The Jiang family: “…….”
Ning Xi feigned shock, widening her eyes and gasping.
“It’s you!”
“Jiang Chengnan, why did you impersonate your second brother to write letters to Cao Xinrou? Do you even realize you were harming someone? Luckily, the truth came out, otherwise your second brother’s reputation would have been ruined!”
“I…I didn’t think that far at the time…”
In truth, Jiang Chengnan simply lacked confidence.
If he hadn’t impersonated his brother, Cao Xinrou wouldn’t have even given him a second glance.
“But I’m sincere with Xinrou! I truly want to marry her!”
At that moment, Cao Xinrou, who had been badly hurt, finally snapped out of her daze. Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped him.
“Smack!”
Jiang Chengnan’s glasses went askew, and his hair was disheveled.
He looked at her in disbelief. “You… you hit me?”
“You deserve it!”
A wave of humiliation swept through him. Cao Xinrou’s delicate face was now full of rage.
Hearing his confession, she felt no emotion whatsoever only pure fury.
If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have been made a fool of.
If it weren’t for those letters, she wouldn’t have waited two long years, growing into an old maid mocked by everyone, and experiencing the shame and humiliation she faced now.
It was all Jiang Chengnan’s fault.
“I hate you!”
“Jiang Chengnan, hear me clearly! Even if I marry an old bachelor, I would never marry you!”
Hearing this, Jiang Chengnan felt as if struck by lightning; his face went pale.
“Xinrou, you”
He was cut off by Cao Xinrou’s cold laugh.
“Don’t ever show your face to me again.”
Seeing him utterly shattered, she felt a vengeful satisfaction swell in her heart.
Jiang Chengbei didn’t like her.
Then let his brother feel the pain of being ignored and hurt by the one he loves.
Cao Xinrou left.
Jiang Yanyan instinctively tried to follow but was stopped by Tian Guilan.
“Stand still, Jiang Yanyan! Do you even have a brain? Cao Xinrou treated your third brother like that, and you still care about her? I’m telling you, both you and Jiang Chengnan stay far away from her from now on!”
There are plenty of women in the world; it doesn’t have to be Cao Xinrou.
But Jiang Chengnan insisted it had to be Cao Xinrou.
He was a vocational school graduate with a stable job and was considered excellent in the village. Why should Cao Xinrou look down on him? She slapped him, and yet said she would rather marry an old bachelor than him.
What’s wrong with me?
Am I not worthy?
“Mom, I will marry Cao Xinrou! I’ll prove to her that I’m no worse than anyone else!”
Tian Guilan gaped. “You… you’re insane.”
In the following days, Jiang Chengnan took leave from work and went to see Cao Xinrou whenever he had time.
As for how Cao Xinrou responded, no one knew.
The Jiang family thought he had gone mad. Tian Guilan was especially sour, sighing constantly and finding fault with everyone.
Because the atmosphere at home was tense, Jiang Chengbei suggested taking Ning Xi up to the mountain for a walk.
“Is it fun up there?”
“Not bad. If we’re lucky, we might catch a wild chicken or rabbit.”
Hearing there might be wild game, Ning Xi became excited and eagerly grabbed Jiang Chengbei’s hand. Her fair, delicate hand rested over his strong, bony hand soft in a way that seemed unreal.
Heat rose to Jiang Chengbei’s face.
His arm felt petrified; he didn’t dare move, afraid she might let go. His tall, upright frame obediently followed her lead.
This scene happened to be seen by Jiang Yanyan.
Her third brother hadn’t eaten properly for days, had lost weight, and with Xinrou… she had ignored him multiple times, while Ning Xi even had the audacity to smile.
Why?
She muttered under her breath, “Shameless!”
Thinking her voice was quiet enough not to be heard…
Jiang Chengbei’s cold gaze swept over her instantly.
“Who are you calling shameless?”
“I… I didn’t say anything.”
Ning Xi laughed at Jiang Yanyan’s cowardly behavior, her reply calm and deliberate.
“Some people are just verbally reckless. They curse but deny it, as if dogs were barking. If you have the guts, curse openly by name let’s see if I don’t tear your mouth apart!”
Though the original girl was spoiled, she rarely acted physically.
Ning Xi was different; when action was needed, she didn’t hold back.
Thinking of how Ning Xi had left Jiang Yanyan’s hand red a few days ago, Jiang Yanyan immediately fell silent.
It was unfair.
Who was really in charge of the Jiang family? And yet, she, a newcomer, was bullying her so badly.
Ning Xi ignored Jiang Yanyan’s thoughts. Once Jiang Chengbei grabbed the necessary tools, the two went up the mountain.
The mountain wasn’t high; Jiang Chengbei could climb it several times in one breath. But Ning Xi couldn’t.
Her thin arms and legs weren’t used to exercise.
After a short while, Ning Xi was panting heavily; her legs felt as if filled with lead.
Jiang Chengbei observed her several times and finally concluded,
“You’re physically weak. You need more training.”
Exhausted and feeling scolded, Ning Xi gave up and walked slowly.
Jiang Chengbei had walked far ahead when he noticed she was barely moving forward. He had to return, looking down at her.
“Tired?”
“You, with your long legs, go ahead and fly, why don’t you.” Ning Xi sat on a rock by the path, sulking and turning her face away from him.
She had been smiling at him before they left, and now she was upset. Her mood was volatile. Jiang Chengbei didn’t want her to get angry and ignore him, so he crouched at her feet and coaxed her.
“Don’t be angry. Drink some water and rest for a few minutes.”
October weather was cool, but Ning Xi was sweating.
She muttered, “The bath I took yesterday was for nothing. I’m going to sweat so much again.”
“It’s not that hot.”
“Who said so?” Ning Xi pouted, leaning in to show him the sweat on her forehead. “See? I’m soaked in sweat!”
Her smooth, delicate face so close made Jiang Chengbei’s Adam’s apple move unconsciously.
He felt inexplicably hot.
“Yeah, it’s hot, but…”
He spoke in a dry voice, “you don’t smell bad at all. You actually smell nice.”
Hearing this, Ning Xi’s lips curled into a small smile. The rough man had learned a clever trick flipping the teasing back. She took a few sips of water, then spread her arms toward Jiang Chengbei.
“Carry me.”
His strength was impressive; no way he could refuse.
Hearing this out of the blue, Jiang Chengbei immediately recalled the agony of carrying Ning Xi home that day. That soft touch had kept him awake for nights. Once asleep, his dreams were all of her…
If he carried her now, he feared needing to change the sheets in the middle of the night.
If he didn’t, she’d get angry.
After much inner struggle, he resigned himself, lifted her onto his back, and hurried up the mountain faster meant less suffering.
After the farming season, villagers would go up the mountain to gather firewood, or maybe get lucky and catch a wild chicken or rabbit to add some meat.
Jiang Chengbei carried Ning Xi up the mountain, attracting several onlookers.
Among them were Cao Xinrou and her mother.
Thinking about how Ning Xi had taken their money and jade pendant, and now had the best Jiang Chengbei for herself, Cao Xinrou’s mother couldn’t help but sneer.
“Oh, already in love before marriage.”
“Needs a man to carry her up the mountain truly a rich girl spoiled by privilege.”
“Chengbei, I’m not saying this just to you, but men marry to continue the family line, to have someone serve them not to marry a living ancestor and pamper her. Women shouldn’t be spoiled; the more you spoil them, the more they take advantage.”