Chapter 3

Li Guifen heard the commotion and rushed out, only to see Jiang Manyue standing not far in front of Lu Jun’an, who was lying on the ground with the enamel cup tossed to the side.

The sight made Li Guifen tremble with rage. She rushed over, scooped up Lu Jun’an, and turned around to scold harshly, “He’s just a child! If you’re angry, take it out on me or Old Lu! Why do you have to target a child?!”

Jiang Manyue was stunned by her yelling. Just as she was about to explain, Li Guifen carried Lu Jun’an back inside without giving her a chance to say a word.

As he was carried away, Lu Jun’an looked back at his stunned aunt and couldn’t help but speak up, “Grandma, it wasn’t Auntie who pushed me. I backed away when I saw her and then I fell.”

Li Guifen’s heart ached even more hearing his words.

Such a good boy—bullied to the point of retreating at the sight of her, and even after falling, still trying to explain for her so she wouldn’t be wrongly blamed.

“Jun’an, good boy. Grandma knows now. It wasn’t your aunt who pushed you. Grandma was wrong to scold her.”

Lu Jun’an nodded seriously. “Grandma, you were wrong this time. You should admit your mistake right away. My uncle said that when you’re wrong, you have to correct it right away. You can’t just let the wrong be wrong.”

He was still young and couldn’t quite remember all the words, so he only half-remembered the phrase “let the wrong be wrong,” but he still wanted to teach Grandma a little lesson.

Li Guifen was amused by him. “Alright, Jun’an is the best. Grandma will definitely fix it. I won’t ‘let the wrong be wrong,’ okay?”

Lu Jun’an, now understanding the correct phrase—“let the wrong be wrong”—nodded vigorously. “Right! Grandma won’t let the wrong be wrong. If you fix it, you’re a good grandma!”

Li Guifen smiled and patted his head, then told him to stay in the room while she went to pick up the enamel cup and make him some malted milk.

Lu Jun’an had been born prematurely and had always been frail. The elderly Lu couple insisted on buying him malted milk, making sure he drank a cup every night in hopes that he’d grow stronger.

That one cup of malted milk had annoyed the original Jiang Manyue greatly, but the old couple refused to budge on the matter, so she could only let them be.

When Li Guifen stepped outside and saw Jiang Manyue still standing there, she remembered what Lu Jun’an had said and couldn’t help feeling a bit awkward.

Hearing her footsteps, Jiang Manyue turned and saw her, sighing before trying to explain herself.

“Mom, I didn’t push Jun’an. I probably startled him when I suddenly spoke, and he stepped back and fell.”

Jiang Manyue explaining herself actually surprised Li Guifen.

Given her temperament, she would’ve normally accused Jun’an of falling on purpose just to blame her.

Seeing that Li Guifen didn’t speak, Jiang Manyue added, “It doesn’t matter whether you believe me or not. I’ll just go back to my room and rest.”

Li Guifen felt awkward. Seeing her really turn to leave, she quickly said, “Jun’an told me. He said it wasn’t you who pushed him. I wrongfully blamed you.”

Jiang Manyue turned to look at her, shook her head, and after a moment of thought, said nothing and went back to her room.

Her behavior today was already strange enough. If she said anything more, Li Guifen might really get suspicious.

Li Guifen let out a long sigh, went into the kitchen to wash the dishes, then poured some hot water to make Jun’an his malted milk before returning to her room.

It was almost completely dark. Lu Qingyou, who had been bathing in the backyard, returned to the room, drying his hair as he asked, “Did you and Manyue get into another fight just now?”

Li Guifen looked embarrassed and was just about to speak when Lu Jun’an beat her to it. “They didn’t fight. I fell by accident. Auntie was there, and Grandma thought she pushed me and scolded her. Auntie didn’t talk back.”

Lu Qingyou gave Li Guifen a slightly reproachful look. “You should at least get the facts straight before scolding someone. If her family comes after you, you’re the one who’ll suffer.”

Li Guifen shook her head. “I don’t think she’ll go complaining to Miao Xianghua this time. She even explained herself to me. If it were before, she’d have yelled right back.”

Lu Qingyou paused mid-hair-drying. “What? She suddenly changed her ways?”

Li Guifen shook her head again. “I don’t know. Something feels different. She’s been speaking politely to me too.”

Lu Qingyou asked again, “Then should I still go to the county town tomorrow to send the telegram?”

Li Guifen hesitated for a few seconds, then gritted her teeth and said, “Go!”

Lu Qingyou said nothing more, finished drying his hair, and climbed into bed.

Li Guifen waited for Lu Jun’an to finish his malted milk, coaxed him to sleep, then blew out the lamp and lay down herself.

The whole family was asleep, except for Jiang Manyue, who sat alone in her room, lost in thought.

She never imagined she’d have the chance to personally experience the hardship-filled 1970s that her parents talked about—and even less that she’d end up as a married rural girl.

Although she’d tried hard during the day to paint a bright future for Miao Xianghua, Jiang Manyue never really planned to rely on the Lu family for life.

From the memories she had, Lu Lin truly disliked Jiang Manyue. This marriage was anything but solid. It might fall apart in a few years.

She needed to find a way to support herself—no relying on anyone. She had to live well in this era full of opportunities.

Just as that fire of determination was lit in her heart, it immediately dimmed.

She was now just an ordinary countryside girl with no skills, no connections, and no chance of even getting into a factory. How could she change her life?

Jiang Manyue was worried. It was 1974, still a time before the reforms. Even if she wanted to start a small business and save up some money, it was practically impossible.

But the next moment, hope reignited in her.

She remembered—three years later, the college entrance exam would be reinstated. She could take the exam and get into university!

In her past life, Jiang Manyue had been a top student and was full of confidence in herself. She believed she could once again change her fate through knowledge!

With the decision to take the college entrance exam made, Jiang Manyue immediately drafted a review plan.

Starting tomorrow, she would visit every bookstore and recycling station to find books. As long as it was related to the subjects tested in the exam, she’d buy it and study.

The college entrance exam in this era was very different from the one in later years. Not knowing exactly what would be on it, Jiang Manyue decided to cast a wide net and gather as many relevant books as possible.

With her plan set, Jiang Manyue quickly washed up and went to bed—she needed to head into town tomorrow to hunt for books.

But just as she closed her eyes, she suddenly felt a chill beneath her and a strong light in front of her.

Sensing something was off, Jiang Manyue opened her eyes and realized she was lying on the floor between the shelves of a supermarket, staring straight at a bright fluorescent light on the ceiling.

Did I return again?

Jiang Manyue sat up in confusion and looked down at her clothes, her expression growing even more puzzled.

She was still wearing the clothes from the 1970s. She hadn’t traveled back again—so why was she suddenly standing in the supermarket where she was before she first time-traveled?