Chapter 4

Pei Songbai had calmed down a bit while working in the private plot. As soon as he stepped through the front door, he saw his young wife leaning against the doorframe, loudly declaring she wanted to split from the family. His gaze immediately darkened with storm clouds.

He ignored everyone else and strode straight toward Xia Wenhua.
“You want to split from the family?”

Why is this big shot back already?!

Xia Wenhua instinctively shrank her neck, suddenly recalling the “cheating” scene she had walked into just after transmigrating. She couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

But this matter of splitting up the household directly affected her living standard in this era. If they didn’t divide the family, she wouldn’t be able to use any of the items from her “cheat system,” even if Pei Songbai wanted her to stay. So her mind was already made up.

After a moment of hesitation, Xia Wenhua looked Pei Songbai straight in the eyes and said firmly:
“Yes, I want to split. I used to think the money we gave the family was enough for me not to work. After all, you don’t make much in the fields each year, and with so many mouths to feed, you still need to buy grain to get by.

But even after I handed over money, they still cause trouble every year because I won’t work. It’s exhausting. I just don’t like labor. If they really can’t stand that, then fine—split the family! Once I’m running my own household, I should finally be allowed not to work, right?”

Her words weren’t just for Pei Songbai—they were also meant for Pei Mother and her few sisters-in-law.

The original host had plenty of money and thought it was worth it to throw some out to avoid trouble. But Xia Wenhua had no intention of enduring these greedy people over and over again.

She stared intently at Pei Songbai, watching for the slightest shift in his expression. What others in the family thought didn’t matter to her—only Pei Songbai did.

Meanwhile, Wang Chunhua and the others had already begun complaining, hoping Pei Songbai could talk Xia Wenhua out of splitting the household.

Unfortunately for them, Pei Songbai didn’t pay them any attention. From the moment he entered, his focus had been solely on Xia Wenhua. He had just dragged her back from the Educated Youth compound, and now she wanted to split the family? Had she lied when she said she wanted to live a good life with him?

The storm in his eyes grew darker, and it was with great effort that he squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth:
“If we split, I’ll take you with me to Heisheng as a military spouse. You’re not staying here alone. Would you still be willing to go?”

“A military spouse? That’s an option?!” Xia Wenhua blurted out instinctively, her voice full of genuine surprise and joy.

Pei Songbai’s fury vanished in an instant. He blinked in disbelief and asked again:
“You’re willing to come with me as a military spouse?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Are you serious—I can really go with you this time?”

Even with the original host’s memories, Xia Wenhua hadn’t had enough time to fully understand every past detail.
But in her eyes, becoming a military spouse was all benefit and no downside. Pei Songbai and the two children were her mission targets. She was prepared to get along with them—but she had no attachment to anyone else.

Now there was a chance to cut ties with all those messy, annoying relationships and live her own quiet life. Why would she say no?

Pei Songbai didn’t know what she was really thinking, and at the moment, he didn’t care. He had asked her to come with him so many times before, but she had always refused. Now that she was finally willing, he could finally live peacefully like everyone else. Nothing else mattered.

“I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. Go inside and pack your things—and the kids’. Bring them in.” Pei Songbai pushed his emotions aside and gave Xia Wenhua a deep look.

After all, they were husband and wife. He was a rough man from the countryside. Even if he had done well in the military, his lifelong dream was still to have a warm home with a loving wife and children.

As long as Xia Wenhua was willing to bring the kids and live with him sincerely, everything from the past could be forgiven. After all, marriage wasn’t easy for an educated woman like her either.

Xia Wenhua hadn’t caught on to the deeper meaning of his words yet when Pei Mother grabbed hold of the two children and, rather than handing them over, looked at Pei Songbai with pleading eyes:
“Songbai, the family can’t be split.”

She was just an ordinary rural old lady and, naturally, wanted all her children to live well.

The other daughters-in-law might not know, but how could she not? The second branch had two children, the third had three, and the fourth was about to have several more. All of them ate but didn’t contribute.

Without support from the eldest branch, the rest of the family would surely suffer.

“Mother, if you want to come with us, you can. If not, the money I give you for your retirement won’t change. You can give it to whoever you want—I won’t interfere. Comrade Xia finally wants to live well with me, so I’m taking her and the kids with me. Does it even matter anymore if the family splits?”

Pei Songbai had always been clear-headed. He helped the family when he could, but he also wanted his own life. He knew exactly what Pei Mother valued, so he directly mentioned the retirement money. As expected, her expression gradually softened.

As long as the money stayed, everything else could be worked out. What he said made sense, and she started to accept it. Realizing Pei Songbai had made up his mind and likely had more to say to Xia Wenhua, she handed the kids over.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, take the children inside first.”

Xia Wenhua took the kids from Pei Mother and gently patted their heads. Seeing their innocent smiles calmed her racing heart a little.

“Xiao Chen, Xiao Guang, let’s go inside with Mommy, okay?”

The future little villains were only three years old right now, still soft and adorable. Feeling that Mommy was being extra gentle today, they excitedly snuggled into her arms.

Xia Wenhua carried the little ones into the room, and Pei Songbai followed closely behind.
“I’ll handle the household split. You just watch the kids for now. Later, we’ll sit down and talk properly, Comrade Xia.”

Those last three words were said in a low voice, and Xia Wenhua’s heart skipped a beat.

She had made a huge mistake!

The marriage between the original Xia Wenhua and Pei Songbai had been a mistake from the start. Aside from a so-called one-night stand influenced by “world consciousness,” they had virtually no interaction.

This plotline only existed so that the female lead—a village girl—could later be seen as a good match for Pei Songbai, a military officer. Before his character “awakened,” he was full of flaws.

They had no emotional foundation. Their marriage was forced by social pressure. Other than the original host moving in from the Educated Youth compound and giving birth to two children, nothing had changed. They even referred to each other formally as “Comrade Xia” and “Comrade Pei.”

She had been too nervous after transmigrating and had accidentally called him “Songbai” at the Educated Youth compound!

Now, Xia Wenhua didn’t know what Pei Songbai was thinking. But after he emphasized “Comrade Xia” twice and said they needed to talk, her mind started spinning—how was she going to talk her way out of this one?!