When the Cannon Fodder Meets the Love-Brained Female Supporting Character - Episode 18

Early in the morning, Jiang Nan went to Cangfang Tower and noticed many craftsmen hammering and sawing nearby. Someone had even taken down the signboard. Peering inside, she saw that most of the items had been moved out, leaving the place empty and desolate.

Originally, it had been a modestly successful bun shop.

Had they moved out?

Jiang Nan wondered, but her confusion was soon resolved.

Wei Su stood on the second floor, glaring at the scene while muttering curses. Upon asking, Jiang Nan learned that it was her relentless cousin, Wei Ming, who had taken over the bun shop.

“So, what’s he planning to do?” Jiang Nan asked.

Wei Su replied irritably, “A teahouse. He’s deliberately trying to compete with us!”

Wei Su was half right and half wrong.

After being driven away by the two of them last time, Wei Ming had nursed a grudge. On the other hand, after observing for several days, he noticed that both teahouses were doing well especially Cangfang Tower, which was thriving. He concluded that opening his own here wouldn’t be a bad idea. In fact, he believed he could do even better than them.

Convinced he wasn’t foolish, he had even hired someone to conduct market research before making his move.

Wei Su’s teahouse mostly served common teas, which he could easily replicate. As for Cangfang Tower, aside from their new specialty, Bantianyao, there wasn’t anything particularly unique.

He even consulted a feng shui master to assess the location.

The master declared with great solemnity that the spot had excellent feng shui, promising prosperity and wealth.

This only deepened Wei Ming’s disdain for Jiang Nan and Wei Su.

They were just lucky to have occupied such a prime location.

He could do it too and better!

Moreover, by opening a teahouse next to theirs, customers seeing that he was a man would naturally find him more reliable. Women could marry and leave at any time to tend to their husbands and children.

Wei Ming was already envisioning the glorious days of endless wealth. By then, even Wei Su would come begging, asking him to divert some customers her way.

And he would generously spare a few for her.

Once decided, Wei Ming wrote a letter briefly explaining his plans and rushed back to his hometown to borrow money from his father. Combined with his own savings, he took over the bun shop next to Cangfang Tower.

By the afternoon, Wei Ming arrived, standing smugly beneath his newly hung signboard—[Authentic Teahouse]—glaring provocatively at Jiang Nan and Wei Su.

He announced loudly, “Now you can’t possibly demand that I leave, can you? This shop is mine.”

Wei Su scoffed, “Idiot.”

Wei Ming, basking in his triumph, turned to the craftsmen and boasted, “I want four floors. Make sure you build them well.”

Cangfang Tower had three floors, Wei Ji Teahouse had two. So naturally, he had to have four. With four floors, he wouldn’t have to worry about running out of space for customers.

Jiang Nan patted the fuming Wei Su on the shoulder. “Don’t be angry. He’ll leave on his own soon enough.”

Wei Su asked, “But what if he plays dirty?”

Fang Rui chimed in at the same time, “What if he plays dirty?”

The two exchanged glances in surprise.

Jiang Nan replied, “We’ll deal with it as it comes.”

Fang Rui rubbed her hands together like a fly and grinned. “Can we grow more Fortune Flowers?”

Jiang Nan pondered. “Why don’t you just take some from Wei Ji Teahouse?”

“Alright, alright. As the boss says, it’s not about keeping forever, but having once owned.” Fang Rui nodded.

Wei Hui, standing behind them, protested, “Hey!!!!”

________________________________________

Jiang Huai felt that he couldn’t always let Xiao Ran, a young woman, take the initiative. It was time for him to make a move.

Xiao Ran, having finished brewing fruit wine, sat in the courtyard with a novel in hand, quietly reading.

Hearing the knock at the door, she went to open it and saw Jiang Huai standing outside, smiling at her. A faint impatience stirred in her heart, but she still asked politely, “May I ask why the young master has come to seek this humble girl?”

“I was passing by and thought I’d come see you,” Jiang Huai said with a smile, producing a pair of gold bracelets. “I bought these especially for you. I think they suit you well.”

Xiao Ran glanced at the gaudy gold bracelets and shook her head. “Thank you, young master, but please take them back. I have no fondness for bracelets.”

Why does no one ever accept gold bracelets? Rejected again! Jiang Huai’s irritation grew visibly.

With a dark expression, he took out another item and asked, “Then what about this? Will you refuse this too?”

It was a beige handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus flowers. In the lower right corner, the character “Xiao” was clearly stitched in delicate, feminine handwriting.

Xiao Ran froze for a moment. “So it was you who found it. Thank you for returning it.”

Jiang Huai smirked, his smile anything but kind. “Oh, I didn’t just find it. I retrieved it from a pile of beggars. One of them was clutching it like a treasure, bragging that it belonged to some young lady and swearing he’d track her down to demand marriage!”

Xiao Ran looked at the handkerchief again and saw several grimy handprints staining the fabric. Her face paled.

Jiang Huai chuckled. “But don’t worry. I happened to be passing by when I overheard him. After examining the handkerchief, I realized it was yours. I scolded the beggar and drove him out of Yangcheng. He won’t bother you.”

Xiao Ran stiffly performed a deep bow. “Thank you, young master.”

Jiang Huai nodded, satisfied. “Is this how you express your gratitude?”

“How else would the young master have me do so?”

“I’ve recently developed a fondness for osmanthus cakes. Since your skills in the kitchen are renowned, why not make some for me? Or is even this small favor too much to ask?”

“…Very well.”

With that, Jiang Huai sauntered off, pleased with himself.

Of course, the entire story was fabricated by Jiang Huai. How could there be so many coincidences just happening upon a group of beggars, just overhearing their conversation? The handkerchief had simply fallen in the Jiang residence, and he had picked it up without returning it. The dirty handprints were his own doing, pressed onto the fabric by someone he’d randomly chosen.

Good thing he hadn’t returned it earlier, now it had served its purpose. He had no intention of going to great lengths for a woman. A little fabricated story, and she took the bait, didn’t she?

In the courtyard, Xiao Ran lit a fire and threw the handkerchief into the flames. The fabric was quickly devoured, reduced to ashes in moments.

Meanwhile, Jiang Nan, back at the estate, listened to the report from the shadow guard she had sent to tail Jiang Huai. Her hands clenched so tightly around the soap she was holding that it deformed in her grip.

That Jiang Huai…

She was now seriously considering the possibility of breaking his legs.

The next day, Xiao Ran indeed brought osmanthus cakes to the Jiang residence. The entire household was bustling with preparations for a banquet two weeks away, leaving almost no one to pay her any attention.

Carrying the food box, Xiao Ran waited quietly in the main hall. When Jiang Nan appeared, her pupils contracted involuntarily, and she took half a step back.

Ever since Jiang Nan had arrived in Yangcheng, every time Xiao Ran visited the Jiang residence, it seemed they would inevitably cross paths.

Jiang Nan’s gaze swept over her, lingering briefly on the food box. Xiao Ran’s grip on it tightened slightly.

What would Jiang Nan think of her this time?

Jiang Nan approached, her peach-blossom eyes brimming with amusement. “Miss Xiao, here to deliver pastries again? How diligent. A’Tuo, go fetch the food box for me.”

Xiao Ran was momentarily dazed before replying, “But…”

Jiang Nan narrowed her eyes and stepped closer. “But what?”

Xiao Ran retreated until her back hit the wall, her face and ears burning red. She lowered her head even further, revealing a slender, snow-white neck beneath the satin collar.

She couldn’t possibly tell Jiang Nan about the handkerchief incident, so she remained silent.

Jiang Nan sighed inwardly.

This little fool.

Being tricked and still counting the money for the swindler!

She was a head taller than Xiao Ran, and with Xiao Ran’s head bowed, all she could see was the crown of her hair.

Xiao Ran could hear her own heart pounding wildly—no reason, no stopping it.

Then, a finger gently lifted her chin. The cool touch made her heart skip a beat.

Xiao Ran met Jiang Nan’s clear, cold gaze.

Jiang Nan was like the most pristine snow lotus atop a mountain peak; graceful and fragrant, yet her eyes weren’t as icy as expected. They held something indescribable.

The woman’s melodious voice reached her ears. “Still thinking of sending those pastries to Jiang Huai? I thought you’d learned better by now.”

Jiang Nan leaned in even closer, almost caging her in an embrace, her voice low and teasing.

“Jiang Huai always spins sweet lies for girls. I advise you not to believe him.”

Xiao Ran’s ears buzzed. She couldn’t hear the words only saw Jiang Nan’s lips moving and the faint amusement in her eyes.

Jiang Nan straightened and took a few steps back, crossing her arms. “Because Jiang Huai absolutely, definitely, could never like you!”

A’Tuo nodded beside her. “Exactly! How could Young Master Jiang Huai ever like you?”

With that, A’Tuo snatched the food box from Xiao Ran’s hands.

Xiao Ran stood frozen, unable to respond.

Jiang Nan smiled. “Miss Xiao, would you accompany me to Qingxin Temple for incense? This is my first time inviting you, surely you won’t refuse?”

“How could I ever decline Sister Jiang’s invitation?” Xiao Ran replied.

Strangely, having the food box taken away eased her mind.

Somehow, she no longer felt willing to send things to Jiang Huai.

The scenery along the road was beautiful, and Xiao Ran quietly admired it.

Near the mountain, a pair of sparrows chased each other across the blue sky. One speckled sparrow crashed headfirst into a tree trunk and fainted, while the other, with white-tipped tail feathers, dove straight down to find it.

Fortunately, the unconscious sparrow landed on a branch. The white-tipped sparrow hopped anxiously beside it, pecking at its wings and legs with its beak. After several attempts, the speckled sparrow blinked awake, and the two flew off together into the sky.

Xiao Ran marveled.

Even the little creatures near the temple were so spirited.

At Qingxin Temple, the crowd was sparse; some lighting incense, others kneeling in prayer or drawing divination slips.

Xiao Ran stared absently at Jiang Nan’s tall, poised figure.

What kind of wishes would a young lady like her, who had everything, make?

Jiang Nan appeared solemn and dignified in the temple. Her slender fingers clasped incense sticks as she bowed several times.

Xiao Ran watched her hands and suddenly recalled the moment in the Jiang residence when those fingers had lifted her chin, Jiang Nan’s breath as sweet as orchids. Her face flushed, her heart racing.

She shook her head, dispelling the strange thoughts.

Once inside the temple, Jiang Nan didn’t pressure Xiao Ran or make her kneel and offer incense to the Buddha.

Beside her, a woman shook the divination box, and a stick fell to the ground. She picked it up, glanced at the inscription, and immediately turned ashen. After placing the box back, she fled as if escaping.

Xiao Ran suddenly grew curious. Were these divination sticks really that accurate?

She reached out to touch the box but was stopped by Jiang Nan, who had just stood up. “Drawing lots is useless.”

Xiao Ran was puzzled. The woman had just drawn a stick herself. Why was she now telling her it was pointless?

Perhaps she was just looking for an excuse to make things difficult?

Xiao Ran withdrew her hand and lowered her gaze. Her curiosity had driven her to try, but she had no real reason to insist.

Seeing her reaction, Jiang Nan sighed. Taking advantage of the moment when A’Tuo stepped out to deliver incense money, she flipped the divination box upside down, grabbed all the sticks in one handful, and then lifted the container.

Every single stick bore ominous inscriptions. Minor misfortunes, major calamities not a single auspicious one among them.

Xiao Ran’s pupils trembled slightly. “This…”

“Someone in the temple swapped all the sticks for bad omens to make people buy talismans for protection.” Jiang Nan said casually. “The monks here aren’t as righteous as you think.”

So that was it. But why was Jiang Nan explaining all this to her?

The next second, Jiang Nan spoke in a tone dripping with arrogance.

“If we weren’t in front of the Buddha, I wouldn’t have bothered telling you any of this. Consider it my good deed for the day.”

Xiao Ran nodded earnestly. “Sister Jiang, your kindness will surely be repaid with boundless blessings.”

Jiang Nan turned her face away.

What a foolish girl. She had shown just the slightest hint of goodwill, and Xiao Ran had responded with such sincere blessings.

Jiang Nan didn’t believe in Buddhism. Her visit here was merely for appearances.

In the Jiang household, aside from the family head, the woman with the most influence was Jiang Xueping the one who had brought her back from Nie City. Jiang Xueping’s birthday was approaching, and Jiang Nan had come to the temple to request a protective sachet for her, feigning filial devotion.

Jiang Xueping treated her with superficial warmth, her words pleasant to the ear but devoid of any real benefit.

Jiang Nan felt no attachment to her either. Unburdened by familial bonds, she was content with her freedom. But lately, she had noticed Jiang Xueping’s maids passing by her deliberately, occasionally probing to take something from her.

If Jiang Xueping wanted something from her. If she wanted her to play the obedient lamb then Jiang Nan would gladly act the part.