Transmigrated as an Unwanted Ugly Girl

Juhua said quickly, "It’s almost noon. Go call Dad back. This is the hottest part of the day. It’s better to work a little harder in the morning and evening and skip this period. Don’t just try to power through it. Getting sick from exhaustion will end up costing us more."

He came out of the kitchen and added, "That’s just what I was about to say. Let’s just bear it a little longer. The Beginning of Autumn is in two days. Even if it doesn’t rain, it’ll at least be a bit cooler." As she spoke, she carried the Huangdou Juhua had shelled over to the well to wash them. Then she said to Huai Zi, "Go throw those Huangdou stalks into the pigsty for the pigs to chew on."

Huai Zi agreed, then added, "Dad’s already back. He’s right behind me."

Sure enough, a moment later, Zhang Dashuan came in from outside. He lifted the cloth towel from his neck to wipe away his sweat and grumbled, "This weather isn’t giving anyone a break. It’s just too hot."

Despite his complaints, he didn’t rest. He first went inside and gulped down a bowl of tea, then came back out, picked up a grain rake, and started to turn the rice drying in the threshing yard. Hearing the RUSTLE of the grain, he couldn’t help but smile with delight. "This weather is great for drying grain, though. See? It’s only been half a day and it’s already rattling. If we dry it all day today and for another half-day tomorrow, we can bag it up."

After tossing the Huangdou stalks into the pigsty, Huai Zi came out and saw his father working. He rushed forward, took the tool from his hands, and said, "I’ll do it. Dad, go wash up and cool down. Juhua, head back inside. Close the windows and lower the curtains—all this dust is getting kicked up. Close the main door, too."

Juhua nodded. She washed her hands, went inside, and closed all the doors and windows, instantly shutting the scorching heat outside and leaving the room cool and shaded. That was the great thing about a house built near the mountains. With so many trees front and back, and a floor of packed earth that stayed cool, the shady, moist air was exceptionally refreshing. The only exception was when it was muggy and about to rain—the dampness rising from the ground would become uncomfortable. Otherwise, the house was typically warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

She entered her room and sat at the table. From the sewing basket, she took out a small pair of bib pants and bent her head to sew them with meticulous care.

She had already sewn quite a few outfits for the baby, covering all four seasons for the time from birth to age two. Some were made from new cloth, while others were altered from old clothes. If she didn’t prepare them in advance, things would be chaotic when the time came. He did housework all day and even had to work in the fields when she could steal a moment, leaving her with only the evenings for a bit of sewing.

Listening to the sounds of activity outside, Juhua felt a sense of peace. ’It’s strange,’ she thought. ’I’m not particularly worried about giving birth.’ It wasn’t that she had blind faith in Doctor Qin and his fellow disciples, but rather that she simply felt no panic.

People often have an intuition, or a premonition, about things to come; some feel it more strongly, while others are less sensitive. ’When Yun Ying visited all those years ago,’ Juhua recalled, ’I was so uneasy, always feeling like something was about to happen. Looking back, I really did miss an excellent chance for treatment. But with this pregnancy, even though I was a little emotional at the start, I’ve never felt nervous, scared, or had any sense of panic. So I’ve been at ease the whole time, certain that this child will be born safe and sound.’

She was also delighted at the thought of Zhang Yang returning as a Scholar. ’At least the family’s ability to handle whatever comes our way has improved a little.’ Life like this was good, as bright and booming as the blazing sun outside. They weren’t too poor, but they weren’t rich either. She had no desire to build a great fortune and acquire thousands of acres of fertile land. Forget a thousand *qing* of land—even a thousand *mu* would be a headache.

’But if Zhang Yang becomes an official,’ she mused, ’this laid-back way of thinking probably won’t fly. Effort and enjoyment are two sides of the same scale; it’s just that some parts of the exchange aren’t immediately visible or realized.’

When Zhang Huai finished his work, he came into the room and saw her sitting at the table, head bent over her sewing. The curtains blocked the outdoor sun, leaving the room cool and tranquil. He let out a soft breath, sat down, and smiled. "It’s so much cooler in here. I’ll spread a reed mat on the floor for a nap later. That’ll be nice. What were you thinking about just now? I saw you smiling to yourself."

Seeing him continually wiping sweat from his brow, Juhua quickly picked up a fan from beside her and handed it to him. "I was just wondering when Yangzi will be back," she replied. "If all three of them become Scholars, our village is going to be the talk of the town."

Zhang Huai took the fan and, with a few vigorous flicks, created a breeze. He chuckled. "You’re right about that. People might even start calling this place ’Scholar Village’. Mr. Zhou is going to be swamped, though. I hear a lot of families in Xiatang Market want to send their children to Qingnan Village to study. The teacher at the market is just an old student who couldn’t pass the scholar exam after many years; he can only teach basic literacy. Now that word’s out that Mr. Zhou has produced such successful students, how can those wealthy families hold back? They’re all going to come swarming in."

Juhua paused her needlework, recalling how her second maternal uncle, Yang Dezhi, had hesitantly mentioned to He that he wanted to send Laishou to study here with his paternal aunt. He hadn’t refused at the time. The main reason was that Laishou was more obedient and sensible than Laicai. Besides, He also hoped to see her nephew succeed, so her thought was to let Laishou study here for a year as a trial. If he wasn’t a handful, that would be wonderful. If he caused trouble and didn’t study well, they would simply send him back.

She nodded. "Laishou will probably be coming to our house to study. Mother agreed."

Zhang Huai asked, "How old is Laishou? It won’t work if he’s too young. Little Hulu already needs looking after. Won’t another child just make Mother even more tired?"

Juhua said, "Laishou is about seven, two years older than Zhao Qing. He’s been sensible since he was young, unlike Laicai, which is probably why Mother agreed. At his age, he won’t need too much supervision. My maternal grandmother will probably come over to look after him for a while, and Mother wanted to invite her to stay anyway, so it works out conveniently."

Zhang Huai nodded. "As long as he listens, it won’t be a problem. The schoolhouse is right on our doorstep anyway, so it’s convenient for him to get to and from his lessons."

As they were talking, they were called outside for the meal.

Sure enough, at the beginning of the eighth month, a messenger brought news: the three young men from Qingnan Village had all passed the exam and become Scholars. They were at the county government at that very moment, paying their respects to the Lord County Magistrate. People didn’t believe it at first, but then officials from the county government came to their doors to deliver the official announcement and ask for reward money. In an instant, the entire village was in an uproar!

The threshold of the schoolhouse was nearly worn away by the crowds. An endless stream of people, bearing lavish gifts, came seeking an audience with Mr. Zhou. The old teacher was getting a massive headache; he was clearly unaccustomed to such worldly affairs. He pulled Li Gengtian aside to help him handle the social niceties and deal with the visitors. He also announced to the crowd that any children from outside Qingnan Village who wished to study there would have to be personally tested by him first. This was mainly because the schoolhouse had limited space and could not accept too many students. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com and vote with recommendation tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)