The Guide to Faking Innocence to Win His Wife - Chapter 36

“Are you back?”

“I’m back, Grandmother.”

“Why so late today?”

“Xun and I went to catch some swamp eels. I’ll fry them up for dinner in a bit.”

The sun was sinking now, and twilight had arrived. The stream was dyed an orange-red, merging with the sky into a single expanse. The grandmother and granddaughter stood talking under the cool shade of the tree.

Jiang Zhongmu, dressed in a white T-shirt and black knee-length shorts, held a bamboo basket, handing it to Grandmother to show her what was inside.

“Quite fat.”

“The eels are all fat this time of year. A lot of people were out catching them when we went,” Jiang Zhongmu noted.

“It is June, after all,” Grandmother smiled, turning to get a metal basin to wash the eels.

Jiang Zhongmu sat down on a small stool under the tree, her gaze drifting toward Xie Zhiyi. The woman had been sitting there without joining the conversation. The wind stirred the hems of her light blue jeans; she had changed back into her long-sleeved shirt and trousers.

The reason, as always, was a certain someone previously to distance herself, now to hide the marks.

Thinking of what this girl had done, Xie Zhiyi looked up, her watery eyes flashing with a touch of reprimand. She didn’t know how this girl had managed it; anything above the collarbone was fine since she had blocked her, but below she couldn’t even wear shorter pants anymore.

Jiang Zhongmu didn’t understand the look but grinned at her anyway, her deep dimples showing a trace of youthfulness.

Xie Zhiyi stared at her for a moment. It was quite interesting. This girl’s features were different from a typical girl’s softness; they were sharper, carrying a neutral, handsome elegance. At a glance, one could tell she was a girl, yet words like “handsome” still came to mind. Especially now, as her tanned skin sharpened in the twilight and her light amber eyes caught the glow, she looked like a leopard on the savanna opening its eyes to lazily gaze at its locked target.

It was no wonder Jiang Nanlei and the others called her “Jie” or “Zhongmu jie.” Some people are just like that; they don’t need to use their fists to prove themselves. Just by standing there, people instinctively bow and address them with respect.

But with Xie Zhiyi, she was different. The dimples at the corners of her mouth dipped frequently, and her eyes were as submissive as a large dog, wishing she could wag a non-existent tail to show her loyalty.

“Did you eat anything this afternoon?” Jiang Zhongmu asked, initiating a conversation since the other hadn’t spoken. Her body clock was precise; she had only slept for half an hour in the afternoon before waking up with a start. After tucking Xie Zhiyi in, she had quietly left the room.

“I ate a little,” Xie Zhiyi replied.

Because of the heat, Jiang Zhongmu hadn’t cooked a hot dish for her then. She had prepared cold shredded chicken, white rice porridge, and a small plate of pickles. Even when cold, they were appetizing.

“Okay…” Jiang Zhongmu nodded, her tone hesitating. She paused before continuing: “Is… is your waist still sore?”

As the words fell, both of them lapsed into a slight silence.

The younger one was embarrassed; no matter how thick-skinned she was in bed, she was always more restrained after getting up. As soon as she finished speaking, she turned her head away, awkwardly rubbing the bridge of her nose.

The elder one simply didn’t want to talk about it, annoyed that the girl was bringing up the one thing she’d rather ignore. How could it possibly get better so quickly? It was her first time, after all, and they had spent so much time on it…

The evening breeze blew past, bringing the delicate scent of Burmese laurel mixed with a faint post-bath fragrance.

Jiang Zhongmu looked for another topic: “Did you take a shower?”

Xie Zhiyi felt helpless. How could she not? Her body had been covered in the sticky residue of dried sweat. She had gone back to her room to bathe as soon as she woke. Looking at the girl still foolishly waiting for an answer, Xie Zhiyi’s heart softened. She sighed and said, “Yes.”

Upon hearing the answer, Jiang Zhongmu smiled like a fool who had just been given candy, though it was unclear what she was so happy about. Xie Zhiyi casually raised her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear.

Grandmother walked out just then, carrying not only the basin but also various side dishes, with a cutting board and a kitchen knife tucked underneath. Jiang Zhongmu stood up to take them, organizing the items before heading to the water tap with the eels. Handling these was messy and bloody; she didn’t want to do it in front of Xie Zhiyi for fear of frightening her.

She dropped the board on the ground and squatted down brusquely. Holding the knife in one hand and an eel in the other, she chopped off the head with a clean, decisive stroke before tossing it into the large bowl Grandmother had prepared. The girl, who had shared half the household chores since childhood, was quick and efficient, showing no hesitation.

Grandmother sat in the seat Jiang Zhongmu had occupied and began chatting with Xie Zhiyi. Xie Zhiyi retracted her gaze from the other side, picking over vegetables while chatting with Grandmother. The red sun continued to sink, stretching the tree shadows long.

Jiang Zhongmu kept her head down, slicing open the decapitated eels, removing the organs, and scrubbing them repeatedly with salt. She and Grandmother rarely ate this, but Jiang Nanxun’s family loved it. They often enjoyed a bit of meat with their wine, so Jiang Nanxun was skilled at catching river crabs and eels. This time, he had been the one to take Jiang Zhongmu out to set the nets.

She cut the eels into segments and sliced green peppers and onions, preparing the ginger, garlic, and scallions. Following her usual routine, she heated the oil, added a spoonful of bean paste to release the aroma, and then tossed in the peppers and onions. The roaring fire licked the bottom of the wok, and the fragrance instantly filled the air.

This time, Jiang Zhongmu didn’t look as relaxed as before. She didn’t toss the wok with one hand; instead, she chose to use the spatula for stir-frying. No matter how good her stamina was, she couldn’t withstand a whole night of activity followed by a full day of carving; her arms were already aching. She was just a proud child who refused to admit it, holding onto her composure until now when a hint of it showed.

Once the ingredients in the wok were eighty percent cooked, she poured them out. She reheated the oil, added the ginger and garlic, and then threw in the eels. While stir-frying vigorously, she added cooking wine, dark soy sauce, and salt. The narrow kitchen was filled with a scent that squeezed through the cracks of the doors and windows.

A moment later, she added water and sugar and brought it to a boil. Jiang Zhongmu wiped the sweat from her forehead and took a moment to rub her forearm. When the water reduced, she added the onions and green peppers back in.

By the time she emerged from the kitchen, the other two had already set the table—three dishes and a soup, as usual. Jiang Zhongmu pulled up a small stool and picked up her rice bowl.

Grandmother was busy piling food into Xie Zhiyi’s bowl, saying, “This eel nourishes the Qi and blood, and it’s good for warming the Yang and strengthening the spleen. It’s perfect for someone with a weak constitution like yours.”

The smile on Xie Zhiyi’s face faltered, and her gaze shifted uncomfortably. The speaker was oblivious, but the listener was not. Though she knew Grandmother meant well, still…

Beside her, Jiang Zhongmu suddenly let out a small laugh and chimed in: “Zhiyi jie should eat more. This stuff is very… nourishing.”

She emphasized the last word. The title she usually refused to use slipped out; though her face remained solemn, the elder could hear the teasing in her voice. But even if she heard it, there was nothing she could do. Xie Zhiyi had to pretend nothing was wrong as she accepted the eel Jiang Zhongmu placed in her bowl.

Seeing this, Grandmother felt that Jiang Zhongmu had finally become more sensible and well-behaved. Her smile deepened as she said, “Zhong Zhong should eat, too. You’ve worked hard all day; you should nourish yourself as well.”

With that, Grandmother placed a piece in Jiang Zhongmu’s bowl. The girl instinctively held up her bowl to receive it. Before she could say thank you, the elder suddenly spoke.

“Eel is indeed nourishing. You should eat a few more pieces to… supplement yourself.”

The tone was equally emphasized, and the action of placing the eel was the same. The elder, refusing to be at a disadvantage, returned the teasing in the exact same manner. No one likes to be told they “can’t handle it,” and given that Jiang Zhongmu was already pretending her arms didn’t ache, she was clearly someone who cared about saving face. The smile on her face stiffened instantly.

Her lips curled into a fake smile as she shot back: “Better for Sister to eat more. After all, Sister has a cold and weak constitution. You should nourish yourself more, otherwise you’ll keep getting cold hands and a sore waist.”

Xie Zhiyi’s hand holding the bowl paused.

When Grandmother heard this, she immediately became anxious: “You have a sore waist, too?”

Xie Zhiyi could only grit her teeth and nod.

“When does it hurt?” Grandmother asked with great concern.

The person beside her quickly lowered her head to eat, hiding an irrepressible smile. What could Xie Zhiyi do? With Grandmother there, she couldn’t even find a moment to glare at Jiang Zhongmu. She could only pull a lie out of thin air, saying, “My waist gets a bit sore around… that time of the month.”

“Oh, then that isn’t just a normal weakness!” Grandmother slapped her hand on the table and frowned. “You really need to nourish yourself properly.”

Xie Zhiyi gripped her wooden chopsticks, her knuckles turning a pearly white from the force, yet she still had to maintain a gentle expression.

“Yes, you really need to nourish yourself,” Jiang Zhongmu popped her head up, still playing along. “Being that weak won’t do. You might not feel it now, but all sorts of problems will come out when you get older.”

“Exactly, being that weak is no good,” Jiang Zhongmu nodded in agreement.

“Tomorrow, I’ll have Zhong Zhong catch more. The eels here are good; they aren’t fed with fodder like the ones where you’re from. These are raised in the paddy fields—perfectly clean,” Grandmother urged.

Without waiting for Xie Zhiyi to answer, Jiang Zhongmu spoke up first: “Okay, I’ll go to the fields with Xun to catch more tomorrow.”

The matter was decided without the subject’s consent. Xie Zhiyi had no choice but to pretend to focus on her food, but she gave Jiang Zhongmu a kick under the table to tell her not to be so arrogant. Unfortunately, Jiang Zhongmu was thick-skinned; not only did it not hurt, but she even shot her a grin. This time she wasn’t acting like a dazed dog; her face was written with a mischievous, triumphant glow.

Xie Zhiyi was so angry she grit her teeth. The stir-fried eel lost its flavor; after finishing what was in her bowl, she refused to take any more. But Jiang Zhongmu wouldn’t let her off. She placed another piece in her bowl, her tone thoughtful and gentle: “Why isn’t Sister eating? I caught this especially for you.”

Xie Zhiyi nearly bit through her teeth. But the girl was still acting up, placing piece after piece. Xie Zhiyi finally couldn’t take it and gave her a kick on the leg this time she didn’t hold back, hitting the calf muscle directly.

Jiang Zhongmu let out a sharp hiss. Grandmother’s attention was drawn to her. Jiang Zhongmu managed a forced smile: “Just got bitten by a bug.”

Since there were many mosquitoes by the river, Grandmother merely nodded and said, “Put some medicine on it later.”

“Okay,” Jiang Zhongmu agreed obediently, but under the table, she clamped her legs shut, trapping the leg that had kicked her.

Xie Zhiyi tried to struggle, but she was bound by a grip like iron pliers. She could only glare at her. Jiang Zhongmu acted perfectly serious, continuing to eat her rice with her head down. Xie Zhiyi lost her strength after a few struggles and simply let her trap her leg. After all, she hadn’t lifted it much. She held her breath, swallowing the eel as she ate.

the evening breeze blew, carrying a cool nighttime air. Fallen leaves were blown along the ground, swirling into corners. The courtyard was filled only with the sound of clinking dishes, peaceful and harmonious. Jiang Zhongmu finally released her leg. Xie Zhiyi’s calf dropped down, eventually resting on the top of the girl’s foot, which felt like a warm heater, warming her just as it had before.

It wasn’t until most of the food on the table was gone and the plate of stir-fried eel was completely empty that the dinner came to an end.

Support