Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Just now, the commotion outside was so loud that Ji Huan had heard it long ago. She looked at Ji Mantun playfully, preparing to see what Ji Mantun would say this time.

Ji Mantun felt uneasy under Ji Huan’s gaze. However, he glanced at Ji Sen, who was crying and making a scene in the courtyard, and forced a smile toward Ji Huan. He said, “Ji Huan, these years we treated you poorly, but there’s no overnight grudge in a family. Father and Mother knew they were wrong. Look, your fourth brother injured his back pulling the cart just now, and your eldest brother caught a cold. Can you see if you can…”

Ji Mantun wanted to continue speaking, but Ji Huan interrupted him. She said, “No, their suffering and inability to work have nothing to do with me. I remember when I was suffering, I still did the household chores myself. Why didn’t anyone help me then? Father, if you think they’re pitiful, why don’t you help them pull water? Why act like a good person here and leave the hard work to me?”

Ji Mantun’s face darkened frighteningly. As the head of the family, this was the first time someone had treated him so coldly. Ji Huan gave him no respect at all!

Ji Mantun gritted his teeth and endured it. With a tearful voice, he pretended to be pitiful and said, “Alas, how pitiful that I, at my age, must do these things. What a sin! Ji Huan, you misunderstood Father. Father didn’t want you to pull water. I’ll go myself, I’ll go.”

The scene he imagined, where Ji Huan would stop him and beg not to let him pull water, didn’t happen. Nor did Ji Huan kneel and apologize, rushing to do the work as he had hoped. Ji Mantun turned his head, fake crying, and glanced at Ji Huan. He saw Ji Huan looking at him with a smiling face.

Seeing Ji Mantun look at her, Ji Huan’s smile grew wider. She stepped forward and said in a low voice with a laugh, “Father really cares about Fourth Brother. Be careful when you go, though. After all, if something happens to you, I don’t think Ji Ming, Ji Yuan, or Ji Sen would take care of you. As for me, don’t even think about it. I can barely manage my own life, so I have no time to care for you.”

Ji Mantun couldn’t hold back anymore. He pointed at Ji Huan and said, “Ji Huan, you’re really something. How did you turn out like this? I hardly recognize you.”

Ji Huan nodded with a smile and said, “Yes, thanks to falling into the river, my mind cleared up. Otherwise, I don’t know how many more years I’d have slaved away for you all. Alright, Father, stop talking so much. Go pull the water.”

Ji Mantun angrily pointed at Ji Huan again and said, “Fine, you unfilial daughter! Ji Huan, you’ve truly gone bad.”

Ji Huan ignored Ji Mantun’s accusations. She watched Ji Sen rolling on the ground in the courtyard with interest. Because the ground was too cold, Ji Sen couldn’t keep up the act and got up from the ground.

Seeing no one was willing to help, Ji Sen feared something might happen if his father went alone. He gave himself an excuse and said, “Father, I feel a bit better. I’ll pull the water later. Just help me carry the buckets. The road is too slippery, and I’m afraid the cart might overturn.”

“Alright,” Ji Mantun said, letting out a heavy sigh.

Ji Huan had no interest in this. The family was idle, yet they tried to morally pressure her. She wasn’t the original Ji Huan, so the Ji family’s fate meant nothing to her.

Later, Ji Mantun and Ji Sen returned with water. Ji Yuan spent an hour persuading Ji Mantun in his room, finally calming him down. They decided to wait until they got the four taels of silver before confronting Ji Huan.

Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai finally enjoyed two peaceful days. The room was too cold, so they mostly lay under the blankets, holding each other. At first, Jiang Yubai felt shy, but she got used to Ji Huan’s embraces. If Ji Huan didn’t hold her, she felt something was missing.

On the day Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai had to work, the household’s firewood and water had already been used up completely. Fortunately, the ice on the road had mostly melted, so pulling water wasn’t too dangerous.

“Look, they used everything up, not leaving a bit,” Ji Huan muttered with a cold snort.

“Sister, I’ll go chop firewood then. It’ll save some time,” Jiang Yubai said, heading to the backyard to get the firewood-chopping knife.

Ji Huan quickly said, “Wait, we’ll go together after pulling water. We woke up early today, so there’s enough time.”

“I can go alone,” Jiang Yubai said, explaining again as if afraid Ji Huan didn’t believe her.

“I know you can, but since I’m here, you don’t need to do such heavy work,” Ji Huan said. Her body had been enhanced by the system, giving her great strength. Pulling water and chopping firewood took little effort for her. She couldn’t bear letting Little White Rabbit do these tasks.

Hearing Ji Huan’s words, Jiang Yubai’s ear tips turned red, and her lips curved upward uncontrollably. Sister was so good to her.

Seeing Jiang Yubai’s ears turn red again, Ji Huan’s eyes softened. Little White Rabbit was too shy, blushing or getting red ears so often.

“Let’s go pull water first,” Ji Huan said, loading the buckets onto the cart. She and Jiang Yubai left the courtyard together.

Ji Ming and the others were up by then. Seeing Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai go to pull water, Ji Ming stood in the courtyard and sighed, “The second child has to work for everyone to feel at ease. Look, she’s born to work.”

Ji Sen came out of the courtyard too. Seeing Ji Ming, he mocked, “You only dare say these things now. Why don’t you say it to Ji Huan’s face?”

“Are you alright, Ji Sen? Isn’t it what everyone wants for Ji Huan and the others to work? Why are you acting like a good person here?” Ji Ming glared at Ji Sen.

Ji Sen glanced at Ji Ming but didn’t bother responding. He had been beaten by Ji Huan once and wasn’t planning to confront her openly. He knew he couldn’t beat her.

As Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai pulled the cart out of the courtyard, Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan pulling alone and felt embarrassed. She could do these tasks too. She said, “Sister, rest a bit. I’ll pull.”

Ji Huan glanced at Little White Rabbit, pulling the cart forward while smiling. She said, “I’ll do it. You can help me fetch water later.”

“Ji Huan? You’re back home?” a villager passing by asked. But when he saw Jiang Yubai, he stepped back fearfully.

Ji Huan looked at the man with an honest smile and said, “Yes, Mother and the others called me back.”

“They made you do these chores right after you returned? Impressive,” the man couldn’t help but comment.

“There’s no water at home, so I came to fetch some. It’s only right,” Ji Huan said with a smile.

The man shook his head, walking away while discussing with his companion that Ji Huan had been completely brainwashed by the Ji family.

Ji Huan shook her head with a light laugh. When they reached the river, the water had a thin layer of ice on the edges due to the recent heavy snow. Ji Huan used a short knife to break the ice, then fetched water with a bucket.

Jiang Yubai grabbed a bucket behind Ji Huan, afraid Ji Huan wouldn’t let her work. She knew Ji Huan cared for her and didn’t want her to get tired. But Jiang Yubai was also scared. In the village, a Kunze who was too lazy might be abandoned by a Qianyuan. She wanted to stay with the current Ji Huan, even if it meant doing more work.

Ji Huan fetched one bucket of water and saw Little White Rabbit looking at her eagerly, clearly wanting to help. Ji Huan’s eyes curved, and she gave Jiang Yubai a slight smile. She said, “Want to help so much? Alright, you fetch this bucket.”

Ji Huan placed the two buckets she was carrying onto the cart and returned to the river. She saw Jiang Yubai had already fetched a bucket. The riverbank was slippery due to the ice. Fearing Jiang Yubai might slip, Ji Huan took advantage of Jiang Yubai placing her bucket on the cart. Ji Huan grabbed two buckets, filled them with water in one scoop, and then filled the last bucket. By the time Little White Rabbit returned, Ji Huan had finished fetching the water.

She carried two buckets herself and let Jiang Yubai carry the remaining one to the cart.

They secured the buckets with ropes. Ji Huan pulled the cart again, now feeling some weight, but she still found it easy to pull.

Jiang Yubai pushed the cart from behind. Ji Huan glanced at Jiang Yubai’s cold, pale hands and quickly said, “Don’t push from behind. I can pull it. It’s too cold outside. Tuck your hands into your sleeves to warm them.”

“It’s okay, Sister. I’m not tired,” Jiang Yubai said, not wanting to listen because she feared Ji Huan would get too tired pulling alone. She often pulled this cart before and needed seven or eight breaks to get it back.

“Come to the front and talk with me. The cart isn’t heavy. I can really pull it. Keep your hands warm, and later you can warm mine,” Ji Huan coaxed Little White Rabbit softly.

Jiang Yubai thought for a while. Seeing Ji Huan’s insistence, she stopped pushing the cart. She obediently followed Ji Huan’s words, tucking her hands into her sleeves. Thinking about warming Ji Huan’s hands later, her frozen, pale ear tips turned bright red.

Ji Huan wasn’t lying. Though the cart with water had some weight, she pulled it easily without needing a break. With Little White Rabbit by her side, she felt in a great mood.

They met several villagers heading to fetch water along the way. Everyone was friendly to Ji Huan, but they kept their distance from Jiang Yubai.

Fearing Jiang Yubai would feel down, Ji Huan comforted her and said, “The villagers are superstitious. Don’t mind them.”

Jiang Yubai nodded. Seeing Ji Huan’s concerned look, her heart felt tickled, like a kitten scratching it. She was used to others’ stares. As long as Ji Huan didn’t dislike her, she was content.

Soon, Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai returned to the courtyard. They poured the water from the cart into the courtyard’s water tank, bucket by bucket. Ji Huan placed the buckets back on the cart and pulled it to the backyard.

When she came out, Ji Huan went to the kitchen to find the firewood-chopping knife. Jiang Yubai, with red ear tips, followed Ji Huan into the kitchen.

Ji Huan grabbed the knife and prepared to leave. Turning around, she saw Little White Rabbit had followed her in. Ji Huan smiled at her and said, “Found it. Let’s go. We won’t go far—just chop some wood in the nearby grove.”

Jiang Yubai’s ear tips turned redder. Her gaze fell on Ji Huan’s hand, and the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat.

Seeing Little White Rabbit hesitating, Ji Huan’s smile widened, and her voice softened. She asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan ask her. Her gaze fell on Ji Huan’s hand again. Her deer-like eyes looked nervously at Ji Huan. She said, “Sister, didn’t you say we’d warm hands?”

Saying this, Jiang Yubai shyly stretched out her hands, waiting for Ji Huan to place her hands on them.

Ji Huan put the knife aside and obediently placed her hands on Jiang Yubai’s. The smile in her eyes grew stronger. Her Little White Rabbit was so obedient and adorable.

Jiang Yubai didn’t dare look at Ji Huan’s expression. She gently rubbed Ji Huan’s hands in hers. Her ear tips turned redder bit by bit. She could feel Ji Huan watching her.

Ji Huan watched Little White Rabbit warm her hands with a great mood. Though she was a Qianyuan with great strength, she wasn’t as warm as Jiang Yubai. She found it puzzling, but Little White Rabbit was so thoughtful, warming her hands obediently. She had only said it casually, not really expecting Little White Rabbit to take it seriously.

Jiang Yubai’s face burned red under Ji Huan’s gaze. Not only were her hands warm, but her whole body felt like it was sweating.

Just as the atmosphere between them grew a bit strange, Liu Fengmei pushed open the kitchen door. Seeing Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai holding hands, Liu Fengmei exploded. She pointed at Jiang Yubai and cursed loudly, “Jiang Yubai, you vixen! I said why Ji Huan changed so much. It’s because you bewitched her! I told you eight hundred times to stay away from Ji Huan, you vixen. Watch me beat you to death today and scratch up that vixen face of yours. Let’s see how you seduce Ji Huan then.”

Saying this, Liu Fengmei reached out like a shrew to grab Jiang Yubai’s face. Ji Huan pulled Jiang Yubai behind her and firmly restrained Liu Fengmei’s hands.

“Ji Huan, why don’t you listen to Mother? Jiang Yubai is an ill-omened person. The closer you get to her, the faster you’ll die. Have you forgotten how Zhang Tiehu died?” Liu Fengmei cried loudly.

Ji Huan’s expression grew colder. She stared hard at Liu Fengmei and said, “I said, she’s my wife, not an ill-omened person. Mother, you’d better watch your mouth, or I might accidentally hurt you.”

Saying this, Ji Huan pushed Liu Fengmei away. Liu Fengmei stumbled back several steps, nearly falling. This completely enraged her, and she forgot about the four taels of silver.

Liu Fengmei rushed to the courtyard, lay on the ground, and began crying and wailing. She said, “My daughter is unfilial. What’s the point of me living as a mother? Jiang Yubai, you vixen, seducing Ji Huan in broad daylight in the kitchen for shameful things. I want to smash my head and die here. I won’t live anymore.”

Seeing Jiang Yubai’s face turn pale from Liu Fengmei’s outburst, Ji Huan took Jiang Yubai’s hand. Jiang Yubai, as if shaken by Liu Fengmei’s words, tried to pull her hand back, but Ji Huan held it tightly. She said, “Don’t listen to her nonsense. Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Ji Huan led Jiang Yubai out, keeping her behind. She stared coldly at Liu Fengmei and asked with a sneer, “Mother, didn’t you say you’d smash your head? Why haven’t you done it yet?”

Hearing Ji Huan’s words, Liu Fengmei’s fake crying nearly broke. She pointed at Ji Huan and cursed, “Fine, Ji Huan, you unfilial daughter! You’re cursing me to die. How did I give birth to such an unfilial daughter?”

After Liu Fengmei’s wailing, the whole family came out of their rooms. Seeing Liu Fengmei sitting on the ground like a shrew, Ji Yuan frowned, his eyes full of disdain.