Her busy life soon comes to the end once she enters a small bookstore and finds her all-time favorite book. On the night she purchase the book, she paper cut herself and had transmitted into the book, however, she's not the female lead but the rival of the female lead also known as the evil b***h in the story that will be beheaded...
Will she be able to survive without changing the story?
"Xiaomei?" holler someone. A hard-working young lady with glasses in a high bun looks up from her desk. "Yes," she answered back.
"Have you finished today's assignments?" Her manager questioned.
"Umm, yes!" She said and hurriedly gave a stack of paperwork to her manager.
"Good. Can you also edit these too?" Her manager hands her a pile of paper. She gracefully accepted it, as she couldn't possibly deny it, while she awkwardly smiled before going back to her desk. Before she started, her co-worker rolled over to her.
"Another load?" Her co-worker said and leaned on his chair.
"Yup...," Xiaomei said, exhausted, "why does he always ask me?" She complained and started typing.
"Come on, you never refuse him when he asks you, and he knows you will always do it," her co-worker teases. Xiaomei let out a sigh before placing her head on her desk as if she had given up.
"Here, give me some so you can get off on time, and maybe we can go get dinner together," her co-worker said while splitting the pile.
"Thank you. You are a life-saver. It will be my treat today," Xiaomei said, proudly.
"You said it," her co-worker said and rolled back to his desk.
Soon after they headed to dinner, and Xiaomei paid. They were walking to their cars.
"Have you read this new historical action novel that has a bit of romance, because there's this nice bookstore that I know that is close by and can help you entertain yourself, especially when you like to read before going to bed," Xiaomei's coworker said.
"Oh really? What's it called, so I can read it online," Xiaomei asks, pulling out her phone from her back pocket and unlocking it.
"I'm not sure if they have it online yet... but it's called unforgettable war," her coworker said. Xiaomei looked it up and didn't find it on the website she goes to, "Aww... it's not online."
"Don't worry, the bookstore that I was talking about is just around the corner," the coworker said. Xiaomei thought for a bit and was deciding if she should get it or not. "Trust me, it's a good book. I know you would like it," Xiaomei's coworker added. "It will be on me," he persuaded. Xiaomei could only agree and followed her coworker to the quiet and small but nice bookstore.
Her coworker was buying the book he had told Xiaomei while Xiaomei was exploring the little shop until a tall man was passing by and brushed against her causing her to bump into the table and drop a book off the table. The man didn't mind and continued as Xiaomei glanced back at the man who didn't seem to notice. She bent down to pick up the book and realized this was her all-time favorite book back in the day and couldn't seem to find it anywhere now. Instead of putting it away, she headed to the register.
"Hello, did you find everything okay?" The cashier asked."Yes," Xiaomei replied and handed the book to the cashier. "Okay, it will be $5.39," said the cashier. Xiaomei pulled out her card and paid for the book. She was leaving the shop, and her coworker handed her the book he bought for her. " Thank you, Jianyu," Xiaomei said to her coworker as she headed to her car.
Xiaomei enters her apartment and into her bedroom, and she drops her books on her lampstand before taking off her purse and coat. "What a long day...," she muttered to herself and entered the bathroom.
Once she got out, she was in her pajamas and was ready for bed. She scooted into bed and got herself comfortable, and she reached for the books before deciding which one to read. She was tired today and thought she would just read a bit, so she opened her all-time favorite book to find her favorite parts while she was flipping through the pages. "Ouch," she said as she paper cut herself. Soon blood was showing and slowly rolling down her pointer finger to her wrist. Before Xiaomei grabbed a napkin, a drip of her blood fell onto the pages. She wrapped her finger and set aside the open book, and headed to the bathroom. As she was in the bathroom, finding a bandaid and cleaning the cut, her blood was drying up in the book. Xiaomei was applying a bandaid before her sight went black.
"My lady? My lady!" A voice holler over her. " I told you not to take that potion," a concerned voice continued. Xiaomei slowly opened her eyes to see a pure and timid young lady in traditional Chinese clothes. Xiaomei looked around to find herself in a small shabby room, as it was completely dirty and dusty. The walls were stained yellow and smelled rusty and moldy wood.
"Where... am I?" Xiaomei's voice was hurting and strained. Her throat was burning. She saw her hand, holding a black bottle as her body was in tremendous pain.
"My lady!" The lady said, concerned. "Are you alright? Should I call the doctor? I told you not to take the poison just to get the crown prince to come to your aid," she added. Xiaomei's body was totally weak, and couldn't get up. She was on the dirty floor as the young lady tried to help her up. Xiaomei was confused about what was going on and where she was. The last thing she remembers was applying a bandaid, and the next thing she knows she is here. Has she transmitted?
A few minutes later, she was on the dirty smelly bed with a tall man beside her, checking her pulse. "Huang Daiyu, this is the last time I will come. If you do this one more time, I'm going to let you die. You are wasting my time." said the doctor. "I'm sick and tired of you doing this act, trying to get the crown prince's attention..." he muttered to himself. "You are lucky. This one could have killed you," he added again before getting up. "I gave you the antidote, so you will recover soon, but as I said, this is the last time I'm saving you," he said sternly and left. He was out of the door and said one last thing, "I hope this changes you, Huang Daiyu, so you can realize your mistakes..."
"Huang Daiyu..." she said to herself, and heard this name before, but where? Xiaomei continues to say that name over and over in her head until she remembers it! Huang Daiyu was the villain of her all-time favorite book...
As she was recovering from the poison she supposedly took, Xiaomei has found out and had to accept that she has been transmitted to a book, and she is the villain or "the cannon fodder" of the story.
The book is called the tangled thread. The main girl was named Zhou Baozhai, as her family and people were killed off. She was able to escape and be the only one in her family to survive. Baozhai wanted to find the person who did this to her family and people. And it led her to the main lead, Liu LiJie's region. Soon enough, they met by accident and had a rough start with each other. However, they continue to cross paths, and their lives continue to tangle with each other, and so on...
Xiaomei looks up at the dark ceiling in the dark night.
And for her (the evil rival against Baozhai), she was the consort of LiJie as it was a forced and arranged marriage. Her name was Huang Daiyu. Her father was the emperor's childhood buddy and trustworthy royal general, who risked his life for the emperor, but was framed for treason.
So her entire family was killed. Lucky enough, she survived by her brothers throwing themselves to shield her. However, in the end, the emperor discovers that his long trusty friend did not betray him, and to make him feel better, he arranges a marriage for her and the crown prince, as he knew Daiyu was obsessed and loved the crown prince from a young age. And surely enough Daiyu was super pleased and accepted the repayment of killing her entire family, which Xiaomei thought it was not enough and how it was still unjustified for the family.
Even being married to LiJie, he never shows any love or attention to her. He considers her to be an annoyance. Soon enough, when he met Baozhai, Daiyu became jealous and furious and plotted evil schemes to get rid of Baozhai, thinking once Baozhai was out of the way, LiJie will love her. Once LiJie found that Daiyu was committing crimes he sent her to the cold palace. At first, she would drink poison, hoping the crown prince would come and change his heart; however, he never came.
She once did find men to kill Baozhai while in the cold palace, and was severely punished and became weak and no longer fought. However, she was soon framed and beheaded.
Xiaomei was sitting up in the small dirty bed as her maid was sleeping on the floor. Xiaomei knew she had three months until now she would be framed and beheaded. She knows she shouldn't change the story as it will cause the story to change, but she is worried that if she dies in the story, she will die in real life. She remembered a saying, "if you die in your sleep, you die in real life..."
The morning had arrived, as Xiaomei was already up and moving as it was her normal time of waking up to work. Xiaomei plans to just survive and keep a distance from the main leads while pretending to be her cruel self for now.
1
The first thing she needs to do is survive in the cold palace as she read novels that this place was the worst situation to be in.
"My lady, are you cold?" Said her sweet, timid maid. This was LiMei, her maid, who the emperor allowed her to be with Daiyu since he still felt guilty as he also allowed Daiyu to have all her clothes and jewels with her. LiMei was a quiet and humble young lady who listened and followed orders as it was her duty.
Xiaomei snapped out of thoughts and spoke to LiMei, "No, I'm fine." Xiaomei started looking around the small room and walked outside to get herself familiar with how to survive in this place. She is living in a small shabby house, with small amounts of grass here and there. There were a couple of trees on the right, which made it look like a small forest in her courtyard. There was also a hidden old broken well behind a tree. Xiaomei leaned over the well to see a decent amount of water. She picks up a fallen brick from the well and places it back. She walked back to the side of the house to see a small pile of rotten old wood and an old pot and bucket. After looking around the place, she started wondering what to do first.
She entered the house, as it was one large room with her bed pushed to the wall on the right side with a see-through curtain around it and beside her bed was a broken closet. In the middle of the room had a small dirty table with a couple of seats, and on the left side, there was a long horizontal cabinet. Xiaomei opened the broken wooden closet and looked at which clothes were not her style or didn't seem to fit anymore and threw them on the floor.
"Miss, what are you doing?" LiMei asks, confused.
"I'm going to use my clothes as cloth," she replied.
"Why?" LiMei asks again, looking at Xiaomei with curious eyes while tilting her head.
"We need to survive if we are living here. So, we need to clean this place," Xiaomei said.
"Yes... but your clothes..." LiMei said quietly.
"It's just clothes. Don't worry," she said.
Xiaomei then opened the horizontal cabinet. There were spiderwebs and thick layers of dust on each shelf. She opened the other side of the cabinet to find a small rusty, old scissor that was used for cutting threads when someone was sewing. Xiaomei grabs it and tests it out if it still works. However, it barely cut, and she had to cut the fabric multiple times before making an ugly cut. Xiaomei gave up and started ripping her clothes using her arm strength. LiMei was shocked and blurted out, "Miss, what are you doing!"
Xiaomei stops and looks at LiMei, confused. "Making my clothes useful," she answered. Xiaomei continued to rip her dress into long strips. Once she finished ripping, she grabbed all the strips made from one dress into her hand and began to tie the ends together to make a long rope. "LiMei, can you fill a bucket of water for me?" Xiaomei asked, and LiMei quickly went to grab a bucket of water.
Xiaomei then exits the house and looks around to find two trees that were close to each other. She then ties one end to each tree.
"Here you go, Miss? What is this for?" LiMei asks as she reaches her.
"To clean," Xiaomei answered using two words. Xiaomei wanted to wash the blanket and bedsheet, but where could she wash the blanket as she didn't have a big enough bucket. She thought for a minute before changing her mind and decided to wash the blanket another day. So, she just grabbed the bedsheet and tried to move the bucket before LiMei shouted, "Miss, let me carry it!"
"Oh, it's okay," Xiaomei said and tried to grab the bucket again, but LiMei shook her head and insisted on carrying it. So, Xiaomei gave it to her.
"Where do you want me to put it?" LiMei asked.
"Just put it over there," she said and put the bedsheet into the water. She crouches down and starts washing the bedsheet.
"Let me do it, Miss," LiMei insisted again. This time Xiaomei smiled and shook her head and continued washing the bedsheet. She scrubs the sheet together and tries to clean the stain out. And then she and LiMei grab each end and start squeezing the water out.
Before Xiaomei and LiMei threw the sheet up on the rope to air dry. "Okay, let's clean the house now," Xiaomei said and walked towards the house.
Throughout the day, Xiaomei and LiMei use her clothes to mop up the floor, clean the walls, wipe the table and chairs, and clean the bedposts and bedframe. Xiaomei opened the wooden window to let some air in while LiMei was finishing up the table. Soon enough, the small house is clean and tidy and no longer has spiderwebs and dust, yet it still looks old and shabby.
"What should we clean now?" LiMei asked.
"We need to clean the outside of the house," Xiaomei said.
A couple of hours pass by, and Xiaomei and LiMei wash the outside walls, the wooden post holding the roof, and the door. Xiaomei wiped her sweat away before they took a break. "Miss, the place looks better now," LiMei said, excited. Xiaomei smiles in response and nods in agreement. The sun was setting, and Xiaomei and LiMei quickly washed the clothes they used to clean and air-dried them with the sheet.
Not long enough, the sky had turned dark, and the moon and stars appeared, and Xiaomei and LiMei had already taken down the bedsheet and put it back on the bed as they left the cloth to dry overnight.
Soon, Xiaomei and LiMei stomachs started to growl in hunger, but no one showed up to bring them any food. Xiaomei knew this would happen as the maids would look down on them as well because they are in the cold palace. So, Xiaomei must think of something for them to survive in this place. In the flickering candle, she was in deep thought before LiMei insisted that she go to bed as it might help them not think about food.
As Xiaomei was in bed, she continued to think before sleep overcame her as the morning arrived. LiMei had already grabbed the clothes and folded them neatly. Xiaomei asks her to place it on one of the shelves in the cabinet.
"LiMei, we need to take all of my jewels and sell them," Xiaomei said.
"But, my lady, some of these jewels were from your parents," LiMei said.
"I know, but we need money to buy food, and my parents would also want me to stay alive and wouldn't mind me doing this," Xiaomei replied. LiMei didn't say anything and nodded her head.
"LiMei, if it is possible for you to sneak out of the palace and sell these to the pawn? If not, find someone who will do it for us and tell them we will pay them with money and do it secretly. Let no one know what you are doing," Xiaomei said. "Are you able to do this, LiMei?" Xiaomei asked again.
"Yes, Miss, don't worry," LiMei said and wrapped all the jewels in a cloth before leaving in secret. She hoped LiMei was safe, and no one wouldn't notice her as she was a small ordinary maid and wouldn't suspect her compared to her, with the label a schemish, foul woman.
As she was by herself, she started thinking about how to get back home in her time. She recalled how she got here by a paper cut. However, she's in the cold palace and was not able to get some paper. She tapped her chin, thinking more tensely. She hopes that LiMei was able to obtain money from the jewels. Maybe she could try sneaking out, if possible, to the market or bribing someone to get some items for her.
Time went by, and LiMei had not returned yet, as Xiaomei was getting tired of waiting and sitting in the house, so she left the house. Her stomach was growling, and she wanted to eat something, but there was no food anywhere until she noticed the trees in the small area. She hoped that some trees had fruits, but there was no luck as there were no fruits. Xiaomei took a sad deep breath and was about to head back until she spotted something up in the tree. The tree has green circle fruits. She had never seen this fruit before, and it didn't look like an apple. She bent down and picked up one of the fallen fruits off the ground. To her surprise, it wasn't a fruit but walnuts. She unpeeled the green layer until she reached the brown hard shell. She then collected more walnut shells until her arms were full. She entered the house again and set all the walnuts on the table. She then uses two walnuts to crush each other open and continues to do that throughout by separating the nuts and shells into two piles. Xiaomei put the shell into a piece of cloth and tied it up, so she could use it as firewood when it was cold.
She saved some walnuts for LiMei before eating her share. She wished that the walnuts were roasted, as they would taste better. Then she remembered the dirty pot by the side of the house. She went out and grabbed the dirty pot and saw how filthy it was. There was a big spider inside the pot. She bangs the pot on the ground to get the spider out before she washes the pot. It wasn't perfect, but it's something. She then set the pot aside and started making a bonfire out of sight. She cleared the area, so nothing would catch on fire and formed a circle with rocks before setting up twigs like a tent and banging two rocks to make a spark. Once the fire started, she grabbed all the walnuts and tossed them in the pot. She held the pot above the fire and occasionally shook the pot to mix the nuts around.
It took a while for her to roast them since she had to hold the pot high from the fire so it could still roast the nuts but not burn her.
Even after roasting, LiMei has not gotten back. Xiaomei started to worry as the sun was setting. She waited for LiMei by the gate, as there were no guards guarding them as they were completely forgotten, and she continued to look around, trying to spot LiMei.
The sun was no longer in the sky, and night had arrived. Xiaomei finally saw a tiny figure coming toward her as the person was trying to be unnoticed.
"LiMei, where have you been? I was worried sick about you. I thought something had happened to you," Xiaomei said.
"I'm so sorry, my lady, but I came late because I had to sneak my way out and be careful, so no one noticed me, and then sneak myself back in. I do apologize," she said.
"No, it's fine. At least you are safe and back," Xiaomei said. LiMei showed her a bag full of silver and gold bars and gave it to her.
"My lady, what happened to you? You are dirty and smell like smoke? Did something happen when I wasn't here? Are you okay?" LiMei said, super worried, and touch Xiaomei's arms.
"Oh, I'm fine. I was roasting walnuts for us. Since we haven't eaten anything since yesterday," Xiaomei said, smiling.
They head inside, and Xiaomei hides the money while telling LiMei to eat, as she was hesitating. Xiaomei changed clothes. "I know this isn't enough, but just wait I'll think of something for us to eat a hearty meal," Xiaomei told LiMei.
"No, it's fine. This is enough for me. You should think of yourself," LiMei said, humbly.
Xiaomei looked at LiMei and didn't know what to say because she knew if she said something LiMei would continue to put her first as it was how she was raised and duty. Xiaomei gave a soft, quiet sigh and smiled at LiMei while she ate quietly.
A new day arrived, and Xiaomei was the first one up again. She couldn't stand the smell of the blanket. Today, she was going to find a way to wash the blanket. She thought awhile of how she was going to do it.
Xiaomei grabs the blanket and heads out outside quietly, not to wake up LiMei. She then tosses the blanket over the rope to hang. She splashes buckets of water on the blanket over and over until it is completely soaked. Then she started scrubbing the blanket with each other to get the stain out. And she splashed water onto it again to clean out the stain.
LiMei woke up and yawned at the doorway, "I'm sorry, my lady?" she said.
"No, it's fine. I'm just an early bird," Xiaomei assured LiMei. "Since this is the time, I would wake up for work..." Xiaomei mutters to herself. LiMei quickly tidied up herself and helped Xiaomei squeeze out the water from the blanket.
Afterward, LiMei asked, "Miss, are you hungry? I can try getting some."
"No, it's fine. I don't think there will be any food for us. Let's not bother," Xiaomei replied. She walked toward the walnut tree. Xiaomei started picking the walnuts from the tree and handed them to LiMei to hold. Xiaomei was about to climb the tree, and LiMei was frightened and stopped her. So, Xiaomei reluctantly stopped herself and just picked from their level.
"Miss, I think this should be enough," LiMei said, as Xiaomei realized LiMei's arms were full.
"Oops, my bad," she said and helped LiMei carry some walnuts.
While LiMei was cracking the shell of the nuts, Xiaomei was thinking about how to obtain food as she was also cracking walnuts. "LiMei? How were you able to leave the palace?" Xiaomei asked.
"Well, I bribed one of the guards to let me go," LiMei said.
"Bribed...," Xiaomei said, as an idea came to her.
"LiMei, go quickly and quietly to that guard and bring him to me," Xiaomei said.
"Yes, Miss!" LiMei said hurriedly and dropped what she was doing, and quickly left.
Xiaomei finished cracking all the walnuts and started roasting the walnuts before LiMei arrived. Xiaomei had wrapped the walnuts in a piece of cloth into a bag.
Soon, a knock on the door arrived, and a tiny whisper came through, "Miss?"
"Come in," Xiaomei answered and entered LiMei and a guard.
"How can I help you, your highness?" the guard bowed.
"Are you willing to help me?" I will give you money in exchange?" Xiaomei asks, putting out some money. The guard stares at the money. "I just need you to help me sneak out the palace for a while and keep guard...," Xiaomei added. "If that's not enough, then I will give you more," Xiaomei said.
The guard hesitated and thought for a minute before making his decision. "For one day," he said.
Xiaomei replied, "Yes, but you must keep your mouth shut and don't tell no one even if it means your life." She looked at him dead seriously. "Here," she said, handing him the money.
"I'll take you out tomorrow morning early since it will be safer as there will be fewer people out," he said. Xiaomei just nodded in response, and the guard was on his way.
"Miss, can we trust him?" LiMei asked.
Xiaomei replied, "we will just see...," as she was not sure as well, but he did help LiMei and didn't report it. They just have to wait and see. She truly hopes he will help her to survive this story.
"Miss, you should take a break and not think too much," LiMei said, trying to help her not think too much. "Do you want to sit outside?" she added.
"Sure," Xiaomei said, also wanting to relieve her thoughts.
The sun rose for a new day, and Xiaomei was up. "LiMei, are you ready?" Xiaomei asks, tying a face mask to her face as it covers her nose and mouth.
"Miss, I apologize for waking up late," LiMei finished getting ready.
"It's okay, LiMei. Take your time," Xiaomei said, as she finished tying the ribbon behind her head.
A short, quiet knock echoes through the room, and both Xiaomei and LiMei turn their heads before LiMei opens the door to find the guard quietly standing by the door, ready. "Are you ready to go, miss?" the guard said. Xiaomei nodded.
The guard led them out secretly as there was no one. "Okay, I'll stand here to guard. You should be back an hour before more people will notice you," the guard said, waiting by the gate. Xiaomei nodded her head and continued their way as LiMei followed.
Soon enough, they arrived at the village, and Xiaomei quickly went down her list of things she needed. Because she was here early in the morning, she had the first pick on most things as there were barely any people out, and vendors had finished setting up their stalls.
Xiaomei bought all sorts of things such as paper, ink, thin cloth, flour, sugar, rice, pan, lid, short hoe, peanuts, oil, salt, sweet potatoes, dry soybeans, small pumpkins, and a firepit stand.
"Miss, you bought a lot of things," LiMei said, helping carry stuff. Xiaomei smiled at LiMei's statement and continued. She also bought a couple of seeds like cilantro and onion before she walked over to a person who built things.
"Excuse me," Xiaomei said as the owner stopped what he was doing and wiped his dirty hands clean before walking over to her.
"Can I help you, Miss?" he said.
"I want to ask if you can make me a mini stone grinder," she said as she pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and sketched out how she wanted it to look. The owner scratched his head while looking at her sketch, "umm, I can try making it, but it will take me a couple of days. Maybe a week and a half," he said.
"That will be fine," she said and paid in advance.
"Okay, LiMei, we can head back," Xiaomei said.
"Let's hurry, Miss, before we get in trouble," LiMei said, worried. Xiaomei nodded her head and thought that they would be fine since no one in the story really paid attention to her when she was in the cold palace, not until she tried to kill the main girl. Hopefully, that guard is trustworthy. They made their way back without anybody noticing them. On their way back, Xiaomei noticed a farmer tending their garden.
"Sorry, Granny, but can I buy two of your plants?" Xiaomei said. The old lady simply agreed and asked which ones.
"Miss, why do we need those?" LiMei asks, almost stopping her.
Xiaomei said, "to eat," and continued, "I'd like to take one of your tomato and red pepper plants."
The old lady dug both plants out and wrapped them in a cloth to be easy to carry. "Thank you," Xiaomei handed some money.
"Oh, Miss, you gave me too much," she said.
Xiaomei smiled and said, "You put a lot of work into your plants."
"Thank you, miss," said the old lady. Xiaomei nods her head, and she and LiMei continue their way.
Once they arrived back at the gate, the guard was still there patiently, waiting for them. Xiaomei pulls out a bag of steam buns they bought and tosses it to him.
"Thank you. I'll give you another round of money if you do this again in a few days," Xiaomei asked.
The guard stood there in silence before reluctantly agreeing. He didn't know why he was helping, but for some odd reason, he couldn't help to agree. Maybe it's her eyes that draw him...
Xiaomei and LiMei arrive back at the cold palace. It was quiet as if no one even noticed or cared they were gone. On the other hand, LiMei was extremely worried. However, Xiaomei knows that they (the main couple) are busy figuring out if they love each other right now and trying to find the mastermind behind all of this, so they are fine now.
"Miss, where do you want me to put this stuff?" LiMei asked.
"Just place them on the table, and I will take care of the rest," she replied and went to plant the plants. She grabbed the short hoe and walked towards the well before digging two holes. She then planted the tomatoes and pepper in the holes. Then she watered the two plants before clearing more areas for her to plant more vegetables.
A couple of minutes passed by, and LiMei went to look for her. "My lady, where are you?" LiMei holler.
"I'm over here," Xiaomei answered back, wiping sweat off her forehead.
"Miss, what are you doing?" LiMei said and was astonished at how dirty Xiaomei was.
"I'm cleaning the area so I can plant the seed I bought," Xiaomei said and continued digging up the ground.
"My lady, let me do it." LiMei insisted.
"No, it's okay. You go and eat the steam buns I bought. There's another bag wrapped in cloth," Xiaomei said. "I'm almost done anyway," she added.
"Miss, I must do it. You are dirty, and your hands have blisters," LiMei continued insisting. Xiaomei smiled and finished before LiMei could take the hoe away from her. "See, all done," Xiaomei said. LiMei did a small silent pout at Xiaomei. Xiaomei grabbed the seeds she bought and said, "LiMei, you can help me plant the cilantro." LiMei lit up and agreed. "Just sprinkle it over this area," Xiaomei directed her. Then Xiaomei started making straight lines in the dirt and planted the onion individually in a single-file line.
"Miss, why are you doing the harder job? Let me do that one," LiMei said.
"This is the easier job," Xiaomei lied while crouching. LiMei pouted again and continued her job.
Once they are finished, they water the seeds. And, Xiaomei then put all the stuff she bought away in the cabinet before sitting and eating the steam buns with LiMei. "Ah!" Xiaomei remembered and shoved the last piece in her mouth and hurried over to the cabinet before grabbing a piece of paper and the ink.
"Miss, what are you doing?" LiMei asked.
"Writing something," Xiaomei answered as she thought in her head, "trying to go home!" She writes down, A girl in her 20s, working as an editor with a loving family...
She continues writing about her life and then rubs her pointed finger against the sheet until she papercuts herself.
"Miss!" LiMei shouts and hurries at her, trying to wipe the blood away.
"Hold on," she said and let her blood drip on the paper as she waited; however, nothing happened. Xiaomei's spirit fell as she sighs in disbelief. How am I going to go home? Xiaomei thought as her fingers continued to bleed.
"Miss," LiMei said, wrapping her finger with a handkerchief.
Would dying work? Ugh! Wait! At the end of the story, it says when they won the battle, the sky cleared up, and the sun shined as if the heavens were opening and looking down on them with each other in their arms.
Xiaomei took a deep breath and was not paying attention to LiMei, who was tying the bandage in a knot.
Okay, let's wait and see if that works. If not, then I'll kill myself. So, I just need to stay alive. *sigh* How can I survive in three months and not change the story? Ugh! Xiaomei messed up her hair as she was stressed.
"Miss, are you okay?" LiMei asked.
Ugh! Forget it. I'll just live my best until it's time, and then I'll figure it out! As her head was starting to hurt.
"Miss, are you okay?" LiMei asks again, concerned. Xiaomei finally snapped out of her thoughts and did a quick sigh before nodding her head.
Xiaomei woke up with bags under her eyes as she had a hard time falling asleep because she kept overthinking. "Miss, what happened to you? You look horrible," LiMei said and walked over to her and touched her forehead. Xiaomei didn't respond to LiMei and smiled instead. "Are you hungry?" She asked LiMei. "Let's find something to eat," she added before opening the cabinets.
However, she realized she didn't buy any utensils or bowls. "Sorry, LiMei, I forgot to buy utensils or bowls, so we just have to eat nuts again until we go back to the market in a couple of days," Xiaomei said. "No, Miss, it's okay. I like eating walnuts," she said. Xiaomei felt bad but grabbed the bag of peanuts. LiMei started peeling the shell of the peanuts as she went out to pick more walnuts.
She climbed up the tree and started dropping all the walnuts to the ground before gathering them later. On her way back, she sees a bird and a chipmunk fighting over food. The bird swoops down and attacks the chipmunk before snatching the food and taking off. "Awww, poor chipmunk," Xiaomei said and broke open the shell to grab the walnuts out. She slowly walks toward the chipmunk as the chipmunk notices her and runs off a bit but stops."It's okay. I won't hurt you," she said and crotched down before holding her hand open with the piece of walnuts in her hand. However, the chipmunk didn't move but stared at her. "It's okay," she said again and lightly tossed the nut to the chipmunk. The chipmunk quickly snatched it and ate it. Xiaomei cracks one more walnut and places the nut on the ground before walking away. Xiaomei entered the house to see LiMei had finished, so both of them quickly finished opening the walnuts. Xiaomei then threw all the walnuts and peanuts into a pan and headed out. There she saw the chipmunk coming to her but stopped once he saw her. She chuckled and hollered, "LiMei, can you give me a handful of the peanut we have left in the cabinet," "Yes, Miss. Coming!" LiMei replied back and came out with a handful of peanuts. "What are these for?" she asked. "For that little guy," Xiaomei pointed at the chipmunk who was standing still. "Just put it on top of that rock," she said to LiMei and went to start a fire. She set the fire pit stand where she made the last fire. She lit a fire and started to roast the nuts. Once they were roasted, she slightly salted them. She also left a couple unsalted for the chipmunk. "Miss, look at it. It ate all the peanuts," LiMei said, super hype as she was watching the chipmunk the whole time. Xiaomei smiles at LiMei's words.
She then put the pan aside and grabbed a bucket of water from the well. She filtered the water with the thin cloth she bought to get rid of any dirt in the water into the pot. She places the pot on the stand to boil the water so they can drink. "Miss, what are you doing?" LiMei asked. "I'm making clean water for us to drink," Xiaomei said and repeated those steps until she filled three jars of water, while LiMei was watering the plants. "How are they doing?" Xiaomei asked. "They are doing great! The tomato and pepper look very green," she answered back. "Good to hear," she said, "LiMei, you can eat first. I'm almost done with this," as she poured the last bits of water into the jar. "I can wait," she said. After finishing, Xiaomei and LiMei relax the whole day and continue this routine until the end of the week.
Xiaomei and LiMei follow the guard again to the hidden exit, early in the morning.
"Don't take too long again," the guard said to them as they sneaked into the village. This time Xiaomei bought utensils (spoons, chopsticks, and knives), bowls, more jars, lard, eggs, a wooden cutting board, another pot, rose tea, glutinous rice flour, and lotus root starch as her and LiMei entire body was cover with hanging bags and all the stuff straps to them. They then enter the workshop as the owner greets them. "Welcome back, Miss. Here is your small grinder you wanted," he showed her a small stone grinder.
"Thank you," she tries picking it up.
"Miss, will you be able to carry it?" he asks, worried.
"Oh, yes," she replied and wrapped the item in a thick cloth. She mustered up all her strength and willpower before carrying it as she was leaning toward one side. "Thank you," she said again and left.
There she saw small red shiny fruits glazing in her eyes and tempting her as she couldn't resist and bought three bingtanghulu and more steam buns.
"Lady, do you want me to carry it?" LiMei asks, as Xiaomei sets the grinder down for a bit and rotates her shoulder to loosen it up.
"Don't worry. I got this. We are almost there," she said.
Once they arrive at the gate, Xiaomei quickly sets the grinder down as she felt she was going to lose her arm. She started moving her fingers and shoulder to circulate the blood again. She then handed one bingtanghulu and a steam bun to the guard. "Thank you again. I never got your name?" she said.
"The name is Bao," the guard answered.
"Thank you, Bao," she said, and they went their separate ways.
Xiaomei had put everything away in the cabinet, and they sat down to eat the food they bought. Then pop out the chipmunk from the window and crawl on the table. "Well, hello there again," Xiaomei said to the chipmunk "are you hungry again, didn't I feed you this morning?" she said as the chipmunk came daily and became their little companion. She went up and grabbed both roasted and unroasted nuts. "Let's see which one you like better?" She set them on the table. The chipmunk ate all of them as if he didn't have any preferences. Both Xiaomei and LiMei chuckled at the chipmunk's action. "I guess you like all of it," she said as the chipmunk crawled closer to Xiaomei's hands and started sniffing. "Sorry, no more. Tomorrow," she said. The chipmunk jumped down as if the chipmunk understood her and left.
The sun was bright and shining, while Xiaomei was washing a cup of rice by the well before heading back to the house to pour clean water into the pot. She uses her finger to measure the water. She placed the pot on the fire pit stand and covered it with the lid. She opened the lid after 10 minutes and stirred the rice, and checked if the rice was ready. She re-closed the pot and cooked the rice for another 5 minutes. She scooped out the cooked rice into bowls and then placed the pot back on the fire as she sprinkled some water in the pot before closing the lid. She left the pot on the fire for a minute before scraping out the crispy rice and then soaking the pot. She grabbed the other pot and filled the pot with water and set it on the fire. She waited for the water to boil before cracking the eggs open into the water. She occasionally stirred, so the eggs didn't stick to the bottom, and added salt.
"Okay, LiMei, food is ready," Xiaomei said and poured food into the bowl.
"Finally," said Bao, who popped up from laying on a rock.
"Why are you here again?" Xiaomei said, setting the food on the table.
Bao smiled, showing his kiddish smile, and said, "for the food."
"Who invited you," LiMei snarky.
"I invited myself," he said and sat down as his eyes drooled over the food.
"Aren't you going to be late for your duty or get yelled at?" Xiaomei said, sitting down and ladling out the egg soup for everyone.
He shrugged and said, "don't worry about it. I am just a low-rank guard who people don't even notice and won't know I'm gone. There's so many of us, how can they tell?" Xiaomei shook her head before sipping the soup.
Bao was the first one to finish, and he did a sneak peek at LiMei's bowl before he quickly scoops out the last egg in LiMei's bowl and shoves it in his mouth.
"Bao! You!" LiMei shouted.
"I got to go!" He said with his mouth full and ran off before LiMei could chase him.
Xiaomei chuckled, watching them, and placed an egg in LiMei's bowl. She watches Bao disappear as LiMei yells at the doorway. Ever since they went on their last trip to the village, Bao recently came over to visit them, and soon they all became close as Xiaomei realized how Bao is such a kid. Xiaomei smiled and said," LiMei, you can have mine."
"No, Miss, I couldn't," she replied and sat down.
"Don't worry, I'm full," Xiaomei said. LiMei looked at her bowl, and her eyes stared at the egg wanting to eat it. "LiMei, just eat it. I'm full. Don't worry," Xiaomei said again and stood up and grabbed the empty bowls.
"But Miss...," LiMei tried to say.
"LiMei, it's fine. I'm going to wash dishes and then water the plants," Xiaomei said, heading out.
After finishing the dishes, she fills up the bucket of water and uses a bowl to water the tomato and pepper plants. Her pepper started to turn red, and the tomatoes had formed. She then started sprinkling water on the onion and cilantro. As she was watering, a brown fuzzball leaped over to her.
"You are early today," Xiaomei stopped watering and headed back to grab some nuts for the chipmunk.
Afterward, both Xiaomei and LiMei did nothing throughout the day until Xiaomei wanted to snack on something. Xiaomei grabbed one small pumpkin and one sweet potato. LiMei peeled the pumpkin, and she peeled the sweet potato. She cut the sweet potato in a circular shape before setting them aside. She then scoops one cup of flour and adds some salt to the flour. She then pours water into the flour mixture and mixes it until the batter is well combined. She placed the pan on the fire pit stand and poured oil into the pan. Once LiMei was finished peeling and cutting, the oil was ready. Xiaomei started battering the pumpkin and sweet potato and placing them in the oil. She flipped over as it was getting golden brown and waited for the other side before taking them out.
Xiaomei and LiMei ate their mini deep fry snack as they were sky gazing. "LiMei doesn't that look like a frog," Xiaomei pointed out while she was laying a big rock.
"Oh, I see it!" LiMei said as Xiaomei was nibbling on a sweet potato. "Oh, look at that. It looks like a tiger," LiMei said.
"Yeah, like it's chasing that rabbit," Xiaomei said.
"Oh my...," LiMei gasps and covers her eyes. "How can I unsee it!" She said frantically. Xiaomei chuckled and said "just imagine it as a cat chasing a ball or don't look at it. Look over there, it's a turtle." She peaks through her hands. Xiaomei continued to smile at LiMei.
Night finally arrived as Xiaomei cooked them omelet and rice before they went to bed. However, before Xiaomei went to bed, she soaked some dried soybeans in water.