Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

The water in the kettle soon boiled, and Ji Qiao lifted it to pour tea leaves into a nearby porcelain teapot. Then, carrying the teapot, she returned to the dining room.

Seeing her enter, Zhang Liangcai glared at her. “Why are you so slow? I’m practically dying of thirst here. Aren’t you going to serve me tea?”

“Yes, I’ll pour it now,” Ji Qiao replied, her body trembling as if by reflex. With a hint of fear, she poured tea into the cup in front of Zhang Liangcai.

The more nervous she became, the more her hands shook. In the end, a few drops of tea spilled from the pot.

Zhang Liangcai’s forehead veins bulged. He snatched the teapot from Ji Qiao’s hands and pushed her to the ground. Ignoring that they were in her family’s home, he scolded her, “Useless! What’s the point of keeping you? You can’t even pour a cup of tea properly. Just wait and see how I deal with you tonight.”

Ji Qiao, as if by reflex, began trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face as she shrank back in fear.

Liu Fengmei was momentarily stunned but quickly put on a smile. “Ji Qiao’s just clumsy. Look at you, upsetting my dear son-in-law like this. Get up already!”

Zhang Liangcai let out a cold snort. Only after Liu Fengmei poured him tea did his expression soften. Ignoring Ji Qiao, he sipped his tea leisurely.

Liu Fengmei glanced at Ji Qiao, thinking she’d need to find a moment to lecture her later. After all, when Ji Qiao was married off, Liu Fengmei had received fifty taels of silver from Zhang Liangcai’s family—a significant sum in the village. If Ji Qiao were to be divorced and Zhang Liangcai demanded the money back, what would she do?

Ji Yuan, unimpressed by Zhang Liangcai’s crude behavior, didn’t bother engaging him in conversation. Meanwhile, Ji Ming and Ji Sen chatted eagerly with Zhang Liangcai, paying no attention to Ji Qiao, who stood trembling in the corner.

As the meal neared its end, Zhang Liangcai glared at Ji Qiao again. “What are you standing there for? Go help with the cooking. Do you want me to starve?”

Frightened of Zhang Liangcai, Ji Qiao hurriedly went to the kitchen.

Wang Xiuxiu and Li Yulan were already there. Seeing Ji Qiao arrive, Li Yulan eagerly asked, “Fifth Sister, how’s life in Xiniu Village? You brought so much pork back—Zhang Liangcai must treat you well, right?”

Ji Qiao glanced at Li Yulan but had no intention of responding. Back when she still lived at home, her eldest sister-in-law loved bossing her around. Now, Li Yulan’s sudden warmth was likely because she saw Zhang Liangcai’s wealth and thought Ji Qiao had something to gain from it.

But what kind of life was she living with the Zhang family? As Ji Qiao tidied the dishes, her eyes reddened.

Seeing Ji Qiao ignore her, Li Yulan rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, “What’s so great about her? Just because she has a bit of money, she ignores her own family. What kind of person is that?”

Wang Xiuxiu glanced at the two but pretended to be busy, staying out of it.

Soon, dish after dish came out of the kitchen. Wang Xiuxiu carried the food to the dining room. Seeing the dishes ready, Zhang Liangcai asked, “What’s this? Is Ji Huan too sick to even get out of bed? She’s not even coming for dinner?”

Liu Fengmei quickly tried to change the subject. “Ji Huan’s got some illness. I’m worried she might spread it to you all. It’s better if she and Jiang Yubai eat in their room.”

“That won’t do. Ji Huan’s Ji Qiao’s sister, after all. Isn’t a family dinner supposed to be everyone together to be joyful? Mother, don’t you agree?” Zhang Liangcai said with a smile to Liu Fengmei.

Liu Fengmei forced a strained smile. “Well, that’s true, but…”

“Mother, if it’s really inconvenient, I’ll go fetch Ji Huan myself,” Zhang Liangcai interrupted, seeming determined to see Ji Huan today.

Liu Fengmei’s smile looked worse than crying. “That’s not necessary. You’ve already traveled so far from Xiniu Village. How could we let you go call her? I’ll do it, I’ll do it.”

Saying this, Liu Fengmei stood up. Ji Mantun gave her a meaningful look, and she nodded before leaving the dining room.

Instead of going straight to Ji Huan, she went to the kitchen. “Xiuxiu, put some of each dish on a plate and grab three white steamed buns.”

“Alright,” Wang Xiuxiu replied, quickly preparing a clean plate with portions of each dish. Since Ji Qiao had brought back meat, they’d even made rich, braised pork today.

Liu Fengmei placed the dishes and a bowl of steamed buns on a tray and headed toward Ji Huan’s room.

When she knocked, Liu Fengmei still felt a lingering unease.

Ji Huan opened the door, surprised to see Liu Fengmei delivering food. Something unusual was afoot. Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Ji Huan, Ji Qiao and Zhang Liangcai are back. Zhang Liangcai says he wants to see you. I’ve brought food for Yubai. Could you come to the dining room with me for this meal?” Liu Fengmei forced a smile as she asked.

Ji Huan glanced at the tray of food—decent dishes, with eggs and braised pork. She took the tray and handed it to Little White Rabbit behind her.

Ji Huan had overheard Zhang Liangcai’s words in the courtyard earlier. He didn’t seem like a good person. Since the food was already here, it’d be more comfortable for Little White Rabbit to eat in the room than at the dining table.

“Alright,” Ji Huan said, turning to Jiang Yubai with a softened tone. “Is it okay if you eat here alone? I’ll be back soon.”

Jiang Yubai nodded obediently. With Liu Fengmei still outside, she didn’t say much. “Mm.”

After instructing Little White Rabbit, Ji Huan stepped back to the door. “Mother, let’s go.”

Liu Fengmei looked at Ji Huan, hesitating before gritting her teeth. “Ji Huan, can you promise me one thing?”

Leaning lazily against the doorframe, Ji Huan asked with interest, “What is it? Let me hear it first.”

Liu Fengmei rarely spoke to Ji Huan these days, so for her to take the initiative, Ji Huan was genuinely curious.

Liu Fengmei’s wrinkled face forced a smile. Noticing Ji Huan seemed in a good mood, she spoke up. “Zhang Liangcai is your brother-in-law, after all. He’s not a bad person, just speaks harshly sometimes. But he’s decent. This time, he brought over a dozen pounds of pork and a full sack of flour. Ji Qiao’s life is with him, so, Ji Huan, if Zhang Liangcai says something unpleasant later, don’t take it to heart. He’s just like that. I just want you all to have a nice meal without clashing with him. Is that okay?”

Ji Huan’s smile widened, but the broader her smile, the more Liu Fengmei felt a chill down her spine.

“That’s what this is about? Well, it depends on how unpleasant his words are,” Ji Huan said coldly, her gaze fixed on Liu Fengmei.

“He probably won’t say anything too bad. He just likes to show off. Don’t stoop to his level,” Liu Fengmei said, forcing another awkward smile.

“Is that so?” Ji Huan let out a cold snort, stepped out, and closed the door for Little White Rabbit.

While Ji Huan shut the door, Liu Fengmei glared fiercely at it. If it weren’t for that vixen inside, how would Ji Huan have turned out like this?

Turning around, Ji Huan saw Liu Fengmei still standing there. “What? Aren’t you going back to the dining room, Mother?”

“I’m going, I’m going. I’ll walk with you,” Liu Fengmei said with a forced smile.

Ji Huan ignored her and headed straight to the dining room. Once there, she casually took a seat, not glancing at anyone, and poured herself a cup of hot tea.

Seeing Ji Huan ignore him, Zhang Liangcai grew irritated. “Well, Ji Huan, you’re even quieter than before, huh?”

Ji Huan only spared him a glance, too lazy to waste words on him.

Ji Ming, startled, feared a clash between Ji Huan and Zhang Liangcai and quickly changed the subject. “Liangcai, let’s keep talking. I heard your family’s fields are so vast you need to hire help in spring and summer?”

“Of course. Can’t help it—too much land. Sometimes we rent it out to landless farmers for some extra silver,” Zhang Liangcai boasted, straightening up. He was pleased with Ji Ming and Ji Sen’s flattery—they were clearly sucking up to him.

But seeing Ji Huan unmoved, Zhang Liangcai frowned. This Ji Huan was just like Ji Qiao—a dull gourd, utterly annoying.

By now, most of the dishes were on the table. Li Yulan smiled at everyone. “The food’s all here, thanks to Ji Qiao’s help.”

“Hey, everyone, sit down,” Ji Mantun said with a nod.

Li Yulan and Wang Xiuxiu sat next to Ji Ming and Ji Sen, respectively. Only Ji Qiao stood trembling, too scared to sit.

Zhang Liangcai turned to her and snapped, “What are you standing there for? Sit down and serve me food!”

Ji Qiao’s hands shook as she timidly sat beside him.

The Ji family members’ expressions varied, but no one spoke up for Ji Qiao. Ji Mantun raised his wine cup, smiling at Zhang Liangcai. “Dear son-in-law, our home’s simple, and this wine’s just our homemade rice wine. Make do with it.”

Zhang Liangcai took a sip, smacking his lips critically. “It’s a bit weak, lacks flavor. Father, next time I come, I’ll bring you some good wine.”

Ji Mantun’s face creased with a grin. “That’s thoughtful of you, dear son-in-law. Eat up!”

“Father, Mother, you all eat too,” Zhang Liangcai said, puffed up with pride. Seeing Ji Qiao still dazed beside him, he rapped his chopsticks hard on his bowl. “What are you staring at? Serve me food! Are you trying to let me starve? No sense at all—useless.”

Startled, Ji Qiao shakily picked up some food for Zhang Liangcai, her hands trembling.

Zhang Liangcai scowled, urging her on. “Hurry up, clumsy fool. You’re asking for a beating.”

His tone was vile, less like speaking to a wife and more like ordering a servant.

Seeing Zhang Liangcai’s displeasure, Liu Fengmei jumped in. “Exactly, Ji Qiao, what’s wrong with you? You’re married to Liangcai now—you should serve him properly. Look at you, always making him angry.”

“Yeah, Fifth Sister, your husband’s such a good man. You’re living well at the Zhangs, never worrying about food or clothes. You’re doing better than us—eating meat every meal, right?” Ji Ming chimed in, echoing Liu Fengmei.

Ji Qiao bit her lower lip hard, head bowed, saying nothing. Her clenched hands trembled slightly, and she didn’t even notice her lip bleeding from the bite.

Ji Huan couldn’t listen anymore. What nonsense was the Ji family spouting? Every word was to flatter Zhang Liangcai, with no one willing to speak up for Ji Qiao. Of course—the Ji family only cared about their own interests, indifferent to others’ suffering.

Ji Huan tapped her chopsticks on the table, and the dining room fell silent. Liu Fengmei and Ji Mantun’s hearts leaped to their throats.

“Ji Huan, are we out of steamed buns? I’ll have Ji Sen grab more,” Liu Fengmei said with a smile tinged with flattery.

Ji Huan glanced faintly at Liu Fengmei, her gaze settling on Zhang Liangcai, who was still nitpicking at Ji Qiao.

Zhang Liangcai pinched Ji Qiao’s arm hard, cursing, “You know I don’t eat ginger, and you put a huge piece in my food. Are you trying to kill me?”

“I’ll pick it out, I’ll pick it out,” Ji Qiao said, frantically using her chopsticks to remove the ginger from the plate.

Zhang Liangcai kept grumbling, muttering that Kunze women needed a good beating to behave.

When he looked up and saw Ji Huan watching, he had something to say. Smirking maliciously, he said, “What? Got a problem with me disciplining my own wife? Ji Huan, you married that infamous jinx from our village. I was worried about you, but seeing you’re fine, I’m relieved…”

“Don’t you have hands?” Ji Huan cut off his nonsense.

“What?” Zhang Liangcai, caught off guard by her response, pointed at her. “Ji Huan, what’s that supposed to mean?”

Ji Huan sneered, giving him a cold glance. “No hands and no brain either, apparently. Can’t even understand words.”

“Ji Huan, don’t push it. If it weren’t for your parents’ sake, I’d have—”

“What could you do to me?” Ji Huan said, tossing her chopsticks down and standing up.

Liu Fengmei, fearing a real fight, stepped in front of Ji Huan. “Ji Huan, the New Year’s coming. Can we avoid trouble? They’ve come a long way as guests. You can’t hit a guest.”

Ji Huan smiled at Zhang Liangcai, who was gripping his crutch. Thinking she was backing down, he snorted mockingly. “Thought you were tough? Just listening to your mom like that? That’s all you’ve got?”

Liu Fengmei groaned inwardly, forcing a smile as she kept persuading Ji Huan. “Don’t stoop to his level.”

Ji Mantun also tried to calm Zhang Liangcai. “Dear son-in-law, let’s eat. Ji Huan’s been unwell lately. Say less, alright? It’s the New Year—no need for all this noise. Give me some face.”

Zhang Liangcai snorted, glaring at Ji Huan. “I’m not scared of you. If it weren’t for Father stopping me, I’d have skinned you alive.”

Afraid Ji Huan might actually strike, Ji Mantun quickly placated her. “Ji Huan, sit down. Liangcai brought plenty of meat this time. Tomorrow, we’ll give you two pounds to cook however you like. How’s that?”

Ji Huan’s smile grew, her gaze shifting to Ji Mantun, who felt a chill from her expression, his throat dry.

“Father, trading your daughter for meat—only you could do that. This meat’s tainted with human bl00d. You can swallow it, but I can’t,” Ji Huan said, laying it all bare. The dining room grew even quieter.

Ji Mantun’s face flushed red, then paled. Pointing at Ji Huan, his hand shook with anger. “What are you saying? Did I force Ji Qiao to marry? She was of marrying age, and the Zhang family’s conditions are good in Xiniu Village. She’s living well there. What do you mean I sold her?”

“You know best. Didn’t you take plenty of silver from the Zhangs back then? In just this short time, I can see Ji Qiao’s not doing well at their house. What, are the rest of you blind? Can’t see anything? Still eating and drinking so merrily?” Ji Huan’s cold gaze swept the room.

Li Yulan, about to pick up a piece of meat, froze at Ji Huan’s words and put her chopsticks down.

“Shut up! If you don’t want to eat, go back to your room. What are you trying to do, Ji Huan? No one’s bothered you lately—can’t you behave?” Ji Mantun’s voice carried a plea.

Ji Huan gave him a cold look. “Behave? Haven’t I always been well-behaved? Today, I just can’t stand Zhang Liangcai’s actions. Am I wrong?”

“Ji Huan, see that? Your whole family’s on my side. What, feeling sorry for your sister?” Zhang Liangcai laughed, pinching Ji Qiao’s lower back hard. A piercing scream echoed through the dining room, yet none of the Ji family stepped in to stop him—they just watched Ji Qiao being bullied.

Zhang Liangcai propped himself up with his crutch, as if the pinch wasn’t enough, and raised it to swing at Ji Qiao.

Ji Huan didn’t care about Liu Fengmei in front of her anymore. Pushing her aside, she rushed over, grabbed Zhang Liangcai’s crutch, and with a slight tug, yanked it from his hand.

“Ji Huan, what do you think you’re doing? I’m disciplining my own wife—what’s it to you? Get lost—”

Before he could finish cursing, Ji Huan swung her hand, slapping his right cheek. Moments later, it swelled up.

“Damn it, I’ll fight you!” Zhang Liangcai lunged, trying to grab Ji Huan’s neck. She seized his collar, lifted him off the ground, and with a few more slaps, both sides of his face swelled. With a toss, she threw him to the floor, where he crashed into a small wooden rack, collapsing it with a loud crack.

The dining room filled with Zhang Liangcai’s wails. “Ouch, it hurts! Ji Huan, you dare hit me? You dare? When I get back, I’ll have you killed! It hurts!”

Ji Huan, seeing his defiance, stepped forward to teach him more. Ji Mantun shouted at his sons, “Stop Ji Huan! What is this nonsense?”

Ji Sen, having been beaten by Ji Huan before, wisely stayed seated, pretending not to hear. Ji Yuan didn’t want to get involved either. Only Ji Ming, closest to Ji Huan, stood up.

Ji Huan glared at him coldly. “What? Want me to deal with you too?”

Ji Ming pursed his lips, recalling Ji Huan’s strength, and sat back down sheepishly.

Ji Huan snorted, strode to the corner, and hauled Zhang Liangcai up from the floor. “Ready to talk like a human yet?”

“Ji Huan, just you wait—”

Another slap landed on his face, so painful he couldn’t continue.

“Still so stubborn? Good, I like dealing with tough talkers,” Ji Huan said, dragging him by the collar into the courtyard. Zhang Liangcai was terrified, realizing from her expression she might actually kill him.

The commotion in the courtyard was loud enough that Jiang Yubai came out of the room. Seeing Ji Huan dragging a male Qianyuan, she guessed it was Zhang Liangcai. Worried for Ji Huan but afraid of hindering her, Jiang Yubai stood in the courtyard, not approaching.

Meanwhile, Zhang Liangcai screamed hoarsely, “I’m sorry, I was wrong, really wrong! Ji Huan, let me go, please, don’t! Mother, Father, save me! Help!”

His pig-like squeals echoed through the courtyard. Ji Huan slapped him again. “Quiet down, or I’ll send you to the underworld right now. It’s night—you’ll have a head start on reincarnation by morning.”

“I won’t scream, I swear, I’m sorry, really sorry! Second Sister, for Ji Qiao’s sake, please spare me. If something happens to me, Ji Qiao will be a widow. She’s only fifteen this year—you don’t want your sister widowed, do you?” Zhang Liangcai cried, pleading and even bringing up Ji Qiao.

Ji Huan gave him a smile, and he relaxed slightly, thinking she was softening for her sister’s sake. But the Ji family’s hearts sank—they knew from experience that Ji Huan’s smile meant trouble for whoever was on the receiving end.

Sure enough, Ji Huan hoisted Zhang Liangcai up like a chick. Smiling at him, she said, “Oh? For scum like you, I’d rather my sister be a widow than live with garbage like you.”

“Second Sister, Ji Huan, don’t! Murder means paying with your life. Please, let me go, I swear I won’t do it again,” Zhang Liangcai babbled, alternating between pleas and threats.

Ji Huan chuckled, unfazed by his threats.

Her ears twitched at a sound. Looking down, she saw Zhang Liangcai had wet his pants in fear, the fabric soaked and dripping. Disgusted, Ji Huan released his collar. With only one good leg, Zhang Liangcai couldn’t stand and crashed to the ground with a thud.

Ji Huan looked at him with disdain. “Filthy. Is this all you’ve got? I haven’t even done anything, and you’re already pissing yourself. Really?”

She genuinely thought so—she hadn’t even started, and he was already done for. Zhang Liangcai was pathetic.

“Second Sister, Ji Huan, please, I’m really sorry. I’ll treat Ji Qiao well from now on, I swear, I won’t hit her anymore,” Zhang Liangcai sobbed, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.

Ji Huan glanced at him, full of contempt. “Don’t call me Second Sister. It’s disgusting.”

Ji Sen and Ji Ming, wary of Ji Huan, didn’t dare help Zhang Liangcai, fearing her wrath. Finally, Liu Fengmei ran over, shouting, “Ji Qiao, your Qianyuan’s in this state, and you’re not helping him up? What are you standing there for?”

Liu Fengmei tried to pull Zhang Liangcai up, but with only one good leg and shaken from fear, he kept slipping, unable to stand.

Hearing Liu Fengmei’s call, Ji Qiao flinched instinctively. Instead of obeying, she slipped behind Ji Huan, lightly tugging at her clothes and whimpering, “Sister, I don’t want to… I don’t want to live with him anymore.”