The Useless Alpha’s Yandere Wife - Chapter 31

The deep pit, longer than an adult’s outstretched arm—roughly three meters—contained a bloodied wild boar trapped inside.

The boar had likely been trapped for days. Sharp bamboo stakes pierced its abdomen, the crimson bl00d staining the ground around it. Hearing the commotion, it could only let out a weak grunt or two, clearly on its last legs.

Tan Qianyue slipped and nearly fell onto the boar. Her legs went weak with terror, and she clung to the pit’s edge, paralyzed with fear. Even her voice was weak and breathless as she called out to Jiang Yan.

Hearing her voice, Jiang Yan looked up but couldn’t see Tan Qianyue. He sprinted toward the hawthorn tree where she had been moments before, finally hearing her faint cries for help.

“Don’t run! There’s a trap!” Tan Qianyue shouted urgently, fearing Jiang Yan might fall in too.

Jiang Yan finally spotted her. Half her body was dangling into a pit overgrown with weeds, her only support the handful of tangled vegetation she gripped desperately, clinging to the edge of the hole.

Jiang Yan quickly bent down, grabbed Tan Qianyue by the shoulders, and lifted her out. When Tan Qianyue’s feet touched the ground, she clung to Jiang Yan, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Waaah… Waaah…” Tan Qianyue was terrified, her hands gripping Jiang Yan’s clothes tightly.

“There, there, it’s okay now. Don’t wander off like that again. You never know what you might encounter in the wilderness,” Jiang Yan said, still shaken by the near miss. It was her own carelessness; she had assumed that any place within sight was safe.

“Piggy!” Tan Qianyue pointed behind her without turning around.

“What piggy?” Jiang Yan could only see the edge of the trap and half of Tan Qianyue’s body.

“Pig… pig… there’s a wild boar inside,” Tan Qianyue repeated, still refusing to look back.

“A wild boar?” Jiang Yan realized this must be a hunter’s trap, overgrown with weeds and looking like it hadn’t been dug recently.

“Wait here for me. I’ll go check it out.” She helped Tan Qianyue sit down by a large tree.

“Be careful!” Tan Qianyue’s eyes still glistened with tears.

“Okay, I will.” Jiang Yan turned back toward the trap.

Leaning over the edge, Jiang Yan peered down. Good heavens! A massive, dark-skinned wild boar, weighing at least two hundred pounds, had fallen into the pit. Bl00d stained the ground, likely from its desperate struggles that had only driven it deeper. After enduring days of torment, it was barely clinging to life, unable to roar, only emitting faint whimpers.

“Lord, Lord! There’s a wild boar here!” Jiang Yan waved Sang Yu over.

“A wild boar?” Sang Yu exclaimed in surprise, hurrying over with her men.

The officers were visibly excited at the sight of the boar. Though they occasionally got a taste of meat on the road, nothing compared to the aroma of a large, fresh kill.

“How are we going to get it back?” Sang Yu wondered, eyeing the massive creature they had barely managed to haul up. Covered in bl00d and mud, could they really carry it on their backs?

“Easy,” Jiang Yan suggested. “There are plenty of vines in these mountains. We can weave a harness with some dry grass and drag it back.”

“You always have a solution,” Sang Yu said, her usually stern face breaking into a grin that stretched from ear to ear. “You’ve truly solved a major problem for us.” Who would have thought a simple scouting trip would yield such abundance? Miss Jiang was truly a lucky star.

The group split into two teams: four men dragged the boar while the rest gathered medicinal herbs. It took them roughly four hours to return to their campsite.

“Lord, Lord!” Sang Yu hurried to report today’s findings to Miao Fengqing.

“How did it go? Did you find anything?” Miao Fengqing rose and took a few steps forward. If today’s search proved fruitless, she would have to send riders to the nearest town tomorrow to purchase medicine, though she wasn’t sure if the patients could wait that long.

“Yes… yes…” Sang Yu gasped for breath.

“Speak slowly,” Lord Miao said, her face lighting up at the news of success.

“On this trip up the mountain, Miss Jiang not only led us to medicinal herbs for the patients but also found a large wild boar!” Sang Yu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Lord Miao.

“A wild boar too? Such incredible luck! This truly solves our immediate crisis,” Lord Miao exclaimed, striding outside to inspect the herbs and the boar.

“We owe this breakthrough entirely to Miss Jiang,” Miao Fengqing said, her gaze toward Jiang Yan finally softening with a hint of warmth.

“It was all just a coincidence,” Jiang Yan replied politely. “We won’t know if the herbs are effective until they’re administered.” She dared not make any guarantees, lest they prove useless and she be blamed, even though she planned to add some of Doctor Lu’s medicinal powder to the mixture.

The herbal remedies were still too weak. This bout of cold was particularly fierce, requiring stronger medicine. The last time Tan Qianyue drank it, the effects had been remarkable—the illness vanished almost instantly.

That Dr. Lu really knew his stuff.

Hearing that a wild boar had been captured in the mountains, Captain Wei and Captain Lu strolled over leisurely, as if watching a spectacle.

“Men, carry this wild boar away! Today, we’re treating everyone to a feast. Let’s get our mouths greasy with meat! And don’t you dare say your captain ever mistreats you!” Captain Wei declared with a generous wave of his hand, ordering his men to haul the boar away.

“What is the meaning of this, Lord?” Miao Fengqing stepped forward, blocking Captain Wei’s path.

“Huh? What’s wrong? Isn’t this wild boar supposed to be extra rations for everyone? I’m just having it taken away to be prepared,” Captain Wei said, his dark face as thick-skinned as a city wall.

“It’s true this would provide a much-needed oily meal. The patients are weak; this might even help them recover. I’ve already sent someone for water, so there’s no need for Lord Wei to trouble himself,” Miao Fengqing said, giving her subordinates a subtle signal. Captain Wei’s men wouldn’t get their hands on the boar.

Captain Wei’s face darkened at her obstruction, his gaze pressing down on Miao Fengqing with palpable menace.

“Sang Yu, take Miss Jiang to the river to remove the wild boar’s bristles,” Miao Fengqing ordered, feigning blindness to Captain Wei’s glare. She then instructed the others to boil water for scalding and prepare medicinal herbs.

Captain Wei’s chest heaved with anger. After a long moment, he flung his sleeve and stormed off.

The prisoners, hearing that medicinal herbs had been found, rallied their spirits. Those with milder ailments even rose to help with the work, creating a temporary bustle of activity.

Jiang Yan, however, was preoccupied with another matter. With so many sick in the tent, it would be best to separate them for the night.

Two large iron cauldrons were set up in the clearing. Traveling groups always tried to camp near water sources, and those who could afford it even carried small waterwheels to store a few days’ worth of clean water, ensuring timely meals.

The wild boar was dragged to the riverbank for cleaning. The early autumn water was bone-chillingly cold.

By mid-November, the river would likely freeze over, making survival even more arduous in the icy wilderness.

Scalding water was poured in ladlefuls over the boar’s carcass, and flat stones were used to scrub away the bristles.

Jiang Yan worked alongside Sang Yu, while Tan Qianyue returned to Ying Hong and Miss Su to rest.

“This wild boar is truly plump,” the cook said, patting the thick layer of fat. “If it hadn’t suffered these past few days, it would have been even fatter.”

“The skin’s a bit thick, though,” another cook chimed in.

“Uh… what did the Lord say to do with it?” The cook was eager to show off his skills.

“The Lord wants us to make a meat broth,” Jiang Yan replied after a moment’s thought. “It’s the most nourishing for the sick.” She knew patients shouldn’t eat overly greasy food, but the exiled prisoners were an exception. If they didn’t get some proper nourishment, even a mild cold could prove fatal.

“Broth works too,” the cook agreed readily. “A big pot of meat broth will be incredibly fragrant.” He was an easygoing and agreeable sort.

Jiang Yan helped portion the boar meat. Though the raw meat had a strong odor, it would taste delicious once cooked.

As they divided the meat, Jiang Yan spotted a particularly good cut, about ten pounds, with a perfect balance of lean and fat. She concealed it under her sleeve and slipped it into the storage room.

This wild boar had been earned at the cost of her wife nearly falling to her death. How could she not take a few choice cuts? After a quick glance around, she also hid a large bone, planning to make soup for the Eldest Miss when the opportunity arose.

“I’ll go check on the medicinal herbs,” Jiang Yan said, having accomplished her meat-stealing mission. She slipped away to the large pot where windproof herbs were simmering in small pieces. She needed to add some extra ingredients. As for the consequences, she, as a Mongolian doctor, had done her best. If it didn’t work, it was simply fate.

The medicinal powder was likely Lu Yin’s personal preference—unconventional, yet surprisingly effective and incredibly convenient.

Jiang Yan had ten small packets of the cold remedy powder left. Reluctantly, she poured seven packets into the pot, saving the remaining three for emergencies. The moment the powder hit the broth, a bitter aroma surged into her nostrils—an alarmingly intense bitterness.

They set up camp early today to rest. The twenty-odd sick individuals were helped into the tents, most accompanied by family members.

Jiang Yan had no desire to return to the cramped, foul-smelling tent from the previous night. With so many sick people now, the thought was even more unbearable. She would have to find another place to sleep later.

Through several deliberate efforts, Jiang Yan had successfully made a lasting impression on both the officers and Miao Fengqing. She hoped this would make future interactions smoother.

As the sun gradually set, its warmth faded with it. The savory aroma rising from the iron pot was indescribable to their famished stomachs.

The wild boar meat had been cut into bite-sized pieces. Bones, trotters, head, tail, heart, liver, and lungs were all thrown into the pot together, seasoned with handfuls of coarse salt, and stirred with a wooden ladle. The rich, meaty fragrance made everyone restless with anticipation.

The medicinal herbs had been brewed long ago and were cooling aside. The meat broth, on the other hand, had simmered for nearly three hours, fueled by six thick logs. The layer of glistening fat on top was as thick as a fingertip, and tender chunks of pork swirled in the oily broth, bubbling and gurgling with a sound that made everyone imagine its savory taste.

Jiang Yan found Sang Yu and reminded her, “Don’t give the patients the oily broth from the top. They need the clearer broth from below.”

“Understood,” Sang Yu nodded. “Patients shouldn’t eat anything too greasy.”

She grabbed a large bowl and carefully selected several meaty bones and well-marbled pieces of pork belly, sending them to Lord Miao and the two Captains.

Regardless of her true feelings, she couldn’t let those men see her disdain, lest they cause trouble.

The aroma of the massive pot of meat broth wafted for miles, drawing everyone irresistibly closer.

Since Jiang Yan and Sang Yu were considered heroes, Sang Yu specially ladled two bowls of the best cuts for them. Jiang Yan carried the broth and led Tan Qianyue to a quiet corner to eat.

A small shadow trailed behind them.

The officers lined up first, followed by the prisoners. Each person received one scoop of meat and two scoops of broth, with Sang Yu personally portioning the meat to prevent any cheating.

The scalding-hot bowl was placed on a rock. Jiang Yan borrowed three spoons from Sang Yu, and the trio squatted around the large stone, ready to eat the meat and drink the broth.

In the past, Tan Qianyue would never have been able to stomach the pure meat broth, greasy as it was. Now, she even felt a flicker of anticipation. It must taste good, right?

Just then, Jiang Yan pulled three warm steamed buns from his robes. Tan Qianyue’s eyes lit up.

“Where did you get those?”

“I secretly traded silver with the cook. The lords always demand good food,” Jiang Yan said smoothly, his expression perfectly natural, leaving no room for suspicion.

“You can really get them that way?” Tan Qianyue asked, surprised.

“They need to earn silver too!”

“True!” Tan Qianyue nodded.

“Hurry up and eat before anyone sees us!”

“Mm.”

The three formed a tight circle, heads bowed as they ate.

The wild boar meat was a bit tough, but after simmering over a roaring fire for an hour and a half, it was now perfectly tender.

The texture differed slightly from farmed pork, but the generous amount of coarse salt gave each bite a savory, salty flavor.

Tan Qianyue skimmed off the grease and tasted the broth with her spoon. It was surprisingly rich and fragrant. A bite of steamed bun followed by a bite of meat was a rare delicacy on this exile journey. Truly, the human capacity for adaptation knew no bounds.

As they ate the soup and meat, they completely forgot about the pig brother who had terrified them into paralysis.

In the vast wilderness at dusk, everyone held their bowls, eating meat and drinking soup, creating an unexpectedly peaceful and tranquil scene.

The herbal medicine had been brewed long ago and kept warm over embers. After the meal, each patient would receive a bowl, and whether it would help or not was left to fate.

That night, the tents echoed with coughing. Only family members could endure such a cacophony.

Jiang Yan glared bitterly at the tent, refusing to enter. Miao Fengqing had lured Su He away with the children.

The October night wind in the north blew with bone-chilling intensity.

“What should we do?” Tan Qianyue asked, tilting her head to look at Jiang Yan.

Just then, Su Jing approached Jiang Yan with Concubine Sun.

“Miss Jiang,” Su Jing said, “I learned how to weave straw mats from you the other day. Today, Mother and I made two larger ones. It’s getting late, so please take this one for tonight.” Seeing Jiang Yan’s reluctance to enter the tent, Su Jing knew she didn’t want to stay inside. He offered them one of the mats they had worked on for two days as an emergency measure.

Looking at the straw mat in Su Jing’s hand, though crudely woven, it would at least block the wind.

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony. I’ll borrow them for two days.”

“Borrow? These things are all over the mountains and fields.”

“Alright, thanks!” Jiang Yan nodded to him, picked up the large and small straw mats, and walked toward Sang Yu’s tent. She didn’t trust Captain Wei’s group and wanted to stay closer to Lord Miao’s team.

Jiang Yan found a tree, laid out the smaller straw mat, and curled up on it—just enough space for three people. She then used the larger mat to create a semicircle around the area.

As she was securing the mats, two patrolling officers approached.

“What are you doing?” the officer barked loudly.

“Oh, Lord, everyone in the tent is sick, so I thought we’d just make do with some dry straw outside. Wouldn’t want to trouble you further after we recover,” Jiang Yan said warmly, pulling the officer forward a few steps and slipping a tael of silver from her sleeve into his hand.

“Lord, just do us this small favor. Buy some wine when you pass through the next village,” she added sincerely and humbly.

Hearing himself addressed as “Lord” filled the officer with a subtle sense of pride, and he straightened his posture.

He accepted the silver discreetly, his tone softening. “Don’t try any tricks. We patrol the area at night.”

“Yes, yes, of course not. We’ll just huddle here for the night.”

“Good. Go back now!” With that, the officer patted his pocket and walked away.

It turned out these perks usually went to the captain, but now the two officers could pocket some extra cash. They left cheerfully, especially since they’d had meat for dinner, putting them in an even better mood.

Seeing them gone, Tan Qianyue finally relaxed.

Jiang Yan continued securing the straw mats, eager to get the tent set up as soon as possible.

The three women leaned against the large tree in their usual spots, gazing up at the night sky as they endured another makeshift night.

Five days later, they finally reached Yixian County. This place was noticeably wealthier than the previous county. Captain Wei and Lord Miao were invited to a banquet.

The area provided for the officers was spacious, and Captain Wei even allowed the prisoners to take hot baths.

“Pah! A fox offering New Year’s greetings to a chicken—no good intentions there,” one woman sneered.

“Well, what choice do we have? The people of Yixian County are well-fed and clothed. We should try to get two more tents from the officers. That way, each family could have one. Otherwise, we’re cramped together, legs cramped, and then we have to travel the next day. It’s torture,” someone suggested.

“Exactly! We should demand two more tents and divide them by family—one for each family!” The idea was immediately met with agreement. Sleeping with cramped legs was simply too exhausting.

“Who will speak to the officers?” Everyone looked at each other, but when the moment came, no one dared to step forward.

After a long silence, a woman who still retained her beauty was pushed forward.

“Xiangya, you’re close to that Officer Lü, aren’t you? Why don’t you talk to him?”

“Now you remember me? Where were you when I needed help before?” The woman stood with a seductive posture. She was a concubine of Vice Minister of the Secretariat Wang Mian. Though her face was thin, it carried a natural allure.

“We’re all family,” the Wang Family elder said. “We couldn’t help you before, but your child is still part of the clan. We must consider her future.”

The woman didn’t argue further. Though the Wang Family had been exiled, her child still needed the clan’s support.

“I can try, but whether he’ll listen is beyond my control.”

“Just try!” the others urged.

Yixian County provided a generous meal that day: stewed cabbage and tofu in abundance, and two coarse wheat buns per person. Even the prisoners were treated to a festive meal.

The officers received an extra meat dish, a testament to Yixian County’s benevolence in treating the exiled group with such hospitality.

During their two-day stay, Xiangya actually managed to secure a new tent—but only one. The family’s plan to divide the tents by clan was dashed.

The Wang Family took their tent without a second thought, after all, they had secured it themselves.

The remaining three families shared two tents. The Tan Family, being small, had Tan Xue’er take Xiao Concubine and Tan Xuesong to join the Princely Manor’s group. Though unwelcome, they could at least survive there.

Maternal Uncle Tan’s family quietly retreated to a corner, easily overlooked as long as they didn’t cause trouble.

Tan Qianyue and Jiang Yan didn’t squeeze into the tents, effectively leaving the three families to divide the two tents among themselves.

Jiang Yan had long asked Sang Yu to find her some tattered clothes. Sang Yu, though puzzled by the request, sent someone to town to gather a few sets and had Ying Hong deliver them to Jiang Yan.

During their two-day stay in Yixian County, Jiang Yan began making her own tent.

She tore the tattered clothes into strips and patches, then meticulously sewed them onto a black, cotton-padded, high-tech fabric using needle and thread. Ying Hong helped with the sewing.

“Mistress, isn’t this fabric already good? Why are you sewing these rags onto it?” Ying Hong asked, her face full of confusion.

“If you can tell it’s good, don’t you think others can too?” Jiang Yan replied without looking up from her work.

Appearance didn’t matter; durability and warmth were what counted. The tents provided by the officers looked large, but in another month, they’d be no better than sleeping in the open.

“Who would want something patched together like this? It looks like a beggar’s hovel!”

The other families watched Jiang Yan sewing rags onto her tent and laughed at her, convinced she’d gone mad after failing to get a proper tent. They mocked her for trying to build a “house” out of scraps.

The more they laughed, the more satisfied Jiang Yan became. They won’t be laughing when the snow starts falling, she thought.

After two days of hard work, Jiang Yan’s “little nest” finally took shape.

Her rectangular “new home,” measuring four square meters and standing 1.5 meters tall, was just high enough to allow her to breathe comfortably while sleeping. From a distance, it resembled a squat, grounded house, its surface covered in patches of tattered clothing—blues, grays, and blacks blending together, with occasional flashes of red adding a touch of festive cheer. This patchwork appearance only fueled the amusement of the “noble” onlookers.

But inside Jiang Yan’s tent, even the floor was double-layered, with a thin layer of cotton padding between the layers—far superior to the other tents where people slept directly on the bare ground.

The only drawback was that Jiang Yan would have to carry her “home” on her back every day, like a snail lugging its shell.

Still, with this shelter, they could cook meals inside, making all the hardship worthwhile.

Tan Qianyue stroked the comfortable interior, her excitement building as she eagerly anticipated nightfall…!