Chapter 14: Going to the Mountains to Collect Mushrooms

To be honest, she felt a bit ashamed. Currently, she was the only idle person at home. Today was Monday, and Xie Zhi had gone to school early in the morning.

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t even know when he left since she slept in until almost noon.

For lunch today, it was just her and her mother, Yan Fenglian.

Even though it was only the two of them, there were still three dishes: stir-fried loofah with eggs, shredded potatoes, and leftovers from last night.

In the village, people weren’t particular about leftovers. Having food to eat was already considered good.

Seeing her daughter uninterested in eating, Yan Fenglian smiled and asked, “Jiaojiao, are you bored? Why don’t you go with Hongyan and the others to the back mountain to collect mushrooms this afternoon? It’s nice and cool there.”

“Mushrooms?” Xu Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up. At home, they only had a radio with a single channel, and it was getting incredibly dull. If this continued, she felt like she would rot from boredom.

“That’s right. You and Hongyan are very close. You’ve been distant from Shen Yun after spending time with her. Next time, be more proactive,” Yan Fenglian said, placing a peeled egg into Jiaojiao’s bowl.

Xu Jiaojiao was busy trying to remember who Qin Hongyan was. She had no recollection of this person, just like how she didn’t remember meeting Yang Mei until yesterday.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed. She decided to stop thinking about it. After all, she had transmigrated into this book, so it was normal for there to be characters she didn’t recognize.

Thinking about the chance to go into the mountains in the afternoon, a smile spread across Xu Jiaojiao’s face. The allure of the mountain’s scenery was strong for a city girl like her.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at her outfit for the day: her long hair was braided and draped over her pale neck, with a green ribbon tied at the end. She wore a stylish military green hat on her head, a blouse with small flower patterns, and a pair of calf-length jeans. She looked fashionable and pretty, nothing like a village girl.

The day she arrived, Xu Jiaojiao noticed that people in this era were not as conservative as she had imagined. It was common for young women to breastfeed their babies under the trees, so wearing short sleeves was no big deal.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that people in the 21st century were becoming more conservative. In the 1990s, people wore tank tops and shorts everywhere. In the 1970s, no one thought of their chest as something to hide. But in modern times, men seemed to want women to cover themselves up completely.

Yan Fenglian packed her daughter a packet of orange-flavored soda powder and some candy, all of which she placed in a small basket. She stroked Jiaojiao’s head, reminding her, “Go on now. Don’t go too far when playing in the water, and come back early. I’ll make chicken soup for you tonight.”

Xu Jiaojiao’s eyes widened. “Mom, don’t you treasure your chickens? You can’t even sleep at night worrying about them.”

“Nonsense. You’re my treasure. This chicken was a gift from Grandma, brought back by Xie Zhi this morning after delivering something. You have to live a good life with him.”

“I know, I know. Okay, I’m off!” Xu Jiaojiao said, sticking out her tongue playfully before skipping out the door with her basket.

The August heat was intense, but her excitement carried her quickly to Qin Hongyan’s house.

Before she even got close, she saw a graceful figure surrounded by a group of men. The woman, with a lovely face, was laughing and swaying gracefully, captivating everyone around her.

Shen Yun was wearing a pink dress, her slightly yellow skin glowing under the sunlight. Even standing in the shade, Xu Jiaojiao had to admit that Shen Yun had reasons to be proud.

She clearly enjoyed being the center of attention, basking in the admiration of the men who tried to please her just for a smile. Shen Yun was quite pleased with herself.

But none of these men could compare to Xu Jiaojiao’s fiancé, Xie Zhi. The thought of the handsome and talented village teacher made Shen Yun blush.

A teacher was far better than these rough men working in the fields. She wrinkled her nose in disdain, finding the smell unbearable compared to Xie Zhi’s pleasant, woodsy scent.

Xu Jiaojiao was such a fool to prefer Sheng Jie, a fatherless man, over someone like Xie Zhi. And yet, Xie Zhi was completely devoted to her.

Shen Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly as she crossed her arms and let out a small laugh. “Jiaojiao, are you going to collect mushrooms too?”

Wang Jun, trying to curry favor, handed Shen Yun a bowl of raspberries right in front of Xu Jiaojiao. “Comrade Shen is the model for all women. She’s nothing like Jiaojiao, who spends her days lounging around while her husband works.”

After he spoke, the other young men sneered at Xu Jiaojiao. Though they were attracted to her beauty, they despised her laziness. They preferred someone like Shen Yun, who was both pretty and hardworking.

Most of the villagers wore black, white, or gray, and their hair was unkempt. In contrast, Xu Jiaojiao’s well-braided hair and fair skin made her stand out, like a girl who had been pampered.

In this era, hard work was glorified, and Xu Jiaojiao’s family background didn’t help. She had both Xie Zhi, who came from a bourgeois family, and her own status, which the village disdained. However, because her family members were all well-established, no one dared say anything to her face.

Xu Jiaojiao smirked and glanced at them with disdain. “So what if I’m lucky? So what if I sleep in every day?”

With that, she turned and walked into Qin Hongyan’s courtyard.

“Jiaojiao, don’t go in there,” Shen Yun called after her.

“Don’t worry about her, Comrade Shen,” a few of the young men chimed in, eager for drama.

Xu Jiaojiao entered the quiet courtyard, carrying a small bowl of raspberries. It seemed like everyone was napping. She quietly tiptoed further inside, curious about the place.

The houses in this era were poor, especially the Qin family’s. With only one son earning labor credits, the house looked run-down. Even the windows were drafty, and the inside was a mess.

Suddenly, a loud sound came from inside.

Xu Jiaojiao’s heart leaped with excitement. They’re awake! She boldly walked in, looking around with wide eyes. The Qin family’s poverty was evident, with cracks in the walls and a shabby interior.

Just as she was about to investigate further, she heard a strange noise coming from the house. Curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked inside—only to see two people on the bed, making noises louder than before, and she couldn’t tell whether it was from pain or pleasure.

Xu Jiaojiao’s mind went blank, and she quickly turned around, too scared to look back as she bolted out of the house. She ran and ran, her heart pounding in her chest, unable to calm down.

“What kind of luck is this?” she thought, exasperated. “Even something like this can happen to me.”

She raced down the village road, her hands clutching her chest as she headed towards the school where Xie Zhi taught, relying on her memory to guide her.

The school was just an old pigsty that the villagers no longer used. It had been repurposed, with brick walls built around it. The only bright spot was the vivid red flag in the yard, a symbol of the students’ future.

When Xu Jiaojiao arrived, Xie Zhi was sitting and reading, poring over texts she didn’t understand. His glasses perched on his nose, making him look even more out of place. His khaki shirt was neat and stylish, standing out in the dusty village.