Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Ji Yuan broke out in a cold sweat. Wasn’t Ji Huan upright and honest? The problem was they had guilt in their hearts! He had spent Ji Qiao’s money.

“Yes, second brother, we shouldn’t air our family’s dirty laundry. Let’s hurry and leave. Your father is still waiting for you. Everything can be discussed,” Liu Fengmei said with a face full of smiles, fearing she would anger Ji Huan and Ji Huan would go crazy on the spot.

Ji Qiao followed behind, hearing Liu Fengmei and Ji Yuan both persuading Ji Huan. The little girl’s eyes widened. She thought her sister had really gone begging because of her.

Ji Qiao glanced at Jiang Yubai beside her and saw Jiang Yubai as calm as her sister. As if sensing her unease, Jiang Yubai smiled at Ji Qiao to comfort her. Ji Qiao’s mind was a mess, unable to figure things out no matter how she thought.

Soon, Ji Huan returned to the courtyard surrounded by the Ji family.

Ji Yuan, afraid Ji Huan would go begging again, looked at the broken bowl in Ji Huan’s hand. “Second sister, holding this broken bowl is dangerous. Let me take it and throw it away,” he said.

Liu Fengmei’s eyes darted, and she quickly chimed in, “Exactly, exactly, Ji Huan, be careful not to hurt yourself again.”

Ji Huan pulled the broken bowl back and smiled. “No need, Mother. If we can’t settle the silver matter later, I’ll still need this broken bowl to beg. Earlier, I shouted a few times outside, and you know, I really got the hang of it.”

Hearing Ji Huan say this, Ji Yuan felt like an ant on a hot pan, his heart uneasy, his body sweating coldly. He felt Ji Huan really wanted to go begging.

Ji Yuan nearly cried and hurriedly pleaded with Ji Mantun. “Father, we’re one family. How can we let second sister go begging? She’s my real sister, and Ji Qiao is my real little sister. Father, give the silver back to Ji Qiao,” he said.

Ji Mantun, also afraid Ji Huan would go crazy outside, sighed deeply, feeling a bit short of breath. “Alas, it’s not that I don’t want to. The family used some of the money urgently before. Ji Huan, how about this? I give Ji Qiao twenty taels of silver, and we call it even, okay?” he said.

Ji Qiao’s mouth fell open. She never expected to actually get the money back. Given her parents’ tempers, asking for money was like asking for their lives.

Ji Huan looked at the bowl in her hand, muttering to herself, “Good thing I didn’t throw it. Some people have no sincerity at all. I’d better go begging.”

“Father, we can’t let her go. She’d really do it,” Ji Yuan said, shaking Ji Mantun’s arm hard.

Seeing Ji Huan about to turn away, Ji Mantun forced out a few words through gritted teeth. “Thirty taels, really no more. The rest of the money is mostly spent. Ji Qiao, I’m begging you, persuade your second sister,” he said.

Ji Qiao never thought she’d get thirty taels of silver from her father. For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

Ji Huan calculated. Ji Mantun definitely had more money, but getting those twenty taels back would be hard. Plus, Ji Qiao really needed rest and healing now. She couldn’t actually take them begging. So, Ji Huan decided to go along with it.

She turned to Ji Mantun. “Fine, I’ll reluctantly ask Ji Qiao if thirty taels is okay,” she said.

Ji Huan walked to the little girl and said softly, “Is thirty taels enough?”

The little girl’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Ji Huan, nodding eagerly. “I listen to sister,” she said.

In her view, getting even one tael from her parents was hard, let alone thirty taels. She never dared dream of it.

Ji Huan nodded and looked at Ji Mantun. “Alright, Ji Qiao reluctantly agrees. Father, give the money. Words mean nothing. The money must be in hand to count,” she said.

Ji Mantun felt dizzy, like someone was stabbing his heart. “Mother, go get the silver and give it to them,” he said.

Ji Mantun spoke through clenched teeth, as if someone was taking his life.

Ji Huan, however, was relaxed. She handed the broken bowl to Little White Rabbit and said softly, “Keep this safe. We might need it later.”

“Okay,” Jiang Yubai nodded obediently.

Hearing Ji Huan’s words, Ji Mantun’s heart pounded. Did Ji Huan still plan to go begging?

Liu Fengmei returned quickly. “Husband, I brought the silver,” she said.

Liu Fengmei handed the thirty taels of silver to Ji Mantun. Ji Mantun looked at the silver in his hand, his heart aching like it was cut. “Here’s thirty taels of silver. Take it,” he said.

Ji Mantun said this but showed no intention of handing it over, clearly unwilling to part with the money.

Ji Huan smiled and took all the silver from Ji Mantun’s hand. “Alright, everyone go back. Since we got the silver, the three of us won’t need to go begging,” she said.

Ji Mantun’s chest heaved, and he snorted coldly at Ji Huan before turning back to the house.

Ji Ming and Ji Yuan sighed in relief and went back to the house. Only Ji Sen’s gaze lingered on the thirty taels in Ji Huan’s hand.

Ji Huan glared coldly at Ji Sen. “Don’t covet these thirty taels, or you know the consequences,” she said.

Ji Sen, scared by Ji Huan’s icy stare, shivered and quickly denied, “No, second sister, I wouldn’t dare, really. We’ll go back now.”

Ji Sen said this while hurriedly pulling Wang Xiuxiu back to their room.

When everyone left, Ji Huan and the others went to Ji Qiao’s room. Ji Huan placed all the silver on the table and looked at Ji Qiao. “Keep this money safe. It’s yours,” she said.

Ji Qiao shook her head and pushed the silver toward Ji Huan. “Sister, you take it. Without you, forget this silver—I wouldn’t even have gotten divorced. I owe you so much,” she said.

Ji Huan shook her head. “It’s your money. You suffered so much at the Zhang family. Keeping this silver for yourself is right. You have a long life ahead. Listen and put it away,” she said.

“Sister, you take it. I can’t use this silver…” the little girl kept rambling.

Ji Huan smiled and shook her head. “If I need it later, I’ll tell you. Just keep it safe. I’m tired after arguing all morning. I’ll go catch up on sleep. Call us if you need anything,” she said softly.

“Okay, I’ll keep the silver for now,” Ji Qiao said. She was truly grateful for Ji Huan’s help, but since her sister wouldn’t take the money, Ji Qiao decided to keep it safe for when her sister needed it.

Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai left Ji Qiao’s room. Ji Huan stretched, feeling drained from the morning’s emotional ups and downs. It really tested her acting skills, and she was genuinely tired now.

Jiang Yubai, puzzled, waited until they returned to their room before leaning close to Ji Huan and whispering mysteriously, “Sister, do ghosts get tired or sleepy too?”

Ji Huan laughed and cried at the question. So, Little White Rabbit still thought she was a ghost.

“Of course. Think about it. A ghost possessing a body uses cultivation, right? It’s not free,” Ji Huan said, making it up.

Little White Rabbit’s eyes sparkled as she nodded. Did she believe it again? Ji Huan shook her head helplessly, unsure whether to be happy. Was Little White Rabbit too easy to fool?

“Sister, rest then. You must be exhausted from these past few days,” Jiang Yubai said, feeling heartbroken. She moved closer to help Ji Huan remove her outer dress.

Ji Huan instinctively wanted to dodge. Modern people dressed themselves, and having someone help felt strange. But she held still, knowing Little White Rabbit was sensitive due to past rumors about being a jinx. Dodging might make her overthink.

So, Ji Huan stood still, letting Jiang Yubai undo her belt. Jiang Yubai stayed calm, but her ear tips were bright red. Her hands fumbled with the belt, struggling for a while. Her face flushed, and somehow the belt got tighter.

Ji Huan couldn’t hold back a chuckle. Jiang Yubai’s face burned even more, her movements grew messier, and her legs felt weak.

She glanced up at Ji Huan, saw Ji Huan watching her with a smile, and felt so shy she didn’t know what to do. She buried herself in Ji Huan’s arms.

Ji Huan gently stroked Little White Rabbit’s back and said softly, “Why so shy all of a sudden?”

Little White Rabbit rubbed against Ji Huan’s chest, her face buried, her voice soft. “The belt is too tight. I can’t undo it,” she said.

Seeing Little White Rabbit shy again, Ji Huan’s eyes curved. She softly echoed, “Is it? Maybe I tied it too tightly this morning. Little White Rabbit’s strength is too small.”

Hearing Ji Huan call her Little White Rabbit, Jiang Yubai’s ear tips reddened more.

Ji Huan gently patted Jiang Yubai’s back to soothe her and said softly, “How about I undo it myself?”

Little White Rabbit nuzzled Ji Huan’s shoulder, humming softly. She peeked at Ji Huan, then quickly buried her head, muttering, “No, I’ll do it.”

Ji Huan’s lips curved. Little White Rabbit was stubborn. “Okay, you do it,” she said.

Ji Huan’s gentle tone made Jiang Yubai’s legs weaker. She leaned against Ji Huan for a while before stepping back slightly to try the belt again.

After a few tries, she finally undid Ji Huan’s belt. Little White Rabbit looked up at Ji Huan, her lips unable to hide a smile.

She had often heard Kunze in the village by the river say that undoing a Qianyuan’s belt was intimate. Her sister hadn’t refused her. Thinking this, Jiang Yubai’s face flushed more.

Ji Huan didn’t know Little White Rabbit was imagining so much. She just found her shy and cute, reaching out to ruffle her hair.

Jiang Yubai looked at Ji Huan shyly, sneakily stepping closer to undo Ji Huan’s dress belt. With the earlier experience, she was smoother this time and soon helped Ji Huan remove her outer dress.

Jiang Yubai hung the dress on a simple wooden rack by the bed, then noticed Ji Huan still standing there instead of getting into bed.

Puzzled, Jiang Yubai asked, “Sister, aren’t you resting?”

“Waiting for you. Won’t you join me?” Ji Huan asked softly.

Jiang Yubai had planned to air out Ji Huan’s old clothes in the sun, but hearing Ji Huan, she wanted Ji Huan to hold her while sleeping.

Little White Rabbit nodded, her ear tips red. “You get in bed first. I’ll come right away,” she said.

Ji Huan smiled and lay on the inner side of the bed, leaving the outer blanket for Little White Rabbit. Last night, she slept alone in the dining hall and felt something missing in her arms.

Jiang Yubai, with red ear tips, removed her outer dress and climbed into bed, her face half-buried in the blanket. It was different from nighttime—she felt shy lying in bed with Ji Huan during the day.

As if thinking of something, Jiang Yubai’s eyes darted. Her fingers gripped the blanket tightly, her ear tips and cheeks red. She sneaked a glance at Ji Huan, saw Ji Huan looking at her sideways, and her ear tips reddened more.

Finally, as if gathering courage, Jiang Yubai moved closer to Ji Huan. Ji Huan smoothly pulled Little White Rabbit into her arms. Ji Huan enjoyed Little White Rabbit’s initiative, ruffling her hair. “So good,” she said.

Jiang Yubai buried her face in Ji Huan’s chest for a long time. When the flush on her cheeks faded, she looked up at Ji Huan, hesitant to speak.

“What’s wrong? Something to tell me?” Ji Huan asked softly.

Little White Rabbit nodded, pursed her lips, and said, “Sister, if you need to absorb yang energy, take mine. I have plenty. Don’t ghosts need to absorb yang energy?”

When Jiang Yubai washed clothes by the river, she heard Kunze tell ghost stories. Many were quite embarrassing, some saying ghosts absorbed yang energy through intimacy.

Thinking this, Little White Rabbit’s ear tips reddened. She felt both scared and inexplicably expectant.

Ji Huan, torn between laughter and tears, looked at the obedient Little White Rabbit waiting for her to absorb yang energy. She wasn’t a ghost—why would she need yang energy?

Ji Huan smiled helplessly and poked Jiang Yubai’s cheek. “I was teasing you. I’m not a ghost, and I don’t need your yang energy. Little bad rabbit, where did you hear that? Don’t think nonsense anymore,” she said.

Jiang Yubai clearly didn’t believe her, staring at Ji Huan. After a while, her eyes reddened. She knew her sister didn’t want to take her yang energy. Touched and worried, she feared Ji Huan’s body would suffer without yang energy.

“Sister, I’m healthy. Don’t force yourself to hold back. I’m willing to let you take it,” Little White Rabbit said, eyes red, persuading her.

Ji Huan pursed her lips. Her casual words had made Little White Rabbit believe them completely. She explained, “I’m really not a ghost. I have a shadow, I get hungry, I feel pain.”

“That’s because you’re possessing Ji Huan’s body,” Little White Rabbit said seriously.

Fine, it circled back. Little White Rabbit firmly believed she was possessing Ji Huan’s body. Ji Huan sighed and said softly, “Alright, since you don’t believe me, anyway, I don’t need to absorb yang energy. Like humans, I eat and sleep normally to rest. Don’t worry about me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yubai nodded, but felt a faint disappointment. If her sister didn’t need yang energy, did that mean she didn’t need to be intimate with her?

Seeing Little White Rabbit finally drop the yang energy topic, Ji Huan sighed in relief. Tired from the morning, she hugged Little White Rabbit and fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke, Ji Huan groggily felt someone touching her cheek. But when she opened her eyes, Little White Rabbit was nestled in her arms, seemingly still asleep. Her ear tips were bright red. Ji Huan thought maybe she was too warm from being held and didn’t mind.

Seeing Little White Rabbit asleep, Ji Huan found her pink ear tips adorable. Unable to resist, she gently pinched them, and Little White Rabbit’s ears twitched.

“Sister~” Jiang Yubai’s voice was unbelievably soft.

Ji Huan didn’t expect her touch to wake her. She quickly coaxed softly, “Did I wake you?”

Jiang Yubai shook her head, burying her face in Ji Huan’s shoulder. She had woken earlier and couldn’t resist touching Ji Huan’s cheek. Luckily, she reacted fast and pretended to sleep, so Ji Huan didn’t notice.

But thinking of Ji Huan pinching her ear tips, Little White Rabbit’s body went soft.

“Still sleepy? Want to sleep more?” Ji Huan gently touched Little White Rabbit’s hair and asked softly.

Little White Rabbit shook her head, her face red as she looked at Ji Huan, nuzzling in her arms, unwilling to get up.

Ji Huan looked at the soft Little White Rabbit, her eyes curving. “Alright, let’s lie here a bit longer,” she said.

The room was cold, but the bed had gathered some warmth. Holding her little heater, Ji Huan didn’t want to get up either.

She not only had to care for Little White Rabbit but, if they split the family, it’d be best for Ji Qiao to follow her and Jiang Yubai. Otherwise, the Ji family’s nature would lead to Ji Qiao being bullied later.

The village’s public opinion work was nearly done. Splitting the family just needed the right opportunity. What she lacked most now was silver. As long as they hadn’t split, Ji Huan didn’t dare start making Jianzhan, fearing the Ji family would cling to her.

Thinking this, she absentmindedly poked Little White Rabbit’s cheek. Jiang Yubai, seeing Ji Huan poke her, affectionately nuzzled Ji Huan’s fingertips, looking even more like a soft Little White Rabbit.

Perhaps after the day’s turmoil, Liu Fengmei and the others didn’t cause trouble in the afternoon. Instead, they had Ji Sen and Wang Xiuxiu cook dinner.

Ji Huan’s group ate in Ji Huan’s room, while Ji Mantun’s group ate in the dining hall.

Ji Mantun looked at the people at the table and sighed deeply. His second daughter didn’t take him seriously as a father anymore, and even Ji Qiao didn’t come. But thinking of Ji Huan’s afternoon threat to go begging, he didn’t dare provoke her.

He sighed, speaking listlessly, “Alright, everyone eat.”

Everyone picked up their chopsticks. The dining hall was quiet, with only the sound of chopsticks hitting bowls. No one spoke for a while.

Ji Sen ate for a bit, and his bowl’s steamed bun was gone. “I’ll get more buns. Anyone else want some?” he asked.

“Grab one for me too,” Ji Ming said while eating his dish.

“Alright, I’ll bring the rest over,” Ji Sen said, leaving the dining hall.

Ji Huan’s side was livelier. Dinner was still cabbage stewed with potatoes and coarse grain buns. Since coming here, Ji Huan ate this almost daily and was getting fed up. The food had no oil at all.

Seeing Ji Huan’s mood was off, Jiang Yubai quickly asked, “Sister, what’s wrong? Is the food not to your taste?”

Ji Huan shook her head. Now wasn’t the time to be picky—as long as it filled her up. “No, maybe I’m not fully awake. I’m not hungry. You two eat more,” she said.

Jiang Yubai nodded and ate quietly with Ji Qiao.

After dinner, Jiang Yubai went with Ji Qiao to apply medicine in Ji Qiao’s room. Ji Huan stayed in her room to rest.

Since her divorce, Ji Qiao had no new injuries, and her old wounds were healing.

After applying the medicine, Jiang Yubai prepared to leave. Ji Qiao stopped her. “Yubai sister, Ji Huan won’t take the thirty taels. Take it back for her. It’s useless with me,” she said.

“Since Ji Huan told you to keep it, just keep it,” Jiang Yubai replied quickly.

But Ji Qiao started searching under the bed. She had hidden the silver in a small bag there after returning. The more she searched, the paler her face became.

Jiang Yubai noticed Ji Qiao’s bad expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I put the silver right here. How’s it suddenly gone?” Ji Qiao’s eyes reddened with anxiety. She wanted to use the thirty taels to repay her sister, and now it was gone in a moment.

“Did you remember wrong? Was it under the bed?” Jiang Yubai asked, helping Ji Qiao search.

“Yes, I put it in a cloth bag here. How could it be gone?” Ji Qiao said, nearly crying. The money was hard-earned by her sister for her.

Jiang Yubai ran back to their room to find Ji Huan. “Sister, Ji Qiao’s thirty taels of silver are missing,” she said.

Ji Huan’s face darkened. Someone was already eyeing the silver she just got back?

“Let’s go check,” Ji Huan said, hurrying with Jiang Yubai to Ji Qiao’s room.

Seeing Ji Huan, Ji Qiao sniffled and said softly, “Sister, I clearly put the silver under the bed. I didn’t go out this afternoon, only left to eat with you. When I came back, the money was gone.”

“Don’t worry. Think carefully. Did anyone come into the room, or did any villagers come to our courtyard?” Ji Huan asked.

“No, the courtyard gate was closed. I was only gone during dinner,” Ji Qiao said, wiping her tears.

Ji Huan nodded, already having a guess. In such a short time, it likely wasn’t an outsider. A thief in the family was hard to guard against.

“I know. Let’s go to the dining hall,” Ji Huan said, quickly heading there.

In the dining hall, the Ji family was still there. Ji Mantun, as the patriarch, always had everyone eat together to show his authority before letting the kids leave.

Seeing Ji Huan and the others, Ji Mantun frowned unhappily. “Why are you here?” he asked.

Ji Huan scanned everyone, her gaze settling on Ji Sen. Though Ji Sen was usually afraid of her, he wouldn’t even lift his head now.