Chapter 24: Returning Vegetables to Wang Yuhé

Ji Jingxuan continued writing without looking up. “If I write every day, the paper and ink we bought today won’t even last ten days. I need to save them for the Autumn Imperial Exam.”

Chu Xiaoqi twitched the corner of her mouth. So all that they bought today would only last ten days?

No wonder scholars in ancient times were always poor. Now she fully understood it wasn’t an exaggeration at all.

Looks like it was time for her genius brain (220 IQ) to come into play. She needed to figure out a way to solve Ji Jingxuan’s book-and-ink consumption problem.

The next morning after breakfast, Chu Xiaoqi chose a time when the village was most lively and asked Ji Jingze and Ji Jinglan to carry 30 jin of cabbage and 20 jin of radish to Wang Yuhé’s house.

Women washing clothes by the river spotted the siblings carrying so many vegetables and curiously called out:

“Xiao Ze, Xiao Lan, where are you two off to with all those vegetables?”

Ji Jingze put down the load, wiped his sweaty forehead, and grinned.

“We used to borrow a lot of vegetables from Sister Yuhé. We never had the money to pay her back. A few days ago, my sister-in-law sold a wild boar, and we finally had some money to buy vegetables and return the favor.”

A neighbor, Sister Liu, thought for a moment and said, “I remember every time Miss Wang sent vegetables, it wasn’t more than twenty jin in total. Why are you giving back so much?”

Ji Jinglan quickly responded, “My sister-in-law said, even if she’s on good terms with Sister Yuhé, borrowing is still borrowing. It’s been years—it’s only right to pay a little interest, right?

That’s why we’re giving her 30 jin of cabbage and 20 jin of radish.”

“Oh wow… didn’t expect that! Looks like Xiaoqi’s a reasonable and thoughtful girl after all.”

“Sister Liu, you all carry on. We’ll be on our way now.”

“Alright, take care, you two!”

After the Ji siblings left, the women at the riverside immediately started gossiping.

“Oh my, I always thought Wang Yuhé kept bringing vegetables to the Ji family because she had a thing for Jingxuan.”

“Turns out it was all borrowed! From what I see, no matter how good-looking Jingxuan is, with the Ji family’s second branch in such a sorry state, there’s no way the Wang family would let their daughter marry into that mess.”

“You’re right. If Chu Xiaoqi hadn’t lost her memory and ended up rescued by Jingxuan, they never would’ve gotten married. With that kind of poverty, how could the Ji family afford a wife?”

“They probably made a decent sum selling that half a wild boar.”

“Tch. It’s not like it was gold. How long can it last? Especially with that sickly one in the house who can’t do anything and constantly needs medicine.”

“Ugh, honestly, that second son of the Ji family is such a burden. So much money spent, so much medicine taken, yet he can’t die or get better. It’s frustrating just thinking about it.”

That riverside gossip spread through the whole village within an hour.

Meanwhile, Ji Jingze and Ji Jinglan placed the vegetables in the Wang family’s yard and repeated the story they’d told by the river.

Wang Yuhé’s parents were grinning ear to ear with joy—but Wang Yuhé herself was fuming, tears welling up in her eyes.

If she accepted the vegetables, it would mean admitting she had merely lent them to the Ji family—nothing romantic between her and Ji Jingxuan.

But if she didn’t accept them, she’d look like she was shamelessly throwing herself at the Ji family.

“Uncle Caiwang, Aunt Erlian, Sister Yuhé, we’ve delivered the vegetables, so we’ll head back now.”

Wang’s mother beamed and saw them out. “Alright, alright. You two be careful on your way back!”

As the Ji siblings walked off with their empty carrying pole, Wang Yuhé waited until they were out of sight—then angrily kicked a cabbage on the ground.

“Hey hey hey! What are you doing? What did the cabbage ever do to you?” Wang’s mother quickly pulled her daughter away.

Wang Yuhé stomped her foot twice in frustration, glaring at the vegetables as she angrily said:

“Ji Jingxuan is trying to distance himself from me.”

Madam Wang quickly covered Wang Yuhé’s mouth with her hand, stretched her neck to peek outside, and only after confirming no one was passing by did she let go. Then she gave Wang Yuhé’s arm a hard pinch.

“You little brat! You have nothing to do with Ji Jingxuan, so stop smearing your own name.

You’re not a child anymore. Tomorrow, I’ll go find a matchmaker in town to arrange a marriage for you.”

Wang Yuhé flailed her arms and stomped around on the ground like a child. “Mom… I just like Jingxuan! I want to marry him!”

Madam Wang, furious and disappointed, pinched her arm again.

“Are you out of your mind?

Just look at the Ji family’s situation. They barely have enough to eat! Are you planning to go there and starve?

And besides, Ji Jingxuan already has a wife. Do you want to be a concubine?

I’m telling you now—I absolutely will not agree to you getting involved with that poor boy Ji Jingxuan.”

She pointed at the pile of vegetables on the ground. “And look at this.

Does that boy have any romantic feelings for you?

He just returned all the food you’ve given him over the years, with interest!

Isn’t that clear enough? He wants nothing to do with you!”

Madam Wang raised her hand and tapped Wang Yuhé’s forehead. “Get rid of those foolish thoughts. Marry into the city and live a good life.”

Wang Yuhé’s face was covered in tears and snot. She had liked Ji Jingxuan for so many years. And now, with just a few dozen jin of vegetables, all those years of feelings were wiped clean?

She couldn’t accept that.

Even if she had to eat coarse grains and leftovers, she would still be willing to marry into that family.

But right now, she truly had no way to convince her mother to agree to her marrying into the Ji family’s second branch.

If that marriage proposal in the city went through, her mother would definitely force her to go through with it immediately.

What should she do…

—

After arranging things at home, Chu Xiaoqi slung her basket over her back and headed to the city. Ji Jingxuan and his siblings wanted to go too, but she didn’t allow it.

She told Ji Jingze to go up the mountain to chop firewood. She asked Ji Jinglan to clean the house and take advantage of the sunlight to wash the bed linens, quilts, and dirty clothes.

Mother Ji started sewing clothes and quilts. Father Ji was still patching and repairing the house, hammering here and fixing there.

As for Ji Jingxuan, Chu Xiaoqi ordered him to stay home and study diligently. If he failed the upcoming provincial exam, she’d “deal with him.”

Ji Jingxuan really wanted to accompany her to the city, but he didn’t want to upset her, so he just walked her to the bridge and reluctantly watched her figure disappear into the distance.

The longer he watched, the more anxious he became—like she might never return.

Panicked, he ran along the riverbank, cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, and shouted across the water:

“Wife… Come back soon!”

Chu Xiaoqi suddenly stumbled and nearly fell.

Wife?

What the heck?

Why did that sound like some kind of death curse? It sent chills down her spine…

She didn’t look back at Ji Jingxuan—she just raised her hand behind her and waved, then sprinted off without another word.

Ji Jingxuan saw her run off and couldn’t help but grin.

Calling her ‘wife’—was she shy?

He walked home with his hands behind his back, cheerful and lighthearted.

Just as he stepped inside, the door was kicked open with a loud bang—he didn’t even need to look back to know who it was.

Ji Jingze had gone out to chop firewood. Father Ji had gone up the mountain to dig clay. That left only Ji Jinglan, Mother Ji, and Ji Jingxuan at home.

Their big aunt, after being scared half to death by Ji Lao’er and Chu Xiaoqi the other day, had fallen seriously ill. She had only just recovered a little and gone for a stroll to the village entrance today—only to hear that the second branch had returned several dozen jin of cabbages and radishes to the Wang family.

She was furious.

“You’ve got some nerve—!”

The second branch really was growing wings—acting like they could fly now. When they had something good, they gave it away to outsiders, never once thinking about the main branch.

Today, she had to go teach them a lesson and restore the family order.

She squatted outside the second branch’s door, and the moment she saw Chu Xiaoqi leave, she rushed back to fetch Ji Yanyang.

Ever since falling into the latrine pit, Ji Yanyang had been sick to his stomach for days. He’d been full of rage with no outlet.

When his mother called for him, he slapped his thigh, rolled up his sleeves, and followed her, his fat shaking as he walked toward the second branch.

Ji Jingxuan turned and gave the mother and son a calm glance. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he looked to Ji Jinglan, who was standing by the well, fists clenched, eyes red with fury.

“Xiaolan,” he asked, “what did your sister-in-law say should be done to people who trespass into private homes?”

Gritting her teeth, Ji Jinglan replied, “They can be beaten to death on the spot as thieves.”

Upon hearing that, their aunt, who used to view the second branch as easy to bully, was furious that they dared speak of her this way. She grabbed Ji Yanyang and charged into the courtyard, pointing at Ji Jingxuan.

“Ji Jingxuan, you little bastard! What kind of classics have you been reading, huh? Is this how you treat your elders?

Watch me beat you to death today, you little mongrel!”

She leapt forward and tried to slap Ji Jingxuan, but he caught her wrist and flung her aside.

“What kind of elder are you?” he said coldly. “You’re nothing more than a common thief sneaking over walls in the dead of night.”

His aunt and Ji Yanyang froze.

Did the Ji family know it was them who snuck in that night?

Seeing the looks on their faces, Ji Jingxuan found it almost funny.

With their mismatched builds—one fat, one skinny, one tall, one short—everyone in the village had guessed it was the two of them that night. Only they were still clueless.

It was only because his father didn’t want to escalate the matter that they hadn’t been exposed.

Seems like their family was far too kind.

They were willing to forgive others, but no one had ever considered forgiving them.

“Xiaolan, what are you waiting for? Grab a weapon—”

Ji Jinglan wiped her hands dry and turned to the main room, dragging out the thick wooden stick they used to brace the door.

Ji Jingxuan went to the kitchen and came out holding a gleaming kitchen knife.

Inside the house, Mother Ji trembled with fear, not daring to make the slightest sound—terrified that their aunt and cousin would barge in and steal their cotton and fabric.

Seeing the unflinching determination in Ji Jingxuan and Ji Jinglan’s eyes, the mother and son from the main branch started to panic.

Aunt Ji was scared stiff, though she still cursed from behind Ji Yanyang, using him as a human shield.

“You little bastards! Just try touching me today, I dare you!”

Ji Jingxuan gave the two of them a faint smile and calmly said, “Go!”

The siblings rushed forward, weapons in hand.

Ji Yanyang realized they weren’t bluffing—this was for real! He turned and bolted out of the courtyard, completely forgetting his mother.

Aunt Ji was stunned that her son had abandoned her. Before she could react, Ji Jingxuan’s flashing knife was already in front of her.

With no other option, she shut her eyes and collapsed, pretending to faint.

Ji Jingxuan squatted down beside her. He saw her eyelids twitching—obviously faking.

He tapped her face with the back of the knife.

“Coward. And you still dare try to play the bandit?”

“Xiaolan, drag her out. Next time I’m not home and this kind of thief dares enter, just hack them to pieces.

Or beat them half to death and report them to the authorities.”

After so many years, Ji Jinglan finally got to vent all her bottled-up anger. She grinned and nodded. “Don’t worry, Big Brother. Next time, I won’t let scum like this off so easily.”

Then she bent down, grabbed her aunt by the leg, and dragged her out the courtyard gate—tossing her in the middle of the main road.