"…Fine, just so you don't sneak off while I'm away. Today, you and Bao'er will come with me to the market."
After a brief moment of thought, Qi Tushen spoke.
Chu Jiaojiao was taken aback, but a radiant smile immediately blossomed on her pretty face.
Wonderful!
She could familiarize herself with the terrain while she was at it!
Seeing her brilliant smile, Qi Tushen couldn't tear his gaze away, utterly entranced.
His little wife was truly beautiful!
"Father, I know Sister is pretty, but if you keep staring at her like that, she'll get shy!" Qi Bao'er giggled.
Her father looked absolutely smitten—how embarrassing!
Chu Jiaojiao also felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze.
Stupid man!
What are you looking at?!
Never seen a beautiful woman before?!
Teased by his daughter, Qi Tushen's face flushed with embarrassment. His ears turned red as he coughed lightly into his hand. "Ahem, ahem. Let's set off then!" He slung the game he'd caught yesterday over his shoulders, then found a piece of cloth and moved to tie it over Chu Jiaojiao.
"What… what are you doing?" Chu Jiaojiao glared.
"In case you get familiar with the terrain and try to run off on me."
Qi Tushen said as he tied the cloth over Chu Jiaojiao's face, blocking her vision.
Chu Jiaojiao: "…"
This sneaky, cunning bastard!
She cursed him furiously in her mind, grinding her teeth!
The next moment, she was scooped up in Qi Tushen's arms. He instructed Bao'er, "Bao'er, lock the door."
"Got it!"
Qi Bao'er quickly locked the door.
"Stay close to Father, don't get lost." With the game on his back and Chu Jiaojiao in his arms, Qi Tushen said to Bao'er before turning and walking off.
Qi Bao'er cheerfully followed close behind.
Meanwhile, Chu Jiaojiao felt utterly defeated.
This damned Qi Tushen!
At the village entrance, Qi Tushen hired an ox cart and climbed aboard, holding Chu Jiaojiao tightly.
Qi Bao'er sat beside him, snuggling against him.
Qi Tushen wrapped an arm around each of them, feeling completely content.
A wife and a daughter.
What more could a man ask for!
The ride was bumpy, and Chu Jiaojiao was jostled about, her stomach churning violently. Unable to bear it, she shouted, "Stop! I'm going to be sick!"
Seeing this, Qi Tushen called for the driver to halt and helped her to the side of the road.
Chu Jiaojiao crouched down and began dry heaving.
"Sister, are you alright?" Qi Bao'er walked over to her, asking worriedly.
Do I look alright?!
Chu Jiaojiao screamed inwardly, wondering what kind of suffering she was being put through!
A pair of large hands gently patted her back. Qi Tushen said, "Wife, bear with it a little longer. We'll be there soon."
"Don't call me wife!"
Chu Jiaojiao shouted angrily, dodging his hand. She tried to tear off the cloth covering her face, but Qi Tushen stopped her, refusing to let her remove it.
"Qi Tushen, you bully! You rotten bastard!"
At this point, she completely exploded, cursing at him, "I'm feeling so miserable, and you won't even let me see! You heartless, ungentlemanly brute!"
Qi Tushen remained silent.
He understood her intentions!
And there was no way he'd let her succeed!
"Sister, don't be angry."
Qi Bao'er tried to smooth things over, then coaxed her father, "Father, Sister promised me she wouldn't run away. Can you take the cloth off? Besides, we've already come this far. Even if she could see, she wouldn't know the way back."
Qi Tushen still hesitated.
He was afraid this little woman might try some trick again!
"Father, please." Qi Bao'er tugged at his arm, pleading.
Qi Tushen's heart softened. After much hesitation, he finally pulled the cloth off Chu Jiaojiao's face.
Her eyes were finally free to see again. Chu Jiaojiao secretly rejoiced, then turned to look around—and was completely stunned.
She had no idea where they were. Mountain peaks stretched endlessly, shrouded in drifting mist. She couldn't tell north from south, east from west.
This was simply impossible for someone with no sense of direction like her.
Chu Jiaojiao burst into tears with a loud "waaah."
She had truly miscalculated!
"Stop dawdling, hurry up."
The driver urged impatiently. "I still have another fare to catch. Don't hold up my business."
"Wife, stop crying."
Seeing this, Qi Tushen's lips curled in a sly smile as he scooped Chu Jiaojiao back onto the cart.
Knowing his little wife had no sense of direction, he could rest easy.
Qi Bao'er also climbed onto the cart and pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket, handing it to her. "Sister, don't cry. I'll have Father buy you lots of delicious food later."
Chu Jiaojiao sobbed, tears and snot streaming down her face.
Sweet bribes wouldn't work!
When they reached the town, they passed by a tailor's shop. On a whim, Qi Tushen dragged Chu Jiaojiao inside.
"Sir, what can I get for you?" The shop assistant greeted them warmly with a smile.
Qi Tushen pushed Chu Jiaojiao in front of the assistant. "We're getting married soon. We need to take measurements to order two sets of wedding attire!"
Chu Jiaojiao's eyes went wide.
"Father, are you really going to marry Sister?" Qi Bao'er asked happily.
Wonderful! She was going to have a mother!
"Mhm." Qi Tushen gazed at Chu Jiaojiao with deep, meaningful eyes.
To avoid any delays and cut off any thoughts of escape, this marriage had to happen as soon as possible.
"No way!"
Chu Jiaojiao was frantic. "Qi Tushen, even if you want to marry me, you still need my consent, don't you?"
"I don't need your consent!"
Qi Tushen said domineeringly, "I say you're my woman, so you're my woman."
Chu Jiaojiao: "…"
You damn bastard, go to hell!
She had no choice but to turn her pleading gaze toward Qi Bao'er.
Unexpectedly, this little devil of a girl actually pretended not to see it.
Chu Jiaojiao was furious.
She had been too naive.
Father and daughter were cut from the same cloth!
"Then, honored guest, do you still want measurements taken?" the shop assistant asked cautiously, glancing at Chu Jiaojiao with sympathy in his heart.
Poor girl.
She must have been abducted!
A fresh flower truly planted on a pile of cow dung!
"Yes!"
"No!"
The two said in unison.
Qi Tushen swiftly pulled out silver from his pocket and tossed it to the shop assistant. "This is the deposit. Take her measurements first, then mine. Once they're done, I'll come pick them up."
"Right away!"
Whoever has money is the boss!
The shop assistant instantly switched sides. He quickly brought over a measuring tape and was about to measure Chu Jiaojiao when Qi Tushen snatched it from his hands. "I'll measure her myself!"
Under Chu Jiaojiao's glare, Qi Tushen measured her three vital statistics. She tried to struggle, but his big hand firmly pressed her down.
She was so ashamed she wanted to die, her cheeks flushed bright red as she glared at him!
Qi Tushen's exterior was calm and unruffled, but inside, waves were crashing violently, and his face was burning hot too.
His little wife was skinny, sure, but the places that had flesh were nicely proportioned.
He liked her even more!
After ordering two sets of wedding dresses, Qi Tushen eagerly looked forward to them being finished so he could use them for the wedding.
Leaving the tailor shop, Chu Jiaojiao's face was sour, while the man beside her was grinning happily from ear to ear, filled with joy.
Soon, he'd have a wife!
And Bao'er would have a mother too!
No more needing to trouble Sister Li to help take care of her!