Chapter 44: She’s Waiting for the Drama to Unfold

Jiang Wan immediately repeated what she’d heard that night, then said to Ren Bang:

“Regardless of anything else, just be more cautious.”

She was simply giving a reminder. As for how they would respond, Jiang Wan didn’t want to interfere. As long as she protected her own family, that was enough for her.

“Alright, thank you, little sister.”

Ren Bang nodded. Jiang Wan wasn’t sure whether he believed her or not. Either way, she’d delivered the message, and then she returned to their shabby little house.

The family had just finished washing up. Song Jiuli even warmed some water for her.
“Big Sister-in-law, I heated some water for you to wash with.”

“Thank you!”

Jiang Wan nodded and filled a basin with water, then went inside to wash up. That night, she shared a room with Madam Song and Song Jiuli.

Meanwhile, Song Jiuchi and Song Jiuyuan stayed in the other room. Song Jiuchi carefully applied medicine to Song Jiuyuan’s wounds.

Song Jiuli couldn’t fall asleep. “Mom, what do you think they’re trying to do?”

“We have so many people. No matter what they try, we’ll find a way to deal with it.”

Madam Song sighed. Truthfully, she was nervous too, but she didn’t dare show it, afraid the children would become scared as well.

Jiang Wan offered a word of caution. “No matter what it is, tomorrow morning when the villagers bring us food, don’t eat it.”

“I understand.”

Song Jiuli replied softly. Maybe it was because the journey had been exhausting—she soon fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Wan glanced at the two who were already asleep, then quietly slipped into her space and ate a bit before lying down herself.

The next morning, they were awakened by the lively sounds outside. Madam Song and Song Jiuli were already packing up. When they saw Jiang Wan wake up, Madam Song said gently:

“Wanwan, why don’t you sleep a little longer?”

“No, we’ll probably have to set out soon.”

Jiang Wan washed up quickly. Once everyone was ready, they stepped outside and found the villagers once again gathered in the threshing yard.

Some villagers were cheerfully preparing breakfast. Shen Qian stood beside Xu Wei like a loyal little follower. When she saw Jiang Wan, she even flashed a smug smile.

Jiang Wan: …

Some people really just don’t have a brain.

“Oh, you’re finally out.”

Second Madam Song had been waiting just for this moment—to mock them.

“Xu Lizheng’s family said they’re treating everyone to breakfast to thank our dear Qianqian.”

“What are you so proud of?”

Jiang Wan rolled her eyes and glanced at Song Chen, whose face had gone dark. “Second Brother, can you even stomach this breakfast?”

Being fed by a love rival—it made Song Chen’s head ache. But for the sake of staying alive, he would eat.

“This has nothing to do with you!”

Song Chen replied coldly. He didn’t seem too badly off. Jiang Wan thought of Concubine Duan, who was now gone. To love a man like that—what a fool.

At this point, only he and his mother seemed in the mood to pick a fight. The Old Madam and Third Madam were grieving over the death of Old Third Song. They looked wilted and drained like frostbitten eggplants.

“We can’t eat that breakfast,” Song Jiuyuan said in a low voice as he stared coldly at the people cooking nearby. He whispered to Jiang Wan and the others.

“Don’t worry, Big Brother. Big Sister-in-law already told us last night—we won’t eat it.”

Song Jiuli, unusually sensible this time, replied. Song Jiuyuan glanced at Jiang Wan in surprise. She really had become a lot smarter.

The two exchanged a silent look before quickly turning away. Jiang Wan caught eyes with Ren Bang across the way. He gave a subtle nod, and Jiang Wan knew he’d gotten the message.

On the other side, Shen Qian, seeing Jiang Wan’s expression hadn’t changed at all, felt annoyed. So she walked over.

She looked a bit disheveled. After all, the suffering of these days hadn’t been for nothing. But standing in front of Jiang Wan, she was still as smug as ever.

“Being able to have a proper breakfast—shouldn’t you thank me for that, Jiang Wan?”

She said it loudly on purpose, so everyone could hear her, so they’d remember her favor.

She even deliberately glanced at Ren Bang. Jiang Wan sneered inwardly. If Shen Qian ever found out that Xu Wei was planning to keep her as a concubine, who knows how she’d feel.

“I hope you’ll still be able to say that after everyone’s eaten.”

Jiang Wan smiled meaningfully, not picking a fight with Shen Qian—she was just waiting for the show to begin.

Once again, it was like punching cotton—Shen Qian got no reaction, and she stomped her foot in frustration, then rushed over to Xu Wei.

“Brother Xu, Jiang Wan and the others are always bullying me…”

“Don’t be upset.”

Xu Wei glanced over at Jiang Wan. He felt a small stir in his heart—she was pretty too, but didn’t seem easy to deal with.

In comparison, Xu Wei preferred women like Shen Qian—obedient, sweet-tempered, and gentle. So he said in a soft voice:

“This breakfast is being offered because of you. Do whatever you want with it.”

“Really?”

Shen Qian’s eyes sparkled. That look stirred something in Xu Wei. The two acted as if no one else was around, and it didn’t escape Song Chen’s eyes.

Jiang Wan clearly noticed Song Chen was about to explode with anger. Concubine Duan had done similar things, but at least she’d done them in secret.

But Shen Qian—doing it so openly—was utterly humiliating. And she was his legal wife, after all.

In the end, Shen Qian’s act of pouting and flirting earned her the job of distributing breakfast, which she intended to use as a chance to make things hard for Jiang Wan’s group.

Jiang Wan gave a cold laugh. Perfect—she hadn’t wanted to drink that porridge anyway.

Sure enough, when it was her turn in line, where everyone else got a bun and a bowl of porridge, Shen Qian skipped giving Jiang Wan a bun and only poured her half a bowl of watery porridge.

“You don’t look that hungry. This should be enough, right?”

Jiang Wan didn’t answer. She just picked up the bowl and walked away. If it weren’t to make Xu Wei’s group drop their guard, she wouldn’t have even bothered lining up.

The same thing happened to Song Jiuli and Song Jiuchi. Song Jiuli even threw a little tantrum on purpose.

Even worse, because Song Jiuyuan wasn’t well enough to line up, Shen Qian insisted he had to come in person, refusing to serve Song Jiuchi on his behalf.

Furious, Song Jiuchi slammed his bowl down. “Fine! I won’t eat! I won’t starve to death just because I miss one meal!”

“Then go ahead and starve!”

Shen Qian raised her chin proudly. Song Jiuchi stormed off, which made Xu Wei panic.

“Wait, wait, little brother! Qianqian was just joking with you. You can’t skip breakfast.”

If he really didn’t eat and ruined their plan later, Grandpa and Dad would skin him alive.

“Brother Xu!”

Shen Qian pouted in protest. She really had wanted to starve Song Jiuchi and the others, thinking back to how she herself had once gone hungry.

“Qianqian, don’t mess around. My grandfather is a kind man—if he finds out, he’ll be angry.”

Xu Wei lowered his voice and whispered in her ear. The two stood extremely close, the moment laced with intimacy.

Song Chen, standing right behind Song Jiuchi, clenched his fists tightly and glared at Shen Qian. Only then did she reluctantly give in.

“Fine, we’ll do whatever Brother Xu says.”

Angrily, she ladled out two bowls of thin porridge for Song Jiuchi, still refusing to give any buns. Xu Wei didn’t mind—his focus was just on getting them to drink the porridge.

Song Jiuchi carried the two watery bowls back. Jiang Wan and Song Jiuli had already secretly disposed of their porridge and were eating sweet potatoes instead.

“Give it to me.”

Song Jiuyuan took the bowl from Song Jiuchi and pretended to drink it using a sleight-of-hand trick.