Chapter 8
8.
A sharp popping sound came from the nerves in Guan Yue's brain.
She even doubted whether she had heard correctly. Struggling to salvage her crumbling worldview, she leaned against the wall, grasping at the last straw, and asked, "You...you said a man...a man, that is, a man, who can have children?"
She saw the man staring at her in disbelief, as if he were seeing a new species. "You've even forgotten this? Why don't you go see a doctor?"
Her kind neighbor, whose anger had completely subsided, began to worry about her mental state. But Guan Yue didn't have time to be moved; she was completely overwhelmed by the information and her mind went blank. After an unknown amount of time—perhaps a long time, perhaps just a few minutes—the nerves in Guan Yue's inherited body clearly began to slowly adapt.
Her previously unfocused gaze sharpened as she looked at the man—or rather, at his stomach. Noticing her gaze, the man slowly took a step back.
Guan Yue came to her senses and realized that her actions had been offensive. Since she was in ancient times and a woman in a matriarchal society, her gaze was probably no different from that of a lecher.
She was indeed assimilated!
Guan Yue didn't know whether to be happy or sad. She quickly looked away and apologized, "I'm sorry, I was just curious for a moment. So, um... your son, Li Guang, is he your own child?"
Cheng Lingjun could sense that there was no malice in her eyes. For some reason, he felt that this woman's eyes had become much clearer after she lost her memory. Moreover, the questions she asked were so foolish that he couldn't feel offended. For a moment, he even felt like he was explaining a problem to Xiao Guang. Although Guan Yue was tall and big, that was the feeling he got at this moment.
Cheng Lingjun nodded. "He's my biological son."
A complex expression appeared on Guan Yue's face. She tried her best to control herself and not ask the question about where men give birth. Her lips trembled for a long time before she finally swallowed her damned curiosity.
She now understands, understands her position, and understands why she is stronger than men. In that instant of understanding, she also feels the sad barrier that has formed between her and men.
In a matriarchal world, a divorced man raising a child alone, and her, a single female rogue, their relationship is practically a taboo subject in literature.
Even if Guan Yue had no thoughts at all, she was no longer the vulnerable ancient woman she knew, but in a powerful position, the oppressor. She had lost the hidden benefits of using her amnesia to gain pitiful favors. To the pitiful man in front of her, she was a real threat.
Thinking of this, Guan Yue also took a step back.
To Cheng Lingjun's surprise, Guan Yue suddenly seemed to realize something, not only distancing herself from him but also avoiding looking at him, as if he had suddenly become a hot potato.
Cheng Lingjun should have been happy, but for some reason he couldn't be. He thought of the other villagers in Dahuai Village, who were also looking at him with some apprehension, just like the woman in front of him. Sure enough, it was only right that a divorced man should be treated this way, and it was only natural that he should be disliked.
But he didn't show it on his face. He was used to it. Fame was just an external thing. As long as he had a clear conscience, everything was just fleeting.
Cheng Lingjun concealed the emotions in her eyes and said calmly, "If the food doesn't suit your taste, there's no need to force yourself."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Guan Yue stood there, scratching her head. Why did she feel that the other person was a little down? Could it be that she had said something she shouldn't have? She had always felt that her emotional intelligence was a bit low and that she wasn't good at reading people's expressions. It must be even worse in ancient times.
But he said the food didn't suit his taste... Really?
So, she was afraid that Guan Yue would find her dislike, which is why she left in a huff? Guan Yue realized that she had found the reason for her good neighbor's low spirits. She thought to herself, "Hey, what kind of delicacies can you expect to eat in an ancient mountain village? It's good enough to have something to eat. Besides, she has never been a picky eater. As long as she can eat it, she doesn't mind. In fact, she doesn't have the right to be picky now."
Guan Yue placed the food box on the table, opened the lid, and a fragrant aroma wafted out, making her mouth water. Just a few minutes earlier, she had been eating sour wild berries, which had left her feeling utterly disheartened. Although they weren't bad, they were nothing compared to this proper meal, which was what people should be eating.
Guan Yue wiped away the tears streaming from the corner of her mouth and ate this gift from nature with gratitude. The rabbit meat was both chewy and springy, and the taste was just right, neither too salty nor too bland.
The music from a childhood food cartoon played in her ears, stirring up emotions. She felt her tears welling up again. She remembered that the times she couldn't control her tears were usually when she was eating.
And it was always when we ate meals delivered by our good neighbors.
At this moment, she wanted to recite a poem: Ah, this rabbit meat is so delicious, and this rice is delicious too.
After reciting this nonsensical poem, Guan Yue devoured her lunch in a flash, still feeling unsatisfied afterward.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough food. She felt she could eat another bowl. After realizing that this world was a matriarchal society, Guan Yue had become used to the strange things about her body. It was normal to eat a lot, to be taller than a man, and to be strong.
After her worldview was completely overturned, she only felt that she was terrifyingly strong... no.
Guan Yue was already worried that if she were to transmigrate to ancient times, where women had a low social status, it would be difficult for her to support herself. Moreover, even in modern times, single women face inconveniences. Having been a woman for decades, suddenly becoming a "man" was a truly novel experience.
She felt she could do many things, and she could try many jobs that used to require physical strength, especially in the ancient countryside. She was sure she could become a successful and strong farmer!
Guan Xiaoyue, you can do it!
Guan Yue's confidence returned instantly, and the confusion and bewilderment she felt when she traveled to ancient times and knew nothing about it also dissipated. Even her body felt lighter. As long as there is hope, a person can be fully revived.
Guan Yue is in this state now. Moreover, the physical condition she is in is very good. In just a few days, she can feel that her body has plenty of qi and blood. She doesn't have any of the sub-health problems that she had before. Although everything is not what she expected, she feels that it's not bad.
She put the empty plate and bowl that had been filled with bloody rice back into the food box, intending to wash them clean before returning them. But where was she going to wash the bowl? Was she going to the river to wash it too?
Guan Yue suddenly realized that everyone seemed to be washing clothes by the river, but she didn't see anyone washing dishes. So where did everyone drink water? Surely they didn't fetch water from the river? She had drunk some water from the mountain stream that morning, but the stream flow was small, so it was impossible to fetch water from there to take home. There must be a well.
She remembered that there were two water vats in the house, but the water in the vats was gone. She touched the vats and found that they were still damp, indicating that there had been water before, but it had just been drunk. There were two wooden buckets lying around, and a carrying pole against the wall, so it seemed that they were going to fetch water from the well.
I just don't know where that well is. I should have asked Cheng Lingjun.
Guan Yue shook her head. It was better not to bother him. After all, she hadn't completely shaken off her reputation as a hooligan. Going to his house frequently would definitely cause him trouble. She could only ask others... The only troublesome thing was that she would have to explain her "amnesia" again.
However... Guan Yue's mind raced. If they bumped into each other while out, it wouldn't be considered harassment, right?
Guan Yue's social anxiety always lingered, and she couldn't figure out if it was a case of "young bird complex." She was still more psychologically close to Cheng Lingjun, who fed her, and the thought of taking the initiative to talk to other villagers who were complete strangers made her hesitate.
Anyway, since the neighbor across the hall will be going out to do laundry later, she just peeked out and asked him where the well was. That shouldn't constitute harassment of a respectable woman, right?
With that decision made, Guan Yue tidied herself up a bit and decided to take a nap. When she woke up, it was almost evening.
She left the wooden bucket and carrying pole in front of the house and was about to go back inside when she heard the person across the street open the door and Cheng Lingjun walk out.
Guan Yue's eyes lit up, and she hurried to the gate. There she saw her good neighbor carrying a wooden bucket, seemingly going to fetch water as well. She called out, "Are you going to fetch water too?"
Cheng Lingjun turned around in surprise and saw Guan Yue half-hidden behind the door, only peeking out to ask him, "Also?" He nodded, and Guan Yue called out again, "Then wait for me!"
Guan Yue shrank back, and when she came out again, she was carrying a carrying pole on her shoulder with wooden buckets hanging from both ends. She looked at him with a smile and said, "I also want to fetch water. Would you mind if we went together?"
Wasn't she supposed to keep her distance from him? Why is she clinging to him again?
Cheng Lingjun found it hard to see her as the Guan Yue he knew before. In just a short time, he realized that the Guan Yue in front of him was a completely different person.
...The other person, yes, she had amnesia and didn't know where to fetch water in the village. She probably asked him when she saw him coming out to fetch water.
Sure enough, Cheng Lingjun walked slowly, but he noticed that Guan Yue was always a distance behind him, following him at a leisurely pace, but never saying a word to him, as if they had just unintentionally walked the same road.
But it was clearly not unintentional.
She probably just doesn't want to get close to him.
Amnesia can drastically change a person's personality. Cheng Lingjun never expected that she would change so much. She really does look different now. Her once murky and teasing eyes have become clear and clean, her slovenly figure has become straight, and her whole demeanor is different. This is a good thing for him and Xiao Guang, as they don't have to move for the time being.
Guan Yue, however, was thinking about other things. She wondered if her neighbor seemed a bit aloof, and whether she was close enough. She thought that if someone passed by, they probably wouldn't mistake them for each other. She was also missing modern times, where there weren't so many taboos and restrictions. She didn't care if her two neighbors went to get water together and were afraid of gossip. But she didn't want her good neighbor to be subjected to verbal abuse.
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