Chapter 1

"Manzhu, believe me, once we return to the city, I can definitely provide you with a good life." A man's voice, filled with urgent swearing, made Jiang Manzhu, who was still somewhat dazed, look at him in confusion.

Opening her eyes and staring at the man in front of her, she hesitated and frowned. Who is he?

In the next moment, a series of sharp pains flooded her mind. After receiving the memories from her mind, Jiang Manzhu realized… she had transmigrated into a book? And into a novel she had just read recently?

This novel was about a poor peasant in a small mountain village who, during the 1970s and 80s, struggled and eventually achieved success in business.

Originally, it had nothing to do with Jiang Manzhu, but the key was…

The original body was a woman who, when the male protagonist was down and out, married the male protagonist's older brother. She was a city-educated youth, very delicate, and shortly after marrying, the male protagonist's older brother died.

Leaving behind two younger brothers, one being the male protagonist and the other… a foolish younger brother, who clearly would need to be supported by her. How could she accept that? Unable to do any work, she thought about finding another man in the village.

One must be able to support oneself, right? She thought that since the previous husband had died, in the new society, she shouldn't be left as a widow, right?

Importantly, the man she was involved with was no good. He deceived the original owner out of money that was meant for the male protagonist's mother's medical treatment.

Without that money, the male protagonist's mother died, leaving him and his foolish younger brother behind. The original body did not reflect on her actions but instead blamed them for dragging her down, constantly scolding and criticizing them, even considering that the foolish younger brother was wasting food, physically abusing him, and even planning to kill him.

She lured the foolish younger brother up the mountain, intending to push him down, but was discovered by the male protagonist. The original body's fate was predictable; she was thrown down the mountain by the male protagonist, hitting her head on a rock, and died…

Ah…

So, I am the beautiful widow who became a cannon fodder?

When reading this novel with a dominant male protagonist and no romantic interest, it seemed quite enjoyable. The protagonist climbed from rags to riches, dealing with various conspiracies and business battles. But now that I've become this unfortunate and beautiful widow, it's no longer pleasant.

Seeing Jiang Manzhu gazing at him with her beautiful eyes, Yuan Fengxin thought she was questioning his sincerity and continued with a passionate tone, "Manzhu, don't you trust me? What is our relationship? In this village, we are like drifting reeds without roots. Only by returning to the city can we realize our grand ideals and dreams for the future…"

"Am I doing this for myself? I'm doing this for our future. Don't you want to stay in this place?"

"Manzhu, don't you want to return to the city with me? As long as we have this money, we can go back. Once we are back, I'll find a connection for you to work in a factory, and you'll never have to work in the fields again."

With a tone full of affection and a pair of peach blossom eyes that seemed deeply sentimental, but with a hint of contempt in his eyes, he seemed to think that persuading Jiang Manzhu was an easy task.

He knew Jiang Manzhu was desperate to leave, and as long as he mentioned this, she would definitely agree.

Jiang Manzhu, finally focusing on the man in front of her, realized that this person was… Yuan Fengxin? The one who deceived the original owner of her money, causing the male protagonist's mother to die due to lack of medical funds?

Instantly, her eyes widened with anger. This was unacceptable; she knew well how the original body ended up.

Looking at the man in front of her who appeared quite ordinary, Jiang Manzhu was puzzled as to why the original body was attracted to him. Reflecting on the memories, she understood… He spoke sweet words, and the original body's beauty was not in line with the aesthetic of that era.

The prevailing beauty standard at the time valued plumpness and gentleness, a quiet demeanor, and diligence as a good daughter-in-law… The original body didn't fit any of these. After being sent to the countryside, unable to do much work, she thought about finding a man in the village to help her, hoping to earn enough work points to sustain herself.

The young man was willing, but his mother was not. She insisted on taking them back home, marriage? Each woman seemed like a vicious old-fashioned mother-in-law, demanding many children. The original body was unwilling.

She wasn't going there to suffer; she had heard childbirth was painful, and with such a wicked mother-in-law, how could she live well? It was a miracle if she wasn't bullied to death.

So, after careful selection, she chose the male protagonist's family. The mother-in-law was gentle, and there were four sons; the eldest was a strong laborer, the second was an officer in the military. Unfortunately, fortune was poor; her husband died, the younger brother sacrificed himself heroically, and the mother-in-law died of illness…

Yuan Fengxin, being stared at, felt a bit guilty, "Manzhu, what's wrong? Did someone say something to you? It's just jealousy; they're deliberately speaking ill of me…"

Yuan Fengxin, irritated, blamed others and accused Jiang Manzhu of not trusting him with a face full of indignation.

If Jiang Manzhu from the past had seen him with his red eyes, she would have immediately explained. But now… things had changed, and there was no place for sympathy in her mood.

Jiang Manzhu had managed to sort out the memories in her mind and had no good feelings towards the scumbag in front of her. Trying to take her money? No way. Also, the money she had lost must be returned.

Taking a step back to keep her distance and avoid the scumbag smell, she said, "Yuan Fengxin, you deceived me out of money and food. When will you return it to me?"

Her beautiful face turned cold, her words revealing her anger, as if deliberately trying to make him upset.

What's wrong? Why is Jiang Manzhu suddenly asking for money? Has she found a new target…

Or… did she discover something about him with others? It shouldn't be; he had been so secretive…

Regardless of the reason, Yuan Fengxin was determined not to let Jiang Manzhu escape his control. He knew she had married into a wealthy family in the village, and he had secretly deceived her for so long. Now, he also heard that the compensation from the Li family's second son was quite substantial.

"Manzhu, are you quarreling with me over a small matter? I've said it before, my heart only has you. If you don't trust me like this, how can we move forward?" Yuan Fengxin, the master of emotional manipulation, had a solemn expression, speaking with heartfelt pain and a look of "I misjudged you; you are actually this kind of person."

Jiang Manzhu raised her delicate eyebrows, about to say something when she heard a commotion coming from a side path. It seemed to be talking about something, and Jiang Manzhu instinctively looked over, suddenly realizing something and her eyes widened.

How could she have forgotten?

At this moment… Jiang Manzhu felt the thick feeling in the pocket where she hid her money. Oh, no wonder Yuan Fengxin was still being so nice to her.

In the next moment, Yuan Fengxin felt a sharp pain in his eye as Jiang Manzhu, leaping up, used her small, delicate fist to hit him hard. With a cry of "Ow," he glared at Jiang Manzhu, angrily shouting, "What are you doing?"

"Return my money to me. Do you know my mother-in-law was ill, and you stole my money? Are you even human?" The beautiful and angry woman's face was full of indignation, her raised voice filled with fury.

She knew her strength wasn't great. If it was elsewhere, it wouldn't have hurt much. But hitting him in the eyes was different. She could manage one surprise attack, but if she hit him a second time, he would definitely be on guard.

"You bad person." With that shout, she picked up a small bamboo stick nearby and began to beat Yuan Fengxin, determined to let those who came to "catch the adulterer" see her resolve.

A bamboo stick hurts quite a lot when used as a weapon.

Yuan Fengxin was struck once, feeling pain in his eye, and before he could react, he was beaten with the bamboo stick, and it was impossible for him to endure.

"What are you doing?" Yuan Fengxin felt he had been inexplicably beaten, how could he not be angry? He was a man with a strong sense of male dominance, not the type to defer to women. His previous behavior at the intellectual youth station was just an act.

After being beaten, and still in pain, he grabbed the bamboo stick, his expression fierce, and his brewing anger prepared to snatch it back.

Jiang Manzhu's face grew colder as Yuan Fengxin seized the bamboo stick she was using to whip him. The next second, hearing the commotion behind her, Jiang Manzhu realized that the villagers had arrived…

"Help! Someone is stealing money! The intellectual youth is bullying our villagers!!!" Jiang Manzhu immediately called out for help. She wasn't someone who could handle such situations, but knowing people were coming, she had prepared a strategy.

Yuan Fengxin, who had just snatched the bamboo stick from Jiang Manzhu, still had a dark expression. His rage had already burned away his reason, and he was ready to retaliate.

But hearing Jiang Manzhu's shameless accusations, his anger flared, and his reason was momentarily restored.

Instinctively, he looked towards the source of the commotion and saw more than a dozen villagers marching over with a determined attitude.

Yuan Fengxin was suddenly scared and stumbled back several times. How, how did people come?

Seeing them, Jiang Manzhu ran towards them like she had found her saviors. "Auntie, Uncle, thank goodness you came. Otherwise, I would have been beaten to death by that Yuan intellectual youth."

She ran up to the auntie and complained with great grievance, mixed with anger towards Yuan Fengxin.

The mixed emotions were immediately apparent to the onlookers: Jiang Manzhu's current sadness and grievance, as well as her gratitude for their arrival.

The villagers were somewhat confused. Wasn't it said that the new daughter-in-law of the Li family… had an inappropriate relationship with that Yuan intellectual youth?

Seeing her come to them for help, they were silent for a moment.

"You're talking nonsense. When did I say I would beat you to death? You're the one who hit me!" On the other side, Yuan Fengxin loudly rebutted Jiang Manzhu's accusations.

"Auntie, after marrying into the Li family, my mother-in-law and younger brothers have treated me very well. I feel that everyone in our village is hardworking, brave, loving, and striving. It's such a blessing to be part of your lives."

First, she lavished them with sweet words, then she began to complain, hoping someone would listen.

"As an intellectual youth, I know I can't carry heavy loads or earn any work points. I used to rely on money and coupons from my parents in the city to support myself. Now that I've married into the Li family, I am part of the Li family. My mother and Lin Dong treated me so well before, and now that my mother is ill, I don't know how heartbroken I am."

"Previously, since we were all sent to the countryside together as intellectual youths, my parents sent me meat tickets, cloth tickets, and money. We all suffered so much, and I even borrowed a lot."

"Knowing that treating my mother's illness requires a lot of money, I hoped they would return the money to help with her treatment. But Yuan Fengxin not only refused to pay back but also pretended nothing happened and even tried to hit me."

"Knowing my mother is sick and needs money, my mother is still a member of the village. Lin Dong was injured digging a ditch for the village, and Lin Nan was a martyr. Yuan Fengxin now refuses to repay, completely forgetting the help our village gave to them intellectual youths."

In just a few words of complaint, she highlighted her 'villager identity' and mentioned the Li family's contribution to the village, showing she stood on the same side as the Li family and the village.

Then, she explained that she came to Yuan Fengxin because her mother-in-law was sick and she needed to reclaim previous debts.

Finally, she used the conflict between the villagers and intellectual youths to achieve her rhetorical goal. She couldn't be labeled as having an inappropriate relationship, or she'd end up in a labor camp or prison, which would be severe.

Not every place has harmonious relations between intellectual youths and villagers. The policy of sending intellectual youths to the countryside was good for supporting rural development, but they lacked the education and skills needed for farming, and their contributions didn't match the resources used to support them.

In fact, the village didn't really need their 'labor force,' with some being less useful than young children.

Of course, the intellectual youths also felt very wronged, and being looked down upon in the village, they could only stay low.

Generally, intellectual youths wouldn't actively provoke villagers because they knew they couldn't win. Even if it escalated to the commune, it would only result in a reprimand, and they wouldn't be transferred to another brigade unless the consequences were severe. They still had to live in the village.

Hearing Jiang Manzhu's complaints, Yuan Fengxin was enraged and immediately jumped up. "Nonsense, I've never forgotten the village's help to us intellectual youths. The village head and villagers have helped us, and all of us intellectual youths, including myself, have always been grateful."

"So, are you here… to collect debts?" The villagers had originally come thinking there was a scandalous affair and were here to catch the woman involved!

"Thought someone was sneaking around in the woods! Oh, it was a misunderstanding?"

"Hey, kid, if you owe money, you should pay it back quickly."

"Yes, people are sick and can't wait. If you came to collect a debt, why didn't you ask for help?"

"Are you trying to bully our village? Have you had enough of life?"

The actual person who brought the villagers, Li Linxi, remained silent, quietly watching Jiang Manzhu…

"Auntie, I have to be honest. I asked someone to let you know about this, afraid someone might come in a fit of anger to beat me. See, he's still holding the bamboo stick?"

Jiang Manzhu was quick-witted and knew that this issue might be discussed later, so bringing it to light showed that she had a clear conscience.

If I were really involved in some scandal, would I dare publicize this? "I also thank all of you uncles and aunties for coming to help. My mother and Lin Dong often said the villagers were warm-hearted, and it's true."

"Yuan Fengxin, everyone knows how the intellectual youths are. You've taken a lot from me; they can all testify for me." Turning around, to Yuan Fengxin, Jiang Manzhu looked cool and radiant with the villagers backing her.

Yuan Fengxin was first thrown off by Jiang Manzhu's tactics, and with so many people pressuring him, he began to panic.

What, does it have to be spread around? Will the entire intellectual youth group condemn him?

"I… I didn't say I wouldn't pay back, just that I'm short on cash right now, so I can't…" Yuan Fengxin, under the watchful eyes of the villagers, stammered an explanation, admitting he couldn't pay.

"You're lying. Last time you went to town, you had a package."

"Yuan intellectual youth, you can't be so selfish. If you owe someone money, you need to pay it back."

In the simple-minded view of the common people, paying back debts is a basic principle.

"Yes, Yuan intellectual youth, my mother needs money for treatment. If you don't pay back, are you going to watch a life slip away… You're so vicious!!!"

When Jiang Manzhu mentioned "a life," she felt a chill down her spine, reminded of the heartless male lead Li Linxi watching her. She quickly shifted her focus to accusing Yuan Fengxin.

Wuwu… I don't want to, but if I don't do this, the blame will fall on me, and I don't want to be pointed at in the village in the future.

Moreover, with the ongoing trouble and a bad reputation, it could end badly with no one to speak up for her.

"This matter must be reported to the team leader so that the team leader can make a public criticism or report it to the police to seek justice for us common people!" Jiang Manzhu's righteous words prompted others to quickly advise her.

"This kind of thing doesn't need the police. Yuan intellectual youth, hurry up and return the money."

"Yuan intellectual youth, just pay back what you owe. Don't act like those landlords who oppress others. If this gets reported, you won't have it easy either."

The situation must not be escalated; the prevailing thinking is to avoid making things worse. Dealing with the police is not a good idea; it might attract more trouble.

However, the new daughter-in-law of the Li family was right. Yuan intellectual youth's cruel behavior was unacceptable, and it felt like they were being bullied by the intellectual youths. It couldn't be tolerated!

In the end, under the villagers' 'pressure,' Yuan Fengxin had no choice but to return what he had previously taken.

Li Linxi watched the scene with a frown, realizing that the villagers he had brought had become Jiang Manzhu's trump card.

Jiang Manzhu cheerfully stuffed the money and coupons back into her pocket and clasped her hands in thanks to the villagers. "Thank you all, uncles and aunts. Without you, I wouldn't have known what to do. Once my mother is better, I will definitely come back to thank you. Now, I finally have the money to take my mother to the doctor, so we'll be heading back."

Her bright smile and sweet words were as charming as ever.

After expressing her gratitude, she finally turned her attention to her younger brother-in-law, Li Linxi—who had no romantic interest, was career-focused, and had a strong male lead persona.

In truth, Li Linxi had a pure and youthful appearance, with red lips and white teeth. If it weren't for the book, one might not realize that beneath his gentle and innocent exterior, there was a streak of ruthless determination.

"Linxi, thank you for bringing them to help. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to get the money back. Let's go now; we need to take Mom to see a doctor quickly."

In front of the villagers, she had to maintain the image of having a good relationship with the Li family. From now on, she would be the virtuous, gentle, and considerate sister-in-law.