Chapter
Chapter 5: Protecting His Wife (Revisions)
Apologize to my wife.
As soon as Yuan Yuexian uttered these words, the surroundings fell into a dead silence. It was true that Butcher Liu had once taken a liking to Lin Guilan, and everyone knew about it. But now, Lin Guilan was already married into the Jiang Family. Yuan Yuexian’s words were clearly meant to embarrass everyone present.
Even Cao Cuiying couldn’t stand it anymore. She frowned and shook her head at Yuan Yuexian, thinking that this second daughter-in-law had no filter and would surely pay the price for it someday.
When Lin Guilan heard this, the words she had prepared instantly died in her throat. She was now a member of the Jiang Family, but Yuan Yuexian’s remark, whether intentional or not, insinuated that there was something improper between her and Butcher Liu.
She and Butcher Liu were completely innocent, but with Yuan Yuexian saying such things in front of so many people, it was clear she wanted to humiliate her. As a woman, how could she defend herself?
Feeling helpless, Lin Guilan instinctively looked at Jiang Qingshi. She was usually strong-willed, but at this moment, she bit her lip, her almond-shaped eyes glistening with tears.
Jiang Qingshi looked at her, slightly taken aback. Since his wife had married him, he had never seen her like this.
Though she was usually straightforward and resilient, holding their family together, this vulnerable side of her… was rather endearing.
Jiang Qingshi patted Lin Guilan’s hand to comfort her, giving her a gentle smile. But when he stood up, his eyes had already turned cold.
“Second sister-in-law, are you trying to tarnish my wife’s reputation with baseless accusations?”
Jiang Zhimiao, listening nearby, was seething with anger. He knew how important a woman’s reputation was in ancient times. Unfortunately, he was still too young and powerless to stand up for his mother!
He could feel his mother’s hands trembling slightly as she held him. Though she was strong-willed, she loved his father deeply and must have felt utterly humiliated at this moment.
“I never said that,” Yuan Yuexian retorted, her eyes darting around. “That’s your own interpretation, Third Brother. You’re truly fortunate—Sister Lin chose you over Butcher Liu. That’s something to be proud of…”
“I don’t want that kind of pride,” Jiang Qingshi said with a light laugh, his demeanor as elegant as an immortal’s. “As you all say, I’m just an idle, useless loafer. Our family’s daily life depends entirely on my wife’s efforts. The Jiang Family has given her nothing, and in the end, we can’t let her lose her pure reputation. I don’t care about pride, but my wife deserves her innocence. Second sister-in-law, apologize to my wife and admit that you were just spouting nonsense.”
By the end of his speech, Jiang Qingshi’s face had turned completely cold.
Yuan Yuexian had always regarded Jiang Qingshi as a weak and powerless pushover, never taking him seriously. Now, seeing him dare to speak to her like this, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Third Brother, are you ordering me around? Do you really think you’re some high-ranking official? You’re too…”
“Your son, Xi Ge’er,” Jiang Qingshi interrupted her coldly, clearly unwilling to waste words on her, “previously caused trouble by damaging the Wang family’s wall. The Wang family is a bunch of bullies, and they’re still relentlessly demanding compensation, threatening to break that little troublemaker’s legs. Second sister-in-law, tell me, what do you think they would do if I were to inform them about this?”
Yuan Yuexian’s face instantly darkened, and Xi Ge’er, hearing this, let out a loud “wah” before burying himself in her arms.
“Mother, Mother, no! I’m scared!”
“How did you know?” Yuan Yuexian’s voice trembled as she spoke slowly, “This matter…”
Only she and Xi Ge’er knew about this matter—even her husband was unaware…
“If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it in the first place,” Jiang Qingshi said. “Second sister-in-law, my patience is limited. Hurry up and apologize to my wife.”
Yuan Yuexian bit her lower lip. Apologizing to Lin Guilan would be utterly humiliating… She shot a fierce glare at Jiang Qingshi and his wife, then steeled herself. “Third Brother, I don’t believe you’d actually reveal this. You know full well the Wang family’s character—isn’t this like throwing our Jiang Family into the fire?”
“Oh?” Jiang Qingshi gave a cold, mocking smile. “Second sister-in-law makes a fair point, but…”
“What of it?”
Jiang Qingshi’s smile vanished, his eyes turning icy in an instant. None of the Jiang Family members had ever seen him like this, and for a moment, no one dared to utter another word.
“Second sister-in-law, have you forgotten? You’ve already… driven me out. What does the Jiang Family’s affairs have to do with me now?”
Yuan Yuexian felt as if a venomous snake had slithered silently up the back of her neck. She froze in place, limbs stiff. It was Jiang Wenjiang who reacted quickly, pulling Yuan Yuexian along as he bowed deeply to Jiang Qingshi and Lin Guilan. “Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, it’s all my wife’s fault for speaking carelessly and tarnishing Third Sister-in-law’s reputation. We apologize to you both!”
After Jiang Wenjiang finished speaking, he bowed again heavily. Seeing this, Yuan Yuexian knew that prolonging the matter would only harm her family further. She couldn’t let her pride jeopardize her precious Xi Ge’er. Gritting her teeth, she lowered her head as well. “Yes, Third Sister-in-law, it’s my fault for having a loose tongue and speaking thoughtlessly! I apologize to you!”
His father truly was a remarkable man!
Jiang Zhimiao felt a surge of excitement in his heart. The infant’s tiny fingers instinctively reached for his mother’s, only to find that she wasn’t paying him any attention?
Looking up, he saw his mother staring unblinkingly at his father, her eyes practically sparkling with admiration.
Well… a mother’s heart belongs to her husband, not her son.
“Second sister-in-law, you must be more careful with your words in the future,” Jiang Qingshi said meaningfully, casting a glance at Yuan Yuexian. “If you speak recklessly again, I’m afraid it won’t be so easily resolved.”
This Jiang Qingshi! How dare he act so smug after getting his way.
But recalling Jiang Qingshi’s earlier gaze, Yuan Yuexian still felt a chill of fear. Who would have thought this Jiang Qingshi could be so intimidating! She could only shoot him a fierce glare, not daring to say another word.
Jiang Qingshi didn’t waste any more time on them. He borrowed an ox cart from their neighbor Fu Shun and moved out that very day with Lin Guilan and Miao Ge’er.
They didn’t have many belongings to begin with, and Lin Guilan had little regard for the shabby items the Jiang Family had provided. She only carefully packed Jiang Zhimiao’s personal belongings. Her dowry had long been converted into silver and carried on her person, making the move surprisingly effortless.
Jiang Qingshi rolled up his sleeves and secured the larger items. Turning back to his wife, who was holding their son, he smiled gently at Lin Guilan and reached out to help her onto the cart.
Lin Guilan, accustomed to independence, felt somewhat unaccustomed to suddenly receiving her husband’s tender affection. Holding Jiang Zhimiao in one arm and accepting Jiang Qingshi’s support with the other, she blushed and boarded the oxcart.
Jiang Qingshi nimbly swung himself onto the ox’s back, flashing a carefree smile at Fu Shun.
“Brother Fu Shun, we’ll return the oxcart to you later!”
Yuan Yuexian watched the retreating figures of the family of three, feeling a sudden twinge of discomfort.
She had always looked down on Jiang Qingshi’s slender build, considering him a freeloader, but now she saw he was handsome, tall, and knew how to cherish his wife…
Though they were brothers, Jiang Qingshi stood a head taller than her own husband… Yuan Yuexian scrutinized the unimpressive Jiang Wenjiang. Though she had succeeded in driving Jiang Qingshi away, she felt little satisfaction.
Marry a chicken and follow the chicken, marry a dog and follow the dog. Yuan Yuexian shook her head vigorously – she couldn’t let her guard down, as there were still battles to fight with the eldest and fourth brothers!