"Aunt Li, this girl, she's also…"
Aunt Li could tell that Chu Jiaojiao also had objections to Qi Tushen having a child.
"The little wife is a good girl with a soft heart behind a tough exterior. She's different from Feng Cuier. As long as she gets along well with Bao'er, she'll definitely come to like her."
Even though he hadn't spent much time with Chu Jiaojiao, Qi Tushen could tell she was a good girl—just a bit prone to crying.
He believed she definitely wouldn't look down on Bao'er.
Aunt Li: "…"
Seeing how blinded he was by her beauty, she didn't know what to say. She sighed and said, "Then I'll head back first. I'll come pick up Bao'er in a few days."
"Mm." Qi Tushen nodded.
"Hahaha…"
No sooner had Aunt Li left than a burst of cheerful laughter came from inside the house.
Qi Tushen was taken aback.
That clever little rascal Bao'er really knew how to handle things.
She'd managed to calm the little wife down so quickly. He wondered what she'd said to her.
Qi Tushen knocked on the door, puzzled. "Bao'er. Are you two done talking? Can Papa come in now?"
"Papa, don't bother us!"
Qi Bao'er's childish voice called out impatiently. "Pretty sister and I still have lots to talk about!"
Qi Tushen: "…"
Fine, he'd just go make breakfast then!
Inside the room.
Qi Bao'er whispered to Chu Jiaojiao, "Sister, I've told you all of Papa's embarrassing stories. Can you promise to stay for a while? My papa really isn't a bad person. Don't be fooled by his fierce look—he acts that way just to keep others from bullying us."
"But I don't want to marry him."
Chu Jiaojiao pouted.
Even if Qi Tushen wasn't a bad person, she still didn't want to marry someone she didn't love.
"Sister, can you just spend some time with my papa first? If you can't grow to like him, then Bao'er will help you run away when the time comes."
Qi Bao'er clung to her clothes, acting cute. "Please, sister, give my papa a chance?"
"How could a little thing like you help me?"
Chu Jiaojiao's head ached.
Making her develop feelings for Qi Tushen was really asking too much of her.
"Of course I have ways to help you. I'm the person Papa trusts most. If I wanted to help you escape, it'd be easy."
Despite her young age, Qi Bao'er had a sharp little mind. "Besides, I know this place well. Sister, even if you tried to run away, you wouldn't get far. As long as you agree to stay and spend some time with my papa, you'll definitely fall in love with him. My papa is wonderful."
"Bao'er, where do you get all this confidence?" Chu Jiaojiao said disdainfully. "Your papa has that fierce look about him—I'm not blind!"
Just the sight of Qi Tushen annoyed her now. How could she ever fall in love with him?
Besides, Qi Tushen wasn't her type at all. She liked refined, gentle scholars—the kind of elegant young gentlemen.
He was completely different from Qi Tushen, a rugged mountain man built like an ox.
"Hehe, that's because you have no taste. My papa used to be really popular. You don't even know—there was this girl who shamelessly insisted on marrying my papa!" Qi Bao'er said with a giggle.
This made Chu Jiaojiao's eyes go wide.
Oh my.
What girl was that blind?!
"That girl, her name was Feng Cuier. She's from this village too. Aunt Li told me that when I was two years old, my mother passed away. My papa brought me here, and Feng Cuier took a liking to my papa at first sight. She shamelessly insisted on marrying him. Later, my papa started to develop some feelings for her too. They were about to get married when she suddenly started resenting that Papa had me—a burden—by his side…"
At this point, Qi Bao'er's lips puckered up so much they could hang an oil bottle from them. "Hmph, that bad woman even wanted to give me away to another family. Of course Papa wouldn't agree, so she tried to secretly abandon me. Papa caught her, gave her a good scolding, and cut off all ties with her. The marriage was called off, and from then on, it's just been Papa and me, depending on each other."
She hadn't expected Qi Tushen to have such a past.
Chu Jiaojiao felt complicated emotions stirring inside her.
"Sister, would you think of Bao'er as a burden too?" Qi Bao'er asked pitifully, tears glistening in her eyes.
Chu Jiaojiao's heart softened. "No, I wouldn't."
"Then can you give my papa a chance? He's really a good person."
Chu Jiaojiao: "…"
Oh, phooey!
She shouldn't have felt sympathy for this little girl!
All she wanted was to be sisters with her!
But the girl wanted her to become her mother!
"Sister." Qi Bao'er begged. "You're the best. Just stay and spend some time with my papa!"
"Fine, stop talking. I'll agree. But remember—if I still don't want to be with your papa by then, you have to find a way to help me leave this godforsaken place." Chu Jiaojiao said irritably, thoroughly worn down by the pestering.
"Thank you, sister! You're the best!" Qi Bao'er suddenly broke into a beaming smile again, sweetly buttering her up.
Chu Jiaojiao: "…"
This little devil.
She had two faces.
Her mood changed faster than flipping through a book.
With the little rascal Qi Bao'er's help, Chu Jiaojiao decided to stay for the time being.
She might as well play along and see where things went.
To completely win Qi Tushen's trust, and then map out every inch of this mountain gully terrain!
That would make escaping much easier later on.
In any case, having her stay here to be Qi Tushen's wife was absolutely out of the question.
Having finally transmigrated once, she didn't want to be trapped in this mountain gully for the rest of her life, married to someone she didn't love, living a life of raising children and managing the household.
"Time for breakfast!"
Qi Tushen's voice came from outside just then, as he called out.
"Sister, let's go, time to eat." Qi Bao'er tugged Chu Jiaojiao outside.
Qi Tushen raised his eyebrows in surprise.
In the few days since he'd rescued his little wife, she'd refused to come out and eat no matter what.
What on earth had that little rascal Bao'er said to her?
Chu Jiaojiao acted as if she hadn't seen his gaze and sat down at the table.
She'd just suddenly realized that only with a full stomach would she have the strength to think of a plan.
Only by staying alive was there hope.
For the days ahead, where she'd have to match wits with Qi Tushen, she needed to eat well.
On the table was still the same watery, tasteless porridge. Chu Jiaojiao resignedly took a bowl and gulped it down.
"Father, look how skinny Sister is, yet you only let her eat this—it's way too unnutritious. Aren't you going to the market today? Go buy Sister lots of good food to nourish her body." Qi Bao'er suddenly spoke up at the sight.
"Alright!"
Qi Tushen agreed readily, then looked at Chu Jiaojiao. "Wife, what do you want to eat? I'm going to the market to sell my catch today, and I'll bring you back some food while I'm at it."
Market?!
Chu Jiaojiao's eyes lit up.
In all the days she'd been confined at home, she'd never gotten to visit the ancient market.
"Um… could I go with you? I'd like to look around!" Chu Jiaojiao asked cautiously, afraid Qi Tushen wouldn't agree.
After all, she'd tried to escape just yesterday, so he definitely wouldn't be willing.
Sure enough, at those words, Qi Tushen's face darkened.
Chu Jiaojiao: "…"
Sigh!
Looks like there was no hope.