Time-Travel: The Tragic Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character Makes a Comeback

CHAPTER 146: The Pretty Educated Youth in the 1970s (14)

　　Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

　　The next second, the door swung open.

　　A woman with her hair pinned up walked in. Seeing Xia Shuang sitting there so casually, she immediately frowned.

　　“Xia Shuang, why didn’t you tell us you were coming home?”

　　Mother Xia had reacted instinctively.

　　“I haven’t been home in three years. I finally got a few days of extended leave, so I came back to visit you all. I wanted to surprise you. Mom, are you saying you don’t welcome me?”

　　Xia Shuang stared at her.

　　Her mother was momentarily at a loss for words. Realizing that her tone had been unpleasant, she softened her voice.

　　“What nonsense are you talking about? You’re my own flesh and blood, of course I’d be happy to have you home. But you should’ve let us know you were coming!”

　　Seeing her mother’s reaction, Xia Shuang casually replied, “Good. That’s all I wanted to hear.”

　　Mother Xia forced a smile, walked over, set down her bag, and sat beside her daughter.

　　As she looked Xia Shuang up and down, she remarked, “You don’t look like you’ve suffered much. In fact, you’ve even put on a little weight compared to when you were home.”

　　Xia Shuang almost rolled her eyes but managed to hold back. “Mom, do you think the countryside is some kind of paradise? Why don’t you go live there for a while and see for yourself? During my years there, I’d get so hungry I’d faint from time to time. A gust of wind could’ve knocked me over. I’ve only recently managed to put some weight back on.”

　　Mother Xia frowned, sensing that her daughter’s personality had changed somewhat. She asked, “Xiaoshuang, why do I feel like you’ve changed so much?”

　　“Of course I have. Three years is a long time. Even someone’s appearance can change in that time, let alone their personality. If I’d gone to the countryside with the personality I used to have, I would’ve been bullied to death. I actually like who I am now. I say what I think instead of beating around the bush.”

　　After saying that, Xia Shuang continued, “By the way, Mom, I ran into my future sister-in-law earlier. She said her parents are both in leadership positions. It shouldn’t be too difficult for them to arrange a job for me when the time comes.”

　　Mother Xia had run into Sun Wanwan at the entrance. It was only after Sun Wanwan told her that Xia Shuang had returned that she hurried home.

　　Hearing what her daughter meant, Mother Xia grew serious. “Xiaoshuang, their family is from a much higher social standing than ours. We’re the ones marrying up here. Don’t say anything foolish in front of your future sister-in-law. If you offend her, you can forget about getting a job.”

　　Xia Shuang clicked her tongue. “We’re all family now. If she can’t help me, her younger sister-in-law, she should at least help you, her mother-in-law.”

　　Her mother was so confused by her words that her head began to spin. “What do you mean, helping me? I already have a job. I don’t need another one.”

　　“Just transfer your job to me, and then your good daughter-in-law can find you another one,” Xia Shuang said casually.

　　Mother Xia’s face darkened. She scolded, “I knew you wouldn’t come home without an ulterior motive! So that’s what you’re after, my job! What kind of daughter behaves like this? Your father has already lost his job. If I lose mine too, what will become of our family?”

　　Xia Shuang simply smiled and said, “I started dating someone in the countryside. He’s also a sent-down youth, just like me, and he’s from the capital. He’s an only child, and both his parents have permanent jobs. He’s about to return to the city. If I don’t get my household registration transferred back here, how am I supposed to find him and get married?”

　　Hearing about such excellent prospects, Mother Xia’s eyes lit up. “Really? He’s from the capital, both his parents have permanent jobs, and he’s their only child?”

　　Xia Shuang knew perfectly well that her mother was the sort who only cared about money and status. That was exactly why she’d deliberately put it that way.

　　“That’s right. He’s a good catch. Mom, transfer your job to me so I can get my household registration transferred back here. Then I’ll register our marriage, and once everything’s settled, I’ll transfer the job back to you.”

　　“That makes sense. You’ve certainly become a lot more clever these days.”

　　Mother Xia was so delighted that she couldn’t stop smiling. Good heavens, what kind of luck had both her children stumbled upon?

　　Her son was marrying an only daughter too, someone who could provide him with plenty of support in the future.

　　And now her daughter had suddenly found such a promising match as well. If this marriage worked out, she’d have household registration in the capital. Their whole family could finally hold their heads high!

　　In a hurry, Mother Xia took out some snacks she’d bought for her eldest son’s fiance and offered them to her daughter. She then began probing for more details about the couple’s relationship.

　　Xia Shuang made up a story on the spot. “I wasn’t interested in him at first, but he was really taken with me. Once we started dating, he brought me things like canned meat, and that’s how I managed to put on a little weight. After the New Year, his family found him a permanent job, and before he left, he told me to find a way to return to the city too.”

　　“His family would never agree to him marrying a girl with a rural household registration. I got anxious because I was afraid he’d return to the city and marry someone else before I could get there. So I specifically asked the village for leave and came back. I plan to get my household registration transferred back to the city first, then hurry up and discuss the wedding arrangements with him.”

　　Mother Xia was still a little suspicious, but when she looked at her daughter’s face, which was even prettier than before, it all seemed plausible.

　　What man wouldn’t like a beautiful, gentle woman? Even before Xia Shuang had gone to the countryside, plenty of men had their eyes on her.

　　Smiling smugly, Mother Xia took her daughter’s hand. “Xiaoshuang, this is your good fortune! When your father gets home, we’ll sit down as a family and figure everything out. We must get your household registration transferred back. You can’t afford to delay something as important as marriage!”

　　Xia Shuang nodded. “Then we need to do it quickly. Time waits for no one. I don’t even see a bed for me here, so I probably can’t stay overnight. Let’s try to get everything sorted out during the day. I’ll have to find a hotel for the night.”

　　Mother Xia’s smile froze, and she awkwardly explained, “Well, your sister-in-law is about to move in, and she refused to let us keep a bed for you. We only moved it out a few days ago. Don’t worry, we’ll stay at a nice hotel. Mom will pay for it.”

　　Xia Shuang put on a smile. “You’re still the best to me, Mom.”

　　Seeing that her daughter was still as easy to appease as ever, Mother Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief.

　　She held her daughter’s hand affectionately and said, “You’re my precious girl. If I don’t treat you well, who will?”

　　Not long afterward, Father Xia returned home. After hearing about their daughter from his wife, he felt somewhat guilty.

　　Their daughter had spent three years in the countryside, and the neighbors kept asking about her from time to time. Sometimes, their questions were so embarrassing that he could barely hold his head up.

　　If she could return to the city and get married, that would be for the best. She wouldn’t have to go back to the countryside, and the neighbors would have less to gossip about behind their family’s backs.

　　Mother Xia had initially wanted to ask their son for his opinion, but Father Xia gave her a scolding.

　　“Have you forgotten how much gossip the neighbors spread behind our backs? Just transfer your job to Xia Shuang so she can get her household registration back in the city. Once she gets married and leaves, the job will still be yours. What’s there to ask about?”

　　Mother Xia rarely saw her husband lose his temper, so she kept her mouth shut and didn’t dare say anything more.

　　Seeing that the two of them had more or less settled things, Xia Shuang glanced outside. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet.

　　She stood up and said, “Mom, it’s still before the end of the workday. Let’s go now. I’ve brought all my documents, so the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can put it behind us. I can even make a trip to the capital this afternoon to see my boyfriend and talk things over with him. Once we’re married, I can return the job to you sooner too.”

　　Hearing this, Mother Xia gritted her teeth and nodded. “Fine.”

　　And so, the two of them headed to the garment factory. Along the way, they ran into quite a few neighbors.

　　Mother Xia made a big show of walking around with her daughter, proudly announcing that she was giving her job to Xia Shuang so she could return to the city and never have to suffer in the countryside again.

　　The neighbors were astonished. They crowded around Xia Shuang, eagerly asking her one question after another.

　　Xia Shuang wore a demure expression. After answering a couple of questions, she politely apologized to the women gathered around her.

　　“Aunties, let’s have a proper chat when we have time. Mom and I need to take care of something first, or the factory will close for the day.”

　　“That’s right, business comes first! Go on, get it settled as soon as possible so you can put your mind at ease.”

　　The neighbors didn’t press her for more information and let the mother and daughter go about their business.

　　Watching them walk away, the women couldn’t help sighing over how heartless the Xia family had been. They’d left such a beautiful daughter in the countryside for three whole years without lifting a finger to help her. 

　　At least they were finally showing a little conscience now.