Transmigrated into the Villain's Cannon Fodder Ex-Wife (Transmigrated into a Book) - Chapter 48

The meat sizzled in the wok, and the strong flame sent tiny sesame-sized oil droplets flying out. A few splattered on Lin Chu’s hand, and the sudden sting made her yelp.

“You got burned?” Yan Mingge quickly pulled her two steps back, trying to check her hand.

Just then, a burnt smell wafted from the wok. Lin Chu immediately forgot about the sting on the back of her hand. She grabbed a cloth nearby, soaked it in cold water, wrung it out, and used it to fish out the spatula that had fallen into the wok.

She started stir-frying the now slightly charred meat, her heart aching as she looked at the culprit standing beside her. Irritated, she said, 

“Husband, please wash the dishes for me.”

Yan Mingge’s brows furrowed as he stared at her hand. “Doesn’t it hurt anymore?”

“It was just a few tiny oil splashes. It only stung when it hit me. It’s fine now.” Lin Chu added seasoning into the pan as she spoke.

Yan Mingge washed a plate and handed it over. Lin Chu took it, then promptly told him to go adjust the fire.

He stared at the back of his little wife’s head, a little puzzled by how naturally she bossed him around these days. Still, maintaining his usual noble and aloof expression, he headed for the stove.

Fortunately, she’d salvaged the dish in time. Only the meat at the bottom had burned, and she used chopsticks to pick out the scorched bits before covering the wok to keep it warm.

With Yan Mingge conveniently available as free labor, Lin Chu ordered him to tend the fire while she whipped up a few more dishes.

Beside the wok was a smaller stove meant for simmering soups.

Inside the clay pot was a chicken soup with eight nourishing ingredients she had started brewing earlier in the morning. It was good for stabilizing pregnancy, replenishing qi and bl00d, calming the mind, and preventing miscarriage. She had also added Chinese herbs. The result was a rich, aromatic soup, full of nutrients. Especially for someone who had signs of miscarriage or bleeding early in pregnancy, this soup worked wonders as a preventative measure.

Back in the Soul-Severing Stone Forest, Wei Rou had been bleeding, which Lin Chu had originally thought was just her period. Looking back now, it was likely a sign of pregnancy complications. Even though Wei Rou insisted she was fine, after today’s emotional rollercoaster from seeing Mu Xingfeng, Lin Chu worried it might affect the baby. So giving her a nourishing soup seemed like a good precaution.

Lin Chu lifted the lid of the clay pot, and the rich aroma hit her nose instantly. She stirred the contents gently — the soup was milky white and thick, and the chicken meat practically fell off the bone at the slightest touch.

Satisfied, she found a big bowl to ladle the soup into.

Yan Mingge was drawn over by the smell. For once, he even gave a rare compliment. 

“What kind of soup is this?”

He helped himself to a small bowl, took a sip, and smacked his lips. “Delicious.”

“It’s for Senior Sister, to nourish and strengthen her pregnancy,” Lin Chu replied.

Yan Mingge quietly put the bowl down. “Oh.”

At the table, Wei Rou acted completely normal. She complimented the soup, even ate an extra half bowl of rice. You’d never guess she was silently crying in the snow just that morning.

Lin Chu felt a deep ache for how hard Wei Rou was pretending to be strong. But she had already said everything that could be said. Now, she could only wait for Wei Rou to slowly walk herself out of it.

After the meal, Wei Rou dragged Lin Chu off to draw weapon schematics. Seeing her so eager and focused, Lin Chu figured keeping her busy wasn’t such a bad thing and went along with her into the room.

Yan Mingge, who had specially taken half a day off to come see his wife, stared bitterly at the closed door, feeling a little left out.

Han Junye arrived carrying his little book box and knocked on the door. Lin Chu had realized the boy wasn’t that young anymore. In a noble household, he’d already be attending school. So she had someone find some beginner books like Three Character Classic and Hundred Family Surnames. Although she didn’t know how to write traditional characters, she still recognized most of them from memory and guessed the rest. Whenever she had time, she taught him to read.

Maybe it was the protagonist halo, but Lin Chu felt Han Junye was unusually smart for a kid. She usually only had to teach him something once, and he could read it on his own. Recently, though, he’d been bringing over characters he couldn’t recognize to ask her. With Wei Rou pregnant and her maternal instincts kicking in, she had taken a liking to the boy and often helped teach him when Lin Chu was busy.

So when he came over with his book box, neither Lin Chu nor Wei Rou had the heart to turn him away. The eagerness in his eyes made it impossible.

Jing He’s leg had started to heal, and while she still needed a crutch to walk, she could easily watch over Han Junye.

Lin Chu and Wei Rou studied blueprints at the table while Han Junye dragged over a small stool and sat beside Wei Rou, holding a Three Character Classic in his hands. He peeked out the door at Yan Mingge.

Yan Mingge thought he was imagining it, but he could’ve sworn he saw smugness on that little brat’s face.

A few peaceful days passed — well, relatively peaceful.

One day, out of nowhere, the Sixth Prince sent over several large crates full of rare treasures: luxurious fabrics, dazzling jewelry, everything you could imagine. Lin Chu felt like she had suddenly become a pampered noblewoman.

She touched this, then picked up that, eyes full of wonder. Yan Mingge chuckled but also felt a twinge of guilt. His silly wife — life must’ve been so hard when she was a servant. Even after marrying him, she hadn’t really lived comfortably. Since she liked these things, he’d just keep bringing her boxes and boxes of them.

If Lin Chu knew what he was thinking, she’d definitely tell him: That’s a beautiful misunderstanding.

As a working-class soul used to living paycheck to paycheck, Lin Chu’s main reaction was curiosity more than joy. Hairpins and jade accessories — she had only seen those in costume dramas. Now seeing them in person, even touching them, she couldn’t help but admire the craftsmanship. Ancient artisans really were brilliant.

“This bangle is pretty,” Lin Chu said, picking up a white jade bracelet from one of the boxes. The color was fine and warm, clearly expensive.

Yan Mingge smiled. “You have good taste. That’s top-grade mutton-fat jade. Naturally, it’s excellent.”

Lin Chu’s eyes curved with her smile. “Let’s give it to Senior Sister. I heard jade is good for the body.”

Yan Mingge looked down at his book and replied, “As you like.”

He’d find her something even better someday. His wife should wear the bracelet he gives her.

Lin Chu picked out a few more pretty trinkets with Wei Rou. As for the rest, she was thinking it might be best to convert them into actual silver and gold.

As someone used to being broke, Lin Chu believed there was nothing more reliable than cold hard cash in hand.

After making a fortune from the salt trade, she’d been thinking of opening a few shops in Yao City. If things went well, she’d even open a school.

Yao City was thriving, but due to the years of war, there were no schools here. Wealthier families could afford tutors for their kids, but poorer ones could barely feed themselves, let alone educate their children.

Now that the barbarians had been soundly defeated and it was just a matter of rounding up the stragglers and reclaiming Qiang City, if the court didn’t mess things up, Da Zhao’s cavalry might even charge straight into the plains and take the Barbarian Area. Once the borders were secured, the rebuilding would begin.

While she was pondering her business plans, the wife of Yao City’s general, Madam An, suddenly sent her an invitation, asking her to visit the estate.

After her experience with the Sixth Prince, Lin Chu figured Madam An probably wanted to build a relationship with them.

Yan Mingge had only recently been promoted to Commander, and once Qiang City was reclaimed, they would be stationed there. Lin Chu didn’t even own a proper outfit befitting a commander’s wife. Luckily, the prince’s gift included a lot of expensive silk. Though Wei Rou and Jing He didn’t look like the crafty type, their needlework was excellent, which left Lin Chu feeling a bit embarrassed.

The two of them rushed to make her a new outfit.

On the day of the banquet, Lin Chu wore her freshly tailored clothes and headed to the An estate.

But when they arrived, the main gate was closed. Only the small side door on the left was open. Lin Chu frowned. That wasn’t how a proper household welcomed guests.

Song Tuo drove the carriage inside, and Lin Chu got off. She was greeted by an old woman of about fifty, dressed in a faded stone-blue robe. The silver bracelet on her wrist was dull and grimy. She was clearly a low-ranked servant.

Any halfway decent household would never send someone like this to receive an honored guest.

The old woman gave a half-hearted bow, her tone lacking respect and even slightly dismissive. “Madam Yan, please wait a moment. A maid has gone in to report.”

The snow had stopped, but the winter wind was still biting. Leaving a guest outside like this? Combined with the fact that they were using the side entrance, Lin Chu’s eyes turned cold. Madam An had sent the invitation—was this her way of throwing shade?

After about a quarter of an hour in the freezing wind, a young maid in a pink vest finally came from the inner gate. 

“Sorry to keep Madam Yan waiting. Madam is in the flower hall. I’ll take you there now.”

The maid wore a pair of filigree silver bangles on her arms, much better quality than the old woman’s. Pity her sleeves were deliberately rolled a little short—clearly to show off her jewelry despite the cold.

Lin Chu could feel the girl’s gaze raking over her—from her face to her clothes—openly scrutinizing her, eyes full of both disdain and envy.

“The general’s estate has quite the big backyard,” Lin Chu suddenly said.

Thinking Lin Chu was awed by the grandeur, the maid smugly replied, “Of course. Our estate spans ten mu!”

Ten mu—barely the size of a soccer field. That’s about 350 meters in circumference.

A quarter of an hour was more than enough time to walk three laps around it.

Lin Chu’s gaze turned icy. “Looks like your legs don’t work too well. Maybe find a better doctor—saw them off and attach some dog legs. You might move a little faster.”

If Lin Chu hadn’t realized Madam An was intentionally trying to humiliate her by now, she’d be an idiot.

No servant would dare treat a guest like this unless their mistress had told them to.

The maid’s face twisted in fury. Remembering something, she sneered, her voice sharp: “A filthy little servant like you thinks you’re somebody now? Who knows what tricks you used to seduce the Commander? Back when he was nobody, didn’t you also try to hook up with our young master? Shameless, seductive tramp—ah!”

Lin Chu slapped her across the face, hard. The girl staggered several steps back, clutching her cheek in disbelief. 

“You hit me?!”

Lin Chu’s expression was calm and cold. “That slap? That was on behalf of your madam. Since she can’t control her servants, I’ll help her out as a guest.”

The old woman looked like she wanted to step in, but one icy glare from Lin Chu froze her in place.

The maid screamed in fury and lunged at Lin Chu. “You little b1tch! I’ll kill you!”

Lin Chu wasn’t fast enough to dodge and got scratched on the cheek. Enraged, she grabbed the girl by the hair and delivered two more resounding slaps.

Her hand hurt from the force. The maid’s face swelled like a pig’s head.

Lin Chu’s voice was frigid. “Those two slaps? That was for me. You want to know what real trash looks like? Go find a mirror.”