Chapter 12: Jiang Chengyan, You Are Truly Ruthless
In the pitch-black room, Bai Yan had already turned over countless times in his arms. She was never a quiet sleeper; her legs would be draped here one moment, there the next, never still for a second.
Jiang Chengyan’s eyes watched her in the darkness, listening to her mumble dreamily.
Suddenly, he sighed softly, pulling her closer into his embrace.
The two were lying under the same quilt, and because of his movement, Bai Yan seemed to settle down for a while. Just as Jiang Chengyan was about to close his eyes and drift to sleep, a sudden noise sounded—a soft “pfft”—and then the unmistakable scent of radish filled the air.
Jiang Chengyan: “……”
He wanted to drag her out and give her a good talking-to, but seeing her sleep so soundly, he could only let it go.
Still, tomorrow, he would not let her eat radishes.
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Unlike yesterday, they didn’t have to get up early to head into town. So, Bai Yan happily slept in, snuggled under the covers.
Meanwhile, Zhao Chujiu received a message from Jiang Chengyan early that morning and hurried over from the west end of the village to the Jiang household.
When he arrived, Jiang Chengyan was in the courtyard slicing vegetables. Everything he did seemed like a work of art, pleasing to the eye.
“Brother, why did you call me over?” Zhao Chujiu sat boldly on a stool, his tone hearty as he questioned Jiang Chengyan.
“I need you to help me buy some things these next couple of days. Here’s the list.” With that, Jiang Chengyan handed him a slip of paper.
Zhao Chujiu had expected household items, but upon closer inspection, it was all vegetables and meat—and in considerable quantities.
He was bewildered. One person couldn’t possibly eat so much. Besides, the weather was getting warmer. What was Jiang Chengyan planning with this much meat and produce?
“Oh, by the way, people are saying you brought home a wife?” Zhao Chujiu, his face dark and curious, leaned closer to Jiang Chengyan, waving the list. “Are you preparing to throw a wedding banquet? Brother, didn’t you say you weren’t interested in women? You wouldn’t be…”
Zhao Chujiu was about to say that a man like Jiang Chengyan, known for his indifference to women, could only have brought home a wife as an act. But before he could finish, a miserable, muffled sob echoed from the house.
Hearing it, Jiang Chengyan immediately dropped the cleaver and strode into the house.
Sensing something was amiss, Zhao Chujiu quietly followed.
In the west room, Bai Yan sat bewildered in bed, panic written all over her face as she stared at the red bumps on her arms and legs, crying more and more bitterly.
When Jiang Chengyan pushed open the door and entered, Bai Yan saw him and leapt from the kang into his arms, wailing anew.
Zhao Chujiu saw a white figure throw herself at Jiang Chengyan, but before he could get a better look, the door slammed shut with a bang, nearly hitting his face.
“Husband, look, I’ve got bumps!” Bai Yan, afraid Jiang Chengyan wouldn’t notice, kept showing him the red spots on her skin.
Jiang Chengyan lowered his gaze, his eyes resting on her face.
She had red bumps there too.
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?” Jiang Chengyan held her with one arm, helping her tidy her clothes and slip on her outer robe.
“So ugly, so ugly!” Bai Yan covered her face, burying her head in Jiang Chengyan’s chest.
“Probably an allergy. I’ll take you to the clinic.” As he spoke, he found her shoes and quickly put them on her feet.
But Bai Yan continued to hide her face, keeping her head down, refusing to move.
“Husband, now that I’m ugly, will you stop taking care of me?” Bai Yan’s voice was muffled behind her hands.
“I’ll take care of you.” Jiang Chengyan spoke three simple words, so casually it seemed he hardly cared.
Outside, Zhao Chujiu, eavesdropping: “!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Others might not know, but he was well aware—when had this guy ever spoken so tenderly?
Back when people advised him to raise pigs for profit, he wouldn’t even do that! And now he was taking care of a wife?
Ah, truly outrageous.