RSMFH 13

Chapter 13

Dying on Her Body

The two shared a deep, lingering kiss, feeling each other’s breath and desire. They wanted to take things further, but only then did they remember the inconvenience. Jiang Ning was wearing a sanitary pad, and in the heat of passion, she had completely forgotten.

Lin Chen struggled to sit up, kissed the corner of her mouth, and prepared to take another cold shower. But his waist was held tight by her from behind.

“A-Chen, let me help you.” She pressed her face against his smooth, warm back.

Half an hour later, he used a cloth to help her wipe her hands, cleaning carefully between every finger, and after he was done, he pressed them against his lips. “Thank you, wife.”

He had never imagined Jiang Ning would do such things for him. In this lifetime, if he had to die, he would want to die right there on her body.

As they lay in each other’s arms, they began to talk about the wedding banquet. Lin Chen asked if they needed to prepare a dowry or gifts to send back to her parents.

“I don’t think that’s necessary. The situation at home is complicated; I just want to live a good life with you now.” Jiang Ning’s voice was calm, but her heart was a swirl of mixed emotions. Mom, how I wish I could tell you that Jiang Rou is actually Dad’s biological daughter. He’s been deceiving you for all these years. But would you even believe me? To please Dad, you didn’t hesitate to give your own job to an adopted daughter, forcing your biological daughter to move to the countryside! Forget it. It’s better to stay out of each other’s lives and let everyone be.

A few days later, Jiang Ning suddenly received a letter and a money order from her mother, Feng Shuyao. In the letter, Feng Shuyao severely criticized her for marrying a “peasant,” saying she no longer had such a shameless daughter. She enclosed two hundred yuan and ordered Jiang Ning to come home immediately; if she didn’t divorce, they would sever all ties.

Sever all ties? Why did she feel a sense of excitement? In her past life, after the accidental death of her child, she had sought comfort from her mother. It happened to be when her mother was being provoked by “the other woman,” and she had heard her say a classic line: “You only lost a child of two or three years; I lost my love!” At the time, she wondered how anyone could be so obsessed with romance.

Holding the money order, Jiang Ning smiled playfully. With her body weight of ninety pounds, eighty-nine of them were pure rebellion. Sever ties so they can give all their money to Jiang Rou? Keep dreaming!

Jiang Ning found paper and a pen and wrote back to Feng Shuyao. Previously, she had always clashed with her parents over their favoritism toward Jiang Rou, but this time, she completely changed her tune. She not only sincerely admitted her “mistakes” but also showered them with concern. She painted a picture of herself as pathetic and miserable, hoping they would send her more money and supplies.

After finishing the letter, she took the money order and the envelope, grabbed an umbrella, and headed toward the township. It was a one-hour walk from Chayuan Village, but if she was lucky, she could catch a ride on an ox cart or a tractor. As luck would have it, an ox cart was passing the village entrance, so she hopped on.

Also on the cart was a woman wearing a blue floral shirt with a braid and a velvet flower tucked by her left ear—fairly fashionable for the time. However, none of her features were particularly attractive, and her complexion was sallow. Compared to Jiang Ning, who was naturally beautiful even in simple clothing, the woman looked utterly lackluster.

“Put your umbrella away; you’re touching me,” the woman complained as the cart started to move. Jiang Ning was sitting on the opposite diagonal; even if the cart hit the biggest bump, the tip of her umbrella wouldn’t have come near her. Jiang Ning leaned the umbrella to the side, too lazy to argue. Yet, to avoid the sun, the woman actively crowded toward her.

Well, excuse me, Jiang Ning thought, tilting the umbrella toward the woman, its tip nearly poking her. The woman jumped away and began to curse: “Are you sick? Do you know how to use an umbrella? You almost poked me! Educated youths from the city are so delicate—carrying an umbrella to go out. Do you really think you’re some rich young lady? Once you’re married into the countryside, your mother-in-law and husband will wear you down, and you’ll turn into a haggard old woman sooner or later!”

Jiang Ning paused, looking at her with a smile. “I carry an umbrella because I value my face! Unlike you, sister-in-law—your skin is so thick, even the sun can’t get through it!”

“You… who are you calling thick-skinned!” The woman’s mouth twisted in anger.

Jiang Ning spoke lightly, “Is there anyone else on this cart? You must have been worn down by your mother-in-law and husband for so many years for your face to have turned this yellow!”

The woman touched her face, trembling with rage. She had been the village beauty once; she wasn’t as bad as Jiang Ning said! Who knew the educated youth from the city could be so vicious? I’ll tell Lin Chen later and make him keep his wife on a leash! Just as she was seething with revenge, the cart hit a bump, her hand slipped from the rim, and she fell right off. It just so happened that there was a deep, water-filled ditch by the roadside, and she slid right in. The driver felt something fall, but when he looked back, he saw no one, so he just shouted a sound and kept driving.

Jiang Ning arrived at the post office next to the township government, bought an envelope and a stamp, sealed the letter, and dropped it in the box. Then, she cashed the two-hundred-yuan money order and tucked the money into her pocket.

There was only one street in the township, but it was much livelier than the commune. Besides the post office, there was a supply cooperative, a state-run restaurant, a grain and oil store, a barbershop, a photo studio, a bicycle shop, a state-run farmers’ market, and the largest building, the grain collection station. All the public grain from the township was sent here; there were several large warehouses.

She wandered through the grain and oil store and found nothing but rice, flour, and peanut oil—things she had plenty of in her space. Meat was sold at the farmers’ market, but when she arrived, the pork was sold out, leaving only a bit of pig offal that smelled fishy and rank. There was no sign of beef or mutton; she learned that those were only sold every four or five days. There were, however, live chickens and ducks in bamboo cages, bought from the commune members, and the supply was relatively stable.

After gathering this information, she found a quiet corner and entered her space. She prepared fifty jin of rice, ten jin of flour, ten jin of peanut oil in a bottle, and a pre-slaughtered chicken. She also grabbed an enamel washbasin, two enamel mugs, ten pairs of chopsticks, three spoons, and other kitchen utensils, bundling them into a large package to make it look like she had bought them at the market. From the space’s wardrobe, she also picked out some clothes and shoes from that era to take back for Wang Xiufen and the others.

Once ready, she pulled out a makeup kit, gave herself a masculine look with a fake mustache, bound her chest, put on a men’s floral shirt, a wig, and sunglasses. Emerging from the space, she clutched a cigarette in her hand, walked with a swagger, and looked every bit the local hooligan. Using her memories from her past life, she turned into an alley and found the black market.

“One dime to buy, two dimes to sell,” a middle-aged man with a wide face leaning against the wall asked, his eyes darting elsewhere.

She walked up to him, tucked the two dimes into his hand, and hurried inside.