Xia Zhiyuan deliberately fell into the cornfield after Goudan’s mother shoved her.
The fall itself wasn’t serious, but when she noticed a rock beside her, she intentionally slammed her head against it.
Blood immediately began flowing, staining her pale face.
Everyone was shocked by the sight and hurried over to help her up and stop the bleeding.
Gousheng’s mother panicked and stammered,
“I… I didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t you dare make me pay compensation! I only pushed you because you refused to admit what you’d done.”
Tears streamed down Xia Zhiyuan’s face as she looked utterly wronged.
“Auntie, do I look like someone trying to scam you? I honestly don’t know how I’ve offended you. Why do you insist on slandering me like this? I’m not good at arguing. I can’t win against you. I’m begging you, please stop accusing me. Otherwise, how am I supposed to continue living in this village?”
“What the hell? When did I slander you? Say it clearly!” Gousheng’s mother roared, her face flushed red with anger.
Several villagers quickly stepped forward to pull her away.
“That’s enough, Gousheng’s mother. Stop talking.”
“Can’t you go one day without picking a fight?”
“Go home and cook already. Don’t you see the children are hungry?”
Under everyone’s restraint, Gousheng’s mother was forcibly led away.
The villagers naturally sympathized with the weaker party.
Besides, Xia Zhiyuan had always maintained a good image in everyone’s eyes and didn’t seem like someone capable of doing anything bad.
On the other hand, Gousheng’s mother was well known for gossiping and stirring up trouble.
In the end, Gousheng’s mother became the scapegoat and was so furious that she lost her appetite for several days.
“Xiao Xia, don’t stoop to her level. She loves spreading rumors. None of us believe what she says.”
“That’s right. We’ve known you for so long. We know what kind of person you are.”
“Educated Youth Xia, you’ve really suffered. Don’t let her affect your mood. You still have to teach us mountain songs this afternoon.”
The villagers and educated youths all gathered around to comfort Xia Zhiyuan.
Sniffling, she forced out a smile.
“The innocent have nothing to fear. As long as I’m upright, I don’t care about rumors.”
“Well said! That’s exactly how an educated person should behave. Why argue with someone who’s illiterate?”
Everyone praised her.
Not far away, the Ji family watched everything unfold.
After witnessing Xia Zhiyuan’s masterful “performance,” they were completely convinced by Lin Ranran’s uncanny foresight.
Ji Junxiao’s gaze turned icy as he glanced coldly at Xia Zhiyuan.
Her heart skipped a beat.
A cold sweat broke out across her back.
Is he planning to take revenge on me?
No… He wouldn’t. He’s a soldier. He wouldn’t cross the line over someone like Lin Ranran.
Besides, in my previous life, he was my husband.
But who would ever believe the secret of her rebirth?
Suppressing her uneasiness, Xia Zhiyuan walked over to Mother Ji with tears in her eyes.
“Auntie, I’ve been wronged. I swear to Heaven that I never said those things. If I did, may lightning strike me and may I die a horrible death.”
She deliberately raised her voice so the surrounding villagers could hear.
That only convinced everyone even more that she was innocent.
After all, who would stake their own life on a false oath?
Mother Ji replied calmly,
“The innocent have nothing to fear. If you never said it, why bother explaining yourself to me?”
Red-eyed, Xia Zhiyuan answered,
“I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood me, Auntie.”
Mother Ji said firmly,
“I’m not someone who jumps to conclusions. But whoever spread rumors about my daughter-in-law—I curse them every single day. They’ll definitely get what’s coming to them.”
Xia Zhiyuan forced an awkward smile.
“Yes… Who would do such a thing?”
The younger members of the Ji family quickly led Mother Ji away.
In their eyes, speaking to someone like Xia Zhiyuan was beneath them.
Watching them leave, Xia Zhiyuan secretly clenched her fists.
There’s plenty of time ahead.
I refuse to believe Lin Ranran can stay this lucky forever.
Over the next few days, Xia Zhiyuan stopped trying to curry favor with the Ji family.
Instead, she devoted all her energy to teaching the villagers mountain songs, becoming more enthusiastic with each passing day.
The villagers liked her more and more.
During the day, Gousheng’s mother secretly learned mountain songs.
At night, she found opportunities to curse Xia Zhiyuan.
Xia Zhiyuan treated her like air and ignored her completely.
She kept waiting for the Ji family to run out of meat.
To her surprise, Lin Ranran cooked meat for them every single day.
Sometimes there was even cured meat.
Xia Zhiyuan was nearly driven mad with jealousy.
The cured meat she’d prepared herself was practically growing mold.
Looks like she’d have to smoke it again.
Meanwhile, Lin Ranran hadn’t been idle either.
She visited every household in the village and learned everything she could about the local situation.
Although the elderly villagers were too old to work in the fields, they were far from idle.
The grandfathers wove bamboo baskets, bamboo trays, bamboo hampers, and other household items.
The grandmothers made clothes, and those with good eyesight embroidered intricate patterns.
Their embroidered shoes were both exquisite and meaningful.
Lin Ranran loved them the moment she saw them.
She exchanged grain coupons and meat coupons with the elderly villagers for many bamboo household items, bamboo furniture, and embroidered shoes.
From them, she learned that making embroidered shoes was a required skill for every village girl.
From childhood, girls learned shoemaking from their mothers.
Before getting married, they had to prepare embroidered shoes for the groom’s elders.
Their dowries also included embroidered shoes, embroidered pillows, embroidered quilts, and more.
Lin Ranran immediately recognized the enormous business potential of embroidery and bamboo handicrafts.
That evening after dinner, she cleared her throat and proposed,
“Tomorrow Third Brother is going into town with Team Leader Yang to buy supplies. I want to use our meat and grain coupons to purchase embroidered goods and bamboo products, then have him sell them in town. What do you all think?”
Everyone had already admired the new bamboo furniture Lin Ranran had added to the house that day.
After hearing her proposal, every member of the family raised a hand in agreement.
Father Ji smiled.
“Ranran, since you’re in charge of this household, you make the decisions from now on.”
They had agreed from the beginning that if she came to the countryside with them, she would control the family’s finances.
After several days of observation, Father Ji had realized that Lin Ranran was intelligent, resourceful, and full of ideas.
He genuinely respected her abilities.
Mother Ji also smiled warmly.
“Exactly. Our Ranran is smart and capable. Whatever you decide to do, I fully support you.”
Ji Junyao said excitedly,
“Blind admiration plus one!”
Ji Junshan also agreed.
“Big Sister-in-law’s idea is excellent. City people love unique things like these.”
Ji Junxiao, however, voiced a concern.
“It’s fine for Third Brother to sell bamboo products, but won’t it be awkward for a young man to sell embroidered shoes?”
Ji Junshan patted his chest confidently.
“That’s no problem. Doing business means having thick skin. As long as it makes money, I don’t care if people laugh at me.”
Lin Ranran smiled approvingly.
“Well said, Third Brother. I have faith in you.”
Father Ji asked,
“Should I go talk to Team Leader Yang about purchasing these items?”
“No need. I’m sure the villagers will come to us on their own. But Dad, you’ll need to ask Team Leader Yang for an official letter.”
“All right.”
By now, everyone trusted Lin Ranran completely.
They even felt as though she possessed the ability to predict the future.
Sure enough, before long, villagers began arriving at the Ji family’s door.
“Ji family’s daughter-in-law, Grandma A’Fu said you’re exchanging meat coupons for embroidered shoes so you can take them to town and test the market for us. I have several pairs here. How many meat coupons can I get?”
“Ji family’s daughter-in-law, look at these embroidered handkerchiefs, sachets, and wall hangings. Can I exchange them for some meat coupons?”
“Ji family’s daughter-in-law, what about these bamboo baskets and hampers? Can I trade them for grain coupons?”
…
Looking at the growing crowd, Mother Ji said worriedly,
“Ranran, aren’t we running out of meat coupons? If you exchange them all away, how will you get enough nutrition?”
Lin Ranran smiled reassuringly.
“It’s fine, Mom. Tomorrow I’m planning to have Third Brother buy several more laying hens. We’ll raise more chickens and ducks so we’ll have meat every day.”
“No matter what, your nutrition comes first. It doesn’t matter if the rest of us don’t eat meat, but you and the baby need it,” Mother Ji insisted.
“I know, Mom. Don’t worry. Besides, we still have money.”
Even so, Mother Ji secretly signaled Ji Junxiao to keep an eye on her.
By now, Ji Junxiao admired his wife with all his heart.
In his eyes, Lin Ranran could do anything.
Even if she announced she was going to pluck the moon from the sky, he would probably try to help her do it.
Lin Ranran cleared her throat and called out loudly,
“Everyone, line up. I’ll exchange coupons based on the quality of your work. These grain and meat coupons are what our family saved before coming here, but we don’t have many left. Since we’ve chosen to settle in the countryside, we naturally want to share both hardships and blessings with everyone. As long as you trust me, I promise that one day everyone will have white rice at every meal and meat every day.”
“Well said, Ji family’s daughter-in-law!”
“Educated people really are different.”
“No wonder their family eats meat every day. They really know how to make money.”
“People from the big city really do have a head for business.”
…
Watching her sister-in-law, Ji Junyao couldn’t help saying,
“Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law feels like such a powerful businesswoman. Every day I discover a completely different side of her.”
Ji Junxiao smiled.
“She surprises me every day. Even if she plucked the moon from the sky tomorrow, I wouldn’t think it was strange.”
Ji Junshan sighed in admiration.
“Big Sister-in-law’s plan has earned the villagers’ goodwill. They’ll definitely respect our family even more from now on.”
Ji Junxiao nodded.
“Ranran is paving the way for our entire family. Third Brother, make sure you sell everything well tomorrow. Don’t let Big Sister-in-law’s hard work go to waste.”
“Absolutely. Besides selling these things, I’ll also complete the market research assignment Big Sister-in-law gave me,” Ji Junshan said confidently.
At that moment, Gousheng’s mother squeezed desperately to the front of the crowd.
Somewhat embarrassed, she asked,
“Ji family’s daughter-in-law… can these cloth shoes be exchanged for some grain coupons?”
A nearby villager laughed.
“Gousheng’s mother, she’s buying embroidered shoes, not plain cloth shoes.”
“That’s right. If you don’t make embroidered shoes, don’t try to join in.”
Her face turned crimson with embarrassment.
“Even a little grain would help. My family eats porridge every day. The children keep begging for white rice.”
“If you have embroidered shoes, bring them. The Ji family’s daughter-in-law isn’t running a charity.”
“Exactly. Move aside.”
The crowd’s remarks left Gousheng’s mother flushed with shame and regret.
She regretted never learning embroidery herself.
When her two daughters-in-law married into the family, she had always been too stingy to buy colored embroidery thread, so there wasn’t a single pair of embroidered shoes in their house.
Her daughter Xiaohua was nearly ten years old.
Other girls her age were already learning to make embroidered shoes.
Xiaohua had never had that opportunity.
She had always dreamed of owning a pair.
When Goudan got married, his wife had finally made Xiaohua a pair, but they were already too small to fit.
Xiaohua had cried so hard that Gousheng’s mother eventually cut open the heels of the shoes so she could wear them.
She wore them for another two years until her feet grew too large.
Only then were the shoes washed and carefully put away.
“Auntie, bring me the shoes. I’ll give you one grain coupon. Next time, have your daughters-in-law embroider them, and I’ll exchange them for meat coupons.”
Hearing Lin Ranran’s words, Gousheng’s mother was both shocked and overjoyed.
She had never imagined that Lin Ranran would actually trade her a grain coupon.
Her eyes reddened with emotion.
“Thank you, Ji family’s daughter-in-law.”
“You were the one talking badly about her before. Feeling embarrassed now?”
“Exactly. Talk less from now on and save yourself some shame.”
Clutching the grain coupon tightly, Gousheng’s mother hurried away.
She was already planning to exchange it for grain at the next market.
One pair of cloth shoes had earned her ten jin of rice.
Whoever claimed the Ji family’s daughter-in-law couldn’t manage a household was completely wrong.
In Gousheng’s mother’s eyes, Lin Ranran was exceptionally capable.
Deep down, she sincerely wished more women like Lin Ranran would come to their village.
The villagers brought out everything they had.
Various bamboo crafts and embroidered items piled up into two large baskets.
Looking at Ji Junshan, Lin Ranran asked,
“Third Brother, tomorrow Team Leader Yang will also be taking bamboo shoots to sell. The horse probably won’t be able to carry all these things. Can you manage them on a shoulder pole?”
Ji Junshan patted his chest.
“Big Sister-in-law, I’m strong. Even two more baskets wouldn’t be a problem.”
“After selling everything tomorrow, buy several chickens and ducks. Laying hens would be best. I’ll raise them at home. That way our family will never have to worry about running out of meat.”
“All right. I’ll do exactly as you say.”
“Buy plenty of meat too. If we can’t finish it all, we’ll make cured meat. You all work in the fields every day—you need meat. Our family isn’t short of money, so don’t be stingy.”
“Understood.”
…
Meanwhile, when Xia Zhiyuan learned of Lin Ranran’s plan, she was furious.
She couldn’t understand how Lin Ranran had thought of buying embroidered shoes and selling them in the city.
In her previous life, she’d earned everyone’s respect by taking the villagers’ embroidered shoes into town to sell and then distributing the profits.
But now Lin Ranran had beaten her to it.
Worse, Lin Ranran was paying with grain and meat coupons.
Xia Zhiyuan didn’t have any.
She couldn’t exactly ask the villagers to hand over their goods first and trust her to sell them.
Who would agree to that?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
It felt as though Lin Ranran existed solely to oppose her.
Before dawn the next day, Ji Junshan carried a shoulder pole loaded with bamboo crafts and embroidered shoes as he set off for town with Team Leader Yang.
Once they arrived, he found a busy spot and set up a stall.
City residents were fascinated by the rustic bamboo crafts, and before long, every single bamboo item had been sold.
The embroidered shoes attracted many young women, who stopped to admire them.
But Ji Junshan was still a young man.
Whenever a girl asked him a question, he blushed bright red, making many of the girls too embarrassed to buy the shoes.