Chapter 190: Doubts
Jiang Yihuan dragged her weary body back to the small house she had just rented.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, a bucket of water splashed out from the side.
Jiang Yihuan was drenched right on, her face unsightly as she angrily looked at the woman who splashed the water.
“You did that on purpose.”
The woman felt no guilt at all and said sharply and harshly: “I’m splashing water at my own home door, and I didn’t splash it into your house. Who told you not to watch where you were going and show up right when I was splashing? I could say you’re deliberately slandering me!”
Five households lived in this courtyard, each renting a room. The kitchen and outhouse were shared.
This was the rental area, where many people who found work in the city lived. It also meant the place was a mixed bag of all sorts.
After Jiang Yihuan found work, she asked the boss for an advance on her monthly silver to rent the house first, so she wouldn’t have to go back to the ruined temple. She never wanted to squeeze in with a bunch of beggars in the ruined temple again.
However, that bit of silver was only enough to rent the cheapest house. If she rented a more expensive one, she wouldn’t have enough for other expenses.
She had also approached those previous suitors, but after she got married, those suitors had all gotten married one after another. Now they all had wives at home keeping an eye on them. Even if they wanted to help her out, they couldn’t come up with the money.
Jiang Yihuan hit wall after wall again and again, regretting once more that she had gotten married so early. If she hadn’t gotten married, she could have kept finding the next sucker to pay for her.
Now that she was married, it wasn’t so easy anymore to hook up with those men. Even if a man took the bait, it was just to take advantage of her, absolutely not because he wanted to marry her.
Losing her body for that bit of money was no good business deal. Since she had chosen Xiao Yanci, she could only bet everything on him.
Jiang Yihuan took the vegetables she had just bought to the kitchen. As soon as she entered, she saw a young woman cooking there. The person looked up, revealing a familiar face.
“Why are you here?” Jiang Yihuan looked at Wen Shi in front of her with vigilance.
Wen Shi’s eyes flickered: “I rented a house here.”
“You knew we lived here and deliberately followed us, didn’t you?” Jiang Yihuan said angrily. “We’re already married. Can’t you stop haunting us like a ghost?”
“What’s wrong?” Xiao Yanci had just come back from outside and heard Jiang Yihuan’s voice, so he followed it over.
When he saw Wen Shi cooking at the stove, surprise flashed in his eyes.
Wen Shi looked at him resentfully: “Xiao Scholar, I really didn’t know you were here. The rent here is cheap. This is the only house I can afford to rent.”
Xiao Yanci’s handsome face turned bright red.
The houses here were the cheapest, showing just how destitute he was now. Whether in his previous life or this life, this was the first time he was so destitute.
“Huan’er, I think this is a coincidence.”
“You’re still protecting her!” Jiang Yihuan said angrily. “I see you wish she followed us so you two could rekindle your old romance.”
“Huan’er, don’t make a fuss.” Xiao Yanci had an unlucky day and was already in a bad mood. Jiang Yihuan making a scene in front of Wen Shi made him lose even more face.
Jiang Yihuan’s eyes turned red with anger: “Fine, I’m making a fuss, I’m making a fuss.”
With that, she shoved the vegetable basket in her hand into his, and angrily returned to her own room.
Xiao Yanci frowned.
Jiang Yihuan was throwing a tantrum and wouldn’t cook?
But he was already hungry.
Wen Shi said softly: “It’s my fault. I should have avoided this. But I have no money left and can’t rent another house.”
“It’s not your fault.” Xiao Yanci said, “This time Huan’er is the one being unreasonable.”
“Xiao Scholar, you’re still such a good person.” Wen Shi looked at Xiao Yanci with deep affection.
Xiao Yanci’s heart softened.
“I’ve made some food. You’re hungry, right? Want some?” After saying that, Wen Shi added with a face full of regret: “Look at me, I keep forgetting you’re married now. You have a madam, and Madam Xiao will make food for you. How could my crude skills be presentable?”
“I am indeed a bit hungry. Do you have enough for yourself?”
Jiang Yihuan was angry and shoved the vegetables at him, so she definitely wouldn’t cook.
He was very hungry. If someone made food for him, of course he wouldn’t refuse.
He couldn’t be the one to cook, could he?
“Enough, I don’t eat much.” Wen Shi was delighted.
Jiang Yihuan collapsed on the bed and unknowingly fell asleep. When she woke up again, it was already dark outside.
By then she was starving, her front and back sticking together. She wondered why Xiao Yanci hadn’t brought the meal yet. Could he not cook and was still in the kitchen making it?
She pulled open the door and went out, only to see Xiao Yanci sitting at the stone table in the courtyard drinking tea, with Wen Shi washing clothes nearby, occasionally looking up at Xiao Yanci with deep affection.
Jiang Yihuan held back her anger and walked over, saying to Xiao Yanci: “Husband, is the meal ready?”
Xiao Yanci frowned: “I saw you sleeping and thought you didn’t want any, so I didn’t save any for you.”
Wen Shi added from the side: “If Miss Jiang is hungry, I saved two pancakes for you. Wait a moment, I’ll heat them up for you.”
“Who cares to eat your things?” Jiang Yihuan bristled.
Wen Shi was startled by her movement and stepped back, slipping underfoot.
Xiao Yanci stood up and put his arm around her waist.
“Thank you, Xiao Scholar.” Wen Shi’s voice naturally had a Jiangnan accent, and when she lowered it, it was both soft and sweet, full of charm.
“Don’t touch him.” Jiang Yihuan separated the two.
Xiao Yanci saw that Jiang Yihuan had been angered to tears, and the other households were peeking from their windows, looking like they were enjoying the show.
He didn’t want to lose face, so he pulled Jiang Yihuan back to their room.
“Xiao Scholar, I brought this tea water over for you.” Wen Shi said from behind.
“No need.” Xiao Yanci said.
“Then next time you want some, I’ll brew it for you.”
After pulling Jiang Yihuan back, Xiao Yanci closed the door and looked at her displeased.
“Huan’er, how did you turn into like this? Eldest Sister-in-law Wen didn’t know we lived here before. Now that we’ve met, we can just be friends. You’re both women, so you should look out for each other. Why do you always cause her trouble? You can’t cook, and Eldest Sister-in-law Wen’s skills are just right. We can even share meals with her.”
“Do you regret marrying me?” Jiang Yihuan hugged his neck, crying as she said, “My mother treated us that way, and following me you go hungry and sleep poorly. You regret marrying me, don’t you? That Wen Shi can cook. If you’re with her, you won’t have to worry about food or drink.”
Retreat to advance—this was her usual tactic.
Every time she saw Wen Shi, she was easily led by the nose. Only when she calmed down did she realize how ridiculously wrong she was.
These men were easy to grasp. As long as she didn’t throw off her own game, Xiao Yanci couldn’t be snatched by another woman.
She only had this one card left. No matter how dissatisfied she was, she had to hold onto this trump card.
“Talking nonsense again.” Xiao Yanci tapped her nose.
Sure enough, as soon as Jiang Yihuan cried, his tone softened.
