Transmigrated Into an Ancient Filial Piety Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Ji Huan ate a few bites of coarse grain rice and grimaced. She wasn’t used to the dry, tasteless grains. The white rice on the side tasted better, but she was hungry. Having just arrived in this world, with a system that left her to fend for herself, Ji Huan knew she could only rely on herself.

Her top priority was to quickly familiarize herself with the village and find ways to earn money. The stifling atmosphere of this household made Ji Huan want to split from the family soon and take Jiang Yubai with her to care for properly. All this required a healthy body.

With that thought, Ji Huan picked up some pickled vegetables and ate the coarse grain rice.

While Ji Huan struggled with the unpalatable rice, she noticed Jiang Yubai had finished her full bowl. The bowl was so clean it could serve as a mirror.

Jiang Yubai saw Ji Huan looking at her and hesitated, wanting to explain. She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. She had always had a big appetite despite her slender frame, which wasn’t obvious.

In the Ji family, she ate coarse grain rice daily, often only half-full. The family disliked her, so she never dared tell anyone she was still hungry.

She cautiously glanced at Ji Huan’s expression, fearing she’d see disgust on her face.

Ji Huan saw Jiang Yubai’s timid look and asked softly, “Are you full?”

Jiang Yubai nodded instinctively. “I’m full. I eat quickly, not a lot.”

She added the last part, worried Ji Huan might dislike her for eating too much.

Ji Huan smiled at Jiang Yubai, her tone relaxed. “Good, I understand. But when it’s just us, you don’t need to be so tense. Be casual with me.”

Ji Huan sensed Jiang Yubai’s restraint. She was the one who had just transmigrated, yet Jiang Yubai seemed more uneasy.

“Mm.” Jiang Yubai nodded slightly, agreeing, but still sat there nervously.

Ji Huan softened her voice and continued, “They probably won’t come by now, so don’t be so nervous. I’m here, so don’t fear them.”

Jiang Yubai nodded, her gaze toward Ji Huan still carrying some scrutiny. Was Ji Huan only speaking up for her today out of pity? Would she protect her tomorrow?

With that thought, Jiang Yubai’s face paled. As a Kunze labeled a jinx by the village, what was she hoping for?

Her father and two brothers believed she caused her mother’s death. After her mother died, they quickly married her to Zhang Tiehu, a forty-year-old man who could’ve been her father and was gravely ill. Her father and brothers didn’t care about her well-being and married her off. Before the ceremony was complete, Zhang Tiehu died suddenly, and his family sent her back. The village began gossiping about her.

Back home, her father and brothers were convinced she was unlucky, believing she’d jinx those close to her. So, they paid two taels of silver to marry her off to Ji Huan, who was equally unloved in her family.

After that, she joined the Ji family, doing endless chores daily, not like a daughter-in-law but a servant.

Ji Huan didn’t know what Jiang Yubai was thinking but sensed her mood was low. She passed the bowl from the table and said gently, “Drink some hot water. The room’s cold—don’t catch a chill.”

Jiang Yubai snapped back, stared at Ji Huan for a few seconds, and then took the water bowl from her hand.

Ji Huan continued eating quickly, forcing down the coarse grain rice until it was gone.

She stood, poured herself a bowl of hot water, and sipped while surveying the room. The place was too crude, barely shielding from the wind, with drafts in spots. It wasn’t surprising to get sick here.

Ji Huan planned to find time to fix the drafty spots to avoid her and Jiang Yubai falling ill. In a place like this, getting sick was no small matter.

The room was too cold, and with nothing to do, Ji Huan wanted to return to bed, cover up, and rest. She looked at Jiang Yubai, still fidgeting at the table, and said softly, “Want to sleep with me a bit more? The room’s cold. I’m worried you’ll get sick sitting there.”

Jiang Yubai’s eyes, looking at Ji Huan, filled with confusion. Rest in bed during the day? Her ears reddened, recalling how village Kunze women said those who lured their Qianyuan to bed in daylight were cunning vixens.

Though Jiang Yubai found Ji Huan’s behavior strange today, she couldn’t resist her smiling eyes. How long had it been since someone spoke to her with a smile? Jiang Yubai followed Ji Huan instinctively. When she realized it, a rare flush colored her expressionless face.

Ji Huan saw her follow obediently, her eyes curving slightly. At 24, and with Jiang Yubai not yet 18 according to the book, Ji Huan felt like she’d gained a younger sister.

She had little interest in romance and didn’t think she and Jiang Yubai would have a typical wife-wife relationship like others in this world. She just saw her as a sister to care for.

With that thought, Ji Huan’s smile grew. Jiang Yubai was beautiful, and as a self-proclaimed looks enthusiast, having a pretty sister around daily lifted Ji Huan’s mood.

“Yubai, how do you usually address me?” Ji Huan looked at Jiang Yubai, who resembled a timid rabbit, and asked softly.

Jiang Yubai pursed her lips, unsure how to respond. Ji Huan rarely spoke to her before, only starting yesterday. They barely exchanged a few words daily, let alone used specific terms of address.

Jiang Yubai thought for a moment. Though their marriage was in name only, custom dictated she should call Ji Huan “wife.” Her ears reddened—she had never called Ji Huan that before.

As Ji Huan prepared to say more, she heard a soft, cat-like murmur from across. “Wife.”

Ji Huan saw a faint blush on Jiang Yubai’s usually impassive face and teased with curved eyes, “Shy?”

Seeing Jiang Yubai lower her head, ears red, Ji Huan didn’t tease further and said gently, “I think ‘wife’ feels odd. I’m older than you, so how about you call me ‘sister’ from now on?”

The original owner, over eighteen, married later than the youngest, Ji Sen. The reason was simple: she was unloved and overly devoted. Liu Fengmei and Ji Mantun thought marrying off their children was too costly and hesitated to find Ji Huan a wife. If not for Jiang Yubai’s family paying two taels of silver, Ji Huan would never have married.

Jiang Yubai quickly glanced at Ji Huan, her ears red, and turned away, avoiding her gaze. Why did Ji Huan’s way of speaking remind her of the village’s roguish men teasing young women?