Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Time flowed on, as joyful and swift as the Little Qing River. Life was like the pebbles on the riverbed; the days glided over them, leaving not a trace. Or if they did stir a small ripple, it was soon swept away by the current. Ceaselessly washed and polished, they eventually became round and smooth.

A year passed in a flash. Juhua and Zhang Huai were now engaged. So was Li Changyu, along with many other young people. Of those who had been engaged, some were now married. Of those who were married, some were now expecting children. The toddlers had grown taller, and the elders had a few more gray hairs on their heads. Everything was changing, yet it seemed as if nothing had changed at all. Life was just one generation following another.

In the blink of an eye, it was spring again, and Juhua was planning to go to Xiatang Market with Liu Xiaomei.

That’s right! They were just going shopping—the country bumpkins were heading into town!

On a misty morning, the farmhouse gate opened with a CREAK, and chickens and ducks scrambled out. Then, Qingmu emerged, leading an ox. He saw Zhang Huai had already arrived at the gate with the workshop’s oxcart and asked with a smile, "So early?"

He knew Huai Zi was going to Xiatang Market to deliver a shipment of goods, and that Juhua was planning to hitch a ride.

Huai Zi laughed. "You call this early? I was up before dawn. I was in such a rush that the sun came up before I knew it. Where’s Juhua? Is she ready?"

Juhua hurried to the front of the cart, her eyes sparkling with a smile. She was dressed in a neat, trim outfit of blue floral-print pants and a matching top—she had never liked wearing those long, floor-sweeping skirts, finding them too troublesome. Carrying a delicate little basket, she said to Huai Zi, "Just a little longer. Xiu and Cui said they’re coming too. Meizi wanted to come, but Brother Changming wouldn’t let her, so she asked me to bring some things back for her."

Huai Zi said quickly, "I’ll go give them a shout then. We need to hurry. Old Cheng has already left. He said his Zhuzi and Lin Zi are waiting for him at the village entrance, and Mei is waiting there too." All the girls had arranged to go to the market together.

Just as Qingmu was about to say he would go himself, Zheng Changhe came out of the courtyard carrying a hoe. He said to Huai Zi, "I’ll be passing by the Zhou family’s place, so I’ll give the girls a shout. You two just wait here." Then, turning to Juhua, he added, "Hua’er, don’t go wandering off. At noon, go rest for a bit at your cousin Laixi’s shop."

Juhua replied in a clear, bright voice, "Alright! I got it, Dad!"

Mistress Yang hurried out as well and instructed Zhang Huai, "Take Juhua to Laixi’s first, then you can go about your business. Once you’re done, spend some time with her at the market. And come home early."

Zhang Huai smiled and agreed. "Yes! Don’t worry, Auntie, I’ll stay with Juhua. Besides, Mei and Zhuzi are going, Changxing said he’s going to sell fish, and Changyun is at the market too. Lots of people from our village will be there. Nothing will happen."

Qingmu laughed. "Juhua, since you’re going with Huai Zi, you can take the chance to check on our family’s shops. We’ve managed to rent out a few of them, you know."

Juhua nodded and said to Mistress Yang with a smile, "Mom, I’ll go take a look. Then I can clean one of the rooms up, and we’ll have a place to stay the night whenever we want."

Mistress Yang’s eyes crinkled with laughter. "What’s the point of running off to stay there? I wouldn’t be able to rest easy. I’d just be worried about things at home, and your father definitely wouldn’t like it." After adding a few more reminders, she turned and went back into the courtyard. Qingmu also departed, leading his ox.

The cart was filled with sausages and cured meat, so Juhua sat at the front, right next to Huai Zi. She looked up at him and asked, "Brother Huai Zi, have you had breakfast yet?"

Huai Zi answered, "I had a bowl of soaked rice crusts. What about you? Haven’t you eaten? You should have brought some rice candy. What will you do if you get hungry? It’ll still be a while before we reach the market."

Juhua pulled several hard-boiled, five-spice eggs from her basket and grinned triumphantly. "Look what I have here!" She started to hand one to him, but then she noticed his hands were occupied with the reins and the whip, so she pulled it back and began to peel it for him.

When she finished peeling one, she held the steaming, fragrant egg up to Zhang Huai’s mouth. He gave her a tender look, then smiled and leaned down to take a large bite. Juhua casually popped the rest into her own mouth and started peeling a second one.

The simple act made Zhang Huai’s heart skip a beat. A sweet feeling washed over him, making his whole body feel weak. He stole a quick glance around and happened to spot Xiu and Cui standing not far off, wreathed in the white mist, which gave them an almost ethereal air.

Their mouths were hanging open as they stared at the sweet, intimate moment between Juhua and Huai Zi. They both blushed beet-red, as if they had stumbled upon something they weren’t supposed to see, and hesitated, unsure if they should approach.

Huai Zi couldn’t help but blush as well. He nudged Juhua gently with his elbow and whispered, "Xiu and Cui are here." Then, fighting back his own blush, he looked up at the two girls and smiled. "You’re here! Come on, get in the cart. I’ll make some room for you." He immediately jumped off to clear a space in the back.