I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 22.1

Seeing Lin Muwan’s evasive reaction, Jiang Zhou was stunned. Water quickly welled up in her eyes. She hastily turned her face away, pointing at the rabbit hole. “The grass needs to be thrown far away. Haven’t you heard that rabbits don’t eat the grass near their nest?”

“Mhm,” Lin Muwan responded softly, knowing that her previous action had hurt Jiang Zhou. Intent on making amends, she followed her instructions and threw another handful of grass to the rabbit, praising her. “You know so much.”

Jiang Zhou had already adjusted her emotions the moment she turned away. Listening to Lin Muwan’s half-hearted praise, she twitched the corner of her mouth. Isn’t that common knowledge?

Yet, she was still very happy. Lin Muwan had actively coaxed her.

The corner of her downturned mouth lifted, revealing a row of small white teeth. “My wife, you are also very capable.”

She returned the compliment to Lin Muwan.

Lin Muwan turned her head, looking at her with an unnatural expression for a moment before shifting her gaze away and continuing to stare at the rabbit.

Jiang Zhou said, “Wife, I plan to go visit a friend in a few days.”

Lin Muwan frowned and turned to look at her. The person’s eyes were clear and candid, making her heart suspicious. Did she also live here before?

Who exactly is she?

“A friend I just met yesterday. She’s a doctor.”

Just met?

Lin Muwan gripped her hands tighter, moving her gaze away. Does she need to go visit someone she just met?

“She’s my fellow countryman.”

Fellow countryman?

Is this fellow countryman a man or a woman?

Lin Muwan couldn’t help but overthink, feeling inexplicably annoyed.

She pursed her lips, a thin sweat breaking out on her palms, and asked faintly, “Has husband prepared a gift for visiting your friend?”

“Huh?” Jiang Zhou was momentarily blank. “Do I need to prepare a gift?”

She scratched her head, looking somewhat bewildered. “Wife, do you know what I should send?”

She didn’t quite understand the customs here. Before, with her parents around, she didn’t need to worry about these things. Furthermore, she was constantly training in the unit. When she took leave and came home, everyone would just sit down and have a meal together. As for visiting friends, her friends were basically her teammates, and they spent all their time together, so there was no need for formal visits.

Now that she was here, she naturally had to adapt to the local customs, and she wanted to hear Lin Muwan’s opinion.

Jiang Zhou humbly asked again, “What does wife suggest I prepare?”

Lin Muwan pinched her fingers beneath her sleeve, looking nervous, her lips tightly pressed together. After a moment, she said, “How about we go to the town and buy some things?”

“Buy what?” Jiang Zhou looked puzzled. “Won’t that be a waste of money?”

They were both people from the modern era, and their financial situations should be similar. Earning money was difficult, and Jiang Zhou felt a pang for the cash.

Lin Muwan dug her nails into her palm, taking in Jiang Zhou’s expression completely. Finally, she lowered her eyes, the light in them dimming slightly.

She had only tested her a little, and this person indeed regretted spending money.

She shouldn’t have held onto any hope.

Seeing that Lin Muwan remained silent, Jiang Zhou put down the grass, tilted her head to observe her, and called softly, “Wife.”

“Mhm.” Lin Muwan responded softly, raising her head and forcing a slight smile. She said, “Husband should think for yourself. I’m feeling a bit unwell and will head back inside first.”

Jiang Zhou anxiously asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Where are you uncomfortable?”

“I’ll go invite a doctor over to check on you.”

“You haven’t looked well since yesterday. Did you catch a chill during the night?”

Jiang Zhou worriedly bombarded her with questions.

It was better that she hadn’t mentioned the night. The mention made Lin Muwan’s face grow even colder, her lips pressed into a thin line.

She coldly glanced at Jiang Zhou, her voice icy. “I’m fine.”

With that, she turned and entered the house.

Jiang Zhou was worried and wanted to follow her in, but just as she was about to enter, the door slammed shut from the inside with a bang.

Jiang Zhou: “…”

Things were fine just a moment ago!

Why is she suddenly angry?

Jiang Zhou stood at the doorway, bewildered.

“Wife, if you are uncomfortable anywhere, you must tell me.”

After waiting for a while, the person inside the room showed no intention of responding to her. Jiang Zhou rubbed her nose and dejectedly went to the courtyard, continuing to ponder what gift to bring.

The knocking stopped. Hearing the receding footsteps, Lin Muwan slumped onto the edge of the bed, leaning against the bed frame. Her eyes slowly turned red. She lifted her head, sniffed, and forced the tears back.

The events of last night were the most outrageous thing she had done in her eighteen years. If she could have thought of a better solution, she absolutely would not have resorted to the non-solution of sacrificing herself. She thought that since her body was already given to her, who knew that she still couldn’t get past her own mental hurdle?

Jiang Zhou’s words yesterday were like a giant rock, smashing into her heart, which had been as still as a dry well, stirring up turbulent waves and giving her renewed hope. She never expected…

Her father and mother were still suffering, yet she couldn’t even manage this much. She was unworthy of the kindness of their upbringing.

Therefore, using the excuse of Jiang Zhou’s visit to a friend, she proposed buying a gift to test Jiang Zhou. The result was exactly what she had expected. How could Jiang Zhou be willing to spend money at a time like this?

Furthermore, the ransom to save her mother required a thousand taels. Even if Jiang Zhou saved the life of the kiln superintendent and didn’t need those thousand taels, the money for tributing still had to be paid.

When she was barely able to protect herself, how could she possibly pay that money?

Jiang Zhou sat in the courtyard, considering everything carefully. Building the house had already spent the original four taels of silver. All she had left was the fifty taels she had brought back yesterday. Unless absolutely necessary, she needed to be as frugal as possible.

She looked at the rabbits in the enclosure, and a sudden idea sparked in her mind. Baisheng didn’t have chili peppers. As a modern person, chili was an essential ingredient for cooking. Why not give her Spicy Fried Rabbit?

She decided to act on it immediately. She peered closely at the railing. The ten-day-old rabbits were still too small. The mother rabbit needed to be kept for breeding and certainly couldn’t be eaten.

A wave of melancholy washed over her. She still had to go to the mountain to catch one. Recently, the men in the village had been hunting on the mountain, and the number of rabbits was getting smaller and smaller.

Sometimes, her traps couldn’t catch a single prey for a day or two.

If the ones she was raising didn’t grow up soon, she would be eating up all her reserves.

Earning money is so hard!

The transmigrators she read about in books and saw on TV could earn pots full of money just by lifting a finger.

They were all clearly lying.

The next day, she reluctantly bought a rabbit from a villager, cooked a plate of rabbit meat, and the red chili mixed with the rabbit meat looked very appetizing. She placed the plate into her carrying basket and headed straight to the county town.

Following the address Jiang Miao had given her, she arrived at the Mingshantang pharmacy.

There wasn’t a single customer in the pharmacy. The clerk stood by the counter, holding a feather duster and cleaning.

She walked in, and the pharmacy clerk immediately approached her enthusiastically. “Are you here to see a doctor or to get medicine?”

“I’m looking for someone. Her name is Jiang Miao.”

The clerk looked her over, hesitating. “You’re looking for our manager. She isn’t here today.”

Not here?

Jiang Zhou stood frozen in place. She had worked so hard to prepare a gift, but the person wasn’t present.

“Where did she go?”

The clerk said, “Our manager doesn’t live here and rarely comes during the day. If you have urgent business, you can go to her home to find her, but our manager doesn’t really like people visiting her at home.”

Jiang Zhou: “…”

Don’t go? Go home?

Jiang Zhou sighed. “Young man, could you please tell me where I can find her?”

The clerk said, “Mujia Village. It’s not too far from here. It takes half a day by ox cart.”

Jiang Zhou bid farewell to the clerk and hurriedly found an ox cart going to Mujia Village. After a bumpy ride, she was surprised to find that Mujia Village was very close to her own Jiang Family Village, with only one village separating them.

When she arrived at Jiang Miao’s house, Jiang Miao was very surprised to see her and asked, “How did you find this place?”

Jiang Zhou: “…”

How could she ask that? She traveled all this way, but she isn’t even invited in for a cup of water. The pharmacy clerk was right; she really doesn’t like people visiting her home.

“Husband, who is here?”

A woman’s voice came from inside the house. A little girl of about four or five years old, with her hair in a bun, ran out a moment later, hiding behind Jiang Miao and timidly calling out, “Daddy.”

Jiang Miao picked up the child, glanced at Jiang Zhou, and said faintly, “Come in.”

With that, he led her into the courtyard.

?!

What?

Jiang Zhou rubbed her forehead. Does this person have OCD?

Everything was placed neatly, and all items were arranged symmetrically.

Just then, a woman walked out of the house. She was dressed like a married woman in simple rough cloth clothes, yet her clear beauty was undeniable. The girl saw the woman and excitedly shouted, “Mommy.”

The woman smiled, took the girl from Jiang Miao’s arms, and then nodded to Jiang Zhou.

“This is my wife.”

“Oh, hello, Sister-in-law.”

Mu Liyan smiled and greeted her.

Jiang Miao frowned, reached out, pulled Mu Liyan closer, and complained, “Didn’t you say you only smile for me?”

?!

Jiang Zhou: “…”

Mu Liyan glared at him. “We have a guest.”

Jiang Zhou: “…”

Is it really okay for them to flirt so openly as if no one else is around?

Jiang Miao looked at her, his tone unfriendly. “How did you find this place?”

Jiang Zhou choked.

I shouldn’t have come.

Jiang Zhou took a deep breath. “Your pharmacy clerk told me.”

Jiang Miao nodded and led her into the main hall.

?!

Jiang Zhou was stunned again. Her—her house actually had wooden flooring.

This fellow countryman not only had OCD but also knew how to enjoy life so much. She was also very envious of houses with wooden floors.

Jiang [OCD] Miao: “There are slippers over there.”

Ah! Ah! Ah!

Jiang Zhou suppressed the urge to scream in her heart, changed into the slippers, and followed Jiang Miao to sit down at a round table.

“Did you come all this way just for me to try this?” Jiang Miao narrowed his eyes, staring at the spicy fried rabbit on the table, and pouted. “I don’t like spicy food.”

Jiang Zhou: “…”

Her face darkened.

She finally understood. This fellow countryman lacked basic social skills.

“Husband, I think this dish is well-made and smells very appetizing,” Mu Liyan said, trying to smooth things over.

Jiang Miao frowned and grumbled, “Don’t my meals taste good?”

Mu Liyan laughed. “You’re so old, why are you still so childish?”

“Yes, Daddy is embarrassing,” the little girl chimed in.

Jiang Miao dotingly pinched the little girl’s cheek.

The family was happy and harmonious.

Jiang Zhou immediately felt like the odd one out. She missed her parents a little, and she missed Lin Muwan a little. What should I do?

Mu Liyan picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. Her mouth was on fire, but the fishy taste of the rabbit meat was completely masked by the aroma of the chili.

It was incredibly delicious.

She couldn’t help but eat a few more pieces. Even the little girl clamored for a bite, sipping water and eating the meat, making smacking sounds and clearly enjoying herself.

Chili had this kind of charm; the spicier it was, the more people couldn’t resist taking another bite.

“Brother Jiang, your rabbit meat is really too delicious. It’s even better than the one at the restaurant,” Mu Liyan praised.

“Really?” Jiang Zhou’s clear eyes sparkled. “Do you like it?” she asked.

“Like it, like it! Zijing loves to eat it!” Jiang Zijing shouted, clapping her hands happily.

The corners of Jiang Zhou’s mouth curved up, and she asked Jiang Miao, “What do you think about selling this in the county town?”

Jiang Miao withdrew his gaze, staring at her, and thought seriously for a moment. “You can try. Chili is a very rare ingredient in Baisheng. If you go to sell it, you would be the first.”

He then gave her a rundown of the major restaurants in Linyang County.

She could sell the secret recipe to them—the highest bidder wins—but this time, Jiang Zhou wanted to do it herself, making it unique.

Bidding farewell to Jiang Miao’s family, as soon as Jiang Zhou stepped into her house, Madam Jiang returned right after. She was carrying a vegetable basket, which was filled with wild vegetables.

Good heavens!

She really did go digging for wild vegetables.

Seeing that they were all present, Jiang Zhou shared the news of her plan to sell spicy fried rabbit meat in the county town. “The rabbit meat can be sold for money, and the rabbit pelts can be sold to fur traders for another profit.”

She slowly analyzed the pros and cons.

Lin Muwan kept her head down and remained silent the whole time.

“Wife.”

“Mhm.” She raised her head, her expression distant, her two slender eyebrows slightly furrowed, and her face pale. She looked quite unwell.

Jiang Zhou grew anxious, grasping her hand. Her hand was ice-cold. Jiang Zhou’s brows furrowed tightly. Was she still not well since yesterday? At the same time, she felt guilty that she hadn’t noticed immediately. She stood up. “I’ll go invite a doctor right now. Wait for me at home.”

She started to leave, but her skirt was suddenly tugged. She turned around. A fair hand was holding onto her skirt.

The owner of the hand slightly looked up, meeting her eyes. Her clear and cold eyes were filled with unease. Jiang Zhou’s heart tightened, and she asked nervously, “What’s wrong? Are you very uncomfortable?”

“No, I’m not uncomfortable. Maybe I didn’t sleep well last night, and I keep feeling sleepy,” Lin Muwan explained.

Jiang Zhou’s eyebrows remained tightly furrowed. She squatted down and wrapped the slender, soft hands in her palms. “Go take a nap now.”

Lin Muwan shook her head, pulling her hands away, and said softly, “If I sleep now, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“But…” Jiang Zhou still wanted to say something, but seeing the sunset outside, which was half-red, and knowing the sun would fall soon, she stopped urging her to rest.

She was still a bit uneasy. She stood up, moved behind her, and slowly rubbed her temples. “Does this make you feel better?”

The moment their skin touched, Lin Muwan’s body stiffened. She subconsciously turned her head to look at Madam Jiang, who was watching the two of them with a composed expression.

Lin Muwan: “…”

Her cheeks flushed. She quickly pulled down Jiang Zhou’s hand. How could this person act so frivolously in front of an elder?

Lin Muwan was annoyed, cursing under her breath, ‘Flirt.’

Jiang Zhou was concentrating on the massage, when her hand was suddenly pulled down. She asked, confused, “What’s wrong? Did I press too hard?”

She constantly trained, so her hand strength was great, and she could be heavy-handed. She asked anxiously, fearing she had hurt Lin Muwan.

Lin Muwan’s cheeks were burning red. She curled her fingers, tightly gripping the corner of her clothes. After taking a moment, she stood up, forcing a smile onto her face. “Mother, I’m going to make dinner.”

“Mhm, go on, go on,” Madam Jiang waved her hand, also feeling a bit overwhelmed by her daughter’s clinginess.

Jiang Zhou anxiously said, “Mother, how can you do this? My wife is still feeling unwell. How can you let her make dinner?”