Volume One, Chapter 13: Kissing My Husband in Front of the Reborn Heroine

Captain Yang looked at Mrs. Ji with sincere concern and said, “Sister-in-law, you’d better ride a horse. The mountain roads are hard to walk, and riding will make the journey easier. Brother Ji, could you help your wife onto the horse?”

Mrs. Ji quickly waved him off, her voice carrying a stubborn edge. “No need, no need. I can still walk.”

But her words had barely left her lips when she tried to force herself to take a step. Her legs were so weak they wouldn’t obey her, and as she put her foot forward, her body wobbled dangerously, nearly sending her tumbling straight to the ground.

Seeing this, Mr. Ji hurried over and firmly lifted his wife onto the horse’s back. He then carefully adjusted her posture, making sure she sat securely and comfortably.

Ji Junyao gritted her teeth, enduring the aches and pains that coursed through her body, and managed to walk a dozen steps.

Seeing this, Ji Junsan quickly crouched down and said, “Little sister, let me carry you.”

“I can walk,” Ji Junyao protested, unwilling to admit defeat.

“That’s enough, don’t be so stubborn.” Ji Junsan said, and with that, he scooped her onto his back.

Lying on her brother’s back, Ji Junyao’s eyes grew misty with emotion, feeling deeply moved.

And so, the group pressed on, stopping and starting as they went.

Along the way, everyone listened as Captain Yang recounted the local history of bandit suppression, gaining a deeper understanding of the countryside where they were about to settle. The weariness of the journey seemed to lighten as they lost themselves in his stories.

After about forty minutes, they finally arrived at the rural youth outpost.

It was a traditional courtyard house, covering roughly five hundred square meters, with two rows of rooms facing each other—ten rooms and two bathhouses in total. The walls were built from local stones, each block stacked and mortared with yellow clay mixed with a little lime, giving off an air of rustic simplicity.

In the center of the courtyard stood an ancient well, with the kitchen nestled beside it.

“This is the rural youth compound. There are eighteen rural youths in total, all squeezed into this place. Now that your whole family is here, I’ll arrange for some of the youths to stay with local families and free up four rooms for you. Since your family is large, I’ll see if we can clear out a storeroom and divide it into extra rooms for you,” Captain Yang explained.

Mr. Ji quickly replied, “Thank you for your trouble, Captain.”

“It’s nothing. At the moment, all the youths have gone out to work, so they’re not back yet. They usually cook together, but with your whole family joining, it might be hard to coordinate meal times. You can discuss it later. For now, you’d better get started on making your own meal. Also, usually you have to queue for the bathhouse, so since there’s no one here yet, hurry and make use of it,” Captain Yang continued.

“All right, thank you, Captain.” Mr. Ji pulled Captain Yang aside and asked in a low voice, “Captain, my daughter-in-law is pregnant and not in good health. Could you make an exception and let her skip fieldwork?”

Captain Yang hesitated, his expression troubled. “Brother Ji, that’s not easy. If she doesn’t work, she won’t earn work points, and without work points, there’s no grain allocation. Most women close to giving birth still insist on working in the fields—some even give birth right there. We all have to overcome hardships.”

Mr. Ji frowned. “My daughter-in-law is very frail. If something happens to her, what would we do?”

Captain Yang tried to persuade him. “Working in the fields is good for the body. I’ve heard that women in the city go to the hospital to give birth, but country folk all have their babies at home, and they’re just fine.”

Seeing the captain’s insistence, Mr. Ji finally told him the truth about their family’s risk of having no descendants.

Captain Yang realized the gravity of the situation. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded in agreement.

“I’ll need your help to keep this matter confidential, Captain. Otherwise, my other children will be mocked in the village,” Mr. Ji pleaded.

“I understand,” Captain Yang replied. “You’ve all had a long journey—rest well today so you’ll have the strength to work tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

“Captain Yang, thank you for coming to meet us today. Here’s a small token of our gratitude. In the future, our family will be relying on your help.” As Captain Yang was about to leave, Lin Ranran hurried over, offering him a piece of meat, about a pound in weight.

Captain Yang was taken aback and declined. “Miss Lin, I can’t accept this.”

Lin Ranran smiled. “Captain, please don’t stand on ceremony with us. Your children must be craving meat as well—take this home for them. Who knows when the team will get another meat ration.”

Thinking of how his children were always clamoring for meat, and feeling the craving himself, Captain Yang no longer refused. “All right, when the team gets meat again, I’ll return the favor.”

“Take care, Captain Yang,” Lin Ranran said.

Her gesture earned her the admiration of the Ji family. They hadn’t expected Lin Ranran to be so adept at winning people over. Indeed, building a good relationship with the captain would make their life here much smoother; no matter how powerful the Pei family was, their influence wouldn’t reach this remote place.

The Ji family soon set about moving their belongings into the assigned rooms, cleaning and organizing their things.

The men of the family were all industrious, and with three of them having served as soldiers, tasks like organizing and tidying up were a breeze; the women barely had a chance to help.

So the women went to prepare the meal.

Mrs. Ji said, “Ranran, leave the cooking to me. Yaoyao, go heat some water for your sister-in-law so she can bathe first.”

“Sure,” Ji Junyao replied.

Ji Junsan came over. “I’ll do it. Little sister’s arms and legs are too skinny to carry water.”

Ji Junyao retorted, “Don’t underestimate me.”

“Fine, we know you’re strong—go and rest,” Ji Junsan teased.

“Sister-in-law, third brother is picking on me,” Ji Junyao complained to Lin Ranran.

Lin Ranran laughed. “Little sister, why don’t you go feed the chicks and ducklings?”

At that, Ji Junyao perked up. “Okay!”

“Sister-in-law, keeping the chicks and ducklings in cages all the time isn’t good. And that old hen shouldn’t stay tied up either. Should we let them out?” Ji Junyao asked.

Lin Ranran glanced around the yard. “We should, but there’s no chicken coop here. If we let them out, won’t they just run off?”

Ji Junxiao walked over. “Then let’s build a coop. There are plenty of discarded planks and sticks outside. I’ll bring them over and get started.”

Lin Ranran looked at him with admiration. “Husband, you can build a chicken coop?”

Ji Junxiao smiled. “It’s not hard. You pick the spot, I’ll get to work right away.”

“Great! You’re amazing,” Lin Ranran praised.

Ji Junxiao’s face flushed under the praise.

Mr. Ji and his younger sons came out to help. Following Lin Ranran’s suggestion, they decided to build the coop in a corner of the courtyard.

At that moment, the water was hot, and Ji Junyao helped Lin Ranran carry it to the bathhouse.

Lin Ranran hadn’t bathed in days, and after sweating on the journey, she felt uncomfortable all over. Now, she happily went off to wash.

When she returned, the Ji men had nearly finished building the coop. It had to be said—many hands make light work.

By the time Mrs. Ji finished cooking, the coop was complete. They released the chicks and ducklings into it and made a nest for the old hen.

Lin Ranran brought out loofah and grape seeds for Ji Junxiao to plant inside the coop.

“You even bought seeds?” Ji Junxiao and the Ji family were once again amazed by Lin Ranran.

None of them had much experience with country living. Though Ji Junxiao and his brothers had grown up in the army, they’d only learned about marching and fighting. On missions, if there was no food, they’d dig up wild vegetables, but they knew nothing about these domestic chores.

“Of course. Don’t forget, I’m from the countryside. Just trust me with our rural life from now on,” Lin Ranran replied with a smile.

Ji Junyao asked curiously, “Why plant loofah and grapes in the coop? There’s plenty of open space outside.”

Lin Ranran explained, “Loofah and grapevines are great climbers. If we set up a trellis, they’ll grow into a natural green canopy, providing shade for the chickens and ducks. Plus, their droppings will fertilize the plants, so we’ll have vegetables, meat, and fruit in the future—it’s perfect.”

“Sister-in-law, you know so much,” Ji Junyao said admiringly.

“Sister-in-law, I’m starting to think you used to be an agronomist,” Ji Junyong joked.

Lin Ranran laughed. “Spend enough time in the countryside, and you’ll learn these things too.”

“My Ranran is incredible. Let’s eat,” Mrs. Ji said with a smile.

The family gathered happily around the meal.

Lin Ranran noticed that Mrs. Ji had used only a tiny bit of meat, placing it in front of her. Everyone else refrained from taking any.

“Husband, I’ve had enough meat these past days—I can’t eat much more. I’ll just have two pieces, you divide the rest among everyone,” Lin Ranran said.

Mrs. Ji quickly protested. “Ranran, the baby needs nutrition. You have to eat more meat.”

Ji Junyao agreed, “Sister-in-law, we’ve eaten well these past days—a little less meat won’t matter. You have to eat well.”

Mr. Ji also urged her, “Listen, Ranran. If we tell you to eat, you eat.”

Lin Ranran insisted, “If you don’t eat, I won’t either.”

Knowing her resoluteness, Ji Junxiao divided the meat evenly among everyone.

Mr. Ji relented, “Let’s all eat then. It’s rare for your sister-in-law to do this for us.”

As they each ate their small portion of meat, the family felt both touched and distressed.

Would life from now on be this meager? Would it be a month before they saw another piece of meat? Was that why their sister-in-law had gone all out to add meat to their meals these past days?

After dinner, Mr. Ji said, “I spoke to the captain earlier. Ranran doesn’t have to go to work in the fields—we can support her.”

The family all nodded in agreement. They were deeply grateful that Lin Ranran was willing to come to the countryside and endure hardship with them.

Even now, it all felt like a dream—they feared Lin Ranran might change her mind one day, and then the Ji family line would be lost.

Lin Ranran said, “Dad, is that really okay? If I do some farm work, it’ll be good for the baby.”

Mrs. Ji quickly objected, “No, you’re carrying the Ji family’s golden grandson—our hope. If anything happens to you, what would we do?”

“But if I don’t go to work, I won’t earn work points, and people will gossip. Can you handle that?” Lin Ranran worried.

Mr. Ji said firmly, “Let them talk. Their mouths belong to them. If they want to meddle, let them. We’ll ignore them.”

Mrs. Ji added, “Exactly. If anyone dares to speak ill of Ranran, I won’t let them off.”

Ji Junxiao said gently, “Ranran, just take care of yourself. I’ll cook when I get back from work.”

“Yes, sister-in-law, how could we let a pregnant woman do chores? Just be happy every day,” the brothers chimed in.

Lin Ranran looked at them with emotion. “All right, then I’ll cook and bring you meals in the fields. It’s settled.”

The family queued for the bathhouse. The men took cold showers—they hadn’t bathed in days and felt sticky and uncomfortable. Mrs. Ji and Ji Junyao heated some water for a warm wash.

Just as they finished bathing, the eighteen rural youths returned. They immediately began preparing their collective meal, greeting the Ji family as they worked, getting to know each other.

Among the eighteen, the novel’s reborn heroine, Xia Zhiyuan, was particularly striking. She was beautiful and elegant, standing out at a glance in any crowd. No wonder she later captivated the male lead and bore him three children.

Lin Ranran couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. She touched her own belly—this life, she wasn’t going anywhere.

As soon as Xia Zhiyuan learned the Ji family had arrived, her gaze fixed on Ji Junxiao and wouldn’t move away. After all, this was her husband from her past life! The last time, he arrived alone, cold and distant after a divorce. For more than half a year, she tried desperately to win him over, but he barely acknowledged her. Only after a long time did he gradually open up, and they finally married.

But in this life, he’d brought his wife with him?

Xia Zhiyuan shot a resentful look at Lin Ranran, blaming her for stealing her husband.

Lin Ranran, in turn, was annoyed. I’m his legitimate wife, and you—a homewrecker—dare to ogle my husband so brazenly? Are you planning to steal him right in front of me?

Suddenly, Xia Zhiyuan seemed to remember something. She hurried back to her room, grabbed a bundle of wild berries wrapped in leaves, and intercepted Ji Junxiao and his wife as they were about to return to their room.

“Brother Ji, I’m Xia Zhiyuan. I picked these wild berries in the fields today and wanted to share some with you.”

Lin Ranran was furious—was this woman pretending she didn’t exist? Flirting with her man right in front of her? The urge to hit someone had never been stronger.

Ji Junxiao politely refused, “Sorry, comrade. My wife doesn’t allow me to accept things from unfamiliar women—she’d get jealous.”

Lin Ranran secretly gave Ji Junxiao a thumbs up. He really was the man she’d set her sights on—his morals were impeccable.

Xia Zhiyuan’s face flushed with embarrassment, but fortunately, everyone was busy cooking and didn’t notice; otherwise, she would have been mortified.

“This is just my way of welcoming new comrades,” she hurried to explain.

“Husband, squat down,” Lin Ranran suddenly said.

Ji Junxiao, always obedient to his wife, immediately squatted.

Lin Ranran seized the moment to kiss him on the lips.

Ji Junxiao’s eyes widened in surprise—his wife had kissed him in front of someone else! It was terribly embarrassing, but he felt secretly delighted.

“You shameless woman!” Xia Zhiyuan blurted out, her face red with indignation.