An Accidental Military Marriage

"Mom, I need to study for an exam. I’ll have to leave the farm work to you and Dad."

The moment Jin Yulan saw that Jiang Qing was defying her, the mother-in-law, her face darkened.

"Xiao Qing, the countryside isn’t like the city. Here, everyone works the fields, from the old to the young. You married into our family and became a farmer’s wife, so you have to work in the fields too."

Zhang Tiesheng, however, wasn’t as short-sighted as Jin Yulan. When he heard Jiang Qing mention studying for an exam, he was curious about what kind of test it was.

’If passing could land her an assigned job, that would be a great thing. It wouldn’t matter if she didn’t work in the fields then.’

Jiang Qing already had her story ready. "A classmate of mine has connections in the Education Bureau. They leaked some information that the college entrance exam might be reinstated this year. I’m going to take it and go to college."

The Zhang family stared at one another.

In the countryside, even a middle school education was considered a high level of schooling.

Jiang Qing had a high school education, which in their eyes made her a bona fide intellectual.

’And she’s still not satisfied? She wants to go to college, too?’

"You’re a woman! What’s the use of so much schooling? Once a woman is married, she should revolve around the stove and her husband, serve the entire family, young and old, and busy herself with farm work. That’s what you’re supposed to be doing!"

Listening to Jin Yulan’s words, Jiang Qing nearly exploded with anger.

’If she actually got into college, it would be a glorious achievement that would bring honor to their ancestors! It was an opportunity others couldn’t get even if they begged for it.’

’But here was Jin Yulan, not only opposing her self-improvement but demanding she run the household, serve the entire family, and work the fields on top of it all.’

’She had only married into the Zhang Family as a daughter-in-law, not sold herself to them as a slave.’

Although she was seething with anger, Jiang Qing didn’t let it show on her face.

’If she clashed with her mother-in-law so soon after marrying in, outsiders would only blame her, the daughter-in-law.’

’Anyway, she wouldn’t be staying with the Zhang Family for long.’

’As soon as Jia Ming got his promotion, she would pack her bags and join him at his station. There was no need to have a complete falling out with Jin Yulan; that would only harm her relationship with Jia Ming.’

"Dad, Mom, if I get into college, not only is there no tuition, but the government even gives a subsidy of over ten yuan a month."

Hearing that attending college came with money, Jin Yulan’s attitude did a complete one-eighty. "You can get that much? Every month?"

"Yes, all the way until graduation. And after graduation, the government assigns you a job—a secure job for life. Once Jia Ming and I are successful, we can also help the younger siblings get ahead and become prosperous."

Jiang Qing painted a grand and tempting picture of the future, and the Zhang family eagerly devoured it.

The whole family looked at Jiang Qing as if they were looking at a sparkling gold ingot.

Jin Yulan’s tone became as affectionate as if she were talking to her own daughter. "Oh, Xiao Qing, can you really get into college?"

With a 20-to-1 acceptance rate, Jiang Qing wasn’t actually very confident. After all, her grades in school had only put her in the middle of her class.

But if she told the truth, the Zhang family would definitely not support her taking the exam.

"I’m eighty percent sure I can get into a university. And even if I can’t, getting into a technical or teacher’s college is a sure thing. The government still assigns you a job after graduation."

Sure enough, hearing her confident tone—as if that secure job for life was already in the bag—Jin Yulan agreed to let her study at home. Jiang Qing was excused from farm labor, but she still had to cook, wash the dishes, and do the laundry.

Jiang Qing knew her in-laws would never support her for free the way they supported their son.

’As long as I don’t have to work in the fields, just doing housework isn’t a big deal.’

"Xiao Qing, I put the dirty clothes in the buckets for you. Remember to wash them later."

"I know, Mom."

When Jiang Qing finished the dishes and walked out of the kitchen, she saw two large buckets overflowing with dirty clothes, and her expression turned foul.

People in the countryside worked in the fields every day, so their clothes were covered in thick layers of mud and grime. Even scrubbing them four or five times might not get them clean.

And they had no sense of propriety, either; the whole family’s undershirts and underwear were all mixed together.

Washing Jin Yulan’s underwear was one thing, but they even expected her to wash her father-in-law’s and younger brother-in-law’s underwear.

’This is infuriating!’

Swallowing her humiliation and rage, Jiang Qing washed the two buckets of clothes and hung them to dry. Then, she went to her room, grabbed her books, and returned to the main hall. She had just opened a book to study when the Zhang family’s great-grandmother shuffled in, leaning unsteadily on her cane.

"What are you doing here? Huh?"

"Great-Grandma, I’m reading."

"Reading? What’s there to read? You’re not outside helping with the work, you’re in here reading. Can reading put food on the table?"

The Zhang family’s great-grandmother was 90 years old. She had never spent a day in school, couldn’t even write her own name, and didn’t understand the value of reading.

In her mind, Jiang Qing staying home to read instead of going out to work was a sign of being lazy and good-for-nothing, a shirker who deserved a scolding.

Jiang Qing knew there was no reasoning with a ninety-year-old, so she simply put her books away and went back to her room.

The village’s earthen houses were nothing like city buildings. The doors and windows were small and narrow. The windows didn’t have glass, but wooden lattices. They offered decent ventilation, but not enough light.

She could light a kerosene lamp for the poor light, but there wasn’t even a single table in the room. There was no way to study properly.

Frustrated and resentful, Jiang Qing flopped onto the bed, and she began to regret coming to the Zhang home.

’She had originally come to the Zhang house to focus on her studies, but it was impossible to concentrate. She even had to wait on this huge family, and her living environment and standards had plummeted.’

’I would’ve been better off staying at home.’

Just as she finally managed to calm down and opened her book to study, Jin Yulan started shouting from outside again.

"Xiao Qing! Xiao Qing!"

"Coming!"

Holding back a bellyful of anger, Jiang Qing opened her door. The sight of her mother, Li Hongying, being led inside by Jin Yulan made her nose sting. Suddenly, a wave of self-pity washed over her.

She sniffled. "Mom, what are you doing here?"

"Uncle Jiang asked me to bring some food back for the old folks, so I stopped by to see you on the way."

Li Hongying looked her up and down, and secretly sighed in relief when she saw that Jiang Qing was in one piece.

She turned and handed the gifts in her hand to Jin Yulan. "I brought some health supplements for the elders, to help them stay healthy."

Jin Yulan smiled so widely her eyes narrowed into slits. "Oh, we’re all family. There’s no need to be so formal."

Though she said there was no need, her hands were quick to accept the gifts.

Li Hongying had brought malted milk powder and canned fruit, both rare treats in the countryside. Only a fool would refuse them.

In the main hall, Jin Yulan and Li Hongying sat on a long bench, chatting warmly about family matters.

Jiang Qing stood quietly to the side, silently digging her fingernails into her palm.

’If Mom is here to take me home, should I go?’

’I really can’t stand living here in the Zhang house.’

’But if I go back, I’ll just get entangled with my family’s problems all over again.’

’If Jiang Moli causes some huge disaster again, just like in my last life, Jia Ming and I could get dragged into it.’

Just as she was wrestling with the dilemma, she heard Li Hongying call her over. "Xiao Qing, come here."

Jiang Qing walked over to Li Hongying’s side.

Li Hongying took her hand and said earnestly, "Being a daughter-in-law isn’t as carefree as being a girl in her own home. Be diligent here at your in-laws’ house, and help them out more."

Although Jiang Qing hadn’t decided if she wanted to go back, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed that her mother hadn’t even mentioned taking her home, instead telling her to simply stay. So, she remained silent, sulking.

Li Hongying could see her daughter was sulking at her, but she didn’t know the reason why, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

Seeing the tense standoff between mother and daughter, Jin Yulan interjected—