When the Cannon Fodder Meets the Love-Brained Female Supporting Character - Episode 23

“Sister Jiang, go ahead and bully me all you want.”

“What do you even understand? You don’t understand anything, just spouting nonsense!”

Jiang Nan rubbed her temples in frustration.

She had already repaid the favor from that day when Xiao Ran helped drive away the thugs. Why did Xiao Ran keep seeking her out?

Could it be for Jiang Huai’s sake?

The more Jiang Nan thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Not long ago, A-Jiu had given her an idea to pay the guards and maids at the gate to stop Xiao Ran whenever she showed up. It must be because of this…

Jiang Nan decided it was time for a drastic measure.

She crouched down, picked up the relatively intact delicate pastries from the tattered food box, and slowly crushed them in front of Xiao Ran.

The crumbs fell bit by bit from Jiang Nan’s fair fingertips, eventually blending into the dust on the ground.

“I don’t like your pastries. Don’t try to curry favor with me to get me to let you into the Jiang family,” Jiang Nan said, suppressing the guilt in her heart. “Do you understand now?”

Xiao Ran seemed distracted, staring at her hands.

Surely, this time she’d be heartbroken, right?

Jiang Nan sighed heavily in her heart, feeling a pang of regret as she looked at the ruined pastries on the ground.

But Xiao Ran only asked anxiously, “Sister Jiang, your hand… are you alright?”

Seeing Jiang Nan retrieve something from the sharp, shattered wood had terrified her. What if she cut her hand?

Jiang Nan: “…”

What was happening?

Jiang Nan’s mind was a complete mess, utterly unprepared for this situation.

Xiao Ran’s reaction was entirely unexpected.

And Xiao Ran’s clear eyes, brimming with concern, gazed at her pleadingly, filled with genuine worry.

Breathing rapidly, Jiang Nan pulled out a silver ingot and shoved it into Xiao Ran’s hands. “Take this! Buy yourself a better food box.”

Then, she fled without a shred of dignity.

On her way back to the estate, Jiang Nan pondered for a long time. There was one thing she truly couldn’t understand. Wasn’t Xiao Ran supposed to be quite clever? And from their past interactions, she was also very perceptive. Before, a single harsh word from Jiang Nan could make her eyes redden. But now, how…?

Upon returning to the estate, the ever-gossipy A’Tuo eagerly delivered fresh news.

She and a group of maids had witnessed Yu Qian and Jiang Huai having a heated argument before Yu Qian stormed off.

“Apparently, Young Master Jiang went out with Miss Wang, and Miss Yu saw them. Miss Yu didn’t react and just walked away. But then Young Master Jiang saw her with another man and accused her of using underhanded tactics to get back at him.”

Jiang Nan’s attention veered off course: “It’s only been two days, and my cousin can already walk?”

A’Tuo rolled her eyes upward, recalling, “Well, no. The guards carried him out. He was still wrapped in bandages from head to toe.”

Jiang Nan raised an eyebrow.

So, he was carried out on a stretcher, covered in bandages, to go on a date with Wang Feifei and pick a fight with Yu Qian?

What determination despite his injuries!

“And then?” Jiang Nan pressed.

A’Tuo continued, “Miss Yu said that whatever she did had nothing to do with Young Master Jiang. She had her own life and wasn’t going to revolve around him all day, nor did she have the energy to seek revenge. Young Master Jiang was so angry he left. Well, was carried away in anger.”

Jiang Nan imagined the scene and found it rather amusing.

What a spectacular drama!

Jiang Nan stayed in the estate for half the day. The weather in June was as fickle as a child’s mood suddenly shifting from sunny to overcast, with a light drizzle beginning to fall.

She suddenly remembered that there was an account book she hadn’t retrieved yet from her teahouse in the northern part of the city, so she set out to fetch it.

Jiang Nan walked a distance and saw a woman sitting on the steps in front of the Yu residence, staring blankly at the rain falling on the banana leaves. The rain soaked her clothes, yet she seemed completely unaware.

Jiang Nan left a bamboo hat for her and hurried away.

Yu Qian sat at the doorstep for a long, long time so long that by the time Jiang Nan returned from her errands, she was still sitting there.

Though the rain was light, it was enough to dampen the front of her robe.

Another two incense sticks’ worth of time passed.

Jiang Nan came out with two cups of tea.

She asked Yu Qian which one she wanted to drink.

Hearing her speak, Yu Qian forced a faint smile and asked what the difference was.

“One has a lingering fragrance, leaving a sweet aftertaste on the palate. It’s made from snow lotuses picked on the cliffs of high mountains; bitter at first, then sweet, with an endless aftertaste, though it won’t quench immediate thirst. The other is made from regret flowers gathered deep in the forest; sweet at first, then bitter, with an astringency that clings to the throat. It quenches thirst instantly, but the bitterness lingers long after.” Jiang Nan answered with a smile.

“Then I’ll take the first cup. A little bitterness is nothing.”

“Try it.”

“It’s delicious. What’s this tea called?”

“These two teas are sold together. They’re called ‘Choice and Sacrifice.'”

Yu Qian quietly savored the words, then suddenly laughed, looking at Jiang Nan. “Has anyone ever told you, Miss Jiang, that you have a very Buddhist nature?”

“Indeed, someone has. That person even tried to make me shave my head. I fled overnight, carrying my carriage on my back.” Jiang Nan chuckled and took a sip of the tea Yu Qian hadn’t chosen.

Pfft.

Yu Qian burst into laughter.

The two sat on the steps, slowly finishing their tea. Only then did Yu Qian begin to pour out the bitterness in her heart.

“My family has suddenly fallen into misfortune, and I don’t even know how my parents are faring now,” Yu Qian said slowly. “I thought that after eight years away, reuniting with my childhood sweetheart would be the one silver lining in all this misfortune. But I never imagined Jiang Huai would have become like that. Greedy, cowardly, unreasonable, hiding behind women. Today, I was selling the hairpins and combs I made to earn some money, and when he saw me, he actually thought I was dallying with a man.”

“With my family facing such hardship, I truly have no patience for his childish games. But after all, we grew up together. After so many years, it’s hard to cut ties completely. Yet the hurtful things he said each word pierced my heart like a needle.”

“But Miss Jiang is right.” Yu Qian rolled the two words over in her mouth. “Choice and Sacrifice. Choice and Sacrifice. I think it’s time I made my choice.”

The rain stopped.

The wind and mist cleared.

“Come work at Hidden Fragrance Pavilion,” Jiang Nan invited.

“Are all the teas at Hidden Fragrance Pavilion picked from high mountains and deep forests?” Yu Qian asked.

“Of course not.” Jiang Nan shrugged. “In business, the gimmick is what matters.”

.

The next day.

Xiao Ran came again. Jiang Nan was busy today and had no time to exchange harsh words with her. Besides, she had already let go.

If Xiao Ran wanted to come, so be it. It wasn’t like she could control the woman’s legs.

Fang Rui wasn’t sure about the nature of their relationship. But seeing that Jiang Nan had been eating the pastries Xiao Ran made lately, she figured there was at least some connection.

So, she proactively ushered Xiao Ran to an empty private room on the second floor.

The view from the second floor was splendid. Flocks of pigeons took flight, circling like scattered grains of white sand across the sky before gathering and descending again. Graceful willow trees danced in the wind, and the lake shimmered with golden ripples under the sunlight.

But Xiao Ran had no mind to appreciate the scenery. Her gaze kept searching for Jiang Nan.

Today, the teahouse had introduced a new product called ‘Choice and Sacrifice,’ and many tea enthusiasts had come to try it.

Xiao Ran spotted someone in the crowd she had never seen before in the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

The person was scribbling something in a notebook, looking like a complete novice, occasionally showing it to Jiang Nan for feedback. Despite her busy schedule, Jiang Nan would glance at it and sometimes point out mistakes.

Xiao Ran pursed her lips, her gaze fixed intently on the stranger, trying to figure out who she was.

Fortunately, the girl didn’t stay in one spot but moved back and forth between the first and second floors. Eventually, she came close enough for Xiao Ran to see her face clearly.

It was Yu Qian.

She had seen her before.

Why was Yu Qian working at the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion?

If Yu Qian were like Fang Rui, it wouldn’t have mattered. But she kept stealing glances at Jiang Nan during breaks, just like Xiao Ran did, always watching Jiang Nan.

Sometimes, she even pretended to chew on her brush tip while secretly observing Jiang Nan.

Xiao Ran noticed it all!

And because they worked together, Jiang Nan would respond to her too.

Xiao Ran’s heart felt as if it were being gnawed by thousands of ants, a sour ache rising in her chest. It was an emotion she had never experienced before.

She twisted her handkerchief in her hands, sitting motionless as time slipped by. The tea in front of her grew cold, and the sky outside gradually darkened.

Fang Rui suddenly appeared at her private booth, smiling lightly as she asked, “Lady Xiao, we’re planning to go shopping for gifts for the boss today. Would you like to join us?”

Xiao Ran smiled faintly and was about to nod when—

Yu Qian stepped out from behind Fang Rui and said, “The boss raised your salary, didn’t she? I’ve also saved up a bit, so we can afford nicer gifts for Boss Jiang. But if you drag Lady Xiao along, wouldn’t that just embarrass her?”

“Oh, you’re right,” Fang Rui agreed, looking regretfully at Xiao Ran. “Sorry, Lady Xiao, I didn’t think of that… We’ll go on our own, then.”

Xiao Ran froze instantly.

She wanted to go too…

On her way home, Xiao Ran began thinking about how she could earn more money.

She usually embroidered and sold her work. In Yang City, embroidery was ranked in three tiers. Hers was second-tier. A complex piece took ten days to complete but only sold for three or four taels of silver. First-tier work could fetch double that, six or seven taels, sometimes even more.

Her aunt was a renowned embroiderer in Qu City.

After much deliberation, Xiao Ran decided to visit her aunt and learn from her. Her aunt had always wanted to teach her, but Xiao Ran had been too preoccupied with other matters and once thought her monthly ten taels were enough.

But now, she wanted to spend on Jiang Nan, and suddenly, it wasn’t enough anymore.

Once she made up her mind, she set off two days later.

________________________________________

Jiang Nan returned home after a long day, having taught Yu Qian everything she needed to know. Yu Qian was quick to learn, mastering it all in half a day.

Tomorrow, she could finally relax at home.

The next morning.

Jiang Nan woke from a pleasant dream, stretching lazily. A’Tuo hurried in from outside.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Nan asked.

A’Tuo replied, “Madam Jiang summoned you to the front garden. Young Master Jiang is there too.”

Jiang Nan’s heart skipped a beat, had someone tattled on her?

She freshened up and headed to the front garden, where Jiang Huai and Jiang Xueping were seated in a small pavilion. Jiang Xueping smiled faintly when she saw Jiang Nan arrive.

“Nan’er, you’re here. Come, sit.”

Jiang Nan took a seat on the stone stool, and a maid poured tea for her. She glanced at Jiang Huai, who sat silently beside her, then asked, “Auntie, what’s the urgent matter that called me here?”

“Auntie will speak plainly.” Aunt Jiang’s expression was grave. “I’ve heard that you often bully the second young miss of the Xiao family in public, even breaking her belongings.”

So it was about this.

No doubt Jiang Huai’s good-for-nothing friends had reported it.

Jiang Nan nodded in acknowledgment. “It’s true.”

Aunt Jiang sighed and said slowly, “This matter has already spread throughout Yangcheng. Many are saying your attitude reflects the Jiang family’s stance that our family lacks tolerance.”

Jiang Nan cast a strange glance at Jiang Huai, not missing the fleeting guilt in his eyes.

Tsk. So, he did it on purpose.

Trying to make her stop targeting Xiao Ran so that Xiao Ran would turn her attention back to him, was he? Dream on!

Had he even considered whose interests were being harmed by this?

Jiang Nan lowered her head slightly, feigning humility as she sought guidance.

Aunt Jiang continued, “I didn’t make it clear before. I thought you understood. At this stage, your uncle is competing with the Wei family for an official position. We cannot afford any mistakes. The Jiang family’s reputation, though not decisive in this competition, still carries significant weight. If your uncle secures that position, the entire Jiang family will rise with him. Do you understand?”

Jiang Nan pretended to be remorseful and nodded.

Jiang Huai couldn’t resist chiming in, “Cousin, please stop bullying that poor girl. She’s all alone, how pitiful. You’ll hardly cross paths in the future, so why humiliate her like that? Think of how heartbroken she must be.”

Hardly cross paths?

They saw each other every single day.

Jiang Nan thought to herself.

At that moment, a soft, melodious voice, sweet as a nightingale’s song, spoke up.

“I don’t mind.”

Xiao Ran stood there, her figure slender, her waist so delicate it seemed one could encircle it with a single hand. She was like a tranquil, clear pool of water, smiling gently at Jiang Nan.

Her eyes were limpid as a spring, sparkling with life as she gazed at Jiang Nan.

“Sister, you can bully me all you want.”

Jiang Nan’s ears turned crimson in an instant, her heart pounding wildly, flustered beyond words.

This girl, did she even know what she was saying?!

Everyone present was stunned.

Jiang Huai and Jiang Xueping both turned to look at the two, speechless.

Seizing the opportunity, the maid who had brought Xiao Ran in tucked the two silver ingots hidden in her sleeves even deeper and quietly slipped away.

Xiao Ran’s face was also flushed and warm. She bit her lips, already red as petals and now even more vivid from her blush.

“Sister Jiang, I have something I’d like to say to you.”