Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Ji Huan walked inward along the street, occasionally stopping to see what the roadside stalls sold. When she reached a bustling stall selling hairpins, Ji Huan paused. The small stall was not large, but because the prices were fair, many people picked hairpins there.

Ji Huan glanced at the hairpins displayed on the stall. Her eyes fell on a white jade hairpin with a small rabbit carved at the end. Ji Huan picked up the hairpin and looked at it.

The hairpin只見季歡穿着寒酸, 賣發簪的人一開始想趕人，但聽到了季歡的話。

“Each one costs thirty wen, right? Shopkeeper, please wrap this one for me,” Ji Huan said. She already took out the copper coins from her body, even more straightforwardly than those who dressed well.

The hairpin seller immediately changed his expression and smiled busily, “You have good taste. All my hairpins are unique, and I include a wooden box. Come back next time if you need more.”

Saying this, the stall owner took the hairpin from Ji Huan’s hand, wrapped it slightly with cloth, placed it in a wooden box for hairpins, and handed it to Ji Huan.

Ji Huan took the wooden box and thanked him. She continued walking into the market in a good mood.

The white jade hairpin she chose was not of great material, but it looked fairly clear. The small rabbit carved on it was very cute and very suitable for her Little White Rabbit to wear. Ji Huan touched the wooden box in her arms, her eyes slightly curved.

Soon, she found the cheap tea sets the shop assistant mentioned. At the innermost part of the market, about a dozen stalls sold cheap tea sets. As the shop assistant said, the quality of these tea sets was clearly several grades lower.

Ji Huan walked to a stall and picked up a purple clay teacup from the stall to look at it. Both the craftsmanship and materials were rough. Many tea sets were made of ordinary porcelain bowl materials, no wonder they were cheap.

The stall owner saw Ji Huan picking and choosing and noticed the many patches on her clothes. He mocked, “You looked for so long, are you buying or not? I advise you not to look at the purple clay ones. You can’t afford几十文 for one. Just look at the porcelain ones. The cheapest ones are two or three wen each.”

Ji Huan put down the purple clay teacup and reached for a small porcelain teacup. “Boss, do you have any tea sets with glaze colors that change in a thousand ways?”

The stall owner glared at Ji Huan. “Are you doing this on purpose? Change in a thousand ways? How is that possible? Not to mention my small stall, even if you go to the Qingya Tea Set Shop, you won’t find the kind of teacup you described.”

Ji Huan’s lips curved into a smile. She nodded and smiled, “Alright, thank you. I’ll look around more.”

Ji Huan said this and walked to other stalls. The stall owner saw she didn’t buy and grumbled, “Can’t afford it and still asks so much? Poor and picky.”

Ji Huan didn’t get angry. She looked at several more stalls and gained a rough understanding of the tea set industry in The Great Liang Kingdom. After wandering the market a bit more, Ji Huan saw people queuing to buy something not far away. She followed to take a look.

They were selling peach blossom pastries, ten wen for a pack, about one jin heavy. Ji Huan thought about Little White Rabbit’s appetite and simply bought two packs. The shopkeeper wrapped the peach blossom pastries in oil paper, tied them with thin hemp rope, and handed them to Ji Huan.

Ji Huan carried the peach blossom pastries and walked toward the crossroads where she parted with Ji Ming and Ji Yuan.

After walking a bit more, Ji Huan reached the tea shed at the crossroads. Ji Ming and Ji Yuan were already waiting there.

“Second child, you’re back? What did you buy?” Ji Ming, sharp-eyed, saw the oil paper package in Ji Huan’s hand and asked.

“Nothing much, just bought some food for Yubai. It’s rare to come to the county town, can’t buy nothing,” Ji Huan said. She reached to pour herself a cup of tea and drank it immediately.

She walked a lot today and felt somewhat tired now.

“Alright, Mother and the others instructed me to buy things, and we’ve prepared everything. Let’s eat and head back in the afternoon,” Ji Ming said. He called the stall’s assistant over and ordered three bowls of beef noodles and a plate of side dishes for their lunch.

Ji Yuan actually didn’t want to eat there. When he studied at the academy, during breaks, he often went out to eat with classmates. Even if they couldn’t afford top restaurants, they chose decent small eateries, never eating at roadside stalls.

He was afraid of running into acquaintances and feeling embarrassed.

It was cold in winter. Soon, steaming hot beef noodles were served. Ji Huan stirred the bowl and found a few pieces of beef inside. She wandered for half a day and was indeed hungry, so she ate heartily.

Ji Ming was the same, but Ji Yuan couldn’t eat with enthusiasm. He constantly feared being seen by classmates, glancing around now and then while eating.

Ji Huan shook her head with a wry smile. How vain was he?

She ignored the other two, quickly eating the noodles in her bowl. After finishing a bowl, Ji Huan felt thoroughly warmed.

After lunch, the three began heading back. They walked for an hour and a half and reached the intersection of Dongniu Village and Xiniu Village. Following the village path for the time of one incense stick, Ji Huan and the others finally returned to the Ji family courtyard.

Ji Sen and Wang Xiuxiu had just returned from fetching water by the river. Seeing Ji Huan and the others back, they helped unload the goods from the cart.

Ji Ming and the others carried the goods from the cart to the dining hall for Ji Mantun and Liu Fengmei to check. Ji Huan followed them slowly into the dining hall.

Ji Mantun counted the New Year goods bought and saw that everything he instructed was purchased. He said, “Alright, take the cloth and divide it. As for the New Year goods, put them in your mother’s and my bedroom for now. We’ll eat them during the New Year.”

“Good,” Ji Ming replied. Everyone began taking the cloth they chose.

Ji Huan took her piece of green cloth and prepared to leave. Liu Fengmei saw Ji Huan about to go and noticed the oil paper package in her other hand. “Ji Huan,” she called.

Ji Huan heard Liu Fengmei call her and turned to look at her. “What’s the matter?” she asked.

Liu Fengmei, stared at by Ji Huan’s cold eyes, couldn’t say the words she wanted to spit out. “Nothing, go back, all of you go back,” she said.

Ji Huan then continued walking out with her things.

Liu Fengmei wanted to ask what was in the oil paper package, thinking Ji Huan bought it specially for her and Ji Mantun. But Ji Huan didn’t mention it. Liu Fengmei recalled being silenced by Ji Huan’s retorts before and didn’t dare ask what was in the oil paper package.

Seeing Ji Huan leave, Ji Yuan frowned and said, “Mother, look at Ji Huan. What has she become?”

Ji Mantun got a headache whenever Ji Huan was mentioned. He waved his hand and said, “Alright, alright, don’t mention her. You and Ji Ming are tired too. Take the things to your mother’s and my room and go rest.”

Seeing Ji Mantun say this, Ji Yuan couldn’t say more. He helped carry the New Year goods to Ji Mantun’s room.

Ji Huan eagerly returned to her room. She lightly knocked on the door twice. “Yubai, I’m back. Open the door for me,” she said.

Soon, rustling sounds came from inside, and the door opened. Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan return, her face full of uncontainable smiles.

“Sister, come in quickly. Are you tired? I’ll pour water for you,” Little White Rabbit said. She took the cloth from Ji Huan’s hand, put it aside, and immediately got busy.

Ji Huan turned to close the door, placed the oil paper package on the table, looked at Jiang Yubai, and smiled. “Not tired. What about you? Did they bring you lunch?” she asked.

Jiang Yubai put a cup in front of Ji Huan and nodded. “Wang Xiuxiu brought it over—three coarse grain buns plus vegetables. Don’t worry, I ate my fill,” she said.

Ji Huan nodded, drank a few sips of hot water from the cup, and continued, “Good that you ate your fill. This pack of pastries is what I bought in the county town. Many people queued to buy it, so I bought some too. Try it and see if it’s good,” she said.

Saying this, Ji Huan opened one pack. Inside the oil paper were ten delicate peach blossom pastries.

Little White Rabbit said she was full, but seeing the delicious food, her eyes lit up immediately. When her mother was alive, she used to give her snacks. But since her mother passed, Jiang Yubai almost forgot how long it had been since she ate such pastries.

“Sister, did you buy this specially for me?” Little White Rabbit asked, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Ji Huan.

Seeing Little White Rabbit’s delight, Ji Huan’s eyes curved too. “Yes, see if you like it?” she said.

Little White Rabbit reached for a piece and brought it to her mouth. After one bite, her eyes lit up. The pastry was freshly made that day. Though Ji Huan and the others spent some time on the road, the texture wasn’t much affected.

Little White Rabbit’s cheeks puffed up like a little hamster.

Ji Huan quickly poured a cup of water for Little White Rabbit and gently instructed, “It’s all for you, eat slowly.”

Little White Rabbit gave Ji Huan a sweet smile, even wanting to jump into Ji Huan’s arms to act spoiled, but she was too shy and didn’t do it.

“Sister, you eat too,” Little White Rabbit said, not forgetting to feed Ji Huan a piece of pastry in her busyness.

Ji Huan took the pastry and tasted it slightly. The item was fairly fresh, and the flavor was decent. But having tasted all sorts of delicacies in the modern world, Ji Huan’s reaction to the peach blossom pastry wasn’t as strong as Little White Rabbit’s.

When Little White Rabbit offered her another, Ji Huan just waved her hand. She wasn’t too fond of it, just tasting it was enough, and she had no desire to eat more. “You eat it. I ate beef noodles in the county town at noon, and I’m still full,” she said.

Hearing Ji Huan say this, Little White Rabbit happily ate on her own. Of the ten pastries, Ji Huan ate one, and the remaining nine soon went into Little White Rabbit’s stomach. Ji Huan was stunned—her Little White Rabbit’s appetite was really good.

Jiang Yubai felt a bit embarrassed by Ji Huan’s gaze and softly whined, “Sister, why do you keep looking at me?”

“You look cute eating,” Ji Huan said softly. “Do you want to eat the other pack now or save it for tomorrow?”

Jiang Yubai’s eyes flickered. She thought and then looked at Ji Huan. “Tomorrow. I’m full now,” she said.

Ji Huan smiled and nodded. Their room had no stove or brazier, so the pastries wouldn’t spoil.

Seeing Little White Rabbit finish eating, Ji Huan stood and took out the wooden box from her arms and handed it over. “Open it and see if you like it,” she said.

Little White Rabbit clearly didn’t expect Ji Huan to bring her something besides food. “You bought this for me?” she asked.

Ji Huan nodded, her eyes smiling as she looked at Jiang Yubai. “Yes, for my Little White Rabbit,” she said.

“Sister~” Little White Rabbit called in a soft, tender voice. Curious about what Ji Huan bought her, she eagerly opened the wooden box.

Inside, a soft cloth wrapped the item. Opening it revealed a white jade hairpin with a small rabbit carved at the end. Jiang Yubai’s eyes brightened, thinking how her sister always called her Little White Rabbit. Her cheeks visibly reddened.

Ji Huan didn’t expect Little White Rabbit to get shy over a gift. She reached to hold Jiang Yubai’s waist, pulling her into her arms, and coaxed softly, “I thought the little rabbit on it looked like you, so I bought it. Do you like it?”

Jiang Yubai’s mind buzzed from Ji Huan’s gentle words, her legs weakening. If Ji Huan weren’t holding her waist, she’d have collapsed.

“I like it,” Little White Rabbit said, her ear tips red as she stared at Ji Huan. In their place, if Kunze and Qianyuan shared feelings, jade was often a token of affection. Was this her sister’s token of love?

Thinking this, Jiang Yubai’s neck flushed red. She dared not look at Ji Huan and buried her face in Ji Huan’s arms.

Ji Huan looked at the soft, tender Little White Rabbit and shook her head with a wry smile. So delicate and soft, truly adorable.

She gently patted Jiang Yubai’s lower back twice and said softly, “I’ll help you put it on to see.”

Little White Rabbit hummed twice in Ji Huan’s arms, not lifting her head. She had no strength left, her whole body like it was cooked. She didn’t want her sister to see her like this.

Seeing Little White Rabbit being clingy, Ji Huan didn’t say more. She reached for the jade hairpin from the box on the table, one hand holding Jiang Yubai’s slender waist to prevent her from falling, the other carefully placing the hairpin in her hair.

Seeing Little White Rabbit’s ear tips bright red, Ji Huan deliberately leaned to her ear and praised, “It looks really good.”

Then she saw Little White Rabbit’s ears twitch, turning even redder.

Ji Huan couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Little White Rabbit noticed and rubbed against her in dissatisfaction. “Sister, what are you laughing at?” she asked.

Little White Rabbit’s voice was softer than usual. She regretted speaking, staying soft in Ji Huan’s arms, not daring to lift her head.

Ji Huan coaxed softly, “Nothing, the hairpin looks really good on you. When I earn money later, I’ll buy my Little White Rabbit more beautiful hairpins.”

Jiang Yubai’s heartbeat quickened with Ji Huan’s words. Her sister said she was hers and talked about the future. Did that mean her sister’s future included her?

Thinking this, Jiang Yubai felt happier than when she ate the peach blossom pastries, her heart full of sweetness. But then she remembered Ji Huan was a “ghost” and asked worriedly, “Sister, is it okay for you to keep possessing Ji Huan’s body? Can you stay with me always?”

Ji Huan was struck speechless by Little White Rabbit’s question. Did she still think Ji Huan was a ghost?

“I’ll always stay with my Little White Rabbit,” Ji Huan said softly. Her origins were too complicated to explain in a sentence or two. Ji Huan planned to explain it properly to Little White Rabbit later, after they separated from the family.

Hearing Ji Huan say this, Jiang Yubai relaxed. As long as her sister stayed, that was enough. Compared to her past self, Jiang Yubai had changed a lot. Before, she felt living day after day was just suffering, sometimes thinking death was freedom. But after her sister came, everything changed. She began to have hope, thinking of a future where she and her sister had their own home.

Ji Huan looked down and saw Little White Rabbit had no intention of letting go. She stood there, letting Little White Rabbit lean on her.

After about the time of one tea cup, Little White Rabbit shyly pulled back from Ji Huan’s arms. She found a wooden basin in the room, looked at her reflection in the water, and touched the hairpin. Then she took it out of her hair.

Seeing Little White Rabbit remove it, Ji Huan asked, “Why not wear it?”

Little White Rabbit’s ear tips reddened again. She looked up at Ji Huan. “You gave this to me. I can’t bear to wear it. I do work daily and fear breaking it,” she said.

Ji Huan shook her head with a wry smile and said softly, “If it breaks, I’ll buy you another later.”

Little White Rabbit quickly shook her head. “That’s not the same,” she said.

This was her sister’s token of love, different from anything given later. Thinking this, Little White Rabbit opened the wooden cabinet and hid the small wooden box deep inside.

She stared at the cabinet for a while, feeling it wasn’t safe. She took the small wooden box out, wrapped it well in one of Ji Huan’s old clothes, hid it deep in the cabinet again, and covered it with many old clothes.

Ji Huan’s heart ached slightly. When she had money later, she would buy Little White Rabbit lots of jewelry and delicious food. Her cute Little White Rabbit deserved to be well cared for.

~~

“Father, Mother, Ji Qiao and I came to see you,” a man’s voice in the courtyard broke the room’s silence. Ji Huan turned to look toward the door.

Seeing no one in the courtyard, the man urged, “Ji Qiao, why aren’t you calling people? What are you standing there for?”

“I’m going, I’m going,” the woman replied, her voice trembling with fear.

Ji Huan’s brow furrowed slightly. More voices gradually came from outside, led by Liu Fengmei’s voice.

“Dear son-in-law, why didn’t you say you were coming? I could’ve had Ji Ming and the others cut some meat,” Liu Fengmei said, her face full of smiles.

“No need for meat, Mother. I had Ji Qiao bring some. It’s all in that basket,” the man’s voice replied.

“Oh, that’s at least a dozen jin of pork, and even candied fruit and sweets. Dear son-in-law, you spent a lot,” Liu Fengmei said, her tone full of joy.

“It’s nothing. I also had Ji Qiao bring a bag of flour, fresh from this year. Brought it for you to try,” Zhang Liangcai continued.

“Then don’t stand outside. Dear son-in-law, come in and sit,” Ji Mantun said happily.

Ji Huan’s brow furrowed slightly. It sounded like Ji Qiao and her husband were back. But Ji Huan remembered villagers mentioning Ji Qiao married a cripple from Xiniu Village with a bad temper. Was that the man outside?

“Sister, what’s wrong?” Jiang Yubai asked, seeing Ji Huan standing still by the door.

“Nothing. It seems Ji Qiao and her husband are back,” Ji Huan said.

Jiang Yubai nodded. She hadn’t met Ji Qiao. After all, she’d only been married into the Ji family for half a year, and the old Ji Huan didn’t talk to her, so she wasn’t familiar with Ji Qiao.

In the dining hall, Ji Mantun hurriedly welcomed Zhang Liangcai to sit. “Dear son-in-law, sit quickly. Ji Qiao, why so clueless? Help your husband sit,” he said.

Zhang Liangcai glared at Ji Qiao and scolded, “Clumsy, I don’t need you.”

“Dear son-in-law, sit quickly. Ji Qiao’s always been like this, quiet, but since she married you, discipline her well,” Liu Fengmei said, smiling hurriedly.

“Naturally. Since she married me, she must follow my family’s rules,” Zhang Liangcai said, raising his head.

He scanned the dining hall, didn’t see Ji Huan, and asked, “Mother, why isn’t Ji Huan here? I heard she married Jiang Yubai, that famous jinx from Xiniu Village. Is Ji Huan alright? Call her out to see.”

Liu Fengmei looked embarrassed. With the old Ji Huan, she’d have called her right away. But the current Ji Huan didn’t even respect her or Ji Mantun. Liu Fengmei feared calling Ji Huan would offend Zhang Liangcai. Though Zhang Liangcai’s family had declined, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. His family still had some fields, making them well-off in Xiniu Village. The Ji family might need Zhang Liangcai’s help later.

“Ji Huan’s feeling unwell, sickly. Better not call her to avoid offending you,” Liu Fengmei said, forcing an awkward smile.

“Is that so? I heard she’s been quite famous in your village lately. How did she suddenly get sick?” Zhang Liangcai said, clearly wanting to see Ji Huan’s embarrassment.

“People eat grains; who doesn’t get sick?” Liu Fengmei said, then hurriedly told Ji Ming, “Ji Ming, go boil water to make tea for our dear son-in-law.”

“Yes, Mother, I’ll go now,” Ji Ming said. Seeing the dozen jin of meat, candied fruit, and bag of white flour in the basket, he was warm toward Zhang Liangcai, barely glancing at his own sister.

“Dear son-in-law, our family can’t compare to yours. It’s just ordinary flower tea. Make do with it,” Liu Fengmei said kindly.

Zhang Liangcai enjoyed the Ji family’s flattery. He glared at Ji Qiao. “What are you standing there for? Go help your big brother boil water,” he said.

Ji Qiao, like a startled bird, trembled lightly and said softly, “I’m going, I’m going.”

“No sense at all,” Zhang Liangcai said, glaring at Ji Qiao before continuing to talk with Liu Fengmei and the others.

Ji Qiao left the dining hall with a dejected expression, heading to the kitchen.

Seeing Ji Qiao arrive, Ji Ming thought of the pork they brought and asked, “Ji Qiao, you weren’t happy when we arranged your marriage to Zhang Liangcai. Now you see how much Father and Mother care for you? Zhang Liangcai’s family is rich. You shouldn’t lack meat at their house, right? Does Zhang Liangcai let you manage money?”

Ji Qiao looked at her big brother, who only talked about meat and money, her eyes reddening. She said nothing, lowered her head, found a teapot, and quietly waited for the water to boil.

Seeing she didn’t respond, Ji Ming grumbled, “What? Married into a rich family and now you look down on us? Don’t forget Mother arranged this marriage.”

Ji Qiao gripped her hands tightly, her eyes staring at the teapot, redder than before.

“Always been like this, a mute gourd, saying nothing when asked, just like Ji Huan,” Ji Ming said. Seeing he couldn’t get anything from his sister, he returned to the dining hall to cozy up to Zhang Liangcai, hoping to borrow money later if his sons couldn’t afford school.

In the kitchen, Ji Qiao was alone. She secretly wiped the cool tears from her face and silently continued boiling water.