Many of the villagers didn’t really care who was right or wrong.
As long as there was something exciting to watch or gossip about, they would happily talk about it all day.
When Jiang Wangchuan made his announcement, a few people who loved excitement immediately shouted,
“Good!”
“That’s great!”
“What do you mean, ‘great’?”
Zhao Qiuju glared at them.
“Her father’s mourning period isn’t even over yet!”
“How can she talk about getting married already?”
“Has he given a betrothal gift?”
“Have they held a wedding?”
Jiang Wangchuan answered calmly,
“My betrothal gift isn’t for you.”
“So why is it any of your business?”
Zhao Qiuju was left speechless.
A villager spoke up.
“Enough, Zhao.”
“This is the young people’s business.”
“Suhe isn’t even your own daughter.”
Taking the opportunity, Jiang Wangchuan said,
“One year from now, after my future wife’s mourning period is over, I’ll officially marry her.”
Zhao Qiuju’s face twisted with anger.
Still cursing under her breath, she stomped down the mountain.
The villagers also began to leave.
Some of Jiang Wangchuan’s friends even smiled and congratulated him before going home.
…
Leaning against Jiang Wangchuan’s broad shoulder, Lin Suhe spoke softly.
“Brother Jiang…”
“Everyone has gone now.”
“Can you put me down?”
Looking at her rosy little face, Jiang Wangchuan suddenly didn’t want to let go.
Instead, he carried her back into the house.
As they entered, he even protected her head with one hand so she wouldn’t bump into the low door frame.
“Brother Jiang…”
She called softly beside his ear.
Her sweet voice melted his heart.
He set her gently on the edge of the bed.
Then he crouched down in front of her.
“From now on…”
“It’ll just be the two of us living together.”
Lin Suhe’s heart began racing.
She lowered her head shyly and nodded.
Jiang Wangchuan gently rubbed her soft hair.
Only one thought filled his mind.
This little girl is far too lovable.
No matter what happens, I’ll never let her suffer.
But saying it was much easier than doing it.
When he had lived alone, he only needed to work hard enough to feed himself.
Even if life was rough, he didn’t mind.
Now there was another person to care for.
And she was such a delicate little girl.
He couldn’t bear to let her live a hard life.
He looked at the animal hides hanging under the roof and made up his mind.
“Suhe.”
“This afternoon I’m going to town to sell these animal skins.”
“Do you want to come with me?”
Lin Suhe was afraid that if Jiang Wangchuan left her behind, her second uncle and aunt would come looking for her again.
She nodded.
“Wherever you go…”
“I’ll go too.”
She was very attached to him.
But Jiang Wangchuan didn’t dislike that at all.
“Do you have any other clothes?”
“The ones you’re wearing are dirty.”
“Change into something clean.”
“I’ll wash these for you.”
Lin Suhe looked down at her clothes.
She had fallen while climbing the mountain last night, and they were covered with dust.
Thinking about how she had slept in his bed wearing those dirty clothes made her feel embarrassed.
“I have another set in my bundle.”
“I’ll change and wash them myself.”
Jiang Wangchuan took her soft little hand into his.
He clicked his tongue.
“With hands this precious…”
“You can’t even touch cold water.”
“How are you going to wash clothes?”
Hearing him tease her, Lin Suhe puffed out her cheeks.
“You’re so annoying!”
Her voice carried only a little anger but much more sweetness.
Jiang Wangchuan laughed happily.
He gently tapped the tip of her nose.
“My wife is right.”
Lin Suhe narrowed her large eyes on him.
“Who was the one trying to send me away just a little while ago?”
Seeing that she still remembered, Jiang Wangchuan put on a serious face.
“I was wrong.”
“If someone refuses such a beautiful wife who came to him on her own…”
“Then he’s a fool.”
“You can hit me.”
As he spoke, he took her little hand and pressed it against his own face.
Caught off guard, Lin Suhe actually slapped him.
“Ah!”
“Brother Jiang, what are you doing?”
She quickly reached up and gently rubbed the place she had hit.
Actually, it didn’t hurt at all.
But her soft little hand felt wonderful against his face.
So Jiang Wangchuan simply let her keep touching him.
His heart felt as sweet as honey.
He still couldn’t believe it.
He actually had a wife now.
And such an adorable one.
Heaven must have given her to me as a gift.
…
“Suhe.”
“How old are you?”
Not knowing why he suddenly asked, she answered honestly.
“I… I’m sixteen.”
Jiang Wangchuan quietly muttered to himself,
“Only four years younger than me.”
“The age difference isn’t that much.”
He had been worried she might think he was too old.
Luckily, they were both at a suitable age for marriage.
When Lin Suhe went to change her clothes, Jiang Wangchuan quietly walked outside and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
Although he had already decided to marry her…
She was still too young.
Too thin.
She needed to grow stronger first.
Otherwise, with her slender arms, tiny waist, and small body…
She probably wouldn’t be able to handle him.
While filling a wooden basin with water, Jiang Wangchuan couldn’t help letting his thoughts wander.
…
As Lin Suhe changed clothes, she realized something.
Although this body’s face looked exactly like hers before transmigration…
Its figure was completely different.
Not only was this body shorter…
It also seemed much less developed.
Her chest was still small, almost like a child’s.
It was nothing like her original body, which had been slim but much more mature.
She frowned slightly.
I wonder…
Will Brother Jiang dislike me if he notices?
After changing, she walked outside.
Every piece of clothing the original owner had was covered with patches.
She didn’t like wearing such clothes.
But she had no other choice.
Jiang Wangchuan took the dirty clothes from her.
He soaked them in the basin and sat on the stone in the yard, carefully washing them.
“I’ll wash them a little now.”
“After I come back from selling the animal skins, I’ll take them to the river and wash them properly.”
In this time period, there was no laundry soap or detergent.
People usually cleaned clothes with plant ash.
Most families simply washed their clothes in the river.
Everyone’s clothes looked dull and faded, with almost no bright colors.
Watching the huge man—who was at least six feet three inches tall—sit there carefully washing her clothes made Lin Suhe’s heart fill with warmth.
In this strange new world…
She finally had someone she could rely on.
She was no longer alone.
“Brother Jiang.”
“Is there anything I can help with?”
She didn’t want to just stand there watching him work.
Jiang Wangchuan stopped washing and thought seriously for a moment.
Then he came up with an easy task.
“You know how to start a fire, right?”
“Help me light the stove.”
“I’ll cook lunch in a little while.”