Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Ji Huan rested with Jiang Yubai for a while. She heard rustling sounds in the courtyard as activities began.

Jiang Yubai opened the door slightly and looked outside. She saw Ji Sen and others preparing dinner. Little White Rabbit asked worriedly, “Sister, we argued loudly with Mother and the others this afternoon. Will they exclude us from dinner?”

“It’s fine, don’t worry,” Ji Huan said. “If they don’t include us, we can cook ourselves. They just shouldn’t regret it.” Her lips curved into a slight smile.

Jiang Yubai didn’t understand Ji Huan’s words fully. However, she didn’t think much about it. She knew following her sister meant she would have food to eat.

At dinnertime, Ji Huan told Jiang Yubai to wait in the room. She went to the kitchen where Ji Sen and Wang Xiuxiu were busy working.

Ji Sen saw Ji Huan and froze immediately. “Second Sister, this afternoon’s matter truly had nothing to do with me. I didn’t say a single extra word,” he said.

Ji Huan chuckled lightly and looked at the food in the pot. Ji Sen broke into a cold sweat. His speech stammered, “S-Second Sister, Mother just instructed us. She said not to make dinner for you two.”

Ji Huan gave him a cold glance. Ji Sen nearly knelt in fear. He quickly added, “But I steamed extra buns. I can give you three. The dishes are a bit short, though, Second Sister, what do you think?”

Ji Huan snorted coldly. “Fine, those three buns will do. I’ll figure out the dishes myself,” she said.

Ji Huan left the kitchen and headed to the backyard. The Ji family’s backyard not only raised pigs but also kept eight or nine chickens. Three were hens, recently laying eggs almost daily.

Normally, Liu Fengmei collected these eggs. She kept them in a locked cabinet in her room. Sometimes she sold them, and sometimes she secretly gave them to her two grandsons and Ji Yuan.

Ji Huan thought about the day’s chaos. Liu Fengmei had pretended to be ill that morning, so the backyard eggs might still be there. She went straight to the chicken coop.

Ji Huan reached in and found one egg in the coop. She checked further and found two more eggs.

Holding the three eggs, Ji Huan’s eyes curved slightly. She planned to make egg custard for Little White Rabbit later. It would taste much better than the Ji family’s usual cabbage and potato stew.

Ji Huan held the eggs openly. Ji Sen and his wife were still in the kitchen.

Ji Sen glanced at the eggs in Ji Huan’s hand but didn’t dare speak. He signaled Wang Xiuxiu to pretend she didn’t see.

Wang Xiuxiu nodded, understanding, and lowered her head to focus on her work.

Ji Huan took a clean bowl and cracked the three eggs into it. She added a suitable amount of warm water and stirred evenly. Then, she used the pot that had just steamed buns, set up the steamer rack, and placed the bowl inside. She steamed it over high heat.

Soon, the aroma of eggs wafted from the gaps between the pot and lid. Ji Sen swallowed frequently but, recalling past beatings, didn’t dare say anything.

Their food was ready. Ji Sen smiled nervously at Ji Huan and said, “Second Sister, I put your three buns in a bowl. We’re taking the food to the dining room now.”

Ji Huan nodded casually. “Go ahead,” she said.

Ji Sen sighed in relief and urged Wang Xiuxiu, “Hurry, help me carry it to the dining room.”

The two scurried back and forth several times, barely managing to bring all the food to the dining room.

Ji Huan stayed in the kitchen, steaming the egg custard unhurriedly. Ten minutes later, the custard was almost done.

Ji Huan used a damp cloth to take the bowl out of the pot. She added soy sauce, vinegar, and a pinch of salt for flavor. Then, she placed the custard bowl on a tray. She also put the three buns Ji Sen left into another bowl on the tray.

She grabbed chopsticks and a spoon, then carried the tray out of the kitchen.

When Ji Huan pushed open the room’s door, Little White Rabbit eagerly greeted her. “Sister, what are we eating for dinner?” she asked.

Ji Huan’s eyes curved slightly. “I steamed egg custard,” she said softly. “There are mixed-grain buns in that bowl. Eat them together.”

“Eggs? Where did you get them?” Jiang Yubai asked. She knew Liu Fengmei collected and locked up the eggs daily, so she was puzzled about where Ji Huan got them.

“I took them from the backyard,” Ji Huan said frankly. “This morning, Mother was pretending to be sick, so she didn’t have time to collect the eggs. I took them all and steamed them.” She placed the bowl on the wooden table, ready to eat a bit with Jiang Yubai.

“All steamed? What if Mother asks about it?” Jiang Yubai hesitated, worried Liu Fengmei would trouble Ji Huan again.

“If she asks, let her ask,” Ji Huan said nonchalantly. “Can they eat me?” She didn’t take Liu Fengmei seriously at all.

Jiang Yubai thought about it and agreed. The Ji family never outtalked her sister. Her sister’s recent crying wasn’t genuine either. With that, Jiang Yubai felt reassured.

She stirred the egg custard slightly and took a spoonful. The smooth, tender texture and egg aroma made her nod repeatedly. “It’s really delicious,” she said.

Seeing Little White Rabbit eat happily, Ji Huan’s mood improved. “If it’s delicious, eat more. It’s all yours,” she coaxed softly.

“Sister, you eat too,” Little White Rabbit said, feeling a bit embarrassed. She had eaten a lot by the river earlier and was hungry again.

“Okay, I’ll try some. I’m really full,” Ji Huan said. She ate only half a bun and a bit of custard before stopping. Most of the custard and buns ended up in Little White Rabbit’s stomach.

Little White Rabbit finished the custard in the bowl and looked at Ji Huan contentedly. “I’m really full this time,” she said.

Ji Huan chuckled and looked at Little White Rabbit. She wondered if her Little White Rabbit had a spring-loaded stomach, able to hold so much.

“Come here,” Ji Huan said, beckoning Little White Rabbit with a finger, signaling her to come closer.

Little White Rabbit didn’t understand what Ji Huan wanted but obediently walked over. She no longer feared jinxing Ji Huan, so she didn’t keep her distance.

Ji Huan pulled Little White Rabbit closer and touched her stomach.

Jiang Yubai understood Ji Huan’s intention. Her ear tips turned red, and she spoke to Ji Huan with a hint of playfulness. “Sister~”

“It’s nothing, I’m just curious,” Ji Huan said. Little White Rabbit ate a lot but didn’t gain much weight. Even her waist was slim, which Ji Huan envied. Little White Rabbit grew well, with curves in the right places and a great figure.

“I’ve always been like this since I was little. I eat a lot but don’t gain much weight,” Jiang Yubai explained, her ear tips red.

“Isn’t that better?” Ji Huan said, her eyes smiling at Jiang Yubai. “When I earn money, I’ll make sure my Little White Rabbit eats delicious food every day.” Her fingertips playfully pinched Jiang Yubai’s fingers.

Jiang Yubai’s cheeks flushed from the teasing. Since Ji Huan sat on a bench, she couldn’t jump into Ji Huan’s arms. She stood there softly, too shy to look at Ji Huan.

Having teased Little White Rabbit, Ji Huan pinched her fingertips but didn’t tease further. “I’m going to the kitchen to boil water. Wait in the room, or come with me?” she asked.

“Together,” Jiang Yubai said. Seeing Ji Huan stand, she grabbed Ji Huan’s sleeve, looking at her softly.

Ji Huan pulled Jiang Yubai into her arms, gently patting her back. “Okay, together with my Little White Rabbit,” she said.

Jiang Yubai, with red ear tips, nuzzled in Ji Huan’s arms. She felt shy, wondering why her sister always called her Little White Rabbit. Did her sister like rabbits? But when they first hunted a rabbit, her sister ate happily too.

Ji Huan didn’t know Little White Rabbit was overthinking. She gently patted Jiang Yubai’s slim waist and coaxed softly, “Let’s go boil water. We’ll come back and cuddle in bed.”

Little White Rabbit, soothed by Ji Huan’s gentle voice, felt dazed. Hearing “cuddle in bed,” her face flushed red. She knew her sister didn’t mean it that way, but she still felt shy and buried her head lower.

Ji Huan chuckled at the shy Little White Rabbit in her arms. One hand held her slim waist, the other patted her back. “Why so shy all of a sudden? Don’t we cuddle like this every day? Still not used to it?” she asked.

Little White Rabbit responded with soft whimpers, showing no intention of letting go.

Ji Huan was always patient with Jiang Yubai. When Jiang Yubai got shy, Ji Huan stood there, letting her hold on and catch her breath. After a while, Jiang Yubai finally got up from Ji Huan’s arms.

Ji Huan stopped teasing Little White Rabbit. She picked up the tray and smiled. “Grab the washbasin. Let’s go,” she said.

“Okay,” Jiang Yubai replied. She took the washbasin and followed Ji Huan obediently.

In the kitchen, Ji Huan started boiling water. Jiang Yubai stood by, cleaning the dishes and chopsticks they had used.

Ji Ming and the others finished eating and came to clean up. Li Yulan saw Jiang Yubai and said to Ji Ming, “Isn’t Jiang Yubai right there? Let her wash the dishes. My sons are waiting for me. I’m going back.”

Li Yulan tried to leave, but Ji Huan stopped her.

“Sister-in-law, people live for face, trees live for bark. I’m baffled—how did you grow up like this?” Ji Huan said, looking at her coldly with a mocking tone.

Li Yulan exploded immediately. Previously, Liu Fengmei and Ji Mantun had warned her not to provoke Ji Huan because of four taels of silver. Now, knowing they wouldn’t get the silver, Li Yulan didn’t want to hold back. She glared at Ji Huan. “Ji Huan, what do you mean? Are you saying I’m shameless?”

Ji Huan nodded. “Yes, aren’t you shameless? Is your hand broken or your leg lame? Can’t you wash dishes yourself? I’m telling you, don’t think you can boss Yubai around anymore,” she said.

“Oh, Ji Huan, you’re protecting that jinx now, huh?” Li Yulan said.

Ji Huan’s face darkened at the word “jinx.” She scooped hot water from the pot and splashed it toward Li Yulan and Ji Ming without warning. Ji Ming thought it was boiling water and nearly died of fright.

“Ji Huan!” Ji Ming shouted, but Ji Huan had already splashed the water.

She looked at Ji Ming coldly, her tone devoid of warmth. “Her mouth is so foul, I had to wash it for her. Next time, I can’t guarantee I won’t use boiling water,” she said.

“Ji Huan, how could you do that? Your sister-in-law was joking. How could you take it seriously?” Ji Ming said angrily.

“I was joking with Sister-in-law too. How could you take it seriously? Oh, don’t you all love joking? I’ll have to joke with Ji Dong and Ji Xi often too,” Ji Huan said, her lips curving into a smile.

Ji Ming felt a chill. “Ji, Ji Huan, I’m warning you, don’t touch the kids,” he said.

Ji Ming pushed Li Yulan. “Let’s go back to the room,” he said.

“Ji Ming, are you a Qianyuan or not? You watched your wife get splashed by your sister? How can we live like this?” Li Yulan’s cries filled the courtyard.

Ji Huan glanced toward the courtyard and snorted coldly, saying nothing more.

In Ji Mantun’s room, he smoked a few puffs and was about to rest when he heard his eldest daughter-in-law’s cries in the courtyard.

Ji Mantun knocked his pipe heavily and cursed, “Why so many issues every day? I didn’t see Li Yulan as such a troublemaker before. Does this house still feel like a home?”

“Don’t get mad, dear. I’ll go check,” Liu Fengmei said.

Liu Fengmei went out and saw Ji Ming and Li Yulan arguing in the courtyard. She quickly asked, “What’s going on? How did delivering dishes lead to a fight?”

Li Yulan saw Liu Fengmei and cried, “Mother, you must stand up for me. I just asked Jiang Yubai to wash dishes, but Ji Huan protected her and wouldn’t let her. She insulted me and splashed me with scalding water from the pot. Mother, you must stand up for me.”

Liu Fengmei didn’t feel much pity for Li Yulan. Coming to her for justice? Ji Huan had mocked her all day, nearly shaming her completely. How could she face Ji Huan again? She wasn’t idle enough to seek trouble.

“Ji Ming, take your wife back. Crying in the courtyard—what does that look like? Don’t we have enough gossip in this family?” Liu Fengmei scolded.

Seeing Liu Fengmei angry, Ji Ming pulled Li Yulan. “Yulan, stop making a fuss. It’s just a bit of water on your clothes. It’ll dry. Let’s go back. What will the kids think seeing this?” he said.

Li Yulan’s anger flared at his words. She cursed, “You useless man, watching your wife get bullied and not even daring to fart. Fine, no one will stand up for me, right? I’ll learn from Ji Huan and take this to the village for judgment. Don’t stop me.”

Hearing Li Yulan wanted to escalate, Liu Fengmei shouted toward the kitchen, “Ji Huan, I can’t stop your sister-in-law. If this gets to the village, it won’t look good for you. Come out and apologize to her, and we’ll call it settled.”

Ji Huan laughed in anger in the kitchen. She finished boiling water and wiped her hands. Leaning against the doorframe, she replied calmly, “Let her go. Don’t stop her. Besides, Li Yulan was the one who acted low first. Why should I apologize?”

“Ji Huan, you damned wretch, I’ll fight you!” Li Yulan howled louder, hearing Ji Huan curse her. If Ji Ming hadn’t held her, she would have lunged at Ji Huan.

Ji Huan looked at the clown before her and smiled. “Sister-in-law, with your skills, you think you can frame me? Go tell the village I scalded you with water. See if anyone believes you. Even if they do, is there a single burn mark on you? No evidence—who’ll believe you?” she said.

“Mother, you’ve acted all day and must be tired. Go rest. Let Sister-in-law make a fool of herself here. We don’t need to bother. Everyone, disperse,” Ji Huan said lightly.

Li Yulan stopped crying. Hearing Ji Huan’s words, she realized Ji Huan was right. She had no burns. Even if the whole village came, no one would believe her. For a moment, Li Yulan felt stuck, unable to back down.

Liu Fengmei, hearing Ji Huan mention her acting, felt embarrassed. Ignoring Li Yulan, she slipped back to her room.

Ji Ming glared at Li Yulan. “Fine, I won’t stop you. Go make a scene,” he said.

After shouting at Li Yulan, Ji Ming returned to his room. No one in the courtyard paid attention to Li Yulan anymore.

Feeling humiliated, Li Yulan cried in the courtyard for a while. Finally, Ji Dong and Ji Xi came out and took her back, ending the farce.

Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai then fetched water to wash up.

Before sleeping, Ji Huan seemed to remember something. She poked Jiang Yubai in her arms and said softly, “If you wake up early tomorrow, remember to wake me up early.”

“What for?” Little White Rabbit asked, nuzzling in Ji Huan’s arms with curiosity.

Ji Huan chuckled and found Jiang Yubai’s hand under the covers, playing with her fingertips. “To get eggs to feed my Little White Rabbit,” she said.

Hearing Ji Huan call her Little White Rabbit again, Jiang Yubai’s ear tips reddened. “Sister, is it okay? What about Mother?” she asked.

“The Ji family doesn’t dare do anything to us now. These incidents have spread through the village. If they want to keep living in Dongniu Village, they won’t dare provoke us again. Sleep,” Ji Huan said, pinching Jiang Yubai’s fingertips gently.

Jiang Yubai, hearing Ji Huan’s gentle voice, felt soft and weak. She was glad the room was dark, or her sister would see her blushing.

“Mm,” Jiang Yubai said shyly, nuzzling closer into Ji Huan’s arms. Noticing Ji Huan’s hand loosening her fingertips, she instinctively grabbed it.

Ji Huan chuckled and rubbed Jiang Yubai’s head with her other hand. “Want to hold hands while sleeping?” she asked.

Jiang Yubai didn’t let go of Ji Huan’s hand. Ji Huan’s question made her feel like she was burning, and she whimpered without answering.

Ji Huan knew the Little White Rabbit in her arms was likely shy. She let Jiang Yubai hold her hand, closed her eyes, and started to fall asleep. Since discovering she was a “ghost,” Little White Rabbit had become even clingier.

The next morning, before five o’clock, Little White Rabbit woke due to her biological clock. She remembered Ji Huan’s instructions but, hearing Ji Huan’s steady breathing, felt reluctant to wake her.

She thought in Ji Huan’s arms for a while before gently shaking Ji Huan’s arm. “Sister, wake up,” she said.

Hearing Little White Rabbit’s voice, Ji Huan opened her eyes. After a moment, she remembered she had asked Little White Rabbit to wake her.

Ji Huan hugged the soft, warm Little White Rabbit in her arms, reluctant to let go. The bed was much warmer than outside. After lingering a bit, Ji Huan patted Jiang Yubai’s back and said softly, “I’ll go get the eggs. Wait for me obediently.”

“Sister, I’ll go with you,” Little White Rabbit said, nuzzling Ji Huan clingily.

Ji Huan’s heart softened. “Stay in bed and keep it warm. I’ll come back and sleep more,” she said gently.

“Okay,” Little White Rabbit replied softly, staying in the covers without getting up.

Ji Huan got out of bed and felt the room’s chill. Even with the holes patched and new window paper, it was cold. She quickly put on her patched cotton dress and left the room.

It was still dark outside, the courtyard pitch black. Ji Huan went to the backyard by memory. She searched the chicken coops and found three eggs, which she put into her space.

Back at the front yard, she washed her hands to remove the chicken smell. Then, Ji Huan returned to her room.

Little White Rabbit was still lying obediently in bed. Ji Huan took off her cotton dress, slipped back into the covers, and hugged Little White Rabbit. She teased with a smile, “Is my body cold?”

Jiang Yubai naturally nestled into Ji Huan’s arms, holding Ji Huan’s hands to warm them. “A little. I’ll warm them for you,” she said.

Ji Huan chuckled, letting Little White Rabbit warm her hands. With a little heater in her arms, she warmed up quickly.

Meanwhile, Liu Fengmei, who had no serious health issues, woke early, thinking about the backyard eggs.

She dressed and went to the backyard. Liu Fengmei calculated in her mind. She had fainted on the mountain yesterday and didn’t collect eggs. With today’s, she expected six eggs.

Thinking this, Liu Fengmei didn’t feel the cold. She happily planned to boil a few eggs and secretly give one each to Ji Yuan and her two grandsons.

At the chicken coop, Liu Fengmei checked each nest. The more she searched, the worse her expression became. Two days, and not a single egg? Could the hens not lay because she hadn’t fed them? Or did someone steal them during the chaos?

Liu Fengmei, full of doubts, returned to her room with a furrowed brow. Seeing Ji Mantun awake, she said, “Dear, two days, and not one egg in the coop. Do you think someone stole our eggs?”

Her voice suddenly rose. “Could it be Ji Huan?” she asked.

Ji Mantun thought for a moment. “The old Ji Huan wouldn’t, but now, it’s hard to say. Still, you need evidence to catch a thief. You didn’t catch Ji Huan in the act, and our family’s reputation in the village is already bad. No one would believe it,” he said.

“Then what do we do? Dear, if we let this go, won’t all our eggs get stolen?” Liu Fengmei said unhappily.

“We’ll watch more closely. Our family’s reputation in the village is poor. Let’s bear it. If we push Ji Huan too far and cause more trouble, we’ll suffer. I’m tired of these fights. Let it be,” Ji Mantun said, lighting his pipe and sighing.

Liu Fengmei sat on a stool, feeling helpless. “Dear, how did Ji Huan become like this? She used to be so good,” she said.

“Hard to say,” Ji Mantun replied, shaking his head.

That morning, Ji Mantun called everyone except Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai to the dining room. No one had eaten yet, and they were curious about what Ji Mantun wanted to say.

Seeing no one speak, Ji Ming asked first, “Father, calling us here so early—do you have something to say?”

Ji Mantun took a few puffs of his pipe and nodded. He exhaled a smoke ring and said, “With the New Year approaching, I don’t want more trouble at home. Ji Huan’s matter ends today. She’s done a lot of work and earned money for the family. From now until after the New Year, Ji Huan and her sister don’t need to do chores. Eldest and Fourth, you two families take turns. As for Third, since you’re alone, work with Fourth and his wife.”

Ji Sen, hearing Ji Yuan assigned to him, was immediately unhappy. “Father, I don’t need Ji Yuan. He’s too precious. We’d rather work slowly ourselves,” he said.

Ji Ming quickly agreed. “We don’t need Ji Yuan either. He can’t do anything,” he said.

Ji Yuan’s face turned green with anger. “Big Brother, am I that bad?” he asked.

Li Yulan snorted and covered her mouth, snickering.

Ji Yuan grew angrier. He was a scholar, once cherished by the family. How did he become so despised?

Ji Mantun knocked his pipe on the table heavily. “Stop arguing. With the New Year coming, settle down. Your mother and I aren’t as healthy as before. We’ll rely on you in the future. Ji Yuan, your academy is on break until after the New Year. For now, you’ll chop firewood daily. You don’t need to do other chores,” he said.

“Father,” Ji Yuan said, his tone full of reluctance. But seeing Ji Mantun’s expression and knowing his academy fees were unpaid, he swallowed his frustration. “Fine, I’ll chop firewood,” he said.

Hearing this, Ji Ming and Ji Sen were pleased. At least they wouldn’t need to chop firewood when it was their turn.

“Father, what about Ji Huan? Do we make food for her and Jiang Yubai?” Ji Ming asked.

Li Yulan shot Ji Ming a sharp glance, having just suffered at Ji Huan’s hands the previous night.

“Of course, you make their food,” Ji Mantun said. “You’ve seen how the village shuns us. We need to move past this quickly, or life in the village will be hard. That’s why I’m not assigning chores to Ji Huan and her sister for now. We need to show the village we’re all working daily.”

Ji Mantun took another puff of his pipe and continued, “You brothers should get along better. No more fighting over every disagreement, making us a laughingstock. Start the chores with Eldest. Ji Yuan, don’t forget to chop firewood daily. That’s all. Disperse.”

After Ji Mantun spoke, the people in the dining room left.

Li Yulan glared at Ji Ming. “Useless. Now Ji Huan and that jinx are free,” she said.

“Keep it down. Our sons’ schooling money depends on Father and Mother. If we don’t want them to refuse, behave for now,” Ji Ming advised. He realized the whole family couldn’t handle Ji Huan, let alone just the two of them.

“Fine, fine. I must owe your family. If not for our sons, I wouldn’t swallow my pride,” Li Yulan said, snorting as Ji Ming led her to the kitchen.

Ji Yuan gritted his teeth and changed into old clothes. Even his worst clothes were better than Ji Huan’s. Dreaming of finding a wealthy Kunze to escape this hardship, he grabbed an axe and went to chop firewood.