Chapter 11
In the original story, the female lead was almost universally loved, cherished by everyone she met.
Moreover, Qiao Wei had read many transmigration novels, and in some, the setting was that the “plot” would control the characters. In such settings, the “plot” was like a great wheel of destiny, rolling over everything, forcing characters—especially the male lead—to uncontrollably develop feelings for the original female lead.
If this world also had that kind of setting, that would be quite frustrating.
“She looks quite diligent,” Qiao Wei said, following up on Sister Yang’s praise.
“She’s not just ordinarily diligent,” Sister Yang said, beaming with delight. “That girl is diligent beyond measure. Don’t look at the fact that she’s only been here a few days; she’s done so much work for me. She tidies the room, cooks the meals, washes the clothes, and watches the children. Ever since I married Old Zhao, I’ve never been this relaxed.”
“Our Xixi, whoever marries her in the future will be blessed!”
There was a look of pride on Sister Yang’s face.
Qiao Wei was an educated person; she had attended high school. There were many peasant soldiers in the Military Unit, and most of their family members had low levels of education, so she was quite a rarity among the military families. She had always been proud and arrogant, not caring much for associating with these rural women.
But everyone knew that although Regimental Commander Yan had married an educated woman, his life was not exactly going well.
People like Sister Yang felt that for a woman, education was useless; one had to be diligent and virtuous. Only then could she serve her husband and his family comfortably.
Everyone knew that Regimental Commander Yan ate breakfast at the Battalion Headquarters every day.
Who didn’t secretly laugh at his wife for being lazy?
“Aunt, what are you talking about?”
A young girl’s playful, chiding voice suddenly came from the courtyard gate.
Qiao Wei and Sister Yang both looked over; it was Lin Xixi who had returned.
She was carrying a plastic woven basket similar to the one Qiao Wei had, holding a little boy’s hand with her other hand, and carrying an even smaller little girl on her back.
She looked exactly like the image of the hardworking, thrifty, and capable “good woman” that the older generation loved to watch in television dramas.
Sister Yang stood up. “Look at her. I told her I’d watch the children and she could just go buy the groceries herself, but she insisted on taking both children with her.”
Although she was scolding her, her expression was one of pleasure.
Regimental Commander Zhao had five children, three boys and two girls, ranging from the eldest son at twelve to the youngest, Wu Nier, who was only two. Any woman who was pestered by a bunch of children all day would be happy if someone suddenly came along to liberate her.
She went over to take the grocery basket and asked with concern, “You must be tired, right?”
Lin Xixi said sweetly, “There’s still so much work at home, and Aunt, you haven’t had a moment of rest. I’m young, it’s fine for me to watch the two children.”
She specifically emphasized, “Besides, I really like watching children.”
Being so considerate and well-spoken, Sister Yang liked her even more. While helping her untie the cloth carrier used to strap the child to her back, she said, “This is Regimental Commander Yan’s wife. You met her yesterday, right? You should call her… call her Aunt.”
Clearly, after a day of adjustment, Lin Xixi had accepted the fact that Qiao Wei was still alive. She handed Wu Nier, who was on her back, to Sister Yang and smiled, calling out, “Aunt Qiao.”
Her eyes flickered.
Qiao Wei answered with an unceremonious “Yes.”
The moment the baby carrier was untied, Qiao Wei clearly saw the look of relief on Lin Xixi’s face. This proved she was definitely not as “young and untired” as she claimed to be.
Wu Nier was two years old and quite heavy. Walking to the Farmers Market with such a big child on her back and then walking back, while also keeping an eye on another lively little boy—how could she not be tired?
Lin Xixi was just building a persona for herself as someone who “loves children.”
This showed that even after seeing that Qiao Wei was still alive, she still hadn’t given up on Regimental Commander Yan, a man who already had a son. After all, the future potential of this stock was too great.
The little boy brought back by Lin Xixi was Sister Yang’s fourth son, Junzi, who was five years old. When he saw Yan Xiang, he let go of Lin Xixi’s hand and ran over, shouting, “Yan Xiang!”
This child looked a whole head taller than Yan Xiang, and he went up and pulled at Yan Xiang, saying, “Let’s go, let’s go play!”
Before Yan Xiang could speak, Sister Yang had already given him a slap. “Don’t mess around. Look at what Yan Xiang is wearing; how can you play with him?”
Although there was no malice, there was a hint of mockery in her words.
Junzi was wearing a tank top and shorts, with his dark, little arms bare. The tank top had been stitched in several places, and there was a patch on the shorts.
Even a cadre’s family couldn’t handle having too many children. Especially boys—they were particularly hard on clothes. The eldest would wear them, then the second would wear them, then the third, and it would continue until the last child; only then were the clothes considered to have been fully utilized.
By comparison, Yan Xiang was truly fair and tender, and dressed like a little young master.
Just as she thought this, Lin Xixi had already said with a smile, “Our Yan Xiang looks like a little young master.”
This was not a compliment. Only the sons of capitalists and landlords were young masters.
“Comrade Lin,” Qiao Wei’s face turned serious. “I know you just came from the countryside and your heart still yearns for the decadent life of the former landlord class. But you must understand, every stitch and thread we have today is provided by the state.”
“Yan Xiang’s father is the same as Jun Jun’s father; they both carried through the hail of bullets on the battlefield, both took bullets, and both nearly sacrificed themselves for the country. He is of the same rank as Jun Jun’s father, with the same income. Every cent of their wages is earned with blood.”
“It is definitely not like the capitalists who exploit the surplus value of the proletariat, nor like the old landlords who possessed the means of production.”
“Remember, we are all children of the proletariat, not some young masters.” Qiao Wei said earnestly, “We of the proletariat can now stand up, eat well, drink well, and dress well all because we must thank the state and the great leader!”
Sister Yang was dumbfounded.
Lin Xixi’s face flushed red, and she attempted to defend herself: “I didn’t mean that…”
“Alright, say no more.” Qiao Wei raised a hand and interrupted her. “Don’t worry, our Old Yan and Regimental Commander Zhao have a life-and-death friendship; I won’t go spreading rumors.”
“However, Sister,” she said to Sister Yang, “you must teach Little Lin not to speak recklessly. Although Little Lin is not a direct relative, she is a close relative, and we cannot drag Regimental Commander Zhao down. As military personnel, as cadres in the Military Unit, how important political ideology is—we have been military family members for so long, you must know.”
It could be said that this was a case of loving deeply and reproaching severely.
Sister Yang didn’t have much education. When the hometown commune’s Youth League branch was conducting literacy campaigns, she was busy having children. In the intervals, she roughly learned a few characters, and later she just muddled through, counting as having completed literacy. In reality, she was a fish that slipped through the net.
These past few days, that educated person from Regimental Commander Yan’s house suddenly came to ask for her help, entrusting the child to her. The educated person used to look down on people, but suddenly having a request for her made Sister Yang feel invigorated.
During the days Qiao Wei was away, she had taken care of Yan Xiang a hundred times more meticulously than her own children. Sure enough, Qiao Wei had come with thank-you gifts.
Look, educated people aren’t necessarily ignorant of etiquette. Before, she was just arrogant, looking down on people.
It finally allowed Sister Yang to feel proud and elated for once.
Who knew that when the atmosphere was good, and she was praising her niece endlessly, the educated person suddenly “blah blah blah” and left everyone stunned.
And what she said actually made a lot of sense. Old Zhao usually warned her: “If you don’t understand, you can stay silent, but don’t speak nonsense.”
Sister Yang was stunned for a moment before she reacted, hurriedly saying: “She’s a child, she doesn’t know any better. Aunt, please don’t hold it against her.”
Qiao Wei lowered her voice: “Of course I won’t hold it against a child, I’m just afraid others will make an issue of it and pin labels on Regimental Commander Zhao.”
Sister Yang was a traditional woman who viewed her husband as the sky; hearing this, she broke into a sweat and gave Lin Xixi a light slap: “You brat, stop talking nonsense.”
Lin Xixi was extremely stifled.
She had also come from this era and understood very well. She had clearly intended to pin a label on Qiao Wei, so how was it that it had been pinned back on her instead?
But she couldn’t say anything more; to say more would make her intentions too obvious, and she couldn’t defend herself because it was intentional from the start.
She had no choice but to lower her head and tug at the corner of her shirt.
“Don’t scold her either. After all, she just came from the countryside, she hasn’t been here long and lacks experience. She will understand slowly in the future.” Qiao Wei turned to persuade Sister Yang instead: “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”
Sister Yang hadn’t been angry, but she was made angry by Qiao Wei’s words.
She was a traditional rural woman. Because she had many children, she didn’t work, spending all her heart and strength serving the whole family. The family’s livelihood all depended on Regimental Commander Zhao.
No one could affect Regimental Commander Zhao’s future!
She glared fiercely at Lin Xixi.
After sending Qiao Wei off, she turned back and said to Lin Xixi: “You must be careful. This isn’t our hometown. You have to be careful when speaking in the Military Unit, don’t let people pin labels on your uncle.”
Lin Xixi was stifled and held back a breath, asking: “Aunt, why did she come here?”
Sister Yang’s face shone: “She came to bring me gifts.”
She pointed proudly at the meat and the oil-paper package on the table: “Look, such a good piece of meat, and she even bought brown sugar.”
“Oh, you say this Little Qiao, she’s actually quite polite. Why does she love looking down on people?”
Lin Xixi was secretly shocked and asked: “Is she different now than before?”
Sister Yang took the meat to the kitchen to cut: “Today she looks like a different person. You don’t know what she was like before; she didn’t like talking to us. You say, among neighbors, who doesn’t interact? Only she doesn’t, she doesn’t visit anyone.”
She continued to mutter: “There are so few people in her family, and day after day she doesn’t light a fire, just going to eat at the Cafeteria. This is really not knowing how to manage a household. One day I’ll talk to her; don’t act up just because you’re young and good-looking. There will come a day when her man won’t indulge her…”
Earlier when mentioning eating wontons, she glanced at Qiao Wei. Qiao Wei didn’t understand.
Because for Qiao Wei, going to restaurants or ordering takeout was too normal. But in Sister Yang’s heart, since there was a woman in the house, how could she be this lazy? If it were unmarried people or women who had to work, going to the Cafeteria would be fine, but how could you be like this when you are married and at home?
Lin Xixi was increasingly certain that Qiao Wei had also been reborn.
She had returned from the nineties. At that time, web novels had not yet become popular, and she did not know that besides “rebirth,” there was actually another situation called “transmigration.”
She was only worried: the man she had set her sights on had a wife, and his wife hadn’t died. What should she do?
Sister Yang was preparing to cut the meat; turning her head, she saw Lin Xixi daydreaming and asked: “What are you doing? Why are you dazed?”
After all, she was an aunt by marriage, not by blood; there was a layer of separation. She paused and said: “I didn’t scold you. And I can’t blame Little Qiao; she is an educated person after all. I didn’t even think there was anything wrong with what you said, but look at how she lectured you with logic. And what she said was all correct.”
Lin Xixi pulled herself together: “I will be careful in the future.”
But she couldn’t help saying: “She is really lucky.”
“What?” Sister Yang was puzzled.
“I mean she married Regimental Commander Yan.”
“Yes, little Yan is very handsome.”
She looked at Lin Xixi.
Seventeen or eighteen was the age to get married in the village. This girl came to rely on her uncle just to have him introduce her to a good match.
This girl was also pretty, not losing to Regimental Commander Yan’s wife.
Someone as talented-looking as Regimental Commander Yan—the girl wouldn’t have any ideas, would she? That was a married man.
“It’s a pity he’s already married, otherwise if he were introduced to you, your uncle would certainly be happy.” She said, “But don’t you worry, the Military Unit has nothing else, but it has plenty of young men. Let your uncle pick a handsome one for you.”
Sister Yang thought her niece was good-looking, and if she found her an ugly one, she might not be happy. Little did she know that for Lin Xixi, Regimental Commander Yan’s handsome appearance was a complete surprise bonus, but compared to his face, what Lin Xixi valued more was his future prospects.
Lin Xixi was truly afraid of poverty.
Moreover, Lin Xixi actually had a common hobby with Regimental Commander Yan: she also liked educated people.
Of course, later only university students could be called educated people, but in this era, high school students were already considered very educated.
So she chose her educated youth husband. In reality, the man only had a high school education, and later when the country resumed the college entrance examination, it had nothing to do with him; he didn’t participate in the college entrance examination either, and was always just an ordinary worker.
Lin Xixi only had a brief moment of glory in front of her hometown people when she followed her husband back to the city and became a city resident, followed by a mediocre life that lasted half a lifetime.
Reaching middle age and encountering layoffs was too difficult.
She still remembered borrowing money from her aunt here; passing by a shop window on the way, she saw her own reflection in the glass—gloomy, aged, and haggard. Where was the pretty look of the village flower from back then?
Lin Xixi never wanted to live that kind of life again.
She just wanted to be wealthy and prosperous!
Later, her uncle’s family, as a cadre family, lived quite well. But, but, that couldn’t compare with that person.
He was a big leader, a figure who would appear in the news.
Whenever Lin Xixi thought back to those years, when she saw in her uncle’s letter that he was a second-married man with a child and from a rural background, she was unhappy and curled her lips to refuse directly, she regretted it terribly.
That kind of wealthy and prosperous life was missed just like that.
No, no, she was reborn, which meant that Heaven itself felt that the wealthy life was meant to be hers. Right? Otherwise, why would it let her be reborn?
Lin Xixi knew her uncle was helping her look for a marriage partner.
But those with rank were mostly already married. Among the young and unmarried, she hadn’t heard of any leaders in later generations who came from the same Military Unit as her uncle.
It was possible that those in the middle years didn’t make it through and were gone, or it was possible they were mediocre and incompetent like her husband. There were also officers who had transferred to civilian work in her husband’s factory; although they were in management, they were still laid off.
Pointless, everyone else was pointless!
The wealth she wanted could only be guaranteed by Regimental Commander Yan.
Lin Xixi was actually confused about one thing.
For example, she had returned from the nineties, died and returned.
Since Qiao Wei had also died and was reborn, when had she returned from?
As far as she knew, Qiao Wei had died during this trip to the provincial capital; could it be that she was reborn directly after dying?
If that was the case, Lin Xixi’s confidence was restored.
She was from the nineties of later generations, and her knowledge far exceeded this era. What educated person? Qiao Wei was just a high school graduate. What did she have to compare with her decades of experience?
Although Lin Xixi’s “decades of experience” was just being a worker’s wife for half a lifetime in a third-tier city, it didn’t prevent Lin Xixi from developing strong self-confidence and a sense of superiority.
Most importantly, she held leverage over Qiao Wei.
What provincial capital visit, Regimental Commander Yan’s original wife… it was clearly an elopement with someone!!
