Chapter 14: Perfunctory Sweet Nothings

Su Tang’s worry was etched on her face. As dusk deepened, she resembled a resentful wife waiting for her husband to come home.

Mu Jingzhou frowned, a hint of displeasure in his expression. “We should go back to the room and sleep.”

“You sleep first, I’ll wait a little longer,” Su Tang said, gazing longingly ahead. She wondered if Mu Jingyun, who wasn’t as strong as Mu Jingzhou, would be able to hold his own in a fight, and if they would be at a disadvantage at the Yu family’s house. Had Miaomiao been hurt?

Her attitude made Mu Jingzhou even more uncomfortable. He forcefully wrapped his arm around her waist. “Am I not as important as your second sister-in-law?”

The scent of male hormones enveloped Su Tang’s ears, creating a warm, tingling sensation. It was alluring. This was how she had fallen for him last night.

But now, she was worried, and the last thing on her mind was anything remotely romantic.

“Important, you’re important too. But right now, I’m afraid my second sister-in-law will get beaten. Old Man Yu is very violent,” Su Tang replied, her words both perfunctory and earnest. Her attitude was clear: I don’t have time for you right now, so scram.

Remembering her mention of “domestic violence,” Mu Jingzhou asked, “Was your second sister-in-law beaten at home before?”

“She was beaten since she was little, whipped with bamboo strips, it was painful,” Su Tang sighed, relieved that it was the original owner who had endured it, not her beloved Miaomiao.

“I remember you and your second sister-in-law didn’t know each other before.”

“Uh…”

Su Tang jolted. She had overlooked the timeline! In the story, she and Yu Miaomiao only met after getting married.

“Wife, it seems you’ve been hiding a lot of things from me.”

Mu Jingzhou’s eyes narrowed, the deep, dangerous glint making Su Tang’s heart flutter nervously.

“What do you mean? My second sister-in-law told me.”

“You two are as close as old friends,” Mu Jingzhou paused, adding, “Closer than you are with me.”

Su Tang coughed lightly. “Husband, the air is so sour tonight, can’t you smell it?”

Mu Jingzhou: …

“Husband, you work all day, and I’m at home only playing with my second sister-in-law. Besides, the whole Chahe Village suspects me of swindling you. If my second sister-in-law wasn’t friendly with me, I’d be so lonely!”

Su Tang softly called him “husband,” gently explaining her situation, melting Mu Jingzhou’s heart. He had never considered how difficult her circumstances were, given her always cheerful demeanor.

“Who in the village is saying bad things about you?” Mu Jingzhou’s gaze suddenly turned fierce. Anyone who dared to speak ill of his wife was asking for trouble. They deserved a beating!

“Husband, don’t be angry. I admit I was aggressive in the past. They don’t understand because I love you so much. Gradually, they’ll change their minds. Now that I’m playing with my second sister-in-law, I have company.”

Love? She said she loved him so much…

Mu Jingzhou had never heard such direct and powerful words of affection. His heart pounded, overwhelmed by a surge of happiness that bordered on dizziness!

“Husband…”

“It’s okay, I know you’re not bad.”

Mu Jingzhou wrapped his arms around Su Tang’s waist, and she snuggled into his embrace. Mu Jingzhou was actually nervous and embarrassed. Such an intimate act would be met with disapproval if seen by others. But he didn’t want to let go of her.

While enjoying the moment, he reassured himself: It’s dark, nobody can see us.

Li Lan went to the kitchen to heat water, and upon seeing the affectionate couple at the doorway, she couldn’t help but spit. Remembering Su Tang’s words, “Like it in the front, like it in the back,” she couldn’t resist asking Mu Jingyuan back in the room.

“What does your third brother’s wife mean by ‘like it in the front, like it in the back’?”

Mu Jingyuan, already lying down, was taken aback, then pondered for a moment before understanding. “It can be done that way…”

“Which way?” Li Lan asked, puzzled.

Mu Jingyuan looked at his wife, whose pregnancy wasn’t yet showing, his gaze deepening, his blood rushing.

“Come to bed, and I’ll tell you…”

Before the night was fully dark, Li Lan experienced “liking it in the back.” It was indeed different, and worth liking. Mu Jingyuan was also satisfied.

The second brother must have used this trick to persuade his wife not to divorce him last night. Young people are so inventive!

…

It was already eight o’clock in the evening, and it was pitch black. Su Tang’s worries intensified. Just as she was about to go to Xinxun Village to investigate, a beam of light from a flashlight appeared in the distance.

“Is that them?” Su Tang looked forward with anticipation.

“It should be. Second brother has a flashlight.” A gift from Shen Mingzhu. But Mu Jingzhou wisely didn’t say the last part.

As the light drew closer, Su Tang called out, “Second sister-in-law?”

“Mm.”

The weak response made Su Tang’s heart sink again.

She broke away from Mu Jingzhou and ran towards them. “Old Man Yu didn’t hit anyone, did he?”

The flashlight illuminated a small area, and Mu Jingzhou and Su Tang saw an unexpected sight: Mu Jingyun carrying Yu Miaomiao on his back. Both their new clothes were dirty, their hair disheveled, and they looked very disheveled.

Had they really fought?

“Second brother, what happened?” Mu Jingzhou’s face darkened as he asked.

“We slipped on the way back,” Mu Jingyun panted, sweat beading on his forehead. He had clearly carried her for quite a distance.

“Where did you fall? Is it serious?” Su Tang asked.

Yu Miaomiao slid down from Mu Jingyun’s back, adjusting her clothes. “It’s okay, I just sprained my ankle.”

“Did you really not fight?” Su Tang asked softly.

“No. Old Man Yu wanted the new clothes on my brother, so I chased him for more than ten meters with a stick. We fell on the way back,” Yu Miaomiao said.

She didn’t look as delicate as Su Tang, but she was still a frail woman.

Mu Jingzhou found it hard to imagine Yu Miaomiao chasing Old Man Yu with a stick.

“Third sister-in-law, don’t worry, your second sister-in-law is amazing! She’s incredibly skilled with a stick, like a martial artist. She scared my stingy father-in-law pale…” Mu Jingyun wiped his sweat, his pride evident.

Su Tang patted her chest, relieved. In the real world, Yu Miaomiao had initially studied Wushu, specializing in the use of spears and sticks. Later, Su Tang, finding traditional opera too slow and unremunerative, persuaded Yu Miaomiao to switch to acting. Even after years away from training, her basic skills remained, more than enough to handle ordinary people.

“Third brother, you weren’t there, but my wife’s stick skills are amazing, truly breathtaking…”

Mu Jingyun, already talkative, became even more boastful.

Mu Jingzhou: …

Aren’t you afraid that you’ll be the one on the receiving end of the stick next time?

“How did it get so chaotic?” Su Tang helped Yu Miaomiao into the house.

Yu Miaomiao said, “I had a falling out with Old Man Yu today, and we’re never speaking again.”

Su Tang blinked in shock, then hugged her tightly. “It’s okay, it’s okay, you have me. We’ll always be together.”

“Mm.”

Yu Miaomiao felt reassured by her sister’s embrace. In this strange world, they only had each other.

Mu Jingyun’s face darkened, and he nudged Mu Jingzhou. “Control your wife, that’s my wife!”

“Let them be! They’ll have company when we’re not around,” Mu Jingzhou said softly.

Mu Jingyun was unhappy. “Are you crazy?”

“Second brother, they only have us in Chahe Village,” Mu Jingzhou’s voice was even softer, tinged with a hint of heartache.

Mu Jingyun was bewildered. Wasn’t having them enough?

“Does your foot still hurt? I’ll get some cold water to apply to it,” Su Tang regretted not having ice. She seemed even more concerned than Mu Jingyun.

She busied herself, helping her remove her shoes, fetching water…

Mu Jingyun couldn’t stand it anymore and glared at Mu Jingzhou. “Take her away!”

“Wife, cold water won’t work. Let second brother get some alcohol to rub on second sister-in-law’s ankle. Let’s go back to the room.”

Su Tang still wanted to do it herself, but Mu Jingzhou directly carried her away.

“Wife, I’ll rub it for you, and it won’t hurt anymore.” Mu Jingyun heated some alcohol and massaged the injury.

“Hiss—”

Yu Miaomiao gasped in pain.

Mu Jingyun looked up at her and smiled. “Now you know it hurts, why didn’t it hurt when you were chasing people?”

They had deceived Su Tang. They hadn’t fallen on the way back; she had sprained her ankle while chasing Old Man Yu! Old Man Yu had almost given in, but when he saw her sprained ankle, he immediately raised his bamboo stick again. It was only after Mu Jingyun intervened that the fight ended.

It had to be admitted that Mu Jingyun was quite capable. It was all because of the bumpy mud road that affected her performance!

“Next time, let me do the fighting; you just watch,” Mu Jingyun said.

“Mm.”

Yu Miaomiao hummed, half from real pain, half from acting. Now that she was injured, he wouldn’t be bothering her for a while, right?

“For the next few days, don’t exert yourself down there, I’ll take care of it.”

“!!!”