C4 Pestering

After putting in considerable effort, Qian Duojing finally managed to wash and smooth out her hair. She had hammered a nail into the wall and hung up the mirror she had purchased that day. As she combed her hair, she gazed at the reflection staring back at her.

The face in the mirror had an oval shape, with a slightly sallow complexion and chapped lips, likely a result of not yet recovering from a period of fasting. Aside from these minor issues, her delicate nose, plump lips, and sparkling eyes, coupled with her damp, flowing hair, made her look like a natural beauty, as if she had sprung from the essence of the mountains and rivers themselves.

What girl doesn't cherish her beauty? Duojing carefully applied face oil to her skin and hands, and dabbed a bit on her cracked lips. She was determined not to neglect her body in this new life, especially since she had been born with an illness in her past life. Now, having a body that could run and jump was an incredible gift.

She went out to the yard to feed the chickens and then gathered the rice seeds, wrapping them up securely. After checking the household's supply of rice, flour, and oil, she settled down on a small chair in the yard to bask in the sun and dry her hair.

The warmth of the sun nearly lulled her to sleep when she was roused by a knock at the door.

"Duojing! Duojing! Your third aunt-in-law has brought you some sesame seeds!"

Qian Duojing rose to her feet and opened the yard gate. There stood her third aunt-in-law, holding a small cloth bag filled with a jin of sesame seeds. She was taken aback by the sight of Duojing, who looked so fresh and radiant.

"Oh my, Duojing! Look at you, all fresh and beautiful. I hardly recognized you! It's true what they say, a woman changes after marriage. You look absolutely lovely—I mistook you for a young intellectual woman!"

Realizing her faux pas, as Duojing had married but had yet to meet her husband, the third aunt-in-law swiftly steered the conversation elsewhere.

"Duojing, here, take these sesame seeds. You're so pretty, your husband will surely come for you soon."

"Thank you, third aunt-in-law," Duojing replied, accepting the sesame seeds. She mused to herself that in the 21st century, she had been a university student, and in these times, she would certainly be considered an educated young woman destined for rural reformation. Her third aunt-in-law certainly had a keen eye.

Regarding the prospect of her unseen husband coming to fetch her, Duojing couldn't have cared less. She wasn't prepared to play the role of a wife to a stranger.

Duojing spent over three months in Small Mountain Village without anyone coming to retrieve her, nor did she receive a single letter. Nonetheless, she thrived. During this time, she nurtured her health, regularly consuming black sesame paste and working diligently on the farm. Her routine was consistent, her hair, a lustrous black, was neatly plaited into braids that draped across her chest.

While laboring in the fields, she conscientiously wore a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves to shield herself from the sun, preserving her fair complexion without gaining an ounce of weight.

Given the scarcity and cost of fabric and ready-made clothes, she opted for her father's old, sturdy garments. Men's clothing was not only more durable but also more practical for farm work.

Initially, the village's single men were wary of approaching Duojing, knowing she was spoken for. But as months passed without any sign of her being collected, their inhibitions waned, and they began to make inappropriate comments.

Just the other day, after gathering corn, Duojing found herself followed by a man on her way home. It was Daniu, a 26-year-old who frequently drove the ox cart, ferrying the women to the city market. Despite being unwed, he had taken a liking to Duojing after several trips together.

Daniu's presence was a known deterrent; his watchful eye kept the village's loafers at bay, limiting their advances to mere words. Thus, Duojing tolerated his company.

Her extended stay in the village only reinforced her conviction that leaving the mountains in her past life was the right choice. In this lifetime, she was determined to venture out of the village and find work in the city. But first, she needed to clarify things with Daniu; their paths in life were ultimately divergent.