Chapter 4

Jiang Manzhu thought she might have been mistaken. When she looked up at Li Linxi, his refined and gentle face looked so harmless, like a weak scholar.

Hmm… I must have been mistaken.

Even if he's like a black-hearted lotus, reborn from hardship, Li Linxi should still be a pure-hearted young gentleman for now.

Ahem, of course, I can't say this out loud, especially with the Red Armband still around!

But the description fits. Li Lindong, the eldest, is diligent and capable, managing both inside and outside the home. Li Linan, after joining the army, rose to the rank of regimental commander, and his monthly salary and allowances were substantial.

Moreover, Li Linan wasn't married, so nearly all his allowances were sent back home since the army provided food and accommodation.

Li Linbei was a simpleton, spending his days eating and drinking, and he didn't even finish second grade.

So, since childhood, Li Linxi has been fair-skinned and handsome, excelling academically. From elementary school to high school, he passed every exam on the first try, whether it was transitioning from elementary to middle school or from middle school to high school.

This kind of young man, who only needs to focus on his studies without worrying about basic needs, must be quite pure-hearted. Even if he has a bit of a dark side, he surely wouldn't be too ruthless.

Jiang Manzhu comforted herself with this thought. After all, if she didn't reassure herself, she couldn't keep living in constant fear.

To put it bluntly, if she couldn't return to her previous life and had to wait for years to reapply for the college entrance exams, what would be the point of staying in the Li family? She'd be living in constant anxiety, unable to eat or sleep well, and end up weak and haggard.

With this in mind, Jiang Manzhu gave Li Linxi a big, affirming smile and spoke with admiration, "Linxi, I knew you were the pillar of our family, supporting us all. Xiaobei, you need to be good to your brother from now on, understand?"

Today, Jiang Manzhu had mentioned that he was the "pillar of the family" more than once, hoping to subtly influence Li Linxi to take charge and support the family. This required effort, didn't it?

When would the protagonist halo of Li Linxi start to show its effects?

For the first time, Jiang Manzhu hoped that Li Linxi's halo would shine brightly. It would be great if his protagonist aura could be like some other character's, where he finds game while going up the mountain, wild boars crash into trees, and no one notices how illogical or brain-dead it is…

Li Linxi, unaffected by the flattery, just listened to his little brother's earnest promise, "I will definitely be good to Third Brother."

Li Linxi smiled, his expression gentle and elegant like a cold flower blooming. Jiang Manzhu instinctively covered her eyes. It must be because she was thinking about the protagonist halo, making him smile so attractively at this moment.

Damn!

Li Linxi and Li Linbei: …

What's she doing? Is she crazy?

Li Linxi didn't want to investigate whether Jiang Manzhu was losing her mind. Despite his dissatisfaction with her, she had said one thing correctly: right now, this family could only rely on him. He was indeed the pillar of the family.

Li Linxi couldn't rely on Jiang Manzhu. He instructed Li Linbei, who was following behind him, "Xiaobei, from now on, stay away from Jiang Manzhu and don't listen to what she says."

Li Linxi didn't want his brother getting too close to Jiang Manzhu, but since they were living under the same roof, he thought, should he just kick her out?

Too bad he didn't catch Jiang Manzhu and Yuan Fengxin doing anything suspicious this morning. What a pity…

Li Linbei looked at his third brother in confusion, not understanding why. Being a good child, he asked, "Why?"

He thought his sister-in-law was pretty nice…

Li Linxi couldn't tell him the real reason, but that woman was full of sweet talk, and Xiaobei was too easily fooled.

Looking at his brother's innocent face, still so naïve and childlike, Li Linxi's heart softened. "Just trust me, you'll be fine if you listen to your brother."

Li Linxi thought that when he came back from the mountain, he would find his obedient little brother sticking close to Jiang Manzhu again, talking about something. Judging from his brother's cheerful and proud expression, he knew…

His brother had been tricked by Jiang Manzhu again.

"Third Brother."

"Linxi, you're back? Thanks for the hard work," Jiang Manzhu's eyes lit up when she saw Li Linxi carrying a large tree trunk back. She hadn't expected the delicate-looking protagonist to be so strong.

However…

"Linxi, remember to chop the wood later; otherwise, it won't dry and won't burn." Jiang Manzhu glanced at him and reminded him. She had told him to gather dry branches, but he insisted on cutting down fresh trees.

"Third Brother, thanks for your hard work," Li Linbei immediately echoed Jiang Manzhu's words and then, following her instructions, hurried off to fetch water for his third brother.

His brother had worked so hard; he must be thirsty.

Li Linxi accepted the water and, for once, didn't want to scold Xiaobei. His gaze shifted to Jiang Manzhu. "What were you two talking about earlier?"

"Third Brother, Sister-in-law said that during the next break, she'll take me to the market town," Xiaobei said excitedly, full of anticipation for something that hadn't even happened yet.

"Hmm." Li Linxi thought it might be time to have a proper talk with Jiang Manzhu. She shouldn't be manipulating his little brother…

After chopping wood, Li Linxi fetched water to water the vegetables. Then, since the family needed water, he continued hauling more.

Meanwhile, Jiang Manzhu was teaching Xiaobei how to boil water and cook. He was already fifteen, so he needed to learn how to grow up, and at the very least… there was no problem with him sitting there tending the fire.

At dinner, the meal was simple, and Jiang Manzhu still wasn't used to it. She forced herself to eat just to fill her stomach.

At this time, the hybrid rice that the esteemed academician Yuan Longping developed to yield a thousand catties per mu hadn't been invented yet. Yields were low, and even white rice couldn't be eaten at every meal.

Now, mother-in-law Liu Jumei was able to get out of bed and join them for dinner. Seeing that everyone was silent at the table, Jiang Manzhu felt she needed to liven up the atmosphere with her enthusiasm.

"Mom, what's done is done. We still have to live our lives. We can't keep dwelling on the past. There are only four of us now, and Xiaobei and I aren't very capable. I've already handed over Linan's pension to Linxi, but we can't just sit around and do nothing, right?"

Jiang Manzhu thought it was time to plan for the future. After all, she couldn't keep working as hard as she had at the commune, going up and down the mountains. She might as well live on her own if that was the case.

"You're right, Manzhu." Liu Jumei's expression briefly faltered when she heard Jiang Manzhu bring up the matter, a trace of sadness flashing across her face. But thinking about her two sons, she had to stay strong.

If she collapsed, what would happen to Linxi and Linbei?

"I'll go talk to the team leader and arrange some light work for you. Manzhu, you and Xiaobei can go gather pigweed together."

Liu Jumei appeared gentle and kind, showing no arrogance towards her daughter-in-law.

In her mind, Jiang Manzhu had been widowed at a young age because she married into her family, and Liu Jumei felt guilty about that.

The arranged marriage hadn't worked out, and Liu Jumei didn't blame the fortune-teller or Jiang Manzhu. She had known that Li Lindong was already near death at that time, yet they still dragged a young woman into it, ruining her future happiness…

To this young urban woman who had come to the countryside, Liu Jumei, who had grown up in the village and lived there her whole life, felt a deep sense of respect.

It was a result of the restrictions of the era, and not mistreating her daughter-in-law was the highest expression of Liu Jumei's decency.

Which other mother-in-law in the village treated their daughter-in-law this well? None!

"Mom, I'll listen to you." With the original owner's memories, Jiang Manzhu naturally knew that gathering pigweed was considered light work, so she obediently nodded, presenting herself as the perfect daughter-in-law.

"Xiaobei, tomorrow you'll go to work with your sister-in-law. Are you scared?" She smiled at Xiaobei, using a challenge to provoke him into sitting up straight.

"Of course not." Xiaobei almost pounded his chest, eager to prove himself as a capable child.

Jiang Manzhu smiled even more brightly. With Xiaobei around, even though his mental age was still that of a child, at least he had the body of a fifteen-year-old. At the very least… he could carry the pigweed.

She didn't ask for his opinion and directly made the decision.

Li Linxi glanced coldly at Jiang Manzhu, and Liu Jumei noticed her third son's expression, thinking he was dissatisfied with Jiang Manzhu doing such light work.

"Linxi, Mom knows you haven't done much farming before… Actually, if you're unwilling, I could try to send you to school to graduate from high school. Maybe…" Liu Jumei thought about it for a long time before speaking hesitantly.

It wasn't that she didn't love her son, but the family's current situation wasn't what it used to be. All their savings had gone into treating the eldest son's illness.

Unfortunately, it hadn't worked, and all their savings were gone…

Her eldest son had refused treatment, but as a mother, how could Liu Jumei possibly give up on her own child?

Looking at Li Linxi, there wasn't a trace of hesitation in her eyes. As for her son dropping out of school… She hadn't supported it and had even scolded him, but the child didn't listen.

"There's no need. Even graduating from high school doesn't guarantee a job. It's a waste of time." He was only in his first year of high school, and if he were to continue, he'd have to study for two more years. The tuition and living expenses would be enough to crush this income-less family. Li Linxi didn't see any benefit in going back to school.

"Mom, you should rest for a few more days. Tomorrow, I'll go to the fields alone." Li Linxi was worried his mother wouldn't be able to handle it physically. It was just manual labor, and he'd suffered far worse before.

His tone was calm, but it carried an authoritative note that left no room for argument.

"Linxi, I'll go talk to the team leader later and arrange some easy work for you to get used to." Liu Jumei was worried. Her refined and delicate son didn't seem suited for fieldwork.

How could Liu Jumei not understand what her son was thinking? But all her sons were so stubborn!

She didn't persuade him any further, instead thinking about how to help Linxi adapt to village life.

Without a high school diploma and no connections, it would be hard to get into a factory. If he couldn't become a worker, he'd have to return to the village and be a farmer.

A farmer had to work the fields to earn labor points, which would be exchanged for food to feed himself and his family.

"There's no need. If I can do the work, I'll do it. If not, I'll take my time." Li Linxi didn't think it was necessary to go out of the way to talk to the team leader; he didn't need it.

After Liu Jumei went to find the team leader (to arrange for Jiang Manzhu's pigweed work) and Xiaobei went to bed, Li Linxi coldly blocked Jiang Manzhu, who was about to go to sleep.

"Jiang Manzhu, stay away from Xiaobei in the future. Don't use your nonsensical ideas to corrupt him."

Jiang Manzhu, who seemed to notice Li Linxi's dislike toward her, looked at him seriously and asked, "Linxi, it seems like you've always been biased against me. Why?"

Could it be that the original owner had done something to Li Linxi that she hadn't noticed?

Or was it because of what happened this morning? Had Li Linxi been holding a grudge, not believing that nothing improper had happened between her and Yuan Fengxin?

Oh right, today she had suddenly transmigrated into this book, and many things had flooded her mind. Only now did she realize what had happened this morning. Li Linxi had brought a group of villagers over… to catch her in an affair?