CHAPTER 220: 210 MILITARY WIVES READING LI YIBAI’S NOVELS

On this day, Tian Sangsang returned from working in the vegetable field. Her clothes were dusty, one hand carrying a hoe, the other holding a bucket meant for watering.

From afar, she spotted a group of military wives gathered together, holding newspapers in their hands and seemingly discussing something interesting.

"I had my man read it to me—it’s amazing! It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a novel like *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes*!"

"Exactly, even our kids love listening to it."

"This novel is so different from the ones before!"

"What kind of person could even write something so literary and full of storytelling? It’s something I feel like I could never dream up, even in a lifetime."

"That’s for sure. Educated people can live off just their pen their whole lives—people like us can’t compare."

"Yang Tiexin really is a hero!"

The closer Tian Sangsang got, the clearer the voices became. She furrowed her brows slightly. *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes*?

This was an alternate timeline where *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes* didn’t exist. However, as a staple of entertainment rebirth novels, it was undoubtedly a classic.

Though considered a classic, it wasn’t Jin Yong’s magnum opus. Many of Jin Yong’s later works were on a higher level than *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes*.

Still, the mention of *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes* made Tian Sangsang think of Li Yibai.

Could it be that Li Yibai was beginning to put his ambitions into action?

Qin Lan, still holding a grudge over the previous incident involving the vegetable field and the bed, suddenly approached Tian Sangsang with a smile. "Sister-in-law, look, I’m a countryside woman and can’t read very well. Could you help me read this part?"

Many of the military wives were indeed from the countryside, including the ones around Qin Lan, though Qin Lan was a leader among them.

Tian Sangsang didn’t refuse. She took the newspaper and gave Qin Lan an inquiring look. "Which part?"

"This one." Qin Lan pointed it out with her finger.

"Oh." Tian Sangsang’s gaze swept across the newspaper for a moment. Sure enough, she spotted the author’s name: Li Yibai. A faint smile crossed her lips as she began to read aloud: "The mighty waters of the Qiantang River flow day and night, endlessly winding past Niu Family Village in Lin’an to empty into the sea. Along the riverbank stood dozens of Chinese pistache trees, their leaves as crimson as if set ablaze under the August sky. The wild grasses in front of and behind the village had just started to turn yellow, and under the slanting rays of the setting sun, the scene appeared all the more desolate. Beneath two large pine trees, a group of villagers—men, women, and a dozen children—gathered with rapt attention around a thin old man who was speaking. The speaker, roughly in his fifties, wore a coarse cloth robe that had faded to bluish gray after many washes. Only the sound of pear-wood clappers could be heard as he struck them together. In his left hand, a bamboo stick tapped rhythmically on a small drum, producing a consistent thumping as he sang—"

Tian Sangsang’s voice was truly pleasing to the ear, with a lovely tone that imbued her reading with depth. Having watched the *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes* TV adaptation and listened to storytellers perform, she skillfully captured the ebb and flow of the narrative’s rhythm. She paused when appropriate, rose where needed, and descended with grace, her voice smooth and flowing, carrying an air of heroic elegance unique to a woman.

As the sun set, many soldiers were returning to the barracks, including the menfolk. Drawn by the sound of her voice, discussions broke out among them: "Isn’t that from Captain Jiang’s household? She’s reading with remarkable emotion!"

The military wives felt the same. Enthralled by Tian Sangsang’s reading, their curiosity was piqued. They eagerly asked, "What happens next?"

"And then?"

Tian Sangsang continued: "He sang, ’By the peach blossom that blooms unguided, smokes linger softly as crows alight at dusk. Ruins enclose long-dried wells, remnants of lives no longer seen.’ What exquisite prose!" She smiled and praised.

Political Commissioner Lin approached, drawn by the commotion. "Sister-in-law, you read that so beautifully—it stirred something deep inside me!"

Since Political Commissioner Lin was in charge of ideological and political affairs, the gathering to read stories wasn’t something he’d take lightly.

Tian Sangsang handed the newspaper back to Qin Lan and said to the Commissioner, "Oh, Qin Lan and the group are reading a novel. They said they’re countryside folk and don’t know how to read, so they asked me to help. I’ve only had a few years of schooling and can recognize some words—not much, really. I was just casually reading it."

She directly deflected the issue back to Qin Lan.

After this incident, no one dared to suggest that Tian Sangsang was an uneducated country woman anymore. Clearly, not only was she cultured, but her readings were also captivating. It seemed there was a reason why Captain Jiang held her in such high regard.

But Tian Sangsang didn’t care about any of that; her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Li Yibai.

The novel *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes* was indeed brilliant, but whether the alternate-reality author himself was any good remained an open question. One thing was certain: Li Yibai’s choice to write *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes* was strategic. In this current cultural landscape, the book wouldn’t cause discord but would instead spark widespread enthusiasm. Back when its TV adaptation was released, it had even drawn empty streets as people rushed to watch. However, society now was also restless. Just today, she’d seen many flamboyant youths on the streets—dancing, singing, lugging around boomboxes, showing off their individuality, and living carefree, almost recklessly. Trouble seemed inevitable.

Something was needed to ground them, to make them pause and reflect.

Tian Sangsang knew Li Yibai had a golden finger—a gift that allowed him to perfectly recreate anything he had ever seen, even briefly. In this regard, she couldn’t compete with him, nor did she intend to. She wanted to write her own work, but she’d choose those deeply ingrained in her memory, ones of personal significance. If, like Li Yibai, she tackled subjects she barely understood, she could very well invite suspicion later on.

Thinking of Li Yibai made Tian Sangsang angry. This time, she’d see whether he was just a naive fool or a cunning schemer.

After all, in the original storyline, he had caused harm to her son. In this lifetime, she’d make sure to exact a bit of poetic justice on him.

With a heavy heart, Tian Sangsang pushed open the door to her home, placing the hoe in the corner of the living room.

On the sofa sat a large figure and a small one. Jiang Jinghuai looked up from his newspaper, meeting her gaze with a calm expression. "Why so late?"

The underlying meaning of this question was clear: Why was she late, and dinner still wasn’t ready? Tian Sangsang broke into a sweat—the plight of a housewife.

"Give me a moment. Dinner will be ready soon."

Meng Shuyan, who was sitting on the sofa with his little legs dangling, stretched out his chubby hands toward her. "Mommy, you’re back!"

"Are you hungry?" Tian Sangsang swept him into her arms, hugging his soft body and kissing his cheek.

"Not hungry. Daddy’s been reading *The Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes* to me." Meng Shuyan tilted his little head up from her embrace.

"You’re reading that too?" Tian Sangsang couldn’t help but look at Jiang Jinghuai in surprise. "Are you interested in wuxia as well?"

Jiang Jinghuai nodded. "Mm. It’s well-written."

Of course, it was well-written! After all, it was from Mr. Jin Yong! But Li Yibai...

Tian Sangsang suppressed the urge to cough up blood and slowly made her way to the kitchen. This wouldn’t do. She had to outdo Li Yibai. She couldn’t let him silently infiltrate her home through his cultural influence!

That night, after tidying up, Tian Sangsang walked into the study and curled her lips into a sinister smile.

Bring it on, Li Yibai!