English Teacher and Music Teacher.
Early in the morning, Qin Shi prepared breakfast and left it warming on the stove before grabbing her basket and hopping on a bus to the supply cooperative to buy meat.
With Auntie Zhao’s family coming over for dinner, she needed to prepare two hearty dishes.
Qin Shi wasn’t the earliest to arrive, but she wasn’t too late either. Luckily, she managed to buy the last slab of pork belly. After buying the pork, she also picked up a fish and continued browsing until her basket was full of various items. Only then did she head home.
Not long after she returned, Auntie Zhao arrived, carrying a large bundle of vegetables. “These are all from my own garden—no need to buy any.”
Qin Shi accepted them with a smile. “Thank you, Auntie. Don’t forget to come over for dinner tonight.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be there bright and early,” Auntie Zhao assured her, waving off her thanks before leaving.
By now, the children were awake. The twins were in the kitchen, peering curiously at the fish in the basin, trying to poke it with their fingers.
“Is it dead or alive?”
“It’s not moving. It must be dead, right?”
An’an, braver than her brother, reached out to confirm. She gently prodded the fish, and it suddenly flipped its tail, startling her into a shriek and sending Pingping tumbling onto his bottom.
Qin Shi couldn’t help but laugh at the sight, letting out a soft chuckle.
Gu Qinghai, who had been helping the twins up, glanced at her. Seeing her give him a brief look before going about her tasks without speaking, he bit his lip nervously. *Is she still angry about yesterday?*
A faint sense of disappointment crept into his heart. His eyes followed her around the kitchen as he mulled over apologizing but hesitated out of embarrassment.
When Qin Shi started washing vegetables, Gu Qinghai quickly ran over to help. “Let me help!”
Qin Shi handed him the vegetables and turned to chop the meat.
Seeing that she still wasn’t talking to him, Gu Qinghai threw himself into the work, eager to make himself useful. His efforts lightened Qin Shi’s workload significantly.
She found his occasional glances at her amusing. I’m not angry at him at all, she thought. After all, she was just Lu Zetian’s wife in name—a glorified housekeeper, really.
To Qin Shi, being a “stepmother” was just a job title. She had mentally prepared herself for the worst before taking on this role. As someone from the modern workforce, she had plenty of resilience. Gu Qinghai’s words from yesterday hadn’t hurt her one bit.
In fact, Qin Shi had anticipated a tougher situation but found herself pleasantly surprised. The three Lu children weren’t troublesome—they were actually quite well-behaved and smart. Things were already better than she’d expected.
Her “cold treatment” of Gu Qinghai was intentional, a way to teach him to address his stubborn attitude.
When Qin Shi finished cooking and reached for a plate, Gu Qinghai quickly handed one to her. When she looked at him, he instinctively averted his gaze.
As the timing for the dish seemed just right, Qin Shi took the plate and finally spoke. “Thank you.”
Hearing her tone soften, Gu Qinghai’s spirits lifted. Gathering his courage, he said, “Um, about yesterday… I didn’t mean it. I was just so worked up that I lost my head. Please don’t be mad.”
His heart thudded nervously as he waited for her reaction.
“It’s fine,” Qin Shi replied simply.
Gu Qinghai sighed in relief, feeling his heart settle.
“But,” Qin Shi added with a slight smile, “I’m still on probation, aren’t I? Since you haven’t accepted me as your stepmother, it’s natural that I wouldn’t intervene too much.”
Gu Qinghai’s heart skipped a beat at her words. Something about them felt off, making him uncomfortable.
Yesterday, Qin Shi had stood up for them so firmly. While he wasn’t as easily won over as Pingping and An’an, he couldn’t deny that his feelings toward her had improved.
“But in the future,” Qin Shi continued, seizing the opportunity to teach him, “you should be more mindful of your words. Careless remarks can hurt more than you realize.”
Hearing this, Gu Qinghai assumed she was still hurt despite her calm demeanour. Feeling guilty, he apologized again. “I’m sorry.”
Qin Shi smiled, picked up a piece of cooked meat, and held it out to him. “It’s okay. Just be more careful next time.”
Gu Qinghai hesitated, but the enticing aroma of the meat won him over. He took a bite and stepped back.
“Is it good?” Qin Shi asked, amused.
Gu Qinghai nodded.
The pork belly was tender, with a perfect balance of fat and lean meat. It was rich with savoury, fragrant seasoning, cooked so well that he didn’t want to swallow it too quickly.
Qin Shi smiled at his reaction and returned to her cooking.
She only made a small portion for lunch, saving the rest for dinner, when she planned to make braised pork. Since they had a clay pot at home, she intended to use it for slow cooking.
Not long after Gu Qinghai finished his bite, the twins came into the kitchen hand in hand to watch Qin Shi cook.
An’an’s eyes lit up when she saw the large chunks of meat. “Qin Shi, are we eating meat today?”
“Yes, tonight we’re having braised pork,” Qin Shi replied.
An’an let out an excited “Wow!” before lamenting, “Why isn’t it night-time already?”
Amused, Qin Shi uncovered a bowl and gave each twin a piece of meat to tide them over.
“Delicious!”
“Mm~”
The twins cupped their little faces, their eyes squinting in delight as they enjoyed the meat. Meanwhile, Qin Shi picked up another piece and held it out to Gu Qinghai.
Gu Qinghai was momentarily stunned, but when Qin Shi gave him a playful wink, he hesitated only briefly before eating the meat. Seeing the twins watching him with wide, eager eyes, he felt a strange mix of guilt and happiness.
Growing up, the adults in the family often focused more on the younger ones, especially after their mother left. Gu Qinghai had never experienced being favoured, and now, receiving just an extra piece of meat made him inexplicably happy.
He glanced at Qin Shi, then looked again, his heart wavering. If she continues being this good to us… maybe I’ll accept her as my stepmother, he thought. I’ll wait and see for a bit longer.
His gaze lingered on Qin Shi, unable to shift away.
—
The delicious stir-fried pork at lunch had the kids eagerly anticipating dinner. They even decided to skip playing outside in the afternoon and stayed home to “help” Qin Shi in the kitchen.
In this era, most parents either considered children a nuisance and chased them out of the kitchen, refused to let them work out of indulgence, or gave them tasks without regard for their ability to handle them.
Qin Shi, however, encouraged their involvement, assigning them small tasks like washing vegetables. Even if they didn’t wash them thoroughly or accidentally damaged some, she didn’t scold them. Instead, she praised their efforts and guided them to improve, fostering a sense of accomplishment.
The twins responded enthusiastically. The more Qin Shi praised them, the more energized and serious they became about helping, showing no signs of reluctance.
Auntie Zhao, who was helping in the kitchen, couldn’t help but marvel at Qin Shi’s approach. She mentally noted this method for when she had to teach her own grandson in the future.
—
By the time dinner was ready, Lu Zetian arrived with Commissar Zheng. After washing up, the two men entered the kitchen and were greeted by the sight of a table full of vibrant and aromatic dishes. They exchanged a smile.
“Looks like I’m in for a treat tonight!” Commissar Zheng laughed heartily.
After introducing Qin Shi to Commissar Zheng, the group skipped over formalities and sat down to eat.
The dishes included tender, flavourful braised pork belly; savoury stir-fried pork; crisp and sweet stir-fried vegetables; juicy steamed fish; tangy and spicy cucumber salad; and fragrant, soft rice steamed with preserved pork.
Every dish was cooked to perfection, leaving the children with greasy smiles and the adults full of compliments.
After the meal, Qin Shi served everyone hawthorn tea she had brewed herself. Its sweet and sour flavour, combined with a hint of tea’s aroma, won over even Commissar Zheng and Lu Zetian, who typically didn’t like floral teas. They each drank a full cup.
Since there were guests, Qin Shi didn’t let Lu Zetian wash the dishes. However, seeing him actively help clear the table earned him endless praise from Auntie Zhao.
“My old man wouldn’t even pick up a fallen oil bottle, but here you are, helping out. Truly, comparisons can be infuriating,” Auntie Zhao teased in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Commissar Zheng spoke highly of Qin Shi to Lu Zetian in the living room. “You’ve married well—she’s skilled, beautiful, and great with the kids. Cherish her and live well together.”
He added pointedly, “Now that you’re not as busy, make time to be with your wife and children. Understood?” It was clear he didn’t want to see Lu Zetian’s neglect leading to another divorce.
Lu Zetian nodded, understanding the underlying message. “I understand.”
In hindsight, Lu Zetian himself felt baffled by his past behaviour. For years, he had buried himself in work at the base, often taking on tasks he didn’t need to personally handle. Looking back, he realized how odd it had been.
Sometimes, he would dream of past events and wake up feeling disoriented, as if those actions hadn’t been his own. For instance, adopting the twins had felt impulsive, like he’d been compelled to do it without thought. He hadn’t even informed or discussed it with his ex-wife, Mo Ling, before making the decision.
It wasn’t until he met Qin Shi and began living with her that he started reflecting on his past behaviour. After marrying her and settling into a more grounded routine, he became acutely aware of how strange his previous actions had been.
Unable to make sense of it, Lu Zetian had spent several sleepless nights puzzling over the past but eventually decided to move on and focus on living well from now on. At least his mind was clear now, and he wouldn’t make foolish mistakes again.
—
The next morning, Qin Shi dressed neatly and headed to the military district primary school for an interview.
Though not as advanced as modern schools, it was far better than village schools. The multi-story buildings and large playground made a good impression on her. The school housed a kindergarten, primary school, and middle school, each with its own area.
A teacher guided Qin Shi around, showing her the facilities. Qin Shi thought the school was quite good—it was true, after all, that even in difficult times, children’s education was prioritized. They were, after all, the future.
At the principal’s office, she thanked the teacher and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Pushing the door open, Qin Shi stepped inside and found three people. She greeted them warmly and introduced herself confidently.
The three exchanged a look, immediately impressed by her demeanour.
The woman, who introduced herself as Zhou Qian, the middle school English teacher, smiled and said, “Nice to meet you. I’m Zhou Qian, and I teach middle school English. This is our Principal Wang and another English teacher, Zuo Bin.”
After brief pleasantries, the interview officially began.
“Think of us as primary school students,” Zhou Qian said with a smile. “Teach us something—anything.”
Qin Shi, having experienced all kinds of situations in the modern world, was calm and composed, with none of the reservations that many people of this era exhibited. Treating them as if they were actual children, she confidently gave a lively and engaging beginner English lesson, introducing the alphabet and even singing the ABC song for them.
When she finished, the three interviewers nodded in satisfaction. Zhou Qian handed her a test paper and asked her to take a written test.
In less than ten minutes, Qin Shi had completed it.
When Zhou Qian and the others reviewed her answers, they were impressed. Her handwriting was neat, and every answer was correct.
These were high school-level English questions—not easy by any means. Qin Shi’s speed and accuracy demonstrated her strong knowledge base.
Finally, Zhou Qian and Zuo Bin held a conversation with Qin Shi in English, discussing a variety of topics from science to daily life. Qin Shi responded fluently and naturally, even using scientific terms that were uncommon in everyday language. Seeing this, the two interviewers nodded at each other, indicating they were satisfied.
The principal, Wang, didn’t understand English, but he noticed how smooth and pleasant Qin Shi’s tone was compared to the rigid pronunciations he’d heard on the radio. Smiling, he announced, “You’ve passed.”
Qin Shi thanked him with a smile, and Zhou Qian and the others congratulated her. The atmosphere in the office was warm and cheerful.
“You’ll teach the third-grade classes,” Principal Wang explained. “There are four classes total. You won’t need to stay with one class all day; just teach the third-grade English sessions.”
Qin Shi nodded in agreement, and the principal continued, “One lesson per day for each class, no need to stay on campus otherwise. The monthly salary is 55 yuan, plus holiday benefits and subsidies…”
Qin Shi thought the pay was reasonable and the workload manageable.
As they were talking, a knock on the door interrupted them.
The principal stopped speaking and looked toward the door, thinking it must be something urgent. “Come in,” he called.
A beautiful woman with long hair entered, smiling sweetly at the principal. “Principal, I’m here to apply for the English teacher position.”
The principal was surprised. “Li Qianqian? Weren’t you attending training? You’re back already?”
“It ended early,” Li Qianqian explained, placing her documents on the principal’s desk with a smile. “The school term is starting soon, and I heard the school was hiring English teachers, so I came to apply.”
The principal glanced at Qin Shi and said with a smile, “You’re too late. The last position has just been filled by Qin Shi.”
“Oh?” Li Qianqian turned her attention to Qin Shi and openly sized her up.
Qin Shi felt uncomfortable under her gaze.
With a smile, Li Qianqian asked, “May I ask which prestigious university you graduated from, Sister? Perhaps we’re alumni.”
Sister? Qin Shi pressed her lips together in a small smile. Where did this “green tea” come from? Her level seems a bit low.
“I didn’t attend university, so we’re probably not from the same school,” Qin Shi replied with a smile, openly acknowledging her lack of higher education.
As expected, a glint flashed in Li Qianqian’s eyes. She let out an exaggerated “Ah~” and turned to the principal. “In that case, I think I should have the opportunity to compete for this position. After all, she hasn’t officially started yet, right?”
The principal knew Li Qianqian was a graduate from the best university in X City, majoring in English. He suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Why now? he thought. If she had come earlier, before Qin Shi was selected, there wouldn’t have been an issue.
The principal glanced at Qin Shi, torn. If he didn’t give Li Qianqian a chance, there would surely be backlash. A prestigious university graduate losing a position to someone without a degree would be hard to justify.
“I’ll think about it…” the principal began hesitantly.
Understanding the dilemma, Qin Shi didn’t want to make things difficult for him. She spoke up, “Let’s have a fair competition.”
The principal’s expression relaxed, and his goodwill toward Qin Shi increased. “All right. Prepare yourselves and come back tomorrow for a fair and open competition.”
Li Qianqian smiled, nodded at Qin Shi, and left the office first.
As Qin Shi prepared to leave, her gaze fell on a resignation letter on the desk. She paused and asked, “By the way, is the school looking for other teachers?”
Principal Wang nodded. “The middle school music teacher just retired, so there’s a vacancy. Why, are you interested?”
Smiling, Qin Shi nodded enthusiastically. “What’s the pay and workload like?”
Principal Wang chuckled, clearly amused by her directness. “The pay isn’t as high as an English teacher’s—40 yuan a month. But the workload is lighter: just one grade level with six classes, about ten lessons a week.”
Qin Shi’s eyes lit up. This is even better! she thought. Although the pay was slightly lower, the job was much easier. She wasn’t looking for something overly demanding anyway—she still had three kids to take care of. A music teacher position suited her perfectly. She could save up for a few years, and when reforms fully opened the economy, she’d start her own business. The future looked bright.
“What qualifications do you need to be a music teacher? Do you have to be a specialist?” Qin Shi asked.
“Not necessarily, but you do need to have a good ear for music,” Principal Wang replied with a smile.
Qin Shi grinned. The original owner of this body had a great singing voice, and she herself had been a decent singer in her past life. This seemed like a perfect fit.
“Then how about I sing something for you?” Qin Shi suggested.
Principal Wang gestured for her to go ahead. “Please, sing.”
Clearing her throat, Qin Shi confidently began:
“My motherland and I can never be separated, even for a moment~”
When she finished, Principal Wang and the others burst into applause.
“What a beautiful rendition of ‘My Motherland and I’! It’s such a wonderful song, and it hasn’t even been out for long. Little Qin, I didn’t expect you to know it, let alone sing it so well,” Principal Wang said with a hearty laugh.
Hearing him switch to calling her “Little Qin,” Qin Shi knew she had secured the job.
“So, the music teacher position?” Qin Shi asked.
“No problem. I’ll handle it right away,” Principal Wang said decisively, waving his hand.
Switching to the music teacher role saved Qin Shi from having to compete with Li Qianqian, which made the principal feel relieved as well.
The paperwork was quickly processed, and Qin Shi walked out of the school, smiling happily. On her way back, she ran into Li Qianqian, whose expression didn’t look right. Qin Shi’s lips curled into a smirk.
“Well, if it isn’t Comrade Li Qianqian,” Qin Shi greeted her, stepping forward. “Oh, by the way, did you get the news? We don’t need to compete anymore. No need to come to school tomorrow.”
Li Qianqian looked at Qin Shi’s smiling face and felt a wave of disgust. Forcing a fake smile, she nodded. “I already know.”
“But why did you change your mind so suddenly?” Li Qianqian couldn’t help but ask. This English teacher position was a cushy job—why would she give it up so easily?
Qin Shi smiled faintly. “Well, there just happened to be an opening for a music teacher, and it’s a bit more relaxed. So I took it.”
In other words, I’m leaving the English teacher position for you.
Li Qianqian’s grip tightened around her documents. “I see, that’s how it is.”
Even though she knew Qin Shi couldn’t possibly know her personal circumstances, Li Qianqian felt as though she was being mocked. More relaxed? Too tired from raising three kids?*
Watching Qin Shi’s retreating figure, Li Qianqian’s smile vanished completely.
According to the story’s original trajectory, Lu Zetian was supposed to marry her next year. So why did he suddenly get married?
Frowning deeply, Li Qianqian tried to recall the novel’s plot, but she couldn’t find any mention of a “Qin Shi.” Her expression darkened further.
“Could she also be a transmigrator?”
—
**Author’s Note:**
Qin Shi: Yes, I’m a transmigrator, but not from your book.
The heroine worked too hard in her past life and just wants to take it easy this time.
Forty yuan a month is plenty, especially with the 15 yuan “stepmother” allowance. It’s more than enough for her expenses.
(‘My Motherland and I’ is a patriotic song written by Zhang Li, composed by Qin Yongcheng, and originally performed by Li Guyi. It was created and released in 1985. The timeline in the story has been adjusted to include it earlier!)
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