Chapter 4

“Alright then.”

Gu Yueqian nodded. After sitting on the train all day, her whole body ached. A bath would be refreshing.

The little girl hurried off to fetch water.

Gu Yueqian sighed softly. The child was far too sensible—it was heartbreaking.

Since she had crossed into this book’s world, and had already decided to protect the baby in her belly, guarding one more person wouldn’t be too difficult.

As long as she didn’t bully Lu Yao, and didn’t go out of her way to provoke the heroine, her year in Lujiagou wouldn’t be too hard. When the marriage contract expired a year later, she could go her own way—free as a bird, unrestrained in the vast land of China.

The water was soon heated.

Gu Yueqian found a clean set of clothes, ready for her bath.

The little girl had already mixed the hot and cold water, prepared for her to go straight in.

Such thoughtfulness—it was too much. Diligent and obedient, but clearly malnourished. Gu Yueqian thought she ought to help the child nourish her body properly.

In those days, country people bathed in the same place they relieved themselves—the dry latrine.

Before she came here, Gu Yueqian had been a modern city girl, born in the age of information. She’d heard of “dry toilets,” but never truly known what they were.

The moment she approached the doorway, a heavy stench of manure hit her nose. Only then did she realize: this so-called dry toilet was nothing more than a dung pit dug beneath the floor, covered with slats of stone full of gaps. When people went inside, they practically greeted the reek of years-old waste face-to-face. To relieve oneself, one simply squatted over the cracks—no flushing required.

Bathing was done here too, right beside the pigsty. Whether you were washing or using the toilet, you and the pigs next door could exchange friendly greetings.

Gu Yueqian staggered back three steps, her expression collapsing. “Do I really have to bathe here? There’s no other place?”

At that moment, she did look every bit the delicate city miss, despite having survived over a decade in the brutal post-apocalyptic world.

“Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid. Those pigs don’t bite, they’re very tame! And it’s summer—it won’t be cold to bathe,” Lu Yao explained quickly.

“That’s not…” Gu Yueqian instinctively clapped a hand over her nose. “It just stinks.”

Lu Yao blinked.

Then it dawned on her.

“Sister-in-law, how about I bring the water into the house? You can wash inside. I’ll borrow a big basin. If you stand inside it, the water will collect there just fine.”

But the only large basin belonged to her cousin’s wife. She normally would never lend it. Borrowing it meant Lu Yao would surely be mocked—but so be it.

Hearing that, Gu Yueqian refused at once: “Don’t trouble yourself. I’ll just wipe down quickly. No need to borrow.”

Saying so, she reached for the bucket herself, but Lu Yao darted forward to take it.

“Sister-in-law, let me. It’s heavy.”

Gu Yueqian couldn’t help laughing. “I’m older than you, you know.”

“But I do chores every day. I’m stronger.”

The girl grinned, swiftly carrying the bucket inside. Then she brought out a clean towel just for Gu Yueqian.

In those days, country households lacked even basic supplies. A single towel would be shared by the whole family—and that was considered decent. Many families didn’t own one at all, or if they did, it was treasured in a cupboard, saved for when a child married.

Taking the towel, Gu Yueqian felt a wave of emotion. “So even using the toilet is always… by the pigsty?”

Hearing that, Lu Yao grew worried.

What if Sister-in-law couldn’t get used to life here, and wanted to divorce her brother?

If she left, how heartbroken her brother would be.

Lu Yao said anxiously, “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I’ll think of something.”

Suddenly she brightened. “Oh, right! We have a clay jar at home. It can be your chamber pot. If you don’t mind, I’ll wash it after each use. It won’t smell at all.”

Gu Yueqian rubbed her forehead. This child… was she really this considerate?

“No need. The latrine will do. I’ll get used to it soon enough,” she said.

“It’s alright, Sister-in-law. That jar has never been used—it’s like new. I’ll fetch it now.” With that, she shut the doors and windows and dashed out to look.

“…” She runs so fast.

After a simple wipe-down in the house, Gu Yueqian sat on the bed waiting for Lu Yao to return.

But fatigue from the long journey, coupled with her pregnancy, soon pulled her into sleep.

By dusk, Lu Cheng came home.

He carried two eggs in his hand.

His deep eyes swept the room. Not seeing anyone, Lu Yao quickly said, “Sister-in-law was tired. She fell asleep.”

Lu Cheng set down the eggs and headed toward the bedroom.

“Brother, Sister-in-law said the latrine smells too strong. She’s not used to it,” Lu Yao whispered, afraid to wake her.

Lu Cheng paused mid-step. “I know.”

…

The next morning, Gu Yueqian awoke early to the noise outside, her sleep light and broken.

When she sat up, she spotted it right away—a clay jar by the bed, scrubbed spotless until it gleamed. She sighed inwardly. How could anyone bear to bully such a child?

After tidying the quilt, she stepped outside. Lu Yao was perched on the threshold, chopping pig grass. When she saw Gu Yueqian, she quickly washed her hands.

“Sister-in-law, you’re awake. Are you hungry? Brother made noodles for you. I’ll cook them.”

She stoked the small outdoor stove, boiled water, and dropped in the noodles Lu Cheng had kneaded that morning. She fished them out, added a few careful drops of soy sauce, and finally uncovered a bowl to reveal a fried egg hidden beneath. She laid it gently on top.

A fragrant bowl of soy-sauce noodles with egg was ready.

Lu Yao carried it in with both hands, offering it like a treasure. “Sister-in-law, quick, eat while it’s hot.”

Gu Yueqian looked at the egg on top in surprise.

From what she knew, in this time, eggs in rural areas were rare luxuries. This was 1976—most families relied on selling eggs to the commune for money or ration tickets. Eggs were too precious to eat. They were the main source of income, so even a woman in confinement might only get one or two eggs during her entire month of recovery. Many households couldn’t bear to spare even one—all had to be sold for money or cloth.

That wouldn’t change until the late ’80s or ’90s, and even then, some of the poorest families still couldn’t afford to feed eggs to their daughters-in-law.

Gu Yueqian said, “Where did the egg come from? Careful, or your brother will scold you.”

“It was Brother—he fried it just for you,” Lu Yao said.