Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Ji Huan knew the original owner and Jiang Yubai had a strained relationship. Fearing her enthusiasm might scare Jiang Yubai, she returned to the bed and wrapped herself in the quilt.

Jiang Yubai sat quietly at the table, picked up a needle and thread nearby, and began sewing.

After a while, chaotic knocking sounded at the door. “Second Sister, Mother told me to bring you food. Open the door quick—it’s freezing out here.”

Ji Huan wasn’t sure if it was the original owner’s third or fourth brother but hurried to get up. She signaled Jiang Yubai with a glance to stay put and not open the door.

Jiang Yubai understood Ji Huan’s meaning and stood far behind her, waiting for Ji Huan to open the door.

Ji Huan walked slowly to the door, adjusted her clothes, and opened it leisurely. As she did, she put on a sickly expression.

“Second Sister, why’d you take so long? I’ve been waiting out here forever.” The person delivering food was a young male Qianyuan, about fifteen or sixteen, his face still boyish, complaining non-stop.

“Cough, cough, cough, sorry, I’m really not feeling well.” Ji Huan didn’t care who it was and launched into a fit of coughing, as if she’d cough out her lungs.

Jisen, the youngest of the family, had been woken early by his mother. He and his wife, Wang Xiuxiu, had to feed the pigs and cook breakfast for everyone. His face showed reluctance, stretched longer than a shoehorn. Normally, Ji Huan and Jiang Yubai handled all the household chores, while the rest of the family rested.

Jisen had come to check on Ji Huan. If she looked better, he planned to push the day’s tasks—fetching water, chopping wood, cooking—back onto her so he and his wife could rest.

But Ji Huan looked pale and coughed endlessly. Jisen couldn’t bring himself to say it. She seemed ready to faint from coughing. If he made her work, would she collapse? That wouldn’t do—Ji Huan did most of the work. If she died from exhaustion, given his mother’s favoritism, the eldest and third brothers wouldn’t lift a finger. All the work would fall on him, and that would kill him.

With that thought, Jisen quickly said, “Second Sister, look at how bad you’re coughing. Get back inside and rest. Here’s the food—careful, can you carry it?”

Ji Huan leaned against the doorframe, coughed breathlessly a few more times, and then looked at the two bowls of coarse grain rice.

She glanced and noticed the bowls were different. One had half white rice, while the other was all coarse grain. Gasping, she asked, “Why’s that bowl all coarse grain?”

Jisen was stunned. Normally, Jiang Yubai wasn’t allowed to eat well. While the family ate white rice or noodles, she got coarse grains, sweet potatoes, or regular potatoes—never meat.

Jisen thought Ji Huan’s illness muddled her mind and reminded her, “Second Sister, you forgot? Jiang Yubai’s always eaten this since she married in.”

“Cough, cough, cough, put some white rice in hers too. Yubai took care of me all night. Don’t let her get sick.” Ji Huan looked like a gust could knock her over.

“What? White rice for her too?” Jisen hesitated but nodded reluctantly after hearing Ji Huan. Fine, white rice it was. If Jiang Yubai got sick, he and his wife would suffer. “Alright, I’ll get some more.”

Jisen, with a sour face, returned to the kitchen.

Ji Huan, seeing Jisen leave, closed the door slightly, straightened up, and winked at Jiang Yubai with a smile.

Jiang Yubai stood there, unsure, as if Ji Huan’s gaze burned her. Her ears turned faintly red, barely noticeable. Her clasped fingers tightened. Was Ji Huan standing up for her?

Jisen returned to the kitchen, added half a bowl of white rice to Jiang Yubai’s bowl, and, after a moment’s thought, gritted his teeth and added a dish of pickled vegetables and a pot of water to the tray. It wasn’t that he cared for Ji Huan, but he feared if she collapsed, he and his wife would be in trouble.

Wang Xiuxiu watched Jisen’s actions and asked, puzzled, “Why’d you bring the food back?”

“Ji Huan’s got some nerve, insisting I give Jiang Yubai white rice too. She’s still sick, so I didn’t argue. I just hope she recovers soon, or these lousy chores will keep falling on us.” Jisen grumbled.

“Yeah, I don’t want to slave away for your family.” Wang Xiuxiu said, looking around to ensure no one was nearby, then whispered to Jisen, “If every household took turns with chores, I could deal with it. But your parents are too biased. Big Brother and Third Brother are their treasures—they’d never make them work. It all falls on Second Sister and her wife.”

“Shh, stop talking nonsense. As long as we don’t have to work, it’s fine. Second Sister’s so obedient, let her tire herself out—it’s her duty.” Jisen said carelessly. To him, Ji Huan’s devotion to their parents meant she deserved to work more, as if the chores were naturally hers.

Wang Xiuxiu, scolded by Jisen, didn’t dare say more. Jisen was usually decent to her, except for one thing: he loved gambling. His luck was terrible, and he’d lost several times, using up her dowry and still owing debts. Their mother had bailed him out. Wang Xiuxiu thought he’d learned his lesson, but he only got worse. When she tried to劝 him, he scolded her, and a few times, he hit her. She stopped劝ing. As long as Jisen wasn’t gambling, he treated her decently, so she managed to get by. After all, being divorced by a Qianyuan and returning to her family would only bring shame.

Jisen carried the simple wooden tray and knocked on Ji Huan’s door again.

Ji Huan coughed heavily inside before struggling to open the door. Breathlessly, she thanked Jisen, “Fourth Brother, thanks for your trouble, cough, cough, cough…”

Jisen, afraid Ji Huan might cough up bl00d, urged, “Second Sister, save your strength. Don’t talk. Take the food inside and eat. I brought a pot of hot water too—drink some.”

“Cough, cough, thank you, Fourth Brother.” Ji Huan beckoned to Jiang Yubai inside, signaling her to come take the food.

Jiang Yubai obediently took the tray from Jisen and placed it on the wooden table, still shocked by Ji Huan’s seamless acting.

Ji Huan weakly exchanged a few polite words with Jisen before closing the door.

She didn’t walk away immediately but stood by the door, ensuring Jisen was gone. Then she straightened up and briskly walked to the table.

“Sit and eat.” Ji Huan smiled at Jiang Yubai, pouring a bowl of hot water for each of them.

Jiang Yubai looked at the food, then at Ji Huan, puzzled. Normally, Ji Huan ate with the family. Jiang Yubai knew Ji Huan avoided eating with her, fearing her bad luck.

Seeing Jiang Yubai still staring, Ji Huan lightly tapped the edge of her bowl and laughed. “Want to look at me? Do it later. Eat first, or the food’ll get cold.”

Her voice was gentle, her expression kind. Jiang Yubai’s hand, holding chopsticks, brushed the bowl, making a crisp sound. She snapped back, nodded lightly, picked up her bowl, and quickly ate.

Ji Huan didn’t notice that Jiang Yubai’s fair ears quickly flushed red. It had been so long since anyone spoke to her so gently. Even if Ji Huan was a potential abyss, Jiang Yubai couldn’t resist approaching that warmth, stepping toward the depths.