My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 3

“It’s you?” Cheng Yi froze completely after recognizing the face beneath her.

Lu Jiahe, still dizzy from being hit by a large potato, furrowed her brows at the other’s words. “You could you get off first? I can’t breathe.”

Hearing this, Cheng Yi blinked at the person beneath her before realizing she was currently sprawled on top of Lu Jiahe.

Pursing her lips to hide her embarrassment, she climbed off Lu Jiahe, only to stumble and fall back onto the ground moments after standing up.

The dazed Lu Jiahe turned her head to look at Cheng Yi, who was sitting on the ground rubbing her ankle, unsure of what to say. She reached up, pulled the potato off her neck, tossed it aside, wiped the dirt from her face, and took a moment to steady herself before walking over to Cheng Yi.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Jiahe asked, rubbing her forehead as she spoke. She could clearly feel a large bump forming there.

Cheng Yi massaged her ankle while sitting on the ground. “I twisted it.”

Lu Jiahe frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Can you still walk?”

“I just need to rest for a bit.” Cheng Yi winced as she kneaded her ankle, mentally blaming the person in front of her for all the misfortune of coming up the mountain to harvest potatoes at night and getting injured. If it hadn’t been for the altercation with Lu Jiahe and her group that morning, she wouldn’t have had to come out so late.

Lu Jiahe crouched down and rubbed the bump on her forehead. “Where do you live? I can carry you back.”

“No need.” Cheng Yi was sulking and had no intention of engaging with Lu Jiahe.

Kind-hearted by nature, Lu Jiahe glanced up. It wasn’t safe for a woman to walk alone at night, especially with an injured foot. “I’ll carry you back,” she insisted, stepping forward and reaching out to help Cheng Yi up.

“I said no!” Cheng Yi angrily grabbed another large potato from beside her and hurled it at Lu Jiahe.

Having just been walloped by a potato, Lu Jiahe now had a headache just looking at them. She clumsily dodged the projectile. “It’s so late. What if something happens to you on the way back?”

Cheng Yi paused, puzzled. Earlier that day, Lu Jiahe had fled from her in a panic. Why was she now offering to take her home?

Noticing Cheng Yi’s strange stare, Lu Jiahe worried she might be mistaken for some kind of villain.

“I just thought it’s too dark, and the outskirts are dangerous. Plus, your foot is hurt. That’s why I offered. If you don’t want me to, I’ll just head home.”

After a moment of hesitation, Cheng Yi finally said, “Then help me gather the potatoes first. I still need to sell them tomorrow.”

Lu Jiahe sighed deeply before standing up and taking the basket from Cheng Yi, picking up the scattered potatoes one by one.

“Carry this. I’ll carry you.” Once she had helped Cheng Yi up, Lu Jiahe slung the basket of potatoes over Cheng Yi’s shoulders, then crouched in front of her, waiting for her to climb on.

Balancing on one foot, Cheng Yi smoothed out her wrinkled clothes before leaning forward and settling onto Lu Jiahe’s back.

“Whoa!”

The slender Lu Jiahe exhaled sharply under the sudden weight. Gritting her teeth, she hooked her arms under Cheng Yi’s legs and hoisted her up.

“Where’s your home? Is it far from here?” Lu Jiahe had been carrying the woman on her back for half a mile without hearing a word from her. A vague suspicion began to form in her mind. Perhaps the woman was toying with her because of what happened earlier that day.

Cheng Yi, who had her arms wrapped around Lu Jiahe’s neck, lifted her head at the question and replied, “Just keep going straight ahead, then turn right at the intersection.”

“Oh.” Lu Jiahe adjusted Cheng Yi’s position on her back and continued walking toward her home.

The two of them stopped and started along the way, and it took them half an hour to finally reach the wooden hut Cheng Yi rented near the city gate.

“Alright, you can put me down now. I’ll get the key to unlock the door.” Cheng Yi loosened her grip around Lu Jiahe’s shoulders and gave them a light pat.

Lu Jiahe exhaled deeply before crouching down to let the woman safely step off her back.

Cheng Yi hopped on one foot to the side, setting down the bamboo basket filled with potatoes, then pulled the key from her pocket and unlocked the door.

Standing nearby, Lu Jiahe pressed her lips together, watching Cheng Yi’s every move carefully, afraid the woman might notice she had been staring as she retrieved the key.

“Come in.” After tucking the key away, Cheng Yi lifted the basket again and leaned against the doorframe to hobble inside.

Seeing this, Lu Jiahe grew uneasy and quickly stepped forward to support her, guiding her into the house.

“Thank you.” Cheng Yi glanced sideways at Lu Jiahe before pointing to a stool beside the water vat. “Put me there.”

Lu Jiahe followed her direction, helping her settle onto the stool before asking, “It’s so late! Aren’t you going to rest in your room?”

Cheng Yi grabbed a ladle and stretched to scoop water from the vat into a wooden bucket. “It’s still early. I have work to finish, or else what will I sell tomorrow? How will I earn my living?”

Lu Jiahe stood silently beside her, watching as Cheng Yi took all the potatoes from the bamboo basket and began washing and peeling them in the bucket. Finally, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity. “Aren’t you selling potatoes? Why peel them?”

Cheng Yi pursed her lips, thinking to herself, Why is this ancient person so nosy? What’s she doing lingering in my house so late?

“I’m selling mashed potatoes, not raw ones,” she answered irritably.

“Mashed potatoes? What’s that?” Lu Jiahe, always eager to learn about new things, perked up with interest. She adjusted her long robe and crouched beside Cheng Yi, looking at her with innocent curiosity.

“You’ve never had them?” Cheng Yi tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. She had been selling mashed potatoes in Bianjing for a year now. Surely someone must have tried them by now.

Lu Jiahe shook her head, her eyes brimming with confusion.

Plop!

Cheng Yi tossed the iron spoon and potatoes back into the bucket. “Help me peel these, and once we’re done, I’ll make some for you to try.”

Lu Jiahe looked up at her, scrutinizing her as if she were some kind of street swindler.

From the skepticism on Lu Jiahe’s face, Cheng Yi could tell she didn’t trust her. “If you believe me, help me to the kitchen now. If not, you’re free to leave my house.”

Lu Jiahe frowned, lost in thought for a long moment, before finally nodding firmly.

“Alright, then help me to the kitchen. I’ll steam some potatoes for you to try first.” Cheng Yi rinsed the peeled potatoes and placed them in a small wooden basin nearby, then looked at Lu Jiahe, extending her hand to signal for assistance in standing up.

After escorting Cheng Yi to the kitchen, Lu Jiahe followed her instructions and brought in a large bundle of firewood from the yard.

Cheng Yi had initially planned to tease her by asking her to start the fire, but upon noticing Lu Jiahe’s refined appearance. Clearly someone who had never done manual labor. She impatiently muttered a few words and shooed her out of the kitchen.

Seated by the stove, Cheng Yi skillfully lit the fire, then carefully stood up, leaning against the stove. Once the water in the pot boiled, she placed the potatoes inside.

While waiting for the potatoes to cook, Cheng Yi didn’t idle. Sitting on a stool, she gently massaged her ankle, occasionally glancing outside at the drowsy figure clumsily peeling potatoes, her head nodding off now and then.

Unaccustomed to such tasks, Lu Jiahe struggled to stay awake, yawning repeatedly. But the thought of savoring mashed potatoes kept her going as she stubbornly scraped the skins off with a spoon.

Two hours passed unnoticed. Once the mashed potatoes were ready, Cheng Yi scooped them into a small bowl and headed slowly toward the yard to offer Lu Jiahe a taste. As she approached, she realized the girl had already fallen asleep.

“Wake up, wake up,” Cheng Yi said softly, nudging the sleeping girl.

“Hmm?” Lu Jiahe groggily opened her eyes. Upon seeing Cheng Yi, she assumed she was there to supervise and hastily picked up the spoon and a potato from the bucket.

Cheng Yi set the bowl on a nearby stone mill. “Why don’t you go inside and sleep for a while?” She eyed the bump on Lu Jiahe’s head, hoping the potato incident hadn’t caused any serious harm.

“No, I’ll help you peel the potatoes.” Not wanting to appear weaker, Lu Jiahe insisted, thinking if Cheng Yi could stay awake, so could she.

Noting Lu Jiahe’s youth and frail appearance, Cheng Yi feigned displeasure. “Then go home. Look at how you’ve ruined my potatoes, such a waste.”

Lu Jiahe glanced down at the uneven, pockmarked potatoes, a far cry from Cheng Yi’s neatly peeled ones.

“I’d like to go home too,” Lu Jiahe murmured, looking up at the sky. “But it’s curfew now, the city gates are closed.”

“Then go inside and sleep. Here’s the mashed potatoes, eat up and rest.” Cheng Yi pressed the bowl into Lu Jiahe’s hands.

“What about you?” Lu Jiahe wavered as the aroma wafted up. “It wouldn’t be proper for me to sleep in your room, you’re still an unmarried maiden.” Her voice trailed off, a sudden suspicion creeping in. Had Cheng Yi discovered her disguise as a man when she tugged at her collar earlier that morning?

Cheng Yi pondered silently. They weren’t close enough yet, and she couldn’t outright admit she knew Lu Jiahe was a woman.

“What? Are you afraid I’ll throw myself at you like that girl from earlier, pledging myself to you after just one night?” With that, Cheng Yi loosened her sash. “Given how handsome you look and that you seem like a rich boy, I wouldn’t mind actually having some fun with you.”

!!!

Lu Jiahe immediately jumped to her feet in alarm, clutching her bowl tightly with both hands. Her eyes were fixed on Cheng Yi, torn between staying and fleeing.