When the Cannon Fodder Meets the Love-Brained Female Supporting Character - Episode 5

Wang Feifei sat in her carriage, putting on an affected air as she looked at Xiao Ran, saying to the maid beside her, “Brother Huai gave me a pair of jade bracelets yesterday, so precious. Xiao Ran, you don’t have any, do you? Oh, I forgot. With your family in such a state, how could you possibly have something so fine? I’m afraid you’ll soon be—”

At the crucial moment, she covered her mouth and giggled.

Wang Feifei had delicate features and rode in an extravagant sedan chair.

Her father was the local county magistrate, and her family was well-off. Naturally, she regarded Jiang Huai, the eligible young man from the Jiang family, as her destined match. She was deeply displeased with Xiao Ran’s constant pestering of Jiang Huai and had come today specifically to put her in her place.

Xiao Ran, however, seemed to let her scolding go in one ear and out the other, staring blankly at the stone lions at the entrance of the estate.

“Xiao Ran, are you mocking me, the dignified daughter of a county magistrate, for not being as good-looking as a stone lion?” Wang Feifei snapped, sharp-tongued and quick to seize any opportunity to find fault.

Xiao Ran looked slightly bewildered, glancing between the stone lions and Wang Feifei as if genuinely comparing their appearances.

Wang Feifei stamped her foot in anger and retreated into her sedan chair.

“Ah Cui, teach her a lesson!”

The maid named Ah Cui stepped forward, her face stern as she raised her hand to slap Xiao Ran. “How dare a mere merchant’s daughter defy my lady?”

With each word, a crisp smack rang out.

Xiao Ran instinctively closed her eyes, but no pain came. When she opened them, she saw Ah Cui expressionlessly clapping her own hands, mimicking the sound of slapping with eerie precision.

After three claps, she stopped.

Ah Cui leaned in and whispered to Xiao Ran, “My lady has been spoiled rotten since childhood. You’d best avoid her in the future. I’m under the magistrate’s orders to keep an eye on her. Today, you’ve done nothing wrong, so I won’t make trouble for you. But if she’s around next time, I can’t promise anything.”

Xiao Ran murmured her thanks.

The sedan chair gradually moved away.

The onlookers, seeing no more drama, dispersed in a hubbub.

As the crowd thinned, Xiao Ran spotted Jiang Nan walking against the flow. Her eyes brightened, and she stepped forward to bow.

“Sister Jiang Nan, I came today to visit you and to return this…” She produced a gilded medicine jar.

It was unmistakably the precious medicinal herbs Jiang Nan had secretly sent to Xiao Ran when she was injured after their first encounter.

Jiang Nan had never allowed the messenger to reveal her identity. So how did Xiao Ran know?

Noticing her confusion, Xiao Ran explained in her soft voice, “There’s a tiny ‘Jiang’ character on the bottom of the jar, and the ribbon tying the lid is a unique water-blue color. I’ve often seen this shade on your waistband, so I thought it must be your favorite color.”

Such a meticulous observer.

Jiang Nan maintained her cold expression. “I didn’t send it, and neither did Jiang Huai. There are at least ten families with the surname Jiang in Yangcheng. Don’t flatter yourself.” With that, she strode into the estate.

It would be best if Xiao Ran held no favorable impressions of the Jiang family and kept her distance only then could she remain safe in the future.

A’Tuo nodded emphatically behind her. “Exactly.”

________________________________________

The next day, as promised, Jiang Nan secretly delivered two heavy chests of silver to Qin Wan and dispatched several covert guards to assist their mission.

After meeting Jiang Nan the previous day, Qin Wan had been overjoyed but soon, deep suspicion crept in. Did good fortune truly fall from the sky? Perhaps she had been too naive.

If Jiang Nan hadn’t shown up by day’s end, Qin Wan would have resorted to her own methods to secure a lifeline for the merchant convoy.

Beside her, two figures in tight martial attire chattered away, each voicing their thoughts.

“Captain, let’s not wait any longer. She won’t come.”

“Who would pour money into a trade caravan that failed on its first attempt for no reason?”

“Just forget it.”

The sun had just risen when Jiangnan arrived, accompanied by several men dressed in black martial attire, their steps light and agile.

Qin Wan stared at the opened chests. One filled to the brim with silver notes, the other gleaming with polished silver ingots.

She was utterly speechless.

Both of Qin Wan’s parents were caravan traders, and she had learned much from them since childhood. Yet, even though she clearly grasped things faster and better than her elder brother, her parents never once considered entrusting her with any responsibilities.

When her brother fell ill and she offered to help for a few days, she was met with skepticism about her capabilities. Because of that doubt, she never received any support. Her parents never provided her with funds, fearing she would squander the family fortune. This time, too, it was due to insufficient funds. They couldn’t hire enough guards, and their goods were robbed.

When her parents found out, all they said was, “See? We knew she couldn’t do it. She should just go home and get married. Sons are naturally smarter and braver than daughters. It’s just how things are.”

But her brother had ample funds, abundant resources, and hired at least five times the number of guards she could afford.

How could she not fail when they weren’t even starting from the same point?

With all the resources tilted in his favor, how could he not succeed?

Qin Wan absentmindedly touched the chest, on which were written a few bold, flamboyant characters: I believe in you.

She didn’t know what to feel. So there really was someone who would trust and support her so wholeheartedly.

Now, she fully believed in that map.

While the rest of the caravan members were still gaping at the silver in shock, she closed the chests, and the room returned to its dull, dusty state. But Qin Wan’s eyes shone with determination.

She slapped the iron chest, producing a deafening clang, her expression radiant as she declared, “Let’s go. We’re going to pull off a job. Retrieve our goods!”

“Alright! Let’s go! The Merchant’s Word Never Fails!”

The others were equally fired up. Though the room was mostly filled with women, their rallying cry was enough to stir the blood and invigorate the spirit.

When Jiangnan learned they had set out, she was in high spirits. With time to spare, she headed to the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

As soon as she arrived, she heard Fang Rui’s anguished wails from inside.

“My tree!! My flowers!!!”

Jiangnan hurried in, only to bump into Fang Rui, who stormed out, fuming.

“What’s going on?”

Seeing her, Fang Rui forced out a few tears and indignantly exclaimed, “Boss, something terrible has happened in the shop! My money tree… it’s gone!”

Jiangnan was stunned and glanced at the potted plant behind her.

“Isn’t it right there?”

Fang Rui pointed frantically at the pink flowers blooming behind the money tree, nearly hysterical. “Since when do money trees bloom? This isn’t the same plant I bought yesterday! I’m going to find out who swapped our money tree and make them pay!”

Jiangnan made a round of inspections in the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion. Fang Rui worked efficiently several burly men with gentle faces but intimidating builds were already stationed at every corner, keeping watch.

As Fang Rui put it, hiring men who looked too fierce might ruin the customers’ appetites, while hiring those who were too pretty might make them seem easy to bully. So, she had chosen this particular group.

Not bad at all.

After finishing her rounds, Jiangnan stepped outside, only for Fang Rui to pounce on her with a dramatic wail.

“Boss, I know who did it!”

“It was that woman from across the street! Little Yu told me!”

Xiao Yu, a little stray child she had brought from who-knows-where, was settled in the shop to do odd jobs. No wages needed, just three meals a day were enough. Jiangnan had been informed about this.

“Xiao Yu said that this morning, when he came out from the backyard to start his chores and cracked the door open a sliver, he noticed someone sneaking around near the money tree. After a closer look, he confirmed it was the assistant manager from across the street.” Fang Rui was furious. “How could that woman be so heartless? She won’t even spare little flowers and plants.”

Jiangnan was utterly baffled.

Why would she steal our money tree?

It was already late today. She’d go ask about it tomorrow.

Exhausted after a long day, Jiangnan returned to the estate.

Passing through the garden, she spotted Jiang Huai sitting by the riverbank, fan in hand, gazing up at the moon.

…

A’Tuo immediately stepped forward and whispered in Jiangnan’s ear, “Perhaps the young master heard that Miss Yuqian will soon return to Yangcheng and is now wallowing in melancholy. Why don’t you go comfort him, miss?”

Yuqian, that was the female lead.

“No.” Jiangnan walked even faster.