“After her first husband died, she married into Shidianzi Village, to a carpenter. That woman is cunning—she squeezes money out of her man, then turns around and funnels it to her own brothers back home. Chen Liang is her most favored eldest brother, and he’s benefited plenty from her. Their whole family lives a mighty comfortable life.”
The two women chatted away, their words drifting one by one into Qiao Qingyan’s ears.
She kept her eyes lowered, her hands never pausing as she scrubbed the laundry, her expression calm.
Even if Chen Xiuying drained every last cent from Qiao Nianshan’s household, it had nothing to do with her.
Before long, the women washing by the creek gathered their things, picked up their wooden basins, and headed home one by one.
Qiao Qingyan noticed that Chunya had already finished washing her clothes—the wrung-out garments neatly stacked in her basin. It looked like she was about to get up and leave.
But the next second, as if she’d suddenly spotted something, Chunya quickly crouched back down, grabbed a random piece of clothing, and busied herself rinsing it in the stream with convincing diligence.
The creek water was crystal clear, shimmering with ripples under the sunlight.
Qiao Qingyan followed Chunya’s gaze and looked up, seeing a tall, straight figure approaching from across the bridge.
When the person drew closer, she could make out that it was Xiao Jinye.
A large cloth bag hung from his shoulder, and each hand carried a limp wild pheasant. He walked across the bridge with steady, unhurried strides.
“Brother Jinye!” Chunya was the first to wave at him, her voice bright and cheerful.
Xiao Jinye lifted his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping across the bank. When it touched Qiao Qingyan, it paused for a moment.
Their eyes met briefly in the air for a few seconds.
Then he quickly looked away.
This was the first time Qiao Qingyan had come face-to-face with Xiao Jinye since their marriage.
Xiao Jinye walked with a firm, confident stride, heading straight toward them.
The man was solidly built, tall and imposing. It was hot out, so he wore only a white tank top on his upper body, paired with dark work pants and a pair of combat boots.
The broad expanse of his chest was mostly exposed, and the muscles in his arms were clearly defined, hard and powerful.
Beneath his straight, high-bridged nose, his thin lips were pressed together, and a faint shadow of stubble dusted his jaw. He radiated a raw, wild masculine energy—his looks were aggressive, almost confrontational.
From two or three meters away, Qiao Qingyan could clearly feel the masculine aura bearing down on her.
It was very similar to the scent she’d caught in his bedroom that night.
Just as she took a deep breath and was about to open her mouth to greet him, the man completely ignored her—
He walked straight past her and stopped in front of Chunya.
“Chunya, I just caught this pheasant. Take it home and let your uncle and aunt have a taste.” As he spoke, Xiao Jinye handed over the pheasant he was holding in his left hand.
Chunya beamed, accepting it with delight: “Thank you, Brother Jinye! I’ll take it straight home and have my parents cook it up.”
Qiao Qingyan planted her hands on her hips, furious. Seriously…? This man was treating her like she was invisible?
Did he have even a shred of basic manners?
Even if he didn’t like her as his wife, the least he could do was acknowledge her with a greeting.
She spun around, glaring daggers at the back of Xiao Jinye’s head, her bright eyes burning with indignation, practically boring two holes into him.
Chunya’s eyes sparkled: “Brother Jinye, how about you bring Aunt Zeng and Duoduo over to our place for dinner tonight?”
Xiao Jinye’s tone was cool and detached as he refused bluntly and briefly: “No need. You all can eat the pheasant. I’m heading back first.”
He turned around and suddenly came face to face with Qiao Qingyan’s fair, delicate features.
The girl wore a sleeveless cotton dress, her skin fair and smooth all over. Her black hair was styled in a side braid, and beneath gently curved willow-leaf brows were a pair of bright, clear, large eyes full of spirit—she was exceptionally beautiful.
There was an innocence about her, yet also a pull that made it impossible to look away.
A summer breeze drifted gently by, the hem of her dress swaying lightly with the wind, carrying a faint, clean fragrance from her.
Xiao Jinye’s fingers trembled slightly, his heart pounding like thunder.
But Qiao Qingyan’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper…
She pressed her lips together slightly and gave a soft hum through her delicate nose. After thinking it over, she decided to greet him first—after all, she would later have to shamelessly discuss with him the matter of putting on a show of being a married couple.
But before she could speak, she saw Xiao Jinye’s Adam’s apple bob forcefully, and he indifferently shifted his gaze away.
He didn’t say a single word to her, walking hurriedly right past her.
?????
Qiao Qingyan was completely dumbfounded.
She was so angry she stomped her feet on the spot, wishing she could scoop up a basin of cold water and dump it over his head, and roared:
Xiao Jinye, what are you acting so high and mighty for?
She crouched down and hastily rinsed the clothes a couple of times, then carried the basin and quickly headed back.
Chunya, who had been watching all of this from the side, grew even more certain in her heart: Brother Jinye really doesn’t like this wife.
As soon as Xiao Jinye got home, Duoduo heard the noise from inside the house and quickly ran out, throwing herself into his arms and tightly hugging his long legs, mumbling: “Brother… Brother…”
Zeng Yumei also came out of the house. Seeing her son, she immediately broke into a smile: “Jinye, you’re back.”
Xiao Jinye set the wild pheasant in the corner, bent down, and gently pecked a kiss on his sister’s soft little cheek, his voice very gentle:
“Duoduo, let go of brother first. Brother’s going to wash his hands.”
The wild pheasant on the ground was still twitching slightly, and Duoduo’s attention was quickly drawn to these living creatures.
She let go of Xiao Jinye’s leg, crouched on the ground, and carefully poked at the wild pheasant, playing happily.
Zeng Yumei quickly scooped two ladles of water into the washbasin. “Son, come wash up.”
The washing area was under the eaves outside the kitchen. Bricks had been piled against the wall with a flat bluestone slab laid on top, and the washbasin was placed on it.
A rope was strung under the eaves, with several towels hanging on it.
Xiao Jinye walked under the eaves, and his gaze inadvertently swept over a pink-striped towel on the hemp rope.
The towel gave off a faint fragrance, a scent both familiar and strange…
Zeng Yumei spoke up: “Hey, let me tell you—you’ve already married the wife. No matter what, we can’t be cold to her, you know?”
“Mm.” Xiao Jinye splashed cold water on his face.
He had thought it through these past few days. Since he’d already married her and spent the money, he couldn’t exactly get a divorce.
These days, divorce wasn’t good for a girl’s reputation either.
And she hadn’t done anything wrong—the fault was his…
He wouldn’t fulfill marital duties with her. From now on, they’d just live their lives being polite to each other.
After washing his face clean, he picked up his own old towel and casually wiped the water droplets off his face.
Duoduo, who had been crouching and playing at the doorway, suddenly stood up, hopping and jumping as she pointed at the entrance and called out: “Saozi, Saozi…”
Qiao Qingyan’s cold expression softened at the sight of Duoduo. Carrying the basin, she stepped over the wooden threshold and replied in a gentle voice, “Duoduo~”
Over the past two days, she had already grown close with her little sister-in-law, and Duoduo didn’t shun this newcomer who had just arrived.
The girl loved being near Qiao Qingyan, often hugging her legs and calling out “sister-in-law” in her cute, lisping way. Qiao Qingyan didn’t mind in the slightest when Duoduo occasionally wiped her snot on her clothes—she adored the childlike innocence and charm that radiated from her.
“Jinye, your wife is back.” Zeng Yumei gently tapped her son’s arm to remind him.