After Transmigrating Into An Idiot - Chapter 3

Because the moment Song Jianshuang held her hand, an image had appeared before her eyes out of thin air. It was so vivid that it made her heart tremble, as if she had glimpsed the future.

In that brief scene, Qiu Liang saw her unconscious self being thrown onto a bed by the Qiu family’s second son, Qiu Ming. Beside him was an unfamiliar middle-aged man. The two of them actually intended to do something improper to her…

It truly was great misfortune. Even without Song Jianshuang saying it, she understood. If something like that really happened, even if she had to risk her own life, she would make those two beasts pay the price.

In the shabby woodshed, Qiu Liang sat on the bed, clutching her own wrist as she trembled nonstop. That scene had been far too horrifying. She did not even dare to imagine it. If that scene truly happened, this marriage would be far more than just a sign of great misfortune.

But all of this was too strange.

She found it unbelievable, yet deep in her heart, she also understood that those images were probably her future.

A future as dark and hopeless as an abyss.

Then, since she already knew there was an abyss ahead, should she still jump?

If she was going to jump, then she should find a way to jump out of the abyss instead.

Qiu Liang took several deep breaths. She had just calmed down when she heard a soft call from the courtyard.

She hurriedly stood by the window and looked at the person who had come.

Song Jianshuang stood in the courtyard with a smile. Hearing the movement, Madam Bai came out.

“Oh my, Miss Song, what brings you here?”

When Madam Bai saw the bolt of satin in Song Jianshuang’s hands, her eyes lit up. One look was enough to tell it was fine material. This young lady from a great family in the capital was indeed extraordinary.

Song Jianshuang smiled and said, “Aunt Bai, to be honest, I came because I have a favor to ask. I wonder if Miss Qiu Liang is free this afternoon?”

Madam Bai’s expression stiffened, and a trace of wariness appeared in her eyes. “What does Miss Song need our Liang girl for?”

Her younger son was about to return and take the girl away. At this critical moment, that jinx absolutely could not have any more accidents.

Song Jianshuang seemed completely unaware of the guarded look in her eyes and continued speaking gently. “Aunt Bai also knows that I returned alone to my ancestral home and don’t have anyone I’m familiar with here. I’ve almost used up my food and necessities over the past two days, so I plan to go to the county town later to buy some things. But going out alone always feels a little unsafe, so I wanted to ask Miss Qiu Liang to accompany me.”

If she had said this at any ordinary time, it might have worked. But at this moment, Madam Bai was thinking about the two taels of silver that were almost in her hands, so naturally she would not agree.

“Oh, what unfortunate timing. Our Liang girl just recovered from an illness, and her body still isn’t fully well. I’m afraid she won’t be able to help you.”

Of course, she could not say that Qiu Liang had been pushed over by her precious eldest grandson and had hit the back of her head on a stone, causing her to faint. One did not air the family’s dirty laundry in public.

Song Jianshuang sighed softly. “I was thinking that although we are close neighbors, I couldn’t let Miss Qiu Liang make a wasted trip with me for nothing, so I wanted to give you this bolt of Floating Cloud Brocade. Since the timing is unfortunate, I’ll walk a little farther and ask another auntie’s family instead.”

After saying that, she turned to leave.

Inside the woodshed, when Qiu Liang saw this, she silently praised her. Smart.

First, she made it clear that this trip would be rewarded. Then she indicated that she had other choices. This way, she could both tempt Madam Bai with profit and dispel the other woman’s suspicions.

She also gave up decisively, directly taking control of the pace and leaving Madam Bai no time to think too much.

Perhaps that bolt of cloth had even been prepared precisely for being refused. This woman was not simple.

Sure enough, as soon as Madam Bai heard this, she hurriedly said, “Oh my, Miss Song, wait. Look at this muddled old woman. Liang girl has just recovered from illness, so moving around more will help her recover properly. It’s just a matter of making a trip. Liang girl is the most obedient. I’ll go call her now.”

Seeing this, Qiu Liang inexplicably let out a breath of relief. She took a few steps back and sat by the bed, pretending to be in a daze.

As soon as Madam Bai entered, she yanked Qiu Liang up and dragged her all the way outside. “Go to the county town with Miss Song. You’re not allowed to run around on the road.”

As soon as the words fell, she looked at Song Jianshuang. No, more accurately, she stared straight at the cloth in Song Jianshuang’s hands.

This bolt had to be worth at least several hundred wen.

If she knew this bolt of Floating Cloud Brocade was worth several taels of silver, Madam Bai would probably have agreed even faster.

Song Jianshuang smiled again. “Then many thanks, Aunt Bai. I will have to trouble Miss Qiu to accompany me.”

Qiu Liang blankly followed Song Jianshuang out. She acted just as she usually did. Although she was stupid and could not speak, she did whatever she was told. She really did seem obedient enough.

Madam Bai carried the bolt of Floating Cloud Brocade and entered the house happily.

On the bed, Qiu the Lame saw his old wife looking as if she had gained a huge bargain and glanced at her sideways twice. “You’re just letting Liang girl go with her? Liang girl is foolish. What if…”

“Could she sell off that jinx or something? Besides, how could Miss Song not know Liang girl is foolish? Maybe that’s exactly what she likes about her. This young lady from the capital doesn’t even have anyone by her side. Who knows what shameful business she’s going to the county town for? What are you blindly worrying about?” Madam Bai glared at him and carefully placed the Floating Cloud Brocade in the cabinet at the head of the bed.

Qiu the Lame seemed to think of something and murmured, “The house next door has been empty for decades. I heard that the son of that household passed the juren examination and became an official in the capital. The Song clan even built a memorial archway for it. Miss Song should be a young lady from an official family. It’s just that the village headman and those clan elders are a little strange.”

If a descendant of an official family who had brought honor and glory to the Song clan had truly returned home, why was there no movement at all from Village Headman Song and the clan elders?

But Song Jianshuang’s background should not be fake. With that sort of bearing, one could tell at a glance that she had been raised by a wealthy and noble family. She was very refined and dignified.

That was precisely why it was strange.

Madam Bai ignored all of this. She was thinking that if she saved this bolt of cloth until New Year, she could have two new outfits made for her precious grandson. That would save them another sum of money.

Outside, Qiu Liang kept following behind Song Jianshuang.

Song Jianshuang did not speak either. She went straight out of the village and headed toward the county town.

Song Family Village was not far from the county town. On foot, it would only take about half an hour.

Only when they were some distance from the village entrance, with no villagers nearby, did Song Jianshuang break the quiet atmosphere.

“Does Miss Qiu not believe what I said?”

Qiu Liang looked straight ahead, lowering her head and focusing on walking, as if she had heard nothing.

She believed it. She believed it more than anyone.

But what she believed was not Song Jianshuang. What she believed was her own eyes.

She believed that miraculous scene had predicted the future.

Even a ridiculous plot like transmigration had happened to her. What else was there that Qiu Liang could not believe?

For one instant, she even felt that this was the so-called golden finger of a transmigrator. But this golden finger was far too fantastical. And what exactly had triggered it?

Qiu Liang discreetly swept a glance at Song Jianshuang’s hand hanging by her side. It was slender and fair, with distinct knuckles. That hand had held her wrist at that moment.

This trigger seemed somewhat absurd, but it was the only unusual thing she could think of right now.

Perhaps she could find an opportunity to test it…

Seeing Qiu Liang lower her head and remain silent, a trace of scrutiny flashed through Song Jianshuang’s eyes. Regardless of whether this person was truly stupid or only pretending to be stupid, one more test would reveal the truth.

Her father had said that the variable that could break the deadlock was in their ancestral home, Song Family Village. She had come alone to find that variable, so she had to be cautious, and then even more cautious.

Each harboring their own thoughts, the two of them arrived at the county town.

Qiu Liang was only responsible for following behind Song Jianshuang, watching this wealthy young lady from the capital buy things nonstop, and carrying those things.

However, she had not forgotten her own purpose. She carefully observed the food, clothing, housing, and transportation of the ancient people, searching for a way to make money and run away.

Starting a business was out of the question. Even the smallest trade required capital, and she was utterly penniless.

She could take a look at places hiring workers: household servants, shop assistants, guards…

All of them only hired men. At last, she saw two notices hiring women. Fine—one wanted a cook, the other a wet nurse. She could do neither.

As expected, making money was not that easy. There were also some people buying household servants. If she had the chance, she could go take a look.

After thinking through the worst-case option, her heart finally settled a little.

Qiu Liang had only just adjusted her state of mind when she discovered that Song Jianshuang had bought a small wooden table, along with the Four Treasures of the Study.

She couldn’t be expected to carry those too, right? Her hands were already full.

Song Jianshuang did not disappoint her expectations. With a smile, she said, “I will have to trouble Miss Qiu to first help me move all of these to the bridge on South Street. I’ll be right back.”

After saying that, she walked away without looking back.

Qiu Liang opened her mouth and almost forgot that she was still supposed to be mute. This woman really was not polite. She truly treated her as hard labor.

Judging from this, Song Jianshuang had decided she was pretending to be stupid. Was she not afraid that Qiu Liang would throw the things away, or that both Qiu Liang and the things would disappear together?

Seeing that Song Jianshuang had vanished from sight, Qiu Liang resigned herself to placing everything on the small wooden table and laboriously carried the table toward South Street.

After stopping and starting along the way, she finally reached the bridge. There, she saw that Song Jianshuang was already sitting on a stool, waiting.

“Miss Qiu is a little slow. How are you still behind me?”

Qiu Liang let go of the table and stood to the side, her eyes beginning to stare blankly. Whoever wanted to do this job could do it. She was exhausted.

You’re fast? Then you try carrying this whole table quickly and let me see.

Seeing Qiu Liang let go and refuse to care, Song Jianshuang was not annoyed. She only smiled faintly.

The afternoon sunlight fell on her face, making her already bright features appear even more lushly beautiful and charming. She was graceful and elegant.

The bridge on South Street was the same as usual, yet also somewhat different. Because the moment passersby stepped onto the bridge, they caught sight of the person by the bridge and forgot to look away.

Was this a celestial fairy descended to the mortal world?

The bridge was still the same bridge. People passed by, some set up stalls and called out their wares, and some bargained over prices.

But at this moment, everyone’s gaze fell, as if by silent agreement, on that astonishingly beautiful woman.