I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 32

The Jiang Family Tavern.

After returning from Jiang Village, Jiang Sheng felt continuously resentful, and his father, Old Master Jiang, had also blamed him for the incident there.

Ever since Ming Pin Lou (Bright Taste Restaurant) acquired the secret recipe, it had been packed with customers every day.

Jiang Sheng spat. If it weren’t for that Jiang Zhou, he wouldn’t be watching others with such envy now.

Damn it!

Jiang Sheng gritted his teeth, finding the thought of Jiang Zhou utterly foul.

With a heavy heart, he decided to go out for some fun. As soon as he stepped out of the tavern, he bumped into someone head-on.

He was about to lose his temper, but as he recognized the person, he realized the man who bumped into him was none other than Zhao San, one of the cooks at his own tavern.

When Zhao San saw that the person he had bumped into was Jiang Sheng, he quickly bowed and apologized, saying, “Young Master, I was in a hurry and accidentally ran into you. Please, Young Master, be lenient and don’t hold it against a humble man like me.”

“Get out of here!” Jiang Sheng lifted his leg and kicked Zhao San right in the stomach. Zhao San was sent flying and lay sprawled on the ground.

He couldn’t get up for a long time.

Everyone working for the Jiang family knew that while this Eldest Young Master Jiang looked amicable, he was actually narrow-minded and ruthless. The tavern staff were all worried for Zhao San.

After a long while, Zhao San finally climbed up from the ground, clutching his stomach, and whispered, “Young Master, please calm down. I… I know the secret recipe for the Spicy Fried Rabbit now.”

Jiang Sheng looked suspicious and asked, “Really?”

“Really, I…”

Before he could finish, Jiang Sheng gave him a look. “Go inside and talk.”

He then led Zhao San to the back hall. Sitting in a circular armchair, he took a sip of tea and asked, “Tell me what happened?”

“A few days ago, I asked a friend to inquire about the secret recipe. Just now, that friend met me outside to say he had obtained the recipe.”

“Oh? Is it reliable?”

“It is reliable. That friend of mine is actually my senior apprentice brother. Master only accepted the two of us as apprentices. He is in the back kitchen of Ming Pin Lou, and I came here. He risked a lot to pass this information to me this time.”

“The recipe?”

“It’s just that he risked being caught to get this recipe. He said…” Zhao San paused, looking hesitantly at Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng scoffed. He knew it was about money. He had seen too many people like this. Things that could be solved with money were the easiest. Impatiently, he asked, “How much?”

Zhao San tremblingly held up three fingers.

“Three hundred taels?”

“I-it’s three thousand taels.”

“What?” Jiang Sheng’s eyes widened. He roared, “Has he gone mad with greed?”

Zhao San swallowed, knowing Jiang Sheng’s temperament. If he messed this up, he wouldn’t have an easy life. He steeled himself and repeated exactly what his senior apprentice brother had said to Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng pondered for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, “Go tell him not to sell the recipe to anyone else yet. I will go raise the money.”

That afternoon, Jiang Zhou was humming a tune, carrying a huge sum of money. The smile on her face was impossible to suppress. She only had one goal in the county town: to shop, shop, shop.

She was hosting Lin Miao’s family of three, and the Miao butcher’s family, for the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner that evening. After shopping, she had to rush back. As she arrived at the door, she saw Lin Muwan standing there.

Her watery-green figure was graceful and elegant.

“Husband, you’re back.”

Jiang Zhou smiled as she approached Lin Muwan and took her hand. Her warm palm enveloped Lin Muwan’s icy fingertips. Jiang Zhou mischievously squeezed her fingers. “Yes. It’s cold; why did you come out?”

The cold wind had risen yesterday, and the autumn leaves in the village had fallen all over the ground, golden yellow, hinting at the chill of early winter.

In front of the courtyard gate, Lin Muwan lowered her head and gently pulled her hand back, a faint blush spreading across her face. “Mother and the others have been waiting for you for a long time.”

“I was delayed a bit by errands.” A cold wind blew, and Jiang Zhou wanted to take Lin Muwan’s hand again. Just then, Zhang Tieniu arrived with his wife and son. Lin Muwan, embarrassed, put her hands behind her back, blushed, glared at Jiang Zhou, and took a step back to maintain distance.

Jiang Zhou scratched her head, knowing she was shy. She didn’t press the matter. Glancing at the chicken Zhang Tieniu was holding, she said, “Why bring anything? Just coming is enough.”

“It’s a chicken we raised since spring. It’s the perfect time to eat it now.” Zhang Tieniu shook the chicken in his hand, handed it to Xinghua, and then went to help Jiang Zhou carry the things.

“Brother Jiang, why did you buy so much?”

Jiang Zhou chuckled, “I prepared gifts for everyone, and there’s one for you too.”

“I don’t need one.”

“Yes, you do. Our family owes a lot to Brother Zhang’s care here in Jiang Village.”

Zhang Tieniu was not one for polite conversation and just chuckled foolishly, looking at Jiang Zhou.

Jiang Zhou turned around and saw Lin Muwan pursing her lips and looking at her unhappily.

?!

She quickly said, “Hurry and move this. We still need to cook later.”

With that, she picked up the packaged gifts and ran into the courtyard.

She almost forgot her wife’s warning. Lin Muwan’s look just now was a little scary~

Jiang Zhou patted her chest, and as she passed by Lin Muwan, she deliberately brushed her arm, a gesture of apology and affection mixed in.

Almost everyone had arrived. The Miao butcher was the last one, carrying half a rack of pork ribs. Her skin was dark, and she was quite tall, very noticeable in the crowd, yet her appearance was refined.

She somewhat shyly handed the pork ribs to Jiang Zhou. Jiang Zhou discreetly observed her before taking the ribs and heading to the kitchen.

As there were many guests, the hall felt a bit crowded, so everyone moved the tables outside into the courtyard. Drinking and enjoying the moon there would be quite pleasant.

Today, the women gathered around the courtyard to chat, while the men were responsible for cooking in the kitchen. Of course, Jiang Zhou and Jiang Miao had always presented themselves as men, so they were naturally in charge of dinner. As for Zhang Tieniu, being clumsy, he could only manage the fire.

Jiang Zhou was skilled at cooking, and Jiang Miao helped as her assistant. In no time, a table full of dishes was ready.

The aroma was overflowing, making the food very appetizing.

“Uncle Zhou, your food is so delicious.” Jiang Ziqin had a sweet mouth. After one bite, she knew it wasn’t her father’s cooking and immediately praised Jiang Zhou.

“My dad cooked too!” Zhang Xiaoniu protested, unconvinced.

“Hmph, your dad only knows how to build a fire. I saw it just now.”

“You, you,” Zhang Xiaoniu was sulking, stomped his foot. His father really only built the fire. He was upset but couldn’t find a retort. He burst out crying with a “Wah!”

???

Jiang Ziqin glanced at him and made a triumphant face.

Little kid.

Jiang Ziqin classified all children younger than her as little kids, and she particularly disliked Zhang Xiaoniu, who was rough and always dirty. He hadn’t even washed his hands before eating, which she couldn’t stand.

Seeing Zhang Xiaoniu cry, Xinghua quickly hugged him to comfort him, while Zhang Tieniu laughed foolishly.

As for Jiang Ziqin, who had won the argument, Mu Liyan glared at her. Her head throbbed slightly. Her daughter was good in every way, but she seemed to have inherited her husband’s fastidiousness and compulsiveness. She had learned these terms from Ming Zhiqing.

What would she do in the future?

Jiang Zhou quickly stepped in to mediate when the child cried. She put a piece of meat in Jiang Ziqin’s bowl and another in Zhang Xiaoniu’s, showing no favoritism. Zhang Xiaoniu, who had been sobbing loudly moments ago, stopped crying and started eating the meat, his mouth and hands becoming greasy in no time.

Jiang Ziqin frowned in disgust. Fearing her mother would get angry, she didn’t say anything this time. Instead, she turned to chat with Mother Jiang and Mother Lin like a little adult.

Jiang Ziqin was very sweet-spoken, and in a short while, both grandmothers adored her.

Jiang Zhou was smiling, but feeling glum inside. She secretly glanced at Lin Muwan. Her skin was fair as snow, her eyes were bright like autumn water, and her hair was neatly pinned up at the back of her head, radiating a naturally aloof elegance. Even if their daughter wouldn’t be as unforgettable a beauty as Lin Muwan, she wouldn’t be far off.

But Lin Muwan…

She suppressed the urge to share the news. Ever since Lin Muwan asked her to keep it a secret, Jiang Zhou had felt uneasy, but she endured it. After all, the baby was in Lin Muwan’s womb, and she had the right to decide the child’s fate.

Fortunately, Lin Muwan hadn’t brought up the matter again.

After the meal began, Jiang Zhou poured wine for everyone. It was fruit wine brought back from the official kilns. The children drank milk.

Everyone was busy talking and didn’t notice her actions. Jiang Zhou discreetly replaced Lin Muwan’s wine with milk as well.

She leaned in and whispered, “You can’t drink. I’ll drink for you.”

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, said nothing, and looked down at the milky white liquid in the wine cup, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curving up.

After a moment, she quietly murmured an acknowledgment.

She wasn’t sure if Jiang Zhou heard it.

The Miao butcher sat beside Mother Jiang, occasionally helping her with food. If there was a dish Mother Jiang couldn’t reach, she would use her long reach to put it in her bowl.

Jiang Zhou silently observed from the side. Mother Jiang looked blissfully happy, leaning slightly against the Miao butcher.

Heh.

Jiang Zhou pouted, unable to watch. She didn’t expect her cheap mother to be like this when in love.

It was unbearable to look at.

The full moon of the fifteenth day was round, like a large platter hanging in the dark sky, dotted with a few scattered stars, casting a layer of silver on the small village in the pitch black of night.

By the end of the drinking, everyone was slightly tipsy. Mother Jiang brought out the mooncakes she had prepared earlier from the kitchen, cut into small triangular pieces.

The children loved them the most. As soon as the mooncakes appeared, Zhang Xiaoniu immediately grabbed a piece and started eating. Jiang Ziqin looked at him with disdain. Finally, she took a mooncake from the plate, distributed one to everyone, and then carefully picked up a piece for herself and took small bites.

Too well-behaved!

Jiang Ziqin’s good behavior once again sparked a wave of jealousy in Jiang Zhou.

Coupled with the effect of the wine, her mind was a little sluggish. She gazed mournfully at Lin Muwan, then suddenly embraced her and started crying with a pout.

Lin Muwan was startled, her jade-white cheeks instantly flushing. She quickly tried to push her away. “Wife, wife…”

Jiang Zhou mumbled in a low voice.

Why can’t anyone know she’s pregnant?

Why not?

At this moment, with the alcohol taking effect, Jiang Zhou couldn’t suppress her feelings of grievance. But she still remembered Lin Muwan’s request for secrecy, so she kept calling out “wife.”

Mother Jiang massaged her forehead. “Wanwan, take her back to the room. How can she be so drunk after just one cup?”

“Ah, you should brew a bowl of hangover soup for her. Otherwise, she’ll have a terrible headache when she wakes up,” said Mother Lin.

Mu Liyan got up to help but was stopped by Jiang Miao gently pressing her hand. She said softly, “You stay with Ziqin, I’ll go brew the hangover soup.”

She stood up and reached out to support Jiang Zhou. Jiang Zhou was muttering, and with a slap sound, she hit Jiang Miao’s hand. She re-wrapped her arms around Lin Muwan’s waist, hunched over, her steps unsteady, and her body swayed but stabilized. She buried her face in Lin Muwan’s shoulder.

She wouldn’t let anyone come near. If anyone approached, she would bare her teeth. The atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly fell silent. Lin Muwan, blushing, had no choice but to support her, and seeing everyone’s speechless expressions, her heart tightened. She didn’t know how to resolve the awkwardness for a moment.

Finally, Mother Jiang massaged her forehead and coughed twice, which broke the silence.

Lin Muwan, simultaneously comforting Jiang Zhou and dragging her, moved toward the kitchen. As soon as her front foot stepped inside the door, the door abruptly closed from the inside.

Jiang Miao stood outside the door for a moment, then sheepishly said, “Maybe she doesn’t need hangover soup.”

It was getting late. After dinner and moon-gazing, everyone gradually dispersed.

“Sit properly. Don’t move.”

Lin Muwan pressed her down onto the edge of the bed and gently pulled her arms from around her waist. Jiang Zhou tried to hug her again. Lin Muwan said, “Don’t move.”

Jiang Zhou pouted, looked up at her, her peach blossom eyes clear as if washed by water.

“I’m scared,” she said.

“I won’t leave. I’ll just stay here and make you some hangover soup.”

“I’m scared.” She became tearful. The fruit wine had a strong kick. Her mind was completely unclear now. She only remembered traveling through time by herself, facing a strange environment, and never being able to see her family again. The fear in her heart was magnified infinitely.

Her crying grew louder.

Lin Muwan closed her eyes and slowly approached, holding her again. Jiang Zhou’s cheek was pressed against her stomach. The warm breath passed through the thin fabric onto her skin, making her face flush crimson.

After a long time, the person in her arms finished crying and quieted down. Lin Muwan finally got up and lit a candle. The bright light instantly chased away the darkness. She turned her head to look. The person was sitting obediently on the edge of the bed, her gaze bewildered.