Jiang Nuan watched the hurriedly disappearing figure and confirmed it was her maternal second brother.
A cold smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Just as she had expected.
Her second brother had always been a thief and a mischief-maker.
He might not know how many people lived in a house, but he could tell you exactly how much money someone had—even with his eyes closed.
People who wander by the river always risk falling in.
Every time he got caught stealing, her family would come crying to her, asking her to pay to get him out of trouble.
Half of the money she earned sewing on her tailor’s machine went to raising this “wild child,” and the other half went to plugging her family’s holes. She poured her heart and soul into them, mending her own clothes over three years, only to raise a bunch of ungrateful brats.
Hatred flickered in Jiang Nuan’s eyes. In this life, she would make everyone pay!
In the evening, after dinner, Jiang Nuan went to Lu Rou’s room to gather all the snacks.
Sunflower seeds, White Rabbit milk candies, glutinous rice sticks, peach cookies, sponge cakes…
There was even a can of malted milk powder!
Seeing so many goodies, Jiang Nuan’s lips curved in a cold smile. Lu Daqiang was so generous with Lu Rou—it was almost suffocating.
Lu Daqiang valued his salary more than his own life; only when spending someone else’s money did he become generous.
All of this had to be his man’s money.
She would take it all!
Jiang Nuan moved everything to her own room. Lu Lin watched her humming a little tune, carrying things in and out like a happy little hamster, and a small smile tugged at his lips.
“Open up,” Jiang Nuan said, handing him a White Rabbit candy.
Lu Lin, thinking she was keeping it for herself, was surprised when she offered it to him.
He paused, staring at the candy at his lips.
Jiang Nuan found him so cute in that moment and smiled. “Why are you staring like that? Eat it, it’s sweet.”
Suddenly remembering that most men didn’t like sweets, she looked closely at him. “You don’t like—”
“I do.” He opened his mouth and quickly took the candy, afraid she might take it back.
Not just candy—poison included—if his wife offered it, he would take it without hesitation.
Earlier, he had hesitated because happiness had struck too suddenly for him to react.
In his rush, his cool lips brushed Jiang Nuan’s fingers by accident.
Both froze at the almost imperceptible touch.
For a few seconds, all sounds around them vanished; only their breathing remained.
Their eyes met briefly, then both quickly looked away.
Jiang Nuan’s face was as red as a tomato, her fingertips still warm from his lips.
So cool.
So soft.
Surely… so kissable.
Stop! Stop! Stop!
She was thinking all kinds of nonsense!
But Lu Lin was her man, and thinking about doing something “legally acceptable” with him didn’t seem wrong.
Her head spun. She warned herself to stop thinking, and quickly left before Lu Lin noticed anything.
“I… I’ll go wash the dishes in the kitchen.”
Jiang Nuan dropped the line and hurried off.
Lu Lin’s ears burned red as he recalled the scene. The candy’s sweetness lingered in his heart.
Candy from his wife tasted especially sweet.
“Phew…”
Jiang Nuan escaped the room and stood in the yard, breathing in fresh air. After a while, the heat in her face finally subsided.
Beauty could be dangerous.
She had always been so pure and restrained, and now she was having these thoughts about Lu Lin.
No, no—she couldn’t think like this. She still had important matters to attend to.
The kitchen was already clean; she had only used the “washing dishes” excuse to sneak out. She patted the sunflower seeds in her pocket and walked toward the front gate.
Outside, she saw Aunt Wang carrying a hoe. Smiling, she greeted her.
“Aunt Wang, hoeing the field? Have you eaten dinner yet?”
Aunt Wang looked up and smiled. “Not yet. Your uncle is cooking at home.”
By the time she spoke, Jiang Nuan had reached her side, pulling a handful of seeds from her pocket to give Aunt Wang, taking some for herself as they chatted and nibbled seeds.
“Aunt Wang, you’re so lucky. A man like your uncle—hardworking and caring—is hard to find in the whole village.”
Hearing Jiang Nuan praise her husband, a happy smile spread across Aunt Wang’s face.
Seeing the seeds in her hand, she remembered how expensive they were—usually only bought during festivals—and quickly returned them to Jiang Nuan.
“Getting old… I can’t chew as well as young people.”
Jiang Nuan knew she was being polite and smiled, pushing them back. “Look at you, being so polite! You helped me speak up this morning, and I haven’t thanked you yet. If you keep being polite, I’ll be angry.”
Aunt Wang laughed, reluctantly accepting the seeds, secretly appreciating Jiang Nuan’s kindness.
She kept some for her daughter-in-law, who was pregnant, as the good stuff should go to her.
They continued chatting, and Aunt Wang smiled at Jiang Nuan.
“Your Lu Lin is also a good man. Don’t be fooled by his cold exterior. Inside, he’s warm. If you spend more time with him, you’ll see. I watched him grow up—he’d never deceive you.”
Jiang Nuan nodded. Indeed, after these past few days, Lu Lin had proven exactly as Aunt Wang described—cold on the outside, warm inside.
As they spoke, the village chief’s daughter-in-law passed by. Jiang Nuan, not forgetting her tasks, greeted her warmly.
“Aunt, where are you headed?”
The village chief’s daughter-in-law blushed and approached.
Jiang Nuan’s eyes lit up at the sight of her new clothes. “Aunt, your dress looks wonderful! It must be Yan Hong who bought it—her taste is perfect! This outfit makes you look like you’re in your thirties.”
Yan Hong was the village chief’s youngest daughter, now working in the county town. Every month, she spent her salary either on food or clothes for her parents.
Every time the daughter-in-law mentioned her, it was with pride.
Hearing Jiang Nuan’s compliment, she beamed. “You’re exaggerating! I’ll be fifty-five after the New Year. If I look like I’m in my thirties, I’d be a freak!”
She hadn’t realized before how sweet this girl’s words were.
Jiang Nuan smiled. “I’m not lying—every word is true.” She pulled out a handful of seeds and offered them.
The daughter-in-law’s heart warmed; she accepted them without hesitation.
The group chatted casually in front of the Lu family gate.
Jiang Nuan suddenly sighed. The village chief’s daughter-in-law and Aunt Wang looked at her in curiosity.