Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Huai Zi’s aunt chuckled and said flatteringly, "Marrying into the He Family has been a blessing for all of us. In all our years as daughters-in-law, Mother has never been harsh with any of us."

Huai Zi’s maternal grandmother was just lifting a mouthful of noodles to her lips. Hearing this, she paused and said, "Of course. I’ve always treated you all impeccably. We don’t have to look far. Just take Grandma Jin from our village. Look at the airs she puts on. Her daughters-in-law wait on her like she’s a revered ancestor. When a family like that eats together, if she doesn’t pick up her chopsticks, no one else dares to take a bite. They all have to wait for her to eat before the daughters-in-law and grandchildren can touch the food."

Juhua, who was eating with gusto, heard this and thought to herself, ’Thank goodness I didn’t end up with an old crone like that, or I’d suffocate from the sheer frustration.’

Hearing this, Huai Zi leaned close to Juhua and whispered, "I think there’s something wrong with that woman’s head. Why make things so difficult for your own family at the dinner table? Doesn’t she get tired of putting on all those airs? You’re family, not enemies."

Juhua shot him a look of agreement and whispered back, "I think she’s just got too much time on her hands. If she were busy enough that her feet never touched the ground, let’s see if she’d still have the energy to act so high and mighty." As she said this, she couldn’t help but glance at He with gratitude.

He smiled back in response. She ladled around in the clay pot with a large wooden spoon, found the chicken liver and gizzard, and scooped them into Juhua’s bowl. Then, she fished out a string of unlaid yolks for the old grandmother and served some more chicken to Huai Zi’s aunt.

The old woman quickly said, "Give those unlaid eggs to Juhua. Haven’t I already eaten plenty of meat? Juhua doesn’t care for the choice cuts, so if she doesn’t eat some eggs, she’ll be getting the short end of the stick."

Her words made everyone laugh again.

Juhua quickly replied, "Grandma, you rarely get to visit, and you’re our elder. Of course you should have it. I’ll be just as happy with this salted duck egg."

He chuckled. "We’ll just slaughter another one in a couple of days. Sigh, I’ve come to a realization lately. As long as we can get by, we shouldn’t be too frugal. Otherwise, what’s the point of working ourselves to death if there’s no joy in living?"

She had been shaken by recent events, thinking how unpredictable life was and that no one knew what tomorrow might bring. If they were always reluctant to eat the chickens and ducks they raised, the vegetables they grew, and the wheat they harvested, then living truly was pointless. It wasn’t like before. In the past, there was simply nothing to eat, so they had no choice.

Zhang Yang loudly agreed. "Yeah! That’s how it should be. Mother, can we make dumplings today?"

He agreed immediately. "Alright, we’ll make dumplings." She then tried to persuade Huai Zi’s grandmother and aunt to stay another day, and a round of polite refusals and insistent invitations began.

Zhang Huai finished a large bowl and noticed Juhua was only halfway through hers. He lowered his head and asked softly, "How is it? Are you enjoying it? If you find it too rich, have some of the pickled cucumbers."

Juhua quickly smiled. "It’s delicious, very flavorful, and not too rich at all. I’m eating slowly because I’m gnawing on a chicken foot. See? I’ve already eaten more than half of this big bowl." She was telling the truth. The hand-pulled noodles were excellent, and she felt He’s cooking skills had improved quite a bit.

Once breakfast was over, the old grandmother and the aunt left in a hurry, despite He’s attempts to make them stay.

Juhua helped He clear the table and asked, "Mother, we haven’t finished planting the rice seedlings, have we? Another day of planting should do it."

He sighed and said, "We’re not going to plant the remaining fields. This is enough. It’s only another acre or two. After the early rice is harvested, if we’re not too busy, we’ll just plant a few more acres of late-season rice. The men aren’t going out today. They’re going to rest at home for a couple of days."

Juhua found this strange but didn’t ask why.

He took the initiative to explain to Juhua, "It’s mainly because that whole messy business has left everyone feeling uneasy. It’s better to rest at home for a couple of days and think of a plan. Your father also said not to plant the remaining fields. Juhua, what would you like to eat? Mother will make it for lunch."

Seeing how the newly appointed County Magistrate Li was making everyone so anxious, Juhua couldn’t help but sigh. She thought, ’Three years... can we get through it? I just hope nothing bad happens.’

When she heard He ask what she wanted to eat, she said, "Didn’t Yangzi want dumplings? Let’s make chive and egg dumplings. We can render some fat from pork belly to add extra flavor."

He nodded eagerly at the suggestion. She then shooed Juhua out to get some rest, saying she could handle things in the kitchen.

Juhua was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, "Oh! I haven’t served the tea yet, have I?"

Seeing her embarrassed and regretful expression, He laughed. "What’s this about serving tea? We’ve drunk plenty of the tea you’ve brewed for us in the past. Do we really need you to serve it again this morning? That’s all just empty formality. We don’t need to bother with it."

Seeing how easygoing her mother-in-law was, Juhua couldn’t help but grin and flatter her a bit. "Oh! Thank you, Mother. Why does it feel like you’re just like my own mother? I don’t even feel like I’ve gotten married. It’s just like being at home, except I’m not yet familiar with the house and the yard."

These words were music to He’s ears, making her feel utterly content. She beamed and said, "That’s because you’re just like a daughter to me. If I hadn’t wanted you as my daughter-in-law, I might have adopted you as my goddaughter. Feel free to look around whenever you have time. In a few days, this house and yard will feel as familiar as your own family’s home."

Juhua agreed with a cheerful smile and went out.

Just then, she saw Little Shitou and his younger sister, Zhao Qing, run in from the courtyard, shouting, "Sister Juhua, we’re here!"

The Zhao family had also moved to the mountainside at the beginning of the year. Little Zhao Qing often spent time at the Zheng Family’s home and had become Juhua’s little shadow. She had seen the bride yesterday and was very envious. After thinking about it all night, she had rushed to the Zheng Family’s house first thing this morning, wanting to see the bride again. To her surprise, Aunt Zheng told her that Sister Juhua was married and didn’t live there anymore—from now on, she would be living at Brother Huai Zi’s house. That’s why she had hurried over.

Little Shitou silently cursed himself for being so dense. ’Of course Sister Juhua lives at the Zhang family’s house now that she’s married. How could she still be at the Zheng Family’s?’