Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Ji Sen exploded with anger, sat directly on a stool, pulled up the cotton pants on his leg, and revealed a large patch of bruised and scraped skin underneath. “Mother, you can’t be so blatantly biased, can you? I’m still injured here. Tomorrow, the third brother has to invite Ji Huan over and cook. This was decided earlier. You can’t change it just because it’s the third brother. Otherwise, we won’t be happy either.”

“Exactly,” Ji Ming and Li Yulan echoed from the side.

Liu Fengmei’s face turned green with anger. “One by one, are you all trying to rebel? Fine, since the third brother has things to do tomorrow, your father and I will cover for him for a day. That’s fair, right?”

Li Yulan pursed her lips but didn’t dare say more. When Liu Fengmei and Ji Mantun worked, they always liked ordering others around. In the past, with Ji Huan around, they naturally bossed Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai around. Now, the unlucky ones might just be them.

“Mother, thank you and Father for your hard work,” Ji Yuan quickly said, pretending to be filial with a mother-son harmony act.

Ji Sen and Ji Ming exchanged glances and gave each other a knowing look.

The Ji family originally got along fairly well among the brothers because of Ji Huan, the foolishly filial daughter. But now, that balance was broken. Some people’s interests were touched, and naturally, some couldn’t sit still.

Compared to the chaos at the Ji household, Ji Huan waited another half hour, figured no one from the Ji family would come today, greeted Ji Mancang and the others, and took Jiang Yubai up the mountain. She was still thinking about the traps set yesterday. It was almost four in the afternoon, and Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai hurried into the mountains. In winter, it got dark by five, leaving them little time.

Jiang Yubai glanced at Ji Huan beside her but ultimately didn’t ask anything more.

When they neared the wooden cabin, Ji Huan pointed to a large tree in the distance. “Look, we set the traps near there yesterday. Let’s hurry and check.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yubai nodded in agreement.

The two had set five or six traps yesterday. Ji Huan checked the two most obvious ones. The animal entrails in the traps were eaten, but the traps were empty, clearly escaped by small animals.

“Let’s go check further in,” Ji Huan said, pulling out a trap hidden in a pile of weeds. Sure enough, there was a fat gray rabbit in the grass. Ji Huan quickly picked up the rabbit and smiled at Jiang Yubai beside her. “Look, we really caught something.”

“Sister, let’s check the other traps,” Jiang Yubai said, her eyes sparkling at the rabbit in Ji Huan’s hands.

They hurriedly crouched to search again, but found no rabbits, only a mouse caught in one trap.

Ji Huan immediately stood up. Unless absolutely necessary, it was better not to touch this thing. “Let’s leave the mouse here. We’ll take this rabbit back for a meal. We stayed at Second Uncle’s house for a day; we can’t just take advantage of them.”

Jiang Yubai nodded in agreement. As they descended the mountain, the sky began to darken. Along the way, Ji Huan met many villagers.

“Ji Huan, did you hunt a rabbit on the mountain?” a villager asked.

“Yes, we set traps yesterday, and surprisingly, we caught something,” Ji Huan said with a smile.

“Oh, that’s great. If you need help, come to my house,” Er Zhuzi said, looking at Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai.

“Thanks, Brother Er Zhuzi,” Ji Huan quickly replied, appreciating the kindness.

The few people Ji Huan met afterward were also very warm, greeting her enthusiastically, and even their attitude toward Jiang Yubai softened a bit.

When the two returned, Ji Fu and Ji Wen were cooking in the kitchen. Ji Huan took the rabbit to the kitchen. “Yubai and I set traps yesterday and caught a rabbit. Let’s cook it with the dishes tonight.”

Ji Fu’s family had no scholars, just him and his sister Ji Wen, so their household was relatively well-off, and they could afford meat occasionally. Seeing Ji Huan bring a rabbit, he said, “How can that do? You two worked hard to catch this. We have meat at home. Look, I’m preparing braised pork.”

“Brother Fu, let’s make braised rabbit tonight. The pork can be saved for later. This rabbit is freshly caught; it won’t be fresh if we don’t eat it,” Ji Huan insisted, taking a knife and starting to skin the gray rabbit.

Ji Huan worked quickly, cleaning out the entrails thoroughly and washing the bl00d off the rabbit with clean water. Jiang Yubai chopped the rabbit into small pieces for easy eating.

Ji Fu was in charge of cooking that night, with Ji Huan and the others gathered in the kitchen, chatting and laughing. Ji Huan sighed softly. If only her original family was like Second Uncle’s, she could focus on her ambitions directly, instead of planning to split the family first.

The pork fat mixed with the rabbit’s fat sizzled in the pan, and the aroma soon filled the air. Ji Fu stir-fried the rabbit meat in a large pot, added onions and garlic to remove the gamey smell, soy sauce for color, and then poured in plenty of water. After the broth boiled, he added cabbage and potatoes to simmer slowly. The meaty aroma mixed with the vegetables’ fragrance wafted far.

Ji Mancang and Feng Mei came out of their room, drawn by the aroma from the kitchen. They entered and saw the children gathered there.

Ji Mancang smiled. “Why are you all in the kitchen? Ji Fu, didn’t I tell you to let Ji Huan and the others rest?”

“Second Uncle, we couldn’t stay idle and wanted to help. Brother Fu is still the one cooking,” Ji Huan explained with a smile.

“Father, Ji Huan and Yubai hunted a rabbit, so we’re making rabbit stew for dinner. The pork can wait for tomorrow,” Ji Wen said while setting out bowls and chopsticks.

Ji Mancang shook his head with a wry smile. “Ji Huan, you’re such a good kid, yet your eldest brother and his family treat you like that. Ugh, let’s not talk about those upsetting things today. Let’s eat happily and enjoy the food.”

“Alright, let’s not mention those people,” Ji Huan replied with a smile.

Doing some chores as a daughter was expected, but one person shouldn’t bear the burden of the entire family’s work. Worse, when the family treated it as if she was supposed to be their workhorse, her efforts were taken for granted, which was utterly disgusting.

Dinner was sorghum rice with a large pot of rabbit stew.

“Alright, everyone’s tired after a long day. Let’s eat,” Ji Mancang said, looking at the people seated around the table.

Everyone began eating. Ji Huan wasn’t too fond of rabbit meat, only ate two small pieces, and then focused on the potatoes, which were soft, soaked in broth, and delicious.

Jiang Yubai ate happily too. Feng Mei, worried she might feel shy, served her several helpings, making Little White Rabbit flustered.

After dinner, Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai joined Ji Wen to wash dishes. The three quickly cleaned up the kitchen.

Back in their room, Ji Huan felt a bit full; the potatoes were so good she couldn’t resist eating a few extra pieces.

When she looked at Jiang Yubai, she saw her staring blankly. Ji Huan leaned over, waved her hand lightly in front of Jiang Yubai’s face, and smiled. “What are you thinking about? So lost in thought?”

“Nothing, just that everything that happened today feels like a dream,” Jiang Yubai said. After all, the old Ji Huan was foolishly filial and obedient, never doing such things.

Ji Huan gave Jiang Yubai a gentle smile and said softly, “People change. Just pretend the old Ji Huan never existed. I won’t listen to them anymore, nor put them first. Putting you first is more like it.”

Hearing Ji Huan’s earlier words, Jiang Yubai didn’t react much, but at the last part, her ear tips inexplicably turned red. She turned away, reached for a cup to pour water, trying to hide her shyness.

Seeing Little White Rabbit shy, Ji Huan chuckled lightly, stopped teasing her, and took a wooden basin to the kitchen to heat water.

The conditions here didn’t allow daily baths, but heating water to wash faces and feet was fine.

Seeing Ji Huan leave, Jiang Yubai’s grip on the cup tightened slowly. She touched her burning ear tips. What did Ji Huan’s words mean? Was she more important to Ji Huan than her family?

But these past few days, Ji Huan only hugged her while sleeping, nothing more. Did Ji Huan really care for her?

Recalling these days, Jiang Yubai’s lips pursed slightly. She remembered Ji Huan standing protectively in front of her, confronting Liu Fengmei, and holding her while sleeping. Her cheeks flushed red, but then she recalled why Ji Huan wouldn’t consummate their marriage. Those tender thoughts faded instantly.

Yes, she was an unlucky person, having caused her mother’s death and Zhang Tiehu’s death during their wedding. People in East and West Ox Village avoided her. Even if Ji Huan had changed, she wouldn’t treat her as a real wife or consummate their marriage.

Jiang Yubai’s tightly pursed lips paled, her fingertips trembling slightly. She clenched her shaking hands, reminding herself that being by Ji Huan’s side like this was already more than she dared dream. She shouldn’t covet things that didn’t belong to her.

Moreover, deep down, she didn’t want Ji Huan to get too close. She feared truly harming her.

At this thought, Jiang Yubai’s eyes reddened. She’d been sleeping in Ji Huan’s arms these days, suggesting that hugging wouldn’t greatly affect Ji Huan’s safety. But anything further? Jiang Yubai’s face paled; she dared not think more. She didn’t want to gamble with Ji Huan’s life.

When Ji Huan returned with water and saw Jiang Yubai’s poor complexion, she set the basin on a wooden rack, approached her, and asked, “What’s wrong? Why do you look so bad?”

She reached to touch Jiang Yubai’s forehead, worried she’d caught a cold.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Yubai, seeing Ji Huan’s hand, instinctively widened her eyes and stepped back two steps, looking terrified.

Ji Huan, stunned, looked at Jiang Yubai, withdrew her hand, and explained softly, “I just wanted to check if you had a fever. No other meaning. No need to be so nervous.”

Jiang Yubai realized her reaction was excessive. That instinctive move pushed Ji Huan away again. But wasn’t that for the best? Keeping Ji Huan at a distance meant she’d stay safe. She should avoid getting too close to Ji Huan to prevent harming her.

Though she thought this, Jiang Yubai’s heart ached sharply, her eyes reddening. Ji Huan had been so good to her these days, yet she was rejecting her kindness.

Seeing Jiang Yubai’s red eyes, Ji Huan didn’t press further and said gently, “I was rude just now. I should’ve asked your permission before touching you. I won’t do it again. Don’t be mad, okay?”

Jiang Yubai looked at Ji Huan in disbelief, her eyelashes fluttering. She could’ve held back tears, but Ji Huan’s gentle coaxing broke her resolve, and tears streamed down.

She quickly turned away to hide her distress. Jiang Yubai didn’t understand why, despite enduring so much hardship before without crying, Ji Huan’s soft words made her weep uncontrollably.

She sniffled quietly, wiped her tears with her sleeve, and tried to calm her chaotic emotions.

Ji Huan stood quietly behind Jiang Yubai, waiting for her to compose herself, not disturbing her, just silently staying by her side.

Little White Rabbit had suffered too much before; a few days couldn’t heal her. Ji Huan understood her feelings and felt even more pity for the seventeen-year-old girl.

After a while, seeing Jiang Yubai’s trembling shoulders calm and her sobs quiet, Ji Huan said softly, “Go wash your face with hot water. We’re tired from today. Let’s rest early.”

“Okay, Sister, I’m sorry for overreacting just now,” Jiang Yubai said, sounding incoherent, her voice still tinged with a sob, not turning her head.

Ji Huan comforted gently, “It’s okay, no need to apologize. I was wrong too, touching you without permission and making you cry. Let’s call it even, okay?”

Jiang Yubai sniffled, her voice muffled. “You didn’t make me cry. It’s not your fault.”

It was her own issue, not Ji Huan’s. Not only that, Ji Huan had patiently comforted her for so long.

“Good, let’s put this behind us, okay? Let’s wash up and sleep,” Ji Huan said, following Jiang Yubai’s words.

Jiang Yubai nodded, lingered a bit, then went to wash her face with red eyes.

As they lay in bed after washing up, Ji Huan felt uneasy. From Jiang Yubai’s reaction, it seemed she disliked being touched. Had Ji Huan been crossing her boundaries these past few days?

Having finally built some rapport with Little White Rabbit, she made her cry today. The oil lamp in the room was extinguished, and in the quiet space, Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai lay in bed without further words.

Ji Huan cleared her throat to draw Jiang Yubai’s attention, then said carefully, “Yubai, I’m a restless sleeper. These past few days, I’ve been holding you while sleeping. If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself. You can push me away if I’m asleep. Don’t make yourself uncomfortable.”

Jiang Yubai hadn’t expected Ji Huan to say this. Her heart felt bitter yet faintly sweet. Her earlier dodge had made Ji Huan uneasy, but even so, Ji Huan prioritized her feelings, worried she’d feel pressured to comply.

Jiang Yubai glanced at Ji Huan, who lay flat, the dim room hiding her expression. “No forcing. It’s okay to hold me while sleeping.”

Jiang Yubai clutched her hands tightly. They’d slept together for days without issue, so hugging should be fine, right?

Her mind felt like two little figures were fighting—one black, saying she was selfish and should stay far from Ji Huan; the other white, urging that hugging was safe since they’d done it for days.

“You’re so miserable already. If you push Ji Huan away, you’ll have nothing left. You’ve slept together for days with no issue. At least hugging is fine,” the white figure chattered.

In the end, the two figures fought, but Jiang Yubai had already chosen. She didn’t want to harm Ji Huan but craved her warmth. Since hugging was safe, why make it hard for herself and Ji Huan?

“Good, don’t overthink. Sleep early. The Ji family might come tomorrow, and we have a tough battle ahead,” Ji Huan said softly.

“Okay,” Jiang Yubai replied, closing her eyes.

Perhaps because she’d mentally prepared herself, Ji Huan slept calmly, facing the wall without holding Jiang Yubai.

Past the hour of Yin, Jiang Yubai woke. The warm embrace of the past few days was gone. She turned and saw Ji Huan sleeping facing the wall.

Her heart sank with disappointment. Her strong reaction yesterday had made Ji Huan uneasy. The brief daily warmth was gone; Ji Huan probably wouldn’t hold her anymore.

Feeling low, Jiang Yubai couldn’t stop overthinking in bed, so she got up early.

After a quick wash, she went to help. Ji Wen was already chopping firewood outside, while Ji Fu and his wife, Wang Xiaoyue, prepared breakfast in the kitchen.

Jiang Yubai took on making pig feed and feeding the pigs, tasks she often did at the Ji household, but now she did them willingly, wanting to keep busy.

When Ji Huan woke, she touched the bed beside her, feeling only coldness. She sat up, sighed, and thought, where did Little White Rabbit run off to so early?

Ji Huan got up, put on her tattered dress, and grabbed a basin to fetch water for washing. She saw Jiang Yubai helping in the kitchen and felt a bit embarrassed. Had she overslept?

“Brother Fu, you’re all up so early? Did I sleep in?” Ji Huan asked sheepishly.

Ji Fu laughed. “Not at all. You two just moved in; you shouldn’t do these chores. Yubai’s too diligent, insisting on feeding the pigs.”

Ji Huan looked at Little White Rabbit standing by Wang Xiaoyue and smiled at her. “No wonder the bed was cold when I woke up. You got up this early?”

Since some point, Ji Huan’s tone with Jiang Yubai had softened, always gentle and soothing.

Jiang Yubai couldn’t handle Ji Huan’s smiling eyes and coaxing tone; her ear tips reddened again. “You were sleeping soundly, so I didn’t wake you,” she said, her gaze darting aside, avoiding Ji Huan’s eyes.

Wang Xiaoyue watched their interaction, chuckling behind her hand. Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai had been married for over half a year; how was Jiang Yubai still so shy?

“Yo, Ji Huan, can’t sleep well without your wife beside you?” Wang Xiaoyue teased with a smile.

Ji Huan, thick-skinned, laughed. “Sister-in-law, don’t tease Yubai. She’s shy and will get embarrassed.”

Before she finished, Little White Rabbit fled the kitchen like a gust of wind, saying hurriedly, “I’ll check if the pigs are full.”

Ji Huan looked at the fleeing rabbit, her eyes curving with amusement.

Wang Xiaoyue, watching their interaction, looked like she’d seen something adorable. She’d thought their marriage was just an arranged one with little affection, but now, it seemed they cared for each other.

“I’ll go wash my face and come back to help,” Ji Huan said, smiling as she filled a basin with hot water.

“No need. Wash up and go find Yubai,” Wang Xiaoyue said with a grin.

“Alright, I’ll find her soon,” Ji Huan said, carrying the basin back to the room.

She brushed her teeth with coarse salt, washed her face, and headed to the backyard, spotting Jiang Yubai watching piglets eat by the pen.

Hearing footsteps, Jiang Yubai glanced back, saw Ji Huan, and quickly looked away, pretending to watch the pigs.

Ji Huan found Little White Rabbit’s feigned ignorance amusing and walked up to her. “Let’s go back. What’s so interesting about pigs eating?”

“Okay, I’ll go back now,” Jiang Yubai said, glancing at Ji Huan. Seeing no oddity in her expression and no mention of last night’s lack of hugging, Jiang Yubai pursed her lips, unsure what to say.

She was the one who pushed Ji Huan away first. Now that Ji Huan didn’t hold her, wasn’t that what she wanted? Why did her heart feel uneasy now?

Seeing Little White Rabbit hesitant to speak, Ji Huan said softly, “Got something to say to me?”

Jiang Yubai shook her head. “No, Sister, let’s go back.”

“Okay,” Ji Huan said, looking at Jiang Yubai. Seeing she didn’t want to talk, Ji Huan didn’t press and returned to the kitchen with her.

Breakfast was ready: cabbage soup with mixed-grain steamed buns. Ji Huan was hungry, and though she didn’t love mixed-grain buns, she ate heartily. Jiang Yubai ate even faster.

While things were harmonious here, the Ji household was chaotic from early morning. Liu Fengmei, feeling sorry for Ji Yuan, didn’t want him up early, so she went to the kitchen to heat water and make pig feed.

When she finished feeding the pigs and returned to the front yard, she saw the eldest and fourth families still sleeping. Furious, she shouted loudly in the yard, her voice sharp and piercing. “This life is unbearable! My sons and daughters-in-law are so unfilial, watching me work to death. It’s unjust!”

Ji Ming and Li Yulan were awake but stayed quietly in their room, with no intention of going out.

Hearing Liu Fengmei’s yelling, Ji Ming whispered to Li Yulan, “Should we go help Mother?”

Li Yulan glared at him. “Are you crazy? If we start this, where’s the end? Today was supposed to be Ji Yuan’s turn. Mother pities her third son and won’t let him work. Why should we? Go if you want; I’m not going.”

“Fine, we won’t go. There’s still the fourth family; it’s their turn anyway,” Ji Ming muttered, consoling himself. He missed the old second daughter, the workhorse who handled everything, unlike now, with endless troubles.

Ji Sen and Wang Xiuxiu were also up. Wang Xiuxiu, a bit afraid of Liu Fengmei, heard her raging in the yard and looked worriedly at Ji Sen. “If we don’t go out, will Mother get angry?”

“Angry about what? It’s her own fault, so biased. She only cares about the third son, giving him and his kids everything. I can’t stand him. He’s just read a few books; what’s so great? We’re not going out today,” Ji Sen said, lounging with his legs crossed, acting unconcerned.

In the yard, Liu Fengmei shouted for a while, but seeing no sign of the eldest or fourth families opening their doors, she grew livid. When Ji Mantun came out, she immediately complained, “Husband, how can we live like this? Our sons and daughters-in-law are bullying me! I’m so old; can’t someone help me?”

Ji Mantun’s face darkened. “Stop crying. We said today’s work is the third son’s. Take a break. The main thing now is getting Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai back.”

He’d gone to gather firewood in the woods that morning, and villagers avoided him, giving him cold responses, making him uncomfortable.

Seeing Ji Mantun’s words, Liu Fengmei shut her mouth and went to the kitchen to prepare food.

Ji Mantun knocked on Ji Yuan’s door. After a long wait, Ji Yuan opened it.

Seeing Ji Mantun, Ji Yuan quickly said, “Father, it’s not that I don’t want to do these chores. Scholars stay away from the kitchen, as the ancients said. If I do this, I might fail the scholar exam.”

“You’re right. If you can’t go to the kitchen, come with me to fetch water by the river,” Ji Mantun said with a sigh.

“What?” Ji Yuan’s face fell. Fetching water was worse than kitchen work, but having said that, he couldn’t backtrack and nodded reluctantly.

In the cold winter, without cotton gloves, Ji Yuan saw Ji Mantun pull the water cart over and felt a bit relieved. As long as he didn’t have to pull it, it was fine. He was a scholar; how could he do such rough work?

“Ji Yuan, what are you standing there for? Go get the buckets,” Ji Mantun ordered.

“Oh, got it, Father,” Ji Yuan said, grudgingly going to the water tank. He bent down, carrying the buckets one by one, back and forth several times.

Ji Mantun frowned, watching his third son struggle with empty buckets. A tall Qianyuan, yet so inefficient?

But thinking of relying on Ji Yuan for their future, Ji Mantun endured, consoling himself that Ji Yuan excelled in studies and would become an official, so his clumsiness with chores was excusable.

Yet, somehow, Ji Mantun thought of Ji Huan. If only his daughter would take on these tasks like before, even if they treated her kinder.

Deep down, Ji Mantun believed Ji Huan was hurt by them but still valued family ties. If they brought her back, reasoned with her, and treated her slightly better, she’d willingly be the family’s workhorse again. At this thought, Ji Mantun felt relieved.

Not wanting Ji Yuan to pull the cart, he took it himself and said to his son, “Third son, remember to persuade Ji Huan well at your second uncle’s house later. Don’t let this get worse.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I’m not a gambler like Ji Sen. I’ll safely deliver the three taels of silver to Ji Huan and bring them back,” Ji Yuan promised confidently.

“Good. You’re the most promising in the family. Your mother and I will rely on you,” Ji Mantun said, nagging.

Ji Yuan, following the cart, frowned. After years, he’d lost hope in passing the scholar exam. At seventeen, he should’ve married, but he looked down on the village’s Kunze, thinking them unworthy, delaying his marriage.

Ji Yuan planned to idle in the county while studying, hoping to catch a wealthy Kunze. If a rich family’s Kunze fancied him, he’d even agree to marry into their family. As for his own family, he didn’t care. His father’s words annoyed him.

“Got it, Father,” Ji Yuan replied perfunctorily.

They left the yard and met villagers along the way. After earlier experiences, Ji Mantun didn’t greet them, but they gossiped incessantly.

“Look, the father pulls the cart while the son watches. How rare! Why didn’t Ji Huan get this treatment?” Aunt Yuan, passing by, mocked loudly, seeing Ji Mantun spare his son.

A woman beside her chimed in, “Hah, don’t you know? Ji Yuan’s a scholar, so precious. They wouldn’t let him pull.”

As they talked loudly, nearby villagers pointed at Ji Yuan.

Unable to bear the stares and worried about his reputation, Ji Yuan said, “Father, let me do it. You rest.”

Ji Mantun heard the gossip, looked at Ji Yuan, and worried he wasn’t used to rough work. “Can you manage?”

“I can, Father. Let me,” Ji Yuan said, bracing himself.

Ji Mantun set the cart down and stepped aside. Ji Yuan took the front, pulling the rope over his shoulder and moving forward.

Unused to physical labor, even pulling an empty cart pained his shoulders, strengthening his resolve to find a rich Kunze in the county to escape such work.

At the river, Ji Yuan panted heavily. He and Ji Mantun took buckets off the cart. Ji Yuan carried one to fetch water, slipped, and nearly fell in. Ji Mantun quickly grabbed him.

“Third son, are you okay?” Ji Mantun asked, sweating from fear.

Ji Yuan sat on the ground, shaken. The bucket’s water soaked him, cold and scary. He nearly froze and cried.

Seeing his beloved son nearly hurt, Ji Mantun said, “Go change clothes. I’ll handle the water.”

“Father, I’ll go back then,” Ji Yuan said, still shaken, vowing never to fetch water again.

Shaking off the water, he felt the river’s breeze like he was naked and hurried home.

Ji Mantun looked at the six buckets and sighed heavily. With Ji Huan, he never worried about this. Now, in the cold, he had to fetch water.

Back at the yard, Ji Yuan saw Liu Fengmei carrying food to the dining room. Seeing him soaked, she worriedly asked, “How’d you get like this? Where’s your father?”

“Mother, I nearly fell in the river fetching water, and my clothes got wet. Father told me to come back,” Ji Yuan explained, still shaken.

“Your father! Knowing you’re not used to this, how could he let you fetch water? Change quickly; don’t catch a cold, my poor son,” Liu Fengmei urged.

“Okay, Mother, I’ll go in,” Ji Yuan said, freezing, and ran to change.

Their loud voices reached Ji Sen and Wang Xiuxiu. Ji Sen smirked. “Serves him right. Why didn’t he fall in and freeze? Always acting superior, yet he can’t even fetch water.”

“Your parents are too good to your third brother. When we have kids, they must study, so they’re not bullied like Ji Huan,” Wang Xiuxiu whispered.

“Definitely. If the eldest’s kids study, ours must too. I’m not a foolish daughter like Ji Huan,” Ji Sen said, deflating as he recalled Ji Huan hitting him yesterday. She didn’t seem foolishly filial anymore.

…

Changing clothes, Ji Yuan thought about the future. At seventeen, after four years without passing the scholar exam, if he failed another year or two, his parents might not favor him. Studying wouldn’t bring fame, and not studying was worse. He was clueless about daily chores, nearly dying fetching water. He needed to find a match in the county soon.

After changing, Ji Yuan went to the dining room to set bowls and chopsticks. With the family unsettled, he had to act diligent.

While setting the table, Liu Fengmei took over his task, saying, “Oh, is this for you to do? You’ll be a big official. I’ll handle this. Sit and rest; don’t tire yourself.”

Ji Yuan smiled at Liu Fengmei. “Mother, I’m not tired.”

“Rest even if you’re not. I’m counting on you to bring pride to the village. By the way, do you have money?” Liu Fengmei asked, lowering her voice, wary of others hearing.

“I have a few hundred wen, enough,” Ji Yuan said after thinking.

“That won’t do. I heard you need to socialize outside. I saved one tael of silver. Take it; you need some cash,” Liu Fengmei said, secretly giving him a tael she’d skimmed from Ji Huan.

“Okay, I’ll listen to you, Mother. When I succeed, I’ll buy you a big house in the city,” Ji Yuan said, happily taking the silver, making empty promises.

“I knew you’re filial,” Liu Fengmei said, her eyes squinting with joy.

They talked for a while before Ji Mantun returned. Not wanting Ji Yuan to help, he poured the six buckets into the yard’s water tank himself.

Seeing Ji Mantun back, Liu Fengmei stood in the yard, shouting, “Dinner’s ready! Do I have to beg you all to eat? Eat or don’t!”

Already angry, her voice was shrill and harsh.

Soon, Ji Ming’s and Ji Sen’s families came out of their rooms.

Ji Sen and Ji Ming exchanged glances. Both families entered the dining room, and Liu Fengmei’s nagging followed.

“Truly, none of you are reliable. You’re quick to eat, though,” Liu Fengmei said, glaring at Li Yulan and Wang Xiuxiu. She could accept her sons not working, but not her daughters-in-law, which irked her.

“Mother, you said one family per day. Today was Ji Yuan’s turn, not ours,” Ji Sen muttered, sitting on a bench.

“Quiet. Eat breakfast. Ji Yuan, after eating, go to your second uncle’s to fetch Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai. If they don’t return, we’ll lose face in the village,” Ji Mantun said, annoyed by the villagers’ mockery, believing they were jealous of Ji Yuan’s potential.

“Father, don’t worry. I’ll go right after,” Ji Yuan said with a smile.

Ji Sen, sitting beside him, rolled his eyes skyward. Unseen by his mother, he grabbed his bowl and ate quickly.