After saying that, Ji Changfeng ignored the petrified Ji Xue and led Daidai back toward the village.
Song Zhaoxi finally snapped out of it and hurried after him.
The two walked one behind the other along the country path. Looking at the tall, straight-backed youth before her, Song Zhaoxi found it all rather surreal.
This was the male lead—the future Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet and the Crown Prince’s tutor.
When reading the novel, she couldn’t help but admire him. And now, this very person was standing right in front of her, carrying her roe deer for her…
“Your mind’s better now?”
Ji Changfeng was the first to speak.
Coming back to her senses, Song Zhaoxi nodded.
“Mm. Thank you for what you did just now.”
“No need to thank me. At least in name, you’re still one of my family.”
After thinking about it for a moment, Song Zhaoxi understood what he meant.
The novel had mentioned more than once how fiercely protective Ji Changfeng was of his own people. Even if it had been one of the family’s cats or dogs arguing with Ji Xue, he probably would have sided with the cat or dog.
Besides, he knew exactly how the original owner of this body had been tricked into marrying into the Ji family.
He probably still felt a little guilty toward her.
Beyond that, there was nothing else.
Ji Changfeng didn’t even spare her another glance.
The rest of the journey passed in silence.
When they entered the village, the villagers, seeing that Ji Changfeng had returned, greeted him warmly.
“Scholar Ji!”
“Scholar Ji!”
Some mischievous children even ran over and surrounded him, begging him to tell them stories about the academy.
Following behind him, Song Zhaoxi had completely become invisible.
It wasn’t until Old Madam Ji’s exaggerated voice rang out that she looked up.
The old woman came charging over as if running a hundred-meter sprint, spittle flying everywhere.
“Oh, my precious grandson! You’re finally back! Grandma has missed you to death!”
Song Zhaoxi: “…”
How terrifying.
Old Madam Ji greatly enjoyed the villagers’ envious gazes. It didn’t matter to her that Ji Changfeng wasn’t her biological grandson. In her mind, without her painstaking guidance, there would be no Ji Changfeng today.
Liu Shi and Ji Xiaohu also acted especially attentive.
“Changfeng, you’ve had a tiring journey. The food’s already prepared. Hurry and wash your hands and eat something.”
Song Zhaoxi glanced at Ji Changfeng.
Though he was still young, and although his expression remained calm, the veins at his temples twitched uncontrollably.
After a long moment, he slowly revealed a smile as gentle as the spring breeze.
“Thank you, Grandmother.”
Song Zhaoxi stepped forward and took the rope from him, letting the Ji family crowd around him and escort him into the courtyard.
Very quickly, she sorted out the relationships within the family.
In the novel, after Ji Changfeng became successful, aside from bringing his parents and younger siblings to the capital and leaving the Ji family a sum of money, he never bothered with the rest of them again.
Because of this, the Ji family later went to the capital to make a huge scene.
Now it seemed that Old Madam Ji only pretended to treat Ji Changfeng well because she hoped he would support her in her old age once he became successful. Behind his back, however, she abused the eldest branch of the family, believing her scheme to be flawless.
Ji Changfeng had probably known the truth long ago.
He only pretended to be unaware so that Old Madam Ji would have some scruples and not treat his family too harshly. At the same time, she’d continue paying for his studies.
Perhaps Ji Changfeng didn’t care much about that money, but before he had grown strong enough, going along with this family was undoubtedly the wisest strategy.
After figuring this out, Song Zhaoxi was shocked.
How old was Ji Changfeng this year?
When she had been his age, she had still been a stupid, cringey teenager in her chuunibyou phase.
Shaking off her thoughts, she entered the main hall of the Ji family.
Because Ji Changfeng had returned, the entire family ate dinner together that evening.
To her surprise, Song Zhaoxi discovered that during meals in the Ji family, only Old Madam Ji and the men of the family were allowed to sit.
All the women had to stand and serve them, filling their bowls and picking food for them.
What kind of ridiculous custom was this?!
Ji Changfeng looked at Yao Shi.
“Mother, sit down and eat.”
Yao Shi immediately shook her head.
“I’ll stand.”
No matter what Ji Changfeng said, she didn’t dare sit.
Meanwhile, Song Zhaoxi calmly sat down on her own.
Everyone in the Ji family turned to look at her.
Old Madam Ji’s face instantly darkened.
“You little slut, stand up!” she scolded angrily. “By our family rules, letting you women eat at the table is already showing you favor. Who allowed you to sit down?”
“Aren’t you a woman too?” Song Zhaoxi looked at the detestable old woman and replied coldly, “Why are you sitting then? And why should I follow your family rules?”
“You dare compare yourself to me?!”
Old Madam Ji was so angry that smoke practically came out of her nostrils. But then she thought about how such behavior would only make men dislike Song Zhaoxi even more.
Maybe Ji Changfeng would be unable to tolerate her tonight and divorce her.
Suppressing her anger, she turned to Ji Changfeng with a smile.
“Your wife is just like this—wild and unruly at home. Ignore her. Hurry and eat.”
Today, Old Madam Ji was unusually generous. Still, she had only stewed one wild rabbit, and the rest of the dishes were vegetables.
The second and third branches of the family, who hadn’t eaten meat in ages, stared eagerly at the rabbit, waiting to see how it would be divided.
Old Madam Ji shamelessly picked out one of the front legs for herself and placed a hind leg into Ji Changfeng’s bowl.
The next moment, that rabbit leg appeared in Ji Changlan’s bowl.
Ji Changfeng said calmly,
“I’ve been feeling overheated lately. You and Chang’an can share it.”
Old Madam Ji was dumbfounded.
Watching the two little children from the eldest branch divide the rabbit leg, her heart ached as though it were bleeding.
Of course she knew Ji Changfeng wasn’t really suffering from excess heat—he simply pitied his younger siblings.
Gritting her teeth, when her chopsticks reached for the remaining hind leg, she moved them two inches upward and instead placed the smaller remaining leg into Ji Changfeng’s bowl.
“Studying uses up a lot of brainpower. Eat more and nourish yourself.”
Ji Changfeng: “…”
Now only one hind leg remained.
The second and third branches eyed it greedily.
Li Shi and Liu Shi struck at almost the same time, their chopsticks colliding.
“Second Sister-in-law, I’m taking it for Xiaohu to eat. You don’t even have a son, so what are you doing?”
Li Shi’s face darkened.
“Children don’t need it! Dajiang has been exhausted lately too. This rabbit leg should obviously go to my Dajiang to build up his strength!”
The two refused to back down.
At that moment, Ji Xiaohu had already picked up his chopsticks and was preparing to snatch it.
Grandmother loved him the most. As long as he got the rabbit leg, she definitely wouldn’t say anything.
Ji Pingping wasn’t one to be outdone either.
The instant Ji Xiaohu moved, she used her chopsticks to pin his down.
“This rabbit leg belongs to my father!”
“You worthless girl! Are you looking for death?!”
Thus, the second and third branches began fighting over a single rabbit leg right at the dinner table.
Song Zhaoxi was utterly dumbfounded.
What an incredible family!
Ji Pingping’s and Ji Xiaohu’s chopsticks clattered loudly against each other, sending peanuts and pickled vegetables flying everywhere and splashing broth all over the table.
It was quite the spectacle.
Just as Song Zhaoxi was observing the battle and wondering who would emerge victorious, Ji Changfeng slowly set down his chopsticks.
“Grandmother, I’m not very hungry. You all eat.”
With that, he stood up and left the hall.
The room instantly fell silent.
Old Madam Ji slammed her chopsticks onto the table.
“You disgraceful lot! Go on, keep fighting! Why did you all stop?!”