Chapter 10: Uncle – Addicted to Serving Men

Jiang Zhimiao hadn’t expected his mother to be such a woman of action.

In just three short days, Lin Guilan had already organized their new home with remarkable efficiency. Though no amount of tidying could change the inherent decay and age emanating from the house’s very bones, compared to how it looked when they first arrived, Jiang Zhimiao thought his mother could truly be called both a marvel and a wonder.

Moreover, whenever his mother was in the midst of cleaning with great enthusiasm, if his father tried to lend a hand… she would always grandly push him three zhang away.

“Husband, you focus on your studies! I can manage this myself!”

Later, his father simply couldn’t stand watching idly anymore, feeling he shouldn’t just reap the benefits without contributing, so he stealthily tried to help again.

His mother would frown, plant her hands on her hips, and stand before both her husband and son.

“Husband! You’re messing up what I just cleaned up! Take Miao Ge’er and go play somewhere else—don’t interfere with my work!”

Jiang Qingshi and Jiang Zhimiao would tremble under the force of her scolding.

Most astonishingly, not only had his mother organized this incredibly dilapidated house in just three days, she had also assembled a small table and prepared the necessary ingredients for the coming days.

The two “useless men” who were “getting in the way” stared dumbfounded as Lin Guilan moved in and out as swiftly as a swimming fish.

His mother (wife) was truly first-rate in capability!

But their residence was remote, and there was quite a distance to cover if they wanted to sell goods in town. Watching his mother prepare so energetically, Jiang Zhimiao worried inwardly about how she would transport these items to the town’s dock.

On the morning of the third day, Lin Guilan deftly prepared a meal for the family of three. Jiang Qingshi had stayed up reading by lamplight until the Chou hour (1-3 AM) the previous night and hadn’t risen yet. Being considerate, Lin Guilan moved quietly while cooking, careful not to disturb her husband’s rest.

Unwilling to remain useless, Jiang Zhimiao had been secretly practicing walking these past few days whenever Lin Guilan and Jiang Qingshi weren’t paying attention. His mother was perfect in every way—beautiful and capable—but she was overly protective of her son. Perhaps Jiang Zhimiao’s previous illness had frightened her badly; now, even the slightest stir would make Lin Guilan anxious.

Afraid that his mother would be heartbroken if she saw him fall, Jiang Zhimiao only dared to flail about practicing when neither of them was looking.

But this skill—easy to imagine in one’s mind—was incredibly difficult in practice. Jiang Zhimiao never thought he’d be stumped by something as simple as walking! No matter how he flailed those two short legs, he couldn’t muster any strength. He felt like a fish stranded on shore, flapping helplessly.

Hearing Lin Guilan setting the food on the table, Jiang Zhimiao hurriedly returned to his original state, crawling on the floor just as he had been before she left. Lin Guilan, being particularly attentive, had laid out cut-up old clothes on the rough ground to prevent Jiang Zhimiao’s tender skin from getting scratched, so even crawling around wouldn’t cause him any bumps or scrapes.

“Miao Ge’er, time to eat.”

Lin Guilan swept into the room with swift steps, efficiently rolling up her sleeves and reaching out to pick up Jiang Zhimiao. Just then, the sound of a cart arrived from outside. Jiang Zhimiao felt somewhat surprised—who would come to such a remote place?

But Lin Guilan didn’t seem surprised at all. She skillfully picked up Jiang Zhimiao and walked out as if she had been expecting this all along.

“Brother!” Lin Guilan stood at the doorway, holding Jiang Zhimiao in one arm while waving outside with the other, “Over here!”

Brother?

Was that her maternal uncle?

Jiang Zhimiao poked his little head out, curiously peering outside.

He saw a man who appeared very robust, with rugged features and sun-darkened skin—clearly the result of years of outdoor labor. Dressed in a light-colored short cloth shirt with sleeves rolled high, his sturdy arms steadily guided an ox-cart approaching them. The man had obviously spotted Lin Guilan, his eyes flashing with delight, though he seemed determined not to show it, quickly masking his expression. As he drove the cart, he snorted loudly while scanning the surroundings and grumbling.

“What kind of place is this? Look how shabby everything is around here—hardly fit for human habitation! If not for my skilled driving, this spot wouldn’t even be accessible by ox-cart.”

“Alright, brother,” Lin Guilan’s eyes crinkled with laughter, clearly pleased to see her brother. “I know you’ve got a knife mouth but a tofu heart. No matter how much you scold me, you still care deep down. Even if not for me, you’d dote on your dear nephew. Here, hold our Miao Ge’er.”

Seeing Lin Guilan pass Jiang Zhimiao over, Lin Pingyuan hastily dismounted from the ox-cart and reached out to receive the child.

“You foolish girl, if you truly cared about my nephew you wouldn’t have brought him to live in such a place. Never mind how dilapidated this house is—this area is so sparsely populated I traveled forever before seeing your solitary household! If bandits came pillaging, you’d be crying to heaven unheard and begging earth unheeded! And that husband of yours is nothing but a scrawny chicken without two ounces of meat on his bones!” Lin Pingyuan carefully adjusted his hold on Jiang Zhimiao while continuing his tirade. “Well? Where’s the child’s father? It’s bad enough he never lifts a finger all day, but now I don’t even catch a glimpse of him! Don’t tell me he’s gotten too high and mighty for his brother-in-law after reading a few books!”

“Brother, keep your voice down.” Lin Guilan shot her brother a glare, offering no face-saving courtesy. “My husband studied late into the night and has only slept an hour or two. Let him rest longer—don’t you dare wake him.”

Lin Pingyuan’s eyes widened as he stared at his sister with utter exasperation. Were he not holding his precious nephew, he would have jabbed his finger right between Guilan’s uselessly round forehead.

“Little sister, you’re becoming more foolish by the day. Have you grown addicted to serving men? You were always so sharp and capable at home, but the moment it concerns that Jiang Family boy you become a different person.” Lin Pingyuan sighed deeply. “Now that you’ve moved out from the main household, everything depends on you alone. What use is marrying such a man? Don’t even talk about enjoying marital bliss—seems to me you simply found your life too comfortable and went looking for hardship!”

“Brother, your words are far too harsh! Let me tell you, as your sister, you must never say such things in front of my husband. Not even speaking them – you shouldn’t even show a hint of dissatisfaction on your face!” Lin Guilan wished she could cover Lin Pingyuan’s mouth. “My husband is a scholar who values face above all. Speaking of him like this is trampling his dignity underfoot! Besides, we’re the ones living this life, and I believe living with my husband is perfectly wonderful. I don’t care what others say! Not even you, brother, can criticize him!”

“Ah,” Lin Pingyuan sighed deeply upon hearing this. “I see you’re beyond saving. I just hope you’ll come to your senses and not devote yourself entirely to a man while neglecting my nephew! When my nephew fell ill last time, I felt like beating you as I did when we were children! What does it matter to you how the rest of the Jiang Family behaves? You should focus on taking good care of your child – he’s your own flesh and blood!”

Speaking of Jiang Zhimiao finally softened Lin Guilan’s expression: “Brother speaks sense. I indeed failed before, but from now on I’ll definitely take good care of Miao Ge’er and never let him suffer like that again.”

Following Lin Guilan into the main hall, Lin Pingyuan’s heart ached for his sister when he saw the dilapidated state of the house: “This Jiang Family truly has no conscience! Aren’t they ashamed to drive you out like this? I opposed your marriage into the Jiang Family precisely because of that Old Master Jiang – pretending to be noble and virtuous, the kind of person I detest most! Even if they made you move out, they should have found you a better place. Look at this – is this fit for human habitation? Is Jiang Laosan not part of their Jiang Family anymore?”

Lin Guilan remained silent, too embarrassed to mention that this was actually after their repairs – the original condition had been even more appalling. But… better not let brother know about that.

“Otherwise…” Lin Pingyuan hesitated, “Why don’t you and Jiang Laosan come back with me to our Yanglin Village? Though I’m not satisfied with Jiang Laosan as my brother-in-law, what’s done is done and I won’t dwell on it. Our home is spacious enough to accommodate you all – though I’m not doing this for you, foolish sister, but for my poor nephew!”

Lin Guilan quickly shook her head: “That would make him a live-in son-in-law! Absolutely not – my husband would feel utterly humiliated.”

Author’s Note:

How the uncle sees Lin Guilan: Digging for wild vegetables, digging for wild vegetables, digging for wild vegetables! [Eye roll]