My Wife is the Vicious Supporting Character from an Era Novel - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Wife, Why Are You So Jealous?

Seeing Wen Miao’s face slowly turn red, Ji Baiqing can’t help but want to tease her. “My wife, why are you so jealous?” she asks with a smile. She lifts Wen Miao’s chin and quickly kisses her on the lips before she can react.

Before the beautiful doll-like cat can get angry, Ji Baiqing lets go and explains, “I don’t like Shen Niannian. I’ve told you before, I dislike whoever you dislike. I was just curious about where she was going in the middle of the day. You heard her, didn’t you? She’s in the black market. The man following us was probably a guard from there.”

Ji Baiqing had a bad feeling when she saw the man. She knows how to spot a bad person. She doesn’t think the man is a good person to do business with. The black market doesn’t seem as peaceful as it was described in the original book. She wonders how the protagonist can handle herself in a place like that.

Wen Miao is no longer angry. “So that’s what happened,” she says softly.

Ji Baiqing taps her forehead. “Silly. What else could it have been?”

Wen Miao covers her forehead with her hands. “You’re the silly one! I was just worried.” Wen Miao is insecure. She is afraid that Ji Baiqing will like someone else, especially someone like Shen Niannian. She wants Ji Baiqing to only look at her.

“What are you thinking?” Ji Baiqing says. “I’ve told you I only like you. And besides, not all women like women.”

Wen Miao thinks she’s right. She hugs Ji Baiqing’s neck and kisses her cheek. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have overthought things,” she says sweetly.

Ji Baiqing smiles. “It’s good that you know you were wrong. Don’t do it again.”

…

Beijing Military Compound

In her study, Wen Xiangrong is reading the newspaper. The room is filled with books. Someone knocks on the door, and the guard says there’s mail for her. Wen Xiangrong tells him to come in. The guard puts the letters on the desk and leaves.

Wen Xiangrong is seventy years old. Her hair is white, and her face is weathered, but she stands tall and straight. She reads her official mail and then looks at the letter from her granddaughter. A smile appears on her face. She has always been a strong person, but she is gentle with Wen Miao. Her granddaughter lost her mother early and grew up under her care. She has always spoiled and cherished her.

She was worried that Wen Miao would not be able to handle life in the countryside, but Wen Miao’s letters show that she is doing very well. In fact, she seems to be doing better than she was in Beijing. Wen Xiangrong is glad she went to the countryside, away from the prying eyes of the city.

However, when she reads further into the letter, her expression darkens. Her eyebrows furrow. When her youngest daughter, Wen Ruyan, comes home from work, she calls her two other daughters to come home for dinner.

Wen Ruyan sees her mother sitting on the sofa with a worried expression. “Mom, what’s wrong?” she asks.

Wen Xiangrong shakes her head. “Wait until your sisters get here.”

At dinner, no one dares to eat. Wen Xiangrong is not touching her food, and no one dares to move. Wen Ruyan is the bravest. “Mom, what’s wrong?” she asks again.

Wen Xiangrong takes out Wen Miao’s letter and puts it on the table. “Zhenzhen has a crush!” she says.

The three sisters are shocked. “Who is it?” Wen Jiaojiao asks. She can’t imagine her granddaughter, who is so picky, liking a boy from the countryside. “She better not have fallen for a country bumpkin,” Wen Zhiyi says.

“No way,” Wen Ruyan says. “Zhenzhen would never fall for someone like that.”

Wen Xiangrong’s face gets even darker. She knows that Wen Miao’s crush is not a man, but a “country bumpkin” named Ji Baiqing. The three sisters read the letter and fall silent.

“If I remember correctly, this Ji Baiqing is the friend Zhenzhen mentioned before,” Wen Jiaojiao says.

“It’s okay. She seems like a nice person,” Wen Zhiyi says, but her voice trails off. Wen Ruyan smiles. “Mom, sisters, don’t worry. Zhenzhen knows what she’s doing. She must like Ji Baiqing for a reason. And besides, she was so kind to Zhenzhen.” She shrugs. “It’s not a big deal to like a woman. I like women too.”

Wen Xiangrong had a huge argument with her about this a few years ago. She is surprised that her mother is so calm now. “It’s not that I’m against you liking women. I’m just afraid that Zhenzhen is being tricked,” Wen Xiangrong says.

Wen Ruyan is a little surprised. “Don’t worry, Mom. Zhenzhen won’t let herself be taken advantage of. Just wait and see.” Wen Xiangrong sighs. This is all she can do. After dinner, she writes a letter to Wen Miao.

…

Yunshui Village

After twenty days, the mud bricks are completely dry. Ji Baiqing and Qian-shen start building the walls. They lay the bricks and use mud to stick them together. They build about one meter of wall each day.

While Ji Baiqing is at the school, Wen Miao cooks for everyone. She makes sure they have enough to eat so they don’t get heat stroke. When she has free time, she studies. She has gotten better at using the knowledge she has. One day, she goes to the school to see Ji Baiqing. She feels sad watching her work in the sun. That night, she puts aloe vera on Ji Baiqing’s sunburned skin. She even goes to her neighbor’s house to get some aloe vera plants, and she gets to know her neighbor, Granny Sun.

Ji Baiqing doesn’t have to work in the sun for long. The new classroom is a one-story building. After a few weeks, the new classroom is finished, and the old one is repaired. Ji Baiqing is happy to have earned so many work points. She doesn’t mind the work. It’s not as hard as the things she went through in her past life. And now she has a wife who cares for her.

She is in a good mood on her way home. She stops by the river to wash up before going home. Wen Miao is already cooking. Ji Baiqing walks in and kisses her on the cheek. “Wife, I’m home,” she says. Wen Miao blushes and keeps cooking. Ji Baiqing takes the wok from her. “Go see if the rice is ready,” she says.

The food is ready, but He Xiangyue and Ji Wei are not home yet. Ji Baiqing looks at her watch. “Zhenzhen, let’s go get a watermelon from the next village,” she says. Wen Miao wants one too, so she agrees. They cover the food and walk to the next village.

They find a watermelon field. A woman in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts is there. Ji Baiqing tells her they are from Yunshui Village and want to trade for a watermelon. The woman is friendly and tells them to take a small one. Ji Baiqing smiles and asks for a bigger one for her mother. The woman sighs and tells her to pick a big one.

Ji Baiqing picks a watermelon that weighs about ten pounds. Wen Miao watches, mesmerized. She has never seen a watermelon growing in a field before. Ji Baiqing gives the woman two sweet potatoes. The woman is happy. They walk back home. Ji Baiqing washes the sweet potatoes and gives one to Wen Miao. “Where did you find these?” Wen Miao asks.

Ji Baiqing smiles. “I just happened to find them on the mountain.” She doesn’t tell Wen Miao that she went out of her way to look for them.

When they get home, He Xiangyue is already there. “Where have you two been? It’s almost dinner time,” she says. Ji Baiqing gives her the bag. He Xiangyue is shocked when she sees the big watermelon. “Where did you get this?” she asks. Ji Baiqing tells her. He Xiangyue quickly washes it and puts it in the well to cool. “We’ll eat it tomorrow,” she says. Ji Baiqing pouts. “Can’t we eat it tonight?” she asks. “Eat, eat, eat. You’re so full already! We’ll eat it tomorrow!” He Xiangyue says. Ji Baiqing quietly eats her food. Wen Miao smiles and gives her more food.

After dinner, Ji Baiqing and Wen Miao sit in the yard to cool off. Ji Baiqing yawns and slaps a mosquito on her arm. “Are there any mosquitoes biting you?” she asks Wen Miao. Wen Miao shakes her head. Ji Baiqing has already put some of her homemade bug spray on her after dinner.

Ji Baiqing leans on Wen Miao’s shoulder. “Are you ready for the teacher exam?” she asks sleepily.

Before Wen Miao can answer, their neighbor’s door opens, and a bucket of water is thrown out. Granny Sun sees them and asks if they are going to bed. Ji Baiqing, a little embarrassed, says they are and quickly goes back to the room.

They sit on the bed and laugh. “That was so embarrassing,” Ji Baiqing says. “Why was Granny Sun still up so late?”

“Maybe she just finished her work,” Wen Miao says. “I’m ready for the exam,” she answers Ji Baiqing’s earlier question. Ji Baiqing hugs her and lays on the bed. Wen Miao pokes her arm. “A Qing, let’s go get the mail tomorrow. I think I’ve gotten a letter from my grandma.”

Ji Baiqing gets nervous. “What if my grandma and aunts don’t like me?” she asks, biting her finger. Wen Miao takes her hand away from her mouth. “Don’t bite your finger. It’s a bad habit. They’ll like you. You’re a good person.”

Ji Baiqing’s eyes light up. “Where am I a good person? Tell me,” she says. She moves closer to Wen Miao and hugs her. Wen Miao is ticklish. She moves away. “Be quiet,” she says.

Ji Baiqing looks at her. Wen Miao lists her qualities. “You’re tall, pretty, gentle, and you take care of me.” Her eyes soften. “And most importantly, I like you. I only want you.”

Ji Baiqing’s heart melts. She hugs Wen Miao tighter. “Zhenzhen, I like you too. I like you a lot. I only like you.” She feels energized. She pokes Wen Miao’s fingers and plays with her hair. Wen Miao, who was about to fall asleep, opens her eyes. “What are you doing? Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Ji Baiqing whispers in her ear, “I love you.” Her ears turn red in the dark.

Wen Miao’s heart beats faster. “And?” she asks quietly.

“And what?” Ji Baiqing says. She thinks for a long time. “Wife,” she whispers, “I have a secret.”

“What is it?” Wen Miao asks, turning to face her.

“I came for you,” Ji Baiqing says. Wen Miao is confused. She wants to ask her what she means, but Ji Baiqing has already fallen asleep. Wen Miao is annoyed. She bites Ji Baiqing’s face.

The next day, Ji Baiqing and Wen Miao go to town. They get Wen Miao’s mail, and it’s a big pile. Ji Baiqing is nervous. When they get home, she paces around until Wen Miao opens the mail. There are two envelopes. One is filled with cash. Wen Miao is confused. Why did they send her so much money? She opens the second envelope and reads the letters from her grandmother and aunts. She doesn’t know what to say.

Ji Baiqing looks at the letters and feels sad. “Am I really that bad?” she asks. She is about to cry. Wen Miao pinches her cheek. “Look, your aunt said you’re a good person.”

Ji Baiqing pouts. “What’s the difference between that and a ‘good person card’?”

“What’s a ‘good person card’?” Wen Miao asks. She doesn’t dwell on it and comforts Ji Baiqing. “My family is just worried about me. I know you’re a good person. I wouldn’t like you if you weren’t. They just haven’t met you yet. They’ll like you when they do.”

“Really?” Ji Baiqing asks. Wen Miao nods. “Of course. You’re the best person in my heart.” Ji Baiqing smiles. “There are a few more months until National Day. I need to start preparing a gift.” Wen Miao doesn’t stop her.