It was clear that Uncle Zhang had not considered whether Jiang Yuanyuan was outside when he scolded Aunt Zhang. The curses of the village farmers thundered like roaring thunder, and even Chu Jing, who had been assigned to fetch water at home, heard them.
He set down the buckets and walked to the doorway, where he saw Jiang Yuanyuan hanging her head, looking listless, like a wilted flower—pitiful beyond words.
Chu Jing parted his lips, but comforting others seemed like an unfamiliar task to him. He didn’t know how to begin. Jiang Yuanyuan, however, had already noticed his presence and offered a strained smile. “I’m fine.”
Jiang Yuanyuan stepped closer to him, her petite frame completely enveloped by his shadow. She reached out and gently touched his arm. “Are you worried about me?”
Chu Jing didn’t particularly like such physical contact, but perhaps because it was Jiang Yuanyuan touching him, he could tolerate it. Still, the spot she touched tensed slightly.
Faced with Jiang Yuanyuan’s question, Chu Jing remained silent for a moment before nodding lightly—more like a choice made out of helplessness. Yet, Jiang Yuanyuan’s eyes curved into a smile as she murmured, “You’re the only one in this world who cares about me.”
Her delicate face scrunched up again, her elegant eyebrows drawing together, a look that didn’t match her usual gentle demeanor.
Chu Jing wanted to reach out and smooth the crease between her brows, but an innate restraint held him back, telling him he couldn’t do such a thing.
He still needed to give Jiang Yuanyuan a response, so he turned slightly and said, “The water is fetched. Is there anything else to do?”
Chu Jing was someone who rarely took initiative with chores, and this was the first time he had ever asked what needed to be done.
Jiang Yuanyuan understood—this was his way of showing concern. “Just stand still,” she said. “I’ll adjust your thick clothes for you.”
Standing still sounded simple enough, and Chu Jing agreed.
It did sound simple, but putting it into practice seemed somewhat difficult. Jiang Yuanyuan’s hands moved around his front at times, and at others, she wrapped cloth strips around his waist. Because one was too petite and the other too tall, every near-embrace felt tangible—soft, like the touch of cotton.
A warmth spread, as if his body temperature was rising. Chu Jing’s face began to burn involuntarily, but he struggled to maintain his composure, unwilling to let Jiang Yuanyuan notice anything amiss.
Winter clothes needed to be made looser, so only a rough measurement was necessary. Previously, Jiang Yuanyuan had relied on her eyes to estimate, but now, with the intention of growing closer to Chu Jing, she suggested taking his measurements.
When measuring his shoulders, Chu Jing had to sit down while Jiang Yuanyuan stood. Chu Jing didn’t dare look up, for every time he did, his gaze would meet the soft curves of her body.
He had never done hard labor, but was this how others who did hard labor felt?
Jiang Yuanyuan was also somewhat shy, but since making her decision, she had forced herself to be bolder. Taking measurements was wonderful—it allowed them to grow closer, and perhaps Chu Jing would even come to like her.
The autumn wind whispered past the eaves, scattering a few more withered leaves in the courtyard.
When they stepped outside, the cool breeze eased the warmth that had built up between them. Jiang Yuanyuan stole a glance at Chu Jing’s tall, lean figure, her ears tinged with a faint blush, before she composed herself and headed to the kitchen to prepare the meal.
Chu Jing lowered his head to glance at his waist where she had encircled him. The soft sensation still seemed to linger faintly around him, and his face felt somewhat warm. His eyelashes fluttered slightly as he suppressed this strange feeling in his heart.
Steaming crown daisy wasn’t difficult, but it required a fair amount of oil. As Jiang Yuanyuan cut the crown daisy into three sections, her mind wandered to the things she needed to buy in town in a few days. She also planned to sell the handkerchiefs and sachets she had embroidered—she had saved up twenty or thirty of them, which could fetch over a hundred wen.
She needed to buy oil, salt, and some flour, along with two pieces of meat. If she went early enough, she could also buy a few fish to raise at home…
After calculating all these miscellaneous expenses, Jiang Yuanyuan figured there would still be some money left from selling the handkerchiefs and sachets. As long as there was something left, she thought, it would be fine. After the new year, she would hire someone to teach Chu Jing how to farm. The rice at home would only last until the new year.
But saving money this way was still too slow. Was there a faster method?
She could embroider at most two handkerchiefs a day, earning eight wen. That would be two hundred and forty wen a month. While it seemed like a decent amount now, once they had children, there would be expenses for their education, and future purchases would require even more money.
The more she thought about it, the further her mind wandered. Jiang Yuanyuan patted her head. Never mind, she’d just take things one step at a time. The cart would find its way around the hill when it got there—she would surely think of a way to earn money!
After tossing the crown daisy with a little oil and placing it in the pot to steam with the rice, Jiang Yuanyuan cut a fist-sized piece of cured meat from the strip hanging under the eaves. She washed it, sliced it thinly, and stir-fried it with chili peppers and radish slices.
The weather had turned cold, so she added a bit more Sichuan peppercorns and red chili peppers to warm their bodies.
When the dishes were ready, Chu Jing and Jiang Yuanyuan sat facing each other, neither speaking. However, Chu Jing ate a little faster than usual.
The ill-fitting gray thin jacket he wore didn’t make him look sloppy; instead, it gave off a sense of laziness. He was someone who naturally drew attention wherever he went—one might call it an air of nobility.
Jiang Yuanyuan thought for a moment and picked up a piece of cured meat for him with her chopsticks.
Chu Jing paused, his gaze falling on the cured meat in his bowl. Seeing her seemingly expectant expression, he slowly ate the meat.
He disliked, even hated, when others used their chopsticks to pick up food for him.
But never mind. Chu Jing didn’t want to see Jiang Yuanyuan looking disappointed. After all, her face didn’t look good when it was scrunched up; it was much more pleasing when she smiled.
·
That night, a shadowy figure stealthily climbed over the wall of Jiang Yuanyuan’s house.
As soon as the figure placed a hand on the wall, it was pierced by the iron nails Jiang Yuanyuan had installed. He let out a pained groan, fell from the wall, and landed with a dull thud.
Inside the house, Chu Jing opened his eyes, dressed, and went straight to the courtyard. By the time he stepped outside, the area beyond the wall was empty, with only a pool of blood on the ground.
Frowning, not wanting to see Jiang Yuanyuan’s pale, frightened face the next day, he shoveled some soil to cover the bloodstain.
Early the next morning, Jiang Yuanyuan woke up refreshed and energetic, completely unaware of the attempted intrusion the night before.
She took her small purse, planning to go to town. Before leaving, she specifically asked Chu Jing what he wanted to eat.
Chu Jing was still staring at the chicken coop. Jiang Yuanyuan understood and said with a pained expression, “I’ll buy a chicken to make soup for you!”
Chu Jing nodded and added, “I also want to eat fish.”
Jiang Yuanyuan: “…Alright.”
No choice, I’ll have to coax him for now. After all, he used to be a young master. Besides, I was planning to buy these things anyway—it’s just a matter of whether they go into his stomach sooner or later.
I just hope Chu Jing remembers this kindness, so when the time comes, he’ll surrender without a fight!