Chapter 15 – The Female Supporting Character in the Confession Book

When Wen Xin returned home, Second Sister-in-law Wen was cooking in the kitchen.

Wen Xin parked the bicycle and went to the kitchen to help her start the fire.

The two women chatted, and then Wen Xin suddenly asked: “Second Sister-in-law, how did you and my brother end up together?”

Second Sister-in-law Wen didn’t expect Wen Xin to ask this question. She was momentarily stunned, and her cheeks turned slightly red. “It was the autumn harvest two years ago when our village had a movie night. Your second brother and the others went to watch, and that’s how I met your brother. A few days later, your brother came to my house and asked if I would be willing to be his friend. After I checked on our family situation, I agreed. We dated for six months, and then we got married.”

Things were different in the countryside compared to the city. Unless the couple was too young during their first meeting, there was rarely any engagement; most couples got married directly.

Big Brother Wen’s meeting with his wife, compared to Second Brother Wen’s romance, was a bit more ordinary.

Big Brother Wen’s wife was introduced by Zhang Xiuying, then they went to the girl’s house to propose. It was the typical matchmaking arrangement.

The relationship between Big Brother Wen and his wife didn’t offer Wen Xin any meaningful reference.

However, Second Sister-in-law Wen’s situation was similar to hers. Back then, Second Brother Wen had only sent someone to ask Second Sister-in-law Wen to come out and talk. He hadn’t immediately asked to be friends.

If one counted carefully, she and Gu Xiuping had only met four times.

The number of words they exchanged could be counted on one hand.

Wen Xin couldn’t understand why she hadn’t refused at the time.

She thought about it for a while, and blamed it on Gu Xiuping’s face.

Sigh…

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That night, Wen Xin went to bed with her questions still lingering in her mind.

After she fell asleep, she rarely had a dream. When she woke up, she had almost forgotten the dream, except for the memory of a pair of eyes that shone like stars.

Wen Xin sighed again.

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The persistent spring rain of May had yet to stop. The work in the fields was almost done, so Zhang Xiuying stayed home that day. She was making clothes for Wen Xin.

Last night, Second Aunt Bai from the next door came over and introduced a potential match for Wen Xin. The man was from the neighboring Wuzhuang Village. According to Second Aunt Bai, he worked at the county’s grain management office, was twenty-two years old, had two older brothers, and was the youngest in his family, doted on by the elders. If Wen Xin married him, they would be able to live independently in the county town. The overall situation was considered quite good.

Zhang Xiuying and Wen Yuejun discussed it for a long time and agreed that it would be worth meeting him.

After breakfast, Zhang Xiuying told Wen Xin about it.

Marriage was something Wen Xin had never thought about. Before she took human form, it was never a requirement for demons like her to marry.

After becoming human, Wen Xin only wanted to avenge the original owner’s grievances, improve herself, and, after the economic reforms, make some money for the Wen family so that future generations wouldn’t have to worry about food or clothing.

Not wanting to meet the man Zhang Xiuying had mentioned, Wen Xin said: “Mom, I don’t want to be in a relationship right now.”

Zhang Xiuying didn’t expect her usually obedient daughter to contradict her. She stopped sewing, looked at Wen Xin, and asked: “Xin Xin, tell me the truth, are you still thinking about Lin Jianzhang?”

Wen Xin was taken aback by Zhang Xiuying’s bold assumption. She was both amused and exasperated. “Mom, what are you imagining? I’ve barely even met Lin Jianzhang a few times. What could I be thinking about him? Besides, I’m not that desperate. His relationship with his ex-wife is a mess. If I married him, who knows how much trouble I’d have to deal with.”

Zhang Xiuying, who knew her daughter never lied, pressed on. “Then tell me, why don’t you want to meet him? You’re already twenty. If you don’t get married soon, people in the village will start gossiping.”

Things had changed in recent years. It was now illegal for girls to marry at fifteen or sixteen, so most girls married at seventeen or eighteen.

By twenty, they were considered late to get married. If a girl was still unmarried by twenty, the older women in the village would gossip about her endlessly.

Since Wen Xin was sixteen, there had been people coming to propose. At that time, Wen Xin was still attending school and doing well academically.

Zhang Xiuying and her husband wanted to keep her at home for a few more years, and so she stayed until she was eighteen.

After turning eighteen, Wen Xin started working at the Township Government, and the suitors were mostly sons of the production team, including the militia leader. Zhang Xiuying felt that none of them were good enough for her daughter.

When Wen Xin had been with Lin Jianzhang, Zhang Xiuying hadn’t been thrilled about him being a divorcee, but at least he didn’t have children from his previous marriage, so she didn’t oppose the relationship too much.

However, it turned out that Lin Jianzhang was all show with no substance.

Seeing that Zhang Xiuying wouldn’t let up until she got an answer, Wen Xin leaned in and whispered: “Mom, I’ve received some inside information. The college entrance exams are going to be restored next year. I want to take the exam and go to college!”

Zhang Xiuying was stunned by Wen Xin’s news. “What did you say?” Her voice cracked.

Wen Xin repeated what she had just said. Zhang Xiuying stared blankly at the clothes in her hands.

The college entrance exams would be restored next year? Her daughter wanted to go to college?

Both pieces of news left Zhang Xiuying stunned, though she was so shocked by Wen Xin’s announcement that she didn’t insist on her going to meet the matchmaker anymore. Wen Xin seized the opportunity to slip away.

Once Zhang Xiuying regained her composure, she couldn’t sit still. When Wen Yuejun came home, she pulled him into the house without even letting him wash his hands.

“What’s going on? What happened?” 

Zhang Xiuying shut the door behind them and climbed onto the kang to close the window.

This series of actions made Wen Yuejun confused yet somewhat familiar. He remembered when he and his wife were younger, and they would sneak around during the day, locking doors and closing windows to avoid being seen.

Since their eldest child was born, they hadn’t been in such a hurry to be secretive.

Could it be that now that their grandson was about to be born, his wife had started thinking like this again?

Could the saying that women turn into tigers at forty be true?

“Wife, what are you doing?” Wen Yuejun asked, his gaze slightly drifting.

Zhang Xiuying pulled Wen Yuejun onto the kang and whispered in his ear about the news Wen Xin had shared with her. Wen Yuejun’s previous fantasies were completely wiped away.

He instinctively reached for his pipe and asked: “Is this true?”

“I don’t know if it’s true or not. This morning, I told our daughter about the matchmaker, and she said she had inside information about the college entrance exam and wants to take it.” Zhang Xiuying sat down on the edge of the kang. “Old man, do you think she’s just making up excuses because she doesn’t want to get married?”

Wen Yuejun twirled his pipe but remained silent, pondering for a while before saying: “You should go to Bai Second Aunt’s house and turn them down. Tell them we’ll keep Xin Xin here for another year. Don’t talk about the college entrance exam just yet. It’s only one year; we can wait.”

Even if Wen Xin was just making up an excuse, it wasn’t that unusual for a girl over twenty to not be married yet, and people might talk. But wasn’t it true that many girls didn’t marry until they were twenty-one or twenty-two? Wen Yuejun felt that waiting another year wasn’t a big deal.

However, if the college entrance exam really was reinstated, that would be different. If their Wen family had a college graduate, it would be a completely new start.

The eldest and second sons didn’t have the aptitude for studying. Those two brothers preferred doing farm work and would rather shovel manure than read books. Only the youngest daughter was able to sit still and study. Since she started school, her grades had never dropped below the top three in her class. Even their high school teachers had commented that if the school still had autonomous recruitment, their daughter would definitely be someone capable of going to university.

Wen Yuejun didn’t have much ability himself, but he couldn’t hold his capable daughter back. If this marriage didn’t work out, there would be other opportunities, but if this marriage caused his daughter to miss the chance to go to university, he feared he’d never be able to rest in peace, even after he was buried.

As for having her in-laws support her college education, that was something Wen Yuejun hadn’t even considered. No in-laws would be willing to go that far.

“You just keep indulging her and see what kind of trouble that causes.” Zhang Xiuying grumbled as she stomped out of the room.

Wen Yuejun muttered to himself after she left: “As if you don’t indulge her. If you didn’t, would you have brought this up to me? You’d definitely have forced her to meet a matchmaker.”

After lunch, Wen Yuejun kept Wen Xin in the room to talk. Father and daughter spoke for a long time, and when Wen Yuejun left for work in the afternoon, he had a smile on his face.

Having convinced his parents and secured that he wouldn’t be pushed into a marriage arrangement for at least another year, Wen Xin finally breathed a sigh of relief. She could now study openly.

Zhang Xiuying, worried that the two daughters-in-law might have objections about Wen Xin, casually mentioned that Wen Xin had a work evaluation coming up, which gave her an excuse.

Naturally, Eldest Sister-in-law Wen and the other Second Sister-in-law Wen didn’t say anything.

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A new week began, and Wen Xin went to work. This week, they were going to the countryside for a forest survey, which kept Wen Xin busy.

She left home at 6:30 every morning and spent the entire day with her colleagues measuring data in the forest area. She was as busy as a spinning top.

By the time she returned home every night, it was very late. Zhang Xiuying noticed her face had become thinner, and she was heartbroken. Every meal, she added an egg to Wen Xin’s plate to make sure she got enough nutrition.

After two weeks of such busy work, the data collection in the rural forest areas was complete. The data would be sorted out slowly later, and Wen Xin had some free time again.

One noon, the office received news that a new batch of dacron fabric had arrived at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. It was reportedly a special ginger-yellow color, which was rare. As soon as the workday ended, the female comrades rushed to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in a flurry.

Wen Xin, of course, followed the trend and went along. The place was packed with people, most of whom had come to grab the dacron fabric.

Everyone was jostling for space, with people quickly grabbing the fabric. Wen Xin managed to get three feet of the fabric. Her colleagues also returned with their own purchases, chatting and laughing as they headed back to the unit, in high spirits.

After lunch, those like Xiao Qian, who had dormitories, went back to sleep, while the comrades who lived in the countryside also returned home. Wen Xin, who lived in the countryside and didn’t have a dormitory at the unit, could only make do and sleep in the office.

She laid her head on the desk and dozed off.

Suddenly, the window glass was knocked on. Wen Xin, still half-asleep, opened her eyes and saw Gu Xiuping, who was hanging on the window, grinning like a blooming flower.

Wen Xin couldn’t help but smile back.

She knew Gu Xiuping had come to find her, and she didn’t hesitate, getting up and walking outside.

The two of them spoke in the yard.

Gu Xiuping had brought some pastries specially made by the State-Owned Restaurant’s chef.

Gu Xiuping was quite adept at reading the room. When he saw Wen Xin’s expression, he realized she might want to reject him. So, he smartly spoke first.

“Comrade Wen, I came to apologize. Last time, I drank a bit too much and spoke without thinking. When I came looking for you earlier, you were out in the countryside, so I couldn’t apologize then. I hope you can forgive me.”

Wen Xin had originally come out to reject Gu Xiuping, but hearing him apologize so earnestly, saying that he had been drunk and spoken rashly, she couldn’t bring herself to turn him down now.

If she refused, wouldn’t it seem like she was making things up in her head?

Wen Xin could only reluctantly say: “It’s fine, really. I accept your apology. You can go back now.”

But Gu Xiuping wasn’t about to leave so easily, especially since he still hadn’t given her the pastries. “Comrade Wen, these pastries are a gift from me, made by the restaurant’s chef as an apology. You must accept them. If you don’t, I won’t be able to relax. I’ll be distracted during my training.”

Before Wen Xin could refuse, Gu Xiuping shoved the pastries into her arms and quickly added: “I’m just taking a break during lunch. I have to go back now. Please keep the pastries. I’m leaving now.”

With that, Gu Xiuping turned around and left swiftly.

Wen Xin stood there, holding the pastries, speechless and unsure what kind of pastries they were.

The sweet aroma lingered in the air.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.