A splitting headache.
Meng Ying snapped her eyes open. Before her were dingy yellow walls and a ceiling lined with blackened old newspapers. She was lying on a rock-hard earth kang bed covered with coarse, faded cloth sheets. The air was thick with the faint scent of kerosene and the smell of fermenting grain.
This wasn’t her apartment.
She remembered clearly that she had been in her studio, rushing to finish a script for a food video. After pulling an all-night session, her vision had gone dark, and when she opened her eyes again, she was in this godforsaken place.
Fragments of memories that didn’t belong to her came flooding into her mind—
It was 1980, the early years of the Reform and Opening-up. She had transmigrated into a cliché melodramatic period military romance novel she had read a few days ago, becoming the cannon fodder female supporting character who shared her name, Meng Ying.
The original host was a country girl. Three years ago, while washing clothes by the river, she had accidentally fallen in. She was rescued by Lu Tingzhou, who happened to be home on leave. Her parents then took it upon themselves to marry her off to this Northwest military officer whom she had never even met. The wedding was a rushed affair; Lu Tingzhou had hurried back to his unit immediately after the ceremony and hadn’t returned for three years.
For those three years, Lu Tingzhou had consistently sent back half of his monthly stipend. With that money, the original host lived a life in the countryside more comfortable than anyone else’s. She didn’t have to work in the fields or deal with her in-laws’ temper. With no worries about food or clothing, it was the perfect “winning at life” setup for the eighties.
But the original host was an idiot.
She wasn’t satisfied despite holding a golden rice bowl. Having not seen her husband for three years, she let the village gossips get to her. After being sweet-talked by a local idle loafer, she felt her loneliness was unbearable. In a fit of impulsiveness, she picked up a pen and wrote a letter to her husband far away in the Northwest. It contained only one sentence: “Lu Tingzhou, I want a divorce.”
Just two days after the letter was sent, the original host was struck by fear and regret. She couldn’t catch her breath and simply passed away.
Meng Ying frowned, propping herself up as she couldn’t help but curse, “So stupid. The original host was literally throwing away a gift from the heavens. That life was the peak of existence, yet she wasn’t satisfied. One little flirtation and she didn’t even know who she was anymore.”
In the book, the original host successfully divorced, lost her status as a military dependent, and was cut off from Lu Tingzhou’s stipend. She was then swindled out of her money and dignity by a scumbag, ending up penniless and freezing to death on the streets—a truly miserable end.
Meanwhile, her nominal husband, Lu Tingzhou, eventually rose through the ranks to become a powerful figure. After the divorce, he married a female military doctor; they were a devoted couple with a son and a daughter, living a perfect life.
Sigh—
This “Meng Ying” had a life as an officer’s wife and traded it for a death wish. It was the definition of begging for food while holding a golden bowl; she must have been kicked in the head by a donkey.
Even worse, the divorce letter had already been sent two days ago.
Meng Ying’s heart tightened. Just as she was about to look for something to check the time, a mailman’s loud voice echoed from outside the courtyard. “Meng Ying, pick up your mail! Registered letter from the military!”
She scrambled off the kang, shoved her feet into cloth shoes, and rushed out. She took the envelope and saw the return address: a certain regiment in a certain military district in the Northwest, Lu Tingzhou.
She tore open the letter. Inside was a single, thin sheet of paper. The man’s handwriting was bold and powerful, consisting of only two short lines: Letter received. I will submit the divorce report as soon as possible. No need to write back.
Her fifty yuan a month was gone? The days of eating meat at every meal and getting new clothes every month were coming to an end?
Meng Ying absolutely could not let that happen. After all, this was her long-term meal ticket.
To live comfortably in this era, one had to have a powerful backer. And from what she knew, Lu Tingzhou had just been promoted to Regimental Commander; his future was limitless.
She lay back on the bed, metaphorically watching five ten-yuan bills flutter away from her, never to return.
No! she had to do something.
With that thought, she bolted upright. She had made a decision—she was going to join the base! She couldn’t let this “fat duck” of a husband—no, her husband—be snatched away by someone else!
Meng Ying briskly changed her shoes and packed her things, focusing mainly on her money and coupons—these were her lifeline. Thinking about the pickpockets on trains mentioned in novels about this era, she considered sewing the money into her underwear or bra. But she soon dismissed the idea, mainly because she felt it would be inconvenient and unhygienic. In the end, she wrapped the money in an inconspicuous piece of cloth, intending to keep it in an inner pocket close to her body.
Once everything was packed, Meng Ying remembered she needed to visit her maiden home. Her family lived in the neighboring village, not far away. It was a good chance to grab a meal and say her goodbyes.
She arrived at the neighboring village at high noon. Smoke curled from the chimneys of every house as people prepared lunch. The environment during this time was remarkably pristine—green mountains, clear water, and natural scenery that refreshed the soul.
From a distance, before even reaching the courtyard, she saw two children playing with pebbles by the gate. These were games she had played often as a child. As she drew closer, her two young nephews finally spotted her. They shouted excitedly, “Auntie! Auntie! Why are you here?”
Meng Ying smiled, her lips curving upward.
She was naturally beautiful, a renowned beauty throughout the surrounding villages. Back then, suitors had practically broken down her door. If her parents hadn’t wanted to keep her home for a few more years, she wouldn’t have ended up married to that cold-faced officer. It was clear her parents truly doted on her.
Her beauty was the kind that left people dazed at first sight. Her features were delicate, with the corners of her eyes tilting slightly upward. It wasn’t a sharp look; instead, her eyes looked like peach blossoms soaking in warm water. With a single glance, they shimmered with a faint watery light—even when she wasn’t acting spoiled, they seemed misted over.
Her nose was small and pert, with a slightly rounded tip. Her skin was fair and tender, and her cheeks always held a faint rosy glow. She looked nothing like someone from a village who spent their days face-down in the dirt with their back to the sun.
Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Mother Meng hurried out, holding a sorghum broom used for sweeping the kang. It looked like she had been cleaning.
“Oh—my dear daughter, why are you here?” She looked her daughter over, her face wrinkling with a wide smile. It had been a while, and she had missed her dearly.
Meng Ying followed her into the house, with the little ones pattering in behind them, looking at her expectantly. She smiled and pulled a few pieces of White Rabbit Cream Candy from her pocket, handing them over. “Go on, eat.”
“Wow!” The two children took the candy, their smiles so wide they nearly reached their ears.
Mother Meng looked on disapprovingly. “Yingying, you should keep those for yourself. Why give them to these children?”
Meng Ying sent the children away and didn’t dwell on the topic with her mother. She changed the subject: “Mom, where are Dad, Big Brother, and Sister-in-law?”
“They went to the fields to harvest wheat. I’m staying home to watch the kids.” As Mother Meng spoke, she took a jar of malted milk extract she had been saving for a long time out of the cupboard, stirred a cup for Meng Ying, and handed it to her. “Have something sweet. I’ll make something good for lunch. Your father caught two rabbits on the mountain a few days ago; we’ll stew them both.”
Meng Ying took a few sips. Her eyes lit up at the mention of rabbit meat. In the modern world, she had been a food blogger and a total foodie. When prepared well, rabbit meat was tender and delicious.
“Sounds great, Mom. I’ll handle lunch today. I’ll show you what I can do.”
She volunteered enthusiastically.
Mother Meng found this strange. Her daughter had been so spoiled by her and the old man that she had rarely cooked a meal at home. For her to proactively offer to go into the kitchen—had marriage changed her personality?
Seeing her mother’s skeptical look, Meng Ying smiled awkwardly. After finishing her cup of malted milk, she leaned into Mother Meng’s embrace. Seeing the doting look in her mother’s eyes, she finally announced her decision.
“Mom, I’m going to the Northwest to join the base!”