Chapter 17: Beautiful Counterattack

“Isn’t it just a village in the Northeast?”

“Have you studied geography?”

“I…” Ning Yuli became angry. How dared a bumpkin, a village girl, question her like this? She disdainfully retorted, “Whether I study geography or not, what’s it to you?”

“Of course, it matters. If you haven’t studied it, I can teach you; if you have, I can offer you a free review.”

Gu Qiaoqiao seemed quite serious, her clear eyes, however, appeared as if they were smiling.

Chu Chengfeng, who had been lazily looking at jokes, slowly sat up, and the smile at the corner of his mouth gradually faded.

This Gu Qiaoqiao, why is she different from how others described her?

Ning Yuli suddenly stood up, pointing at Gu Qiaoqiao and said harshly, “Bad lands breed tricky people; that is exactly what you are. Don’t think that marrying Brother Ze means you can rise above your station, you’ll never be a city person in this lifetime!”

Why should a village girl become the wife of Brother Ze?

She had liked Qin Yize for almost ten years, someone she revered like a Heavenly God. How could he marry someone else?

And to marry a woman who was inferior to her in so many ways.

She was filled with resentment.

Bai Yun’s eyes shifted, hiding the joy in them. She stood up too, pulling Ning Yuli while softly persuading, “Ning Yuli, your sister-in-law is a bit confused today, don’t lower yourself to her level, I’ll ask her to apologize to you.”

Then she turned to Gu Qiaoqiao and feigned blame, “Sister-in-law, quickly apologize to Ning Yuli.”

Gu Qiaoqiao smiled bitterly in her extreme anger, leaned against the back of the sofa, crossed her legs, and slightly raised her head to look at Ning Yuli. Even in such a posture, there was not a trace of timidity.

She pondered for a moment and then said indifferently, “Pinching the black earth to see oil blossom, even inserting chopsticks makes them sprout, rich in resources, mountains clear and water showy. Not only is it a key base for timber and mineral production in our country, but it is also known as the ‘Eldest Son of the Republic’, the cradle of our country’s industry—the black earth. When did it become poor mountains and bad waters?”

Her voice was not loud; the corners of her mouth even had a light smile, while Ning Yuli above her had a face turning green, mostly in disbelief.

Clearly, she had never expected Gu Qiaoqiao to say such things.

Neither humble nor arrogant, yet every word struck home!

Suddenly, the room fell silent for a moment.

Almost everyone’s gaze fell upon Gu Qiaoqiao.

Scrutiny, suspicion, surprise—various looks intertwined, carrying a scent of swords and shadows.

And Ning Yuli was furious with embarrassment, for it was the first time in her life someone had questioned her like this, and she could feel her ears and face burning.

Her breathing became more rapid.

She stared fixedly at Gu Qiaoqiao’s face, which seemed to be smiling but not really smiling.

Bai Yun’s heart was ambiguous, unclear whether she felt joy or anger, or maybe it was shock.

This version of Gu Qiaoqiao made her feel very unfamiliar.@@novelbin@@

At this moment, she wished Ning Yuli would rush forward and slap Gu Qiaoqiao.

However, clearly, the provocation was insufficient, so she quickly blamed, “Sister-in-law, don’t get worked up, it was just a metaphor that Yuli used, did you misunderstand?”

“Bai Yun, the ancients always said one should read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles. If you’ve read fewer books, then go out more and see the world. The magnificent and broad landscape of our motherland, with its vastness and wealth, definitely won’t let one become a frog in a well.”

“Gu Qiaoqiao, who are you calling?” Ning Yuli asked loudly.

Because of such a sharp voice, everyone else was somewhat unsure.

Was there going to be a fight?

Some were excited.

“It’s not terrible to be uneducated.” Gu Qiaoqiao stood up, glanced around, taking in everyone’s expressions, and said with a faint smile, “What’s terrible is pretending to know when you don’t!”

“Gu Qiaoqiao, how many days have you been out of the countryside? Acting like a cultured person here with me, when you’re just a country bumpkin, what are you bragging about?” Ning Yuli sneered, gritting her teeth.

“What’s wrong with being a bumpkin? If you count back three generations, how many families didn’t start as bumpkins? Without the grain planted by these bumpkins, what would you eat?” Gu Qiaoqiao looked at Ning Yuli with disdain as she spoke. She never thought today would end well, “Don’t you know that food is the most important thing to people?”

“All right then, let me ask you, who told you that the Northeast is the eldest son of the republic? That’s complete nonsense. Do you think you, grubbing around in the soil, deserve such a title?” Ning Yuli was enraged and ashamed, her face flushed red, her voice became even shriller.

Gu Qiaoqiao just gave a faint smile.

She leisurely took a seat.

But she didn’t plan on continuing the discussion.

“Enough, Ning Yuli, just shut up if you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Chu Chengfeng didn’t want to get involved in other people’s affairs, yet he couldn’t help but to speak up.

This wasn’t a matter to be questioned lightly.

Even though times had changed with reform and opening up, Chu Chengfeng knew that not everyone in this private room came from families that were friends.

Without Qin Yize present, Chu Chengfeng, who was of a distinguished and proper family background, now had the right to speak.

And clearly, Ning Yuli was no match for Gu Qiaoqiao.

Ning Yuli wanted to say more, but Bai Yun pulled her down to sit because Chu Chenfeng had spoken, they couldn’t continue to quarrel.

Otherwise, given Chu Chengfeng’s temperament, he would definitely turn hostile.

Bai Yun whispered softly, “Ning Yuli, don’t be impatient…”

The situation was stronger than the person, Ning Yuli also knew she couldn’t outtalk Gu Qiaoqiao, and the incontrovertible truths from Gu Qiaoqiao left her without a rebuttal.

She glared at Gu Qiaoqiao fiercely; this detestable village girl, how could she be so sharp-tongued.

Chu Chengfeng’s gaze was inscrutable as he looked briefly at Gu Qiaoqiao, not expecting the girl to fight back so beautifully.

He drained the beer in his cup and with a grand gesture said, “Let’s continue singing…”

After a brief silence, a round-faced young man walked up to the small stage of the private room.

To the left of the stage was a three-tiered white TV cabinet.

Above was a large-screen TV, below was a VCR, and stacks of videotapes, like books, were placed at the bottom of the cabinet.

Almost all of them were karaoke accompaniment tapes.

A moment later, the room filled with the melodious sound of music.

Young people always love to sing and dance.

There were two microphones above.

Having sung a round each, the people in the room started singing again lively and enthusiastically.

Both Bai Yun and Qin Xiaoyu enjoyed singing.

And naturally, they did not fall behind.

Gu Qiaoqiao sat on the sofa, bored, her lips curled up at the corners, her eyes slightly squinted, no one knew what she was thinking.

But when several people finished singing together, the stage was empty.

Bai Yun and Ning Yuli exchanged glances, got up together, and walked towards the small stage.

Seeing the two of them, Gu Qiaoqiao put away her previously idle thoughts, her eyebrows twitched imperceptibly, but her lips curled up subtly.

Because of the earlier altercation, while no one came up to humiliate her further, no one spoke to her either.

They had formed their own little circle, completely isolating her.

And it seemed Qin Xiaoyu was pretending not to know her at all.

Gu Qiaoqiao smiled indifferently.

Then she heard Bai Yun’s gentle voice coming from the stage, “…Today, everyone is having a great time, your singing is very beautiful, enchanting. But there’s one person who hasn’t come up to sing yet. Does everyone know who it is?”