My Wife is the Vicious Supporting Character from an Era Novel - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

It’s Raining for Me Too, Mirror Rubbing

Taking Wen Miao to the mountain from the other side, they didn’t see anyone along the way. They could only vaguely hear the loud laughter of women from the other side.

July was the season for Dictyophora in Xiaonan, and Ji Baiqing pulled Wen Miao into a bamboo forest to start looking. At first, they didn’t find any mushrooms. Ji Baiqing used her sickle to cut down two bamboo shoots, peeled them, and threw them into the basket.

Wen Miao walked around and used the stick Ji Baiqing gave her to dig through the rotten leaves on the ground. Suddenly, she saw a white, umbrella-shaped mushroom. It had a brown cap on top of its white one. Her eyes lit up, and she called Ji Baiqing over. “Is this a Dictyophora?”

Ji Baiqing saw that the Dictyophora was huge, almost the size of her palm. The stem was intact and not rotten. She picked it up and showed it to Wen Miao. “Yes, this is a Dictyophora. After you pick it, cover the spot with leaves again, and it will grow again next time.” After saying that, she put the leaves back on the spot.

As they went deeper into the forest, the smell of Dictyophora became stronger. Ji Baiqing and Wen Miao found half a basket of Dictyophora. Ji Baiqing rubbed her hands together. “This is too much to eat. We can dry them with the bamboo shoots and send them to Grandma and the others.” Wen Miao felt a little sweet when she heard her partner thinking about her family. She nodded and continued walking up the mountain.

Just as they were about to leave the bamboo forest, Ji Baiqing’s eyes scanned the area, and she saw a round, egg-like brown object that had just emerged from the soil. She quickly went closer and was surprised. “Wife, come and look!”

Wen Miao was a little confused and crouched down. “What is this?”

Ji Baiqing dug away the surrounding soil as she answered, “This is a Dictyophora egg. It’s also delicious. I can’t believe we’re so lucky to find it today.”

There was a large patch of Dictyophora eggs. The two of them dug for a while before they managed to put all of them into the basket. The last Dictyophora egg was huge. Ji Baiqing’s hand was big, but she couldn’t hold it with one hand. It was the size of two fists. She carefully put it into the basket, covered it with leaves, and picked some leaves to wipe her and Wen Miao’s hands before taking her up the mountain.

It was true that people who lived near the mountains had no shortage of food. In addition to the Dictyophora, they also found Lactarius deliciosus and Cantharellus cibarius, which were all delicious. Now, the fiddlehead ferns were also sprouting. They were so tender that water could drip from them. Ji Baiqing picked two handfuls, intending to stir-fry them with sour vegetables or make a cold salad.

On the way, Wen Miao picked some wild grapes and gave some to Ji Baiqing. They were sour but also a little sweet and quite tasty. Ji Baiqing saw that Wen Miao liked them, so she wrapped two bunches in a large leaf to take home. Their baskets were almost full, so they decided to turn back.

Ji Baiqing never thought her luck would be this good. She saw a familiar plant with small red berries not far away, and her hands trembled. “Ginseng?” she whispered to Wen Miao.

Wen Miao took a few steps closer and saw that it was indeed ginseng. It looked a little younger than the one they had found last time. Thinking of the snake that came with the last one, she took a step back and nodded to Ji Baiqing. “It’s ginseng. Be careful.”

Ji Baiqing put down her basket, held her breath, and used her stick to make some noise around the area. There was no movement. When she moved the grass away from the ginseng, several scorpions and centipedes suddenly crawled out. Wen Miao screamed and backed away. Ji Baiqing had no choice but to use a rock to kill the insects.

She looked at the ginseng and felt a little worried. She wondered if scorpions and centipedes had made a nest underneath. Fortunately, she had brought a hoe with her. She started digging from a distance and found two nests not far away. When the light hit the nests, the scorpions and centipedes all ran out. Ji Baiqing told Wen Miao to stand far away and dug the ginseng from the opposite side. She worked up a sweat in the cool, rainy weather, but she felt it was worth it when she held the ginseng in her hand.

After digging up the ginseng, Ji Baiqing didn’t stay long. She filled the hole and took Wen Miao home. Wen Miao wasn’t the only one who was afraid of the insects. She was too.

When they got home, she poured the mushrooms into a basin and went to the river to wash them. While she was cleaning the mushrooms, her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about the ginseng at home. The century-old ginseng that Wen Miao found couldn’t be touched. It would be useful later. But the one she found was useless at home. Her and her parents’ bodies were healthy, so they didn’t need it. So the only thing she could think of was to sell the ginseng. She needed money to build a house and take care of Wen Miao. She was in a dire situation.

She had thought about selling the ginseng in the black market. The people there definitely had connections. But when she remembered the vicious man she saw at the black market entrance, she gave up on the idea. She never took risks and didn’t want to deal with people who lived dangerous lives. She wasn’t a hero, so she didn’t have a protagonist’s aura. It would be a disaster if she got into trouble.

She was a little discouraged, as she had no way of selling it. Wen Miao was cleaning the Dictyophora and saw that Ji Baiqing was a little down. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Ji Baiqing shook her head. “I’ll tell you when we get back.” She stopped being distracted. The mushrooms were not only for her family but also for Wen Miao’s grandmother. She couldn’t be careless. She had to make a good impression. She felt that she was a little unworthy of Wen Miao. With this thought, Ji Baiqing cleaned the mushrooms even more seriously and meticulously.

When they returned home, she strung the mushrooms up to air dry and cleaned the ginseng to dry it in the sun. In the evening, they had Dictyophora soup and fried mushrooms with cured meat. The mushrooms were tender, and the soup was delicious. The mushroom and cured meat was also very tasty. Ji Baiqing was so delighted that she ate three bowls of rice.

He Xiangyue also brought back a lot of mushrooms and other wild goods. She was lucky and even found a nest of wild duck eggs. When she saw Wen Miao and Ji Baiqing looking at the dozen eggs, He Xiangyue was in a good mood. She waved her hand. “I’ll stew them for you to eat tomorrow. I’m so lucky today. I was the one who spotted the eggs.” Ji Baiqing and Wen Miao praised her and gave her a massage. He Xiangyue enjoyed it for a while and then told them to go take a bath. “It looks like the rain has stopped. We have to work again tomorrow. We have a lot to do. Go to bed early!” She rubbed her shoulders and yawned, ready to go to bed herself.

They didn’t rest for long, and it was time to work again. They had to plant the seedlings before the beginning of autumn. There was also plowing and threshing to do. In short, there was a lot of work!

Knowing that Ji Baiqing had to work the next day, Wen Miao didn’t bother her. They slept soundly together. Ji Baiqing got up early the next day to work. The men had already been plowing for a day or two, and in another day or two, they could start planting. The rest of the people had to thresh the rice and dry the grain in the sun. After weighing it, they would turn in the required amount to the commune.

The two days of rest felt like a dream. For the next half a month, they had to get up before dawn and work until it was too dark to see. The whole village was exhausted. Some people even became skin and bones because they didn’t eat enough. Even Wen Miao was busy. She had to dry and collect rice at the drying field every day.

The day before autumn, they finished planting the last field. Under the orange sunset, the entire village breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Baiqing endured the dizziness and came out of the paddy field. At this point, she wasn’t even afraid of the black and green leeches on her legs. All she felt was exhaustion. She stomped on a leech, and it fell off.

She dragged her tired body back home. Wen Miao was cooking. She came out and saw the exhaustion on Ji Baiqing’s face. The person who was always full of energy looked tired, and Wen Miao’s heart ached. She got a basin of water and a towel to wipe her face.

After almost a month in the sun, Ji Baiqing’s skin, which was originally fair, had turned a honey color. It looked like melted malt sugar, which seemed to taste sweet if you licked it. Wen Miao put the back of her hand on Ji Baiqing’s forehead. “Are you dizzy?” she asked.

Ji Baiqing nodded. Wen Miao scooped up a bowl of honeysuckle and mint water and fed it to her. It was cold and a little sweet. Then she pressed her down onto a chair. “Rest for a while. I’ll finish cooking.”

Soon, He Xiangyue and Ji Wei also returned. Wen Miao gave them some honeysuckle and mint water as well. They had been through more than Ji Baiqing. Although they were also tired, they looked much better than her. He Xiangyue quickly recovered and went to the kitchen. “Miao Miao, how did you make this water? My friends are also asking for the recipe.” After Wen Miao told her the recipe, He Xiangyue went out.

Ji Baiqing was lying on the chair, watching He Xiangyue’s back. She felt a deep sense of admiration. She is my mother, after all. She recovered so quickly. She felt like her body was no longer hers. Every move was painful. She might have a mild heatstroke. Her head was spinning, and she wanted to lie in her wife’s arms and be pampered. But her father was at home, and Wen Miao was still cooking.

After resting for a while, she smelled the delicious food from the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled. She got up and went to the kitchen. She pressed her face against Wen Miao’s. “Wife, I’m hungry,” she said in a soft, hoarse voice. Wen Miao didn’t mind her calling her “wife.” She touched her forehead again and said softly, “Wait a little longer. I’ll be done soon.” Even so, she still put a piece of cured meat into Ji Baiqing’s mouth.

After a night of feeling drained, Ji Baiqing went to the room after she was done washing up and felt a surge of energy. She remembered what Wen Miao had said to her on their day off. She had promised to have a special night with her after they were done with the busy season. Thinking of Wen Miao’s perfect body, Ji Baiqing’s cheeks turned red, and she rolled around on the bed.

She waited for a while, but Wen Miao didn’t come in. She sat up, got out of bed, and walked to the window to pull the curtains closed. She was restless and straightened the books and papers on the desk. She kept wondering why Wen Miao hadn’t come in yet. She sniffed her neck. She had used Wen Miao’s soap on purpose, and now she smelled like her. Thinking they would be thirsty afterward, Ji Baiqing poured a glass of water and put it on the nightstand.

After doing all these things, Ji Baiqing realized how impatient she was. She calmed down a little and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Wen Miao to come in. Wen Miao opened the door and entered the room. She was a little surprised to see Ji Baiqing still awake. “Aren’t you tired? Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Ji Baiqing stared at Wen Miao, her gaze moving from her black, wet hair to her slender waist, her fair legs, and her round, white toes. Wen Miao took a step back from her intense stare. “What are you looking at?”

Ji Baiqing’s throat bobbed. “Do you remember what you said before?” she asked in a hoarse voice.

Wen Miao tilted her head. “What?”

Ji Baiqing felt a pang of anger when she saw that Wen Miao had completely forgotten. She grabbed Wen Miao’s hand and pulled her into her arms. The beautiful woman’s hair whipped through the air, and she fell into Ji Baiqing’s embrace. Ji Baiqing’s hands were on Wen Miao’s prominent shoulder blades. She thought, I have caught the butterfly. The little butterfly had landed in her arms.

She was still a little annoyed. She lowered her head and bit Wen Miao’s shoulder. She didn’t hold back, and a pink bite mark soon appeared on the pale skin. “You lied to me,” she said accusingly.

Wen Miao couldn’t help but smile. She ruffled the hair of the little puppy who liked to bite. “I wasn’t lying. I was just teasing you.”

“Of course I remember what I said.”

Ji Baiqing buried her face in Wen Miao’s neck. In addition to the strong scent of roses, she smelled a sweet fragrance. Wen Miao played with her still-wet hair and explained, “I used the new shampoo.”

Ji Baiqing sniffed seriously. “It smells like jasmine.” It seemed like Wen Miao also had a hint of jasmine on her ears and wrists.

Wen Miao’s voice was soft and sweet. “Yes, I think jasmine is a lot like you. I used jasmine lotion, and it feels like I’m completely wrapped in you.”

After hearing Wen Miao’s words, Ji Baiqing couldn’t hold back anymore. Without another word, she kissed Wen Miao on the lips. Wen Miao’s lips were soft, and her saliva tasted sweet. Ji Baiqing greedily swallowed it. Her other parts were also soft. Her skin would sink in when you touched it. Her belly was soft, but Wen Miao grabbed her hands.

Wen Miao’s lips were swollen, her eyelids were a little pink, and her hair was a mess. “You… you didn’t take off your clothes.”

Ji Baiqing was stunned. She kissed Wen Miao’s tear mole, took off her shirt with one hand, and kicked her pants off. Her honey-colored body and Wen Miao’s pale body touched. It was like sugar being caramelized into a deep color.

Afraid of crushing Wen Miao, Ji Baiqing grabbed her waist and switched positions, letting her straddle her waist. Wen Miao was on top of her firm waist. Their stomachs rose and fell with each breath. Ji Baiqing’s breathing slowed down.

So smooth. Wen Miao bit her lip, her face flushed. She closed her eyes in shame. Her trembling eyelashes showed her shyness. Ji Baiqing didn’t miss any of her expressions. Her voice was hoarse as she coaxed Wen Miao. “Wife, move down a little. It’s okay. It’s normal. I’m the same as you.”

She spoke slowly, a suppressed laugh in her voice. “It’s raining for me too.”

Wen Miao’s face turned red instantly. She hesitantly moved down, supported by her hands on Ji Baiqing’s waist. When she reached the same position, she went limp and fell onto Ji Baiqing’s body. Ji Baiqing’s face was flushed. She couldn’t help but move. When their bodies fit together perfectly, she felt a sense of excitement and a more subtle emotion growing. Wen Miao bit her lip and swallowed the whimpers that were about to escape. Her body was so hot she felt like she was melting.

The ice melted into a babbling spring. She felt like she was drowning in the confluence of two streams. The turbulent water was so strong that she couldn’t take it. Ji Baiqing was strong, and even though she was underneath, she was in control. More than physical pleasure, Ji Baiqing was lost in their intimate positions.

She didn’t know how long it had been. Her throat started to feel dry, as if it had been set on fire. She was no longer focused on what was in front of her. She held the dazed woman and crawled into the quilt. The thin quilt showed the outline of Ji Baiqing’s body. She was so close to quenching her thirst.

Suddenly, Wen Miao, who had come back to her senses, kicked her shoulder. “Ji Baiqing!” she said, her voice trembling.

A moment later, Ji Baiqing peeked out from under the quilt, her face flushed, and her eyes looked innocent. “Wife, can’t I?”

Wen Miao gritted her teeth, utterly humiliated. “No! Get out of here!”

Fine. Ji Baiqing crawled out of the quilt with a puppy dog face, exposing her body to Wen Miao. Wen Miao’s body was still soft. She couldn’t understand how Ji Baiqing was so unaffected. She was a little afraid of losing control. She covered her chest, put on the clothes she had kicked to the end of the bed, and lay down again. The exhaustion and soreness made her eyelids heavy, and she started to feel sleepy.

Ji Baiqing took a sip of water to quench her thirst. When she saw that Wen Miao was about to fall asleep, she held her face and coaxed her to drink some water. After losing so much water, Ji Baiqing was afraid that she would be dehydrated. Her body was still a little sticky. She put on her clothes and went to the courtyard to get some water. After wiping herself down, she wiped Wen Miao down too. Wen Miao’s skin was soft, so she was extra careful. The spot was red and looked a little scraped. Ji Baiqing’s cheeks were flushed as she helped her put on her clothes.

After cleaning everything up, she hugged Wen Miao. Wen Miao snuggled against her chest, let out a soft whimper, and fell back asleep. Looking at the sleeping Wen Miao, Ji Baiqing felt a soft warmth in her heart. She kissed her cheek a few times. She only stopped because she was afraid of waking her up. She had been working hard for half a month, so she was tired, but her mind was surprisingly active. She was excited. If it wasn’t so dark, she would have gone for a run. She was holding her wife. Thinking about it, the smile on her lips couldn’t be wiped away. After a while, the excitement faded. Exhaustion swept over her body, and Ji Baiqing closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, they were going to town to buy two chicks. He Xiangyue planned to stew the rooster in the chicken coop to nourish the family. A family could only have two chickens, but many people had three, so He Xiangyue was also looking to raise another one. Even if they were found out, she would just kill one.

Ji Baiqing got up at nine o’clock. She had stayed up a little late last night. When she woke Wen Miao up, Wen Miao had a grumpy look on her face. Ji Baiqing thought she was cute and coaxed her to get up. They had steamed eggs for breakfast. After eating, they rode their bikes to town. But on the way, both Wen Miao and Ji Baiqing were a little uncomfortable. The area was too sensitive, and they had gone a little too far last night. Wen Miao couldn’t sit still and glared at Ji Baiqing. Ji Baiqing awkwardly rubbed her nose and smiled at her. “Miao Miao, bear with it. We’ll go to town and buy some medicine.” Before the busy season, they could have taken the ox cart, but the ox had been plowing all day and night and was just skin and bones. They had to take good care of it. They had no choice but to endure the pain and ride their bikes to town.

They picked out two little yellow chicks, paid for them, and went to the supply and marketing cooperative. Ji Baiqing bought some soap and a soap box. She asked the clerk if they had any ointment for scrapes. It seemed she would have to buy it at the clinic. Others might not know what the ointment was for, but Wen Miao did. She endured the embarrassment and pulled Ji Baiqing. “Don’t buy it. I’ll buy some herbs and make it myself.” Since Wen Miao could make it, Ji Baiqing didn’t ask any more questions. She just nodded. They bought the spices they needed and then went to the clinic to buy the herbs they needed.

But Ji Baiqing didn’t expect to see someone she knew at the hospital. When she saw Shang Min, she felt a little jealous and subconsciously wanted to pull Wen Miao away. Wen Miao was pulled by her and looked up, seeing Shang Min at the door of a hospital room. She stopped Ji Baiqing and went up to say hello to Shang Min. “Shang Min? What are you doing here?”

Shang Min looked up. The handsome woman’s eyes were a little red, and she looked a little fragile. What happened? Wen Miao was confused. When Shang Min saw them, she subconsciously covered her eyes and then let go, revealing a bitter smile. “My grandma is sick, so I brought her to the hospital.” Wen Miao could tell from her expression that the situation was not good. Wen Miao and Ji Baiqing stood and talked to her for a while, feeling helpless.

Then the doctor came out and said to Shang Min, “The old lady is weak. It would be great if she could have some nutrients, but she needs to rest.” Shang Min quickly said, “Doctor, just prescribe any herbs you need. I’ll buy them.” The doctor sighed. “It would be great if she could have some ginseng, but it’s rare in Xi Ning Town. We don’t have any here.”

After they finished talking, the doctor left. Seeing the obvious disappointment on Shang Min’s face, Ji Baiqing hesitated and said softly, “Um, we have ginseng. Do you want it?”