Transmigration: On the Gossip Front-Chapter 1961 - 1962: Female Intellectual Youth Passerby 104
Zhang Yu knew about the various conflicts the Han Family faced in Xinjiang Province, and she felt relieved, as she feared that once the Han Family found respite, they would seek revenge upon their return.
Furthermore, knowing Wang Yan’s current situation—she had lost a significant financial supporter—her life was now exceptionally bleak.
Though she could be ruthless and ignore the Wang Family, she couldn’t escape the Wang Family’s determination. When the Spring Festival approached, they would come to the farm to find Wang Yan, claiming how difficult life was for them, not having enough to eat or wear.
They came not just for a visit but also hoped to claim the rice allotment under Wang Yan’s name. Having a daughter like Wang Yan, Mother Wang was naturally good at acting, lamenting how tough things were.
Wang Yan was very angry. While her income appeared decent, around twenty yuan, she had to eat, and she lacked many things, which she needed to slowly accumulate. Despite being in the countryside for several years, she hadn’t saved much money.
Originally, she thought about selling the rice, which would bring her extra money and allow her some financial leeway. In her second year in the countryside, that’s what she did, and the income delighted her, enabling her to acquire a lot of items.
She had already planned how to use this money in the coming years, such as getting some cotton to make two thick quilts, and she also needed a thick cotton coat because winter was very cold.
Her plan was sound, but in her second year, she didn’t return home. The Wang Family wouldn’t have been happy to know their daughter became estranged and simply came to the farm before the Spring Festival without consulting her.
Mother Wang squeezed onto the same bed as Wang Yan at the farm. Of course, Wang Yan paid for all three meals, which were plentiful, leaving her fuming.
Additionally, now that Mother Wang was already at the farm, how could she only leave with some rice? She indulged in shopping, taking advantage of the ship when heading back.
When it came to procurement, it was naturally Wang Yan who paid. According to Mother Wang, it was her duty as a daughter who was now earning to show filial piety to her parents.
Mother Wang’s words made some people who initially intended to counsel her back off. After all, it wasn’t easy for Wang Yan to earn money, and since for her, it was about filial piety, there wasn’t much others could say—certainly, no one could claim Wang Yan didn’t need to be filial.
They had witnessed how insistent Mother Wang could be. Whenever Wang Yan failed to meet her demands, she would cry about the hardships of raising a child and accuse Wang Yan of being unfilial.
Recalling Mother Wang’s antics, who would dare offer any help? More importantly, Wang Yan often played the victim and took advantage of others. People didn’t like her much and were afraid that they would end up being conned by this mother-daughter duo.
Wang Yan was naturally discontent with Mother Wang’s coercion. Although she had solutions, she knew that employing them would ruin her reputation, hindering her future plans.
Indeed, over the years, she thought a lot about how to break away from the Wang Family; the best way was to marry.
However, marriage wasn’t something that could be easily decided. There were many factors to consider, such as whether her prospective spouse could take her back to the city. Ideally, he would help her find a job there, as she understood the importance of employment in bettering one’s standing.
She knew this requirement was practically impossible. Anyone with the means would rather stay in the city than come to the farm as an intellectual youth, or at most see it as a temporary phase before returning to the city. Such individuals kept a distance and wouldn’t consider serious relationships here.
After much consideration, Wang Yan lowered her standards: she sought a suitor from a family in reasonably good condition, with not too many siblings, and one where she could expect occasional care, such as the frequent arrival of parcels.
While such people were scarce, they did exist. Wang Yan, of course, was inquisitive. Unfortunately, they were highly sought after and very attractive prospects to many female intellectuals, leaving no chance for Wang Yan.
It wasn’t that no one pursued her; Wang Yan simply discounted those whose family conditions were too ordinary, who needed to remit money home monthly. She anticipated that after marriage, they would likely rely on her salary for living expenses, with his wages sent back home.
Wang Yan certainly desired marriage but couldn’t find a suitable match; she preferred to remain single. Recently, a new intellectual youth joined the team, who appeared decent, and importantly, his clothing showed no patches.
It wasn’t just one or two articles of clothing without patches; none of his clothes had any. How could he be a child from an ordinary family?
According to news from male intellectuals, his father was a director at a large local machinery factory, his elder brother was a battalion commander in the army, another brother was a minor official in the district, and he had a sister married to a regiment commander.
He also had younger twins of mixed sex. He didn’t initially need to become an intellectual youth, but since the family had none, and his younger siblings were growing up, he couldn’t bear for them to become intellectual youths after high school, so he gave up his job to come to the farm.
Once Wang Yan learned of his conditions, how could she not be moved? This was a sure sign he was sacrificing for the family. Once the time was right, he would surely return to the city.
More enticing was the fact that within months of his arrival, he had already received two parcels, containing clothes and food, which further convinced Wang Yan to win him over.
Wang Yan knew her family’s status was average, unworthy of him, and her looks weren’t remarkable; in a crowd, no one would notice her, and he certainly wouldn’t spare her a glance.
But this didn’t deter Wang Yan. After days and nights of contemplation, she finally devised a decent plan.
It involved catering to him in every way possible, treating him like a lord. Indeed, if she wanted to succeed, this was the only course of action.
Her approach proved effective. Despite many saying she resembled a former servant, she remained consistent in her care for him. Yet he hadn’t agreed to marry her.
Wang Yan wasn’t content with achieving nothing after all her efforts. She used an incident of falling into the water to latch onto him. Despite his reluctance, he had no choice but to agree to marriage.
Upon learning from Zhao Tong’s letter that every year, before the new year, Mother Wang would go to the farm, Zhang Yu knew Wang Yan wouldn’t endure for long, guessing she would soon marry.
Unexpectedly, it took Wang Yan over four years to marry. Upon reflection, Zhang Yu understood why it took so long, as marriage was significant. No matter how eager Wang Yan was, she wanted to find someone with good conditions.
Yet, looking at the name of Wang Yan’s partner written in Zhao Tong’s letter, Zhang Yu was genuinely surprised.
This name did ring a bell in the original person’s memory, but it wasn’t due to his excellence or family background; rather, he was notorious for being a great pretender, a big fraud.
