Chapter 104: Jiang Chengyan, You’re Too Ruthless

Jiang Chengyan wore an expression that plainly said, "You clearly already know." Zhao Chujiu looked as if he had just swallowed something foul, and he remarked with disdain, "It’s hard to imagine, is your little wife really that formidable?"

Jiang Chengyan hoisted a basket of game onto his back and replied in a flat tone, "You wouldn't understand."

Zhao Chujiu: "????"

"Why the hell wouldn't I understand?" Zhao Chujiu retorted irritably.

Jiang Chengyan curled one corner of his lip in a slanted smirk: "Let me ask you this—are you married? Do you know that only the most intimate of people could leave marks like those?"

Zhao Chujiu was left completely stunned by Jiang Chengyan’s words.

Jiang Chengyan let out a cold, mocking laugh. As he turned to leave, he didn't forget to remind him: "Find me a few dogs as soon as you can—stray dogs are fine, too."

By the time Zhao Chujiu snapped out of it, the man had already disappeared, heading home with the basket on his back.

***

At the Jiang household, Mother Zhao was boiling beans. Father Jiang beckoned to Bai Yan: "Lass, come over and have a look. I've made a reclining chair for you. See if there’s anything you’d like to change."

The little reclining chair in front of her looked extremely sturdy, radiating an aura of great value.

"Father, I want some ears on it," Bai Yan said, pointing to the back of the chair.

Upon hearing this, Father Jiang didn't find it difficult at all and immediately set back to work.

***

"Lass, your father and I are heading into town this afternoon. Shall we take you to the Begonia Pavilion to buy some more jewelry?" Mother Zhao asked Bai Yan.

Hearing this, Bai Yan nodded eagerly.

"We’ll also bring back some wood to build the lass a wooden cart to play with." The couple treated Bai Yan entirely like a spoiled child. Bai Yan sat on her chair, basking in the sun while nibbling on a sweet steamed bun, feeling completely at ease.

"Mother, can I be your daughter?" Bai Yan asked happily.

Mother Zhao, assuming she was just joking, replied, "Of course!"

As it happened, a certain someone had just walked up to the Jiang family gate and caught exactly what the little rabbit had said.

Upon hearing those words, the man's brow furrowed instantly.

He was carrying items and had originally intended to enter the courtyard, but after hearing the rabbit’s remark, he immediately changed his mind and turned right back around.

***

The weather had turned warm. At noon, the family of three was eating in the courtyard. Once finished, Bai Yan trotted off to her east wing room to take a nap.

Just as she was drifting into a hazy slumber, a low, incredibly pleasant voice resonated in her ear: "Little one, open your eyes."

Bai Yan’s eyelids flickered, but she had no intention of waking. She muttered something and was just about to roll over in her quilt when she was suddenly grabbed by the waist and pulled around.

Bai Yan opened her eyes and was first greeted by Jiang Chengyan’s refined face, but the next second, she couldn't help but shriek.

Because under the heated brick bed, and out in the courtyard, there were dogs everywhere...

***

"Ahhhhh!" She huddled in the corner of the room, wrapped in her quilt, her sleepiness completely vanished.

The dogs had been sitting quietly in rows, but the moment they saw Bai Yan, they all began to howl. The commotion was so loud that it even stirred Mother Zhao and Father Jiang.

Mother Zhao grabbed a large broom to shoo them away, muttering curses as she did.

"There are too many dogs out there. Shall I take her home?" Jiang Chengyan said, opening his arms toward Bai Yan.

Bai Yan looked at the dogs barking wildly at her and let out a small whimper. At first, she wanted to hold out on her own, but the dogs seemed to be multiplying. With no other choice, she finally lunged into Jiang Chengyan’s embrace.

The moment he caught her, Jiang Chengyan scooped her up like a koala, his gaze sweeping coldly over the pack of dogs.

The dogs, which had been howling incessantly just a moment ago, all instinctively retreated the moment they met Jiang Chengyan’s eyes, their noise subsiding.

Bai Yan had seen the dogs back away with her own eyes, so she quickly buried her head into the crook of Jiang Chengyan’s neck.

As Jiang Chengyan walked out carrying Bai Yan, Mother Zhao looked at him with a furrowed brow.

"You have too many dogs here. I’m taking her home."

Mother Zhao: "?????"