The Educated Youth didn’t really interact much with the villagers, so sitting together would be awkward.

Li Hongmei suggested it would be better for the Educated Youth to sit together.

It would be just like their usual mealtimes.

Yun Hao and Hu Ziqiang had no objections.

They walked slowly and registered late, so by the time they arrived, the table for the male Educated Youth was already full.

Chen JianShe arranged for the two of them to sit at the table next to the male Educated Youth. Hu Ziqiang went ahead and, after a moment’s thought, left an empty seat for Li Fenggu.

Li Fenggu hadn’t arrived yet, but Li Hongmei rushed over and sat down in that very seat.

Yun Hao: ...

Hu Ziqiang: ...

The seat Li Hongmei had chosen was right between the two of them.

Yun Hao furrowed his brows.

He wanted to get up and switch seats, but someone immediately sat down in the spot next to him.

Yun Hao pursed his lips. ...

Li Hongmei’s face was flushed with shyness. It was the first time she had been this close to Yun Hao. If she shifted just a little, she could touch his arm.

To avoid being too obvious, Li Hongmei couldn’t help but prop up the side of her face closest to Yun Hao with her hand and smile as she looked to her side.

That smile was met by Hu Ziqiang on her other side.

Hu Ziqiang felt a headache coming on.

’This Li Hongmei... she’s so determined to pursue me that she’s disregarding her own reputation. To think she’d actually sit between two men.’

’She’s already gone this far. I really can’t bear to hurt a girl who loves me so deeply.’

The moment Li Hongmei saw Hu Ziqiang, the smile on her face instantly vanished.

’I was so focused on Yun Hao just now, I didn’t even notice Hu Ziqiang next to me.’

’This man has a crush on me. He’s always looking for chances to get close to me, not even passing up an opportunity at a feast. But there’s no way I could ever like Hu Ziqiang.’

After some thought, Li Hongmei decided to shatter his illusions about her.

"You know, things in this world are never perfect. Many things don’t go as you wish, and that includes some people. Hu Ziqiang, you should pursue your own happiness."

’I am the woman Hu Ziqiang can never have. The one I like is Yun Hao. Hu Ziqiang should find a woman who likes him back.’

Hu Ziqiang fell silent upon hearing this.

’I can’t believe Li Hongmei is this bold, hinting that I should pursue her in front of so many people. How should I respond?’

’Rejecting her in front of everyone seems too damaging to a girl’s pride.’

After some thought, Hu Ziqiang spoke.

"Comrade Li Hongmei, the world is vast and the scenery is beautiful. They say kindred spirits find each other. As friends, we can actually go further."

His meaning was that the two of them could be friends at best. Even if Li Hongmei liked him, he didn’t like her!

Li Hongmei’s face turned crimson. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’What is this man talking about? He wants to see the world’s scenery with me, and he wants to be my boyfriend?’

’Why won’t he just give up!’

’The one I like is Yun Hao, so why is this Hu Ziqiang so in love with me!’

’He loves me so much he’d make such a declaration. What am I supposed to do?’

Everyone: ...

’What on earth are these two talking about?’

It was enough to make one’s ears burn just listening to them.

The accountant’s wife, who was sitting nearby, even pulled an Educated Youth aside to ask her.

"In school, is this the kind of stuff you all learn?"

It sounded all scholarly and rather pleasant, with all those little phrases, but it was also enough to make her ears burn. If you asked her to say it, she couldn’t; the words would burn her tongue.

That Educated Youth quickly waved her hands. "No, we learn proper subjects."

’We are cultured Educated Youth! We can’t let this aunty think we spend all day talking about this kind of stuff. It’s simply disgraceful!’

To convince the woman, the Educated Youth immediately wrote down a few equations and solved them for her to see, trying to clear her name.

The accountant’s wife had no interest in equations. Her head was spinning just listening. When she saw the Educated Youth was about to explain it to her, she got scared and immediately waved her hands.

"No need, no need! I believe you learn proper subjects."

After saying that, her eyes couldn’t help but stare back at Hu Ziqiang and Li Hongmei.

’I wonder what other improper things they’re going to say.’

Having cleared her name, the Educated Youth also carefully perked up her ears, intending to hear what other disgraceful things the two might say.