Transmigrated as the Husband of a Vicious Villainess - Chapter 34

On their way back, Wen Miao made a point to stop at the supply and marketing cooperative. She bought a small stove with a spout and an exquisite little glass bottle, along with some food and drinks. After paying, the two headed home leisurely, carrying a variety of items.

Looking at the bags in their hands, Ji Baiqing thought to herself that people in any era love to shop. Wen Miao was no exception; the only thing keeping her from buying more was the palpable aura of poverty surrounding them.

That’s right, she was simply too poor.

Once home, they gave the pig’s blood and large bones to He Xiangyue. Wen Miao helped Ji Baiqing to her room and applied the medicinal liniment once more.

Slaughtering a pig took quite a bit of strength, and Ji Baiqing’s sprained ankle was more swollen than it had been in the morning. Seeing Wen Miao’s displeased expression, she comforted her:

“It’s fine, just a small injury. I won’t go to town for the next few days, so it’ll definitely heal.”

While applying the medicine, Wen Miao complained softly, “I told you not to go, and look, it’s gotten worse.”

Ji Baiqing listened obediently, nodding dutifully. “I’ll listen to you from now on.”

Wen Miao shot her a look. “As if.”

She knew Ji Baiqing was just saying that. In reality, once Ji Baiqing made up her mind, not even nine oxen could pull her back.

Ji Baiqing buried her head in the crook of Wen Miao’s neck to act spoiled, nuzzling like a puppy, her fluffy hair grazing Wen Miao’s cheek.

“Really, Sister, believe me just this once.”

Wen Miao ignored her. After finishing with the medicine and putting the bottle away, she went to the kitchen to help He Xiangyue start the fire.

He Xiangyue stewed the large bones, which still had thin layers of meat attached. She picked two tender ears of corn from the ground, chopped them up, and tossed them in. The resulting broth was thick, white, and sweet.

Looking at the large bowl of soup Wen Miao had served her, Ji Baiqing blew on it and took a sip.

He Xiangyue remarked from the side, “You are what you eat. I think you should eat some pig brains; I’ve never seen anyone trip over flat ground like you do.”

This was great: first the cold shoulder from Wen Miao, and now sarcasm from her own mother. Ji Baiqing’s face fell as she weakly explained, “I didn’t want to, I just wasn’t looking where I was going.”

He Xiangyue scooped a spoonful of pig’s blood for her and Wen Miao, scolding, “I think your eyes are on the back of your head, walking without looking at the path.”

Ji Baiqing lowered her head like a dejected puppy while being scolded. Seeing this, Wen Miao finally stepped in to bail her out: “Auntie, Ah-Qing just wasn’t careful. She’ll be fine in a few days; it’s not a big deal.”

Hearing someone back her up, Ji Baiqing instantly perked up. “That’s right, Mom, I know I was wrong.”

He Xiangyue gave her a sharp look.

It was clear Wen Miao wasn’t angry anymore. After a nap, she took the items they bought that day and asked Ji Baiqing to help her pick the jasmine flowers they had planted in the corner of the yard.

The flowers had been transplanted a few days ago. Perhaps due to not adjusting to the new soil, they looked a bit wilted despite being watered and fertilized; the pure white petals were drooping.

However, the fragrance remained unaffected. Holding a blossom to one’s nose revealed a light, elegant scent.

After picking the flowers, Ji Baiqing watched Wen Miao wash the petals and pour them into the stove with some spring water. She tilted her head in confusion.

“What are you doing? Making flower cakes?”

Wen Miao glanced at her. “If you want to eat them, you can, but I don’t know how to make them.”

Well, she guessed wrong.

When Wen Miao wrapped the glass bottle in a damp cloth and large leaves, tied it to the stove’s spout, and placed it on the hearth to boil, Ji Baiqing finally caught on.

Was this making floral dew?

After an entire afternoon of simmering over a low flame, they finally collected a small bottle of transparent floral dew.

Ji Baiqing took a whiff; it was indeed very fragrant. It was an exceptionally elegant scent.

Wen Miao smelled it, her brow relaxing as she smiled. “The scent is quite good. It suits you well.”

It was for her?! Ji Baiqing was instantly moved to tears. She looked at Wen Miao and said in a soft, spoiled voice: “Wife, why are you so good to me?”

As she spoke, she tried to nuzzle into Wen Miao’s chest.

Seeing this, Wen Miao extended a finger with a hint of feigned disgust to push her forehead back, though a smile played on her lips.

“Enough, why are you acting like a puppy?”

At this moment, Ji Baiqing was suffering from a severe case of “wife fever.” Hearing those words, she really wanted to bark and add, “I am Wife’s puppy.”

But since that sounded a bit too perverted, she held back.

However, she still insisted on some closeness. Ji Baiqing reached out her long arms, hugging Wen Miao until their noses touched. Her pure black eyes met Wen Miao’s amber ones, their breaths mingling with a sense of lingering affection. Ji Baiqing kissed the beauty’s rosy lips, a brief, soft touch.

Then, a flurry of small kisses fell upon the mole under Wen Miao’s eye.

Cute, beautiful, charming; she just wanted to kiss her.

Wen Miao only stayed in her arms for a minute before she couldn’t take the clinginess anymore. She pushed her away, her cheeks flushed and her eyes shimmering with a faint mist, making her light-colored pupils look even more stunning.

She spoke, “Alright, it’s just floral dew. Are you really this happy? You’ll be crying if you see something better later.”

Ji Baiqing grumbled and hugged her again. “I love anything Zhenzhen gives me.”

Speaking of which, she had received so many gifts from Wen Miao, yet she had never officially given her anything in return. It all boiled down to her being too poor.

Thinking of this, Ji Baiqing felt a bit depressed for a moment. She missed the eight-figure balance in her bank account from her previous life.

But then she looked at the bright-eyed, beautiful woman before her, who was clearly being well-cherished, and her previous thoughts vanished. One shouldn’t be too greedy; being able to transmigrate into this book was like trading a sesame seed for a watermelon.

In her previous life, she would have certainly ended up alone. It was only by coming into this book that she had the chance to meet Wen Miao and become her lover.

Lover.

Just rolling the word around in her mouth made Ji Baiqing’s heart feel sweet. She looked at Wen Miao, her heart stirred.

“Zhenzhen, let’s go to the photo studio in town in a while to take pictures. I want a photo of us together.”

Wen Miao readily agreed, but she added a question: “Should we bring Auntie He and Uncle Ji?”

Ji Baiqing shook her head. “We’ll all go together at the end of the year, otherwise they’ll definitely fret over the money. I want to take a photo of just us. When we’re old, we can look back at how we looked when we were young.”

The corners of Wen Miao’s mouth curled up as she teased, “How are you so sure we’ll still be together when we’re old?”

Ji Baiqing looked up at her, her brows raised and her gaze turning slightly dangerous. She asked, “If you’re not with me, who else would you be with?”

Wen Miao flicked her forehead. “I’m joking. If you always love me, then I’ll always be with you.”

Wen Miao was greedy; what she wanted was an unchanging love.

Ji Baiqing said as if it were a matter of course, “How could I not love you? I’ll only love you more and more. Also, you’re not allowed to make jokes like that in the future.”

She didn’t like it. The mere thought of the person standing beside Wen Miao not being her caused extreme, obsessive thoughts to bubble up. She couldn’t accept that possibility, even as a joke.

Seeing her partner’s rare serious expression and slightly darkened face, Wen Miao was indeed surprised. She could only reply: “Alright, I won’t say things like that anymore.”

Ji Baiqing gave a light huff, cupped Wen Miao’s face, and kissed the crimson mole under her eye again.

“You are mine.”

Being young meant healing quickly; after resting at home for a few days, Ji Baiqing was lively and active again.

This time, she and Wen Miao went to town not for work, but to take photos!

The night before, the two had agonized over what to wear. Wen Miao’s wardrobe was full of beautiful clothes, and Ji Baiqing’s wardrobe had grown significantly thanks to having a wife who loved to dress her up.

In the end, amidst all the colorful options, they decided to wear the simplest white shirts and black trousers.

Before leaving, Wen Miao used a clip to pull back the stray hairs on both sides of Ji Baiqing’s face, revealing her full forehead. Ji Baiqing had a smooth face shape; showing her forehead made her look more capable and energetic. Wen Miao let her long, wavy hair hang down on both sides. Even without makeup, her naturally rosy cheeks were captivating.

Before heading out, they ran into He Xiangyue, who was preparing for work. Seeing the two of them in similar outfits, a flash of suspicion crossed He Xiangyue’s eyes.

“What are you two up to, dressing so smartly?”

To her, her daughter and Youth Wen were both exceptionally good-looking, but standing there now, she inexplicably got a strange vibe. Why did these two girls look so “husband and wife-ish” standing together?

Wait, He Xiangyue spat internally. What “husband and wife”? These two were both genuine girls! What was she thinking!

Meeting He Xiangyue’s sharp eyes, Wen Miao felt guilty and took a step back.

Ji Baiqing cleared her throat. “Uh, Mom, we’re going to the city to take photos. Do you want to come?”

He Xiangyue’s expression changed. “You girl! Spending money the moment you have some! You don’t know how to save! I’m not going; I have to go to work!”

With that, she didn’t ask further and walked briskly toward the warehouse.

Once she was gone, Ji Baiqing and Wen Miao looked at each other and let out a collective sigh of relief.

Ji Baiqing’s foot was healed, but Wen Miao was still worried, so Wen Miao was the one riding the bicycle.

On the way to town, Ji Baiqing thought to herself that she finally knew what it felt like to date right under her parents’ noses. Even though she was an adult, her relationship with Wen Miao would be hard for her parents to accept!

However, she figured she really should start preparing them mentally, lest they be scared to death on the day she came out.

They arrived at the photo studio. Taking and developing photos was expensive, so there weren’t many people inside. The decor couldn’t compare to future generations, just a red cloth draped behind the camera, looking very simple.

Seeing customers, the owner adjusted his glasses and greeted them warmly: “Here for photos, comrades?”

Ji Baiqing nodded. “We want a photo together.” After thinking, she pointed at Wen Miao. “And take a solo photo of her too.”

Wen Miao was surprised. “No need, just the joint photo is fine.”

Ji Baiqing rubbed her shoulder and whispered, “Just to record this moment. It’s for me to look at later.”

Wen Miao: “Then you have to take one too. I want to look at it as well.”

The owner, left standing to the side, rubbed his nose. “So, three photos?”

Ji Baiqing nodded helplessly.

The process wasn’t difficult and took about ten minutes. However, it would take some time to collect the prints. The owner, looking at the particularly beautiful Wen Miao, grinned and said:

“One copy of each of the three photos? It’s 80 cents per print.”

“But, comrade, if you’re willing to let us use your photo for promotion, I can waive the fee for you.”

Hearing this, Ji Baiqing instinctively looked at Wen Miao, guessing she would refuse. After all, when did a young lady like her ever worry about two or three yuan?

She was already mentally calculating how to fight Wen Miao to pay the bill, but instead, she heard an unexpected answer.

Wen Miao nodded decisively. “Sure, but only my photo can be used for promotion.”

The owner beamed so widely his teeth showed. He didn’t care about the condition and pointed at the photos on the wall. “Don’t worry, comrade! We’ll just frame your photo and hang it on the wall!”

Wen Miao added, “Give us three copies of each photo. If I need to pay extra, I can pay now.”

At 80 cents a print, the total came to over six yuan, a significant amount of money.

The owner winced but gritted his teeth and waved it off. “Forget it, forget it. I said it would be free, and I won’t go back on my word. Just come back in five days for the photos. If it’s inconvenient, I can mail them to the village.”

Having made the arrangements, they left the studio. Once outside, Ji Baiqing’s confusion became apparent. She looked at Wen Miao with surprise.

“Why did you agree?” She didn’t think Wen Miao was the type who liked having her photo displayed for others to admire.

Seeing her focused expression, Wen Miao’s peach-blossom eyes curved slightly. “Didn’t you tell me to save money?”

Ji Baiqing’s mouth fell open, her expression aggrieved. “Heaven is my witness, when did I ever say such a thing?!”

Please, she only saved money on herself because she was poor. But she never restricted the beautiful woman’s spending, only stopping her once or twice when it came to spending on Ji’s family. When did she say that? She didn’t remember it herself!

Seeing her get anxious, Wen Miao suddenly laughed.

“Isn’t that the general idea? Anyway, we saved money, so why aren’t you happy?”

She understood the concept of “husband and wife as one,” and naturally, “wife and wife” were one as well. Since Ji Baiqing was unwilling to accept her money directly, she would proactively move closer to Ji Baiqing’s way of living.

Usually, Ji Baiqing would haggle over every vegetable at the food station, so why was she looking so displeased now?

Ji Baiqing took a deep breath and spoke earnestly: “Wen Miao, I want you to make decisions based on your heart. If saving money makes you unhappy, then there’s no need to save it.”

“Seeing you like this, I just feel useless, making you lower your standard of living.”

Seeing Ji Baiqing’s dejected puppy face, Wen Miao’s intention to brush it off vanished. She reached out and took Ji Baiqing’s hand. If they weren’t outside with people passing by, she would have kissed her puppy-like lover.

Her smile remained as she explained gently: “Ah-Qing, I don’t feel like anything is bad. My old way of life didn’t necessarily mean it was good. I spent a lot of money back then but still felt unhappy. Since coming to Yunshui Village and meeting you, even if I live the same way you do, I don’t feel it’s bad. In fact, I’m very happy.”

“I don’t think you’re bad at all. You’re too good, so I’m learning from you step by step. I’ve realized now that some expenses are unnecessary, and it’s better to save whenever we can.”

“I’m just thinking about our future.”

 

The soft words murmured in Ji Baiqing’s ear, making her eyes sting and blur for a moment.

 

Did Wen Miao really think that far ahead?

 

She quietly squeezed Wen Miao’s hand and finally nodded.

 

“I was overthinking things, Sister. I’m thinking about our future too. Believe me, I’ll definitely give you a better life in the days to come.”

 

Wen Miao’s eyes curved into crescents, her light-colored pupils turning almost transparent under the refracted light, looking like precious glaze lamps.

 

Looking into those eyes that were filled with her own reflection, Ji Baiqing felt a stir of emotion. She really wanted to kiss her, but they were still outside.

 

She forced down those lingering romantic thoughts. Just then, an older woman carrying a basket passed by. Seeing them holding hands so tightly, she exclaimed in surprise:

 

“You two sisters certainly have a close relationship!”

 

Once she got a clear look at their faces, her eyes widened, and she clicked her tongue. “My, you both are so handsome! Do you have any suitors? My nephew is a real standout among young men; would you like to meet him?”

 

Ji Baiqing fell silent for a moment. She gritted her teeth, stepped forward to shield Wen Miao behind her, and rejected the offer without hesitation:

 

“Auntie, we aren’t sisters. This is my partner.”

 

While “wives” weren’t legal in this era, the concept had existed since ancient times, and one could occasionally spot such couples. Hearing Ji Baiqing’s explanation, the auntie looked a bit embarrassed.

 

“Oh, oh, I see! Well, I have to go buy groceries, I won’t keep you!”

 

With that, she ran off as if her feet were greased with oil.

 

Watching her flee, Ji Baiqing gave a couple of huffs.

 

Wen Miao hooked her pinky finger and gave it a shake, commenting softly, “Childish.”

 

A child, indeed.

 

Ji Baiqing frowned. “I am not. Don’t think I didn’t notice she was looking at you when she said that.”

 

In truth, Ji Baiqing wasn’t exactly the “ideal” type in this era. Southern girls were mostly delicate and petite, and the men weren’t tall either—especially in the 60s and 70s, when many suffered from malnutrition and never reached their full height potential.

 

Ji Baiqing was one of the few tall girls. Standing at 1.75 meters, she was taller than many men, and few men liked a woman taller than themselves; they felt it hurt their “face.”

 

Hearing the hidden meaning in Ji Baiqing’s words, Wen Miao pursed her lips and smiled. “But I think you’re just wonderful.”

 

However, she added, “Will there be any trouble after what you said to that auntie?”

 

Ji Baiqing shook her head. “It should be fine.”

 

She wasn’t entirely sure herself, as she didn’t fully understand the fictionalized 70s setting of the book, but she said it casually so Wen Miao wouldn’t worry. There were certainly no issues with policy; Wen Miao was just afraid it would affect Ji Baiqing’s reputation. Since she said it was fine, Wen Miao didn’t think about it further.

 

The two pushed their bicycles for a while, and just as they were preparing to ride back to the village, Ji Baiqing’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a woman in brown, coarse hemp clothes.

 

The figure looked familiar. Taking a closer look, she realized—good heavens, that sneaky back belonged to none other than Shen Niannian!

 

Wen Miao saw her stop and was about to ask what was wrong, but her gaze swept across the area without seeing anything.

 

Ji Baiqing covered Wen Miao’s mouth, pressed a finger to her own lips, and then beckoned her to follow.

 

Pushing the bicycle, Wen Miao followed Ji Baiqing through several winding alleys until they finally reached a specific spot.

 

Hiding behind a corner, Ji Baiqing watched a small, bustling trading market nearby. Shen Niannian handed a small bundle to the person guarding the entrance and was quickly let inside.

 

This was likely the black market the female lead frequented in the story.

 

Ji Baiqing wanted to get a closer look, curious about what a black market actually looked like. But just as she tried to peer further, she suddenly locked eyes with the gloomy gaze of the man guarding the door.

 

Her heart skipped a beat. An ill omen flashed through her mind. She snatched the bicycle from Wen Miao, urged her to get on the back seat, and pedaled with every ounce of strength she had.

 

Wen Miao was confused at first, but looking back, she saw a short man—fully covered despite the summer heat, with only his eyes showing—chasing after them.

 

She tightened her grip around Ji Baiqing’s waist, panicking slightly. “Ah-Qing, why is someone following us?”

 

Ji Baiqing’s nerves were on high alert. She originally intended to head home, but her mind pivoted, and she swerved toward the police station.

 

Reaching the station entrance, she yelled at the top of her lungs, “Molester! Come quick, catch the molester!”

 

At that shout, the police officers inside came running out. Seeing the uniforms, the short man cursed his bad luck, turned on his heel, and bolted.

 

Wen Miao whispered, “Ah-Qing, he’s gone.”

 

Ji Baiqing finally stopped, leaning over the handlebars and gasping for air.

 

That scared her to death. Damn, what kind of people hang out at the black market?!

 

A female officer with short hair and a round face stepped forward to ask, “Comrades, where is the molester?”

 

Ji Baiqing’s voice was still raspy. “Officer, my sister and I got lost in the alleys just now. A thug suddenly jumped out and, seeing two women alone, chased us relentlessly.”

 

Wen Miao added, “But he seems to have left now.”

 

Since it was just a random excuse to scare the man away, Ji Baiqing didn’t say much more to the police. She gave a few perfunctory answers and took Wen Miao home.

 

Once they were inside, Ji Baiqing realized her entire back was soaked, her clothes clinging to her skin.

 

Wen Miao took a palm-leaf fan to cool her down as Ji Baiqing gulped down a large glass of cold water.

 

Wen Miao frowned slightly. “Don’t drink so fast, or you’ll get a stomach ache and the runs.”

 

“Who exactly was that man following us?”

 

Ji Baiqing took a few more sips of water before feeling like she had come back to life. she leaned against the back of the chair, stiff as a salted fish.

 

With her eyelids drooping, her voice drifted out: “I saw Shen Niannian, so I followed her.”

 

Wen Miao: “…Why were you following Shen Niannian?”

 

She stopped fanning, slapped the fan onto the table, and turned her face away. Her beautiful, stiff expression made it clear she was unhappy.

 

At first, Ji Baiqing didn’t notice Wen Miao’s little temper. It wasn’t until the summer heat began to close in on her again that she realized the beauty had stopped fanning her.

 

She lifted her eyelids and stared at Wen Miao’s profile, finding it a bit novel.

 

Wen Miao had been acting moody for a long while, and since Ji Baiqing hadn’t come to coax her yet, she became even more upset. She turned her head to see what the other was doing, only to meet those dark, deep eyes.

 

A lazy smile played on Ji Baiqing’s lips, but her eyes were fixed on Wen Miao with an undetectable sense of aggression.

 

She asked, “Are you angry? Why?”

 

Wen Miao got even angrier, she was clearly asking something she already knew!

 

She turned her body away resentfully, refusing to look at that hateful face, her cheeks puffing out as she crossed her arms.

 

“Tsk.” Ji Baiqing stood up and planted herself in front of Wen Miao. She rested her hands on her knees and leaned down, her shoulder-length hair falling forward. She spoke in a certain tone:

 

“Oh, I see.”

 

“Our Zhenzhen is jealous.”