Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In the photo, Chen Ji was wearing a straw hat and had a big red flower on his chest. He was standing beside the wild horse with a very proud expression on his face. The wild horse seemed to have understood human nature and had an indignant expression on his face. He looked very comical.
Hearing Chen Yan say that, Chen Ying’s interest was immediately piqued. She ran over and snatched the photo away and looked at it seriously. Chu Wei’s lips curled up and she picked Chen Ying up and walked out of the courtyard. Chen Yan obediently followed behind.
“Chu Yan, Chen Ji is coming back for you. You should go with him. Times have changed. We can’t stay in this small place forever. It’s good to go to the capital with the army. If you have time, look for your father in the city. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead.” Mother Chu sent her to the courtyard and instructed.
The topic shifted to her father again. Chu Wei frowned but didn’t say anything. The other reason for following Chen Ji to the army was to ask her father for a few things. Those things were the heirlooms of Mrs. Chu’s family and had been passed down for several generations. They should be considered antiques. At first, Mrs. Chu asked him for a few times, but he brushed it off with the excuse that something had been stolen.
Every time this matter was brought up, Mrs. Chu would be heartbroken. However, she was just a housewife and had never been to the city her whole life. Where could she go to find her ex-husband? After a long time, the matter was left unsettled.
Mother Chu didn’t know, but Chu Wei knew where her father was. According to the records in the book in her dream, Father Chu had always lived near the capital’s military zone. As long as she followed Chen Ji to the capital with the army, she would have a chance to find him.
Time flew, the sun and moon alternated, and two days quickly passed.
The eldest sister-in-law, Zhao Jinli, had been very busy these two days. Every day, she paid attention to whether Chen Ji was back or not. On the other hand, she heard from the matchmaker that Ding Shujuan was going on a blind date with a male cadre. Zhao Jinli was overjoyed. As long as Ding Shujuan had an edge over Chu Wei, she would be happy from the bottom of her heart.
…
Ding Clan’s wine shop.
Zhao Jinli held Ding Shujuan’s hand and said excitedly, “Shujuan, is that man really a traveling cadre?”
Ding Shujuan said calmly, “That’s right. Our blind date went very smoothly. We’re about to get married.”
Zhao Jinli’s face lit up, but it quickly dimmed again. “Ah, looks like you are the same as my sister-in-law. You will probably follow your husband to the army, but I don’t want Chu Wei to do the same. Do you have any ideas?”
At the mention of Chu Wei, Ding Shujuan raised her eyebrows. When she was creating the storyline, she did not think too much about it and only focused on creating the protagonist’s brilliant life.
According to the original storyline, when Chen Ji came back this time, he didn’t take Chu Wei away because she couldn’t bear to see his mother-in-law being bullied by Zhao Jinli, so she volunteered to stay behind to take care of her mother-in-law. Two years later, Chen Ji came back again and brought her to the army. That was the start of Chu Wei’s tragic fate.
As she was uneducated and inexperienced, Chu Wei was ostracized in the military courtyard. Many military wives deliberately made things difficult for her and bullied her. In addition, she only gave birth to two useless daughters, so she was looked down upon even more. As time went by, Chu Wei’s mental health took a beating and her personality changed drastically. In the end, she became a character that was despised and pitied by many.
As the protagonist, Ding Shujuan was undoubtedly the most eye-catching among the military wives. On the contrary, Chu Wei became the laughing stock of the military wives.
Although Chu Wei was only meant to serve as a foil to the main character, Chu Wei’s life was indeed very tragic. She did not have a good life. Since Chu Wei did not want to become the butt of jokes and be despised by everyone, her only choice was to stay in Peach Blossom Town.
“Sister Zhao, Chu Wei has two daughters. This is her biggest failure. Everyone in this small town looks down on her, let alone those in the capital,” Ding Shujuan said.
Zhao Jinli clapped her hands and quickly said, “Shujuan, you’re right. Only a fool would want to go to the capital with the army. It’s better to stay in Peach Blossom Town. First, she can help me take care of my mother-in-law. Secondly, Chen Ji can find a chance to have a son with her. A mother’s status will be higher because of her son. Only then will she have the right to follow Chen Ji.”
Ding Shujuan nodded and echoed, “Yes, your analysis is right. I agree with your point of view. You should try to persuade Chu Wei to not go to the capital with the army.”
As the protagonist, she didn’t have to care about these supporting characters and could only enjoy the glory of being the protagonist. However, Chu Wei was too miserable under her pen and was dispensable. Therefore, it didn’t matter to her whether Chu Wei went to the capital. It was good to let her stay in Peach Blossom Town. At least, she could live a peaceful life.
With Ding Shujuan’s support, Zhao Jinli’s eyes darted around and soon thought of a way to stop Chu Wei from following the army.
The next day, on the tenth day of the Chinese New Year, Chen Ji was supposed to be home.
It was different from the day before. It was drizzling and the entire town was as beautiful as a poetic painting..