Chapter 26

Qiao Wei felt she understood why there was no “menstruation” in the future.

It’s because of technological progress! The advent of sanitary pads has made things much more convenient for women, allowing them to work and study normally even during their menstrual periods.

And now, if anyone were to tell her that using this pink piece of paper could also allow one to work normally, she would smear menstrual blood on their face.

On this day, apart from going to the cafeteria in the courtyard with Yan Xiang twice in the morning and at noon, she didn’t go anywhere and didn’t do anything.

This happened to be the day with the heaviest flow.

She didn’t dare to lie on the bed, let alone dirty the bedding. Even if it stained the small pad specifically used during the menstrual period, it would be troublesome. She had seen it; that small pad was sewn. In other words, if it got dirty and needed washing, she would have to remove the stitches to wash it. After drying, she would have to sew it back together.

Qiao Wei has touched a needle fewer times in her two lifetimes than she can count on one hand. Most of the time, she was accidentally pricking her hand on wood splinters used for picking thorns.

She couldn’t even thread a needle.

There were no sofas or similar furniture at home.

She believed that big cities must have them, but the problem was that this was just a small town. If even military families didn’t have such fancy furniture as sofas, the entire town probably wouldn’t either.

In the main hall, there were eight immortal tables and long benches. On the front wall hung portraits of great figures.

There was no comfortable place to relax at home.

Yan Lei promised her yesterday that he would make a large bamboo chair for her. She hoped he would bring it soon. Otherwise, there was no particularly comfortable place in the house.

Even the bed for sleeping, being a kang, was hard.

The original owner was dissatisfied with many things in life, but strangely, she never complained about the hard kang. Qiao Wei pondered for a moment before realizing that it was because even the original owner had never slept on a spring mattress, so this level of hardness was normal for her.

Only people like Qiao Wei, who had transmigrated, found it hard.

On the first day, she didn’t feel it because she was still in the narrow and uncomfortable hospital bed before transmigrating. But in just three days, she adapted to the new environment and immediately began to miss the soft beds of the future.

So, human needs always escalate endlessly.

For Qiao Wei now, what was the most comfortable thing for the whole family? Surprisingly, it wasn’t the kang, but the small bamboo chair.

After having breakfast, because Yan Lei said they would eat in the cafeteria today, Qiao Wei didn’t go to the market to buy vegetables. She went home directly with Yan Xiang.

She carried the small bamboo chair to the shady area in the yard and placed a small stool in front. Sitting on the small bamboo chair with her feet on the stool and rocking a palm-leaf fan, this was the most comfortable state she could achieve at the moment.

The annoying thing was the abundant menstrual blood. The absorbent and water-locking abilities of that paper were too limited, and Qiao Wei had to change it frequently.

Just thinking about it, she had to be grateful that she transmigrated into this era. If she had transmigrated to ancient times and had to use grass or wood ash, life would be tough.

Qiao Wei raised her feet, cooling off in the shade. Squinting her eyes, she looked at the house and yard, considering how to make improvements to the yard and house once she became more familiar with the various conditions here after her aunt’s departure.

Yan Xiang approached with a book held above her head, saying, “Mom, Mom! Tell me a story.”

Qiao Wei took the book and saw that it was still “The Adventures of Little Buttou.”

She had been reading this book to Yan Xiang every night since the day she transmigrated, and it had already been read through once. Although she had heard from friends who had children that a child could listen to the same story over and over, Qiao Wei didn’t want to repeat it. Moreover, according to her memory, Yan Xiang had probably heard this story many times. Why wasn’t he tired of it?

Qiao Wei said, “How about we switch to another book?”

But Yan Xiang replied, “There’s nothing else. They’re all Mom’s books.”

Due to the early era and the small town, it’s not surprising that the original owner harbored grievances. It was an era of scarce resources, and living in a small town meant facing various inconveniences.

The technician brought a few books from the capital, and the original owner treasured them like treasures. It was simply because things were rare.

Qiao Wei asked Yan Xiang, “Have you heard of Andersen’s fairy tales?”

Yan Xiang shook his head.

Qiao Wei hugged him and said, “Come on, Mom will tell you a story about the Emperor’s New Clothes…”

Qiao Wei’s initial idea was to tell the child a story about an old man and seven gourds, but she thought for a moment. Although this world is within the context of the novel, it is still based on the real world. Even if some things deviate slightly, the overall development is the same.

In all likelihood, the future “Calabash Baby” would also appear, so she restrained herself from mentioning it and changed her story to Andersen’s fairy tales.

The few children’s books at home were almost worn out. This was the first time Yan Xiang had heard a completely new and different style of story, and he listened with rapt attention.

After finishing the story, he clapped his hands and said, “They’re so silly! The emperor didn’t have new clothes at all. They were afraid of being seen as foolish, so they didn’t dare to tell the truth. Only the little child spoke the truth!”

Qiao Wei praised him, patting his head. “Our Xiang Xiang is really clever; you understood it all.”

Before the words could settle, someone behind them spoke, “What story is this?”

Qiao Wei turned her head and saw that, after finishing breakfast, she had casually closed the courtyard door but hadn’t locked it. Lin Xixi was now standing at the doorway, holding Wu Nier.

She had almost entered halfway.

“Oh.” Qiao Wei put Yan Xiang down. “How come Xiao Lin is here?”

Yan Xiang was super polite and addressed her, “Sister Lin.”

Lin Xixi walked into the yard without invitation. “I came to see Wu Nier and thought that Aunt Qiao, you were at home taking care of Xiang Xiang, so I wanted to come over and play.”

Qiao Wei reached out and took Wu Nier, saying graciously, “You’re welcome. Since you’re so close, tell your sister-in-law that if she has time, she can come over often.”

Ordinary young people dislike older people dropping by. But Qiao Wei was different; she spent the final stage of her life in the hospital without family, lovers, and friends, gradually distancing themselves. The care and help she received in those final moments came mostly from those aunts and older sisters in the hospital ward, aside from the medical staff.

Having experienced the ups and downs of life, illnesses, and death, her tolerance was much stronger, and she adopted a more laid-back attitude.

In fact, as long as Lin Xixi didn’t initiate an attack, Qiao Wei would be very willing to help the original female lead carve out a better life.

But Lin Xixi asked cautiously, “Are you telling the story of ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’?”

Although there was a seemingly indifferent smile on her face, Qiao Wei knew that, as the original female lead, Lin Xixi wouldn’t miss the suspicious tone in her voice.

“Yes, I am. Didn’t expect Xiao Lin to know about it too,” Qiao Wei playfully asked. “Xiao Lin isn’t from the countryside? How do you know about it?”

Lin Xixi was caught off guard.

Originally, she thought “The Emperor’s New Clothes” was something from a more modern era. Upon careful recollection, during her school days, the textbooks were filled with articles like “How the Chairman Studied in learned as a child,” “National Day,” “Let the Grains Return to the Granary,” “Good Aunt,” “Three Crosses Huangni Slope,” and “The Collective Strength is Powerful.” These texts were quite different from the language textbooks in later years.

Lin Xixi had already suspected that Qiao Wei might be someone who died and was reborn. However, she couldn’t figure out the exact time point Qiao Wei had come back from.

If, like her, Qiao Wei had died and been reborn, she should have resurrected in the same place. This already sounded strange, but now, with Qiao Wei talking about fairy tales that might not even exist yet, Lin Xixi’s confusion has deepened.

Wanting to test and see if she could figure out from what time period Qiao Wei had returned, Lin Xixi was surprised when Qiao Wei countered with a question that left her speechless.

Indeed, if “The Emperor’s New Clothes” was something that only appeared in the future, how did Lin Xixi know about it?

Sweating slightly on her forehead, Lin Xixi hastily responded, “I heard it from educated youth in our village. I just heard it, and it’s similar to what you told Xiang Xiang.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. I said, How does Xiao Lin know?” Qiao Wei smiled. “There are no Andersen’s fairy tales here; those are things only found in big cities.”

Qiao Wei was just making things up; she actually had no idea when Andersen’s fairy tales were introduced to China.

But it didn’t matter; she had read the original text and knew what kind of person Lin Xixi was.

This reborn aunt only had a primary school education. Although she had settled in a city with her educated youth husband, it was only a small, second- or third-tier city. Moreover, she had been a housewife all her life. While her knowledge and perspective from the early 1990s might surpass those of the people of this era, they were still far from those of someone from Qiao Wei’s time.

Qiao Wei was willing to bet that Lin Xixi had no idea when Andersen’s fairy tales were introduced to China.

Indeed, a person needs to have a strong presence. With Qiao Wei appearing so confident, Lin Xixi suddenly lost her confidence.

“Is that so? Only big cities have them. I didn’t know,” Lin Xixi said vaguely.

“That’s why I found it strange. I came from the city, so I know it’s not surprising.” Qiao Wei casually pinched Wu Nier’s little arm, speaking casually, “But Xiao Lin came from the countryside, and yet she knows. I find it amazing.”

Lin Xixi’s heart was pounding.

However, even though the middle-aged aunt had little education and knowledge, she was skilled in arguments and had a sharp tongue. Calmly, she said, “Not surprising. We had many educated youth from our production team, coming from everywhere. Each person taught me a bit, and I knew everything.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” Qiao Wei pretended to have an epiphany.

Lin Xixi felt that she had successfully diverted the conversation, regained her courage, and smiled, saying, “I know quite a few things. Some things, Aunt Qiao, you might not even know. It’s just a pity; I’ve never been to the provincial capital. Aunt Qiao, didn’t you just go to the provincial capital a few days ago? Can you tell me about it? What’s the provincial capital like?”

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at Qiao Wei.

People in this era could talk about their trip to a city for three days and nights; if they went to Beijing or Shanghai, they could boast about it for a lifetime. By saying this, Lin Xixi expected that Qiao Wei would inevitably start bragging.

However, Qiao Wei regretfully said, “I went to visit relatives, but unexpectedly, I fell ill and had a high fever. If your Uncle Yan hadn’t come to pick me up in the car and promptly taken me to the hospital, I might have died in the provincial capital. I didn’t even get a good look at the city.”

Lin Xixi froze.

Indeed, she had fallen ill in the provincial capital. But shouldn’t she have died there?

Why is she still alive?

As if hearing her thoughts, Qiao Wei tilted Wu Nier upward and looked at Lin Xixi meaningfully. “Speaking of which, I have to thank you.”

“If it weren’t for you suddenly arriving in the town, my sister-in-law wouldn’t be at ease leaving several children alone. How could Yan Lei let Xiang Xiang stay here alone while he went to the provincial capital to pick me up?”

“It’s all because you came. You’re so diligent, helping take care of Xiang Xiang. Seeing you getting along well, Uncle Yan felt reassured and left for the provincial capital.”

“He went to the provincial capital and timely took me to the hospital, so I’m fine now.”

“So, if you calculate it like this, it’s all because, Xiao Lin, you came, and I was saved.”

Qiao Wei was cunning. She had read many rebirth stories discussing the butterfly effect after rebirth.

Lin Xixi clearly had doubts about “Qiao Wewei.” Qiao Wei effortlessly didn’t bother proving her innocence; instead, she constructed a false butterfly effect, entangling Lin Xixi within it.

Lin Xixi was bewildered.

What’s going on? Isn’t rebirth supposed to be a second chance given by fate? To grasp a good marriage with Yan Lei and live a wealthy life in the future. How did it turn out because of her rebirth, so Qiao Weiwei didn’t die?

What kind of cause-and-effect relationship was this?

In the early 1990s, there was no internet, and there were certainly no online novels about rebirth or transmigration. Lin Xixi had never encountered the concept of the butterfly effect.

Her mind couldn’t process it.

Qiao Wei directly made her CPU overheat.