Transmigration: On the Gossip Front-Chapter 1025 - 1026: The Lonely Village Girl 70

Zhang Yu led the way in front while Xiao Qiao pushed his bicycle from behind.

Regarding the looks from the surrounding neighbors, Zhang Yu was very composed. Her marriage was a focal point of interest for the entire courtyard, or rather, the surrounding neighbors.

Zhang Yu knew well that many were actually waiting to witness her misfortune, and such people were not few.

Now that she had found an excellent partner, it would surely make them furious.

The neighbors in the courtyard, whoever was home, came out to see what her partner looked like. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Through the explanations from family or neighbors, they knew Zhang Yu’s partner looked decent, but they always felt that the women had little knowledge and didn’t know what an excellent young man was.

However, once they saw Xiao Qiao, they didn’t dare to hold that thought anymore, as Xiao Qiao was indeed outstanding, far beyond their understanding.

They couldn’t even imagine whether they could still scheme against Zhang Yu once Xiao Qiao was with her.

Don’t think that just because Zhang Yu lost her temper last time, everyone backed down and wouldn’t plot against the Zhang Family, but had they really given up?

They had just temporarily withdrawn, waiting for a better opportunity.

Now it was different; Zhang Yu worked at the police station, and her boyfriend worked there too—what could they do?

More importantly, they heard a piece of news that Zhang Yu’s boyfriend was a veteran and had even earned merits.

In this era, those who earned merits usually had blood on their hands.

Thinking of this, everyone couldn’t help but be more intimidated. They might scheme against people, but only those easy to bully.

Would they dare to mess with a thug? They didn’t have the guts, let alone with someone who had stained hands, with more than just one person’s blood.

Xiao Qiao found nothing strange about their fearful gazes. Many people backed down after knowing he was a retired veteran with merits earned multiple times.

Especially back then, he couldn’t accept being transferred to civilian life and just let his intimidating aura spread, not caring if it frightened girls away.

Only now, understanding that the transfer was inevitable, he accepted it, though he still occasionally put on a scare.

Like with these neighbors, Xiao Qiao fully understood that a household without a supporting man would be seen as easy prey.

What baffled Xiao Qiao was how Zhang Yu didn’t seem to notice at all—was she just thick-skinned or indifferent?

Zhang Yu didn’t know much; she was just very hungry and wanted to eat quickly to ease herself.

She wasn’t oblivious to the neighbors’ odd behavior, but so what? She had no intention of bothering with their affairs.

Being nicer would only make them think she was easy to bully.

Thus, the couple walked into the middle courtyard, where more people were gathered.

Zhang Yu glanced at the neighbors pretending to wash things by the faucet but didn’t care.

"When our house was renovated, we separately installed the water and electricity meters, so it’s pay-as-you-use."

"Rainy days don’t bother us; we can do laundry at home." Most importantly, ever since the water meter was installed, no matter how much they used, it was less than half of what it used to be.

In contrast, these neighbors kept saying Zhang Yu and her household used too much water and took advantage earlier.

But since they stopped using the communal water source, the neighbors’ water usage hit new heights this month. If they hadn’t locked the faucet, they could have blamed Li Cui for using water.

From Li Cui, Zhang Yu learned there was a good argument about the water fees last month.

Unfortunately, she was at work then and had no idea someone caused a scene.

Even though she wasn’t there, it didn’t matter because she learned all the details from Li Cui.

Zhang Yu found it quite interesting, realizing that such dramas would only increase unless everyone got separate meters.

The people in the middle courtyard didn’t look happy upon hearing Zhang Yu’s words, recalling the water fees they paid last month, which put them in a bad mood.

To avoid losing out, everyone used as much water as possible. Though they hadn’t checked the meter, they knew this month’s bill would surely surpass last month’s.

Thinking about the fees costing each household several dimes, many homemakers felt a pinch.

With per capita spending so low, who would be happy to have such a high water bill?

"How about we conserve a little on water?" One person hesitated, looked at the others, and proposed an idea.

She thought everyone’s dissatisfaction with the high water bills would make them agree to conserve a bit, solving the issue.

Unexpectedly, after she suggested it, no one responded, which left her feeling uncomfortable.

Zhang Yu knew that as soon as this suggestion was made, it would never pass. The people in this courtyard worried that their own households would lose out, so they used as much water as they could.

Zhang Yu reached her own doorstep, "Grandma, we’re back."

Li Cui calculated the time and expected they’d be back soon, "You’re home?"

"Wash your hands, and then we’ll have dinner." Watching the couple come in one after another, Li Cui felt satisfied no matter how she looked at them.

Barring any unexpected issues, once Zhang Yu was old enough, they could go get a marriage certificate, and then they could be together.

Li Cui could already foresee herself being very busy then, busy with taking care of children. Yet, she knew she had to take care of herself well to be of help when future great-grandchildren were born.

To not be a burden to the couple, Li Cui felt that she needed to exercise and keep fit.

Xiao Qiao looked at the food on the table and his eyes reddened, "It’s all my favorite dishes."

Back when his parents were still alive and the battles weren’t so intense, they would find time to eat together as a family, with his parents cooking personally.

During those times, the family dreamed of returning home after liberation.

But then fighting broke out next door, and his parents, already demobilized, donned their uniforms again to fight across the river.

He always thought it would be like before, just a longer wait, and his parents would surely return.

But reality was cruel, and after crossing the river, his parents never returned, not even their graves, which were on the opposite bank.

Zhang Yu noticed Xiao Qiao’s odd mood and gave him a gentle nudge, "What’s wrong with you?"

"I was just remembering when my parents were still around, they would find time to go fishing and cook fish soup or braise it," Xiao Qiao spoke of happy memories.

On such a good day, no one wanted to hear anything that spoiled the mood.

Both Xiao Qiao’s lack of parents and everything else Li Cui knew—she kept patting his hand, "It’s okay, they’re watching over you from above."

Such words, Li Cui also used to comfort Zhang Yu frequently.

Xiao Qiao murmured an agreement, "Yes, they know I’m about to get married, have a caring grandma, and a kindred spirit for a wife."

"They would certainly be happy."