Chapter 1: Transmigration into a Book

It was June, the peak of summer. At dawn, the villagers of Lotus Village had already risen. After breakfast, everyone went straight to work in the fields.

The village chief, Lin Jianguo, had assigned the day’s tasks, and the villagers carried them out diligently.

As their hands busied with farm work, their mouths naturally couldn’t resist a bit of gossip. A few middle-aged women surrounded Wang Fang, Lin Jianguo’s wife, chatting about household matters.

“I heard new educated youths are coming to the countryside again today. I wonder what they’ll be like this year. The ones who came before didn’t know how to do anything. It’s only recently that they’ve gotten a little better.”

The first to speak was Auntie Yang, the village’s well-known chatterbox. She lived by the village square, knew all the gossip, and was always the first to spread news.

“Well, you should ask Fang’er about that. The educated youths always have to be welcomed by the village chief,” Auntie Zhou chimed in. She had been born in Lotus Village, later married into the Lin family, and still lived here. There was no one in the village she didn’t know.

“I don’t know,” Wang Fang replied. “You know how my husband is—he never tells me anything. But if Auntie Yang said it, it’s probably true.”

Auntie Yang proudly nodded. “Of course. My news is always reliable. I also heard the town’s general store just stocked new pastries. My daughter brought me some the other day—they were delicious.”

“Your daughter Hua’er really is filial,” Auntie Liu added. She had married into Lotus Village from the neighboring one. “Even after moving to town, she still comes back often to see you.”

“Just the other day Hua’er came by. She wanted to visit Yiran, but Yiran wasn’t at home.”

Hua’er, Auntie Yang’s daughter, had been close friends with Wang Fang’s daughter, Lin Yiran, since childhood.

“Yiran is turning into such a beauty now, Fang’er. Do you have any requirements for a son-in-law? Tell me, and I’ll help keep an eye out for a good match.”

Auntie Zhou had three sons of her own and had watched Yiran grow up. She liked the girl very much. If not for the large age gap between her sons and Yiran, she would have already tried to make Yiran her daughter-in-law.

“Yiran is still young—only sixteen this year. I can’t bear to part with her yet. Maybe next year I’ll start thinking about it.”

Wang Fang cherished Yiran deeply. Yiran had been born to her late in life, making her especially precious.

“Don’t be like Auntie Yang,” Auntie Zeng suddenly cut in with a mocking tone. “She thought Hua’er was still too young, so she let her wait. In the end, Hua’er’s fiancé kept her in mourning for three years and then abandoned her for someone else.”

Auntie Zeng was Lin Jiansheng’s wife. A few years ago, Lin Jiansheng had lost the election for village chief to Lin Jianguo, and ever since then, she had held a grudge against Lin Jianguo’s family.

She also disliked Auntie Yang’s family and couldn’t stand seeing her act smug. Everyone knew her daughter had once been unwanted, and by sheer dumb luck, had managed to marry into town.

Years ago, Hua’er had been betrothed to someone from a neighboring village. The family was preparing happily for the marriage when the groom’s grandfather passed away.

The Yang family didn’t mind; they thought Hua’er was still young and could wait three years. But when the mourning period ended last year, the man broke off the engagement and married someone else.

Three years had been wasted. By then Hua’er was already nineteen, considered “old” for a bride in the village.

Though Auntie Yang seethed with anger, she quickly sought another match for her daughter. With the help of a matchmaker, Hua’er eventually married into a decent family in town.

The topic was a sore spot for Auntie Yang. Her expression darkened. “Watch your mouth! Believe it or not, I’ll tear it right off.”

Auntie Zeng only smirked. “It’s the truth. Why shouldn’t I say it?”

“Speaking of truth, Auntie Zeng, why don’t we talk about your son? Isn’t he off drinking and being lazy again? At this rate, he’ll die a lifelong bachelor.”

At that moment, Lin Yiran arrived with lunch for her family working in the fields. As soon as she entered, she overheard Auntie Zeng badmouthing her cousin Hua’er again.

Yiran served as the village’s record keeper and only needed to work in the afternoons. So every day, she was responsible for preparing lunch.

Earlier that morning, in the courtyard, her three nephews had been playing noisily. When they saw their young aunt, they crowded around her, chattering all at once:

“Auntie, Dad said we had to wait until you woke up before we could go play! We already fed the chickens. Can we go now?”

Yiran looked down at the eager little faces—six, five, and four years old, full of restless energy. She smiled and stroked their heads. “Go on. Zhiqiang, make sure to watch the time and bring your brothers back for lunch.”

“Okay!” The three boys shot off like arrows, the family’s little dog bounding after them, leaving only the big guard dog behind.

Yiran patted the big dog. “Looks like it’s just the two of us at home now.”

After eating her own meal and washing the dishes, she packed lunch for her relatives in the fields. Zhiqiang returned right on time, dragging his two sweaty little brothers with him.

“Go wash your hands. Only clean hands get food.”

“Got it, Auntie.”

The boys were mischievous, but they always listened to her. After all, she had plenty of candy to share. And if they upset her, their father would scold them, and even their grandparents wouldn’t intervene.

Fortunately, their beautiful fairy-like aunt rarely lost her temper. They adored her, and all the village children envied them for having such a lovely aunt.

Only when she saw her nephews sitting down with clean hands did Yiran lift her lunchbox. “I’m off to deliver food. If you behave, I’ll share some candy when I get back.”

“Yay!” the children cheered.

Lin Yiran’s home was in the middle of the village. To get to the fields, it took over ten minutes on foot. The sun was blazing, so she wore a hat and hurried along the path.

As soon as she arrived at the fields, she heard that annoying Auntie Zeng gossiping about her cousin Hua’er again. Yiran immediately shot back with a sharp retort.

Who didn’t know that Auntie Zeng’s son was a good-for-nothing? All he did was drink, gamble, and loaf around.

Hearing her son’s name brought up, Auntie Zeng flew into a rage. She pointed at Yiran and lunged forward. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Wang Fang stepped in front of her daughter, her face cold. “Auntie Zeng, what do you think you’re doing?”

Seeing the crowd’s eyes on her and realizing she had no ground to stand on, Auntie Zeng gave a cold snort and backed off.

Once she left, Yiran handed the lunchbox to her mother. “I’ll go call Dad, my brothers, and sisters-in-law to eat.”

She greeted the nearby aunties politely, then ran off to the other side of the fields.

Watching her retreating figure, the women couldn’t help but sigh. Yiran truly deserved her reputation as the most beautiful girl for miles around—she had inherited the best features of both the village chief and his wife.

But someone muttered under her breath, “With such a sharp tongue, what family would dare marry her?”

Another woman scoffed. “Even if your family wanted her, you couldn’t get her.”

On the other side, Lin Jianguo and his two sons, Lin Weijun and Lin Weimin, heard Yiran calling. They put down their hoes and walked over for lunch.

Weimin helped his little sister who had run over, frowning. “Slow down—it’s too hot to be running.”

The family ate together, and afterward, they urged Yiran to hurry home for her own meal.

“Alright, I’ll head back first. You all be careful in the sun.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll finish up here and return soon,” Jianguo replied.

They planned to rest during the hottest hours of the day and return to the fields around five in the afternoon when the sun wasn’t as harsh.

Yiran packed up the lunchboxes and started walking home. On the way, she felt increasingly dizzy. Her head spun, and she regretted staying up late reading storybooks. Never again.

Once home, she had just set the boxes down when her vision went dark and she collapsed.

“Auntie!” Before she blacked out, the last thing she saw was her nephews’ panicked faces and the eldest one running out the door for help.

Yiran only felt unbearably tired. In her mind, fragments of another life began to play like a film. Slowly, she realized—she had been reborn. No, more than that. She had transmigrated into a book.

In her past life, she had only been a sophomore in college. Her family conditions had been good—her parents loved her dearly, and she had an older brother with a stable job who also treated her well.

The thought of her sudden death made her heart ache. How devastated must my parents and brother have been? At least they still had one another to lean on. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Wang Fang saw her obedient daughter crying in her sleep and couldn’t hold back her own tears. Her daughter had always been cheerful and smiling. How much pain must she be in now?

Lin Jianguo also felt distressed. His beloved daughter was the apple of his eye. Seeing her like this tore at his heart.

Yiran finished reliving her past life, and as her consciousness shifted, she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was her mother weeping beside her, and she quickly reached out to comfort her.

“You’re awake! Thank goodness,” Wang Fang cried, hugging her tightly. Beside her, the eldest daughter-in-law carried over a bowl. “Quick, drink this medicine. Weiguo prepared it—the doctor said it will help.”

Still dazed, Yiran obediently drank. The bitterness cleared her head. Wang Fang immediately pressed a piece of candy into her mouth to chase away the taste.

Seeing her awake, the family finally relaxed. Just then, her second brother Weimin returned from sending off the doctor. “You gave us such a scare! Tomorrow I’ll go into town and buy you some milk to nourish you.”

The eldest brother, who had followed him in, nodded in agreement. Wang Fang had originally wanted to suggest it too but had held back for fear of upsetting her daughters-in-law. Hearing her son say it first put her mind at ease.

Yiran waved her hand weakly. “No need. I just need some rest.”

But her parents and brothers had already made up their minds. After she finished the medicine, they urged her to lie down and rest well.

As they were about to leave, she called out to her father. “Dad, are you going to pick up the educated youths later?”

Lin Jianguo nodded. Yiran reminded him to be careful under the sun, and only after they all left did she finally have a quiet moment to think.

So… I’ve transmigrated into a book. But is this the original novel or a fan-written spin-off? The thought made her head hurt.

Either way, her role was the same—a mere background character, a foil to the heroine.

Like the heroine, she also pursued free love. But in the story, she was deceived by a man brought into the family by her uncle. She died miserably in a faraway place. Her family spent their whole lives searching for her, and her brothers ruined themselves trying to find her.

Just thinking of that ending made Yiran frantic. How could I possibly abandon my parents for some man? But… their family did have a troublesome uncle.