Chapter 35

Time sometimes flew by quickly, and before long, it was time for the graduation exam. Xue Miaoyun had originally thought it would be a very serious test, but when she arrived at the school, she found it wasn’t what she expected.

There were actually quite a few empty seats in the exam hall.

Xue Miaoyun sighed quietly to herself. Well, in a few years, when the college entrance exam resumes, this place would naturally return to the way it should be.

The exam papers were printed very simply, using carbon paper for handwritten tests.

Xue Miaoyun looked over the entire paper. The questions were very easy. Tsk, all that worrying over the past days was for nothing. However, her studies weren’t just for this exam, but for the future college entrance exam, so she didn’t have much of an emotional reaction.

She finished the exam in less than half the allotted time, checked it over, and submitted it directly. The other students, who were tugging at their hair and cracking their knuckles, were left dumbfounded.

Xue Miaoyun didn’t mind the other students, whom she hadn’t even met before. Two days of exams passed, and she was now just waiting for her graduation notice.

Three days later, Xue Miaoyun returned to school and smoothly received the graduation certificate she had been eagerly awaiting. She was also informed by the teacher that she had ranked first in the class.

Xue Miaoyun happily thanked the teacher and carefully placed the certificate into her space, as it would be an important document for her future college entrance exam.

When she returned home, Xue Miaoyun was in a good mood. Thinking that it had been a long time since she had visited Shuize Village, she decided to head back for a visit.

As soon as she stepped into the village, she noticed that the atmosphere seemed off.

“Miaoyun, what brings you back?” A group of gossiping aunts at the village entrance greeted her with curious eyes.

Xue Miaoyun frowned but quickly adjusted her expression. “I just received my high school graduation certificate today, so I thought I’d come back and tell Grandpa Xue and the others.”

She waved the certificate in her hand happily.

“Ah, you’re not here because of the second son from the Song family coming back…?” One of the aunts blurted out.

Xue Miaoyun immediately had a guess.

“Aunt, I’m already married. You’ve seen my husband. With him around, how could I possibly be interested in anyone else?” Xue Miaoyun said with a straightforward attitude. Since she was already married, she no longer had to be as cautious in her speech. After all, country women often talked quite openly.

“That’s true. The young man is definitely much better-looking than the second son from the Song family.”

“One is a company commander, the other is a regiment commander. The latter’s position is much higher. Miaoyun is the prettiest in the Xue family, and she married the best.”

“Li Dacui was boasting that her new daughter-in-law is a high-ranking official’s daughter. But I went to ask Grandpa Xue, and he said that the second son of the Song family is a company commander, and that girl is just the battalion commander’s niece.”

“She’s not even a tenth as pretty as Miaoyun.”

“Miaoyun is already a high school graduate.”

“………”

As Xue Miaoyun listened to the gossip around her, she quickly understood what had happened. Song Zhuanguo had brought his wife back.

That wife was probably Zhao Meihua, the one she had seen before.

Xue Miaoyun frowned, feeling that she had come back at the wrong time.

Although she was tempted to turn and leave, it was getting late, and it wouldn’t be safe for her to return to the county at this hour. Furthermore, if she avoided the situation, the gossip would probably become even more intense. Besides, she hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she avoid it?

Thus, Xue Miaoyun acted as if she knew nothing about what was going on and went straight to her house.

As soon as the door opened, a delicate voice could be heard.

“Song Zhuangguo, this place is so shabby. How are we supposed to sleep here? I don’t want to stay here. Let’s go to the guesthouse.”

“Meihua, we’re here to see people. Staying at a guesthouse is inappropriate…”

His words suddenly trailed off, and both of them, tangled in their argument, noticed Xue Miaoyun.

Song Zhuanguo, seeing the stunningly beautiful Xue Miaoyun with her elegant demeanor, couldn’t hide his surprise. Miaoyun had become even more beautiful.

On the other hand, Zhao Meihua, upon seeing Xue Miaoyun, felt nothing but pure jealousy.

This woman had not only caused her to lose face in the army, making her uncle disappointed with her, but even Song Zhuanguo had been growing increasingly indifferent toward her. To make matters worse, Xue Miaoyun had married the man she had dreamt of marrying in her past life. How could she have a good impression of her?

“What are you doing here?” Zhao Meihua’s voice was sharp and filled with disdain.

Xue Miaoyun shot her a glance, too lazy to argue, opened the door, walked inside, and shut it with a fluid motion, clearly not paying any attention to Zhao Meihua.

“You… you… Xue Miaoyun, you shameless…!” Zhao Meihua yelled before her voice turned into sobs.

Xue Miaoyun didn’t pay any mind to the drama outside the door. She was planning to visit Grandpa Xue’s house the next day. She was preparing to follow the army, and since she had promised to join once she got her high school diploma, she wasn’t going to go back on her word.

Joining the army wasn’t a simple matter; she needed the village to issue a series of certificates. She would also need to call Cang Ling to check if the house, furniture, and daily necessities had been arranged.

Perhaps it was because of her thoughts the previous day, but that night Xue Miaoyun dreamed of Cang Ling. When she woke up in the morning, she still felt a bit dazed, and the dream had been rather enchanting.

Cough, cough…

Shaking off those lingering thoughts, Xue Miaoyun got up and tidied herself up.

Just as she was about to head out, she heard shouting from next door, likely a quarrel between Li Dacui and Zhao Meihua.

Tsk tsk, this mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair was no joke. There would certainly be plenty of drama in the Song household from now on. It was quite satisfying to see them not doing well—seeing them uncomfortable made her feel comfortable.

Bang!

Someone from next door ran out.

Xue Miaoyun was curious, but she didn’t want to get involved in unnecessary trouble, so she didn’t make a point of eavesdropping.

Everyone loves gossip, but only when it doesn’t involve them.

She waited a moment in the yard before finally opening the door and stepping outside.

As she walked towards Grandpa Xue’s house, she turned a corner and unexpectedly bumped into Zhao Meihua.

Xue Miaoyun ignored her and kept walking, but Zhao Meihua clearly wasn’t about to let her off easily.

Seeing the woman blocking her path, Xue Miaoyun felt increasingly impatient. They were both adults, yet there was no decency at all. It was really annoying.

“Comrade Zhao, is there something you need?” Xue Miaoyun asked.

“Xue Miaoyun, don’t think that just because you married Cang Ling, you’ve won. Heh, you’ll have plenty to cry about in the future. Being a widow isn’t easy,” Zhao Meihua’s words dripped with malice.

Xue Miaoyun didn’t care about the malice, but she was quite curious about the word “widow.”

“What do you mean by that? Oh, I get it. You’re jealous of my youth and beauty, so you want to curse me. Hmph, my husband is a deputy regiment commander. You and Song Zhuanguo better be careful,” she replied, using her husband’s position as a shield. While the tactic was old, it was still very effective.

“You!” Xue Miaoyun’s words had struck at the very heart of Zhao Meihua’s greatest insecurity.

Having been reborn, Zhao Meihua had always wanted to marry a successful man and live a good life. That’s why she had chosen Song Zhuanguo, who had become the wealthiest man in her previous life. She believed that such riches and glory were what would truly satisfy her.