A 1970s Blended Family’s Adoption Agreement

My other story, "The Pretty Wife in the Seventies Wakes Up," is now underway. Its blurb is below.

Blurb for this story:

Su Ying traveled from another world to the 1970s. When she first arrived, the original owner of her body had died of a heart attack after hearing that her husband, who had returned from overseas on a state assignment, wanted a divorce.

The newly arrived Su Ying promptly got divorced. To stay on the island, she took the original owner's younger brother and daughter to a matchmaking event.

She prayed silently:

"Could I have a marriage that's basically widowed? I only want to raise the kids, with no marital obligations."

"That serviceman over there with two kids looks pretty good. We're both divorced and have children. If he's also looking for an agreement to raise kids together, it'd be perfect."

Han Jingyuan had just completed a long-term mission when he was reassigned to a military post on an island. Six years earlier, for special reasons, he had entered into a marriage agreement with a woman. Now she couldn't wait to end the agreement and asked Han Jingyuan for a divorce.

After the divorce, Han Jingyuan was forced to go to a matchmaking event. He overheard the woman next to him thinking about a marriage agreement, and realized he fit her requirements perfectly.

The man, who was also raising two children, walked up to Su Ying and saluted. "Comrade, would you like to raise kids together under an agreement?"

Su Ying nodded. They registered their marriage the next day, and on the island she began a chaotic life raising children in a practically widowed marriage.

The wives in the family compound felt sorry for her, betting that the young wife who had followed Regiment Commander Han to his post wouldn't last three months before the handful of little rascals drove her away.

Su Ying thought it was all right. Besides, Han Jingyuan was away from home most of the time, so she could secretly use the supplies in her storage space to raise the kids. It was much easier than fighting monsters in her other world.

Just after arriving at the post, Han Jingyuan received a long-term mission. Looking at the kids fighting among themselves, he rubbed his temples and asked his young wife, "Can you handle all four on your own?"

His newlywed wife gazed at him tenderly and said, "It's a lot of work raising four children by myself. Come back soon."

"But it's fine if you don't come back. I'll raise all four kids to be chubby and well-behaved, even better behaved than you."

Han Jingyuan: ...

When his mission ended, plenty of people complained to Han Jingyuan.

"Han Jingyuan, your wife hit the kids again."

"Han Jingyuan, Su Ying isn't feeding your kids."

"Commander Han, your wife climbed a tree with your kids."

Han Jingyuan rushed back to the post in a panic, only to find all four kids chubby and well-behaved, and listening to Su Ying even more than they listened to him.

A few years later, Han's increasingly charming young wife said that the children were grown and she wanted to leave. "Let's get a divorce under the agreement."

This time, the usually unemotional Commander Han pleaded in a hoarse voice, "You can hear everything I'm thinking. Can we not get divorced?"

Blurb for the new story, "The Pretty Wife in the Seventies Wakes Up":

Ye Xin is the prettiest girl in Qingshan Village. Her mother dotes on her, her older brothers protect her, and she's in love with Jiang Zhong, an educated youth sent to the countryside.

On the day she confesses to Jiang Zhong, a mad old ox charges at her. Ye Xin suddenly awakens to the story's plot and realizes she's in a period novel. In the upcoming plot, Jiang Zhong could save her, but he will stand by and let her die.

Ye Xin closes her eyes, thinking she might as well let the ox knock her away and mess up the plot. But the next second, Jiang Zhong pulls her out of the bull's path and says he's traveled here from ancient times, then calls her "Master"!

Ye Xin is relieved she didn't confess to the Jiang Zhong who has been possessed. In her heart, she sees the young man from ancient times only as a younger brother, with no romantic feelings at all.

Jiang Zhong has traveled here from ancient times. When he first sees the benefactor who saved him, he instinctively calls her Master. Later, he gets used to his new surroundings and learns that everyone is equal here, but some things still hold true: the more capable and successful a man is, the better his chances when seeking a partner.

But Ye Xin only sees him as a younger brother. Whenever he earns a merit, wins an award, or makes money, she praises him with a "You're amazing," and then nothing more comes of it.

Jiang Zhong is injured while earning merit, and Ye Xin takes care of him around the clock. As soon as he recovers, Ye Xin is about to leave again. Jiang Zhong quickly hooks a finger around hers and gathers his courage. "Ye Xin, I don't want to be just your younger brother."

Having awakened to the entire plot, Ye Xin refuses to follow it and returns to the city to start her own business. Making money is fun. Her only trouble is Jiang Zhong, who keeps showing up in front of her for no reason.

Remembering that he saved her life, Ye Xin is patient with Jiang Zhong. She teaches him how to adapt and survive, and how to use his strengths to earn merit.

Jiang Zhong treats her with great respect. There's just one thing wrong with him: he loves sabotaging her matchmaking dates.

Someone sets Ye Xin up with a man, and Jiang Zhong shows up again during the date. Ye Xin has no choice but to introduce him. "This is my younger brother."

Jiang Zhong gives a cold smile. "The last man who believed that is still lying in a hospital bed. My partner runs off to matchmaking events whenever we have a fight. Sorry you had to see that."

Ye Xin: ... She finds Jiang Zhong to explain. "That man wasn't right for me. Did you deliberately chase him away?"

Jiang Zhong bites his lip until it bleeds. "No, he was a good man. But I don't want to be just your younger brother."

Theme: Misunderstandings can be cleared up with sincere intentions