Chapter 5

Wen Jiao smiled and nodded. “Then, Brother Zhou, wait for me a moment. I’ll be quick.”

With that, she turned and ran toward the dormitory at the educated youth settlement.

Relying on the original host’s memory, Wen Jiao quickly found the room where she lived. Inside, it was very simple: four beds, four lockers, and a single desk. Wen Jiao didn’t bother to look around, heading straight for the original owner’s locker and opening it.

There were plenty of clothes inside, all brought from the city.

Her father, Wen Chaoyang, was chief surgeon at Guangyuan City Hospital, so the family was well-off.

Although Wen Chaoyang despised the original owner, he cared deeply about appearances—especially after remarrying. He was terrified people would say he didn’t care for his daughter, so he never shorted her on food or clothing.

On the contrary, he insisted she always maintain a proper image to avoid gossip.

After a moment’s thought, Wen Jiao picked out a white polyester-cotton shirt and a pair of blue slacks. Together, they would match Zhou Changhuai’s white-and-blue naval officer uniform like a couple’s outfit.

Wen Jiao figured everyone at the settlement had probably already run off to the brigade leader’s house for the wedding feast. Yang Shuming was good at sweet-talking and socializing, and he was marrying the brigade leader’s daughter. Naturally, everyone would want to curry favor.

With luck, if there were future quotas to return to the city, the brigade leader might help pull strings.

Yang Shuming’s rush to marry Hu Shufang was precisely for that quota.

Both he and the original owner had failed the college entrance exam last winter. Out of more than a dozen educated youths at the settlement, only two had been admitted to university.

Yang Shuming had often chatted with the original owner to comfort her after they both failed, which sparked rumors—no one knew who started them—that the two were romantically involved.

Then Yang suddenly married the brigade leader’s second daughter, Hu Shufang, secretly registering before announcing it. No one dared gossip about Yang, so they gossiped about the original owner instead.

Unable to bear the snide remarks, she’d impulsively gone to the river, intending to drown herself.

But Wen Jiao remembered that the original owner had changed her mind at the last moment. So how did she end up in the water?

That memory was missing.

Wen Jiao changed clothes, then, using the original owner’s muscle memory, braided two simple pigtails and draped them over her collarbones, giving herself a vintage look.

Studying her reflection, Wen Jiao couldn’t help admiring the original owner’s beauty—deep double-lidded eyes, jet-black pupils, a high nose bridge, and a healthy wheat-colored complexion.

Educated youths working in the fields were tanned and rough-skinned, even darker than the local farmers because they had to set an example by working harder under the sun every day.

Wen Jiao decided that once she got to Nanya City, she’d find some vitamin C and other supplements to lighten her skin.

At that moment, she felt even more certain that choosing Zhou Changhuai was the right decision—she wouldn’t have to toil in the fields anymore.

When Zhou Changhuai saw Wen Jiao in her new clothes, his eyes were full of amazement. She walked with a light step, smiling like a girl stepped straight out of a fashion magazine, beautiful to the point of unreality.

Wen Jiao caught his lovestruck expression and secretly smirked. Gotcha. Let’s see if you can resist me now.

Although she hadn’t dated in her previous life, she was well-versed in romance dramas and novels.

A straightforward man like Zhou Changhuai? Best taken down with a direct approach.

“Brother Zhou, let’s go. If we’re late, there won’t be any food left. I’m starving. Such a rare occasion—I’m going to eat a lot, and you should too.”

Zhou Changhuai nodded obediently. “Alright.”

The brigade leader Hu Qinghui’s yard was full of tables and chairs; the whole brigade had shown up.

The educated youths were sitting around Liu Cuihua, listening to her explain why Wen Jiao hadn’t returned to the settlement last night.

Liu Cuihua said, “It’s really my fault. I asked Xiaojiao to go to the river with me to look for wild duck eggs. She slipped and fell into the water. Luckily, Aunt Qiuju’s second son happened to pass by—he’s home on leave from the army.

“He helped me pull Xiaojiao out, and since I was worried about her health, I went with Changhuai to Aunt Qiuju’s house. Xiaojiao had a fever all night, and I stayed there with her until it broke this morning.”

The educated youths all nodded.

Someone asked, “So, Sister Cuihua, is Comrade Wen really coming to the wedding banquet? What about her and Comrade Yang…?”

Liu Cuihua replied, “There’s nothing between Xiaojiao and Comrade Yang. Everyone misunderstood. I asked her myself this morning. If she’s willing to come here openly, that proves there’s no issue. So let’s drop it.”

More nods of agreement.

A male educated youth suddenly piped up, “See? I told you Comrade Wen is too proud to be interested in Yang Shuming. I heard her father’s a doctor at Guangyuan City Hospital. It’s only a matter of time before she returns to the city.”

Everyone looked surprised and asked how he knew.

The original owner had always been secretive, never mentioning her family.

The young man smirked. “Don’t tell anyone, but I once went to the brigade office to get a certificate and happened to see Comrade Wen’s file. It was written there.”

“No wonder she’s so stuck-up—her family’s well-off,” a female educated youth said sourly. “She’d never settle for marrying someone like Yang Shuming.”

“And even if you wanted to marry someone, you might not land one yourself,” another male youth retorted.

The woman flushed red with anger and raised her hand to hit him, but froze mid-swing when she saw Wen Jiao approaching with a man in a naval officer’s uniform.

“Wen Jiao’s here! Who’s that man? No, wait—who’s that officer?”

Liu Cuihua looked up and smiled. “That’s exactly who I mentioned—Aunt Qiuju’s second son, Changhuai. You should address him as Commander Zhou. He’s a battalion commander in charge of three to four hundred men.”

The educated youths quickly stood up and saluted Zhou Changhuai. “Greetings, Commander!”

Both Zhou Changhuai and Wen Jiao were momentarily stunned.

Zhou quickly composed himself and gave a slight nod. “Hello.”

Then he leaned down and whispered to Wen Jiao, “I’ll go over to my mother’s table first and tell them about us.”

Wen Jiao nodded sweetly. “Alright, I’ll come find you in a bit.”

He nodded again and walked toward his family’s table.

The sour female youth, Lin Hui, curled her lips mockingly. “Comrade Wen, Sister Cuihua says you went to the river with her last night to look for duck eggs and fell in. Commander Zhou just happened to pass by and rescued you, even took you to his home overnight. So… how are you going to repay such a big favor? Maybe marry him? You two do look like a good match.”

Wen Jiao glanced sideways at her, smiling calmly. Lin Hui was a jealous type who had always mocked the original owner’s looks. The original owner had silently endured it.

But Wen Jiao wouldn’t. Bottling up anger was bad for a woman’s health. Still, she didn’t lose her temper, replying cheerfully:

“Comrade Lin, you’re really thoughtful. That’s exactly what I was thinking—and what I’ve already decided to do.”

Lin Hui froze. “What did you say? You’re really going to marry him? Did the commander even agree? He’s an officer—why would he want you?”

Wen Jiao smiled. “Didn’t you just say we looked like a good match? Why change your mind now?”

Liu Cuihua, still expecting Zhou Changhuai to marry Hu Shufen, was stunned. “Xiaojiao, are you serious? You’re really going to marry Changhuai? But… what about Shufen? Wasn’t he supposed to meet her for a blind date?”