Chapter 3: The Heroine with a Pair of Enchanting Almond Eyes!

As the aroma of braised fish from Shen Zhiyu’s home wafted through the courtyard, nearly every household nearby looked over with a mixture of envy and jealousy.

“Shen Zhiyu really has a charmed life!”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

“Married a good man, has money and savings, and doesn’t have to serve her in-laws!”

“Not only does she not have to serve her in-laws, she doesn’t even have to serve her husband!”

“It’s just not fair!”

“You’re jealous? Then you’d better grow a face like hers first!”

“Pfft, what’s there to be proud of in being a seductress? She won’t have a good end!”

“Exactly! Wait until her husband comes back and finds out what she’s really like; he’ll definitely divorce her!”

And so on.

A crowd transformed from admiration to jealousy, then to curses and slander—this was the full, unvarnished display of human nature’s darker side.

Unfortunately, no matter how spiteful their words, it didn’t affect Shen Zhiyu’s good mood in the slightest.

The fish was truly excellent!

People said freshwater fish had a strong muddy taste, but Shen Zhiyu couldn’t detect any.

She had expected that the fish would last two or three days, but to her surprise, she underestimated how much her body could consume.

The fish weighed nearly four pounds after being cleaned, and she ate half of it in one sitting, along with three large bowls of rice.

Satisfied and rubbing her slightly full belly, Shen Zhiyu sighed. Her previous self must have suffered many grievances; this body had clearly never been well-fed.

The reason? Of course, it was because of that miserly mother-in-law, Zhou Cuihua!

Even though the family had already separated, Zhou Cuihua would come to extort money every time Shen Zhiyu received remittances.

Yet, her past self, thinking that harmony was the foundation of prosperity, had always endured.

Who would have thought that some people could never be satisfied and only grew more ruthless?

“Indeed, enduring for a moment only fuels more anger; retreating step by step only leads to greater loss!”

“Just wait, this isn’t over yet!”

Shen Zhiyu was no longer the previous self; she would no longer wrong herself.

It was her first time living this life—who owed whom?

Mother-in-law? She hadn’t even nursed from her, so why should she respect her as an elder?

Filial piety? If parents are unkind, children need not be filial.

Especially when it came to a mother-in-law with no blood relation!

After a brief rest, Shen Zhiyu tidied up the dishes and washed the pot.

A nap? She had no desire to sleep at all.

Besides, it was midsummer—no air conditioning, no fan—the house was stifling.

After some thought, Shen Zhiyu changed into a small floral dress, slipped on her newly bought leather shoes, locked the door, and stepped out.

She planned to visit the village supply and marketing cooperative.

At worst, she could buy an ice pop to enjoy!

Her current village, Hanjiacun, was very close to the commune—just about a ten-minute walk.

But Shen Zhiyu had a bicycle!

It was one of the “three transfers and one ring” gifts her husband had prepared when they married: a bicycle, a watch, a sewing machine, and a tape recorder.

Her so-called “good man” had prepared everything.

Her former self, a city youth sent to the countryside, couldn’t endure the hardship of farming and had no choice but to marry someone.

Her husband’s name was Qi Huan, Qi Huan Gong.

He was a technician at the county’s machinery factory, earning a monthly salary and benefits of over fifty yuan, sending thirty yuan home to her former self.

Financially, he fulfilled his duties as a husband.

However, Shen Zhiyu’s memories were incomplete. She didn’t understand why, despite being officially married, they lived apart.

They lived separately, but why did he only come home during holidays after marriage?

The usual excuse was that work was busy.

But Shen Zhiyu didn’t believe it.

“I still have to get a divorce!”

She suspected there was a secret behind it all.

Perhaps it truly involved the female protagonist.

Ah, yes—the female protagonist!

Thinking of her almost caused Shen Zhiyu to ride her bicycle into the roadside ditch.

The female lead, Qiao Qian, worked as a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative and was married to a soldier.

Her husband was also often away and had adopted the orphaned children of a comrade.

Qiao Qian wasn’t a sent-down youth and had hardly any formal schooling, yet she was well-mannered and kind—a perfect embodiment of goodness and beauty.

In the stories Shen Zhiyu had read, every time she crossed paths with Qiao Qian, trouble ensued—usually resulting in Shen Zhiyu’s humiliation and the female lead’s triumph.

“Could there be some kind of karmic retribution?”

“But I’m not my former self anymore; surely nothing bad will happen now?”

After pondering briefly, the temptation of a cold ice pop won over her unease.

When the enemy comes, meet it head-on; when water flows, block it with earth!

Could a living person like herself still be a mere puppet?

Soon, Shen Zhiyu arrived outside the village supply and marketing cooperative.

The weather was hot, and few people were around.

She locked her bicycle and entered the store with a light step, immediately spotting the striking female lead, Qiao Qian.

At first glance, the girl seemed unremarkable, but if one looked a little longer, there was an especially pleasant aura about her.

Especially those peach blossom eyes, filled with deep affection—even for dogs!

Even though Shen Zhiyu instinctively felt wary of Qiao Qian, she had to admit this sister was easy on the eyes and someone she wanted to befriend.

This was illogical!

Shen Zhiyu pinched her own thigh hard to bring herself back to normal.

This Qiao Qian was a little strange!

“Shen Zhiqing, you’re here!” Qiao Qian greeted her with a smile.

Shen Zhiyu smiled back, “I came to see what good food and drinks you have!”

“They’re all right here!” Qiao Qian said as she pointed out the cookies, canned goods, candies, and, of course, ice pops and ice cream.

After introducing the offerings, Qiao Qian hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say something but felt awkward.

Shen Zhiyu didn’t take the bait.

Such scenes had occurred many times in novels, with Qiao Qian advising Shen Zhiyu to live well, not waste money, and understand Qi Huan’s hardships.

Each time, the previous Shen Zhiyu would fly into a rage and have a big fight with Qiao Qian.

But Shen Zhiyu was no longer her former self—she wasn’t falling for it.

“I’ll take two cans of canned fruit—orange and peach!”

“For biscuits, the Qingdao calcium milk biscuits!”

“Two ice pops and one ice cream, please!”

With money in hand, she spent freely.

She also planned to visit the commune guesthouse to see if she could apply for a cook’s position.

Qiao Qian moved quickly to gather the items.

Still, as she handed over the ice pops and ice cream, she couldn’t help but speak up.

“Shen Zhiqing, it’s hot, but you can’t eat too many ice pops and ice cream—they’re bad for your health!”

“I know!”

“Thank you for the reminder!”

Whether or not Qiao Qian’s warning had other intentions, at least her words were kind, so Shen Zhiyu naturally thanked her.

But thanks aside, she was still going to buy what she wanted.

She wanted to apply for a cook’s job at the guesthouse—she couldn’t expect them to just hire her on a whim.

The ice pops would be her opening move.

As for the ice cream?

That was for herself.

Shen Zhiyu was not one to wrong herself.

As she stepped out of the cooperative carrying her purchases, she could still feel the burning gaze of Qiao Qian behind her.

Could it be jealousy?

Qiao Qian’s husband also sent money home, but only about twenty yuan a month, and that had to cover supporting in-laws and raising children.

Compared to Shen Zhiyu, the difference was like heaven and earth.