✨ Transmigrated Genius Bride in the 1970s Countryside ✨

🌸 Chapter 38. The Power of Knowledge

The days after her confrontation with her mother-in-law were uneasy. Rumors lingered like stubborn smoke, clinging to every corner of the village. No matter how hard she worked, whispers followed her steps.

But Xiaoyun was not the kind of woman to be crushed by idle talk. In her past life, she had built businesses, outwitted rivals, and faced betrayals that could destroy entire empires. Compared to that, this was nothing but the chatter of frightened hens.

And now, she had a chance to prove it.

One morning, the brigade leader announced that the commune would organize a day of cooperative labor in the fields—every household had to participate. The goal was to test efficiency and share farming techniques. For Xiaoyun, it was the perfect stage.

When she arrived with her husband, she felt the stares immediately. Some villagers smirked, already expecting her to fail. Others watched curiously, eager to see whether her sudden transformation was real or just luck.

“Watch,” one woman whispered loudly. “She’ll embarrass herself before noon.”

“She’s nothing but a burden,” another scoffed.

Xiaoyun ignored them. Instead, she examined the land with sharp eyes. The crops were uneven, and the soil near the irrigation ditch looked waterlogged. She could already see the problem—and the solution.

As work began, she moved differently than the others. Where most villagers hacked at the soil blindly, she adjusted her angle, cutting weeds at their root without disturbing the crops. Where others bent awkwardly, wasting energy, she used smoother motions she remembered from agricultural books in her past life.

Her husband worked steadily beside her, his strength complementing her precision. At first, no one noticed. But as hours passed, the difference became obvious. Their row advanced faster, cleaner, and with less wasted effort.

The brigade leader approached, curious. “How are you doing this?” he asked.

Xiaoyun straightened, brushing dirt from her hands. Calmly, she explained: “If you cut weeds too shallow, they grow back. Too deep, and you damage the roots. Watch the angle—half an inch below the surface. And for waterlogged soil, dig small trenches to drain excess water. That way, the crops won’t rot.”

Her voice was clear, confident—not the timid mutter of the girl she used to be.

The villagers paused, listening despite themselves. Some tried her method, and to their surprise, it worked. The weeds came out cleaner, and the soil looked healthier.

“Could it be… she really knows what she’s talking about?” one muttered.

“She must’ve read books,” another said grudgingly.

Even the brigade leader looked impressed. “Good advice. From now on, everyone follow her example.”

A ripple spread through the crowd. For the first time, the mockery dimmed. Instead of ridicule, Xiaoyun saw something new in their eyes—reluctant respect.

By late afternoon, when the work ended, their group had not only finished their section but done it cleaner than the others. Villagers whispered again, but this time, the tone was different.

“She’s not just lucky. She really knows things.”

“Where did she learn all that? She was useless before.”

“Maybe she’s not the same Xiaoyun we thought she was.”

Xiaoyun only smiled faintly, keeping her thoughts to herself. *Let them wonder. So long as they stop treating me as a joke, I’ve already won.

Back at home, her mother-in-law said nothing, but Xiaoyun noticed the older woman’s sharper eyes and the way her hands hesitated over the cooking pot. It was not approval yet, but it was no longer outright disdain.

Later, as she prepared to sleep, her husband finally spoke. His tone was calm, but his words carried weight.

“You silenced them today,” he said.

Xiaoyun turned her head, meeting his gaze. “No. I only showed them a little truth. There will be more tests ahead.”

His eyes lingered on her, deep and thoughtful. And though he said nothing more, Xiaoyun sensed a shift in him too. A quiet acknowledgment that his bride was not only strong but far more capable than anyone imagined.

That night, as whispers still traveled through the village, they carried a new refrain alongside the old. Not just “lazy girl” or “mocked bride,” but something sharper, tinged with awe:

The girl with knowledge.

And Xiaoyun knew this was only the beginning.

✨ End of Chapter 38. The Power of Knowledge