Xu Yingzi transmigrated into the foil character's role in a 1970s lucky-wife novel: a tragic cannon-fodder character who worked like a beast of burden for her educated-youth husband, only to be kicked to the curb when the shameless man returned to the city.
Looking at her newlywed husband, Meng Changyu, who had a kind face but a cruel heart, Xu Yingzi decided to grab her brand-new iron pot and run away in the middle of the night.
But she got bound to a "Virtuous Wife" System, which ordered her to follow the plot.
At first, she refused, but then
"Task: Go hungry yourself and save the meat for your husband. Reward upon completion: one jin of pork belly."
"Task: Mend your husband's clothes. Reward upon completion: one chi of cotton fabric."
"Task: Take the local ruffians' abuse in your husband's place. Reward upon completion: one industrial goods coupon."
The System was offering way too much!
Holding the ration of meat from a sick pig, Xu Yingzi's eyes filled with tears. "Changyu, hurry and eat."
She held out clothes patched over and over, with one pant leg too short. "Changyu, put these on."
Spitting up chicken blood, she bravely shielded Meng Changyu and cried, "Just beat me instead!"
The local ruffians, who hadn't even laid a hand on anyone yet: …
Meng Changyu: …
Everyone for miles around knew that Xu Yingzi adored Meng Changyu.
Only Meng Changyu knew she was putting on an act.
[Blurb written on May 20, 2023]
Core message: There's no shame in making money
