Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Ji Sen quickly returned from Doctor Yu with medicine and asked Wang Xiuxiu to help boil it in the kitchen. When Wang Xiuxiu entered the kitchen, Li Yulan and Ji Ming were preparing to cook.

Wang Xiuxiu saw both of them there and smiled to greet them: “Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law.”

“Hey, you’re here too. Things were fine before, but how will we manage in the days ahead?” Li Yulan couldn’t help but complain.

“Sister-in-law, I think we should yield a bit to Second Sister. These past few times, none of us got the better of her,” Wang Xiuxiu said hesitantly.

Li Yulan thought about it and realized it was true, just as Wang Xiuxiu said. Ever since Ji Huan fell into the water, they hadn’t gained any advantage over her.

“Yeah, it’s really strange,” Li Yulan muttered to herself.

“Well, it’s because we pushed Old Second too far. Even a desperate dog will jump over a wall. For now, just avoid clashing with her, and we’ll deal with everything once Mother gets better,” Ji Ming sighed and said.

While Wang Xiuxiu spoke, she finished boiling the medicine, reducing three bowls of water to one. She quickly poured the medicine from the pot into a bowl and carried it to Liu Fengmei’s room.

In Liu Fengmei’s room, Ji Yuan and Ji Sen were both present, and Liu Fengmei had woken up. When Ji Yuan saw the medicine arrive, he stood up and took the bowl from Wang Xiuxiu’s hands. At this moment, he still needed his mud-legged parents, so he had to perform well.

“Mother, the medicine is here. I’ll feed it to you,” Ji Yuan said as he helped Liu Fengmei sit up and held the bowl to feed her the medicine.

Liu Fengmei was so moved that tears nearly came to her eyes. “My son is still filial to me, unlike Ji Huan, who almost angered me to death. Old Third, Mother didn’t raise you in vain.”

Ji Sen, standing to the side, heard his mother’s words and couldn’t hold back a laugh. He muttered indifferently, “When you fainted, Old Third was making all sorts of excuses not to carry you. Truly filial.”

Liu Fengmei’s smiling face instantly cracked. She looked at Ji Yuan, who avoided her gaze, and quickly made an excuse for him. “Ji Yuan never did rough work since he was young. How could he carry me? Who carried me after I fainted?”

When Liu Fengmei asked this, Ji Sen fell silent, as he hadn’t carried her either. Ji Mantun, sitting to the side, took a puff from his pipe and sighed, “Who else could it be? I carried you.”

“What about Ji Ming and Ji Sen? And where was Ji Huan? Why didn’t Ji Huan carry me?” Liu Fengmei instinctively decided that, no matter how much they fought, with Ji Huan’s filial nature, she would surely have carried her if she saw her faint.

“None of them wanted to carry you. Ji Huan? If we let Ji Huan carry you down the mountain, our Ji family would truly have no face left to live in Dongniu Village,” Ji Mantun sighed and said.

“Old man, you carried me? Ugh, that damned Jiang Yubai not only corrupted Ji Huan but also made the whole village know about our family’s affairs. Calling her a jinx is letting her off too easily,” Liu Fengmei couldn’t help but curse again.

Ji Mantun sighed, “Enough, stop cursing. None of you are allowed to provoke Ji Huan lately. If this keeps up, we’ll really have no face left to show.”

“Got it, Father. What about the daily chores? Should we still assign them to Ji Huan and her lot?” Ji Ming interjected and asked.

Ji Mantun pondered for a moment without answering, but Ji Yuan spoke up, “For the next few days, don’t assign any work to Ji Huan and her lot. Ji Huan is stubborn now and won’t take pressure. This is the perfect time to get those four taels of silver back from her.”

“Old Third, you have a plan?” At the mention of this, Liu Fengmei felt her illness vanish instantly and perked up.

Ji Yuan smiled and nodded, “Naturally.”

“Then stop keeping us in suspense and tell us,” Ji Sen asked curiously.

“We can make a big deal out of Mother’s illness. Buying medicine and hiring a doctor costs money, and buying nourishing things is even more expensive. Spending three or four taels of silver is reasonable. Ji Huan was so filial before; she can’t have changed too much. The things that happened lately are probably because she felt unfairly treated. So, we need to treat Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai better. Mother, you can drag your sick body to find Ji Huan, and with her nature, she’ll definitely give the silver to help you recover.”

In his view, no matter how much Ji Huan’s temper changed, she was still the same old Ji Huan. The recent incidents were just because they pushed her too far. If they treated her better and their parents showed her more care, Ji Huan’s nature would still make her the old ox willing to do anything for the family.

“Will that work? I don’t think Ji Huan will fork over the money,” Ji Sen said, recalling the look in Ji Huan’s eyes when she hit him last time, which gave him goosebumps. He felt the family didn’t understand the current Ji Huan well enough.

Liu Fengmei glared at Ji Sen, dissatisfied, “Of course it’ll work. Don’t you know what kind of person Ji Huan is? She’s just been swayed by that little vixen Jiang Yubai. As long as we treat her better, she’ll naturally side with her own family.”

Ji Mantun nodded in agreement and added, “Yes, when you fainted on the mountain, Ji Huan was crying and said she wanted to carry you. But the situation back then didn’t allow her to. Besides, Er Zhuzi held her back and didn’t let her come carry you. Otherwise, I think Ji Huan would’ve been willing to carry you down the mountain.”

Hearing Ji Mantun say this, Liu Fengmei’s face showed even more pride as she smiled, “See, I told you. You can tell a person’s character at three, and it’s set by seven. Ji Huan has always been honest and quiet. She can’t just change her nature now. It’s just that little vixen stirring her up. We’ll do as Old Third says.”

Ji Sen pursed his lips, thinking they were oversimplifying Ji Huan, but he decided not to get involved.

Liu Fengmei had finished drinking the medicine by now. Ji Ming came in from outside and, seeing everyone there, said, “Father, lunch is ready. Should we eat in the dining room or go back to our rooms?”

Ji Mantun thought for a moment and said, “Bring some for your mother first. Oh, and send some lunch to Ji Huan and her lot. Make sure to send enough. At this time, don’t clash with Ji Huan.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll deliver it myself,” Ji Ming said as he left the room.

He was worried that Li Yulan’s fiery temper might lead to a fight with Ji Huan, so he decided to let her deliver food to Liu Fengmei while he took steamed buns and a dish of cabbage and potatoes to Ji Huan.

Ji Ming knocked on the door a few times and called out, “Ji Huan, lunch is here. I brought it for you.”

Ji Huan wasn’t hungry at all, but she was curious about what the Ji family was up to now. She got up to open the door and saw Ji Ming standing there.

Ji Huan gave Ji Ming a half-smile, completely different from the tearful Ji Huan on the mountain. Her look made Ji Ming uneasy, and he forced an awkward smile, “This is food for you and Jiang Yubai. I brought it over. Mother just woke up. Do you want to go see her later?”

Ji Huan took the tray from Ji Ming’s hands and passed it to Jiang Yubai, who was nearby, before raising an eyebrow and saying, “Mother probably doesn’t want to see me. We won’t go bother her. Thanks, Big Brother.”

“No problem, no problem. We’re family. The past stuff was all a misunderstanding. Families don’t hold grudges. Eat up, I’m heading back,” Ji Ming said with a smile.

Ji Huan didn’t bother being polite with Ji Ming. Before he even left, she closed the door.

Ji Ming, still standing at the door, couldn’t keep up his facade and almost cursed. But remembering Ji Mantun’s instructions, he gritted his teeth and held back. Talking to the current Ji Huan really made him angry.

They had chicken for lunch, so Ji Huan wasn’t hungry. But seeing Jiang Yubai eyeing the coarse grain buns, she smiled and said, “If you’re hungry, eat some more. We used a lot of energy coming down the mountain. Eating more is fine, just don’t overdo it.”

“Sister, you eat some too,” Jiang Yubai said, thinking that if Ji Huan was really possessed by a ghost, she’d still need to eat.

Ji Huan thought Little White Rabbit was just shy about eating alone and went along with her, saying, “Alright, I’ll eat some with you.”

Jiang Yubai’s eyes lit up. She handed Ji Huan a coarse grain bun and took one for herself, eating heartily.

Ji Huan started feeling hungry watching her. She had planned to just take a few bites for show, but seeing Little White Rabbit eat so eagerly, she broke off half a bun and ate along with her.

After another lunch, Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai tidied up the table simply. Ji Huan took the bowls and chopsticks back to the kitchen.

Li Yulan happened to come out to serve food and, unusually, didn’t say anything harsh to Ji Huan.

Ji Huan glanced at Li Yulan, deep in thought. Something unusual must be up. The Ji family was clearly preparing something big for her. A smile tugged at Ji Huan’s lips. Why was she suddenly looking forward to it?

Li Yulan noticed Ji Huan’s smile. After Ji Huan left, Li Yulan spat toward her departing figure, “What’s there to be smug about? You really think your family’s being nice to you? They’re just after your four taels of silver. Old ox, you deserve to be worked to death.”

When Ji Huan returned to the room, she saw Little White Rabbit eagerly watching the door.

Seeing Little White Rabbit waiting obediently, Ji Huan’s eyes softened, “Come on, we’ve been busy all morning. Let’s rest on the bed for a bit.”

“Okay,” Little White Rabbit nodded to Ji Huan and obediently climbed onto the bed.

Ji Huan saw Little White Rabbit get on the bed, took off her outer clothes, and lay on the outer side. As soon as she lay down, a soft, fragrant Little White Rabbit nestled into her arms.

Ji Huan froze for a moment, her smile deepening. Usually, she accidentally pulled Little White Rabbit into her arms while sleeping. She didn’t expect Little White Rabbit to be so proactive today.

Jiang Yubai’s face flushed red, but she buried it in Ji Huan’s chest. From Ji Huan’s view, she could only see Jiang Yubai’s bright red ear tips.

Ji Huan grew playful and gently poked Jiang Yubai’s ear tip, teasing softly, “Why’s a certain Little White Rabbit so proactive today?”

When Ji Huan poked her ear tip, Jiang Yubai’s body trembled slightly, and she burrowed deeper into Ji Huan’s arms. Since her sister was possessed by a ghost, even getting closer wouldn’t jinx her. Jiang Yubai felt much lighter, as she hadn’t been this carefree with someone in a long time.

“Sister?” The sensation on her ear tip made Jiang Yubai instinctively nuzzle into Ji Huan’s arms. Her sister’s fingertips seemed to keep brushing her ear tip, making it even redder.

Seeing the soft Little White Rabbit in her arms, Ji Huan wanted to tease her more. Her fingertip occasionally brushed Little White Rabbit’s red ear tip, and the soft Little White Rabbit would call her “sister” in a tender voice.

Her fingertip lightly touched Little White Rabbit’s ear tip a few more times, and Ji Huan asked with a smile, “What’s wrong?”

“It tickles. Sister, stop it,” Jiang Yubai’s voice was soft and sweet, which only made Ji Huan more interested.

Just a couple of days ago, Little White Rabbit wouldn’t let her touch her. Why was she suddenly so proactive?

But Ji Huan didn’t think too much of it, assuming Little White Rabbit was just getting comfortable with her and becoming closer.

“Alright, I won’t tease Little White Rabbit anymore. If you’re tired, sleep,” Ji Huan stopped her actions. Looking at Little White Rabbit’s red ear tips, her fingertips itched to touch the soft little rabbit again, but she held back.

She reached out and pulled Little White Rabbit up a bit, letting Jiang Yubai rest more comfortably, then closed her eyes to sleep.

Jiang Yubai slept deeply, even having an embarrassing dream that made her blush. She nestled softly in Ji Huan’s arms, and when she opened her eyes, she saw the person from her dream. Thinking of what she and Ji Huan did in the dream, Little White Rabbit felt like she was burning up.

Luckily, Ji Huan hadn’t woken up. Jiang Yubai boldly reached out and gently poked Ji Huan’s cheek, then shyly buried herself back in Ji Huan’s arms. Her heart still lingered on the dream. If her sister was a ghost, consummating their marriage wouldn’t jinx her. Thinking this, Little White Rabbit was too shy to lift her face.

Still sleeping, Ji Huan felt something warm in her arms moving restlessly. She reached out to hold it tightly and fell back asleep.

Seeing Ji Huan hold her tighter, Jiang Yubai’s red face looked at Ji Huan, and she muttered softly, “Sister, I just dreamed about you.”

Saying this, Little White Rabbit buried her face in Ji Huan’s arms again, leaving only her red ear tips visible.

Ji Huan slept for over two hours before waking up. When she woke, she saw Little White Rabbit still obediently nestled in her arms. Ji Huan stretched and smiled at Jiang Yubai in her arms, “Been awake long? Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You were sleeping so soundly, so I didn’t disturb you,” Little White Rabbit obediently looked at Ji Huan, making Ji Huan unable to resist rubbing the top of her head a few times.

“So good,” Ji Huan said, glancing at the bedside. She noticed it was already getting dark outside. She had slept quite a bit. “It’s this late already? Did they make any noise this afternoon?”

“No, I only heard Ji Ming boiling medicine for Mother again. There was some noise outside, but then it stopped,” Jiang Yubai said. She hadn’t slept since waking up, staying nestled in Ji Huan’s arms, unwilling to get up.

“Good,” Ji Huan replied with a smile. She still had half a pot of chicken porridge in her space. Although the space was a vacuum and the porridge could last for a while, it wouldn’t taste as good if kept too long. Ji Huan planned to eat it tonight, but how would she explain it to Little White Rabbit?

When they came down the mountain, they only brought bedding and a bundle of clothes. If she suddenly produced a pot of porridge, it would surely scare Little White Rabbit.

Seeing Ji Huan lost in thought, Jiang Yubai hesitated, then nuzzled into Ji Huan’s arms. Feeling the movement, Ji Huan looked down at Little White Rabbit and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Got something to say?”

Jiang Yubai nodded, pursed her lips, and thought for a moment before asking quietly, “Sister, can you tell me the truth?”

Ji Huan nodded, not knowing what Little White Rabbit wanted to ask, and waited earnestly for her next words.

Ji Huan saw Little White Rabbit sneakily lean toward her ear and whisper, “Sister, you’re actually a ghost, right? Ever since Ji Huan fell into the water, she’s been like a different person. Are you possessing her body?”

Looking at the serious Little White Rabbit, Ji Huan burst out laughing. Little White Rabbit was too funny, imagining her as a ghost.

Seeing Ji Huan only laugh without answering, Jiang Yubai anxiously shook Ji Huan’s shoulders and asked again, “Sister, stop laughing. Tell me, is it true?”

Seeing Little White Rabbit ask so seriously, Ji Huan wrapped her arms around Little White Rabbit’s waist, flipped her over, and pinned her down. She stretched out her arms like claws, wanting to tease her, “So what if I am? Little White Rabbit found out my secret. Now I have to eat you.”

Ji Huan held Jiang Yubai’s shoulders, pretending to lean in to bite her. As her face neared Jiang Yubai’s neck, Ji Huan laughed and collapsed into Jiang Yubai’s arms, her shoulders shaking.

Jiang Yubai pouted slightly. What did her sister mean? Was she a ghost or not?

Ji Huan laughed for a while, then looked up at Little White Rabbit, seeing her confused expression. She caught her breath and explained, “What ghost? You’ve been listening to too many stories, haven’t you? Naughty Little White Rabbit, always overthinking.”

Ji Huan took Jiang Yubai’s hand and placed it on her cheek, “Feel it. Is my face warm?”

Jiang Yubai felt it, and it was indeed warm.

Ji Huan continued, “Pinch it and see.”

Jiang Yubai obediently pinched, then realized her sister’s skin was quite nice, soft, and elastic.

“Does it feel unlike a dead person’s face, smooth and elastic?” Ji Huan asked again.

Little White Rabbit nodded obediently.

Ji Huan chuckled softly and tapped Jiang Yubai’s forehead with her right index finger, “Don’t let your little head run wild all day. If I were a ghost, I’d have eaten you already.”

Little White Rabbit looked at Ji Huan, still unconvinced, and defended herself, “But there are good ghosts too. Sister, you’re a good ghost.”

Ji Huan was torn between laughter and tears at Little White Rabbit’s words. This kid really thought she was a ghost.

“I’m really not a ghost. Look closely,” Ji Huan said, sitting up on the bed. The room was already quite dark, so she got up to light the oil lamp. Under its glow, her shadow appeared on the floor.

Ji Huan looked at Little White Rabbit sitting on the bed and smiled, “See that? There’s a shadow on the floor. Only living people have shadows. Ghosts don’t. Believe me now?”

Jiang Yubai nodded but quickly shook her head, “No, Sister, you’re possessing Ji Huan’s body, so you’re using her body. Since it’s a living person’s body, it would definitely have a shadow. I get it, Sister!”

Ji Huan was stunned by Little White Rabbit’s reasoning. She looked up at her, not understanding what Little White Rabbit had figured out.

Little White Rabbit excitedly put on her shoes, ran to Ji Huan, and buried herself in her arms, “I get it, Sister. You’re afraid of scaring me, so you’re not telling me the truth, right? It’s okay. I’m not afraid of ghosts. As long as it’s you, I’m not afraid.”

Ji Huan looked at Little White Rabbit, wanting to speak but holding back. A warm feeling rose in her heart. Little White Rabbit wasn’t even afraid of her being a ghost?

She reached out and rubbed Jiang Yubai’s head, wanting to explain but not knowing where to start. After all, she still had to heat up the chicken porridge from her space later. How would she explain that to Little White Rabbit? Fine, since Little White Rabbit misunderstood, she’d let it slide. She wasn’t scared anyway.

“Alright, whatever you say,” Ji Huan sighed, hugged Little White Rabbit, and said helplessly.

Little White Rabbit’s eyes lit up, “I knew it!”

Burying herself in Ji Huan’s arms, she thought, if her sister was a ghost, she couldn’t jinx her, so they could stay together forever.

Ji Huan looked at the excited Little White Rabbit, feeling a bit at a loss. Did Little White Rabbit really want her to be a ghost that badly? Or did she have some special quirk?

Ji Huan shook her head in confusion. Whatever, as long as Little White Rabbit was happy, she could think what she wanted.

“Oh, save some room for dinner later. We still have chicken porridge to finish. I’ll heat it up in the kitchen and bring it back to the room,” Ji Huan said softly.

Little White Rabbit’s eyes lit up. She knew her sister was a ghost. They didn’t bring any chicken porridge down the mountain, so where did this porridge come from? It must be her sister’s ghostly powers conjuring it.

“Okay,” Jiang Yubai happily hugged Ji Huan.

Looking at the suddenly clingy Little White Rabbit, Ji Huan was torn between laughter and tears.

After spending some time with Little White Rabbit, Ji Ming came to deliver dinner. Ji Huan got up to open the door.

Seeing both of them there, Ji Ming said, “Father said you just came back, so rest for a few days. You two don’t have to do any chores for now. Here’s the food. I brought it for you.”

Ji Huan nodded, “Thanks, Big Brother.”

“No problem. We’re family. Let’s not mention the past stuff. Rest well. I’m going to deliver food to Mother and the others,” Ji Ming said, hurrying off before Ji Huan’s expression changed.

Ji Huan looked at the dinner on the tray. One plate held pickled vegetables, and another slightly larger plate had four corn pancakes. That was the Ji family’s dinner.

Ji Huan glanced at the pickled vegetables and lost her appetite, but the corn pancakes looked decent. She set the dinner on the table, grabbed the empty teapot from the table, and went out.

Ji Huan went straight to the kitchen with the teapot. No one was there. She filled a pot with water, and soon it boiled. She filled her room’s teapot and headed back.

“I got some hot water. Eat a bit for now. If we get hungry later, we’ll heat up the porridge,” Ji Huan said.

“Okay, this is already plenty,” Little White Rabbit replied. She used to never eat enough, so being full now made her content.