Chapter 1: Finding a Rabbit Spirit

Xitang Village.

The matchmaker with a large mole at the corner of her mouth shuffled out of the Jiang household, looking dejected. As she passed by, Aunt Wang, who was out throwing water, immediately covered her mouth and laughed, “Well, Granny Hua, I bet it didn’t work out, did it? Even if you were matchmaking for the magistrate’s daughter, that A-Yan wouldn’t agree!”

Granny Hua snorted, muttering under her breath, “Doesn’t know what’s good for him!”

Aunt Wang’s smile faded at that, “How’s that not knowing what’s good for him? If my son were half as outstanding as A-Yan, I’d be happy even if he didn’t marry until he was thirty!”

Granny Hua couldn’t be bothered to respond and stomped off in a huff.

Aunt Wang watched her retreating figure and shook her head in amusement.

In these ten or so villages, every young woman dreamed of marrying Jiang Chengyan.

He was strikingly handsome, and he knew how to earn money. Why, even before marrying, he’d managed to build himself a modest courtyard with his own two hands! The only problem was, the lad seemed indifferent to women—he showed not a trace of interest, no matter how many girls fancied him. He remained unmoved.

Ah, who knows what kind of fairy he’s waiting to marry.

……

The Jiang Household.

Jiang’s mother, Mrs. Zhao, rolled her eyes at Jiang Chengyan and said impatiently, “Since you’re so capable you can build yourself a house, then hurry up and move your things out. Don’t stay here and get in my way.”

As she spoke, Jiang’s father stood off to the side, not daring to utter a word.

Jiang Chengyan paused and looked back at the shrewish woman before him.

“What are you looking at? Is that any way to look at your own mother? I nearly lost my life giving birth to you, you bringer of bad luck!” Mrs. Zhao, seeing his gaze, began to scold him, even grabbing the broom nearby.

“I understand.” Jiang Chengyan replied blandly, then picked up his belongings and walked out.

Even the sight of his back annoyed Mrs. Zhao.

Seeing him leave, she rounded on Jiang’s father, who was hiding at the side, and barked, “What are you looking at? Go and make dinner!”

Jiang’s father shrugged and slipped away in silence.

……

The new house had just been completed, but since his mother was so eager to send him off, Jiang Chengyan decided he might as well move in today.

Since the house was newly built, it was still damp, and he’d need to burn some dry wood to air it out. Remembering they were out of firewood, he slung a basket over his back and headed up the mountain to gather some.

It was early spring, and the hills were filled with plenty of fallen branches.

Jiang Chengyan set off along the mountain path. When he reached halfway up, he paused to take a drink of water. His keen ears caught a sound; he turned his gaze and saw, just behind a large tree stump, a small, fluffy head peeking out.

A little white rabbit, all soft fur, stuck out its head and chirped at him, “Jiji! Jiji!”

His cool, indifferent expression shifted slightly. He walked over to the tree stump and crouched down, raising an eyebrow.

Strangely, even as he squatted there, the rabbit didn’t flee. Instead, it lifted its little head and chirped at him even more insistently.

“Are you a chick or a rabbit, making all that noise?” Jiang Chengyan reached out and casually lifted the little creature by its ears.

Still, the tiny rabbit kept calling out, its four little paws flailing—not in struggle, but as if trying to wriggle into Jiang Chengyan’s arms.

“Stop wriggling. Go back to wherever you came from.” He felt no particular compassion for small creatures—if anything, he thought a plump rabbit could make a good stew. But this one was so scrawny, it didn’t even whet his appetite.

With that, he let go and released the little rabbit.

But the instant he loosened his grip, something suddenly barreled into his chest.

He looked down—and when he saw what had crashed into him, the man was momentarily stunned.