Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Seeing the shy looks on Xiu and her sister, Juhua felt a wave of embarrassment. She’d forgotten to offer them an egg and could only manage a sheepish smile. ’That was close!’ she thought. ’Thank goodness we’re engaged! Since I’m engaged, what is there to be afraid of? Mom is truly farsighted. She must have predicted this kind of thing would happen, which is why she pushed so hard for the engagement.’

’Listening to an elder’s advice really does save you from trouble!’

After Zhang Huai settled the two in, he came back to the front, smiled gently at Juhua, and said, "It’s a bit bumpy, so sit tight and hold on to me. If you want a drink of water, just call out. I’ll stop so you can drink, otherwise you might chip a tooth." He noticed a tightly-sealed bamboo tea canister in Juhua’s Lanzi.

Juhua smiled at him, a little embarrassed, took a bite of her egg, and nodded for him to start. Savoring the taste from a moment ago, Huai Zi’s eyes were fixed on the egg in her hand, a tempting itch in his heart. He grinned and said, "That tastes pretty good!"

His expression clearly said, ’Feed me another bite!’

Feeling a little guilty, Juhua glanced back. Seeing that the cart’s canopy blocked anyone from watching, she raised the egg to his lips again. Huai Zi took another bite, and they exchanged a smile before he finally urged the ox forward.

Juhua reached out and tugged the back of his shirt, sighing, "Wow, the fog is so thick! Brother Huai Zi, please go a little slower. Be careful not to run into anyone."

Zhang Huai kept his eyes on the road, his voice steady. "It’s fine. Old Cheng and Zhou Xiaoman are up ahead. I wasn’t supposed to come today, but since you said you wanted to go to Xiatang Market, I came along."

Hearing him admit to using the trip as an excuse, Juhua couldn’t help but laugh.

The crowd at the village entrance gave Juhua a start. There was Liu Xiaomei, Zhuzi, Lin Zi, Yan, Huang Dagunzi’s young daughter, and two young wives she didn’t recognize. Li Changxing had also brought a cart to go sell fish.

Everyone was laughing and jostling for space, complaining that the carts were too full of goods to sit on, or that Li Changxing’s cart stank too much of fish. Liu Xiaomei ran over to Juhua’s cart, but when she saw that even Juhua didn’t have a seat and was perched at the front, she had no choice but to run back and squeeze in with Zhuzi.

Old Cheng bellowed, "Get on and get settled! If you’re not on now, we’re leaving! The village has plenty of ox-carts these days so you don’t have to walk, yet you’re still not satisfied. You should remember we used to have to rely on our own two feet for everything. You kids just don’t know how good you have it!"

No one dared to make another peep. They stuck out their tongues and shot glances at each other, whispering to Zhuzi, "Your dad is so fierce!"

Juhua and Zhang Huai exchanged a smile. Riding an ox-cart wasn’t exactly comfortable. If the journey wasn’t so long, Juhua thought walking would actually be more enjoyable.

As the four ox-carts set off at a brisk pace, the village, fields, trees, and flowers, all hidden in the morning mist, began to emerge. As the carts advanced, these sights would appear before them only to be wreathed in fog once more, as if draped in a soft, delicate veil, looking hazy and dreamlike.

As their ox-cart passed by, Juhua watched as familiar trees were rendered ethereal and graceful by the light mist. Once the cart moved further away, the trees and flowers were swallowed by the fog again, as if vanishing into a dream.

Soon, Juhua felt her brow grow damp. The hair at her temples was moistened by the fog, and when she blinked, even her eyelashes felt dewy. Looking up at Zhang Huai, she saw a glistening droplet of water clinging to the arch of his eyebrow, poised to fall.

She took out a handkerchief, first dabbing her own eyebrows and forehead, then reached over to wipe his. Huai Zi quickly turned and lowered his head for her, a gentle smile on his face. His cheek brushed against the shell of her ear, and his warm breath seemed to travel straight to her heart.

Their gazes lingered for a moment before they both smiled and looked away. It was a fleeting touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water or a gentle breeze caressing a flowering branch—intimate, harmonious, and utterly natural. The sweet sensation seeped deep into their beings, making their hearts tremble. This reserved, hazy affection, like flora veiled by the morning mist, drew their hearts closer without sparking any impulse for a passionate kiss.

The affection was blossoming as naturally as a river finds its course, making them feel pure and untroubled. It was like casting aside all cares to merge one’s soul with nature, to roll in the grass like a child.

Amidst the CREAK, CREAK of the ox-cart, Huai Zi asked warmly, "Are you uncomfortable sitting there?"

Juhua shook her head. "I’m fine. Looking at the scenery along the road, I don’t feel bored at all. The last time I even left the village was to go to my grandmother’s house with my brother!"

Huai Zi thought for a moment. "Next time you want to come out, I can bring you along whenever your brother and I go to Xiatang Market."

Juhua shook her head and said no more.

By the time they reached Xiatang Market, the sun was high in the sky, but the fog had blunted its intensity, leaving it looking soft and listless.

Situated by the water, Xiatang Market was shrouded in an especially thick fog. While the mist had cleared elsewhere, here it remained a hazy expanse. From a distance, the town flickered in and out of view, like a traditional ink painting. Up close, its blue-bricked, tile-roofed houses and narrow bluestone streets were filled with a rustic air that held a touch of ancient charm.

The diverse crowds bustled in and out, their busyness infused with a sense of leisure. Yes, they appeared occupied, but they were actually wandering about quite placidly, making trades that held no particular urgency.

The ox-carts stopped at Fuxi Grocery Store, dropping off the gaggle of young girls and wives. Old Cheng, Zhang Huai, and the others then went their separate ways to attend to their business.

Before leaving, Zhang Huai instructed Juhua, "Don’t wander off too far. It’s still early, so wait for me to get back before you go exploring. Or, have Laixi go with you."

As he lowered his head to earnestly instruct Juhua, the sight caught the eyes of Xiu and her sister, who had just jumped down from the cart. Their faces flushed and their hearts pounded, feeling a second-hand shyness for the couple. ’Juhua and Huai Zi are so affectionate,’ they thought. ’And they aren’t even married yet.’

Noticing the crowd, Juhua quickly shot him a look, urging him to get going. She then turned, grabbed Liu Xiaomei’s hand, and said to Zhuzi and the others, "Let’s go to my cousin’s shop to rest for a bit, then we’ll figure out where to start." And with that, she led them into the store.

Laixi stared, dumbfounded, as a brightly-dressed flock of girls rushed in with a WHOOSH, their chirping laughter filling the air. He felt as if two eyes weren’t enough to take them all in. Then, his gaze fell on the girl next to Juhua—wasn’t that Liu Xiaomei, the one he had met at his aunt’s house, the one as vibrant as a peach? An image of the peaches he had once given Juhua immediately came to mind, superimposing itself over Mei’s round face.