“Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law is making stewed pig trotters with soybeans,” Ji Linxia quickly answered with a smile, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere. “Second Brother’s return is quite timely.”
Ji Qiuyang glanced at Jiang Jingyi and grunted in acknowledgment. “I’ll go put my things away first.”
“Didn’t you just leave? Why are you back now?” Jiang Jingyi muttered softly.
Ji Linxia pursed her lips and smiled. “Second Brother specially requested leave when he and Second Sister-in-law married, but the academy’s holiday schedule is fixed. Today just happens to be a holiday. I thought Second Sister-in-law knew—I guess Second Brother didn’t mention it.”
Jiang Jingyi made an “oh” sound and let it go. Whether Ji Qiuyang was home or not didn’t affect her much.
After some time, the rich savory aroma of soy sauce permeated the air from the pot of trotters. Jiang Jingyi checked the heat, then scooped out some of the beans Lady Yun had soaked, washed them, and added them to the stew. Ji Linxia sniffed the air and said, “It smells so good, probably the whole village can smell it.”
Jiang Jingyi smiled and, noticing Ji Qiuyang emerge from the house, had an idea. She took out the spare ribs and said, “Husband, do you have time to chop these spare ribs?”
If this refined gentleman could be so meticulous when killing a chicken, she wondered what he’d look like chopping ribs.
Meeting her teasing gaze, Ji Qiuyang accepted the bones, retrieved a chopping board and cleaver, and crouched at the kitchen door to chop the meat.
Summer clothing was thin, and Ji Qiuyang had hitched up the hem of his robe for convenience, rolling up both sleeves to reveal sturdy arms. As he raised the cleaver to chop the ribs, his expression remained as calm as ever.
His narrow, elongated eyes were tranquil, his thin lips slightly pressed together, the muscles in his raised arm taut, even the muscles at his waist forming pleasing lines.
Jiang Jingyi nearly drooled, then suddenly noticed Ji Qiuyang pause in his motion, his eyes turning toward her as if asking what she was looking at.
Jiang Jingyi immediately broke into a broad smile. “I was just admiring how elegant and beautiful my husband looks while chopping bones. I was momentarily captivated, please don’t mind.”
Ji Qiuyang’s eyes deepened. At her words, he frowned slightly but said nothing, bringing the cleaver down to cut the ribs in two.
“Pork bones are so fragile, I wonder about others.”
Ji Qiuyang left behind an ambiguous remark, then turned back to continue chopping bones.
Jiang Jingyi nearly choked with laughter. Had she just been threatened by Ji Qiuyang?
Unfortunately, Ji Qiuyang’s threat was too feeble. Jiang Jingyi only found him more amusing, without a trace of fear.
When Ji Qiuyang finished chopping, Jiang Jingyi ladled water for him to wash his hands. She smiled sweetly and said, “Your humble wife’s bones are quite soft. Would husband care to test that?”
Ji Qiuyang’s face immediately darkened, which only delighted Jiang Jingyi, who couldn’t help laughing.
Ji Linxia emerged from the kitchen and asked curiously, “What did Second Brother say to make Second Sister-in-law laugh like that?”
“Just married couple’s banter.” Jiang Jingyi winked, carried the ribs over for Yingtao to blanch, and shot a sidelong glance at Ji Qiuyang’s flushed face. Interesting, truly interesting.
Ji Linxia, hearing this, smiled somewhat shyly. It seemed she had inquired about matters she shouldn’t have.
Later, when Old Lady Ji and the others returned, Ji Linxia secretly told her mother, “Mother, I think Second Sister-in-law has a good disposition. Just now, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law were chatting and laughing together. Those rumors outside must have been spread deliberately by someone.”
Old Lady Ji, older and more experienced, naturally hoped the young couple would get along well now that the girl had married into the family. She smiled and said, “Your eldest and second sisters-in-law are both excellent people. Your second sister-in-law has a substantial dowry, but you mustn’t pester her for things, understand?”
Ji Linxia acknowledged this, though she didn’t mention the skin oil Jiang Jingyi had given her.
Outside, Jiang Jingyi watched Ji Qiuyang hurriedly go to pour water, then smilingly entered the kitchen to start another pot for the ribs. Since the Ji family had no sugar, she could only make braised spare ribs, but simply stewed like that, the flavor was still quite good.
Ji Linxia picked a handful of bok choy from the vegetable garden. Jiang Jingyi took it and smashed two cloves of garlic, planning to simply stir-fry it later.
Ji Linxia added, “Second Sister-in-law, there was one bean curd sheet left over from noon. Now that Second Brother is back, why not let him try some?”
Just then, Ji Qiuyang came over from the backyard. Jiang Jingyi deliberately said, “Your Second Brother’s mind is full of poetry and books, he just reads a few and he’s full. How could he be hungry?”
Hearing this, Ji Qiuyang glanced at her but didn’t respond.
Ji Linxia smiled and said, “Second Sister-in-law loves to joke.” With that, she took the bean curd sheet, washed it, and cut it into strips. She also washed a few red chili peppers and set them aside, along with scallions, ginger, and garlic, all perfectly prepared.
“Miss, are the pig trotters ready?” Yingtao lifted the pot lid, and a pungent, savory aroma rushed forth. “So fragrant.”
Jiang Jingyi inserted chopsticks to test doneness and decided it was ready. “Alright, scoop them out. Perfect timing to stir-fry the bean curd sheets.”
Yingtao scooped out the trotters and cleaned the pot. The aroma of braised spare ribs had also become rich. Ji Qiuyang watched Jiang Jingyi’s skillful movements and couldn’t help recalling his earlier suspicions.
Everything about her seemed suspicious.
Noticing Ji Qiuyang’s gaze, Jiang Jingyi squinted with a smile. “Husband, why are you looking at me like that? Have you noticed I’m more beautiful than before?”
The expression on Ji Qiuyang’s face froze, and he turned and left.
No matter how kind this woman appeared, she couldn’t change her habit of being sharp-tongued. No matter how vulgar the Jiang family was, they probably couldn’t have raised a daughter like this.
Behind him, Ji Linxia’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Jiang Jingyi. “Second Sister-in-law, you really are more beautiful today than before. Second Brother must have been stunned.”
“Linxia is such a good girl.” Jiang Jingyi added scallions, ginger, and garlic to the hot oil. After stir-frying until fragrant, she threw in a few chopped red chili peppers, then added the bean curd sheets. A pungent, spicy aroma rushed forth.
Jiang Jingyi was caught off guard and choked. She dropped the spatula and ran out. “Second Sister-in-law, don’t rub your eyes with your hands!”
By the time Ji Linxia’s voice reached her, Jiang Jingyi’s hand had already rubbed her eyelids. Oh no, her eyes were burning like fire—the wild goose had pecked her eyes! Her reputation…
“Second Sister-in-law, don’t move. I’ll get water.” Ji Linxia handed the spatula to Yingtao and hurried off to fetch water.
In the backyard, Ji Qiuyang was standing on high ground looking at the mountain behind the village. When he saw Ji Linxia rushing over, he asked, “What’s the hurry?”
Ji Linxia explained as she ladled water, “Second Sister-in-law got chili in her eyes.”
Ji Qiuyang raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat amused. So even she had moments of misfortune like this?
“I’ll take it.” Ji Qiuyang directly picked up the basin and headed to the front yard. Ji Linxia quickly caught up. “Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law is really quite nice. Be gentle with her.”
Ji Qiuyang glanced at her and said, “I recall you’re my sister.”
“That’s exactly why I’m telling you.” The admiration in Ji Linxia’s eyes surfaced again. “Second Sister-in-law is beautiful and cooks delicious food. Such a wonderful girl, I want to become someone like her when I grow up.”
Ji Qiuyang thought to himself, she’s your own sister, don’t get angry. But if she really became a girl with a disposition like Jiang Jingyi’s… Ji Qiuyang couldn’t help shivering. One was already unbearable; another would be the death of him.
“You’re fine as you are now.” Ji Qiuyang walked steadily and placed the basin in front of Jiang Jingyi. “Don’t learn from certain people who lack feminine grace all day.”
Jiang Jingyi couldn’t open her eyes from the pain. Hearing Ji Qiuyang’s words, she immediately grew displeased. “Is my husband implying that I’m not womanly enough?”
Ji Qiuyang pressed his lips together without responding. Was it a question of not being womanly enough? It was about not being dignified enough.
“Ha.” Jiang Jingyi washed her hands, then took the handkerchief Ji Linxia handed her to wipe her face. Afterward, she looked at him sarcastically and said, “Tonight, I’ll let my husband know just how womanly I can be.”
Ji Qiuyang’s expression changed instantly. He glanced at Ji Linxia, who was covering her mouth and snickering. Ji Qiuyang said angrily, “Don’t talk nonsense. In public, you actually… you actually say such things.”
Jiang Jingyi smiled sweetly. “If you keep talking, I don’t know what else I might say.”
In the end, Ji Qiuyang stormed off again, sleeves fluttering.
Jiang Jingyi shouted at the top of her lungs, “Yingtao, serve the food!”
Once the meal was prepared, the Ji brothers also came running out. “Second Aunt, what delicious food did you make? It smells wonderful!”
Jiang Jingyi said, “Spare ribs and pig trotters. Hurry and call your parents to come eat dinner.” Then she said to Yingtao, “You’ll eat with us as usual.”
These past few days, she had been letting Yingtao eat at the table with them, and Yingtao didn’t object this time either. She quickly helped Ji Linxia bring the dinner to the table. It was stuffy and hot inside, so Ji Dongyang and his sons moved the table outside. The fragrance of stewed pig trotters with soybeans mixed with the aroma of braised spare ribs drifted far and wide.
Next door, Aunt Lin, catching the scent, popped her head over the wall. “Linxia, what delicious food is your family making? It smells so good!”
Ji Linxia didn’t like Aunt Lin but still answered, “My Second Sister-in-law made pig trotters and spare ribs.”
Aunt Lin craned her neck to see the two large platters of meat on the table and instantly began drooling.
Her expression was too direct—she stared fixedly at the meat platters, unable to tear her eyes away. Ji Linxia frowned slightly and had the Ji brothers sit down to block her view. “Aunt Lin, haven’t you had dinner yet?”
Unable to see anymore, Aunt Lin frowned. “Not yet. After smelling your family’s meat, how could I possibly eat anything else?”
Just then, Old Lady Ji and Lady Yun came out of the house carrying pancakes. Overhearing this, Old Lady Ji couldn’t help saying, “Then you’ll have to go hungry tonight.”
With that, the family gathered around the table and sat down. Aunt Lin’s gaze shifted to Jiang Jingyi. “Qiuyang’s wife.”
Jiang Jingyi glanced at her while holding a piece of pig trotter and eating it with relish. “Aunt Lin, aren’t you going to eat? Do you want some pig trotter?”
Aunt Lin quickly nodded.
Jiang Jingyi made an “oh” sound. “I heard the butcher still has a pig trotter left. If you go now, you might still make it in time.”
Having said that, she lowered her head and continued eating, ignoring Aunt Lin’s glare.
Old Lady Ji and the others couldn’t help but suppress their laughter. Ji Linxia gave Jiang Jingyi a thumbs up and whispered, “Second Sister-in-law, that was perfectly said.”
“You young wife have no virtue of respecting the elderly at all! And you claim to be from a wealthy family? Bah!” Aunt Lin, frustrated and angry, hastily climbed down from the wall.
Jiang Jingyi clicked her tongue twice. “Who would have thought we’d have such an extreme neighbor?”
She hadn’t encountered an extreme in-law family, but she had certainly encountered an extreme neighbor like this. Combined with the simple-minded Jiang family extremists, life could still go on somehow.
“Let’s eat, don’t mind her. That’s just the way she is, whenever she sees any family eating something good, her eyes practically pop out, wishing she could eat a few bites for them.” As Old Lady Ji spoke, she asked Ji Qiuyang, “You’re back this time, are you returning the day after tomorrow?”
Ji Qiuyang acknowledged, “Yes. Next time I return should be during the wheat harvest.”
The Ji family had long since tasted Jiang Jingyi’s cooking skills, but Ji Qiuyang was trying the bean curd sheets for the first time. Stir-fried with chili peppers, the flavor was truly excellent.
As for Jiang Jingyi, she glanced at Ji Qiuyang’s slender fingers and suddenly anticipated what he might look like gnawing on a pig trotter. However, Ji Qiuyang didn’t seem to enjoy pig trotters, instead eating several more pieces of spare ribs. Jiang Jingyi, considering herself a thoughtful and gentle little wife, quickly picked up a piece of pig trotter and placed it in Ji Qiuyang’s bowl. “Husband, they say you should eat what you need to supplement. Husband reads daily and uses his hands, so you should supplement more.”
**