round of experience, won't it?"
"That's true."
Only then did He Xue and Ma Li let Lu Jingyao off, chirping away about other news.
Not long after, He Xue suddenly said mysteriously, "Jingyao, did you know? That Qian Shun seems to be interested in you. If you think he's not bad, should I play matchmaker for you?"
Lu Jingyao froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, "No, Sister He. I'm not considering anything besides studying right now."
He Xue sighed. "What a pity. Qian Shun has family background when it comes to family background, and talent when it comes to talent."
Lu Jingyao silently lowered her head, wishing she could cover her ears.
How similar was that Qian Shun to Li Ye?
Both came from well-off families, both spent money with lavish abandon, both possessed that unconscious sense of superiority—and both were...
Other than those two shared traits, the two of them had nothing in common.
Li Ye was one meter eighty; Qian Shun was one meter sixty.
Li Ye had a face so handsome it was beyond compare; Qian Shun had an enormous rosacea nose.
Li Ye's bright eyes were filled with simple admiration, while Qian Shun's gaze sweeping over her made Lu Jingyao feel uncomfortable all over.
Judging by appearance alone, Li Ye could almost receive full marks in Lu Jingyao's eyes, while Qian Shun... was beyond words.
If Li Ye was a toad, then Qian Shun was a buzzing fly.
It was not until the afternoon that Lu Jingyao found a chance to be alone. She spread out some writing paper and wrote a reply to her family.
In the letter, she advised her younger brother to be self-reliant and independent, not to crave vanity. If he had no bicycle, he could walk. As long as his grades were good, books held houses of gold.
But when she reached the end, Lu Jingyao hesitated.
Because she knew her family's circumstances very well. Over the past year, her younger brother Lu Zixue had grown accustomed to Li Ye's "buying him over," and he might not be able to adjust to a simple life in such a short time.
With old mother's habit of doting on her precious son, she might really make Lu Jingyao buy Lu Zixue a bicycle.
And Li Ye's sudden move to reclaim the bicycle would also make the people around them point fingers at the Lu family, stirring up fresh waves in the Lu family, which had only just calmed down.
After thinking for a long time, Lu Jingyao wrote a second letter.
Li Ye, long time no see. The feeling you give me now makes you seem unfamiliar. Where has that kind, magnanimous, responsible man gone?
Give the bicycle back to my younger brother. He is still young and cannot bear rumors and criticism. Don't worry, I will definitely repay you for the bicycle, principal and interest included.
Before you continue