Volume One, Chapter Four: Lin Ranran Fiercely Rebukes the Uncle and Aunt of the Military District Compound

"Ranran, does it taste good? You must have been hungry for days, right? Do you like the food?" Ji's mother asked with genuine concern.

Lin Ranran gazed at the bowl of gleaming white rice and the vegetable soup made with eggs before her, feeling warmth spread through her heart.

Poor mother-in-law—this was likely all the food left in the house.

For the sake of her precious grandson, she had even spared the dry rice for her.

"Thank you, Mom, you're so kind," Lin Ranran said sincerely.

The original person had been acting out for days, barely eating, so Ranran was truly famished. She began to eat in big bites.

Ji's mother wiped her tears, smiling as she said, "Of course, of course."

Satisfied, Lin Ranran pondered that she had to settle accounts with that scoundrel cousin.

Over the past months, the original self had given him at least five hundred yuan, not to mention plenty of food coupons. She would make him pay back every cent, with interest!

"Mom, darling, I've arranged to meet a friend. I need to go out," Lin Ranran said as she put down her chopsticks.

Ji's mother's smile froze instantly. She wanted to stop her but feared upsetting her further, so the words stayed unspoken.

Ji Junxiao sneered inwardly. How foolish he had been, deceived so many times, yet still holding onto a shred of hope!

But for his mother's peace of mind, he had no choice but to say, "Ranran, let me take you."

Lin Ranran reached out and held his hand, sweetly saying, "You’re so good to me, thank you!"

Ji's mother escorted them to the door and stood there, watching their backs long after they were gone.

Ji Junyao stomped her foot in anger and shouted, "That venomous woman—after eating her fill, she rushes off to meet her lover! And big brother personally escorts her. Hasn’t he been humiliated enough by Pei?"

Ji Junyong chimed in, "Big brother’s completely bewitched by that temptress!"

Ji Junshan hurriedly said, "Enough, keep your voices down. Don't let Mom hear and get upset again."

Ji Junzhan frowned, turning to Ji Junyao, "Little sister, go comfort Mom. At least let her feel at ease before she leaves for the countryside."

Ji Junyao quickly went to Ji's mother's side, consoling, "Mom, sister-in-law really did arrange to meet a friend. I know about it."

Ji's mother gripped her hand. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Big brother’s escorting her himself—how could you not trust him?" Ji Junyao replied.

"True. I should hurry and look around the house for anything good. If my daughter-in-law comes back hungry, what will I do?" Ji's mother said as she turned and went back inside.

Ji Junyao shook her head helplessly. Mother and big brother really were hopeless.

Ji Junxiao had intended to take Lin Ranran by bicycle, but she refused, "No need, it's not far. Just walk with me—it'll be like a stroll."

Ji Junxiao understood perfectly—she was disdainful of the bicycle.

For months, Lin Ranran never walked more than a few steps; she always took a car, showing off her status in the Ji family.

People in the military compound had gossiped plenty behind her back.

But, constrained by the Ji family's standing, no one dared say anything to her face.

Now that the Ji family had lost their power, things were bound to change.

Sure enough, after only a few steps, pointed fingers and whispers from a group of uncles and aunties reached them.

"Look, that's the daughter-in-law Ji's family married—Lin Ranran. I heard Commander Ji was ruined by her. A proper temptress!"

"You should marry a virtuous woman. What's the use of beauty? Look at Third Aunt's daughter-in-law—she’s fat and ugly, but gave them three big sons."

"Poor Commander Ji—a good soldier dragged down by this disaster."

"That's what they mean by 'beauty brings misfortune.' Women like her!"

"In my opinion, she's a jinx. Commander Ji married her—he’s doomed for eight generations. He’ll never recover in this lifetime."

It's easy to gild the lily, but hard to send help in snow.

If it were the old Ji family, these people wouldn’t dare gossip so openly.

But Lin Ranran would not tolerate this!

She put her hands on her hips and cursed loudly.

"Who the hell can’t keep their mouth shut? You’re just jealous because I’m pretty! Aunt Zhang, didn't your daughter want to marry my husband? Too bad she’s ugly and got rejected!"

"Uncle Li, you’re halfway to the grave—why meddle? The Ji family is only being sent to the countryside as educated youth. The official term is 'Educated Youth Going to the Countryside.' It's a national policy: to bring culture and new ideas to rural areas, promote agricultural production and social development—it’s not exile!"

"Aunt Zhao, didn’t the Ji family help you plenty? Now you kick them when they're down? Ha, when the Ji family comes back in a couple of years, don’t come crawling!"

Anyway, the original self already had a bad reputation—now, let her vent on behalf of the Ji family.

If not for their age, she’d have fought them right there.

Ji Junxiao was dumbfounded.

"Commander Ji, look at your wife, so shrewish!"

"No manners at all! You’re an intellectual—how could you marry such a woman!"

"That temptress is even clamoring for divorce—obviously greedy for money!"

"Exactly, talks better than she sings. If she loved you so much, she’d go to the countryside with you."

Everyone chimed in—they were all from the same compound, and as a junior, Ji Junxiao couldn’t rebuke them.

"Uncles, aunties, Ranran is my wife. Our life together is none of your concern," Ji Junxiao said, then took Lin Ranran's hand and strode away.

"Temptress, pfft!"

"She ruined the Ji family, and Commander Ji still defends her—deluded! Serves him right!"

The curses continued behind them.

Ji Junxiao felt bitter.

Lin Ranran's outburst—wasn’t it just to make him a laughingstock?

Though she seemed to stand up for the Ji family, in truth, she was shattering his pitiful dignity.

Ji Junxiao, oh Ji Junxiao—how could you still hope for such a woman to bear your child? Pure fantasy.

Soon, they arrived at the Pei family’s courtyard. Lin Ranran stopped.

"Darling, I'm going to settle accounts with my cousin. It’s inconvenient for you to come in—wait outside, I’ll be back soon."

Ji Junxiao clenched his fists, veins bulging on his face. "Lin Ranran, we haven’t even divorced, and you’re openly cheating?"

Outrageous!

He was so furious he could strangle her.

"It’s not what you think. Darling, I just—" Lin Ranran tried to explain.

"You just conned twenty yuan and can’t wait to use it to please him? Lin Ranran, do you really think marrying Pei Yuan will bring happiness? The law says close relatives can't marry—give up on that idea."

The law is the law, but whether people follow it is another matter.

In the seventies, plenty of cousins married.

"It’s not what you think."

"I beat him up yesterday—he's probably still bedridden!" Ji Junxiao said angrily.

"Wow, you really are my darling—well done, beautifully done, perfectly done!" Lin Ranran couldn’t help but applaud.

Ji Junxiao was baffled: shouldn’t she be angry? After all, he’d beaten her beloved man.

"Be good, darling, wait for me. I’ll be back soon." Lin Ranran couldn’t resist kissing his cheek.

A jealous man was truly attractive!

The original self had been blind to her blessings—this man would be hers from now on.

Ji Junxiao’s face flushed to the tips of his ears.

She had kissed him. Really kissed him!

Was he dreaming?

Could she really have changed her mind?

But he rejoiced too soon—Lin Ranran turned and cheerfully walked into the Pei house.

Ji Junxiao felt as if a vast field of green sprouted atop his head.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got: he clenched his fists and smashed them against the wall.

That punch carried all his strength, and the wall seemed ready to crack.