After leaving the shop, Jiang Shiyue once again found a deserted corner, removed her makeup, changed back into her previous clothes, and only then headed home.
She had been in a pretty good mood the whole way, but as luck would have it, she ran into Liang Zeyuan and Lin Wan'er halfway there.
Lin Wan'er had fainted by the roadside, and Liang Zeyuan was squatting beside her like an ant on a hot pan, anxious beyond belief.
When he looked up, he happened to see Jiang Shiyue riding her bicycle. He immediately stood up and blocked the middle of the road, grabbing the bicycle's handlebars and asking with an entitled look, "Shiyue, can you help me?"
Jiang Shiyue rolled her eyes, cursing her bad luck inwardly. Out loud, she said, "Sorry, I don't have time. I'm busy heading home to cook."
Liang Zeyuan reacted as if he had heard a joke. "Shiyue, what are you kidding about? Everyone knows you've never lifted a finger to do housework. Even if you don't want to help, you don't have to tell such a lie."
Jiang Shiyue couldn't be bothered to argue with Liang Zeyuan. "You're right, I don't want to help. So can you let go now?"
Hearing this, Liang Zeyuan frowned, looking at Jiang Shiyue as if she were a stranger. "Shiyue, it's only been a few days. How did you become like this?"
Jiang Shiyue wore a smile, but she was cursing him in her heart. "I've always been like this."
This was really getting endless. Her good mood had been ruined by Liang Zeyuan.
Liang Zeyuan sighed. "Shiyue, I know you're still mad at me. But Wan'er has fainted. How can you see someone in peril and not save them?"
"You're an educated person, after all. You can't treat Wan'er differently just because of your prejudice against her."
Jiang Shiyue was truly speechless. How could this person not understand plain language?
And this was the male lead? She had never seen such a presumptuously self-confident male lead.
Suppressing her boiling rage, Jiang Shiyue questioned, "Are you incapable of understanding human speech?"
"Wh-what?"
With a cold expression, Jiang Shiyue said, "Didn't I say I'm busy going home to cook? Besides, what does Lin Wan'er fainting have to do with me? Did I make her faint?"
"Let go immediately, or don't blame me for getting rough."
This was the first time Liang Zeyuan had ever seen Jiang Shiyue so angry. He couldn't help but swallow, tentatively suggesting, "Then how about you leave the bicycle? I want to take Comrade Lin to the hospital in town."
As the saying goes, when patience runs out, there's no need to endure further.
Jiang Shiyue got off the bicycle and kicked Liang Zeyuan squarely in the leg.
Because she didn't hold back, and he was already exhausted from carrying Lin Wan'er for a long stretch, the kick sent Liang Zeyuan sprawling onto the ground.
Jiang Shiyue looked down at Liang Zeyuan, her eyes filled with disgust. "Stop blabbering at me. The sight of you is annoying."
Getting back on the bicycle, she spoke again to a stunned Liang Zeyuan, "Also, you'd better stay far away from me in the future. Otherwise, I'll beat you every time I see you."
By the time Liang Zeyuan came to his senses, Jiang Shiyue had already ridden away.
Staring in the direction she had left, Liang Zeyuan frowned and muttered, "What on earth is wrong with Jiang Shiyue? She was never like this before! Or is she still angry?"
Thinking of this possibility, Liang Zeyuan shook his head helplessly and lamented, "Isn't she holding too much of a grudge!"
He turned to look at the still-unconscious Lin Wan'er and pursed his lips. He got up, patted the dust off his clothes, and, enduring the pain, hoisted Lin Wan'er onto his back once more, heading towards town.
After all, the only way to get to town usually was by ox-cart.
Unfortunately, the ox-cart only made one trip a day, leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon.
At this hour, unless one had a bicycle, the only option was to walk.
As Liang Zeyuan walked, he thought to himself that he had to coax Jiang Shiyue back into a good mood soon.
Not only would she not give him Coupons, but she wouldn't even lend him her bicycle, and now she was even resorting to violence.
If he could coax her, maybe things could go back to how they were before.
However, Jiang Shiyue was being a bit too unreasonable. Besides coaxing her, he would also have to discipline her a little.
If only Jiang Shiyue knew what Liang Zeyuan was thinking, she would probably have beaten him up again.
He really thinks he's all that.
When Jiang Shiyue got home, she was fuming, not just because of Liang Zeyuan, but also because of the original owner.
What terrible judgment, to do so many bad things for that kind of scumbag.
She chugged two mouthfuls of cool boiled water before finally suppressing the fire in her heart.
She went to the kitchen, boiled water to wash the wok, then washed the rice and started cooking it.
She had originally planned to make Twice-Cooked Pork, but to vent her frustration, she trimmed off all the lean meat and minced it.
While chopping, she imagined the meat was Liang Zeyuan, and it felt incredibly satisfying.
She made Ants Climbing a Tree. The fatty pork was stir-fried until crisp, then she added some garlic sprouts and chili peppers, and a plate of Farmhouse Stir-fried Pork was ready. Finally, she made a Pickled Cabbage and Vermicelli Soup with Sliced Meat.
By the time Gu Yian and Hu Tianyou returned, Jiang Shiyue had already finished cooking, the bathwater was heated, and she was sitting in the courtyard cooling off.
Seeing Jiang Shiyue sitting in the yard, Hu Tianyou was a little surprised. "Sister-in-law, you're so early today!"
At this time yesterday, Jiang Shiyue was still stir-frying. But today, she was already waiting for them to come back and eat.
Sob, sob, sob. What is happiness?
This is happiness!!!
Jiang Shiyue stood up and lifted her chin. "Alright, you two hurry up and wash your hands. Get ready to eat."
Fearing they would go to the kitchen for nothing, she added, "I've already brought the food into the house, and the bowls and chopsticks are set out too."
After washing their hands and returning to the room, Gu Yian looked at the dishes on the table and said sincerely, "Thank you for your hard work."
Jiang Shiyue was amused. "What's so hard about making a meal? Your work is the truly hard part."
When she was in the countryside before, she had also… At first, she wasn't used to it, and her hands were covered in calluses.
She beckoned for the two to sit down. "Stop dawdling and eat."
Without waiting for them, she first ladled a bowl of soup for herself. She blew on it and drank it in small sips, making Gu Yian swallow involuntarily.
He had only rested for one night yesterday, but today he felt like he couldn't do anything right.
Hu Tianyou, on the other hand, copied Jiang Shiyue and ladled himself a bowl of soup.
But a man is never as meticulous as a woman. He took a big gulp and it was so hot that he grimaced, making Jiang Shiyue burst into peals of laughter. "I say, Little Hu, you should at least blow on it."
Gu Yian tutted and complained, "He's like a wild boar that can't eat fine bran."
Hu Tianyou pouted in dissatisfaction. "Second Brother! Can you not make fun of me!"
Gu Yian raised an eyebrow. "Am I not telling the truth?"
Jiang Shiyue shook her head helplessly, ignoring the two childish men. After finishing her soup, she served herself some rice and began to eat with gusto.
Seeing this, Hu Tianyou asked, "Sister-in-law, why are you so quiet today? Are you in a bad mood?"
Jiang Shiyue was taken aback. She hadn't expected Hu Tianyou to be so observant.
She shook her head. "No, I just don't know what to say."