Chapter 92: I Am Her Man

After Jiang Chengyan left with Bai Yan, Madam Zhao tidied up the dining table inside the house, while Father Jiang carried the stone out into the courtyard. Taking out a brush, he began to clean the stone.

“What are you doing?” Madam Zhao came out carrying a bowl. Seeing him busy, she asked.

“I noticed the girl seems to like stones. I’m cleaning it up so I can carve something for her,” Father Jiang replied in his honest, simple manner.

Madam Zhao offered no objection. After thinking for a moment, she said, “The girl has a healthy appetite—why not carve a pig?”

Father Jiang, accustomed to farm work since childhood, always enjoyed tinkering with little objects during breaks in the fields.

“All right. Eating well and sleeping soundly—that’s a good omen,” Father Jiang agreed with a nod.

Just then, the small gray dog they’d always kept suddenly began barking loudly.

Upon hearing the dog, the couple looked simultaneously toward the door, catching the faint sound of footsteps quietly leaving.

“Seems someone came to snoop around,” Madam Zhao remarked with meaning.

Father Jiang kept his head down, saying nothing, continuing to brush the stone, determined to wash away all the dirt.

But as he brushed, the feel of the stone seemed to change in his hands. Under the faint moonlight, he peered closely, and what he saw startled him so much he sprang up from his little stool.

He grabbed the stone and rushed into the house.

“Third Madam, close the door quickly!” Father Jiang called to Madam Zhao.

Madam Zhao, rarely seeing her husband so flustered, hurried to close the door, and the couple went into the west room.

Father Jiang placed the hefty item he carried in front of Madam Zhao.

When she saw the golden, grapefruit-sized object, her eyes were filled with astonishment.

“Didn’t they say it was swapped out? How can it still be like this?” Madam Zhao tugged at Father Jiang’s sleeve, asking.

“Could there be two stones just alike?” Father Jiang considered, thinking perhaps that was the only explanation.

Night deepened, and the couple stood there, lost in thought, unable to recover their wits for a long time.

……

At Jiang You’s house,

Madam Qian closed the door and Jiang You hurried over, anxious.

“Well? Well? What did you find out? Did they notice anything?” Jiang You asked, his expression tense.

Madam Qian shook her head. “Your elder brother isn’t exactly clever. He saw it was a stone and was planning to carve something to give Ar Yan’s wife.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang You relaxed. “My brother’s always been like that—simple-minded, never calculating. This time, he’ll just feel unlucky, but he certainly won’t make a fuss.”

“It’s a pity the gold is only on the surface. If the whole stone were gold, that would be something,” Madam Qian shifted the subject, clearly unwilling to discuss Father Jiang further.

“This is already plenty. When things quiet down in a few days, we’ll go up to the western hill and have a look. Everyone says there’s gold there, and I think the rumor might be true.” Jiang You eyed the gold, nodding in satisfaction.

……

At dawn the next day, before the sun rose, Father Jiang and Madam Zhao carried a small basket to Jiang Chengyan’s house.

Jiang Chengyan was practicing in the courtyard. Seeing them arrive, his expression remained calm.

“Ar Yan, let’s talk inside,” Father Jiang signaled to him, then followed Jiang Chengyan into the east room.

Inside, the room was filled with writing brushes, ink stones, and a small abacus.

Father Jiang finally took out the basket, lifted the top layer of wild greens, and revealed the large nugget of gold.

“After thinking it over, your mother and I realized we have no use for this. The girl likes it, so we’ll give it to you two,” Father Jiang said matter-of-factly, without any hint of pretense.

Jiang Chengyan was slightly surprised at the size of the gold nugget. Apparently, the rabbit had the nose of a dog and could only sniff out the scent of money.

“I’ll exchange it for silver for you, so it won’t attract attention,” Jiang Chengyan did not accept it.

“We’re giving it to the girl, not to you. Why are you refusing?” Madam Zhao said with annoyance.

“I’m her husband.” For the first time, Jiang Chengyan showed a cold, unyielding look before Madam Zhao.