Chapter 27: Transmigrated Into a Book?

"Grandma, I won’t say anything," Elder Sister Lin replied, not having much candy to offer.

There were similar conversations in the captain’s household.

At the youth settlement, Lin Jingyue had just finished bathing, changed into clean clothes, and was now squatting by the well, washing the clothes she’d just taken off. Only after finishing did she return to her room and slip into her space.

The vegetables in the field were already ready to eat. The flow of time inside her space was a bit faster than outside—about twice as fast—so one day outside equaled two days inside. The rice paddies were a lush green, promising a harvest in the near future.

She picked a few dewy peaches, a pear, and an apple for a fruit salad. The orchard in her space was peculiar; fruits of different seasons hung ripe on the branches all at once. She’d studied this phenomenon before but, not understanding it, let it go.

With a bowl of simple fruit salad in hand, Lin Jingyue wandered through her space. Not only had the farmland shrunk, but the livestock pens had as well. There were about a hundred fat pigs, and the numbers of chickens, ducks, fish, and sheep were not particularly high either. Wait—she counted the chickens. The number didn’t add up.

She distinctly remembered there were sixty-three chickens. She’d eaten one and sold two, so why were there still sixty-three? She quickly counted the ducks; their numbers hadn’t decreased either. So, they replenished automatically… What a powerful golden finger! Lin Jingyue was amazed.

She truly was favored by the heavens.

With so much meat at her disposal, she decided they’d have meat again tonight—her eyes landed on the fish pond. She fished out a three-pound fish, cleaned it, and put it in a basin to take out of her space.

Voices outside indicated that someone had returned. She opened the door to see people in the courtyard, and her brows rose in surprise. Lin Xinyou was among them. Given Lin Xinyou’s temperament, she would have stayed in the hospital for days even if nothing was wrong. What had happened?

"Sister, I was wrong to push you into the river. I apologize. I don’t expect your forgiveness—I'm just grateful you survived. Otherwise, I’d never be at peace for the rest of my life," Lin Xinyou said, bowing deeply at ninety degrees. Her apology was earnest.

Lin Xinjian and Zhao Hua were unfazed, but the returning youth workers looked as if they’d seen a ghost.

"Don’t. If you faint again and say it’s my fault, I won’t take the blame. Whether you apologize or not makes no difference to me," Lin Jingyue replied, carrying her basin to the stove without even glancing at Lin Xinyou. The original owner couldn't hear her now, but revenge would come.

"I know. I just wanted to apologize," Lin Xinyou straightened, her face pale. A bandage circled her forehead, already stained red with blood—clearly, the injury was serious. Yet, perhaps her mind was affected too, since despite her wounds, she’d insisted on returning to the youth settlement rather than staying in the hospital.

Lin Jingyue observed Lin Xinyou without betraying her thoughts and realized something had changed about her.

She had changed from the inside out. She greeted the others at the settlement without any of her previous awkwardness, seeming more open and straightforward. However!

Lin Jingyue, a wealthy heiress in her previous life, had attended enough social events to be a good judge of character. Lin Xinyou was pretending. Still, she had improved—Lin Jingyue withdrew her gaze, her lips curling with a hint of meaning, and began preparing the fish.

Braised black fish with tomatoes—the broth alone would be enough for several bowls of rice.

"Jiang Xun, cook the rice over there. Let’s eat together," Lin Jingyue called to Jiang Xun, who was washing his hands by the well.

"Sure," Jiang Xun replied, lips curving in a smile. He urged Zhou Yan to start the rice and ducked into his room to fetch something.

"Here, my family sent this. You can snack on it," he said, handing her an oil-paper package by the stove.

"What is it?"

"Beef jerky."

Beef jerky as a snack? Lin Jingyue shot him a look. "If anyone finds out, they’ll beat you up."

"I’m not afraid," he replied, confident in his strength.

"…"

"Take it," he insisted, pressing the packet into her hands.

"Thank you," she replied, slipping the packet back to her room when no one was watching. When she returned, Jiang Xun was peeling scallions. "Whatever you want from the garden, just take it," she said. The garden was divided anyway, and he and Zhou Yan couldn’t finish it all.

"I won’t stand on ceremony," he replied, grinning.

Lin Jingyue was struck by how often he smiled—she’d thought him a quiet sort but found his smile genuinely charming.

"Comrade Lin, Comrade Jiang, I’m getting married tomorrow. You must come," Wang Xueping suddenly announced as she walked by. Her wedding had been postponed from the day before because of the incident with Lin Xinyou.

"Of course," Lin Jingyue agreed. She wasn’t close to Wang Xueping but was curious and wanted to see the excitement. Besides, she was eager to understand the source of Wang Xueping’s vague hostility toward her.

Seeing Lin Jingyue accept, Jiang Xun nodded as well. Wang Xueping smiled at them and left.

"The fish is ready," Lin Jingyue announced, ignoring Wang Xueping. Nothing was more important than eating. She lifted the lid, sprinkled on scallions, and a delicious aroma filled the air.

"Zhou Yan, is the rice done?"

"Almost!" Zhou Yan was tending the fire. The smell of Lin Jingyue’s fish was irresistible.

The others in the settlement ate their thin porridge without relish.

Lin Jingyue glanced casually toward the common dining area and noticed Lin Xinyou eyeing Wang Xueping with a look of wariness, disdain, and something more complicated, almost conflicted.

How interesting. For someone to change so drastically overnight, there could only be…

If she could have a fateful encounter, perhaps these two had as well. Was it a second chance at life? Entering a book? Time travel?

It was clear there was a story between the two—she’d just watch the drama unfold from the side.

Both Lin Xinyou and Wang Xueping suddenly felt a chill, but it passed quickly, so neither dwelled on it.

Once the rice was ready, the three of them each had a bowl topped with fish and broth—tender and delicious, making them crave seconds.

After the meal, Jiang Xun washed the dishes while Zhou Yan fetched half a pound of White Rabbit milk candy from his room. "Comrade Lin, girls love sweets. Here, these are for you."

"That’s too much. I’ll just take a handful," Lin Jingyue replied—milk candy was real milk in these times.

"Take them all, I have more. Unless you don’t want to invite me next time you cook something good," Zhou Yan said, handing over the package.

"All right, I’ll keep them," Lin Jingyue agreed.

Zhou Yan beamed.

Suddenly, he felt a chill and hunched his shoulders. Where did that cold air come from in the middle of summer?

Wang Xueping, watching this by chance, narrowed her eyes. No wonder Lin Jingyue had never shown interest in Sun Zhiyuan—she had better prospects, with both Jiang Xun and Zhou Yan from the capital.

Relieved, Wang Xueping let go of her concerns.

But the next day, she realized she’d relaxed too soon.

At the same time, Lin Jingyue also learned why Lin Xinyou had insisted on returning despite her forehead injury.