From childhood to adulthood, Jiang Rou had always been obedient. She listened to her elders and her sister—aside from disliking studying, being a little lazy, and being fond of food, she was never any trouble.
This was the first time in her life she had ever talked back. Jiang Qiuyu froze for a moment, clearly not expecting her usually meek and docile younger sister to suddenly change her temperament. It left her inexplicably uneasy, with a creeping sense of losing control. Her mind raced, trying to guess what could have caused Jiang Rou’s sudden shift. Could it be her new husband?
Jiang Qiuyu steadied herself, gripping the receiver tightly as she asked softly: “Xiao Rou, your man’s name is Shen… something, right? Has he bullied you? Or is he forcing you to demand the house back?”
Jiang Rou refused to let Shen Chengdong take the blame. With a solemn face, she replied: “He hasn’t bullied me, and asking for the house wasn’t his idea. None of this has anything to do with him. And his name is Shen Chengdong—not ‘Shen something.’”
Seeing her defend the man so firmly, Jiang Qiuyu sneered inwardly, yet exhaled in relief.
She had been reborn. In her previous life, Jiang Rou had married Ye Cheng, a young man from the compound, and enjoyed a lifetime of wealth and pampering. Now, with a son-in-law brought into the family, the man was nothing but a penniless nobody. Jiang Qiuyu was eager to see just what kind of life her foolish sister could make of it. Hopefully she’d have two children in three years—so that even if she crossed paths with Ye Cheng again, she’d be left with nothing but regret.
Thinking this way, Jiang Qiuyu’s mood lifted. She even realized there was no point wasting time arguing with Jiang Rou; better to pretend to let go. And if the house wasn’t vacated in six days—so what? Could the Jiang family really drive their uncle’s household out? As long as her uncle refused to leave, the Jiang family would be powerless. So she curved her lips into a smile, her tone tinged with disdain: “As long as he treats you well, that’s fine. As for the house, since you won’t compromise, forget it. I’ll let them know. I’ll hang up now.” With that, the line went dead, leaving only the busy tone.
Jiang Rou set down the receiver, dazed, before quietly walking away. Granny Zhou collected the phone fee, watching her retreating figure, and muttered under her breath: “At last this child has shown some sense—finally not letting her sister trick her again…”
Back home, before Jiang Rou even stepped inside, Chen Aihe called loudly through the window: “What did your sister want on the phone? You didn’t tell her about my fall, did you?”
“I didn’t say anything. Before I left, didn’t you tell me not to?” Jiang Rou’s brows and eyes were cool, none of her usual girlish softness. She walked to the basin, rinsed her hands, and quietly let out a breath of pent‑up frustration.
Chen Aihe was puzzled by her expression and quickly asked: “What did your sister say to you? Did something happen to her in the countryside?”
“No, she brought up the house.” Jiang Rou recounted the entire phone call, hoping to hear what her parents thought.
After listening, Chen Aihe’s face darkened, anger flaring instantly: “What’s Han Laosan playing at? He clearly agreed before—how can he go back on his word now? Even if he sends Qiuyu to plead, it won’t work! When the time comes, we’ll go as planned. I doubt they’ll dare pull any tricks!”
At the same time, she felt a flicker of dissatisfaction toward Jiang Qiuyu. Knowing her younger sister had just married and had nowhere to live, yet still speaking up for her uncle—what was that supposed to mean? But she kept that displeasure to herself, afraid the sisters might grow estranged over it.
By noon, eldest sister‑in‑law Shi Lan returned, and Jiang Rou and Shen Chengdong set off for the Shen household, carrying gifts.
The Shen family lived in a rural village near Beijing. Besides Shen Chengdong, there were four brothers. By rights, more brothers should mean more work points and a better life. But the Shen family was an exception—so poor they could barely keep food on the table. The reason was simple: two chronically ill family members. Every bit of money earned went straight to medicine.
From bus to ox cart, then from ox cart to walking, the trip to Wangshui Village took three hours.
Jiang Rou stayed close to Shen Chengdong, looking around with curiosity. Not far away, a group of children played “Eagle Catches Chicks” under a great locust tree, their laughter ringing like silver bells, full of innocence.
She turned toward the sound, smiling as she asked: “Did you often play games here when you were little?”
Shen Chengdong paused, glanced at the tree, but his eyes held no nostalgia. “I didn’t like playing much back then.”
His family had been too poor—no proper clothes, and he had to help his mother with chores. There was no time for games. But this was something he didn’t want her to know.
Soon Jiang Rou looked away and followed him into the village. Beneath the locust tree, besides the children, several women were basking in the sun and chatting.
Spotting them, one called out loudly: “Hey! Dongzi—you’ve brought your wife home!”
Carrying gifts and holding Jiang Rou’s hand, Shen Chengdong walked over and handed out wedding candies.
Jiang Rou stood beside him, smiling politely. Her gentle manner and striking beauty made her especially endearing.
Someone exclaimed with envy: “Dongzi, you’re really something! Your wife is prettier than the educated girls in the village, and her family background is better too! Looks like you’re the luckiest one here!”
“Yes, look at that tender little face—must be smooth to the touch.”
Back in the courtyard, people often teased her with such remarks. Jiang Rou didn’t mind, but Shen Chengdong worried she might be thin‑skinned. So after handing out the candies, he quickly pulled her away.
Once they left, someone clutching the wedding candy couldn’t help but grumble sourly: “If I’d known his wife was this pretty and well‑off, I should’ve sent my Er Gouzi to show his face to Matchmaker Chen.”
“You think anyone can become a live‑in son‑in‑law? Does your Er Gouzi have Dongzi’s looks? And with that temper of his, he’d be kicked back by the father‑in‑law in no time!”
“Tch, I was just saying. What decent family would marry off a daughter like that? Only the Shen clan—poor as dirt. A son‑in‑law like that will never stand tall! And Shen Chengdong? He’s nothing but a troublemaker. That girl will regret it one day!”
“Hey! How can you badmouth them after taking their candy? You’ve got a wicked tongue—no wonder your kid was born without an anus.”
“Your kid’s the one without an anus!”
“No, you’re the one without an anus!”
“…”
Meanwhile, Jiang Rou and Shen Chengdong had no idea the villagers at the entrance were quarreling because of them. Walking along the rutted dirt road, they finally reached the Shen family’s gate.
Before them stood a dilapidated mud‑brick house; the yard was large but barren, with nothing planted at all.
She turned her head and asked softly: “Does my face look dirty? It’s my first time meeting everyone, and I want to leave a good impression.”
Her clear eyes held no disgust, no fear. Shen Chengdong’s tightly strung heart eased halfway. He gazed at her, his deep eyes filled with her reflection, and said sincerely, “No, it looks fine.”
In truth, he wanted to say “You’re beautiful,” but the words circled on his tongue and were swallowed back.
Soon, the courtyard gate opened, and out came Shen Chengdong’s mother, Miao Yuzhen. At the matchmaking and wedding, she had been the only one to preside, so Jiang Rou was already familiar with her.
“Hello, Mom!”
“Ah—hello! It’s cold outside; come in quickly!” Miao Yuzhen’s joy was tinged with awkwardness. It was her first time hosting a daughter‑in‑law from the city, and she had no experience.
Once they were inside, she hurried to the cupboard and pulled out the family’s only new towel, pressing it into Jiang Rou’s hands: “The village roads are dusty, the wind blows sand everywhere. Use this to wipe your face.” Then she bustled about, fetching sunflower seeds and pouring boiled water, busy from head to toe.
Jiang Rou clutched the towel, glancing helplessly at Shen Chengdong, unsure how to respond to such eager hospitality.
Seeing this, Shen Chengdong strode over to help, a wry smile tugging at his lips: “Mom, take a rest. Where are Dad and Little Fifth?”
“They… they went to your uncle’s house.” Miao Yuzhen’s eyes flickered—clearly not telling the truth. Shen Chengdong saw it at once and asked bluntly, right in front of Jiang Rou: “They knew I was coming back today, so they deliberately hid?”
Miao Yuzhen glanced at her daughter‑in‑law’s reaction, then tugged at Shen Chengdong’s sleeve and whispered: “They’re both sickly. What if they pass bad luck or illness on to your wife?”
She mainly feared the city bride would despise them. Father Shen had been diagnosed with kidney problems years ago, and the fifth brother was born with a congenital heart condition. Both needed constant medication. The house had just finished brewing herbal medicine, and the air was thick with its bitter scent. Jiang Rou held her breath, showing no displeasure. As a child, she had suffered a serious illness herself, drinking decoctions for months before recovering. Ever since, the smell of medicine made her nauseous—but it also gave her empathy for the sick.
Suppressing the urge to gag, she said gently: “Mom, Dad and Little Fifth’s illnesses aren’t contagious. You should let them come back. I’m not afraid.”
Miao Yuzhen hadn’t expected her to overhear, and looked embarrassed. In the end, Shen Chengdong pushed his mother out to fetch them.
Unable to bear the smell, Jiang Rou followed them outside. She thought she’d hidden it well, but Shen Chengdong noticed. “Are you feeling unwell?”
In the novel, this was the moment Jiang Rou lost her temper—disgusted by the poverty and the stench of medicine, she insisted on returning to the city, planting the seeds of divorce.
But Jiang Rou refused to act so foolishly. She breathed in the fresh air, lips curving playfully: “The medicine smell made me queasy. Do you think I might be pregnant?”
They had only been married three days. Shen Chengdong’s head snapped up, meeting her innocent almond eyes, and his ears flushed red. He had never dated before, but he knew seeds needed time to sprout. Thinking she truly didn’t understand and was anxious for a child, he explained patiently: “Pregnancy doesn’t show symptoms this quickly. If not this time, then next time. I’ll keep trying.”
His voice was husky, brushing her ears with a sensual timbre. Jiang Rou’s mind flashed with memories of their intimacy, and she covered her burning face, staring at him in disbelief. How could he say such wolfish words with such seriousness?
She quickly changed the subject: “Maybe I’m just carsick. Anyway, will your brothers and sisters‑in‑law be back today?”
Shen Chengdong had two elder brothers and two younger ones. The older brothers were married and had moved out. The fourth was preparing for marriage, and Shen Chengdong had married into the Jiang family partly to help raise his dowry.
“With me here, they won’t dare come back.”
“…?”
Jiang Rou blinked, confused. In the book, the five brothers seemed close. Was that only an illusion?
Seeing her doubt, Shen Chengdong brushed back her stray bangs and said no more: “You’ll understand in time.” He pulled a White Rabbit candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and placed it in her mouth, then opened all the windows to air out the house.
By the time Miao Yuzhen returned with Shen Wanglin and Xiao Wu, the smell of medicine was gone. It was their first time meeting Jiang Rou. Their pale faces flushed faintly as they greeted her shyly.
Jiang Rou smiled politely, unsure what else to say. Compared to the Jiang household, she could feel Shen Chengdong was far more at ease here.
Listening to their family chatter, another question popped into her mind. Later, when alone, she asked him quietly: “Why are your brothers called Shen One, Shen Two, Shen Four, and Shen Fifth—but you’re Shen Chengdong? Shouldn’t you be Shen Three?”
He answered lightly: “Because I was picked up from Chengdong Hospital.”