Chapter 1: Her Conned Husband Is About to Return

"The fever has already subsided, why is she still unconscious? It's been three days…”

"Mu Qi, why oh why were you so foolish? Even if it had indeed reached the point of a divorce, why would you jump into the river?”

"If anything were to happen to you, how are your parents supposed to go on living?"

...

Within her dull consciousness, Ye Mu Qi became aware of unfamiliar voices nearby and smelled the pungent scent of disinfectant.

She slowly opened her eyes which were uncomfortably stabbed by light, everything was vaguely blurred. After she had become accustomed to the light, she met the eyes of a woman. Although the woman had aged with time, she was still quite beautiful.

"You're awake, Mu Qi? How are you feeling? Is there any discomfort?" Xia Ying noticed Ye Mu Qi open her eyes and hurried closer, asking anxiously.

"I..." Ye Mu Qi croaked, her voice was hoarse, and her throat hurting as though it had been scraped with a little blade. As soon as the word left her mouth, she was compelled to mute herself due to the pain.

"Don't fret, take a sip of water first." Xia Ying hurriedly fetched her a cup of water and helped her drink.

Ye Mu Qi saw her bringing an enamelled mug that felt strikingly vintage. The body of the mug was even somewhat chipped…

However, her mouth was so dry and parched that she drank most of the lukewarm water.

After drinking water, her throat felt a bit better, and she began to process the memories in her mind.

She had time-travelled to the 1980s, to Badazhen, Jiangcheng County, into the body of a girl with the same name and surname as hers, who was 20 years old and married.

The original host's mother was a youthful volunteer in the country. She was, in fact, the most beautiful among her batch. Her father, Ye Zhengfeng, worked at a steel factory and her mother was an employee at a cotton factory. Coming from a family with both parents employed, their living conditions were quite good.

Because of this, the original host was pampered into uselessness, not even finishing high school, idling around at home. At this time last year, the host fell for a soldier who had returned to the village for a visit, stubbornly trying to date him despite his clear dislike.

The soldier did not like her, feeling that a girl who relies solely on her appearances seems plainly foolish and obviously unprepared for life.

But the host was persistent. She desperately staged a scene, running out of his house being barely covered by a bedsheet, and was seen by the neighbors...

Ye Muqi's reputation was ruined. The soldier was forced to file for a marriage with his superiors, the two got their marriage certificate, and then the soldier left her behind and returned to the North China war zone. A year has passed, and the soldier has yet to return. Many people in the village speculated that their marriage might be on the rocks. As a result, the host was stricken by excessive grief and jumped into the river in despair.

She was pulled out of the river, suffered high fever for several days, and probably her brain was fried which is why she was replaced.

Ye Muqi who had just acquired the host's memories thought: WTF?!

Such a cringe-inducing plot was explosive even by modern standards!

"Muqi, if you and Jing Chen are truly going to divorce, I can find another for you... You like soldiers, right? Your father and I can help you find another one." Xia Ying watched her daughter who looked stunned after drinking water, and was unable to speak. She was so distressed, "Say something, don't scare me!"

"Mom...Mom...?"

Sigh, it's really awkward to call someone who is not your biological mother.

"I'm fine..." Ye Muqi shook her head.

"Okay, okay, it's good that you're fine." Wiping away her tears, Xia Ying nodded with relief, "Are you hungry? Want something to eat?"

"I don't have much of an appetite right now, I don't feel like eating."

This body had just regained consciousness, with splitting headache and weakness throughout the body, so she certainly didn't feel like eating.

"But you haven't eaten anything for three days. I'll get you a small bowl of wonton soup. Eat as much as you can," Xia Ying said.

"Okay... Thank you."

Once Xia Ying left, Ye Muqi looked around her surroundings.

She seemed to be in a neighbourhood clinic. The four corners of the ward looked a bit run-down, devoid of air conditioning. The only two wall-mounted fans were slowly oscillating, making a 'whirling' noise. Ye Muqi was sleeping in a bed by the window, one corner of which had been shattered and patched with newspapers.

However, medical conditions were limited in this era, especially in a small town. Being able to stay in a ward with fans was considered good.

Xia Ying quickly bought a bowl of small wonton soup from a nearby restaurant and fed it to Ye Muqi.

After only two bites, the door to the ward was pushed open. A woman around Xia Ying's age entered. It was Ye Muqi's mother-in-law, Yin Lan.

Ye Muqi quietly studied this woman. Not tall, but quite spirited, she seemed quite severe.

Yin Lan looked at the pallid Ye Muqi, whose lips were devoid of color, appearing pitiful, and heaved a sigh, "You've awakened? You foolish girl, how could you attempt suicide by jumping into the river? Luckily, you were saved."

"......"

Would you believe me if I told you the one who jumped into the river is not around anymore?

"Jing Chen wrote a letter saying he would be back last week. He'll probably be here the day after tomorrow. You two young people can have a good talk then."

"Ah..."

So, her husband who she was tricked into marrying is returning?

This conversation is going to be tough!

Yin Lan didn't particularly dislike this girl. After all, she was quite pretty, just a bit too dramatic. After getting their marriage certificate, she came to Yin Lan's house declaring she wanted to be a good daughter-in-law. She cleaned vigorously every day, and after a week, the house was more chaotic than ever. So much so that Yin Lan herself couldn't bear to see it.

She was then asked to wash clothes, and after only two days, this girl had dislocated her hand from the vigorous scrubbing, and had to return home to recuperate.

After almost half a year, she finally realized that she was simply unable to do housework. So, she set her sights on learning how to cook. After nearly setting her kitchen on fire, she went to a restaurant and started seriously learning culinary arts. It's still uncertain how far she's progressed in her cooking skills.

No lies, Yin Lan felt that ever since knowing this daughter-in-law, her heart’s resistance to stress has improved dramatically!

“Mother-in-law, when Jing Chen comes back, come to our house. We should have a meal together,” Xia Ying thought it was time to settle things clearly, or else her daughter might continue to feel confused.

"Alright."

Ye Muqi: "......"

So, no one is going to ask for her opinion again?

…

After hooking up the last bottle of IV fluid for the evening, Ye Muqi left the hospital. Noticing her somewhat listless demeanor,Xia Ying patted her on the shoulder for comfort, “Cheer up, you’ll be meeting him soon, right? You better not do anything foolish anymore!”

“I know, Mom. I won't do anything foolish again."

Ye Muqi lightly pursed her lips, a fleeting memory flashed through her mind.

Actually…

It was not the original owner who had attempted suicide by jumping into the river.

————

Reading Guide:

This is a warm and healing sweet story about food, without any thrilling or wicked elements. It’s all about slow and simple daily life. ヾ

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