Chapter 38

A quarter past seven.

The small car successfully returned to Chajia Village.

Everyone got out and parted ways at the village entrance.

One by one, the passengers warmly invited Jiang Tiantian to their homes:

“Tiantian, we’re making tofu tomorrow morning. Come by early and watch.”

“Tiantian, visit my house sometime. I’ll make you sweet fried glutinous rice cakes.”

“……”

“Tiantian, our sow is about to give birth in a couple of days. I’ll let you know so you can come watch.”

“And my place too! My ewe is going to have lambs soon. You should come and see.”

“Tiantian, I don’t have any animals giving birth, but my grandson raised a litter of rabbits. Would you like to see them?”

“I have a big white goose that loves chasing people and biting their butts. It’s hilarious! Come and see it when you have time.”

“……”

“Tiantian, when you go up the mountain to pick wild fruits tomorrow, take us with you! And teach us how to make jam.”

“Tiantian, my dad weaves little animals out of bamboo for my son. They look so real! I’ll ask him to make a few for you.”

“My husband carves wooden animals. They’re sturdier than those bamboo ones. I’ll get him to make some for you.”

“……”

“Tiantian, when I go fishing in the river in a few days, I’ll take you along.”

“Tiantian, when your bread kiln is finished, let us know so we can come see it.”

“……”

Jiang Tiantian’s mind filled with endless possibilities for video content. She couldn’t help but grin and nod repeatedly.

Finally, she waved her small hand in a big arc, gesturing toward the village.

“Aunts, sisters-in-law, uncles—don’t worry! I’ll visit each of your homes when I have time. Just don’t get tired of me showing up all the time!”

“And when our bread kiln is ready, bring your kids over to play!”

Hearing her response, the villagers were satisfied and began heading home in different directions.

Not far away, Cha Jiuzhang stood under a tree, his expression unreadable as he watched the scene unfold.

This little woman was something else.

She just went to town for a day, and now the whole village was acting differently.

And her social skills—weren’t they a little too good?

He had never seen the villagers be this enthusiastic toward an outsider, especially a newly arrived young wife.

Jiang Tiantian held onto her cousin-in-law’s arm as they chatted and laughed on their way home.

Her cousin-in-law glanced ahead and was instantly amused.

Standing under the tree ahead, like a rock waiting for his wife, who else could it be but Cha Jiuzhang?

She patted Jiang Tiantian’s hand and nodded forward. “Look, look! Someone’s here to pick you up.”

Jiang Tiantian turned her head and locked eyes with Cha Jiuzhang, who was standing beneath the tree.

Her smile froze for a moment. She pursed her lips and walked forward with her cousin-in-law.

She raised a free hand and waved, “Hi~”

Such a pity!

Such a handsome and capable man, yet she still didn’t know if he truly belonged to her.

Her cousin-in-law looked back and forth between them, smiling meaningfully.

“Newlyweds, huh? You’ve been out all day, and he’s already waiting eagerly here.”

Cha Jiuzhang’s expression stiffened slightly. He called out, “Cousin-in-law.”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

Her cousin-in-law pried Jiang Tiantian’s hand off her arm and shoved it into Cha Jiuzhang’s hand.

“Here, I’m returning her to you.”

Then she glanced at the sky, dramatically touched her forehead, and said,

“Oh dear, I think we’re running low on salt at home. I’d better hurry to the store to buy some.”

With that, she swiftly walked toward the right path, turned a corner, and disappeared.

Jiang Tiantian was dumbfounded by her cousin-in-law’s exaggerated actions. Then she looked down and realized her hand was still in Cha Jiuzhang’s grip. She tried to pull it back.

But he tightened his grip instead.

Cha Jiuzhang reached for the fabric bag slung over her opposite shoulder and placed it on his own.

Then, as if unaware of her resistance, he naturally held her hand and started walking.

Jiang Tiantian was tugged along and had no choice but to keep up.

She swung their joined hands and asked, “Why are you here?”

“Mom was worried about you, so she asked me to come pick you up.”

And… Cha Jiuzhang silently added, I haven’t seen you all day. Plus, after hearing some things this afternoon, I felt uneasy. I wanted to see you sooner.

Hearing that, Jiang Tiantian’s heart warmed.

Cha Mother was really like her own mother.

No matter how old she was, in a mother’s eyes, she was always a baby who needed protection.

She was getting attached… What should she do?

Jiang Tiantian looked up at the man beside her and said, “I didn’t see any clothes I liked today, so I just bought two pieces of fabric and asked a town tailor to make something for me.”

Cha Jiuzhang glanced down at her.

“Mm. If you like it, you can make more.”

After thinking for a moment, he added, “The things in town might not suit your taste. Next time, I’ll take you to the county to see if there’s anything you like.”

Then he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Staying here… do you feel wronged?”

The difference between the provincial capital and the countryside was huge. It wasn’t something he could change overnight.

But he wanted her to be happy here.

Jiang Tiantian rolled her eyes. Why was this man so dense?

He wasn’t following the expected storyline.

Hearing “town tailor,” shouldn’t he have asked which tailor she went to?

Then shouldn’t he have strongly recommended Xiaofang?

She huffed and said loudly, “I don’t feel wronged! I’m having a great time!”

Cha Jiuzhang looked down at her small, sulky outburst and chuckled. “What’s wrong?”

“Did I say something wrong?”

Jiang Tiantian gave him a sidelong glance and deliberately asked jealously, “Why didn’t you ask me which tailor I went to?”

Cha Jiuzhang thought for a moment, then smirked. “Xiaofang’s tailor shop?”

Jiang Tiantian immediately stopped in her tracks and glared at him.

See?

So quick to react.

Just hearing “Xiaofang” made him smile so gently!

“Cha Jiuzhang, be honest. Is there something between you and Xiaofang?”

“Don’t worry. If there is, I won’t blame you.”

“After all, we’re not really husband and wife. I’ll give you your freedom.”

“From now on, we’ll go our separate ways.”

The love she wanted had to be pure. Otherwise, she’d rather not have it.

Three people in a relationship was too crowded.

Cha Jiuzhang’s good mood vanished instantly.

His expression darkened.

He pulled her in front of him and held the back of her head, forcing her to look up at him.

“Who gave you permission to say ‘separate’ so easily?”

“In your eyes, is my loyalty so fragile?”

“And who the hell told you there’s something between me and Xiaofang? Why don’t I know about it?”

It was the first time Jiang Tiantian had seen him angry.

His deep brows were furrowed, and though still damn attractive, he looked different from his usual refined demeanor.

Somehow, she felt like a prey caught in the gaze of a beast.

She panicked, her eyes darting nervously.

“I-I was just saying… Why are you so mad?”

“It’s my first time feeling this way… I don’t know how to handle it.”

Cha Jiuzhang took a deep breath, suppressing his unexpected anger.

Damn it.

He was completely defeated by this woman.