Chapter 3

The sky was getting darker. Wen Xin carried her suitcase and wrapped the military jacket tighter around herself, following the plump woman ahead. Her dress had long since dried, but she didn’t dare take off the jacket—she had noticed that passersby were staring at her.

Some people even turned around for a second glance after walking past her.

The people here dressed extremely conservatively, with no attention to style. Most of their clothing was in dull shades of gray, black, or blue.

A few girls with braided hair kept stealing glances at her dress and shoes, whispering among themselves.

Wen Xin followed their gazes and looked down at the hem of her dress and her shoes beneath the military jacket. The silk fabric, which wouldn’t have drawn any attention in modern times, seemed almost ethereal compared to the coarse materials these people wore—it was like a ripple of golden wheat under the wind, standing out like a celestial glow.

Thankfully, she wasn’t wearing high heels—just a pair of simple linen cross-strap open-toe flats. But even so, they were refined enough to attract attention.

Before long, they crossed the street and turned into an area filled with factory buildings. The rich aroma of scallions sizzling in hot oil and stir-fried meat filled the air, and there were more people bustling about.

“Sister Luo…”

“Sister Luo, you’re back?” Several people greeted the plump woman, including a few young men whose eyes kept darting toward Wen Xin, who remained silent behind her.

A woman carrying an empty bowl stepped out of a nearby house. Seeing them, she grinned. “Oh, you just got back? The cafeteria’s serving meat buns today—better hurry and get some before they’re all gone.”

Then, as her gaze landed on Wen Xin behind Luo Juan, she looked surprised and exclaimed, “Well, well! Your Wen Xin has been working at our meat processing factory for a month, and she’s getting prettier by the day! When she first arrived, she was so thin and sallow, her eyes sunken and yellowish. But now, in just a few days, her little face is as fresh and smooth as a peeled onion.”

Luo Juan chuckled. “Too many kids at home, so I didn’t have time to take care of her. She grew up in the countryside, wild as a little monkey. She’s almost eighteen now—if I don’t tidy her up soon, she won’t find a husband.”

The other woman laughed. “With that face? Please, there’s nothing to worry about. Just look around—how many young men at the meat processing factory have their eyes on her? Even my son keeps saying he likes girls like Wen Xin. You better choose wisely.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they parted ways. As soon as they did, Luo Juan spat on the ground and muttered, “Your son? As if he’s worthy.”

Meanwhile, Wen Xin’s mind was in chaos. Judging by everything she had seen and heard, she really had transmigrated into the book.

Earlier, as they passed by a house with an open window, she had caught sight of a calendar-like poster on the wall. It clearly read: 1979.

Her thoughts were a tangled mess. Transmigrating into a book? This was beyond bizarre.

And worse, she was completely unfamiliar with this world. She had no idea what to do, so for now, she could only follow the mother of the novel’s supporting female character.

At the same time, an important question popped into her mind.

She had transmigrated with her physical body—she was still wearing her own clothes, and she even had her familiar rose gold diamond ring on her finger.

So then… what had happened to the original Wen Xin in the book?

Had she disappeared the moment Wen Xin’s real self arrived?

If the original Wen Xin was still here, then what was she supposed to do?

She had no answers. She could only take things one step at a time.

Just then, Luo Juan, who had been too flustered earlier, finally turned around and looked at Wen Xin. Seeing the state of her hair, she immediately scolded, “Your braids are a mess! You look like a lunatic—such an embarrassment! Go fix it immediately!”

Wen Xin glanced at this shrewish woman—the mother of the book’s supporting female character—and didn’t even know where to begin explaining.

Should she tell her that in modern times, this kind of messy, fluffy ponytail was trendy? That the rustic aesthetic was actually a fashion statement?

She figured if she dared to talk back, Luo Juan would seize the opportunity to scold her even more.

Since she was still dazed and trying to get her bearings, she had no intention of provoking her.

On their way here, she had observed the hairstyles of the women around her—most had either short, ear-length cuts or two sleek, glossy braids. It seemed that in this era, having neatly combed, smooth hair was considered beautiful.

Suddenly, Luo Juan’s eyes fell on the suitcase in Wen Xin’s hand.

“Where did you get that suitcase?” she demanded.

Wen Xin blinked and followed her gaze. The small woven suitcase in her hand was a vintage-style item, inspired by European aesthetics. Though it had a rustic design, its refined details made it stand out in this environment.

How was she supposed to explain where it came from?

After a brief hesitation, she mumbled, “It’s…”

“You took it from your great-aunt?”

“…Mm.”

Luo Juan’s expression darkened. “I already spoke to the neighborhood office. No one will give you a travel permit. Thinking of leaving? You better give up on that idea! Tomorrow, you’re coming with me to the Yan family.”

Wen Xin: “……”

Travel permit?

Following the principle of “the less said, the fewer mistakes,” Wen Xin remained silent. She hadn’t even finished reading the book.

Judging from the woman’s tone, did this mean that without an official proof of identity issued by the street office, one couldn’t simply leave home? Was it something like an identification card? So she wasn’t free to leave as she pleased?

Casually, she asked what would happen without such a document. Luo Juan sneered, “No identity proof? Then you can sleep on the streets and drink the northwest wind. No place will take you in, and no work unit will hire you.”

Was that why the supporting female character ran away from home—because she lacked proof of identity and was tricked into working at a dance hall by a scumbag?

Cold sweat dripped down her back.

She was someone from the modern world, yet she had suddenly been thrown decades into the past, into an era of economic regression, and inside a fictional novel at that. She hadn’t even fully grasped the situation yet, but she already felt like the entire environment was hostile toward her.

She was completely out of place here.

Did she really have to live in such a tough and impoverished setting?

Maybe she was still dreaming and hadn’t woken up yet?

…

In this era, supply and marketing cooperatives and meat processing plants were among the most coveted state-owned enterprises.

Countless people fought to get in, as these jobs not only provided high bonuses and excellent benefits but also offered perks like free meat distribution. At the meat processing factory, workers received portions of pork ribs every few days. In a time of material scarcity, this was an enviable privilege—most people could only afford to eat meat once a year, while meat factory workers had it every day.

Wen Xin followed the mother of the supporting female character, Luo Juan, silently inhaling the aroma of stewed pork ribs as they passed rows of dormitory-style apartments for factory workers. Eventually, they reached an area with small two-story buildings—apparently where the factory’s committee members and minor leaders lived. The surroundings were quieter, and each home had its own staircase.

They climbed the stairs and stopped at the door of a second-floor unit. Luo Juan unlocked the door.

Inside the living room, three people sat around a table, eating. Wen Xin scanned the room and quietly exhaled in relief—there wasn’t anyone with the same face as hers.

Did this mean that the original supporting female character had disappeared the moment Wen Xin transmigrated?

“Weren’t you running away from home? If you’re leaving, go farther next time so Mom doesn’t have to find you!” A thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl sitting at the table pouted.

Since the comment wasn’t directed at her, Wen Xin ignored it. Standing at the doorway, she surveyed the room. The apartment was quite spacious, seemingly around four bedrooms and a living room. The furniture looked old-fashioned to her modern eyes. The dining table was set with meat buns and a few meat dishes.

Three people sat at the table—two men and one girl. The girl was the one who had spoken earlier. The older man, in his forties, was overweight with a broad face—likely the father of the supporting female character. The younger man appeared to be sixteen or seventeen.

Since the book didn’t provide detailed descriptions, Wen Xin guessed that they were probably the supporting female character’s younger brother and sister.

“Why are you still standing there? Close the door!” Luo Juan snapped, glancing back at her.

“Oh.” Wen Xin finally stepped in and gently shut the wooden door behind her.

“Go change your clothes and come eat,” the father said, barely looking up from his meal.

Wen Xin was more than happy to comply. Fortunately, she had a military jacket covering her modern dress. The jacket was oversized, long enough to cover her hips, so only the hem of her floral dress was visible. Under the dim yellow lighting, it wasn’t too conspicuous. However, she definitely needed to change out of her modern-style dress and shoes.

Otherwise, just explaining her clothes would be difficult.

She hesitated for a moment before heading toward a room that had girls’ items hanging on the door, assuming it was hers. Just as she reached out to test the door, the younger girl inside snapped, “Why are you pushing my door? Your room is inside!”

Wen Xin quickly located another room, opened the door, and slipped inside.

“Mom, look at her! She’s acting weird!” the younger girl complained.

“Enough already, stop making a fuss. She’s leaving tomorrow…”

Once Wen Xin carefully closed the door behind her, she let out a deep breath, set her suitcase aside, and took off the military jacket. Beneath it, her skin gleamed white under the dim light.

The dress she wore originally had straps at the shoulders, revealing just a hint of her back, but the person who had saved her earlier had accidentally torn them off. As a result, the neckline had become a deep V, exposing far more than intended.

The room was small, likely a storage space before being repurposed. Items were scattered across the floor, but she quickly found a cabinet near the bed. Opening it, she found several neatly folded garments. Though the styles were outdated, the fabric was so rough that just touching it made her skin itch.

She randomly pulled out a white blouse with blue floral prints and a pair of blue pants.

After changing out of her modern dress and putting on the outdated clothes, Wen Xin stared at herself in the mirror.

She wanted to cry. The outfit was hideous.

To avoid suspicion, she folded her long dress and placed it in the suitcase. Fortunately, the woven suitcase had a plastic lining inside, so her clothes hadn’t gotten wet. After locking it with a combination lock and tucking it into the cabinet, she tidied her hair and stepped out.

At the table, the four people continued eating without even looking up.

Following her principle of “the less said, the fewer mistakes,” Wen Xin stayed silent and simply found a seat.

“Whose military jacket is that?” The supporting female character’s younger brother was the first to glance up at her, noticing the men’s military uniform in her hands.

“Your sister picked it up by the river,” Luo Juan said between mouthfuls of garlic pork.

She simply assumed that Wen Xin had failed in her suicide attempt, crawled back up, and found the jacket herself. She hadn’t even considered that someone might have saved her—after all, when she had arrived, no one else was around.

The younger brother snatched the jacket and examined the insignia. “This rank… at least a Deputy Regiment Commander! Whose jacket is this?”

Did military uniforms in 1979 already have rank insignia? Perhaps it was just part of the novel’s setting.

Seeing the boy staring at her, Wen Xin replied, “I don’t know. I just found it by the river. Can you help return it to the owner?”

She had only picked it up because of the insignia, intending to ask around and return it after washing it. Given that military uniforms with rank insignia were rare, someone in the meat processing plant or nearby should recognize the owner.

She was also curious about the person who had saved her. At the time, she had assumed she was in a dream, so she had instinctively kissed him. But he had looked furious, shoved her away, and left before she could even say thank you.

After all, he had saved her life.

“It should be someone from the military compound. Tomorrow, go over there and ask around. Who knows, maybe we can use this connection to help our son,” Father Wen said after some thought.

“I’ll go!” The male supporting character’s younger brother eagerly held onto the uniform.

“Our son just wants to join the army, but you insist on making him go to college. He’s not cut out for studying! We finally managed to get him a spot in the military, and now it’s gone. If I had known earlier…” Luo Juan watched her son happily clutching the military uniform, feeling a pang of heartache as she complained.

“Bullshit! How is that my fault? If I hadn’t done what I did back then, would I have gotten transferred to the meatpacking factory as a director? Would I have been able to bring you into the factory? Would we be living in such a big house? Eating meat every day?” Father Wen slammed his chopsticks onto the table with a loud “smack.”

The sudden noise startled Wen Xin. Despite Luo Juan’s usual aggressive demeanor outside, whenever Father Wen lost his temper, the entire family would fall silent. Their two children immediately lowered their heads and focused on their food.

If it weren’t for Father Wen betraying the Yan family and siding with their rivals, he never would have been transferred from the plastics factory to the meatpacking factory. Eventually, he even got promoted to director, brought his wife into the factory, moved the whole family in, and secured the best housing in the compound. Now, they had an abundance of ration tickets and could eat and drink lavishly.

Besides, when the Yan family fell, everyone turned against them—it wasn’t just him. Many people had pushed the Yan family down while they were already struggling. Even without him, the Yan family would have fallen. And back then, how could he have known that the Yan family would be rehabilitated so quickly?

“Alright, enough, let’s eat. Our son is only sixteen, there’s no rush. We can still find connections. Besides, we still have Wen Xin. Tomorrow, I’ll take Wen Xin over,” Luo Juan quickly tried to soothe her husband’s anger.

Wen Xin pretended to focus on picking up vegetables, grabbing a single leaf of bok choy while secretly piecing together the timeline. It seemed that she had entered the story at the point where the female lead had already left her rural post as a “sent-down youth” and successfully enrolled in university.

She wasn’t actually the original Wen Xin. She was merely the prototype of the novel’s supporting female character, but she didn’t truly belong to this world.

Since she had no memories of the original supporting character’s experiences in this world, it would be easy for her to slip up. Perhaps it was better to go to the male lead’s house first, get a feel for the situation, and then figure out her next steps. If nothing else worked, she could always follow the supporting character’s path and head south.

The original supporting character had been too naive and was deceived, but she wouldn’t fall for the same tricks. If anything, she might even have better opportunities.

The only problem was this proof of identity…

Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly noticed that the supporting character’s younger sister had been staring at her for some time. When Wen Xin glanced over, the girl immediately tugged at Luo Juan’s sleeve.

“Mom, she’s acting weird!”

At her words, the whole family turned to look at Wen Xin.

Wen Xin: “……”

“What do you mean?”

“She wasn’t like this before! When did she get so fair and smooth? Even her eyes are different now!” The younger girl’s eyes were sharp as knives as she scrutinized Wen Xin’s skin and gaze.

Wen Xin’s eyes were dark and bright, clear like autumn water, with a slight upward tilt at the corners, carrying an indescribable charm. Her skin was fair and delicate, and under the dim lighting, it seemed to have a natural, translucent glow—flawless and smooth, without a single visible pore.

Moreover, the younger girl could smell a faint, pleasant fragrance coming from Wen Xin. It was something she had never noticed before, and it would subtly waft through the air whenever Wen Xin raised her hand to pick up food.

“Hm… she does seem a little different,” Luo Juan said, taking another glance at Wen Xin. “When she first got here, she was all skin and bones, face sallow. I suppose after eating meat for a month, she’s put on some flesh, gotten fairer, and her eyes look better now.”

Father Wen and the supporting character’s brother were both inattentive by nature. That explanation made sense—eating meat every day had clearly improved Wen Xin’s complexion. Besides, she had always been the prettiest one in the family, something that made Father Wen quite proud.

He himself was stocky and rough-looking, and his wife wasn’t particularly attractive either. Yet Wen Xin didn’t inherit their features. Instead, she resembled her maternal grand-aunt.

It was said that Wen Xin’s grand-aunt had been a great beauty in her youth and had even been selected to serve in the imperial palace, working in the royal kitchen.

After the dynasty changed, the palace maids were expelled, and her grand-aunt sought refuge with Wen Xin’s grandmother. The two sisters had always been close, so she ended up settling down here. Wen Xin had grown up under her grand-aunt’s care.

Later, after Luo Juan had two more children, Wen Xin had remained with her grand-aunt until she passed away. Only then, about a month ago, had Wen Xin been brought back to this household.

Now, she had grown into an even more stunning beauty than her grand-aunt once was. Meanwhile, Father Wen’s other two children had inherited his features—sallow skin, round faces, small noses, and small eyes. They lacked Wen Xin’s fresh, delicate appearance.

“Mom! Why did you make her look so pretty while I turned out so ugly? That’s not fair!” The supporting character’s sister pouted, flipping her braid in frustration.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think I can control that? Just eat your food! And when you’re done, wash the dishes.”

“Why doesn’t she have to wash them?”

Luo Juan immediately pinched her daughter. “Your sister is going to the Yan family’s house tomorrow! And you still want her to wash dishes? You’re so thoughtless. Just do as you’re told!”

Wen Xin sat there, her expression calm as she quietly observed.

In reality, she was sweating bullets on the inside—she had almost blown her cover! That was way too close.

After dinner, Luo Juan went into a room and returned with a yellow dress.

“This dress was specially brought back from Haishi. It’s the latest fashion there. I spent eighty yuan on it. Tomorrow, dress up nicely and wear this to the Yan family’s house. I asked around, and their son, the soldier, will be home tomorrow. We’ll go there and let him have a look at you…”

Wen Xin: “……” What? Let him have a look at me?

She was well aware of this part of the story.

That first time the mother and daughter entered the military compound to visit the Yan family, the male lead had indeed been home. He had been sitting on the sofa downstairs.

He had looked at them, yes.

But all he had said was—“Get out.”

Wen Xin glanced at Luo Juan, who was handing over the dress with a reluctant expression. Then, she shifted her gaze toward the supporting character’s younger sister, who stood in the kitchen, glaring at both Wen Xin and the dress with eyes full of jealousy and resentment, as if she had been poisoned by envy.

Wen Xin took the dress and casually unfolded it to take a look…

Uh… it’s an eyesore!