【Chapter 7: She Could No Longer Be the Same as Before】
Jiang Mei had just hidden herself when the young lady entered the room.
The space under the table was cramped. Afraid of being discovered, Jiang Mei dared not move a muscle, even holding her breath.
Outside the table, the young lady spoke with concern, "Brother Pei, how can you eat this when you're sick?"
Her tone carried clear disdain. Soon after, an enticing aroma wafted through the air.
"This is yam and fresh pork porridge, steamed egg custard, and codonopsis black chicken soup that I specially ordered the kitchen to prepare for you, Brother Pei. Please have this instead."
Hidden under the table, Jiang Mei couldn't see the situation, but just by the smell, she knew her own cooking was mediocre and couldn't compare to the dishes the young lady had brought.
If only she had made something else to please Pei Jingchuan.
Pei Jingchuan came from a good family and was handsome. Back at the Flower House, many had tried to throw themselves at him, and it was no different here in Qizhou. If this young lady could win his favor, perhaps he wouldn't…
Just as this thought crossed Jiang Mei's mind, Pei Jingchuan suddenly spoke, "What I eat is none of your concern."
Pei Jingchuan's voice was still hoarse, but his words were utterly merciless. Even under the table, Jiang Mei could feel the awkward tension in the air.
After a moment of silence, the young lady stammered, "I didn't mean to interfere, Brother Pei. I just hope you'll recover soon. This vegetable porridge is bland, and who knows what the shredded meat was stir-fried with? You're used to fine delicacies in the capital—how can you possibly eat such things?"
As she spoke, her voice grew choked with emotion.
Jiang Mei couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Pei Jingchuan's words were too harsh. A young, unmarried girl had mustered the courage to visit him, only to be rejected so bluntly. How could she save face?
Pei Jingchuan showed no remorse, replying indifferently, "If these things are on my table, they are fit for my consumption."
"It seems I overstepped. I'll take these away so as not to offend you, Brother Pei!"
The young lady was furious and ordered the dishes to be cleared away, but accidentally knocked a pair of chopsticks to the floor.
Seeing the half-broken white jade chopstick land on the tablecloth, Jiang Mei's heart leaped into her throat.
She couldn't help but tug at Pei Jingchuan's pant leg.
Nothing had happened between her and Pei Jingchuan today, but if someone saw her hiding under the table, it would be impossible to explain.
Pei Jingchuan didn't respond. Jiang Mei felt as though her heart was about to leap out of her throat. Time stretched unbearably long. After what felt like an eternity, she finally heard Pei Jingchuan say, "This is no place for your tantrums. Get out!"
His words were too cruel. Humiliated and angry, the young lady fled with reddened eyes.
As the footsteps faded away, Jiang Mei let out a sigh of relief, only for the tablecloth to be lifted.
Pei Jingchuan sat there, looking down at her imperiously. "Come out!"
"…"
In this position, getting out would inevitably involve physical contact with him.
But Pei Jingchuan's expression and gaze left Jiang Mei no choice. After a moment's hesitation, she obediently crawled out.
The space was too small. Jiang Mei brushed against Pei Jingchuan's leg and chest, and even bumped his chin in the process.
"I'm sorry."
Jiang Mei whispered an apology, then glanced at the table. The vegetable porridge and stir-fried pickled vegetables with meat had been finished by Pei Jingchuan, while the dishes brought by the young lady remained untouched.
"What are you looking at?"
Pei Jingchuan caught her gaze, and Jiang Mei quickly lowered her eyes, whispering softly, "I just wanted to see if the food suits your taste. This time was too rushed, but next time I could…"
"There won't be a next time," Pei Jingchuan interrupted directly. Having eaten and broken a sweat, his complexion had improved significantly, and his imposing aura returned. "I don’t need a cook."
Jiang Mei’s expression froze.
It was true that Pei Jingchuan didn’t lack a cook—what he lacked was someone to warm his bed.
But she had already redeemed herself, left her old life behind, and married. She was no longer the courtesan who knew how to flatter and please.
She couldn’t willingly degrade herself.
The snow never stopped, and the courtyard was already covered in a layer of white. Jiang Mei felt a piercing cold, as if all the blood in her body was about to freeze into ice.
After a long while, she finally found her voice again. "Since you don’t need a cook, may I leave now?"
Behind her was the table, and in front of her was Pei Jingchuan. Their posture held a hint of intimacy, yet the atmosphere was cold and tense.
After a moment, Pei Jingchuan still let Jiang Mei go.
Her steps were somewhat unsteady, and just as she reached the door, she stumbled hard, scraping her palm until it bled. But she paid no mind to the pain, quickly scrambling to her feet.
Afraid that Pei Jingchuan might think she was deliberately using a pity ploy.
Seeing Jiang Mei fall, Pei Jingchuan’s brow furrowed slightly. His hand clenched into a fist, veins bulging, but in the end, he spoke. "Give her an umbrella."
Bai Yi couldn’t help but say, "She’s nothing but an ungrateful, opportunistic scoundrel. Isn’t the master being too soft on her?"
"She married a poor scholar and works hard every day just to make ends meet, yet she willingly climbed into bed to save that poor scholar from imprisonment. Have you ever seen a scoundrel like her?"
Pei Jingchuan retorted coldly, the image of Jiang Mei’s clearly worn hands still lingering in his mind.
Bai Yi choked for a moment before defending himself. "But back then, it was the master’s protection that saved her from humiliation, and she sweet-talked her way into swindling the master’s money. How do you explain that behavior?"
"…"
After Bai Yi finished speaking, the room fell into an eerie silence. Pei Jingchuan’s complexion, which had only just improved, darkened to a sickly green.
Jiang Mei would rather marry the penniless Zhou Hongyuan and live a hard life than become his pampered canary. Wasn’t it obvious that she didn’t like him, thinking he wasn’t even as good as a poor scholar?
Jiang Mei only forgot Pei Jingchuan’s kindness and sought profit from him alone.
No matter how rough around the edges Bai Yi was, he quickly realized he had said the wrong thing. He hurriedly added, "This subordinate will go deliver the umbrella right away."
Jiang Mei returned to the tofu shop in a daze. Not long after, Zhou Hongyuan came back.
He had run all the way home, panting heavily and covered in sweat.
Jiang Mei wanted to wipe the sweat from his brow, but her hand rose slightly before falling back down.
She had already decided to ask for a divorce after the Spring Imperial Examination and shouldn’t have any intimate gestures with him anymore.
Zhou Hongyuan didn’t notice the change in Jiang Mei’s demeanor. Instead, he proudly pulled out a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts from his coat. "These are best eaten while they’re hot! Meiniang, try one quickly!"
The road was slippery with snow, and the hem of Zhou Hongyuan’s robe was stained with mud. The edge of his umbrella was torn, likely from a fall on the way, but he said nothing about it, only looking at Jiang Mei expectantly.
As if as long as she was happy, no matter how many times he fell, it was worth it.
Jiang Mei’s eyes stung fiercely. Afraid that Zhou Hongyuan would notice something amiss, she lowered her head and took a chestnut.
That bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts had been carefully protected in his embrace, and even after braving the wind and snow, they were still warm.
Jiang Mei's fingertips were stinging from the heat.
"How is it? Is it good?"
Zhou Hongyuan couldn't help but press for an answer. Jiang Mei was too choked up to speak, only nodding repeatedly.
It was delicious.
Sweet, fragrant, soft, and glutinous—a delicacy she would remember for the rest of her life.
Jiang Mei thought she had concealed her emotions well, but after a moment, she heard Zhou Hongyuan say, "Meiniang, marrying me has made you suffer. Rest assured, once I pass the Spring Imperial Examination and achieve success, I will ensure you travel by carriage, never go hungry or cold again, and have all kinds of exquisite delicacies to choose from."
He had braved the wind and snow to travel so far to buy chestnuts for her, yet she still wasn't happy. But instead of thinking her unreasonable or spoiled, he immediately reflected on his own failure to provide her with a better life.
What a fool.
Someone like him should have married a pure, gentle, and considerate wife.
Suppressing her emotions, Jiang Mei lifted her head and forced a smile. "Alright, I'll look forward to that day for you, husband."
After returning home, Zhou Hongyuan became even more attentive and considerate toward Jiang Mei. A few days later, he even suggested taking her out with his classmates and close friends.
"They are all dear friends who share my interests and have long wanted to meet you, Meiniang. I was worried you might feel uncomfortable, so I didn't agree before. After the Spring Imperial Examination, we'll all go our separate ways. Please come with me to bid them farewell."
"Your friends must all be well-read scholars. I barely know a few characters—how could I possibly keep up with them?"
The Zhou family was too poor, and Jiang Mei and Zhou Hongyuan's wedding banquet had been simple, inviting only a few close relatives of the Zhou family.
For nearly half a year after their marriage, she had no idea who Zhou Hongyuan was close to. Now that she was planning to leave him, why bother mingling with his friends?
"They are all good people, Meiniang. If you don't come with me, I will regret it for the rest of my life."
Zhou Hongyuan's eyes were filled with hope. Not wanting to disappoint him, Jiang Mei finally agreed.
But she never expected to run into Pei Jing at the gathering.