My Wife is the Vicious Supporting Character from an Era Novel - Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Not Like Friends, More Like Wives
Wen Miao coldly tells him to “Get lost.” Zhang Laizi, however, is only more intrigued by her beautiful, icy expression. As he reaches for her, a kick from behind sends him sprawling. He cries out as he falls headfirst to the ground.
Ji Baiqing pulls Wen Miao behind her. “Zhang Laizi, what are you doing here?” she demands, her voice cold.
The man’s lust for Ji Baiqing’s friend intensifies. He gets up, wincing, and tries to approach them again. Wen Miao retreats a step, and Ji Baiqing lands another hard kick to his stomach. As he writhes in pain, she grabs his collar and begins to pummel his face and body with her fists. He screams in agony, begging for her to stop.
Ji Baiqing’s eyes are red with rage. Wen Miao, seeing this, steps forward and says softly, “That’s enough, Ji Baiqing. Stop.”
At Wen Miao’s words, Ji Baiqing immediately stops and stands up. Her hands are trembling. Wen Miao asks if she’s okay. Ji Baiqing pushes her away, saying “You’re dirty,” and then washes her hands repeatedly in the river, as if cleansing them of Zhang Laizi. After Wen Miao’s gentle coaxing, she finally stops.
They find that Zhang Laizi has already fled. Ji Baiqing turns to Wen Miao, holds her shoulders, and says earnestly, “Don’t go near that man. If he ever comes close, run. Run far away.” She is determined to prevent Wen Miao from experiencing the horrors of her past life. Wen Miao, sensing Ji Baiqing’s distress, agrees.
On the way home, Ji Baiqing repeats her warnings. Wen Miao playfully complains that she’s heard it all before, but Ji Baiqing’s face only relaxes when she sees Wen Miao’s sweet smile.
That evening at dinner, Ji Baiqing tells her parents about the incident. Her father, Ji Wei, flies into a rage and tries to run out to fight Zhang Laizi, but her mother, He Xiangyue, stops him. Ji Baiqing suggests that instead of fighting, they should make Zhang Laizi do more work so he doesn’t have time to cause trouble. Ji Wei agrees, promising to make the man dig a riverbed under his direct supervision.
That night, Ji Baiqing is still restless. She can’t shake the feeling that Zhang Laizi might retaliate. Wen Miao notices and hugs her, calming her down with her soothing presence.
Late that night, Zhang Laizi returns, determined to get revenge. He sneakily goes to the Ji family’s home, and with a wire, he unlatches the kitchen and then Ji Baiqing’s bedroom doors. As he steps inside, a blinding light hits him, followed by a hard blow to the head. He collapses.
Ji Baiqing, who had been waiting for him, is holding a bat, her hands shaking. She is relieved that she caught him. She wakes up her parents, and they discuss what to do. He Xiangyue gives him a few kicks for daring to break in. Ji Wei drags the man to the main room, ties him up with rope, and hangs him from a tree outside.
He Xiangyue throws a basin of water on him, and when he wakes up, Ji Wei slaps him repeatedly. Zhang Laizi pleads, thinking it’s Ji Baiqing, but his pleas only enrage Ji Wei more. The father beats him with a leather belt while demanding to know why he was trying to break in.
The commotion draws a crowd of villagers. Ji Wei explains that he caught Zhang Laizi trying to steal from them. The villagers, who have also had issues with Zhang Laizi, are secretly pleased to see him get what he deserves. Ji Wei guards Zhang Laizi all night. The next day, he and He Xiangyue take the man to the police station. Zhang Laizi is sentenced to three years of labor reform.
Ji Baiqing feels a huge weight off her shoulders. With Zhang Laizi gone, Wen Miao is safe from her tragic fate in the original story. She looks at Wen Miao, who is pure and innocent, and congratulates her. Wen Miao is confused but can’t get an answer out of Ji Baiqing, so she gives her a few light punches. Ji Baiqing laughs, “It’s okay, everything’s fine now. Didn’t you say you wanted to go up the mountain to pick mint leaves for bug repellent?”
Wen Miao’s attention is instantly diverted. She agrees. The weather is getting hotter, and the mosquitoes are out in force. Ji Baiqing is worried about Wen Miao, who is particularly susceptible to mosquito bites. Wen Miao wants to make her own repellent, both to save money and to pass the time.
They head up the mountain. Wen Miao, with her knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine from her aunt, expertly finds herbs like summer grass and Solomon’s seal. Ji Baiqing is impressed, and Wen Miao, used to her compliments, simply smiles. They also find mint and honeysuckle, which Ji Baiqing insists on digging up to plant at their home.
They continue up the mountain, hoping to find more herbs. Suddenly, Wen Miao excitedly calls out to Ji Baiqing, pointing to a small plant with red berries. She whispers, “Do you know what this is? It must be ginseng.”
Ji Baiqing’s eyes widen. In the book, this ginseng root was found by the main characters and was worth a lot of money, but it was guarded by a snake. To protect Wen Miao, Ji Baiqing throws her sickle at the plant. The sound of a snake slithering through the grass confirms her fear. She quickly kills the snake and reassures Wen Miao, who is terrified.
Wen Miao helps Ji Baiqing carefully dig out the ginseng root without damaging the delicate tendrils. When they finally pull it out, they are both sweaty. Wen Miao notes that the root looks like it’s over 100 years old. Ji Baiqing, however, is more concerned about Wen Miao’s sunburned face.
On their way home, Wen Miao is still beaming from Ji Baiqing’s concern. Ji Baiqing points out the beautiful sunset, a mix of orange and red. “This is the first time I’ve ever watched a sunset with someone else,” Ji Baiqing says.
“Me too,” Wen Miao replies silently, feeling a deep connection.
When they return, He Xiangyue fusses at them for being gone so long, but Ji Baiqing quickly distracts her by showing her the ginseng root. He Xiangyue is amazed. Ji Baiqing brags that Wen Miao found it. He Xiangyue tells her to lower her voice so others won’t hear. The family is happy, but He Xiangyue can’t help but notice that Ji Baiqing and Wen Miao act less like friends and more like wives. She shakes her head, thinking, “That’s impossible.”
After dinner, Ji Baiqing and Wen Miao process the herbs they found. They plant the mint and then prepare the other herbs for drying. They put the honeysuckle, mint, and other herbs in a jar with alcohol and water to make repellent. They both giggle when He Xiangyue yells at Ji Baiqing for using her father’s alcohol.
They feel so silly, hiding the jar together, but in this shared secret, they are comfortable and happy.