Chapter 239: Brother Jiu Pursues His Wife (1)
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Yan Jiuchao never expected that someone as noble as him would be rejected. He was the young master of Yan City, a member of the royal family of Great Zhou. This little village girl was really too bold!
“She even dares to show me attitude. Have I spoiled her?!” Yan Jiuchao gritted his teeth.
Shadow Thirteen braced himself and swallowed his words.
Yan Jiuchao gave Shadow Thirteen a look.
Shadow Thirteen walked forward and knocked on the window. “Miss Yu.”!!
Yu Wan did not move.
Shadow Thirteen continued to knock on the window. “Miss Yu.”
There was still no movement.
Shadow Thirteen took a deep breath and continued to knock. He knocked again and again. He knocked, knocked, knocked!
Creak—
The door to the central room opened.
Yan Jiuchao raised his eyebrows as if he knew it. He waited for Yu Wan to welcome him in affectionately, but he saw Yu Shaoqing rush out with a broom.
The corners of Yan Jiuchao’s mouth twitched: “…”
Shadow Thirteen grabbed the armchair and ran!
“It’s the middle of the night. Who asked you to knock!” Yu Shaoqing chased after him with his broom around the village. Shadow Thirteen was so tired that his eyes rolled back. When he finally escaped Yu Shaoqing’s pursuit and placed the armchair on the ground, he saw that his handsome young master’s hair had already been blown into a bird’s nest.
Yan Jiuchao opened his mouth and spat out a leaf. His face was ashen.
On the other side, Yu Shaoqing put down his broom and returned to his room. Yu Wan also lay down with the three little lads in her arms.
It was unknown if it was because she had finally vented her anger, but Yu Wan slept exceptionally well this night. She no longer had to beat up a certain fellow who needed a beating ten times in her dreams.
Yu Wan slept until dawn. In a daze, she felt three furry little heads rubbing against her arms. Yu Wan smiled before she woke up. She raised her hand to touch the three little heads and asked lazily, “Are you awake?”
The three little guys nodded.
Yu Wan opened her eyes and met three unbelievably beautiful faces. A warm happiness surged in her heart.
In the past few days, in order to take care of Yan Jiuchao, she had neglected them. They did not cry or make a fuss, but they seemed to be more clingy than before.
The three of them widened their black eyes and looked at Yu Wan with adorable expressions.
Yu Wan understood and gave everyone a big kiss. The three of them blushed and buried their heads into Yu Wan’s arms shyly. Their little butts were raised high as they twisted around, looking extremely proud.
Children were really easily satisfied. She had clearly neglected them for so many days, but in the end, they were so happy with just a kiss. She did not know if it was because they had received too little care from Yan Ruyu in the past, and felt that it was normal to be neglected. Yu Wan stroked their backs lovingly and decided to make it up to them.
Yu Wan helped the three little fellows put on their clothes and led them to the backyard to wash up. Then, the three of them obediently sat on their small toilet and watched Yu Wan milk the goats.
Yu Wan boiled the squeezed goat’s milk in the pot. After it was cooled for a while, she removed the thin layer of milk on top and placed the goat’s milk into three sheepskin bags. The thin layer of goat’s milk was not wasted, she kept it all. If she made some snacks, she would be able to smell a strong milky fragrance. Although Bruiser and Zhenzhen were not used to goat’s milk, they liked desserts with a milky fragrance.
The three little fellows grabbed their little milk bottles and obediently sat on the threshold to drink milk.
“Ah Wan!”
Aunt Zhang came over.
Yu Wan was setting up the bowls and chopsticks in the central room. When she heard the sound, she walked over. The three little fellows had blocked the threshold. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She picked up Xiaobao and said to Aunt Zhang, “Come in and sit, Aunt Zhang!”
“Aiyo, this little fellow.” Aunt Zhang pinched Xiaobao’s face. Xiaobao didn’t forget to drink milk even when he was picked up. His cute little face was extremely cute. He didn’t react when Aunt Zhang pinched his face. He kept drinking milk seriously, and Aunt Zhang laughed.
“It’s Grandma Zhang,” Yu Wan said to the three children.
The three of them looked at Aunt Zhang with their mouths full.
Aunt Zhang knew that these children didn’t know how to speak yet. It could be considered a greeting when they looked at her like this. She patted their heads. “Good boys.”
“Go in and sit,” Yu Wan said.
Aunt Zhang said, “I won’t go in. I’m here to borrow a bowl from you. The big bowl at home is broken. I’m waiting to fill it with oil.”
When their days were good, their family could occasionally buy some fat meat. After refining it, they could have lard.
“I’ll go get it.” Yu Wan put Xiaobao down. Xiaobao walked back to the threshold of the central room with his short legs. However, this time, he leaned against Erbao and left a gap for people to walk through.
Aunt Zhang looked at the three children and a smile subconsciously appeared in her eyes. No one would dislike such obedient children. Were they really Ah Wan’s children?
“Aunt Zhang, do you think this is okay?” Yu Wan took out a big bowl.
Aunt Zhang looked up and smiled. “This is fine!”
Aunt Zhang left with the bowl.
From the beginning to the end, Aunt Zhang did not ask anything. The village was only so big, and the news that should have spread had long spread. If it was half a year ago, she would most likely be drowned in a pig cage. But now, no one dared to say this. Whether it was because the Yu family was supporting the livelihood of the entire village or because Young Master Yan was the children’s father, no one knew.
After breakfast, Yu Shaoqing went to the mountain to help. Madam Jiang went to the Yu Family’s old residence. Yu Wan stayed in the room to check on Little Bruiser’s homework. The three little lads also sat at the side and shook their heads with Uncle Bruiser.
Yu Wan planned to bring the children up the mountain after checking their homework. The March Bubbles at the back of the mountain were all red. It would be a pity if she didn’t pluck them. She planned to pluck them all and make jam if she couldn’t finish them.
Just as she was thinking this, Yu Feng came to visit.
“Ah Wan.” Yu Feng’s voice was very soft, as if he was worried about disturbing Little Bruiser.
“Big Brother.” Yu Wan went to the central room.
Yu Feng said, “The house is about to be completed. My father said that he wants to make a meal for the laborers. Coincidentally, the spices at home are gone. I’ll go to town to buy them. Do you want anything?”
Yu Wan thought for a while and asked, “When are you going?”
“In the afternoon, the banquet will be on the day after tomorrow. There’s no hurry to buy it back today. I’ll go take a look first and reserve what I can first.” In the past, he had always bought it on the spot. Ever since he started doing business, Yu Feng had become more and more resourceful.
“I have nothing to do in the afternoon. I can bring the children to town for a walk.” After a pause, Yu Wan whispered to Yu Feng, “Bruiser can’t wear his pants anymore. I can’t let people say that he’s fat.”
Yu Feng laughed and glanced at the room. “Okay.”
“Sis, did you say something bad about me again?” Little Bruiser’s indignant voice came from the room.
Yu Feng held back his laughter and said in his usual tone, “No, your sister and brother said that they’ll go to town to buy new clothes for you later.”
“Really?” Little Bruiser shouted happily.
Yu Wan said, “Recite your thousand words!”
Little Bruiser: “…Oh.”
“I’ll go to the construction site first,” Yu Feng said.
Yu Wan sent Yu Feng out of the door. Just as she was about to turn around and enter the house, Aunt Zhang hurried over. “Ah Wan, there’s business!”
Yu Wan stopped in her tracks.
Aunt Zhang was originally washing clothes with a few women by the ancient well at the village entrance when a carriage suddenly stopped behind them. A handsome little girl alighted from the carriage and asked, “Does Miss Yu live in this village?” Aunt Zhang asked who she was and what she wanted. The little girl said that she was here to buy ingredients from Miss Yu, so Aunt Zhang brought her over.
There were a total of two people. Other than the little girl who was asking for directions, there was also a young girl in a white cloak.
“Thank you, Aunt Zhang,” Yu Wan said politely.
Aunt Zhang smiled. “I’ll go first.”
“Aunt Zhang, take care.” After sending Aunt Zhang off, Yu Wan looked at the two girls that Aunt Zhang had brought over. From their clothes, they were a master and servant. The maidservant was wearing light green armor. The young lady behind her was wearing a light pink dress. The material was luxurious, and she had pearls and jewelry. Her makeup was exquisite.
The two of them looked familiar.
Yu Wan sized up the two of them and her gaze stopped on the young lady’s face. Suddenly, her eyes moved. “It’s you?”
Wasn’t this the girl from the Xiao family whom she had met once in the corridor on the day she went to the Xiao Manor? And the little girl beside her was the maidservant who held the lantern for her that night.
Miss Xiao also recognized Yu Wan. A trace of extreme surprise flashed across her beautiful eyes. “It’s, it’s you.”
“Oh?” Yu Wan raised her eyebrows. “I’m surprised. I didn’t expect my guest to be the daughter of the Xiao family. What are you shocked about, Miss Xiao? You came to my house to buy ingredients. Don’t you know that I’ll be the one selling ingredients?”
“I…” The Xiao family’s young lady choked.
“Forget it.” Yu Wan had no intention of making things difficult for her. She invited her into the house. “My humble house is simple. It might not be up to your taste.”
Miss Xiao and the maidservant walked into the house.
The maidservant could not hide the disdain on her face, but Miss Xiao was curious and looked around at the furnishings of the central room.
In the Xiao Manor, any servant’s room was much more particular than this. The tables here were lacquered, the chairs were tied with cloth strips, the cheapest incense candles were placed on the table, and a few pieces of glossy cured meat hung on the nails on the wall.
But it was clean.
“Miss Xiao, please sit.” Yu Wan pointed at the chair by the table.
Miss Xiao was about to sit down when the maidservant stopped her. “Miss, wait!”
The maidservant took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped it on the chair before letting her Miss sit down.
Miss Xiao looked at Yu Wan awkwardly.
Yu Wan had seen this kind of thing many times, so she was used to it. She was not angry, and she did not tell the maidservant that her matriarch had once sat on the chair that she despised as dirty.
“How did Miss Xiao find out about this place?” Yu Wan took a clean cup. She knew that the daughter of the Xiao Manor would not drink her tea, so she did not waste the tea leaves and only poured a cup of cold water for her.
After Miss Xiao took the cup, she gently placed it on the table and said to Yu Wan, “I heard it from someone.”
“Is it Mrs. Xiao?” Yu Wan sat down at the other end of the table.
Miss Xiao nodded.
Yu Wan nodded. “Then are you here to buy ingredients for Mrs. Xiao today, or are you buying them yourself?”
“…For both,” the Xiao family’s young lady said.
“Stinky tofu?” Yu Wan asked.
Miss Xiao was stunned.
Yu Wan smiled. “Miss Xiao, you came to buy ingredients from me. Don’t tell me you don’t even know what I’m selling?”
“I know,” the Xiao family’s young lady quickly said. “I heard that your family first sold braised meat.”
“That was a long time ago.” It seemed that Shangguan Yan had not told this girl. Shangguan Yan did not know that her family had sold braised meat before. When Shangguan Yan came over, her family rarely did braised meat business and had changed to selling stinky tofu and sour bamboo shoots.
Yu Wan did not ask her who she had asked about her. In her opinion, this was not important. What was important was whether she could do business.
Yu Wan looked at Miss Xiao and said, “If Miss Xiao wants to buy braised meat, I’m afraid you have to make reservations. My family already has stinky tofu and sour bamboo shoots. How much do you want?”
Miss Xiao’s eyelashes trembled. “I’ll take as much as my second aunt buys.”
Yu Wan went to the kitchen to get five jars of stinky tofu. “One jar weighs ten pounds, and one pound costs fifteen copper coins. It’s a total of seven hundred and fifty copper coins.”
So many things yet it was worth less than one tael of silver. Miss Xiao felt that it was very cheap and gestured for the maidservant to take out the silver. However, the maidservant widened her almond-shaped eyes. “What tofu is so expensive? The tofu in the Capital is only four copper coins a pound! You’re extorting money, right!”
Yu Wan smiled faintly. “My stinky tofu has always been at this price. I only sold it to you because of Mrs. Xiao and Grand Marshal Xiao. It wasn’t even enough to supply the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.”
The maidservant frowned and said, “Miss! Don’t listen to her! There are many such tofu in the Capital. If you want to eat it, I’ll buy it for you elsewhere! They’re not as black-hearted as her!”
Yu Wan smiled. Her stinky tofu was an exclusive business. Other than the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, she could not eat it anywhere else in the Capital. The Drunken Immortal Pavilion charged much more than her. The little girl was still young and thought that she was smarter than anyone.
However, she could also tell that this master and servant were not here to buy anything at all. Instead, they seemed to be here to see her.
Yu Wan looked at Miss Xiao and said, “Since Miss Xiao doesn’t want to buy anything, I’ll get busy.”
Miss Xiao hesitated.
Yu Wan ignored her and moved the stinky tofu back to the kitchen. When she returned to the central room, the master and servant had already left.
Miss Xiao’s appearance was strange, but Yu Wan did not take it to heart. She brought the children to the old residence for lunch and boarded Shuanzi’s ox cart with Yu Feng.
She originally planned to bring the little fellows along, but the little fellows woke up too early. During lunch, they fell asleep on the table while eating, so Yu Wan could only leave them behind.
Halfway there, a woman’s scream suddenly came from ahead. “Ah—Miss—”
The siblings looked over. Not far away, beside the field, they saw a luxurious carriage. The coachman was stunned beside the carriage with a frightened expression. The scream came from the carriage. Yu Wan felt a trace of familiarity when she heard this voice.
Yu Feng drove the ox cart over and asked the coachman, “What happened?”
The coachman said fearfully, “I… I don’t know…”
He really did not know. As he drove the carriage, there was a sound from inside the carriage, as if someone had fallen to the floor. He stopped the carriage. He asked what had happened, but the maidservant did not say anything. Not only did she not say anything, she did not let him see.
However, he could vaguely guess that something had happened to Miss.
Yu Wan jumped off the ox cart and looked at the coachman, then at the tightly shut curtain. She walked into the carriage and lifted the curtain.
The maidservant thought it was the coachman and scolded, “Who allowed you to come in! Get out… Ah—”
Before she could finish speaking, Yu Wan grabbed her collar and threw her out of the carriage.
The light in the carriage was dim. The Miss of the Xiao family was lying on the ground in a daze. Her eyes were unfocused, her face was purple, and her teeth were tightly clenched. Yu Wan saw that something was wrong and hurriedly grabbed her wrist to take her pulse.
It was epilepsy!
Yu Wan was shocked. She immediately pulled down the curtain and opened the window to let the air flow.
“What are you doing!” The maidservant pounced on her crazily. Miss had such an illness. She could not let others see it!
Yu Feng grabbed her and shouted sternly, “My sister is a doctor! She’s saving your Miss!”
The maidservant struggled. “She’s not saving my Miss! She’ll harm my Miss! You black-hearted woman. Let go of my Miss!”
Yu Wan ignored her. She half-knelt down and let go of the Xiao family’s young lady’s collar, letting her lie on her side. She grabbed her cloak and placed it behind her head, moving the stool at the side.
The curtain was lifted, and the scene inside was completely exposed to them. This was the first time the coachman had seen such a scene, and he was stunned.
The maidservant was furious. “Why are you still looking! I’ll dig out your eyeballs!”
The coachman turned his back fearfully.
“Let go of me!” The maidservant continued to struggle in Yu Feng’s hand, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not escape Yu Feng’s palm. She was furious, and her eyes turned sharp as she bit Yu Feng’s wrist!
Yu Feng was caught off guard and was bitten. He gasped in pain and loosened his grip. The maidservant escaped.
The maidservant picked up a stick and jumped into the carriage. However, before she could enter the carriage, a water bag flew out and hit her face. She fell to the ground and fainted on the spot.
After an unknown period of time, the commotion in the carriage finally stopped.
Miss Xiao regained consciousness. When she saw Yu Wan beside her, her expression changed.
Yu Wan’s expression did not change at all. “Change your clothes.”
Miss Xiao blushed.
Yu Wan pulled the curtain closed and closed the window. She said to her, “I knocked your maidservant out. Can you change yourself? Or do you need my help?”
Miss Xiao lowered her head in embarrassment.
Yu Wan said indifferently, “Where are the clothes?”
Miss Xiao pointed at the seat behind Yu Wan.
Yu Wan took out a box from under her seat, took out a set of spare clothes, and helped Miss Xiao change.
Miss Xiao was extremely embarrassed. She turned around and fastened her belt bit by bit.
“Is it yours?” Yu Wan handed her a piece of prescription that had fallen to the ground.
Miss Xiao took the prescription, folded it, and put it back into her purse.
“Zhao Heng wrote it, right?” Yu Wan suddenly said. She recognized Zhao Heng’s handwriting.
Miss Xiao’s eyebrows twitched.
Yu Wan said, “I didn’t mean to look. I thought it was your own prescription.”
Miss Xiao clenched her fists.
Yu Wan was enlightened. “No wonder you came to Lotus Flower Village to look for me, and no wonder you looked like you had seen a ghost. Did you not expect Zhao Heng’s ex-fiancée to be the woman your second uncle brought into the Xiao Manor that night?”
With her thoughts guessed, the Xiao family’s young lady lowered her head even more.
Yu Wan smiled faintly. “Zhao Heng and I have already broken off our engagement. There’s really no need for you to come specially to find out about me. Speaking of which, you’re the daughter of the Xiao Manor. Why would you…”
Be related to that scumbag Zhao Heng?
Miss Xiao lowered her head and did not say anything.
Yu Wan sighed. “Alright, don’t look like you’ve been caught red-handed by me. I’ve already said just now that Zhao Heng and I have nothing to do with him anymore. What happens to you is between the two of you. As long as you don’t implicate me in the future, I’ll pretend that you didn’t come today.”
Miss Xiao bit her lip. After hesitating for a while, she nodded. Then, she opened her mouth again, as if she wanted to say something, but it was difficult to say it.
How could Yu Wan not understand what she meant? Everything was written on her face. No wonder she was being controlled.
Yu Wan said calmly, “I’m a doctor. I still have this bit of medical ethics. I won’t publicize your illness, let alone tell Zhao Heng.”
She wished she could never have anything to do with Zhao Heng again in her life. Why would she tell him?
Compared to Zhao Heng discovering the Xiao family’s daughter’s illness, Yu Wan was more concerned about whether the Xiao family’s daughter knew Zhao Heng’s character.
Forget it. When she mentioned Zhao Heng, this girl’s eyes lit up. It was obvious that she had fallen for Zhao Heng. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come all the way to see Zhao Heng’s ex-fiancée. Even if she really told her about Zhao Heng’s character in detail, she might not believe her. She might even misunderstand that she still had feelings for Zhao Heng and wanted to break them up.
It was ridiculous that a man like Zhao Heng actually had no lack of women who were loyal to him. In the past, it was Ah Wan, and now it was the Xiao family’s young lady.
No wonder Zhao Heng had moved out of Lotus Flower Village overnight. It turned out that he had climbed up a new branch.
Yu Wan looked at her sympathetically. “Do you need me to send you to the pharmacy in town?”
Miss Xiao shook her head gently.
“Then I’ll leave first.” Yu Wan stood up.
Miss Xiao suddenly reached out and grabbed her sleeve.
Yu Wan looked at her and said, “If you want to ask about Zhao Heng…”
“My name is Ziyue.” She spoke softly.
Yu Wan paused in shock and nodded. “Got it.”
With that, she stepped out of the carriage.