1970s: Transmigrated into a cannon fodder female supporting character in a lucky koi novel!

To Jiang Mingzhu, the village chief's fair words were evidence of favoritism towards Jiang Yue'er.

She lowered her head, letting tears slide down her cheeks. What else was there to say?

Her biological parents were ignorant country folk who couldn't understand her situation at all.

When it was revealed that she was not his biological daughter, her adoptive parents had considered having Jiang Yue'er return to fulfill the marriage agreement.

As for her, what they discussed at the time was that she should marry a battalion commander in the compound.

Although his position was not low, only one level below his adoptive father, he was almost forty years old. His two sons were only three or four years younger than him, and he also had a pair of younger children who were eleven or twelve years old.

Not only would she have to be a stepmother after marrying into the family, but she would also have to take care of four children who were not much younger than herself.

Those four kids were troublemakers; they drove away many people who were interested in marrying their father.

Whoever marries into that family will be unlucky; this is an unspoken truth.

She overheard her adoptive parents talking in the study by chance. Luckily, Jiang Yue'er came back with a man, otherwise she doesn't know what she would have done.

Seeing Jiang Mingzhu's dejected expression, Jiang Laosan softened his tone.

"Mingzhu, if you don't want to go back to Beijing, then stay home. No matter what, we are your family and we won't let you suffer!"

The village chief chimed in, "Yes, Mingzhu, why don't you talk to your adoptive parents and stay in the village?"

Jiang Mingzhu clenched her fingers in resentment as she thought of the sweaty, smelly men in the village and the thought that if she stayed in the village, she would only be able to marry these peasants.

She didn't want to stay in the village; she had to go back!

She's not out of options; she still has a chance!

It's not that there aren't people her age who like her in the compound, it's just that she looks down on their family backgrounds, and now she doesn't care about that anymore.

She's not the Jiang family's biological daughter, so why should she marry someone she doesn't like for the sake of the Jiang family's interests?

Having been instilled with the idea that family interests come first since childhood, Jiang Mingzhu seemed to have unlocked her full potential.

What era are we living in? Why are we still doing that kind of arranged marriage?

Chairman Mao advocated free love, and arranged marriages are feudal dregs. Jiang Mingzhu is not bad. Even if she breaks off ties with the Jiang family, she still has a job, doesn't she?

She's perfectly capable of supporting herself! Why would she want to go back to the countryside to suffer?

Just a moment ago, Jiang Mingzhu's eyes were brimming with tears, but now they shone with an astonishing light.

It's as if I've found the direction for the future.

"Mom and Dad, no need. My adoptive parents raised me, and I must repay their kindness. I can't do something so ungrateful!"

After Jiang Mingzhu finished speaking, she glanced at Jiang Yue'er, as if she were addressing the Jiang family.

That look seemed to say: See? Jiang Yue'er is an ungrateful wretch!

Jiang Yue'er was furious that even at this point, Jiang Mingzhu was still trying to sow discord between her and her family. She was so angry that she wanted to pounce on Jiang Mingzhu and bite her to death.

The village chief didn't understand the meaning behind Jiang Mingzhu's words and thought that Jiang Mingzhu had misunderstood her adoptive parents.

"Sigh! Since you've already made up your mind, we won't interfere with your decision. But you should know that we'll always be there for you!"

Jiang Mingzhu felt contempt in her heart, but on the surface she was genuinely moved.

"Thank you, Dad. I'll miss you all!" Jiang Mingzhu pretended to wipe her eyes, then looked at Jiang Laosan, "Third Brother, could you please help me book tickets?"

Jiang Laosan nodded. "Okay, I'll go to the commune tomorrow and ask my older brother to use his connections to see if we can book a sleeper ticket!"

Jiang Mingzhu quickly waved her hand, "No need, Third Brother, just have Eldest Brother book a seat for me, the sooner the better!"

"Why are you in such a hurry?" The village chief looked at Jiang Mingzhu anxiously.

Jiang Mingzhu was in a hurry to go back not because she was afraid Lu Zechuan would report her, but because she wanted to get back as soon as possible to settle her marriage.

Otherwise, if her adoptive parents knew that Lu Zechuan didn't like her, they might have helped her get a marriage certificate before she even returned.

Military marriages are hard to break, and she'll have no choice but to obediently marry someone else, ruining her life.

She caught them off guard!

"Dad, I'm worried that Wen, the educated youth, might misunderstand. Let's go back as soon as possible! I can come back to see you when I have time, or you can come to Beijing to see me! Trains are convenient now!"

Although the village chief was disappointed, his daughter's words made sense.

So the next day, Boss Jiang booked tickets for Jiang Mingzhu, and on the third day, Jiang Mingzhu boarded the train back home with her big bags and small packages.

Jiang Yue'er and Jiang Chen originally planned to scheme against Jiang Mingzhu, but Jiang Yue'er gave up the idea when she thought that Jiang Mingzhu would be married to a man who was about the same age as her father.

Although it was somewhat regrettable, Jiang Yue'er would rather see Jiang Mingzhu jump into the fire pit and suffer for the rest of her life.

When Jiang Chen learned that Jiang Mingzhu had already left, his face instantly darkened.

Of course, these are all things to follow.

Educated Youth Home

As soon as it got dark, Wen Li took the ginseng and the blood-nourishing red dates and longans to the cowshed.

Xie Chang'an and Xie Changping have returned. The two brothers were unlucky; they didn't find a single wild egg, let alone ginseng.

After receiving Wen Li's promise, Xie Yuanhua felt relieved.

The whole family was waiting for Wen Li to arrive, but she didn't appear in the cowshed until 11 p.m.

"Wen Zhiqing, you... you really came?" Xie Chang'an looked incredulous.

"Take me to see Aunt Qiao first!"

"Okay, follow me!"

Xie Chang'an led Wen Li into the room, and the whole family treated Wen Li like a savior.

Wen Li greeted everyone with a smile and then walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

Aunt Qiao had lost a lot of weight; her thin face was pale, and she seemed drowsy.

Wen Li took her pulse and found it to be a sign of qi and blood deficiency.

"Did Aunt Qiao eat something? Otherwise, she shouldn't be so severely depleted of qi and blood!"

Some time ago, Aunt Qiao's health wasn't very good, but she didn't have any serious illness. Even if she was overworked, she shouldn't be in this state now.

Xie Chang'an looked ashen-faced. "Lately, our family has been eating nothing but wild vegetables and cornbread!"

"No, Changping, go check if Grandpa Wang and the others are asleep. If they're not, call them over!"

Old Wang and the others didn't know that Wen Li was coming. Xie Yuanhua was worried that his family would be disappointed if Wen Li didn't come, so he didn't tell anyone else.

So Old Wang and the others went to bed early!

"No need to shout, I'm here!"

Old Wang is a light sleeper due to his age. He didn't come out when he heard the noise, but later he seemed to hear Wen Li's voice, so he got up to check.

"Grandpa Wang, I just took Aunt Qiao's pulse and found it to be weak and feeble, a clear sign of qi and blood deficiency. If it were just from overwork and malnutrition, it shouldn't be this serious!"

Old Wang nodded approvingly. Wen Li had only been here for less than a year, yet she could diagnose such deep-seated problems by taking pulses. He even regretted not establishing a master-disciple relationship with her.