Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Liu Fengmei was the first to react. She hurriedly stepped forward, pulled Jisen back, and scolded him, “You’re so grown, yet you’re arguing with your second sister. Apologize to her now.”

Jisen was unwilling. He stood stiffly, showing no intention of apologizing.

Liu Fengmei glanced at Ji Huan’s expression, saw her looking coldly at Jisen, and quickly tried to mediate. “Ji Huan, you know your brother. He’s not bad at heart, just stubborn. You were unwell today, so it’s right to let them do the work. But don’t say things in anger. If you’re tired, rest a few days. Isn’t Jiang Yubai there? Our Ji family doesn’t keep idle people.”

Liu Fengmei glared at Jiang Yubai behind Ji Huan, raising her voice sharply. “What are you standing there for? Can’t you see the kitchen water tank is empty? Go fetch water now.”

Jiang Yubai’s face turned pale. She knew Liu Fengmei would not let her off so easily.

Jiang Yubai sneaked a glance at Ji Huan, her heart sinking. Indeed, Ji Huan had only been kind to her for one day. How could she truly rely on Ji Huan? After all, Ji Huan always obeyed Liu Fengmei.

Jiang Yubai, pale-faced, started moving toward the kitchen to get the water bucket when someone grabbed her wrist.

It was Ji Huan? Jiang Yubai’s heart raced. She looked up at Ji Huan.

Ji Huan glanced at Jiang Yubai, winked at her, and then looked coldly at Liu Fengmei. “Mother, Yubai is my wife, not the Ji family’s servant. She took care of me all day and is exhausted. Meanwhile, big brother, his wife, and third brother are all idle at home. What, do they have no hands or feet? Or are they too precious to do rough work?”

Liu Fengmei was stunned by Ji Huan’s words. The old Ji Huan treated her words like sacred decrees and never defied her. Liu Fengmei couldn’t react for a moment.

After catching her breath, she realized Ji Huan was protecting Jiang Yubai. Seeing Ji Huan holding Jiang Yubai’s wrist, Liu Fengmei exploded. “What’s wrong with you? You won’t even listen to your mother now? Is it that little wretch Jiang Yubai? Did she tell you to say this?”

Seeing Liu Fengmei’s anger, Ji Huan quickly pulled Jiang Yubai behind her to shield her and said coldly, “No one told me. She’s my wife, and I’ll protect her from now on. As for the household chores, Yubai and I won’t do everything anymore. With so many able-bodied people idling at home, why should we do it all? Starting tomorrow, each family takes a day. If you don’t do it, we’ll all go hungry and thirsty together.”

“Ji Huan, are you crazy?” Liu Fengmei’s eyes widened in shock.

Ji Huan sneered, staring at Liu Fengmei. “Mother, you can play your act alone, but don’t expect everyone to believe you. The whole village knows how biased you are. Who doesn’t know the rest of the Ji family does nothing while I do the dirtiest, hardest work? That was fine before, but from today, don’t even think about it.”

Liu Fengmei pointed at Ji Huan, so angry she couldn’t speak. Ji Yuan grew anxious and stepped forward. The eldest and fourth families had help, but he was alone. If they rotated chores daily, he would be exhausted.

Ji Yuan rushed to support Liu Fengmei and scolded Ji Huan loudly. “Ji Huan, how can you talk to Mother like that? The old saying goes: filial piety is the greatest virtue. How can you defy your mother?”

Ji Huan nodded with a cold smile. “Indeed, filial piety is the greatest virtue. You read books every day. Your teacher must have taught you that a gentleman should be courteous and help with household tasks. And you? You only study blindly and haven’t even passed the scholar exam.”

Ji Yuan’s face turned red with anger; he was ready to retort, but Ji Huan continued, “You scholars care about reputation. If your classmates at the academy knew you treated your sister like a servant, what would they think? Ten years of study is true, but ten years of leeching off your sister is truer.”

In ancient times, reputation mattered most. Even if Ji Yuan passed exams later, officials would investigate his character. Those with poor conduct rarely gained favor.

“You, Ji Huan, don’t talk nonsense,” Ji Yuan said while trembling with anger.

“I’m stating facts. If you think it’s unfair, I can call the whole village and the village head to judge how the Ji family bullies Yubai and me,” Ji Huan said, smiling wider as Ji Yuan grew anxious.

Liu Fengmei’s lips opened and closed, unable to speak. Ji Mantun’s voice came from behind. “Enough! Is this still a family? Ji Huan has indeed worked hard for years, toiling for everyone. Father knows you’re filial and never spoke of these small matters. This time, you were very ill and spoke your mind. Fine, the family has gotten lazy. This month, we’ll follow Ji Huan’s plan. Each family takes a day to cook and work. No complaints.”

Ji Yuan panicked at Ji Mantun’s words. “Father, the eldest and fourth have help. I’m alone.”

“Quiet! Do I not know that? When it’s your turn, your mother and I will help. Sigh, old bones still working. My children are so unfilial!” Ji Mantun said, glancing at Ji Huan.

Ji Huan didn’t flinch, meeting his gaze coldly. These people were strangers to her, weren’t they?

Ji Mantun had hoped to guilt Ji Huan into apologizing and taking on all the work again. But Ji Huan remained cold and unmoved, even agreeing, “Indeed, unfilial. They’d rather sleep all day than work. Isn’t that unfilial?”

“Exactly,” Jisen said, glaring at Ji Ming and Ji Yuan. He and his wife had done all the work today while the eldest and third did nothing. He was like a mad dog, ready to snap at anyone.

Ji Ming, hearing Ji Huan’s words, felt uneasy and defended himself. “That’s not fair. Your sister-in-law and I aren’t idle. We watch your nephews.”

“Just watching kids? Can’t one person do that? Besides, doesn’t Mother mostly care for them? Or are you and sister-in-law planning to have more children all day?” Ji Huan retorted without mercy.

Ji Ming’s veins bulged with anger. Li Yulan, furious, cried and returned to her room.

“Enough, enough!” Ji Mantun hadn’t expected the usually quiet Ji Huan to speak so much. He slammed the door in frustration. “Fine, starting tomorrow, the eldest family begins. Rotate the chores. No more objections. Come eat.”

Though it was time to eat, no one was in the mood. Ji Ming went to check on Li Yulan. Ji Yuan was humiliated, and he was worried about his reputation if Ji Huan caused a scene at the academy. He lost his appetite and returned to his room.

Seeing everyone disperse unhappily, Ji Huan felt quite pleased. Noticing Jisen and his wife still standing in the yard, Ji Huan ignored them, turned to Jiang Yubai, and smiled softly. “Alright, it’s fine now. Let’s get some food and eat in our room. Mother probably doesn’t want to see me.”

Ji Huan showed no sadness as she spoke.

Jiang Yubai’s eyes reddened, her gaze toward Ji Huan complex. It had been a long time since anyone protected her. Ji Huan had actually argued with the family for her sake and seemed to have won? Now she was taking her to eat in their room?

Seeing the little white rabbit staring at her in a daze, Ji Huan reached out, took Jiang Yubai’s wrist, and led her to the kitchen.

Dinner was coarse grain buns with a dish of cabbage and potatoes. Having eaten rabbit meat that afternoon, Ji Huan wasn’t hungry. But remembering her little white rabbit’s appetite, she took four buns—one for herself, three for Jiang Yubai—and a bowl of the dish.

Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan truly meant to eat with her in their room and couldn’t help asking, “Sister, are we really eating in our room?”

Ji Huan nodded with a smile. “Of course. Going to the dining hall would just start another fight. I can’t be bothered. Eating in our room is much more relaxing.”

Jiang Yubai’s eyes brightened. Though she had eaten plenty of rabbit meat, the walk back had digested much of it, and she was hungry again.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you, sister,” Jiang Yubai said, her eyes shining as she looked at Ji Huan.

Ji Huan took a simple wooden tray, placed two bowls on it, grabbed two pairs of chopsticks, and led Jiang Yubai out of the kitchen.

Jisen thought Ji Huan was softening and bringing food to placate their parents. His eyes filled with disdain, and he was about to mock her when he saw Ji Huan lead Jiang Yubai straight to their room, showing no intention of delivering food to the main hall.

Now it was Jisen’s turn to be stunned. Was this still his timid second sister?