She then looked at me and pretended to sigh. "Comrade Lin, I think you're definitely smart. It's just a shame you didn't take the college entrance exam. If you had, maybe you could have gone to university." She feigned great regret. "But it's too late to say anything now."
It was obvious she was clinging to this point and wouldn't let it go.
Ha. Are university students such a big deal now? I sneered inwardly. Is she ever going to stop?
Just then, Lu Jiao finally couldn't take it anymore. He turned his head and looked at Gu Shunyin coldly. "So what if she's not a university student? I'm not a university student either, and I've still managed to get to where I am today, living a good life. Do you think everyone is like you, with a doctor for a father and a university professor for a mother? It wasn't that Lin Yao didn't want to study. She didn't have the means. Now that she has a chance to attend a literacy class, that's a good thing. Why, you seem to really look down on it."
Gu Shunyin immediately retorted. "Brother Lu Jiao, that's completely different. Of course, you fought your way up step by step. You have real ability. Comrade Lin, she's just a woman from the countryside—"
She didn't say the words out loud. She changed the subject. "Besides, what's wrong with my parents? I got into university on my own, not because of them."
Lu Jiao raised an eyebrow and shot back, "On your own?"
Seeing the tension escalating, Auntie Wei kicked Uncle Wang Zhen under the table.
"All right, that's enough from both of you." When Uncle Wang Zhen became serious, he had a natural air of authority. Both of them went quiet. Gu Shunyin was so angry, she just glared at me.
Uncle Wang Zhen said, "Lu Jiao is right. We can't discriminate against comrades who lack education. The country is encouraging learning now. Comrade Lin's active participation is a good thing and should be praised."
Lu Jiao casually patted my head. "Did you hear that? You're being praised. Study hard at school and don't you dare come in last and embarrass me."
I was just about to roll my eyes at him when I heard him continue. "If you want to study, then study. If you can't get into it, don't feel pressured. I don't need a super capable wife. It's enough that I'm capable."
He said it so clearly that I couldn't bring myself to roll my eyes. I was actually quite touched.
Although the meal had a bit of a tense moment, I was actually in a pretty good mood, mainly because when I saw Lu Jiao defending me, the look on Gu Shunyin's face was absolutely priceless. I'm not easily bothered, so I don't care what she says. I was perfectly content.
The only thing that bothered me a little was that after Auntie Wei and Auntie Chen found out I was in the literacy class, the way they looked at me had a certain sizing-up quality to it. But I could understand. If a woman has nothing going for her besides her looks, it's easy for people to see her as just a pretty vase.
Then I thought about having children in the future, and how I can't just rely on Lu Jiao to support me forever. I didn't have a chance before. Now that I have an opportunity, I have to make plans for my own future. A lifetime is so long. Who can guarantee it will always be smooth sailing?
But what can I do? What kind of job should I look for?
I spent the whole ride home thinking about this. Lu Jiao watched me in silence the entire way. He probably thought I was dwelling on what happened at the dinner table.
After we got home, he couldn't hold back any longer. "Lin Yao, I want to tell you something."
I was still thinking about getting a job and didn't even look up. "Go ahead."
"Actually, Comrade Gu and I were set up on a blind date before." His voice was very quiet, his eyes fixed intently on my face.
"Mm." I finally reacted, giving him a cool glance. "Oh, I see."
Lu Jiao saw I wasn't showing any emotion. He seemed a little unsure. "You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad?"
He was speechless. He probably remembered that I'd said before I was only trying to live a peaceful life with him because of the pregnancy. I had no feelings for him. Never mind one Gu Shunyin. Even if there were ten of them, I probably wouldn't have reacted.
Lu Jiao's face instantly darkened. The air around him turned cold. "Fine, as long as you're not mad. Guess I shouldn't have bothered explaining."
After saying that, before I could respond, he walked right past me into the study, leaving me utterly baffled. So, am I supposed to be mad or not?
I realized he was genuinely angry.
Three hours later. We had gotten back from Auntie Wei's house around one or two o'clock, and Lu Jiao had been in the study all afternoon without making a sound. Normally, whenever we were both home, he'd ask me every so often if I was hungry or thirsty.
I lay on the rocking chair in the courtyard reading a book Su Jiayi had lent me, wondering what on earth he was so mad about. Could it be that he was mad because I wasn't mad? What kind of logic is that?
I felt that Gu Shunyin was all in the past. Now that we have a child, there was no need to be petty.
Just as I was about to go inside to comfort him, there was a sudden knock on the main gate.
"Who is it?" I called out.
In the study, Lu Jiao's ears perked up.
Xiao Lu's voice came from outside. "Comrade Lin, it's Xiao Lu from the guard house. We received a call from your family. They said you should call them back right away. It's urgent."
I froze for a second before it hit me. I'd been here for almost half a month, living so comfortably, and I'd nearly forgotten about the mess I left back home.
"Okay, I understand. I'll be right there."
I couldn't be bothered with comforting my husband anymore. I went back to the room, changed into a jacket, and got ready to make the call. Just as I stepped out of the bedroom, I saw the fuming man blocking the doorway.
"I'll take you." His voice was still cold.
I had secretly run away from home to find my husband in the army. And now my family had called.