When the Cannon Fodder Meets the Love-Brained Female Supporting Character - Episode 34.1

Qin Wan noticed the odd reactions from the two.

One stood frozen in place, while the other remained silent.

After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

That couldn’t be!

Lately, these two had been practically inseparable. One would arrive, and the other would follow shortly after. Apart from Jiang Nan initially refusing to let her tag along, she had since stopped minding. And Miss Xiao’s demeanor was so affectionate and shy. It couldn’t possibly be just friendship. That left only one other explanation.

Xiao Ran blushed and glanced at Jiang Nan, murmuring softly, “She’s Sister Jiang.”

Jiang Nan met her gaze, her heart-warming before she turned her face away and nodded.

Qin Wan smiled.

Couples did sometimes avoid calling each other “husband” or “wife,” opting instead for “sister” or “brother” after their surnames.

A sweetheart sister, she understood!

The night was studded with stars, the air thick with mist and dew.

“The goods have all been recovered,” A-Jiu reported to Jiang Nan. “And all the members of the Qin Xin caravan have been accounted for.”

Jiang Nan lounged on a reclining chair, studying a map seized from the Yelan Gang. “Make sure they’re all settled properly,” she said.

“Yes,” A-Jiu replied. Then, curious, she asked, “What are you looking at, Mistress?”

“The teahouses in Qu City,” Jiang Nan answered casually, popping a grape into her mouth.

“You’ve looked at it so many times already. Aren’t you tired of it?” A-Jiu chuckled.

“Every time I look, it’s different. Last time, I studied the place names. The time before that, the terrain. This time, the teahouses. Of course, I’m not tired of it,” Jiang Nan said.

________________________________________

Some days later, once her wounds had healed somewhat, Qin Wan went to the dungeon to see her parents and younger brother.

After several days of imprisonment, the three of them were a far cry from their former arrogance. They huddled together at times, then lashed out with curses at others. Directed at everyone, but most of all at Qin Wan.

“Even in death, she’s causing us trouble. We never should’ve had this daughter.”

“If she’d just known her place and not competed with her brother, who’d have wasted the effort to kill her?”

“Regrets! I regret not running far enough to escape capture!”

Qin Wan listened from around the corner as the insults grew uglier with each word.

Finally, she understood the truth. Her parents were nothing short of beasts.

Evil people don’t turn good. Those without a conscience don’t suddenly grow one.

She stepped out.

Her parents and brother were startled at the sight of her. Only when they realized she was alive and well did they calm down.

“I’m not dead. Surprised?” Qin Wan asked.

Her mother glared at her hatefully. “Yes, very. We should’ve stabbed straight through your heart back then.”

Qin Wan studied her mother intently.

“Mother,” she said, pulling out the steamed buns and clothes her mother had packed for her before leaving. “There was a time when I longed to eat the buns you made just for me. But you only ever made them when my brother said he wanted them.”

“You don’t deserve them,” her mother sneered.

Qin Wan slowly crushed the bun into crumbs, scattering them on the ground. Her expression was unreadable.

“I knew you didn’t like me, but I loved you, Mother. When your stomach ached, I’d secretly pick corn from the fields to make you porridge. When you fainted from heatstroke, I walked miles to fetch cool well water to cool you down. And my brother, he took the banana leaves I’d given you for shade and used them for himself, leaving you unconscious for two days.”

Her mother’s expression faltered, her gaze instinctively shifting to her son.

Qin Di shrieked, “Qin Wan, I warn you not to spout nonsense! I only did what’s best for our mother! If you keep covering her like that, she’ll get heat rash!”

Mother Qin immediately snapped, “Qin Wan, don’t even think about driving a wedge between us.”

“I have no need to drive a wedge,” Qin Wan tore off a piece of steamed bread, speaking in the calmest tone, “since you’ll all be dead soon anyway.”

Mother Qin flew into a rage. “You! You unfilial wretch!”

Father Qin said, “Don’t try to scare us. What crime have we committed to deserve execution? If it’s about killing, you’re still alive and well, aren’t you?”

Ignoring them, Qin Wan continued, “Back then, my brother was clearly the least talented in the clan. Even the clan leader advised you to let him run a small business instead of managing a trade caravan, but you wouldn’t listen. Later, he lost a fortune every single time he tried. Meanwhile, I made a huge profit on my very first attempt.”

Mother Qin sneered, “The problem is you weren’t born a son. A daughter will marry out sooner or later. What’s the use of being so capable? You never gave way to your brother. Do you know how much silver we spent just to secure the Qu City shipment for him? And then you swooped in and took it. What’s the point of a daughter earning money? It’ll all end up with her in-laws anyway. You’ve had your glory, why haven’t we seen a single coin brought home?”

Qin Wan smiled. “Did you never look at the box I left in your room?”

“We wouldn’t stoop to it! It’s probably worthless!” Qin Di yelled.

“It held ninety percent of the silver from my two trade caravans, plus all my savings from years of working elsewhere. Three thousand taels in total, all in that box.” Qin Wan said, “I had planned that if our family could live in harmony, my money would be yours in the future.”

Three thousand taels! That was more than an ordinary person could earn in half a lifetime.

Mother and Father Qin wavered. “Wanwan…”

“But now,” Qin Wan said, “you’ll never get it.”

She then pulled out a stack of clothes and a pair of scissors.

Slowly, she began cutting the clothes, letting the scraps fall at their feet.

“You damned blind woman, what are you saying?” Qin Di pointed at her nose and cursed.

“I’m a damned blind woman, but soon, you’ll be damned dead people.” Qin Wan finished cutting the clothes and said, “The authorities have already uncovered the money you embezzled and the lives you’ve ruined. Just wait for death.”

Father and Mother Qin panicked, calling out to her desperately.

“Wanwan, you, you must save your parents and brother! We’ll be a harmonious family from now on!”

Qin Wan no longer believed them. Without looking back, she walked out of the dungeon.

Outside, the bright weather was a stark contrast to the damp darkness of the prison.

________________________________________

“Sis, you came at the perfect time. I need to talk to you, come with me.”

Qin Wan was sketching at a table when Jiang Nan arrived. She smiled.

Ever since Xiao Ran mentioned that Jiang Nan was her “Sister Jiang,” Qin Wan had switched to calling her “A-Jie.”

Jiang Nan was puzzled but followed her anyway.

The two arrived at a quiet tavern.

Upstairs, twenty to thirty people were already waiting. All members of the Qin Xin trade caravan.

Qin Wan’s illness hadn’t fully healed, and even this short walk left her breathless. Gasping slightly, she stepped forward to face the group.

The caravan members watched her in silence.

Qin Wan touched the cloth covering her right eye and grinned. “Why are you all staring at me? Don’t look so grim. Isn’t this pretty cool?”

A woman approached. “Boss, does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t hurt much anymore.” Qin Wan smiled. “I came today to announce something.”

Everyone looked at Qin Wan, as if they already knew what she was going to say. A wave of sorrow passed over each of their faces.

“My hands and legs are no longer nimble, and my eyesight is failing. I’m afraid I can’t walk this road with you anymore.”

Qin Wan continued, “The goods in Qu City still need to be unloaded, and someone needs to oversee their distribution.”

“Who would be suitable for this task?” someone asked.

Qin Wan replied, “It should be Lady Jiang here by my side. You all know she saved us and retrieved the goods from the bandits. I see no issue with her serving as deputy captain.”

Jiang Nan was slightly surprised.

So, this was why she had brought her here.

Most of the group nodded in agreement, voicing no objections.

However, two people seemed uneasy, as if they had reservations about the decision.

Qin Wan noticed and asked, “Wan Lan and Wan Fu, do you two have any concerns?”

The shorter man, Wan Fu, stepped forward and clasped his hands. “Captain, it’s true that Lady Jiang has helped us greatly. But she has never managed a merchant convoy before.”

Wan Lan nodded in agreement beside him.

Qin Wan reassured them, “There’s no need to worry. Lady Jiang is skilled in business. If there’s anything she’s unfamiliar with, I’ll be here to assist.”

Wan Fu still looked reluctant, but upon hearing this, he had no choice but to relent.

On the way home, Qin Wan said to Jiang Nan, “Elder Sister, this convoy has brought a large shipment of tea. The tea trade in Qu City, Yang City, and several other small counties is managed by the Qin Xin Merchant Group. Since you run a teahouse, you must have many rivals. Don’t hesitate, just remove them from the list directly.”

Jiang Nan looked at the young woman before her, once sharp-eyed but now weakened by severe injuries, and said earnestly, “Thank you.”

Qin Wan shook her head. “No need to thank me, Elder Sister. Compared to your kindness in saving my life and taking me in, this is nothing. In the future, I’ll be nothing but a cripple. This is all the value I have left.”

Jiang Nan glanced at her stiffened hands and legs and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll find someone to heal you.”

Qin Wan’s expression froze. A flicker of hope ignited in her eyes, but when she thought of the unbearable pain in her right leg at the slightest exertion, the light vanished. She let out a bitter laugh.

________________________________________

In an unnamed teahouse.

The plump manager asked Wan Jie, “Didn’t you say the Qin Xin Merchant Group would arrive? Why haven’t they reached Qu City yet?”

Wan Jie, who had received the news early that morning, replied confidently, “They’ll be here by tomorrow at the latest.”

The manager rubbed his hands together. “Then could I get an extra share of tea?”

“An extra share?” Wan Jie eyed him skeptically. “An extra share would require my cousins to falsify the accounts. That wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”

The manager chuckled. “Why stand on ceremony between us? The extra share is for your benefit too. I’ll give you forty percent, how does that sound?”

“Fifty,” Wan Jie countered.

The manager winced, hesitating for a long moment before nodding. “Fine, fifty it is.”

The next day.

The Qin Xin Merchant Group began delivering goods, visiting each teahouse on the list one by one.

This year’s tea supply for the teahouses depended entirely on these shipments.

As soon as Wan Jie arrived, Wan Fu and Wan Lan broke away from the group and approached him. “Cousin, we’ve prepared everything as you asked.”

Wan Jie raised an eyebrow. “Did you two do what I told you?”

Wan Fu frowned with difficulty. “The new deputy captain is personally overseeing the goods. There’s no way for us to skim an extra portion for you.”

“Idiot,” Wan Jie cursed under his breath. “I already promised someone. Are you trying to make me break my word?”

“Nothing we can do. She’s watching too closely,” Wan Fu wiped his sweat.

“Just add a fake teahouse name to the list at random. Then bring the extra portion to me when it’s divided. Simple as that,” Wan Jie suggested. “I’ll give you a ten percent cut.”

Wan Fu hesitated. “But if a few portions go missing, won’t it—”

“Here.” Wan Jie handed them a sheet of white paper. “Remove these teahouses from the list, and you’ll have enough to cover it.”

Wan Fu nodded. “Alright, we’ll try.”

After settling the matter, Wan Jie whistled cheerfully and left.

Wan Fu and Wan Jie quietly tampered with the list during the midday nap.

In the afternoon, Jiang Nan arrived, inspected the area, and asked to see the list.

She flipped through a few pages of the list and ledger, her expression growing increasingly subtle.

The woman in charge of the records nervously asked, “Deputy Captain, is there a problem?”

Jiang Nan tapped her finger on the page.

“Does Qu City have these three teahouses?”

The woman leaned in, frowning as she read, “Zuixin Lou, Anxiang Lou, Wang’s Shop…”

After repeating the names a few times, she looked at Jiang Nan. “I don’t know.”

“Send someone to check these three places,” Jiang Nan ordered.

“Yes,” the woman replied.

Three incense sticks’ time later, the woman returned with two other team members.

Her expression was grave. “Reporting, ma’am those three shops do exist. But two are wine houses, and one is a dye workshop. Yet they’re listed as teahouses… Why is that?”

“Come take a look,” Jiang Nan called them over.

They gathered around.

Jiang Nan pointed. “Look at the handwriting it’s nearly identical. But the placement of these three names is different from the others.”

She took out a ruler and measured.

“The spacing between other teahouse names is two centimeters, but these three are only one centimeter apart from their neighbors.”

“And…” Jiang Nan brought the paper close to their noses. “Good ink can retain its fragrance for a long time even months if stored properly in a cool place. But we’ve had an unusually hot autumn lately, and this spot isn’t indoors. Under direct sunlight, the scent would’ve faded. Yet this sheet still smells strongly of ink.”