Accidentally Marking The Vicious Female Lead After Transmigrating Into A Period Novel - Chapter 21

Lin Yishu had originally come out today with Li Can to buy some things.

Of course, the excuse she used was that she was going out to mail a letter.

The village of Xili rarely saw a postman to begin with, and with the New Year approaching, one hadn’t been seen for several days. Therefore, using this as a reason was quite plausible.

In truth, Lin Yishu felt that since the New Year was almost here, she wanted to buy some gifts for everyone.

She had previously visited the supply and marketing cooperative, but because it was a village shop, while daily household items were plentiful, other things were lacking. For instance, there were hardly any ready-made clothes, and those that were available weren’t very attractive.

Thus, Lin Yishu thought about going to town to browse.

However, Li Chunmei and Xu Xiufen weren’t comfortable letting her go out alone. Just as they were worrying, Li Can heard the news and immediately started clamoring to follow. Thinking the two could look after each other and knowing the girl was clever, they agreed.

Sure enough, Li Can went for a quick loop around the village and came back to reassure them, saying other villagers were going to town as well. She and “Sister Yishu” would follow the group, so they would be safe.

The two set off with several women from Xili Village. Chatting and laughing, the walk didn’t feel long at all.

Lin Yishu had been in Xili Village for a while now. Although she didn’t go out much, her looks were so striking that anyone who saw her once would never forget her. Consequently, many people knew of her.

Some of the women wanted to pry into her background, but seeing her distant “thousand miles away” demeanor, none dared to approach her directly. Instead, they caught hold of Li Can.

“Ah Can, who is this girl to your family? A distant relative?”

Li Can used the excuse she and her sister had prepared: “Sister Yishu is my big sister’s classmate.”

“Your sister’s classmate? Doesn’t her classmate go home for the New Year? Why is she spending it at your house?” someone followed up.

Li Can put on a melancholy expression, sighing like a little adult. “I don’t understand adult matters, but listening to my Mom and Grandma talk, Sister Yishu has had a very hard time.”

The group of women instantly “understood.” Those with overactive imaginations had already spontaneously invented a tragic life story for her.

Consequently, the women stopped investigating her past and instead looked at her with collective sympathy. Thus, whenever Lin Yishu made eye contact with someone along the road, she would see them give her a gentle smile, leaving her feeling quite bewildered.

Once they reached town, everyone went their separate ways, agreeing to meet in front of the state-run restaurant before dark. Lin Yishu took Li Can straight to the state-run department store.

Walking through the store, she pondered what to buy for everyone. Li Can was already mesmerized by the dazzling array of goods, her feet practically glued to the floor.

Lin Yishu originally wanted her help to decide, but seeing her like this, she shook her head with a smile and decided to choose herself.

She had initially thought of buying ready-made clothes, but she wasn’t very sure of Li Chunmei and Xu Xiufen’s sizes. Li Yan’s size, however, she knew perfectly…

Thinking of this, she suddenly missed Li Yan a little. It had been five days, she wondered when she would be coming home.

Moved by the thought, Lin Yishu beckoned Li Can over. Once the girl arrived, she asked, “Ah Can, do you know where your sister’s workplace is? Should we go see her in a bit?”

Though phrased as a question, anyone could hear the anticipation in her voice.

Li Can grinned, revealing two pear dimples. “Sister Yishu, do you miss my sister too? I knew it! Even if you don’t say it, you must miss her just as much as I do!”

Lin Yishu countered softly, “Who says I miss her…”

But her voice lacked conviction, making the denial barely audible.

Li Can’s chirping voice continued to surround her. “I don’t know exactly where it is, but I have a mouth to ask! We can just ask anyone on the main road; someone will know! My sister said the town only has one slaughterhouse, so it’s easy to find!”

Lin Yishu thought that made sense, nodded, and went back to picking gifts.

In the end, she bought several bolts of fabric with patterns that couldn’t be found in the village cooperative. Passing the yarn section, she remembered Li Chunmei mentioning she wanted to knit a sweater but lacked bright colors, so she picked out several balls of wool.

After finishing, she looked up and spotted an azure colored sweater hanging up. Her eyes instantly lit up; this sweater was perfect for Li Yan. She could even imagine Li Yan wearing it, crisp, clean and fresh. Even a dusty work uniform couldn’t hide that sense of cleanliness.

Lin Yishu said to the salesclerk, “I want this sweater.”

The clerk didn’t seem inclined to take it down, merely glancing at her. “Ten yuan plus one cotton cloth coupon.”

Next to her, Li Can’s mouth hung open. My god, did you hear that? A sweater is actually that expensive! And it needs a cloth coupon!

Lin Yishu didn’t even blink. she pulled the money and the coupon from her bag and handed them over. The clerk was surprised, and her attitude softened instantly as she took the sweater down. She had assumed that since Lin Yishu had already bought so much fabric, she couldn’t afford it, but it turned out she was quite well-off.

After finishing in the textile section, Lin Yishu stopped at the cosmetics counter. After some thought, she bought Vanishing Cream for the two elders and face oil for Li Yan and Li Can.

Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered the hand that had gripped her waist the other day. It had been a bit rough. So, she turned back and bought a tin of clam oil (hand balm).

By the time Lin Yishu walked out with her purchases, Li Can was a bit dizzy.

“Wow, there’s so much more here than at the cooperative! Sister Yishu, you bought so much, can we even use it all?”

Lin Yishu looked at her with a curved smile. “This is for all of you.”

Li Can was incredulous, then quickly cheered. “Sister Yishu, you’re so good!” She rubbed her head against Lin Yishu’s arm while taking the bags from her. “Let me carry them, let me carry them. Sister Yishu, you take a rest.”

Lin Yishu didn’t call out her sudden eagerness, her eyes crinkling as she said, “There’s one last thing I haven’t bought yet.”

Li Can was puzzled. But a few minutes later, she found out.

Lin Yishu walked into the state-run bookstore and came out a moment later with two books. One was Fun Mathematics, and the other was… also Fun Mathematics.

Watching her do homework these past few days, Lin Yishu realized that while Li Can was very bright, she wilted the moment she saw a math book. She simply couldn’t get into it, so Lin Yishu hoped to spark some interest.

Li Can’s smiling face instantly shriveled like a bitter melon. “Ah? Sister Yishu, this isn’t my New Year’s gift, is it?”

“It’s exactly what you think. Take them.”

Li Can could only dejectedly hold the books.

However, after a lunch break, she was happy again. Because lunch was at the state-run restaurant! Although they had to wait in a long line, it was the state-run restaurant! Having entered the department store and eaten at the restaurant today was enough to wash away the unhappiness brought by math.

After lunch, the two wanted to sit and rest, but the line outside was so long they felt bad staying, so they headed straight for the slaughterhouse.

They asked for directions along the way, and many people knew the place. When they reached the gate and gave their names, the person at the security office was very enthusiastic. “Oh, looking for Little Li? Who are you to her?”

Li Can immediately introduced them: “I’m her sister. We are Li Yan’s sisters.”

Uncle Huang didn’t doubt her; he knew Li Yan had a younger sister. He warmly invited them to sit inside and explained, “I don’t even need to go in and call her for you. The pork workshop should be closing for the holidays today. I heard they were handing out New Year benefits at noon. Just wait a bit, she’ll likely be out soon.”

This was great news. Li Can nodded immediately.

For some reason, a faint, imperceptible sense of joy rose in Lin Yishu’s heart as well.

Uncle Huang was friendly, but the smell inside the guardroom was truly difficult to bear. Lin Yishu endured it as long as she could before standing up. “I’ll wait outside for a bit.”

Li Can guessed the reason from her expression and nodded. “Then don’t go too far, Sister Yishu.”

Stepping outside, the air finally became fresh again. Lin Yishu inhaled and felt something land on her nose. Looking up, she realized it was snowing again.

Even though it wasn’t her first time seeing it, she still found the sight of the drifting snow novel and beautiful. She watched for a long while until a snowflake landed on her eyelid, melting into moisture and blurring her vision. She stamped her feet and pulled an umbrella from her bag.

The place she came from was rainy even in winter, so she had long developed the habit of carrying an umbrella.

Lin Yishu stood under the umbrella not far from the slaughterhouse gate. The view was wide, allowing her to see everyone coming and going. The wind blew from all directions, and the snow seemed to swarm toward her, her body was cold.

But strangely, her heart was very warm.

The spot was perfectly chosen. She caught sight of that familiar face almost immediately. But the other person didn’t seem to see her.

Lin Yishu frowned, catching a hint of a dejected aura beneath the other’s pheromones as she drew closer. She quickened her pace and, amidst the other person’s startled gaze, spoke warmly.

“I’ve come to take you home.”

Lin Yishu had rarely seen Li Yan with such a wronged expression, especially after she said those words. Li Yan’s eyes reddened as if she might cry at any second. But she held it back, merely reaching out a hand.

While Lin Yishu was feeling puzzled, the other girl spoke piteously:

“Someone broke the chocolate you gave me.”

Lin Yishu froze, then her eyes filled with a smile. The snowflakes blown by the wind melted at the corners of her eyes. “Is that why you’re unhappy? Hmm? Don’t be sad. It’s just a piece of chocolate. I have more; I’ll give you another.”

Li Yan clenched her hand and pulled it back, her voice muffled. “It’s not the same.”

Lin Yishu lowered her head, trying to meet her eyes. “How is it not the same?”

Li Yan thought to herself: Because you gave it to me, so it’s not the same.