When the Cannon Fodder Meets the Love-Brained Female Supporting Character - Episode 43

The candlelight flickered, and the winter air was unusually warm.

Jiang Nan looked down at the beauty beneath her lips slightly swollen and red, hair disheveled, eyes glistening with unshed tears, clothes already slipped off her shoulders to reveal snow-white skin and alluring curves.

Her throat tightened. Interlacing her fingers with Xiao Ran’s, she pressed a kiss to her collarbone.

Xiao Ran suddenly stiffened. Meeting Jiang Nan’s puzzled gaze, she said reluctantly, “I think my period just started.”

Jiang Nan froze mid-motion.

She counted the days. It was indeed about that time.

Sitting up, she helped Xiao Ran tidy her hair and clothes, then lightly kissed her lips and stroked her hair. “Wait here. I’ll make you some brown sugar water.”

In the small kitchen, Jiang Nan expertly began preparing the remedy.

After a while, Xiao Ran, now changed into fresh clothes, appeared behind her and asked, “Is brown sugar water necessary during menstruation?”

“Yes, brown sugar replenishes qi and blood. It’s perfect for this time,” Jiang Nan explained.

Soon, the thick, fragrant brown sugar water was ready, infused with bits of ginger that filled the kitchen with its sweet aroma.

Jiang Nan handed the bowl to Xiao Ran and urged her to drink it all.

Xiao Ran took a few sips, the spicy-sweet flavor spreading through her throat. By the time she finished, warmth had settled in her lower abdomen.

“It really does feel better.”

Jiang Nan asked, “You’ve never had this before?”

Xiao Ran shook her head. “No. My mother passed away early, and Xiao Li never cared about such things. I just made do with whatever I could find to steep in water.”

So that was why.

Jiang Nan thought this might explain why Xiao Ran always brewed such strange concoctions.

In the afternoon, they decided to go for a walk. Eventually, they wandered into a bustling street where a commotion seemed to be drawing a crowd. As they drew closer, they saw three men standing on stools, loudly hawking books. A throng of people surrounded them, asking questions.

Jiang Nan tried to steer Xiao Ran past, but the latter stood rooted in thought.

Xiao Ran said, “They’re the ones who sold me 100 Ways to Pursue Women.”

Jiang Nan turned to look.

Three men stood on separate stools. One middle-aged with thinning hair and a fierce expression, waving a book around; another small and wiry with shifty eyes; and a third standing behind them.

They were clearly swindlers, spouting nonsense like “Buy this and it’s like earning a hundred taels of silver!” The crowd around them included plenty of planted shills.

Jiang Nan suddenly recalled the 100 Ways to Pursue Women she’d seen at Xiao Ran’s place. The methods inside were appalling. The first tactic was to force a kiss.

This wasn’t a guide to winning women over; it was a manual for lifelong solitude.

Exchanging a glance, Jiang Nan and Xiao Ran stepped forward in unison.

The male vendor was boasting to the crowd, “Look, this is my cousin. Thanks to 100 Ways to Pursue Women, he married a beautiful, wealthy young lady. They’re blissfully happy, deeply in love.”

Someone in the crowd asked, “How do we know he really married her?”

The cousin immediately chimed in, “See this bruise on my neck? That’s from her kissing me.”

The crowd erupted in murmurs.

Xiao Ran stepped forward and declared, “No, you’re lying.”

Jiang Nan felt a swell of pride. Finally, Xiao Ran had seen through the scam.

Xiao Ran continued, “The ‘Hundred Ways to Woo a Girl’ doesn’t actually have a hundred methods. It only has eighteen… mmm.”

Jiang Nan sighed and covered Xiao Ran’s mouth with her hand.

She spoke on Xiao Ran’s behalf, “The methods taught in this book are completely unsuitable for wooing someone. The first page advocates forced kissing. Tell me, if you suddenly force a kiss on someone for no reason, would she think you’re a ruffian or suddenly fall for your rogue behavior? A young lady from a wealthy family would sooner have your legs broken than submit to you. And once a bad reputation spreads, you can forget about finding a wife for the rest of your lives.”

Her words made the other potential buyers hesitate.

Hearing this, Xiao Ran’s heart sank.

Back then, when she had followed the book’s methods with Jiang Nan, had she?

The male vendor angrily retorted, “Don’t talk nonsense! Many people bought it earlier. Are you saying they’re all fools, and only you’re the smart one?”

Jiang Nan replied, “I remember seeing that same group of people at another stall just yesterday.”

The vendor was startled and immediately realized he had encountered troublemakers. He began packing up, saying, “Alright, alright, that’s enough for today. No more sales.”

Once the crowd had dispersed, the vendor stepped down and spotted Xiao Ran. He squinted at her for a moment before exclaiming, “It’s you!”

Xiao Ran was the only woman who had ever bought a book from his stall, and he remembered her.

His eyes darted between the two of them.

He said to Xiao Ran, “Well, well, now that you’ve succeeded in wooing her, you’ve come to ruin my business.”

Xiao Ran felt a pang of guilt at his words.

Jiang Nan squeezed her hand and said, “It wasn’t because of your book. I’ve had feelings for her for a long time.”

Xiao Ran stared at her blankly, a sweet warmth rising in her heart.

They arrived at the outskirts, where the hills were blanketed in silver. Standing at the foot of the mountain, the view was vast, and the air was crisp.

Jiang Nan took out an exquisite jade hairpin, cool and smooth to the touch. Lowering her gaze, she spoke with utmost solemnity, “This hairpin is for you.”

She continued, “In this world, the brightest winter sun, the clearest moonlight, the gentlest breeze, or the coolest evening wind. None can compare to even half the smile on your lips. My heart belongs to you.”

Xiao Ran met Jiang Nan’s affectionate gaze, her heart fluttering wildly.

She tucked the hairpin into her hair, then wrapped her arms around Jiang Nan, murmuring shyly, “I love you too.”

“In the future, my wealth will be yours. I’ll open the largest teahouse in the country, and you’ll be its mistress. You can buy whatever you want, play however you like, and no one will ever bully you again,” Jiang Nan promised.

Xiao Ran buried her face in Jiang Nan’s chest and softly murmured her agreement.

.

After returning to the estate.

The system, which had been absent for days, suddenly reappeared and said ominously, “Host, prepare to face your punishment.”

A sense of foreboding gripped Jiang Nan. She rushed back to the courtyard in great haste.

The moment she reached the courtyard gate, the hairs on her body stood on end like tiny needles. Her mind went blank, and the next second, it felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her entire body went numb.

Electric currents surged through her, accompanied by a pain like her muscles were being torn apart. Cold sweat instantly beaded on her forehead.

Xiao Ran’s face turned deathly pale as she frantically said something to her.

Jiang Nan couldn’t hear. Her ears seemed to have gone deaf. She could only see Xiao Ran’s lips moving.

Struggling to suppress the pain, she forced a smile and mouthed, “It’s nothing,” before staggering toward her room.

After just a few steps, her knees gave way, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.

She didn’t fall because Xiao Ran used all her strength to hold her up.

Xiao Ran wasn’t particularly strong, and when Jiang Nan fell, she had essentially acted as a human cushion.

Jiang Nan stumbled dazedly into the house, and the moment she touched the bed, everything went black. The pain in her body felt like a thousand blunt knives slicing into her flesh, slow and excruciating.

She didn’t know how much time passed before she finally lost consciousness completely.

Jiang Nan remained in a deep slumber for three days and nights. Physicians came, but none could determine the cause.

There were no external injuries, nor any internal ones.

This was even more baffling than the most perplexing cases they had encountered.

Xiao Ran followed Jiang Nan’s example from when she had saved Qin Wan, searching for one doctor after another. Finally, she sent someone galloping to Qu City to fetch the old physician who had treated Qin Wan before.

After a day and a night, the old physician arrived. But even he couldn’t identify the cause and could only prescribe some remedies to keep her alive.

At night, Xiao Ran slept beside Jiang Nan, afraid she might wake up and find no one there. Every two hours, she would jolt awake to check on Jiang Nan.

Seeing Jiang Nan’s pale lips and tightly shut eyes, tears welled up furiously in her own eyes but refused to fall. She wiped them away haphazardly before lying back down.

What in the world is happening?

Her heart was filled with fear. Jiang Nan had suddenly appeared to help her. Would she just as suddenly disappear?

Fang Rui and the others also came daily to see Jiang Nan, wailing and lamenting by her side.

Fortunately, Jiang Nan woke up after a few days.

When she regained consciousness, she tried to move but found herself completely paralyzed. The slightest movement felt like being cut by knives. Only her eyes could still shift slightly.

After that, Xiao Ran took meticulous care of her at all times.

Jiang Nan didn’t explain the nature of her illness, and Xiao Ran didn’t ask.

But seeing Xiao Ran’s despondent mood day and night, Jiang Nan eventually offered an explanation: “I promise, this is the only time.”

Only then did Xiao Ran brighten up.

Another day passed, and Jiang Nan could move her head, but her limbs remained completely numb. She even worried she might be paralyzed.

Being paralyzed wasn’t the worst. She could have the system take her back to the modern era. But what about Xiao Ran?

Half a month later, Jiang Nan was finally able to get out of bed and walk.

Those two weeks felt like years.

The system asked her, “Now you understand the severity of the punishment?”

In its mechanically cold tone, Jiang Nan actually detected a hint of mockery.

Jiang Nan replied, “If I’d known it would just make me sick for half a month, I would have dealt with the Jiang family long ago.”

The system: “…”

During Jiang Nan’s half-month of illness, many things had happened. For instance, in two more days, Jiang Qi would be executed.

Jiang Nan still wasn’t walking smoothly, but she hurried to the prison anyway.

At that moment, the four members of the Jiang family were locked in their cells. Aside from Jiang Qi, the others were to be exiled after his execution.

Jiang Huai looked haggard, covered in wounds. He clutched his lower body, staring blankly at the prison door.

Jiang Qi, meanwhile, didn’t have a single patch of unbruised skin left on his body.

Only Jiang Xueping and Jiang Yumin appeared relatively normal. In the adjacent cell were two people Jiang Nan had never met before likely Jiang Guan, the eldest Jiang brother, and Jiang Shui Shui, the married eldest sister.

From the jailers, she learned that they hadn’t beaten Jiang Huai. His injuries were inflicted by Jiang Qi, who had also ruined his manhood with a kick.

Jiang Xueping’s gaze slowly focused as she saw her arrive. Her voice hoarse, she asked Jiang Nan, “Did you come to laugh at our misery?”

Jiang Qi, who had been hanging his head, slowly looked up at Jiang Xueping’s words. The ferocity in his eyes from half a month ago was gone, replaced only by numbness.

It seemed the tortures of the past fortnight had broken him thoroughly.

Jiang Yumin, still young and unable to conceal her emotions, rushed forward and pleaded, “Cousin, please spare us.”

Jiang Nan replied, “I can ensure you avoid imprisonment.”

Their eyes lit up with hope as they turned to her.

“I only ask one thing of you.”

Jiang Nan looked at Jiang Qi and said, “Change your surname to Wang.”

Jiang Qi’s dull eyes flickered, but he remained silent, clinging to the last shred of his dignity.

Jiang Yumin tugged at his sleeve, on the verge of tears. “Father, agree to it. I’m still young, I don’t want to die here.”

In the end, Jiang Qi nodded.

A-Jiu called for the jailer and said, “They’ve changed their names. They’re now Wang Huai, Wang Yumin, Wang Qi, Wang Xueping, Wang Guan, Wang Shui Shui… Make a note of it.”

She rattled off the names as if reciting a menu.

The jailer was baffled. Why would these condemned prisoners change their names on the eve of execution or exile? But he went to register them all the same.

Seeing their names altered, Jiang Nan’s mood lifted instantly, and she turned to leave.

Wang Xueping cried out urgently, “You said you’d let us go!”

“I’m no official, how could I release you?” Jiang Nan replied.

A-Jiu chuckled. “Avoiding imprisonment means tomorrow you’ll either be executed or exiled. Either way, you won’t be stuck in this cell anymore.”

Ignoring the curses hurled at their backs, Jiang Nan and A-Jiu left the dungeon.

.

Emerging from the dungeon, Jiang Nan suddenly longed to see Xiao Ran.

Their path ahead was now clear, free of obstacles.

When Jiang Nan found her, Xiao Ran was planting flowers in the garden, her clothes dotted with mud. Unbothered, she worked diligently, digging and planting.

Earlier, Jiang Nan had bought a pair of geese in the market and carefully selected two gold rings inlaid with pearls. Now, she said to Xiao Ran, “Let’s get engaged.”

Xiao Ran froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing pink. “No, wait a second!”

She hurried back to change into what she considered her most beautiful dress, a soft silver gossamer lily gown.

Biting her lower lip, Xiao Ran whispered, “Sister, say it again please?”

Jiang Nan took her hand, her gaze earnest. “Let’s get engaged.”

Xiao Ran threw herself into Jiang Nan’s arms, murmuring softly, “I want to. So much.”

During Jiang Nan’s illness, Fang Rui had been visiting the estate to review account books, discuss teahouse issues, and plan for future developments.

That afternoon, Fang Rui arrived to report the accounts and saw Xiao Ran arranging flowers by the gate. She greeted her, “Good afternoon, Miss Xiao. Is the boss at home?”

Xiao Ran fidgeted shyly. “How did you know Jiang-jie and I are getting engaged?”

Fang Rui: “……?”