Chapter 3: Gaining a Pretty Boy

Just at that moment, Wen Mubai returned from outside and overheard Tang Banxia’s earth-shattering declaration. His handsome face immediately darkened. It was already infuriating enough to be schemed against by this woman—now he was supposed to marry her? Impossible. He could barely support himself; how could he afford to keep a wife?

He was about to refuse when he caught her clear, unwavering gaze. His eyes flickered to the marks on her neck, and Wen Mubai recoiled as if burned. Then, realizing what he’d done, he bristled and met her gaze with equal defiance.

Wen Mubai: Dream on! I won’t marry you!

Tang Banxia: I’m wealthy. I’ll take care of you!

Wen Mubai: I won’t bend for a bowl of rice!

Tang Banxia: I’m wealthy. I’ll take care of you!

Wen Mubai: I don’t want to get married.

Tang Banxia: I’m wealthy. I’ll take care of you!

Wen Mubai: Just how much money do you have?

Tang Banxia: Enough to support you.

Wen Mubai: Deal.

As Tang Banxia’s eyes shifted, everyone else noticed Wen Mubai standing at the door.

“Comrade Wen, will you marry me?” Tang Banxia asked, seizing the moment.

The issue of Tang Banxia’s political background was already a ticking bomb, and now, with rumors of improper relations added to the mix, if she didn’t latch onto the hapless Wen Mubai, her only other option was to jump into the river.

Wen Mubai raised an eyebrow, giving a bashful smile. “Alright, let’s get married.”

The scandal twisted and turned until it finally ended with Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai deciding to wed. The busybody aunties who had come to watch the drama left with complicated expressions.

How could one describe Comrade Tang and Comrade Wen? A cracked pot finds its matching lid? A lazybones paired with a pretty boy? No, no—that’s a match made in heaven! A wealthy, lazy comrade with a delicate stomach matched with a handsome face—perfect!

Once everyone was gone, only Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai remained at the educated youth’s quarters.

They stared at each other for a while before Tang Banxia was the first to act. She tightened her collar and calmly walked past Wen Mubai, heading for the women’s dormitory.

Soon, she returned with a small cloth bag of white flour and entered the kitchen. Moments later, she went out again, pulling two tomatoes and a green onion from the communal garden—utterly unabashed.

She set the pot on the stove, poured oil, tossed in the green onion, and stirred until fragrant. Then went the diced tomatoes, which she sautéed until soft before adding water.

While the water boiled, Tang Banxia scooped out a small bowl of flour, ready to mix. Thinking of the pretty boy waiting to be taken care of outside, she steeled herself and scooped out another half bowl.

Seeing the flour bag half-empty, Tang Banxia grimaced and turned away, out of sight, out of mind.

She rummaged around the kitchen—nothing. So she returned to the women’s dorm to borrow two eggs from Liu Liyun.

Cracking the eggs into the flour, she began to mix. Soon, she was ready to cook.

The only sounds in the kitchen were the crackling of burning firewood. Tang Banxia stared into the flickering flames, lost in thought.

Life, she mused, was truly strange.

Just yesterday, she and her best friend were partying at a bar. Now, she’d transmigrated into the very novel her friend had written, and promptly ruined the reputation of a supposedly upstanding man.

Well, perhaps not so upstanding. After all, what decent man was friends with every woman in the village—including the female dogs? If he hadn’t been the orphan of a martyr, and if he didn’t serve some small purpose in the village, who knows where his corpse would be lying by now.

Wen Mubai himself had a respectable face and figure, but the man was anything but respectable. He was a bona fide pretty boy, relying on his good looks to wander around, never earning proper work points, surviving on the charity of unmarried girls and young wives. He was the enemy of all the village men—the kind whose misfortune would make them laugh out loud.

While Tang Banxia was lost in such thoughts, the aroma of food began to waft through the kitchen. She snapped back to reality, lifted the wooden lid, and stirred the pot.

“It’s ready, Wen... Mubai, come eat.”

Turning, she saw Wen Mubai already waiting with a bowl in hand.

Meeting her gaze, he smiled gently. “Comrade Tang, have you eaten?”

Tang Banxia forced a smile. “Yes, hand me your bowl.”

Obediently, he passed it over—remarkably polite. “Thank you, Comrade Tang. Fill it up!” Though his words were far less courteous.

She looked at his enormous bowl, nearly losing her composure. Hold it together, Tang Banxia! Think of his status, think of the marriage certificate not yet in hand!

“Alright, then~”

She scooped four generous ladles, earning a dazzling smile in return.

Alas, Tang Banxia had no mood to appreciate his looks. The two ate in silence.

After the meal, Wen Mubai took the initiative to wash the dishes, easing Tang Banxia’s irritation.

“Comrade Wen, do you have anything to do later?”

Wen Mubai shook his head. “No.”

“Then let’s go get the marriage certificate.”

Only with the certificate could her political status change to match Wen Mubai’s.

He nodded crisply, demonstrating his professional pretty boy skills. “Alright.”

While Wen Mubai washed the dishes, Tang Banxia rummaged through her room. When she emerged, she wore clean clothes and carried half a pound of honey pastries.

“Let’s go.”

Wen Mubai, hands in his pockets, followed behind. As they walked, villagers stared at them; clearly, the morning’s events had spread throughout the village.

Tang Banxia ignored the stares, heading straight for the only brick-and-tile house in the village and knocking on the door.

“Is the brigade leader in?”

“Come in.”

Tang Banxia pushed open the door.

“Oh, Comrade Tang and Comrade Wen? What brings you here?” The brigade leader, a wiry old man, looked at them with obvious disdain.

Tang Banxia pretended not to notice. “Uncle Leader, we’re here for a letter of introduction.”

Hu Dashan glanced at Tang Banxia and then at Wen Mubai, recalling the morning’s rumors and revealing a knowing look. Without further ado, he issued the letter and warmly asked, “Comrade Tang, would you like to borrow a bicycle?”

Finally, someone had taken Wen Mubai off his hands—his daughter was saved!

Tang Banxia was surprised, then smiled. “That would be wonderful. Thank you, Uncle Leader.”

Hu Dashan waved it off. “No trouble at all—it’s nothing.” As long as Comrade Tang kept Wen Mubai away from his daughter.

“Come, I’ll take you to fetch the bike.” Hu Dashan was enthusiastic.

Tang Banxia stopped him. “You’re busy, Uncle. I have another request.”

“Go ahead, Comrade Tang,” Hu Dashan replied kindly.

Tang Banxia didn't hold back. “Uncle, are there any empty houses in the village?”

“After all, Comrade Wen and I... it’s not suitable for us to stay at the youth quarters anymore.” She feared that, if she stayed too long, Liu Liyun might throw acid at her.

Hu Dashan hesitated. “There are, but...”

Tang Banxia understood. “Uncle, I won’t stay for free. I’ll rent.”

Money—now, that made things easy. Not only Hu Dashan, but another old man chimed in, “Comrade Tang, do you have any requirements for the house?”

Tang Banxia pondered briefly. “The courtyard wall should be high, and the house should be in good shape.” She didn’t want leaks every rainy day. “And, if possible, the farther from the youth quarters, the better.”

After hearing her requirements, Hu Dashan and three others discussed, then Accountant Hu said, “Comrade Tang, such a courtyard exists, but...”

“But someone died there,” the women’s director interjected.

“No problem,” Tang Banxia replied matter-of-factly. “Can I take a look now?”

“Of course!” they replied eagerly. The village had plenty of idle houses; renting them out was a boon.

In the end, the brigade leader and Accountant Hu accompanied the pair. The leader pushed the bike; Accountant Hu, with his silver tongue, did his best to promote the property.

The house they spoke of was at the foot of the mountain—the home of a hunter who had died last year, so the house was still in good condition.

Tang Banxia’s first concern was the courtyard wall. Seeing it stood two meters high, she decided then and there, regardless of the interior, she would take it.

In the countryside, a high wall meant safety.

Yet the house, despite being “good,” was hardly perfect. The front gate was missing; inside, the window frames had been removed, along with the roof tiles.

Seeing this, Accountant Hu couldn’t help but blush, laughing awkwardly. “Haha, well, you see...”

“No worries, Uncle. A bit of repair and it’ll be livable,” Tang Banxia reassured him.

Accountant Hu looked at her with newfound warmth.

Comrade Tang, what an honest soul!

He glanced at Wen Mubai, who stood uninvolved.

Ah, such a pity!

After inspecting the house and noting what needed fixing, the three left the courtyard. Just then, the brigade leader arrived, pushing the bicycle.

Tang Banxia wasted no time. “Uncle Leader, Uncle Accountant, the house needs repairs—the roof, window frames, gate, tables, chairs, everything is missing.”

Both elders blushed.

“Could I ask the villagers for help? I’ll pay for their labor,” Tang Banxia continued.

The two exchanged a glance, joy sparkling in their eyes.

“Of course, no problem!” the brigade leader said.

“Rest assured, Comrade Tang, our villagers are honest folk. We’ll get everything fixed up nicely,” Accountant Hu replied, smiling so broadly his face resembled a blooming chrysanthemum.

Tang Banxia smiled too. “I’m counting on you. I trust you.”

“And for tables, chairs, all that—I’ll leave it to the village.”

“No problem.”

So, Tang Banxia and Wen Mubai followed the elders back to the brigade office. She listed all the materials needed for repairs, calculated the costs, and wrote out a rental agreement, handing the money to Accountant Hu.

“Uncle Accountant, just deduct the needed expenses from this. If it’s not enough, let me know.” She counted out sixty yuan and handed it over.

Of that, thirty was for rent.

The house was cheap—six yuan a year. She rented it for five years, with the understanding that she had priority to renew.

She had no intention of spending money to fix a house, only for someone else to reap the rewards.

“That’s more than enough.”

After settling everything, she left the honey pastries, took the letter of introduction, and set off with Wen Mubai.

Thankfully, Wen Mubai had a shred of conscience and didn’t make Tang Banxia give him a ride.

The two reached the county town and received a red marriage certificate.

Leaving the office, Tang Banxia felt dazed. Was she really no longer single?

From unmarried to wed in a single day—it felt unreal.

As she was marveling at life’s twists, the annoying one piped up, “Comrade Tang, it’s noon.”

He glanced meaningfully toward the state-run restaurant across the street.

Tang Banxia gritted her teeth. “Didn’t you just eat a huge bowl of noodle soup?”

He looked aggrieved. “But that was breakfast. Comrade Tang, you’re not going back on your word, are you?” He looked at her pitifully, the heartless woman.

Tang Banxia: She’d endure!

“Let’s go eat.” The three words came out as if squeezed through clenched teeth.

Wen Mubai’s face lit up with joy as he bounded toward the state-run restaurant.

Once there, he ordered without hesitation: “One braised pork, four ounces of rice, five steamed buns, a plate of pork and green onion dumplings.”

After ordering, he flashed his white teeth. “Comrade Tang, I’m done ordering. Your turn.”

Tang Banxia: Suddenly, regret!

“One plate of sauerkraut and pork dumplings.”

At first, Tang Banxia thought Wen Mubai was just being greedy.

But once the food arrived, she changed her mind.

She watched, astonished, as the slender man polished off four ounces of rice, a whole plate of dumplings, a generous helping of braised pork, and finally a bun for dessert.

No wonder he sold himself for a meal—he really could eat.

“Comrade Wen, slow down. It’s not good for your stomach,” Tang Banxia said offhandedly, seeing him wolf down his food.

Wen Mubai paused, looking up with moist eyes. “Comrade Tang, you’re so kind to me~”

Tang Banxia: Maybe not so much regret.

“So can I have another bowl of soup?”

Tang Banxia: Ask her, and regret is back in full force!

“Go ahead.”

“Alright!”