It’s a Stepmother, Not a Sister [70s] - chapter 1

March 1971.

After a light rain last night, the village path remained muddy, bearing a string of footprints mixed with the scent of fresh grass.

A century-old osmanthus tree sprouted new branches. Its green leaves, trembling and adorned with lingering raindrops, were blown by the breeze. The crystal-clear dew, carrying the tender osmanthus leaves, fell into the clear well water.

A young girl half-squatted on the stone slab, lowering a wooden bucket into the cool well water. She swayed it back and forth to clear away the duckweed. The sound of splashing water was accompanied by the tender leaves drifting away with the flow of water from the well.

Jiang Shuangling carried the water bucket on a shoulder pole. Her slender fingers pressed against the rope hook, and two thick, waist-length braids hung down her chest, swaying slightly as she walked, just like the wooden buckets hanging from the pole.

Jiang Shuangling walked home with the water.

She wore a light apricot-colored outfit that highlighted her slender waist in the spring breeze. When she looked up, a few wisps of fine hair blew across her large, round, water-bright apricot eyes, making her appear exceptionally charming.

Not far away, under the thatched eaves, two young educated youths in their twenties couldn’t help but follow the water-carrying girl with their eyes as she walked by.

One of the young men holding a sickle couldn’t resist the urge to step forward and help, but his companion nudged him with an elbow. “Let’s go, time to get to work.”

Reluctantly, the man withdrew his gaze and, with his head down, continued walking with his companion. However, he couldn’t help but steal another glance at her.

Aunt Sun, standing by the field path, observed the scene and chatted with her basket-carrying companion. “What a pity about that Jiang family girl.”

“Everyone thought she’d go to the Agricultural University. They were all saying she would definitely get in. Who knew…”

“She probably wasn’t meant to.”

“But why is she making such a choice? Such a pretty girl, becoming a stepmother for someone?”

“Her parents are dead, so she’s living with her uncle and aunt. Do you really think that woman Li Erhua would genuinely wish her well? No matter how good the man’s conditions are, it’s still a second marriage. Would her own children agree to such a match?”

“Why doesn’t she let her own daughter Hongling go—”

“Jinx! Jinx! You’re a jinx!”

“Your sister is going to be someone’s stepmother!”

“Stepmothers are all old witches…”

…

A lump of mud splattered on his face, and a stubborn four or five-year-old boy lifted his head. Around him, three six or seven-year-olds teased and fought with him.

“I am not a jinx…”

“Your parents died because of you, and now your sister is going to be a stepmother. Step-mothers are all black-hearted.”

“Old witches who eat children’s hearts!”

“Don’t go near him.”

The naughtiest boy, Ge Erdan, stood with his hands on his hips, laughing loudly and shouting “black-hearted” and “jinx.” He bent down to grab another lump of mud, ready to throw it again.

“——What are you doing!!”

Startled by the voice, the three kids scattered and ran away.

“Run! The jinx’s sister is here——”

Jiang Shuangling, having set down her water buckets, picked up the carrying pole and aimed a swing at Ge Erdan’s backside. Before the pole could even touch him, Ge Erdan tripped and fell face-first into the mud.

As luck would have it, there was a fresh, wet cow patty on the village path, and Ge Erdan’s dirty face landed right in it.

The once intact cow patty now had the imprint of a human face, complete with features.

The children watching nearby clapped their hands and laughed heartily, while Jiang Shuangling, holding the carrying pole, stood there speechless: “…”

Ge Erdan’s face was covered in cow dung, and he was on the verge of tears. Seeing this, one of the adults, a parent of one of the children, came over and advised, “Why are you getting upset with these little kids?”

Jiang Shuangling sneered inwardly. Upset? What if they were bullying your child?

She glared at the children. “Take a good look. This is what happens when you talk nonsense. Even heaven couldn’t stand it and made him pay for it. Anyone who talks nonsense deserves to eat cow dung.”

Intimidated by her glare, the children exchanged glances, looked at the carrying pole in her hand, and ran off without saying a word.

“Big sister…”

Jiang Shuangling took her brother’s hand and led him into the house.

Jiang Shuangling soaked a towel and stood in the backyard, carefully wiping the mud stains off her younger brother Jiang Che’s face. She then changed him into clean clothes, which were old ones of hers that had been altered. There was a small gray-blue patch on the back.

Jiang Che looked up at his sister, letting her clean the black dirt from between his fingers. Ever since his sister recovered from her illness, she had been keeping him increasingly clean.

“Sis, I’m not a jinx.”

Jiang Shuangling smiled and pinched his cheek gently, her voice soft. “Of course you’re not.”

The Jiang siblings had lost both their parents. Their father had been the production team leader of the commune and had died in an accident while working on water conservancy projects four or five years ago. At that time, their mother was pregnant with Jiang Che, and the shock caused complications during childbirth. She passed away shortly after giving birth to Jiang Che.

Rumors spread in the village that Jiang Che was a jinx, responsible for the deaths of his parents shortly after his birth.

Jiang Che’s little face was scrubbed clean. At just over four years old, not yet five, he was small and thin, but his features were very delicate. His appearance was often mistaken for that of a pretty little girl. Even the five- or six-year-old girls in the village weren’t as good-looking as him, which made him a target for the mischievous boys.

Jiang Shuangling patted his head. “Your hair is getting a bit long. Let me trim it for you.”

The four-year-old boy sat obediently on a small stool while Jiang Shuangling used scissors to trim his hair into a neat, tidy style that made his face look even more attractive.

Jiang Che lowered his head, rubbing his hands together. After a long hesitation, he finally couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke, “Big sister, please don’t go and be a stepmother, okay?”

Jiang Shuangling smiled, “Why not?”

His small hands clutched at his sister’s clothes, “They say stepmothers become old witches.”

“Oh? Do they now? Do you think your sister looks like an old witch?”

The honest boy bit his lip and shook his head.

In young Jiang Che’s mind, an old witch was a terrifyingly harsh old woman with high cheekbones, a sharp nose that could poke someone, and a huge mouth capable of swallowing children whole. 

His sister was so young and beautiful; how could she possibly be an old witch?

Jiang Shuangling’s smile deepened as she reassured him, “You’re still young, so don’t worry about adult matters. Just know that your sister will never leave you.”

She teased him in a playful tone, “Even if I were to turn into an old witch, I wouldn’t eat you, so you can rest easy, little brother.”

Jiang Shuangling knew that with children of this age, it wasn’t effective to talk too much about complex principles.

She quite enjoyed teasing little kids, especially this adorable and good-looking little radish.

After hearing her words, the stubborn little Jiang Che stayed silent for a while, his small face stiff with contemplation. Finally, he hesitantly asked, “…Then will I also turn into an old witch?”

Jiang Shuangling was momentarily speechless.

Sometimes she really couldn’t fathom what went on in these little kids’ heads.

Seeing that she wasn’t responding, Jiang Che earnestly tugged at her sleeve. Jiang Shuangling felt like bursting into laughter but kept a serious expression. “That depends on whether you want to turn into one.”

Jiang Che looked conflicted. If he turned into an old witch, other kids would be scared of him and wouldn’t bully him anymore, but…

“Old witches eat children’s hearts and livers.”

Jiang Shuangling’s mouth twitched. Then she picked him up and brought him over to the pigsty, pointing silently at the two newly raised little pink piglets. “Their hearts and livers are much tastier, and their meat is even better.”

In the village, several households raised two pigs each: one to raise and hand over to the commune, and one to slaughter for their own consumption during festivals and the New Year.

It was only during these special occasions that they could enjoy the taste of meat.

Jiang’s little brother’s eyes were fixed on the piglets’ bodies as he swallowed saliva, nodding enthusiastically.

Indeed, why wouldn’t the old witch eat delicious pork instead of children? It just didn’t make sense.

Jiang Shuangling stood with her brother in front of the pigsty, her eyes also fixed on the little piglets in front of her, their gaze filled with longing.

She wanted… its meat.

Jiang Shuangling had never imagined that there would be a day when she would crave pork.

Just half a month ago, she wasn’t Jiang Shuangling but Jiang Shuangling, born in the 1990s.

At twenty-nine years old, she started painting at the age of five and graduated from the Capital Institute of Fine Arts at twenty-one. She was a well-known game concept artist online, and after years of hard work, her art team had gained a prestigious reputation in the industry.

In the field of art and design, the pressure can be immense. At the age of twenty-eight, after a project failure that deeply affected her, Jiang Shuangling left her own art team, Bell and Drum, which she had founded.

At the same time, due to years of working late nights and under intense stress, she discovered health issues. After undergoing surgery, her doctor advised her to take a break and focus on her health.

Seven years of living like a workaholic had allowed Jiang Shuangling to buy a fully paid-off apartment in the bustling city. She also had significant savings.

Jiang Shuangling planned to take a few years to recuperate. She was tired of the high-paced urban life with its immense pressure.

She fell in love with cooking and exploring various small villages and ancient towns. Recently, she had rented a rural homestay for a period of eight years. She intended to document her journey through live streaming, creating an elegant farmhouse courtyard from scratch.

Who would have thought… On the first day she moved into the homestay, she transformed into Jiang Shuangling from the 1970s.

And to add to it, she gained a four-year-old brother, Jiang Che.

After their parents passed away, Jiang Shuangling and her brother lived with their uncle and aunt, Jiang Chuanfu and his wife, Li Erhua. They had two sons: the eldest, Jiang Jianguo, worked at the state-owned factory in town, while the younger one, Jiang Yimin, stayed at home. They also had a daughter, Jiang Hongping, who was around the same age as Jiang Shuangling and was her cousin.

Jiang Shuangling and her brother didn’t have an easy time at their uncle and aunt’s house. While there wasn’t any obvious mistreatment, they often heard Li Erhua’s harsh words and criticism.

Where did the rumor about Jiang Che being a jinx come from? It also originated from Li Erhua.

Half a month ago, Jiang Shuangling and her cousin Jiang Hongping went to fetch water. Jiang Hongping slipped and accidentally knocked Jiang Shuangling into the cold well water. She developed a high fever in the middle of the night and was eventually rushed to the hospital in town. She was so delirious from the fever that she almost didn’t make it. When she woke up, her body had changed, and she became a different Jiang Shuangling.

At that time, the brigade was about to select people to attend the Agricultural University, and they had two spots. Jiang Shuangling’s name should have been on the list, but due to this incident, they were probably afraid she wouldn’t be able to handle it…

Later, the name reported to the county was changed to Xue Ningning.