I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 31.2

With Jiang Zhou blocking the door, Jiang Sheng’s roar quickly attracted the surrounding villagers. Several of the villagers who were on good terms with Jiang Zhou proactively stood in front of her, blocking the outsiders.

“Ah Zhou, don’t let outsiders watch the show. We are family. Let’s go inside and talk,” Jiang Decai said with a sullen face. He never expected to attract so many people, and those people were all taking Jiang Zhou’s side, which irritated him greatly.

When he kicked Jiang Zhou out of the Jiang family, he specifically found a few people to spread the news of Jiang Zhou’s lack of skills throughout the village.

His purpose was to tell others that it wasn’t him who wanted to kick Jiang Zhou out, but that Jiang Zhou had disgraced the family.

He never thought that in just one month, the villagers would all stand on Jiang Zhou’s side.

How could he not be angry?

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhou had no intention of letting them in. He beckoned and quietly instructed the servant next to him to go find the village chief.

With the village chief applying pressure, he didn’t believe these villagers would still take Jiang Zhou’s side.

Before long, the village chief hurried over, supported by a young man.

The young man was the village chief’s youngest son, who had also bought rabbits from Jiang Zhou and learned how to raise them. Hearing that something was going on at Jiang Zhou’s house, he dropped what he was doing and rushed over with the village chief.

“Old Master Jiang, what is this…” The village chief looked at Jiang Zhou, then at Old Master Jiang, and turned to ask.

Jiang Decai laughed heartily. “Village Chief, you came just in time. Look, I came to see my son. Although this son is not successful, as a father, how could I not miss my son? Could you ask the villagers to step back? We fathers and sons can’t talk with them watching.”

“You’re lying! It’s clear that he wants to bully Brother Jiang,” Zhang Tieniu angrily pointed at Jiang Sheng.

“Who are you? Does our family matter concern you?” Jiang Sheng glared at Zhang Tieniu.

Jiang Zhou looked at him and sneered. When she first transmigrated, she had no memory of the original owner and was inexplicably kicked out. They really thought she was a soft persimmon that they could pinch however they liked?

Fortunately, she had built up a good reputation in the village before. Otherwise, she would really be led by the nose by these people now.

At this moment, Jiang Zhou stepped forward, standing in front of Zhang Tieniu, her eyes red. “Brother Zhang, thank you, but please don’t get involved in this matter. We can’t afford to provoke them.”

“Brother Jiang…”

Jiang Zhou patted his shoulder, then turned to Old Master Jiang, choking back a sob. “Father, I know you don’t like me and Mother. You kicked us out of the Jiang family without even asking a single question. Mother and I just want to live peacefully now. We don’t want any more involvement with the Jiang family. We don’t want any of the Jiang family’s property. Isn’t that enough?”

After saying that, she vigorously wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Looking again, Jiang Zhou’s entire eyes were red, clearly looking like the one who had been severely bullied.

Sympathy for the weak is human nature. Today, she was going to use this to expose their true colors so they wouldn’t dare disturb their lives here again.

This continuous crying and complaining certainly caused an uproar among the villagers.

“Ah Zhou,” Mother Jiang said anxiously.

Jiang Zhou quickly pressed Mother Jiang’s hand, signaling her not to speak.

At this time, someone in the village said, “Listening to Brother Jiang, it sounds like there was a reason behind being kicked out of the Jiang family.”

“I knew it. How could someone like Brother Jiang be as they described? They must have deliberately slandered Brother Jiang.”

“I heard people talking when I was working in town that Old Master Jiang dotes on his concubine and neglects his wife.”

“Ah, what kind of person is that?”

The villagers’ comments, one after another, made Old Master Jiang’s face flush red.

He said in a deep voice, “Jiang Zhou, let’s go into the courtyard and talk.”

Jiang Zhou’s body trembled. She took a step back, vigilantly looking at Jiang Decai.

“What do you have to say that we can’t hear?”

“Exactly! Do you want to bully Brother Jiang again?”

Jiang Decai was almost furious. He looked at the village chief, hoping he would step forward and say something. When the village chief asked him to pay for road repairs in the village, he had contributed money. Unexpectedly, the village chief wouldn’t even look at him.

This old scoundrel, Jiang Decai really wanted to curse out loud at this moment.

Jiang Zhou continued to sob, “Father, Mother and I truly don’t want the Jiang family’s property. Give it all to Eldest Brother and the Second Mother. Truly, we don’t want it…”

“You—”

Jiang Decai felt a wave of dizziness. If this continued, his carefully maintained image would eventually be ruined by this unfilial son.

Why did he believe his eldest son today and come here to ask Jiang Zhou for the secret recipe? Not only did he not get the secret recipe, but he also made a fool of himself, making him look at his eldest son with displeasure.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Sheng jumped out again and pointed at Jiang Zhou. “Stop talking nonsense! Hand over the secret recipe for the stir-fried rabbit meat quickly. Maybe Father will still have some pity and won’t hold the past against you.”

Jiang Decai glared at Jiang Sheng, that idiot son.

“Secret recipe?” Jiang Zhou looked confused. “What secret recipe?”

“Stop pretending! I advise you to hand it over quickly.”

Jiang Zhou sniffled and looked towards Jiang Decai. “Father, I really don’t have a secret recipe now. You know I can’t do anything. I still have to support Mother and my wife. The one you are talking about was sold to the Mingpin Restaurant long ago.”

“What did you say?”

“What?”

Jiang Decai and Jiang Sheng questioned her simultaneously.

Jiang Zhou took a step back and looked at the village chief for help. At this point, the village chief also understood. These people had come for some secret recipe. He knew there was a reason why they suddenly wanted to visit Jiang Zhou.

Hmph! Insincere.

He stepped forward, cleared his throat, and said, “Alright, Ah Zhou has already said there is no secret recipe. Old Master Jiang, you should go ask that ‘what’s-it-called’ restaurant.”

Old Master Jiang choked, a breath stuck in his chest. Was the Mingpin Restaurant someone he could provoke?

That Miss Ming’s father was the county magistrate, not to mention she had the current Prime Minister’s Mansion as a backer. He gritted his teeth, glanced at Jiang Zhou, angrily flicked his sleeve, got into the carriage, and shamefully left amidst a chorus of curses.

Seeing them leave, the villagers gathered around.

“Brother Jiang, don’t worry. If they dare to come again, we’ll beat them out of the village.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

Jiang Zhou thanked the villagers with red eyes.

She moved everyone so much that tears welled up in their eyes. It took a while for them to disperse.

Jiang Zhou returned home and closed the door again. Mother Jiang looked sternly at her. Behind her were Mother Lin and Lin Muwan. Mother Lin’s face showed worry. She looked at Mother Jiang, then at Jiang Zhou who had just entered, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, showing no expression, but she was very worried inside.

“It’s alright, everything’s fine. Why are you all looking at me like that?” Jiang Zhou’s sad demeanor instantly changed. She smiled as she headed towards the kitchen.

“You stop right there.” Mother Jiang called out to her.

Jiang Zhou: “???”

She turned to look at Mother Jiang.

Mother Jiang said, “You explain clearly to me: how exactly did you lose your shop?”

She didn’t believe Jiang Zhou was bold enough to gamble away her shop. However, back then, Jiang Decai didn’t give them a chance to speak and immediately kicked them out of the Jiang family.

If what Jiang Zhou said just now was true, there must be a hidden story.

Mother Jiang clenched her hands into fists, her chest heaving up and down.

She already had a suspicion. She didn’t believe it was a coincidence that Jiang Zhou lost the shop one moment, and Old Master Jiang bought it back the next.

She wanted to hear it directly from Jiang Zhou.

“It was Jiang Sheng who set up the trap.”

As for whether Jiang Decai was involved, she didn’t know. The dream only gave her that much information.

“That despicable Jiang Sheng.” Mother Jiang gritted her teeth. “I won’t let them off.”

Jiang Zhou smiled. “Mother, what are you going to do?”

“Naturally, I’ll fight fire with fire.”Literally: “Of course, to return to them in the same way they treated others.”

Jiang Zhou’s eyes widened and brightened as she looked at Mother Jiang.

“Your maternal grandfather’s family still has some wealth. Tomorrow, you will come back with me,” she said, then walked towards the main hall.

Maternal grandfather’s family?

Jiang Zhou was bewildered. She recovered and quickly chased after her, asking, “Mother, if you had money, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Mother Jiang slapped her on the arm. “If I had told you earlier, wouldn’t you have squandered it all away again?”

“But you shouldn’t have hidden such a huge thing from me!”

Mother Jiang massaged her forehead, giving her a look that suggested she wasn’t very bright. “You already know, why do I need to say it?”

Jiang Zhou immediately felt guilty and subconsciously scratched her eyebrow. She really didn’t know about this.

There was no information about the original owner’s maternal grandfather’s family in the dream. Plus, her cheap mother hadn’t leaked any information since they were kicked out of the Jiang family so long ago, and she herself hadn’t thought in that direction.

Mother Jiang glanced at her and scolded, “Stop standing around. Hurry up and cook. It’s already dark.”

Jiang Zhou smiled and agreed, but didn’t leave immediately. Her expression turned serious. “Mother, I want to take revenge for this myself.”

Mother Jiang looked at her, her heart filled with relief. Her daughter had finally grown up.

“Alright. If you can’t handle it, remember to find me. Your uncle has been displeased with them for a long time.”

“Understood, Mother. I’ve noted that. Then I…” She pointed towards the kitchen. “I’ll go cook now.” With that, she walked happily towards the kitchen.

Seeing her so lively, Mother Jiang felt a momentary pang of nostalgia, as if Jiang Zhou was back to the way she was before she turned thirteen.

Jiang Zhou entered the kitchen and quickly put the half-finished steamed egg custard to steam. She also made some vegetable pancakes and stir-fried a light vegetable dish.

By the time she finished, the moon was rising, and a sudden wind started outside, howling against the door, making the windows rattle noticeably.

Lin Muwan couldn’t sit still in this situation. She got up and went to the courtyard. The small dog Jiang Zhou brought back was hiding somewhere in the courtyard.

She searched every corner. Just then, the kitchen door opened. Jiang Zhou held a plate in her hand, her brows furrowed.

Lin Muwan looked up, anxiously saying, “Afu is missing.”

Afu was the name they had given the dog.

“You go back inside first. I’ll look for it later.”

Before she could reply, Jiang Zhou quickly walked into the hall, set down the food, went to the room, grabbed a piece of clothing, and draped it over Lin Muwan. She held her hand; her fingertips were slightly cold. Jiang Zhou sighed and said gently, “The wind has picked up. Why did you come out? Afu isn’t stupid. It will naturally hide when it gets cold. See? You’ve been searching for a while and haven’t seen any sign of it. It’s probably already hidden somewhere.”

“It just arrived. I’m worried it might be scared.”

The cold wind howled, whipping against their bodies. In the moonless night, it was dark and gloomy. Jiang Zhou stepped forward and affectionately hugged her. “It will come out naturally when the wind stops tomorrow.”

Lin Muwan struggled a little, knowing that Jiang Zhou wouldn’t let go unless she went back inside, so she allowed her to hold her.

It was a rare moment to enjoy this warm affection.

Just then, a faint “Awoo, Awoo” sound came from the rabbit hutch.

Jiang Zhou froze, then burst into laughter. “See? I told you it wasn’t stupid.”