Chapter 32

Chapter 32

In fact, Song Shian knew without asking that the extra silver in Jiang Chun's possession must have been obtained through some sort of conjuring magic.

He just didn't know whether the conjured items came from some unknown place or from all over the Great Zhou.

If it was the latter, that would be rather troublesome.

Ordinary items were one thing, but antiques, paintings, famous musical instruments, and renowned swords each had their own origins, and there was only one of each in the world. If she "conjured" them and then boldly pawned them, she might very well be caught as a thief.

Song Shian gave her a sidelong glance, seriously scrutinizing her while mentally reviewing her past actions. No matter how well-traveled he was, he couldn't figure out if she was smart or foolish.

After all, this guy was sometimes crazy and sometimes dead serious, completely unlike an ordinary person.

After a moment's thought, he still couldn't help but warn her, “It’s your skill to find ways to earn money, but people are unpredictable. Be careful not to be fooled by fakes.

Many antiques, paintings, famous musical instruments, and renowned swords are unique in the world. The collectors who own them are either rich or powerful; how could they easily put them up for sale or pawn?”

Cough, although the topic was a bit abrupt, after all, she hadn't said anything about dealing in antiques, paintings, famous musical instruments, or renowned swords, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that he got his warning across.

However, Jiang Chun shot him a disdainful look and huffed, “Antiques, paintings, famous musical instruments, and renowned swords? You flatter me too much. With the thirty taels of silver I have, I can’t even afford the crudest fake.”

The productivity of ancient times was incomparable to modern times, and the cost of counterfeiting was quite high. Even the crudest fake was worth a considerable amount.

Song Shian: “...”

Is that the point?

The point is that these rare items are unique and cannot be casually used to exchange for money.

He took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words, and patiently said, “Being unable to afford them is actually a good thing. If you could afford them and by some incredible luck, you really bought a rare treasure, pawning it could bring you deadly trouble.

After all, people will kill for wealth, and birds will die for food.”

Jiang Chun bit her lip.

To be honest, although she didn’t understand why this guy kept talking about antiques, paintings, famous musical instruments, and renowned swords as if he was certain she was dealing in them, his words weren’t entirely without merit.

The items rewarded by the check-in system were random replicas of items from the shops she visited. If a shop happened to have a unique item, and she produced an identical one, both being genuine, that would be a disaster.

So, in the future, when using the system-rewarded items, she must carefully identify them to ensure they are not unique.

In fact, she was more cautious than Song Shian imagined. For slightly expensive items, like rosewood armchairs and gold hairpins embedded with rubies, she didn’t dare touch them.

But when it came to the safety and lives of her family, being overly cautious was never a bad thing.

She jumped onto the kang bed with a “thud,” then wrapped her arms around Song Shian’s neck, tilting her head to look at him and smiling mischievously, “Husband, you’re so concerned about my safety. Could it be that you’ve fallen in love with me?”

Before Song Shian could respond, she triumphantly said, “Oh, it’s not surprising at all. After all, a woman as beautiful and capable as me is hard to find, even with a lantern. It makes sense for you to fall in love with me; it wouldn’t make sense if you didn’t.”

Song Shian snorted, unwilling to engage in her banter, and pushed her arm away, “Let go, what kind of decorum is this?”

Jiang Chun immediately tightened her grip, acting stubbornly, “You don’t speak from your heart, I won’t let go.”

Song Shian glanced at her sideways, saying coolly, “Do you really want to hear my true thoughts?”

Jiang Chun wasn’t stupid; if she answered yes, he would definitely say something unpleasant.

So she quickly changed her tune, “If you don’t say you love me, I won’t let go.”

Song Shian: “...”

What a crafty person, her mind works faster than a thousand-year-old fox to take advantage of him!

He put down the brush in the ink dish and leaned back against the quilt, calmly saying, “Then keep holding.”

At most, she would hold until noon, when she would need to prepare lunch.

She could starve him, but she couldn’t starve herself, and certainly not Jiang He.

“Eh?” Jiang Chun was utterly surprised. When did this guy become so shameless?

In the past, a little teasing would make him blush furiously.

What was this?

Was he becoming teachable? Or was he influenced by her?

She rolled her eyes, and in the next instant, she suddenly tightened her arms, pressing her entire body against him, fitting perfectly together.

The sudden softness against his chest made Song Shian’s pale face flush a fiery red, even redder than the evening sky.

Jiang Chun blinked her large almond eyes, looking at him smugly, “It’s you who told me to hold you. Since you asked, I must hold tightly, right?”

Song Shian: “...”

Although he did say those words, did he mean it like that?

This guy’s ability to turn things around was truly refined to perfection!

And she wasn’t just hugging him; she also rested her chin on his shoulder.

As she spoke, her warm breath tickled his neck, making him shiver and feel a tingling sensation, as if someone was tickling him with a feather, causing goosebumps to rise on his skin and his limbs to feel weak.

Deliberately, this guy was definitely doing this on purpose.

Sure enough, in the next moment, she blew into his ear.

Song Shian trembled violently, a tingling sensation running up his spine to the top of his head.

The culprit laughed heartily: "Oh my, I didn't know my husband's ears were so sensitive."

Song Shian gritted his teeth: "How can you be so... so unreserved..."

His teasing skills were endless, not much different from those notorious playboys.

Jiang Chun draped his arm around Song Shian's neck, wriggling in his embrace with a grin: "Reserve is for others. With my own husband, of course I'll be as unreserved as possible."

Song Shian, who had never been close to a woman in two lifetimes, found it hard to resist such warmth and softness in his arms, especially when she kept rubbing against him with her soft body.

His body reacted shamefully.

He was stunned, then pushed Jiang Chun away in a fit of anger: "Let go! Stop hugging me! If you don't let go, I'll get angry!"

In the next moment, Jiang Chun immediately released him and quickly backed away, putting some distance between them.

Oh no, he must have caused trouble.

Being so close, Jiang Chun could certainly feel his reaction, the prominent evidence pressing against her thigh.

She just wanted to tease him a bit and advance their relationship. If left to him, this cold and distant man, they would still be treating each other with respect even after ten years.

But she didn't expect to ignite such a fire.

Worse, his body was still very weak. Even if she wanted to help extinguish the fire, he couldn't handle it.

However...

She curled her lips, realizing that this guy wasn't as calm as he appeared when it came to her.

Song Shian felt both embarrassed and awkward, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to hide in and escape the current situation.

He thought that given Jiang Chun's mischievous nature, she would surely mock him and take the opportunity to make more demands.

To his surprise, she said nothing, jumped off the bed, and left the room, leaving him alone and sparing him further embarrassment.

He pressed his lips together, wondering if there were times when she could be considerate?

Then a deep regret welled up inside him. Knowing she was the type to take advantage of any opportunity, he shouldn't have let her hug him, which indeed led to this trouble?

It was also his fault for lacking self-control, reacting to her.

In his previous life, despite his high status and power, countless women had thrown themselves at him, but he only felt disgust.

After being reborn, he felt the same way about Jiang Chun.

When did this change start?

Song Shian furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment but couldn't figure it out.

The only possibility was that he wasn't really attracted to her; it was just a normal male reaction to a woman he didn't dislike.

Yes, it must be that.

After all, she treated him so well, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she poured her heart out for him. He couldn't possibly hate her.

Not only did he not hate her, but he was even somewhat moved.

But she had too many secrets, and the ability to conjure objects out of thin air. He didn't want to get emotionally entangled with her, maintaining a nominal marital relationship was enough.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chun, feeling guilty, made radish fritters and cut a few greasy salted duck eggs for lunch to apologize.

The salted duck eggs were fine, but the crispy golden radish fritters tempted Jiang He, who complained: "Chun, we have plenty of radishes at home. Why didn't you make more radish fritters?"

Thinking about the couple's spat, he added teasingly: "All you think about is your son-in-law, forgetting about your father?"

Jiang Chun placed a salted duck egg in front of Jiang He and pouted: "If you want radish fritters, just say so. I'll make them for you tonight. Why bring up these irrelevant things?"

Song Shian lowered his head and silently ate the radish fritters without lifting his head.

Although Jiang Chun acted as if nothing had happened and didn't mention it, he still felt a bit uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Jiang He soon brought up the topic of buying a mule cart, saying happily: "Your Uncle Jiang Wan is truly our village's go-to person. Asking him was the right move! He said that the brother-in-law of your third uncle's nephew has a good mule for sale!

Tomorrow, you'll go to town to sell meat, and I'll ask Uncle Jiang Wan to use his mule cart to take me to Little Li Village to see the mule."

"Found out about the mule so quickly?"

Jiang Chun raised an eyebrow in surprise, then gave a thumbs up: "No wonder you're my Uncle Jiang Wan!"

Rural people didn't have the custom of not talking during meals or before bed. The father and daughter chatted about the "important matter" of buying a mule while eating, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, which reduced Song Shian's embarrassment.

By the end of the meal, his mood had mostly adjusted.

Before going to bed, when Jiang Chun offered to pour his foot-washing water, he spoke up: "I'm feeling better now. I can pour my own foot-washing water. No need for you to help."

Jiang Chun put down the wooden basin and smiled: "Alright, you do it yourself."

She even took advantage of the situation: "Since my husband has the strength to pour foot-washing water, after I wash my feet, you can pour mine too."

Song Shian remained silent for a moment, then nodded: "Alright."

Previously, when he was weak and couldn't even lift the basin, she had always helped him pour the foot-washing water.

Now that he had some strength, it was only proper to return the favor by pouring her foot-washing water.

Jiang Chun looked at him with a half-smile: "My husband seems particularly... vulnerable today."

Song Shian ignored her, struggling to lift the basin and shuffling to the yard to pour the water into the drainage ditch.

After Jiang Chun finished washing his feet, without her having to ask, he kept his word and indeed poured out the foot-washing water for her.

Lying on the kang, Jiang Chun felt incredibly pleased.

The future Prime Minister who would wield immense power in the court, also the brother-in-law of the new emperor, a royal relative, not only washed her undergarments but also poured out her foot-washing water.

Although she felt somewhat guilty about today's events and didn't dare to tease him, it wasn't without its rewards.

This could be considered a test, confirming that his physical functions were normal, not just a showy exterior with no substance.

And the size was quite impressive...

She held her face and rolled around in the quilt, sighing, "Oh, I am truly blessed."

Song Shian, seeing that she wasn't sleeping properly and didn't know what she was doing under the quilt, couldn't help but cough lightly, "Why are you kicking the quilt around for no reason? If you catch a cold, you'll have a hard time."

Jiang Chun flipped over to face the head of the kang, grinning, "Oh, my husband is so concerned about me, it really surprises me."

Song Shian said coolly, "I'm afraid you might fall ill, and then there would be no one to cook for me, to stew bird's nest or boil medicine."

Jiang Chun stretched her long legs out from under the quilt, reaching over to kick his leg through the quilt, and said with a smug smile, "Husband, don't try to deny it, I know you care about me."

Song Shian, not expecting her leg to stretch over, said coldly, "Keep your legs still, don't stretch them around randomly!"

If he didn't scold her sternly, now it was her leg, but next it could be something else, or even her whole body crawling over.

Jiang Chun, having played a big game today, didn't dare to be too bold and obediently pulled her legs back into the quilt, muttering, "Fine, I won't stretch them if you say so, who cares anyway."

Song Shian pursed his lips, who cares? I think you care a lot.

*

The next morning, after father and daughter had slaughtered the pig and loaded the pork onto the wheelbarrow, they heard a knock at the door.

Jiang Chun opened the door and saw her cousin Jiang Liu, surprised, "Why did you come so early? Did Grandma send you to cut meat?"

It was still dark, and at this hour, only villagers in a hurry to cut meat would visit their home.

Jiang Liu shook her head and said, "I heard that Cousin Yiner had an accident, I want to go see her, but I'm afraid Grandma will complain, so I wanted to ask if you're free to go with me?"

Jiang Chun was planning to go to the Wang family anyway and smiled, "Sure, but you'll have to wait until I finish selling the meat."

"Of course I'll wait," Jiang Liu nodded and laughed, "I'll help you sell the meat."

"Alright, you help me collect the money," Jiang Chun didn't hesitate and assigned her a task.

Then she pushed the wheelbarrow, and the cousins chatted as they headed to town.

When they arrived at Liu Pozi's house, Liu Pozi was quite happy to see Jiang Liu, pulling her aside and asking all sorts of questions, much more warmly than she treated Jiang Chun.

Although Liu Pozi didn't like her niece Li Shi, she quite liked Jiang Liu, who was smart, lively, and skilled at embroidery.

Learning that Jiang Liu had almost been sold by Li Shi, Liu Pozi was furious, gnashing her teeth and cursing, "That old hag Li Shi, all she cares about is money, willing to sell her own granddaughter!"

"What an ignorant fool, thinking that working for a wealthy family is a good thing? That clever girl Wang Yiner, the most promising in the whole town, ended up being beaten to near death by her masters!"

Pausing, she sneered, "Since Li Shi thinks wealthy families are so great, why doesn't she sell herself and become a night-soil cleaner for them?"

Jiang Chun, hanging the meat on the iron hooks, listened intently to their conversation. By the end, she almost burst out laughing.

Aunt Liu Pozi seemed to share the same thoughts as Song Shian.

He had also suggested that Li Shi sell herself to work as a night-soil cleaner for a wealthy family, but unfortunately, Li Shi didn't appreciate his "kindness."

Jiang Liu agreed, "Exactly, I knew wealthy families weren't easy to deal with, which is why I refused to be sold."

"Yesterday, when I heard about Cousin Yiner's incident, I was so scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. I was so terrified of what might have happened to me."

"Thankfully, I went to Sister for help, and she took me to Grandfather Clan Leader to intervene, forcing Grandma to abandon the idea. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what fate awaited me."

The two of them grew angrier as they spoke, and together they cursed Li Shi to high heaven.

An hour later, when Jiang Chun finished selling the meat, Liu Pozi, who was used to cursing people, didn't feel particularly affected.

But Jiang Liu, a novice at cursing, had lost her voice, speaking in a hoarse, unpleasant tone.

Jiang Chun was both amused and exasperated, scolding her, "You came to help me collect money, but you didn't collect a single coin and lost your voice in the process. What use are you?"

Jiang Liu stuck out her tongue guiltily and said in a hoarse voice, "I got distracted chatting with Auntie, Sister, don't be angry, I'll come help you collect money tomorrow."

Jiang Chun declined politely, "Forget it, you'd just be a hindrance. Stay home and sleep in."

She left the table and chairs at Liu Pozi's place and asked her to watch the wheelbarrow, then took Jiang Liu to the Wang family.

On the way, they passed by a general store where she bought a packet of brown sugar and two bunches of eggs.

She handed the eggs to Jiang Liu, saying, "You carry these."

Jiang Chun, influenced by modern habits, always brought gifts when visiting the sick; going empty-handed felt wrong.

Jiang Liu, a young lady, didn't need to bring too heavy a gift, and two bunches of eggs were sufficient.

"Sister, I can't take these," Jiang Liu wasn't stupid. Her sister was strong; how could she not carry two bunches of eggs? This was clearly a gift for her.

She returned the eggs to Jiang Chun and took out ten coins from the pouch she had sewn herself, saying, "I brought ten coins, but I didn't know what to buy for Cousin Yiner, so I'll just give her the money directly. It might help a little."

This was the New Year's money she had saved for ten years. Her grandmother, a miser, gave her only one coin each year, and she hadn't spent a single coin, saving it all.

Jiang Chun rolled her eyes and said, "Keep your money. You never know when you might need it urgently."

Jiang Liu refused, "No, it's fine. It's already great that you're willing to come with me. I can't spend your money."

"Stop whining. At worst, when you get married, just be a bit more frugal and use your husband's money to support me," Jiang Chun said as she forcefully handed her the egg, then snorted, "If you keep whining, I won't go with you."

Jiang Liu stood there, biting her lip, holding the egg. Only after Jiang Chun had walked quite a distance did she start running to catch up, saying, "Don't worry, Sister, I'll definitely be frugal with my husband's money to support you in the future."

"Alright, I'll wait for you to support me," Jiang Chun chuckled, responding casually, and raised her hand to gently rub Jiang Liu's twin buns.

Whether she would keep her promise in the future didn't matter; at least she was speaking from the heart right now.

And Jiang Chun didn't need her support at all.

The two of them chatted and laughed their way to the Wang family's residence. Seeing the carriage parked at the Wangs' gate and the servants standing guard outside, Jiang Chun's face immediately darkened.

Not even an old woman was in sight, clearly indicating that this was not the usual arrangement for a young lady from a wealthy family to go out.