Chapter 76: Is it uncomfortable being the little ancestor?

“Ridiculous! Why would a grown man wash clothes?”

As Jiang Chengyan began to wash the laundry, the village women nearby started pointing and whispering. It was the first time they’d seen a man do such a thing in Xitang Village. But instead of praising him, they scolded Jiang Chengyan, their voices full of reproach.

Especially when they saw Jiang Chengyan washing Bai Yan’s delicate garments as well.

A group of women glanced at Bai Yan, happily gathering wild vegetables by the riverbank, then looked at Jiang Chengyan, who was washing everything. Immediately, they spoke up, “Ah Yan, let your wife do these chores! Since when does a man wash a woman’s clothes?”

“So expensive, bought and brought home, just to have her do laundry?” Jiang Chengyan replied, his tone indifferent.

His explanation to everyone was always the same: Bai Yan was sold to him to pay for her father’s burial, and he brought her home. So, in front of these women, he said just that.

The group of women, hearing his words, felt there was nothing wrong with it.

Bai Yan, digging for wild vegetables nearby, heard the conversation and pursed her lips, grumbling inwardly: Clearly I was tricked, where’s the money spent?

But soon, the women started to speculate, their gazes at Jiang Chengyan growing meaningful. “Must be for warming the bed. The girl doesn’t seem to have many strengths, but she certainly is pretty.”

This time, Jiang Chengyan said nothing.

He sat there, a grown man, carefully washing all of Bai Yan’s clothes until they were spotless, then placed them together with his own. Looking at the clothes lying side by side, the corner of his lips curled ever so slightly.

By the time he finished washing, Bai Yan, with a stalk of foxtail grass in her mouth, had been squatting by the riverbank for ages. When she saw Jiang Chengyan approaching, she sprang up so quickly she nearly fell backward.

Jiang Chengyan hurriedly caught her.

“Who taught you that?” He reached out and tossed away the foxtail grass she was chewing.

“Zhao Chujiu taught me,” Bai Yan answered honestly.

“Never the good things.” Jiang Chengyan took her by the hand and led her home.

Almost at their doorstep, Bai Yan glanced around. Seeing no one, she leaned close to Jiang Chengyan and whispered, “Husband, am I really just here to warm the bed?”

She didn’t think “warm the bed” was a good phrase.

Jiang Chengyan gave no reply. Only after they entered the courtyard did he turn, trapping Bai Yan behind the door. Bai Yan’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at him.

His fingers scratched her chin, as one might pet a cat, his deep voice tinged with a cold snort, “Don’t you know? Is it uncomfortable, playing the little ancestor?”

Bai Yan’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment at his words. She rubbed her head against his chin, then scampered away with a soft hum.

Jiang Chengyan resumed hanging up the laundry, expressionless, while Bai Yan ran into the little storeroom to fiddle with mushrooms.

Just as Jiang Chengyan was finishing with the clothes, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.

“Put your own shoes back on,” he said, exasperated.

“No! I’m wearing yours, saves money.” Bai Yan emphasized the words “saves money” deliberately.

Jiang Chengyan pinched the bridge of his nose, at a loss for what to say. Only recently had he told her to let others support her, and now he couldn’t very well encourage wastefulness. It was, truly, a case of digging his own grave.

“Your sister always… always bullies me,” Bai Yan finally managed to say.

“Have you thought of a solution?” Jiang Chengyan asked, Bai Yan trailing along behind him like a little shadow.

“Mm, I’ll hit her!” Bai Yan nodded.

The man: “…”