I Transmigrated and Already Had a Wife - Chapter 5

After breakfast, Lin Muwan gave Jiang Zhou two slightly larger silver ingots and one smaller one. Jiang Zhou looked at the silver in her hand, unable to stop the twitching of her mouth. She stared blankly for a long while. Seeing her reaction, Lin Muwan thought she found it too little and couldn’t help but sneer inwardly, ‘Sure enough, still the same.’ Handing the silver to her last night was just a show; after only one night, she couldn’t help but reveal her true colors.

Lin Muwan closed her eyes, handing over all the remaining money in her hand. Jiang Zhou withdrew her hand and said, “Aren’t we going together?”

“Hmm?” Lin Muwan was taken aback. Their eyes simultaneously fell on the purse in Lin Muwan’s hand, one pair filled with confusion and a hint of apprehension, the other with tightly knitted brows.

Could I have guessed wrong?

Lin Muwan pursed her lips, and after a moment, she retracted the purse, smiling as she said, “My husband is right. There are many things to buy; how can I let my husband go alone?”

What the heck?

Jiang Zhou stepped forward and solemnly shoved all the silver back into Lin Muwan’s hand. “The silver should still be kept by my wife.”

She did want to manage the money, but the key was that she didn’t recognize the currency!

If she got ripped off, she wouldn’t even know it.

Who knows if they specifically target outsiders? It was safest to take Lin Muwan along.

Jiang Zhou mused to herself.

Seeing Lin Muwan remain silent, she added, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m strong, so I won’t let you carry things. I was afraid you’d be bored here and thought we could go out for a walk together.” Jiang Zhou’s voice was a little loud, unable to conceal her nervousness.

Lin Muwan stared at her for a while, wondering what she was plotting now. Her lips were tightly sealed, and she clutched the purse, putting it back into her sleeve pocket.

They greeted Madam Jiang, who, worried about running into acquaintances, decided not to go out. Thus, Jiang Zhou and Lin Muwan rented an ox cart at the village entrance. It was harvesting season, and the villagers were busy, so there were only the two of them on the cart.

“The road is bumpy, little brother, little miss, hold on tight.” The old man shouted, cracking the bullwhip. The ox cart creaked and rattled.

It was Lin Muwan’s first time riding this kind of vehicle. She didn’t hold on properly for a moment, and her body lost its balance, leaning forward and falling into Jiang Zhou’s arms, her hands pressing against Jiang Zhou’s shoulders, her nose brushing against Jiang Zhou’s chin.

A faint fragrance wafted toward her. Jiang Zhou’s fingers, gripping the handrail, tightened, and her body instantly stiffened. Her heart pounded wildly, and she swallowed hard, her throat bobbing up and down as she lowered her eyes to stare at Lin Muwan’s.

The pair of eyes were shimmering with moisture.

Jiang Zhou’s heart clenched.

So beautiful.

Lin Muwan also recovered from her surprise at this moment. Her face slightly flushed, she sat back in her original seat, turning her head to look forward, as if nothing had happened.

She didn’t even say thank you.

Jiang Zhou pouted, her gaze falling on Lin Muwan’s slightly reddened ear tips. As if having discovered a shocking secret, her previously disappointed mood instantly became cheerful, and her eyes sparkled.

So she was shy, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Lin Muwan frowned, glanced at her, and continued to stare straight ahead, but inwardly she thought, ‘Scoundrel.’

Seeing that Lin Muwan was ignoring her, Jiang Zhou started chatting with the old cart driver. Only then did she learn that the old man was also from the Jiang family village. Being too old for farm work, he had handed over the family’s fields to his son and daughter-in-law to cultivate and had started this carting business himself.

Along the way, she gathered a lot of information about the Jiang family village from the old man, such as which family’s wife was shrewish, who had given birth to a son, and so on…

In any case, she gained some understanding of the people in Jiang family village, so it wasn’t a total loss.

Jiang Zhou consoled herself, ‘We’re all in the same village now, we’ll see each other often. Maybe this information will come in handy later.’

The ox cart stopped in front of a tavern in town. The old man said, “If you want to go back, you can find me at the tavern. I have to help the boss deliver a cart of wine later.”

Jiang Zhou nodded, got off the ox cart, put her hands on her hips, and swayed left and right. The bumpy journey had made her back and waist ache.

This mode of transportation is truly indescribable. If I ever get rich, I must buy a horse carriage.

Lin Muwan watched her unseemly movements, her brows tightly furrowed. She truly couldn’t understand how a young woman could make such a movement.

Suddenly, she realized, What’s impossible? I forgot for a moment. Someone like Jiang Zhou wouldn’t care about propriety. A brothel, a gambling den—where is the place for a respectable woman?

A sneer arose in her heart.

Although she didn’t know what Jiang Zhou was plotting now, once her goal was achieved, she would reveal her true colors and find ways to torment her again.

Thinking of this, her eyes dimmed, and she silently followed behind Jiang Zhou, looking submissive and resigned.

Although the town was small, there were many shops lining the streets. It was Jiang Zhou’s first-time shopping in such a place, and the surprise on her face was unconcealed. She stopped at a peddler’s stall; her eyes fixed on a silver hairpin. The hairpin was exquisite, with two peach blossoms carved at the end, the craftsmanship unique. She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, ‘The craftsmanship of the ancients is truly not inferior to the modern day.’

If this hairpin was worn on Lin Muwan’s head, it would surely be beautiful. She secretly glanced at Lin Muwan’s placid face, which showed no emotion, and immediately felt bored. She had overthought things again.

A slight disappointment arose in her heart.

Just then, someone clapped her on the shoulder. Jiang Zhou turned around, and a man stood behind her, richly dressed, with a lewd smile on his face. He opened his folding fan and fanned himself. “Yo, were you really kicked out by your dad? I heard Zhang Jun and the others talking about it yesterday, but I didn’t believe it. Seeing you today, tsk~”

The man’s gaze swept over her, a look of schadenfreude on his face.

Jiang Zhou was instantly disgusted by this suddenly appearing man. Adhering to the principle of avoiding trouble, she ignored him, took Lin Muwan’s hand, and was about to leave.

Unexpectedly, the man stepped in front of her. “Don’t go. We’re still friends, aren’t we? Seeing you down and out, it breaks my brotherly heart. Of course, I’ll help in any way I can.”

He was certain that Jiang Zhou would beg him for help. With Jiang Zhou’s temperament, how could she be used to a difficult life? If she begged him, wouldn’t he be able to call all the shots?

Thinking this, his gaze couldn’t help but fix on Lin Muwan, revealing a greedy expression.

Lin Muwan’s heart sank. She took a step back. She recognized this person; he was one of Jiang Zhou’s unsavory friends. When she was in the Jiang mansion, this person would occasionally use the pretense of looking for Jiang Zhou to try and take liberties with her. Jiang Zhou knew clearly what was happening but would always laugh it off, and afterwards, she would even blame Lin Muwan for seducing her friends.

Now that Jiang Zhou had been kicked out of the Jiang family, if this man demanded her from Jiang Zhou, Jiang Zhou would definitely sell her for money. She was instantly plunged into despair.

Jiang Zhou noticed her sudden distress, frowned, tightened her grip on Lin Muwan’s hand, and shielded her behind her. Just based on the way he was looking at Lin Muwan, she already felt the urge to punch him.

Zhao Wencheng saw how closely she was guarding Lin Muwan, and his jealousy flared up. In the past, Jiang Zhou rarely refuted anything he said. She could even tolerate him flirting with her wife right in front of her. Now, like a stray dog, he certainly couldn’t tolerate Jiang Zhou resisting him. Gritting his teeth, he said, “What? After a few days, you don’t even want to be friends anymore? My treat today, I’ll buy you a drink.”

Saying that, he reached past Jiang Zhou, trying to grab Lin Muwan’s hand. Jiang Zhou immediately clamped onto his wrist, gripping it like an iron vise.

Jiang Zhou looked up, staring intently at him. Although she usually avoided trouble, she was certainly not someone to be bullied. She could tolerate two insults directed at her, but if he started having ideas about Lin Muwan, he shouldn’t blame her for being rude.

“Jiang Zhou, are you crazy?” Zhao Wencheng widened his eyes, staring at Jiang Zhou in disbelief, thinking that the person in front of him was still the Jiang Zhou he could manipulate. “Are you going to fall out with your brother over a woman?” he said.

“Brother? Pfft!” Jiang Zhou kicked him in the leg. Zhao Wencheng instantly dropped to one knee. “Who’s your brother?”

“How dare you lay a hand on me? I’m the young master of the Zhao mansion! Do you think you still have the Jiang family backing you up? I advise you to let go of me immediately.”

Jiang Zhou didn’t bother with further nonsense, applying a little more force to her hand. Zhao Wencheng immediately cried out in pain and collapsed onto the ground. Seeing this, the servants behind him rushed forward to rescue their master. How could Jiang Zhou let them easily take him away? She raised a leg and kicked the approaching man down.

Now, both master and servant were lying on the ground, wailing.

Jiang Zhou was a world Sanda champion and had never lost a fight. Even Zhao Wencheng and his servants combined weren’t enough to challenge her.

Today, she simply wasn’t in the mood; otherwise, she would have taught them a proper lesson.

Jiang Zhou shook her fist at them. “Dare to provoke me again, and watch out for my fist.”

Zhao Wencheng and his group were terrified and repeatedly backed away. As a rich dissolute, he had never been beaten before. Now his legs felt weak. If his servants hadn’t helped him up, he would probably still be paralyzed on the ground.

He hadn’t expected Jiang Zhou to be serious, with such vicious force. He was genuinely afraid he might have been crippled by Jiang Zhou just now. Of course, he wouldn’t admit he was afraid of her. He stretched his neck and shouted, “Jiang Zhou, you just wait, I’ll settle this score with you sooner or later.”

After saying that, the two servants dragged him away and ran.

Jiang Zhou pouted. “Alright, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”

She turned around, showing a carefree smile, her bright eyes fixed on Lin Muwan.

Lin Muwan took a moment to compose herself. Just now, she was genuinely afraid that Jiang Zhou would sell her to someone else for money. That fear still occupied her heart. Fortunately, the person didn’t do that and even stood up for her. For a moment, she couldn’t describe her feelings.

She stared back at Jiang Zhou blankly. After a while, she nodded, lowered her eyelids, her heart stirred with emotion. She pinched her fingers, suppressing any inappropriate feelings, intending to continue following behind Jiang Zhou. But then, that person surprisingly reached out and took her hand, walking side by side with her.

Walking side by side—this had never happened before. In Jiang Zhou’s mind, she was not worthy.

Lin Muwan looked at their clasped hands, lost in thought, a sense of unprecedented security welling up in her heart.

“Do you know where they sell bedding?” Jiang Zhou scratched her head, interrupting her thoughts.

Lin Muwan snapped back to reality, turned her head to look at her, frowned tightly, and after a moment, shook her head.

“You don’t know either? Then let’s go ask around.”

“Okay.”

Lin Muwan glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, a doubt lingering in her mind. Although she didn’t know martial arts, she had previously seen the family guards practice. Jiang Zhou’s movements just now when she struck the man—every move and form was clearly professionally trained. How could an ordinary person’s fighting, dodging, and punching be so fluid?

When she first married Jiang Zhou, and Jiang Zhou tried to force herself upon her, she resisted fiercely. During their struggle, Jiang Zhou’s strength was not great; she was even pushed away in the end. But what about just now?

Unless she wasn’t Jiang Zhou, but how could that be possible?

At this moment, she wished her conjecture was true, that this person was not Jiang Zhou. Then she could justifiably hate Jiang Zhou instead of feeling so conflicted here.

At this time, Jiang Zhou stopped a woman. “Sister-in-law, excuse me, is there a cloth shop nearby?”

The woman pointed ahead. “Just keep walking down this street and turn at the intersection.”

“Thank you.” Jiang Zhou was delighted, quickly offering her thanks. Unbeknownst to her, her unusual words and actions were all observed by Lin Muwan.