I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 27.1

Jiang Zhou raised her voice, which was urgent. She carried Mother Lin on her back off the carriage and knocked frantically on the courtyard door. After a moment, the door opened from the inside, and the clear and beautiful face of Lin Muwan appeared in her sight.

As soon as Lin Muwan saw the person on Jiang Zhou’s back, her eyes immediately reddened, and her voice trembled slightly: “Mother.”

No sooner had she spoken than tears started to stream down her face.

Looking at Mother Lin, who was still and unmoving, Lin Muwan choked up, clutching Jiang Zhou’s arm, and asked tremulously, “Jiang Zhou, Mother, she…”

She covered her mouth with one hand, unable to ask the rest, her eyes fixed on Jiang Zhou.

Seeing her distress, Jiang Zhou’s heart tightened with sympathy. She said gently, “Wife, Mother-in-law is fine. Didn’t I tell you yesterday? Let’s go inside first.”

Lin Muwan pursed her lips and stepped aside to let them in. Jiang Zhou rushed inside, with Jiang Miao following closely behind, carrying the medicine box.

“Close the door,” Jiang Zhou called back to the person behind her.

As she spoke, she was already inside the inner room. The house only had two rooms. Without hesitation, Jiang Zhou carried Mother Lin into her own room and placed her on the bed. Jiang Miao took down the medicine box, and Jiang Zhou skillfully held down Mother Lin’s arms. Glancing at Lin Muwan, who was standing behind them, weeping uncontrollably, she gritted her teeth and said, “Both of you, please leave.”

Lin Muwan bit her lip and shook her head, her gaze fixed on her mother.

The room fell silent. Jiang Zhou’s brows were tightly furrowed.

Her tone was firm and brooked no refusal: “Out!”

Lin Muwan was startled. She stared at Jiang Zhou, remained silent for a long moment, but still shook her head, refusing to leave.

Mother Jiang, seeing her daughter-in-law’s distress, shot a glare at Jiang Zhou. Realizing her daughter’s serious expression and knowing she didn’t want Lin Muwan here, she took Lin Muwan’s hand. “Let’s go outside and wait. Don’t worry, your mother will be fine with A-Zhou here.”

Seeing Lin Muwan still hesitate, Mother Jiang couldn’t help but sigh. They were both stubborn, and she had to step in at critical moments.

She pulled Lin Muwan and led her out.

Inside, she worried for her daughter: You’ve offended your wife; you’ll have to coax her later.

As soon as they left, Jiang Zhou nodded to Jiang Miao, “Start.”

What needed to be done this time was to remove the festering, dead tissue from Mother Lin’s crushed leg. Jiang Miao had already explained this to Jiang Zhou in the carriage, noting that the sight would be gruesome.

Jiang Zhou felt protective of Lin Muwan, knowing that seeing such a sight would surely make her feel guilt, so she naturally wouldn’t let her stay.

Jiang Miao took powder from the medicine box and sprinkled it on the ulcerated area of the calf. He lit a candle and sterilized a small knife over the flame. Once the anesthetic took effect, he began scraping away the dead flesh, layer by layer, with the knife. Despite the anesthetic, Mother Lin still cried out in pain, waking up only to faint again.

Jiang Zhou’s nerves were strained, not daring to relax for a moment.

Half an hour later, Jiang Miao wrapped the wound with white gauze, re-fixed the broken limb, and then, taking a breath, said, “It’s done.”

Jiang Zhou released Mother Lin and collapsed onto the ground; her forehead beaded with sweat. She said, “Thank you.”

Jiang Miao paused. “It’s still the same—whether she pulls through depends entirely on her.” He said this while packing his medicine box. Finally, he handed Jiang Zhou a small white porcelain bottle. “Remember to apply the medicine on time every day. I’ll have an apprentice bring the decoction over this afternoon. Make sure she takes it.”

Jiang Zhou replied, “I will.”

Jiang Miao nodded, slung the medicine box over his back, and opened the door. Lin Muwan, who had been waiting outside, rushed in immediately. She stood beside Jiang Zhou, pursed her lips, glanced at the bandaged calf, then looked at her mother, whose face was pale and eyes were tightly closed. She choked out, “Mother.”

She suppressed her sobs, her shoulders shaking, and finally covered her face with her hands, the muffled sound of weeping escaping between her palms—a sound of suppressed, restrained grief.

Jiang Zhou’s heart twisted. She got up from the floor and embraced Lin Muwan. Faced with the tears of the one she loved, Jiang Zhou’s heart melted completely, making her feel she could face even utter damnation for her.

With the soft, warm beauty in her arms, Jiang Zhou comforted her gently: “It’s alright, don’t worry. Jiang Miao said she will wake up once the anesthetic wears off.”

Jiang Zhou gently removed Lin Muwan’s hands, cupped her face, and brushed away her tears with her thumb. Then, with a protective fondness, she quickly kissed her forehead.

Mother Jiang, who had quietly followed them in, witnessed the scene. Her eyes widened, and she gasped. Good heavens! She almost wanted to give her daughter a thumbs-up on the spot.

She quietly backed out of the room and closed the door.

She left the space to the young couple.

My old eyes have to suffer this kind of sight! What a sin, what a sin!

Although the sound of the door closing was soft, it startled Lin Muwan. Her face flushed, and she pushed Jiang Zhou away, sitting down on the edge of the bed to focus all her attention on her mother.

“Wife.”

“I want to stay with Mother for a while. You go out first.”

“Oh.” Jiang Zhou pursed her lips and left the room, looking back three times as she went. As she stepped out, she came face-to-face with Mother Jiang. They exchanged glances, then immediately looked away, with a tacit understanding.

Only after Jiang Zhou left the room did Lin Muwan’s heart stabilize. Composing herself, she closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her gaze had regained its clarity.

Only this heart of mine is left to protect.

Mother Lin woke up about half an hour later. The moment she opened her eyes and saw Lin Muwan, all the pent-up feelings of longing, fear, and anxiety surged up at once. The mother and daughter embraced and wept together.

After venting their emotions, both women calmed down. “Wanwan, you must have suffered a lot these past few days.”

Lin Muwan shook her head. “I’m fine, Mother. Your daughter has been doing well.”

Both knew what the other meant but tacitly avoided mentioning Jiang Zhou.

One felt for her daughter—judging by her daughter’s married woman’s hairstyle, what was there left not to understand?

And if that person was not connected to her daughter, why would she risk her life to save her?

Her daughter had high standards. Back in the capital, countless young men from prestigious families came to propose, but her daughter rejected them all. Yet now, she had to resign herself to this country bumpkin.

It wasn’t that she looked down on Jiang Zhou, but compared to those men, it felt like a great injustice to her daughter.

The other was utterly confused, not knowing how to introduce Jiang Zhou.

Both were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

The mother and daughter avoided discussing the recent tribulations, chatting about everyday life. Time quickly passed to noon. A knock came from outside the door: “Wife.”

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, sighed softly, got up, and opened the door. She saw Jiang Zhou holding a tray of food, grinning broadly at her like a fool. “Wife, you and Mother-in-law must have a lot to talk about. I’ve brought the food for you. You can eat in the room.”

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, met a pair of clear eyes, tightened her grip slightly, and, lowering her gaze, silently accepted the food.

Knowing that she had finally reunited with her mother and the two must have a lot to say, Jiang Zhou habitually scratched her forehead, her eyes bright, revealing a row of white teeth. “You eat. If you need anything, call me. I’ll be in the yard.”

“Mm.” Lin Muwan nodded. Her mind was in turmoil, but she showed nothing on her face, lowering her eyes as she carried the food into the room.

Jiang Zhou waved at her, thoughtfully closing the door for them.

“Is it her?” Mother Lin pondered for a moment, looking at the steaming food, and finally couldn’t help but ask.

She had worried about her daughter constantly these past days. She had heard from the people at the kiln that the bought women, if lucky, went to rich families as concubines. Those with good looks were sold to brothels. Her daughter was exceptionally beautiful. How could she not feel guilty and worried?

Seeing her now, and the sight of the hot food, she finally couldn’t hold back the question that had been weighing on her heart.

Lin Muwan knew her mother felt guilty. She set the food on the bed and smiled. “She treats your daughter very well. Didn’t you see?”

She subconsciously concealed Jiang Zhou’s past behavior.

Mother Lin nodded, unsure if her daughter was lying. She kept her gaze on her face for a moment, and seeing that her daughter looked normal, she finally felt relieved.

The family only had two bedrooms: one for Mother Jiang and the other for Jiang Zhou and Lin Muwan.

With a new person arriving—and it being Lin Muwan’s mother—Jiang Zhou naturally ceded the room to them. She moved the old bed from the thatched hut into the kitchen. She could sleep in the kitchen at night, and since it was getting colder, she could also start the dilong (heated brick bed) and add charcoal more easily. The only drawback was not being able to hold her fragrant wife while sleeping.

Jiang Zhou felt a moment of wistful melancholy.

But then she thought, Lin Muwan had finally reunited with her mother, so a little sacrifice on her part was nothing. However, she still needed to start planning to build another room. Luckily, she had applied for a large plot of land for the homestead; otherwise, things would be difficult.

That day, Jiang Zhou told Mother Jiang about her plan to build another house. Mother Jiang agreed without hesitation, taking a pair of jade bracelets from her room and handing them to her. “Build the house bigger. Don’t let them feel wronged.”

Jiang Zhou took the bracelets and played with them in her hands. The jade was smooth and delicate to the touch, and the floating patterns were beautiful. It clearly looked very valuable.

She hadn’t expected her cheap mother to have such a valuable item hidden away.

“Mother, I’ll go to the county town tomorrow. I’m sure I can sell these for a good price.”

No sooner had she spoken than she received a slap on the head. Mother Jiang glared at her, full of anger. If she hadn’t been afraid of Mother Lin hearing, she would have yelled. “Your mother has been sharp all her life. How could I have given birth to a fool like you?”

Jiang Zhou held her head and pouted.

Seeing her reaction, Mother Jiang gave Jiang Zhou’s leg another angry kick, an expression of exasperation. Jiang Zhou immediately switched to holding her leg, looking wronged. Why is she hitting me?

“I meant for you to give this to your wife. I’ve wanted to give them to you for a while, but I was afraid you’d gamble them away, so I kept them safe. And here you are, thinking about selling my family heirloom bracelets.”

Jiang Zhou was truly wronged. How was she supposed to know? She mentioned building a house, and her cheap mother immediately gave her a pair of bracelets—who wouldn’t think that?

She took the bracelets.

“If you want to build a house, figure it out yourself. If I find out you dare to touch these bracelets, you’ll see how I’ll deal with you.” Mother Jiang didn’t forget to threaten her before going back into the house.

Jiang Zhou froze for a moment, then pouted and tucked the bracelets into her clothes.

She turned and went out, borrowing Zhang Tieniu’s ox-cart and heading into the mountains to cut firewood.