Gu Yijia slept in the hospital for one night.
That night, she did not sleep soundly. Besides having to digest the memories of “Gu Yijia,” she was also thinking about where “Gu Yijia” had gone.
In the end, she guessed that perhaps she had become the “Gu Yijia” of the 1970s, and the “Gu Yijia” of the 1970s had also become herself.
As for transmigrating into a book?
When she became the “Gu Yijia” of this era, this was already a real world, no longer just a book, and people still had to go on living.
Gu Yijia felt a little complicated inside.
No matter how she thought about it, she felt she had taken a loss.
Her original body was healthy, her family was happy, and she was the most favored youngest daughter in the family, with nothing unsatisfactory in her life. Then all of a sudden, she transmigrated into that hard era and became a sickly weakling with poor health…
Even though she was several years younger, she still had that feeling of having lost out.
In the morning, when Gu Yijia woke up, she could still feel her body heavy, and her head was a little dizzy and foggy.
This body really was not healthy.
When she went to the toilet, using the mirror in the bathroom, Gu Yijia could clearly see what she looked like now, and found that besides becoming younger, she had also become prettier.
Her features were still her original features, as if they had been carefully refined and adjusted, exceptionally beautiful and flawless. Even when she was not smiling, her cool, distant look really did have a bit of that little fairy who did not eat the mortal world’s fire and smoke feeling.
Gu Yijia looked at herself in the mirror and was stunned for a long time.
It was not until her sister-in-law Chen Aifang called her from outside that she hurriedly splashed some water on her face and walked out of the bathroom.
At breakfast, Jiang Jinwang came again.
Once again it was Chen Aifang who stepped in, dealing with him with a fake smile that did not reach her eyes, and sending him out without letting him have any contact with her younger sister-in-law.
Chen Aifang turned around and said to Gu Yijia on the bed, “Jiajia, this Jiang Director, although he’s a bit enthusiastic, he does seem rather proud. He might not be very suitable for you.”
Gu Yijia was stunned, then quickly waved her hands. “Sister-in-law, where did you get that idea? I don’t have any thoughts about Director Jiang.”
“That’s good.” Chen Aifang let out a breath of relief, patted her younger sister-in-law’s head, and said softly, “Your brother and I both hope we can find you someone who doesn’t mind your health and is good to you. If we can’t find anyone, then it’s better to…”
They would raise her themselves.
When they got married, her husband Gu Mingcheng had told her in advance that if his younger sister’s health kept being bad in the future, he would support her for the rest of her life.
If she minded, she could refuse this marriage.
At the time, her parents were trying to marry her off to an old, ugly cripple from the neighboring village so they could use the generous bride price to get a wife for her brothers. Eager to get out of that marriage, she agreed to marry him.
Compared with that cripple who beat his wife, Gu Mingcheng was handsome and dignified. Just on looks alone, there were many female comrades secretly in love with him, willing to help him support his younger sister.
He was also a soldier. Although his position in the army was not high back then, Chen Aifang was willing to take the gamble, believing that for the sake of his younger sister, Gu Mingcheng would also work hard to stay alive and work hard to climb higher.
The facts proved that she had bet right.
Over the years, although the younger sister-in-law was weak and sickly, often needing medicine and hospital stays, and it cost quite a bit of money, all of that came from her husband’s own allowances and bonuses. In terms of money, he never shortchanged the three of them. She ate better, dressed better, and lived better than many women of this era, and she also had a stable job.
On top of that, the younger sister-in-law was a girl with a good temperament. When she was in good health, she would help her with whatever work she could manage, and she was obedient, sensible, and well-behaved. Who wouldn’t like a girl like that?
She was still willing to raise her younger sister-in-law, treating her as one more daughter.
Not long after breakfast, the doctor came over to check her. After confirming that her body was fine, Gu Yijia could be discharged.
On the way back, Chen Aifang rode her bicycle and took her home.
Chen Aifang had a tall, long figure. When she pedaled the bicycle, she could ride very fast, and carrying one person did not feel tiring at all. Of course, part of that was also because Gu Yijia was too light.
Along the way, Chen Aifang kept worrying that she would faint, and every so often she would ask if she felt uncomfortable anywhere.
Gu Yijia felt complicated.
Although she had only transmigrated yesterday, with the memories left behind by the original “Gu Yijia,” it seemed as if she was the real “Gu Yijia” herself, with no sense of unfamiliar distance at all.
Her sister-in-law was her sister-in-law, and her elder brother Gu Mingcheng was also her elder brother.
It was only about an hour by bicycle from the county hospital back to the commune. If you rode fast, it could even take just forty minutes. It was not far.
Nanshan Commune was close to the county seat, so going to the county was very convenient.
The commune’s Party secretary was an astute man. He often organized the commune members to sell a lot of mountain goods and handicrafts outside, so Nanshan Commune was not considered too poor.
As soon as they arrived at the commune, quite a few people came over to greet them and ask about Gu Yijia’s health.
Chen Aifang was a straightforward person, and she responded one by one, “Our Jiajia is already fine. Thank you all for your concern! And those who helped take Jiajia to the hospital yesterday, if you’re free another day, please come over and have a meal.”
“Sister Chen, you’re too polite.”
Gu Yijia kept smiling the whole time, looking at those people who greeted them.
Probably because of the memories, when she saw these people, she did not feel unfamiliar at all. On the contrary, she felt very familiar with them, as if they were all people she saw on ordinary days.
Of course, because Gu Yijia’s health was not good and she did not go down into the fields to work, she did not interact much with the commune members. The others were somewhat unfamiliar with her too, and they were not very close to one another, even less so than Chen Aifang, an outsider who had married into the production brigade.
After the commune members asked about Gu Yijia’s health, they looked at her face and then left.
Yesterday, her appearance of more out than in had frightened quite a few people. Now they saw that although her face was still pale, she could still stand there neatly and prettily, so they knew she should be fine.
At last, they could relax.
No matter what, Gu Yijia was a commune member, and she also had such a capable older brother. Gu Mingcheng was now a military officer, and they still hoped Gu Yijia would be well.
Chen Aifang took Gu Yijia home on the bicycle.
Their home was a rather grand brick-and-tile house, with a small courtyard. In Nanshan Commune, it could be considered quite imposing. It had been built with money Gu Mingcheng sent back, and someone had been hired to help build it, specifically for his wife, children, and younger sister to live in.
Because of this matter, there had been quite a few twists and turns back then.
Just as they reached the door, they saw two children, one big and one small, come out to greet them.
“Mom, Auntie, you’re back.”
A ten-year-old boy with dark skin, bright features, and an energetic look came over to help his mother steady the bicycle, looking at Gu Yijia with concern.
The other, a five-year-old girl, ran over to grab Gu Yijia’s hand. “Little Auntie, are you all right?”
She asked worriedly, her bright little face all scrunched up.
The little girl was wearing a dress that had been washed pale white, and her hair was tied into two pigtails, one higher and one lower, not matching at all. But her features were bright and lovely, inheriting the best traits of both parents, and at a glance you could tell that in the future she would definitely be a pretty and charming young girl.
Gu Yijia smiled and said, “Thank you, Baohua. Auntie is fine.”
She held her little niece Baohua’s hand and slowly went inside. Baohua also deliberately slowed down her steps, afraid that if she walked too fast, the sickly little auntie would get tired.
Seeing this, Gu Yijia understood that everyone at home was used to taking care of her.
After she got home, Chen Aifang reminded Gu Yijia to rest well, and also reminded her younger daughter to take care of her.
She was a teacher at the commune’s elementary school, and because of Gu Yijia’s matter she had taken leave yesterday. Today she still had to go back to school to teach.
As for the elder son, he had also been worried about his little aunt, so he had specially asked for leave and stayed home to wait for them today. At this moment, Chen Aifang would not allow him to skip school, and took him back to school together.
At such a young age, Baohua patted her chest and said, “Mom and brother, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Little Auntie!”
Gu Yijia: “…That really isn’t necessary. I can take good care of myself.”
She did not have such a big heart that she would let a five-year-old girl take care of her.
Although perhaps the original owner was already used to it, after all, this body really was useless.
After Chen Aifang and her son and daughter left, the little girl, like an adult, urged Gu Yijia to go rest.
Gu Yijia felt complicated, but she was indeed a little dizzy, so she went back to the room, lay down on the bed, and before long she fell asleep.
She slept until noon before waking up.
When she woke up, she found that Chen Aifang and her son and daughter had already come back, and they had made lunch, putting her portion aside with a lid covering it.
After Gu Yijia finished lunch, Chen Aifang and her son and daughter hurried off to school again, leaving only the aunt and niece at home.
“Little Auntie, do you want water?” the little girl asked.
Gu Yijia shook her head, and seeing the little girl’s crooked hair, she called her over and used a comb to brush her hair.
She was deft with her hands. In no time at all, she had made two pretty braided buns for her, and even tied them with red ribbons, making the little girl so delighted that she leaned in front of the mirror and kept looking at herself.
“Grandma Huang doesn’t know how to tie hair. Every time she ties it, it’s crooked. Little Auntie ties it so beautifully.”
Gu Yijia watched with a smile, her heart completely calm, as if this were her home.
A knocking sound came from outside. Before Gu Yijia could even stand up, Baohua was already toddling off on her two short legs, happily running to open the door.
Outside the door was Third Auntie Gu.
Baohua asked warily, “Third Auntie-in-law, why are you here?”
Third Auntie Gu’s expression stiffened when she saw the little girl.
The two children from Gu Mingcheng’s family were not easy to deal with. Even five-year-old Baohua was a little village tyrant, just like her mother, and very sharp.
Third Auntie Gu painfully took out two White Rabbit milk candies. “Baohua, Auntie has something to talk to your little aunt about. Go play outside for a bit, okay?”
Baohua took the White Rabbit milk candies neatly, but she did not move. In a sweet little voice, she said, “Third Auntie-in-law, is there something I can’t hear? I’m already grown up, you don’t need to treat me like a child.”
The corner of Third Auntie Gu’s mouth twitched. You’re a five-year-old kid, and you say I don’t need to treat you like a child?
However, she really could not treat her like a child. This little girl was clever as a ghost and very good at tattling. If Baohua’s mother found out her purpose, she would definitely grab a broom and beat someone.
In the end, Third Auntie Gu could only watch the little girl sit off to the side, resting her chin in her hands and staring at them, which left her extremely speechless.
She cleared her throat and first asked after Gu Yijia’s health, who was sitting there.
“Jiajia, how is your health? You suddenly fainted yesterday, and it scared us all half to death…”
If the doctor had not diagnosed it as heatstroke, and if it had not been her fault, Chen Aifang probably would have smashed up her whole house with a broom. Thinking of that, Third Auntie Gu still felt lingering fear, and did not dare casually call her over to her own home.
Gu Yijia looked listless. “Not very good. I’m still a little dizzy.”
Her eyes were slightly lowered. Her eyelids were thin, and tiny blood vessels could be seen on them, adding a bit of color to that pale face and giving it an indescribable charm, exquisite and flawless.
Baohua rested her chin in her hands and stared at her little aunt without blinking, looking extremely pleased.
Little Auntie is so pretty, just like a fairy from the sky.
Third Auntie Gu: “…I see, then you should rest well.”
She said to rest well, but she still did not lift her bottom and leave. She kept staring at Gu Yijia, seeming to want to say something but holding back. In the end, after glancing at Baohua, she asked tactfully, “Jiajia, how are you considering it?”
Gu Yijia lifted her eyelids to look at her. Those eyes were clear and limpid, and when she looked at someone so directly like that, it made them unconsciously dazed and forget everything else.
“Third Auntie, I’m not familiar with Director Jiang. When you say that, I feel uncertain.”