Chapter 26 The Deceived Girl in the 1970s: Fake vs. Real Daughter Story (Part 26)

Soon, the New Year approached, and Xiaoxiao joined everyone in preparing for the festivities.

Especially when the village began slaughtering pigs to divide the meat—everyone was overjoyed. Xiaoxiao was excited too, but in the end, she was only allotted two jin of meat.

Looking at the measly two portions she received and then glancing at other households walking away with one catty or more, Xiaoxiao nearly teared up with envy.

Auntie Tan burst into hearty laughter at her expression.

Xiaoxiao had developed a thicker skin by now and boldly asked, “Auntie Tan, could you maybe talk to the team leader for me?” Could I buy a bit more? This is really too little.”

Auntie Tan was in good spirits. Though her household didn’t get the most meat, they still received over a catty, which was decent.

“That depends. Once the meat is fully distributed, if there’s any left over, you might be able to buy some. But if you’re talking about scraps and trimmings, those can be bought now. What do you want to buy?”

Xiaoxiao wanted pig trotters, pig’s head, tongue, or large intestines, but she knew she couldn’t have it all. Still, she gave it a shot.

“No way you’re getting all that,” Auntie Tan waved her hand. “Others want some too.”

Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. “Then how about pig trotters?”

Auntie Tan shook her head. “Pig trotters are prized. Some young wives in the village are pregnant, and their families will definitely buy them. The village gives priority to them. You probably won’t get your hands on any.”

“What about the pig’s head then?”

That one was a bit more promising. Auntie Tan didn’t flatly refuse and even suggested she go inquire. After all, pig heads were troublesome to deal with—too hairy, not much meat, and most people weren’t interested.

In the end, Xiaoxiao spent five yuan to buy an entire pig’s head. Others thought it wasn’t worth it, but she felt it was a great deal.

As for large intestines—she didn’t want to bother. This wasn’t the modern era where refined flour could be wasted freely. She wasn’t about to clean intestines using precious white flour.

And using only salt? She worried they wouldn’t be cleaned thoroughly. The smell would ruin everything. Better to give up on the idea altogether.

Although dishes like braised intestines, stewed pork offal, and steamed intestines with rice flour made her mouth water just thinking about them, she simply couldn’t bring herself to handle the raw prep.

Sigh… “I’m definitely someone who prefers to eat but hates the work,” Xiaoxiao thought, sighing to herself.

As the holiday approached, she realized she’d been in this world for half a year. She wondered how her parents were doing, and with the new year approaching, homesickness hit her hard. She still didn’t understand how she ended up transmigrated or if she’d ever be able to go back.

Xiaoxiao was gloomy for two days. With the holiday break from fieldwork, she didn’t even feel like leaving the house.

She used to visit others, make small talk, and pass time, but now every household was busy preparing for the New Year and looked lively and bustling. The more she saw, the more she felt out of place, like an outsider. The louder the celebrations, the more lonely and isolated she felt.

For a moment, she even thought about getting married, just to have a family of her own.

Though she quickly dismissed the idea, a trace of the thought remained.

But before she could wallow for too long, a shocking piece of news rippled through the village—Wang Jianjun was back, and he had saved a drowning Feng Qingqing.

Word had it that Feng Qingqing and Liu Lili had gotten into a dispute, and Liu Lili pushed her into the river.

That, however, wasn’t the real bombshell. The real kicker was that Wang Jianjun gave her CPR and mouth-to-mouth after pulling her out.

In modern times, that wouldn’t be a big deal. Public CPR? Even kissing on the street wouldn’t cause a stir.

But in the 1970s?

This was a scandal.

Feng Qingqing’s reputation took a hit. Zhang Jiabei flew into a rage. Wang Jianjun was completely overwhelmed.

Especially when comparing Zhang Jiabei’s aggressive accusations with Feng Qingqing’s frail, tearful innocence, it was hard not to sympathize with the latter.

Zhang Jiabei had truly lost her mind from anger. Ever since she was reborn, she had played her cards with caution. Even though many unexpected variables had arisen—Xiaoxiao moving out, Zhang Yumei leaving early—she hadn’t interfered much and had focused solely on her own future.

She’d kept an eye on Feng Qingqing ever since she arrived, but having already married Wang Jianjun, she felt she had secured her happy ending. The most she did was write to Wang Jianjun to not come back this year to avoid any entanglements with Feng Qingqing.

She never expected Wang Jianjun to return anyway and save Feng Qingqing, no less.

That triggered all her deepest fears and made her lose control.

When Xiaoxiao arrived at the river to watch the spectacle, she overheard Zhang Jiabei questioning Wang Jianjun, “Why did you come back? Didn’t I tell you not to return this year? Why didn’t you listen to me?”

Wang Jianjun glanced around at the crowd and tried to pacify her.

“Wife, let’s talk when we get home, alright? This comrade here still needs to be taken to the clinic.”

Zhang Jiabei’s eyes then locked onto Feng Qingqing, who was wrapped in Wang Jianjun’s military coat. That only infuriated her further. She yanked the coat right off.

“You shameless tramp! Throwing yourself in the river just to seduce someone else’s husband?! You already did something disgraceful—what’s the point of pretending now?!”

Wang Jianjun rushed to stop her, re-covered Feng Qingqing, and shouted, “Enough! I was just saving someone. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Look at yourself—you’re acting like a shrew!”

Then, turning to Feng Qingqing, he said gently, “Comrade, are you alright? I apologize on behalf of my wife.”

Feng Qingqing had been quietly crying this whole time. Upon hearing that, she clutched the coat tighter and choked out, “It’s not her fault. Thank you for saving me.”

Then she looked at him, teary-eyed, and added, “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive. Thank you.”

Wang Jianjun nodded, ready to escort his wife home—only to be stopped again by Feng Qingqing.

“Your coat…”

Before she could finish, Zhang Jiabei charged forward, screaming, “You slut! Why are you grabbing my husband? Trying to cling to him now? Listen here—he’s married! We’re military-registered spouses. You dare keep pestering him? I’ll report you for sabotaging a military marriage!”

Feng Qingqing flinched, let go of Wang Jianjun’s sleeve, and lifted her head, eyes reddened.

“I didn’t know… I didn’t know he was your husband. Why are you saying such things? Why slander me like this?”

Tears streamed down her face as she cried harder.

“You’re ruining my reputation. He only touched me to save me. I didn’t blame him. Why are you bullying me like this?”

“I don’t want to live anymore!”

And with that, she threw off the coat—and jumped back into the river.

Wang Jianjun’s eyes turned bloodshot. Shooting a glare at Zhang Jiabei, he dove in to rescue her once again.