Chapter 90: The Young Wife Is Too Naive, Easily Fooled by a Female Rogue

She had been circling around for quite some time, only to realize that this Xia Li was heartless and clearly hadn’t listened.

She held back, casting a tentative glance, and casually asked, “Don’t you think… for someone like you, Xia Li, it would be better to marry early to a dependable man with good prospects? Why suffer through the hardship of studying?”

“If you really want to get married, I can introduce you to one or two good men from decent families. They’re all good brothers of Brother Bin, and they’d definitely be a great match for you…”

Xia Li withdrew her gaze from the mirror.

After taking such a long detour, she finally got to the point.

Was Zhao Xueling really thinking of introducing a match for her?

She didn’t even believe it herself.

What was her real intention? Was she not helping Zhou Lianbin but testing her instead?

Xia Li remained calm, showing a trace of disdain and confusion, and said angrily:

“Xueling, what’s your meaning? You still call me your good sister, but I see you’re trying to harm me!”

“You want to introduce me to a group of unruly street punks? If you do that, we’re done with each other!”

Her tone was filled with disgust and disdain.

She might as well have said, “You want to find a man from a garbage heap, but don’t drag me into it.”

Or, “If you like to eat crap, go ahead, but I don’t want anything to do with it.”

Zhao Xueling had actually been testing how Xia Li felt about Zhou Lianbin, trying to figure out if Xia Li was interested in him.

To be fair, Zhou Lianbin wasn’t bad-looking, and his rogue-like energy attracted naive girls. Yesterday, he even rode a motorcycle…

He hadn’t even given her a ride yet!

She was really worried that Xia Li might be one of those shallow girls who could fall for such a guy.

Hearing Xia Li’s words, Zhao Xueling felt relieved, but immediately, she was also filled with anger.

What was with that dismissive tone??

She was the one acting like a snob now?!

No wonder Xia Li had looked at her with that kind of disgust earlier; it turned out she didn’t like Zhou Lianbin because she thought he was a good-for-nothing rogue, not someone worth her time!

Ugh!

Zhao Xueling glanced at Xia Li’s scrunched-up face, muttering angrily in her mind.

What a joke.

Xia Li didn’t like Zhou Lianbin, and for Zhao Xueling, that was a good thing…

But why did it feel so strange?

The man Xia Li looked down on had now become the one she was trying to cozy up to!

What was going on?

It was infuriating!

Zhao Xueling, under Xia Li’s subtle and dismissive gaze, really wanted to shout at her, “You’re the one who doesn’t know how to appreciate a good thing! You don’t even realize that Zhou Lianbin’s future is bright! He’ll soon be a big boss that everyone looks up to! A person you can never catch up to!”

She was so blind!

Once Zhou Lianbin made it big, Xia Li would only be jealous of her!

Of course, while she was angry, she knew better than to say all that out loud.

It was all Xia Li’s fault—she was really infuriating!

After a bit of bickering, Zhao Xueling couldn’t hold back anymore and threw a few sarcastic remarks before storming off.

She had completely forgotten about the reason she came to convince Xia Li.

Xia Li watched her leave, fuming, and couldn’t help but feel a little strange inside.

She had been wondering for some time now why Zhao Xueling, who had always been so proud, would suddenly fall for a guy like Zhou Lianbin.

She had even dropped out of school early, hanging out with those street punks every day.

In the original owner’s memory, Zhao Xueling had once despised people who mingled with gangs.

When had she started making such a “self-destructive” choice?

Or perhaps she didn’t see it as a fall from grace but secretly thought it was a great choice?

…

Xia Li had already begun to suspect where Zhao Xueling’s sudden confidence came from.

She was a transmigrator too, so she could imagine something similar happening.

Apart from being initially shocked, she mostly found it strange.

If Zhao Xueling really had some kind of foresight or was reborn, then she must have known that Zhou Lianbin’s future would be bright and he’d become a successful entrepreneur. That’s why she was chasing him.

But if she had this kind of supernatural ability, why didn’t she use it to better herself, like going to college or starting a business?

Why was she so focused on a man?

Was she really betting her future on a man who wasn’t reliable?

Xia Li couldn’t understand.

Moreover, Zhou Lianbin had been a heartless playboy. If Zhao Xueling was aware of that and still chose to be with him, then she was really out of her mind.

As Xia Li was thinking, she picked up her bag, planning to head to the market for a warm bowl of soup and chat with Xiao Juan about their recent earnings.

Just as she stepped out, she heard movement from the yard.

Jiang Cheng effortlessly jumped down from the courtyard wall, carrying a bundle of things.

He looked hot and sweaty, beads of sweat on his forehead.

Xia Li quickly turned back, seeing him dressed in a thin cotton jacket and light pants, his figure tall and straight, as though he were in a different season than her.

When he saw her, his dark eyes lit up, and he rushed over, handing her the bundle of things. “Wife, here, these are good things.”

Xia Li looked at his pants, which were covered in mud, and asked, “Did you go up the mountain again?”

She glanced at the bundle—large white radishes, wild ginseng covered in mud, and some unknown small fruits that were sweet and sour.

There was even a wildflower with purple and white petals.

Jiang Cheng nodded, his energetic face glowing with vitality. When he saw her dressed like this, he stared at her for a few seconds before opening his mouth to say something.

But as soon as he entered the living room, his expression shifted.

Xia Li asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Cheng sniffed the air, his brow furrowing slightly, and said, “What’s that smell?”

“Did someone come by?” He looked at her closely.

Xia Li was confused. “What smell…”

Oh, could it be that Zhao Xueling had been here earlier, leaving behind the scent of her shampoo?

Xia Li had vaguely noticed it, but hadn’t realized how sensitive Jiang Cheng’s nose was. Even though Zhao Xueling had left a while ago, he could still smell it.

She set the things aside, washed her hands, and said, “Someone came to see me earlier, but it was nothing important.”

Jiang Cheng’s face darkened, and he looked at her with a disapproving gaze.

He asked in a low, cautious tone, “It’s that woman again, isn’t it? She’s come to find you again?”

A flash of suspicion and disdain appeared in his eyes. “Wife, if she comes looking for you again, don’t open the door. Wait until I come over.”

“Is her business legitimate? We shouldn’t be playing along with her.”

Jiang Cheng recalled Zhao Xueling, the woman who had been spying on the men when they were urinating. She had always come to bother his little wife, dressed in strange ways and saying things that sounded flattering but were actually full of deceit.

He thought his wife was too naive, easily tricked by that woman.

Xia Li had no idea about his suspicions.

She thought for a moment—whether Zhao Xueling was legitimate or not wasn’t something she could be sure of, but as for the man in front of her…

“Just speak your mind. Don’t hold my hand like that.” Xia Li raised her head.

Jiang Cheng’s face was serious. He unconsciously held her hand and looked down, surprised at himself.

“Ah, um… I’m just worried your hand will be as cold as yesterday, like a little sparrow freezing to death,” he murmured seriously.

Reluctantly, he let go of her hand, a little embarrassed.

Lately, he had gotten used to holding his little wife’s hand…

Every few days, he would find a reason to hold it.

After all, her hands were cold, and his were warm.

He clearly noticed that ever since winter arrived, every time he held her hand, she would pretend to resist, but he could feel her hesitance was less than before.

Her hand was like a magnet, and now, whenever he saw it, he couldn’t help but want to grab it and rub it to warm it up, making it soft and warm.

---

After they went out, the two of them arrived at the market.

At Wei Xiaoxuan’s stall, it was the busy time of the day. She was making soup and stir-fried dishes, and had hired a relative to help her, so things were running smoothly but a bit chaotic.

As soon as Wei Xiaoxuan saw Xia Li, she quickly waved and ladled out a large bowl of spicy pork bone soup.

The noodles were rich and fragrant, piled with three tender, juicy ribs, garnished with a few sprigs of green onion, steaming hot, with the aroma wafting through the air, making them both salivate.

“I figured you’d come by around this time, so I saved some for you,” she said with a smile.

She also greeted Jiang Cheng. “Xiao Jiang, come sit!”

Xia Li had been craving this since the week at school, so she and Jiang Cheng sat at the small table behind the stall, eating while others waited.

The two of them sat there happily eating. Jiang Cheng, with his broad and sturdy physique, sat quietly on the low stool, occasionally handing Xia Li a napkin, watching her eat with relish, while he calmly ate himself, his expression gentle and serene.

Their actions created a harmonious atmosphere that Wei Xiaoxuan noticed, smiling as she watched.

She could tell the two of them were growing closer.

After working for a while, Wei Xiaoxuan finally had a moment to chat.

With a smile, she said to Xia Li, “The business has been doing better than last month. The new pig’s trotters soup is selling well.”

Xia Li glanced at the account book and nodded, “You’ve worked hard, Xiaoxuan. The weather’s getting colder, and you’ve been working all day long.”

Wei Xiaoxuan waved her hand, agreeing, “It’s not that hard. As long as business is good, I don’t mind being busy. If business wasn’t good, we wouldn’t even have work to do. I’d be home taking a nap.”

Xia Li smiled, noticing that Wei Xiaoxuan seemed genuinely happy. The subtle worry on her face that used to be there was now gone.

“Nowadays, we earn in one day what we used to earn in half a month. Our herbal soup stall has gained some reputation. Just a few days ago, people from the neighboring county came to drink the soup,” Wei Xiaoxuan continued, her face full of excitement. However, as she spoke, she seemed to hesitate slightly, wanting to say something but holding back.

Xia Li could tell she wanted to share something more.

Just then, some customers arrived, so Wei Xiaoxuan smiled and went back to work, leaving the conversation unfinished.

Xia Li didn’t mind and decided to stroll around the market for a bit. When she came back, she could continue the conversation.

As they walked, Jiang Cheng noticed her stopping and starting as she looked at the various stalls. Soon enough, she had bought two large bags full of various snacks. Unable to hold back, Jiang Cheng asked:

“Wife, are you stocking up for the winter?”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Xia Li looked at him with her cheeks puffed out, a dried plum in her mouth, surprised.

Jiang Cheng scratched his head. “You’re buying so much to eat. It’s like a squirrel storing food for the winter. Are you planning to stay home all winter and then come out later?”

“What do you mean ‘stocking up for the winter’? I’m buying these for school,” Xia Li replied.

When she heard his comparison to a squirrel, she pictured the image of squirrels collecting pine cones for the winter. She realized it did look a bit like her own behavior.

She laughed, her eyes squinting like crescent moons, a smile blooming on her face, and a cute dimple appeared.

Jiang Cheng looked at her, delighted by her smile but also a little puzzled.

What did he say to make her so happy?

But…

He really liked how she smiled, especially the cute dimples on her white, soft face.

---

They passed by a small shop selling clothes, and Xia Li went in to take a look, recognizing the store as the one where they had bought clothes on their first visit to the market.

She remembered that the shopkeeper had been local, but now, the shopkeeper greeted them enthusiastically with a changed accent: “Pretty lady, bringing your husband to buy clothes? We’ve got the latest styles from Guang City! Come on in and take a look!”

Xia Li blinked in surprise. “Huh? Didn’t you say you were local?”

The shopkeeper smiled awkwardly and scratched his head. “Ah, well… I’m local, yes. But recently I went to the city to restock, and I found that the clothes from Guang City are really popular with young people, so I thought I’d learn a bit from them. Hehe.”

Xia Li wasn’t bothered by it and went inside with Jiang Cheng.

As she casually browsed, she noticed a large black leather jacket hanging on the wall. It had thick fur lining and looked incredibly warm and stylish.

She turned to Jiang Cheng with a playful smile.

He looked confused as he stood by the door, his face expressionless.

Two minutes later.

Jiang Cheng tried on the jacket and stood in front of the shop, spinning around as Xia Li tugged at him to turn.

The shopkeeper, stunned, exclaimed, “This looks amazing on you! I’ve sold over fifty of these, but you wear it like it was made for you!”

The shopkeeper couldn’t help but praise him.

Jiang Cheng’s tall, lean frame, paired with the jacket, made him look even more imposing, his aura intense. He looked even fiercer than Xia Li had imagined.