Chapter 190: Doubts

Jiang Yihuan dragged her weary body back to the newly rented small house.

As soon as she stepped into the yard, a bucket of water splashed out from the side.

Jiang Yihuan was drenched, her expression turning ugly as she furiously glared at the woman who had thrown the water.

"You did that on purpose."

The woman showed no remorse, speaking sharply and harshly: "I was spilling water at my own doorstep, it’s not like I spilled it on your place. Who told you to not watch where you were going and show up just as I was spilling the water? Maybe you’re the one framing me on purpose!"

There were five households living in this courtyard, each renting a room. The kitchen and the bathroom were shared.

This area was a rental zone where many people working in town found lodging. This also meant that the area was a mixed bag of different people.

After finding work, Jiang Yihuan asked the boss for an advance on her monthly silver to rent a house, so she wouldn’t have to return to the broken temple. She didn’t want to squeeze in with a bunch of beggars at the ruined temple any longer.

But that little bit of silver was only enough to rent the cheapest house. If she rented something more expensive, there wouldn’t be enough left to cover other expenses.

She had also reached out to those former suitors, but after she got married, they also got married one after another. Now, they all had wives controlling the household and even if they wanted to help her, they couldn’t produce any money.

Jiang Yihuan faced rejection time and again, regretting having gotten married so early. If she hadn’t gotten married, she could have continued finding another sucker to pay for her.

Now that she was married, it was much harder to flirt with those men again. Even if a man took the bait, it was just to take advantage of her, not out of any intent to marry her.

Losing her body for that bit of money was not a good bargain. Since she had chosen Xiao Yanci, she could only place all her bets on him.

Jiang Yihuan took the groceries she had just bought and went to the kitchen. As soon as she entered, she saw a young woman cooking there. The woman looked up, revealing a familiar face.

"What are you doing here?" Jiang Yihuan asked warily, eyeing Wen Family’s member.

Wen Family’s member’s eyes flickered: "I rented a room here."

"You knew we were living here, and you followed us on purpose, didn’t you?" Jiang Yihuan said angrily, "We’re already married, can you stop haunting us like a ghost?"

"What’s going on?" Xiao Yanci just came back from outside, heard Jiang Yihuan’s voice, and followed the sound to find her.

When he saw Wen Family’s member cooking at the stove, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Wen Family’s member looked at him mournfully: "Student Xiao, I really didn’t know you were here. The rent here is cheap, it’s the only place I could afford."

Xiao Yanci’s handsome face flushed red.

The rent here was the cheapest, which showed how down and out he was now. Whether in his past life or this one, it was his first time being this embarrassed.

"Huan’er, I think this is just a coincidence."

"You’re still defending her!" Jiang Yihuan said angrily, "I think you couldn’t wait for her to follow so you two can rekindle your past romance."

"Huan’er, stop making a scene." Xiao Yanci had a hard day and was already in a bad mood. Jiang Yihuan making a scene in front of Wen Family’s member made him even more embarrassed.

Jiang Yihuan’s eyes were red with anger: "Fine, I’m making a scene, I’m acting out."

With that, she shoved the basket of groceries into his hands and stormed back to her room in anger.

Xiao Yanci frowned.

Jiang Yihuan was throwing a fit and not cooking?

But he was already starving.

Wen Family’s member said softly, "It’s my fault, I should have stayed away. But, I have no money and nowhere else to rent."

"It’s not your fault," Xiao Yanci said, "This time Huan’er is being unreasonable."

"Student Xiao, you’re still so kind." Wen Family’s member gazed at Xiao Yanci affectionately.

Xiao Yanci’s heart softened.

"I’ve made some food, are you hungry? Would you like some?" Wen Family’s member said, then looked regretful, "Look at me, I keep forgetting you’re married now. You have Mrs. Xiao to cook for you, my humble culinary skills are not worth mentioning."

"I am a bit hungry, but do you have enough?"

Jiang Yihuan got angry and handed the groceries over to him, clearly unwilling to cook.

He was terribly hungry, and if someone offered to make him food, he certainly wouldn’t refuse.

He couldn’t be expected to cook, could he?

"It’s enough, I don’t eat much." Wen Family’s member was delighted.

Jiang Yihuan lay on the bed, and without realizing it, fell asleep. When she woke up again, it was already dark outside.

By this time, she was so hungry she felt her stomach sticking to her back, wondering why Xiao Yanci hadn’t brought her any food. Was he unable to cook, still in the kitchen struggling with it?

She opened the door and went out, only to see Xiao Yanci sitting at a stone table drinking tea, with Wen Family’s member beside him washing clothes, looking up at him tenderly from time to time.

Suppressing her anger, Jiang Yihuan approached and said to Xiao Yanci, "Husband, is the meal ready?"

Xiao Yanci frowned: "I thought you were asleep and didn’t want to eat, so there was nothing saved for you."

Wen Family’s member added from the side, "Miss Jiang, if you’re hungry, I saved two pancakes. Wait a moment, I’ll warm them up for you."

"Who wants to eat your stuff?" Jiang Yihuan snapped.

Wen Family’s member was startled by her outburst and stepped back, slipping as she did.

Xiao Yanci stood up and caught her around the waist.

"Thank you, Student Xiao," Wen Family’s member’s voice, with its natural southern accent, was sweet and alluring.

"Don’t touch him." Jiang Yihuan forced herself between them.

Seeing Jiang Yihuan crying in anger, with the other households peeking through their windows, clearly relishing the drama, Xiao Yanci didn’t want to make a scene. He pulled Jiang Yihuan back into their room.

"Student Xiao, I’ll bring you the tea later," Wen Family’s member called after them.

"No need," Xiao Yanci said.

"Then I’ll brew it for you some other time when you want to drink it."

Once Xiao Yanci pulled Jiang Yihuan back inside and closed the door, he looked at her displeased.

"Huan’er, what’s happened to you? Wen Family’s member didn’t know we lived here before, and since we’ve met, why not be friends? You’re both women; supporting and looking out for each other is the right path, why cause her trouble all the time? You can’t cook, and Wen Family’s member is a good cook, we could even partner up with her on meals."

"Do you regret marrying me?" Jiang Yihuan clutched his neck, crying, "My mother treats us like that, you don’t get enough to eat or sleep well being with me, do you regret marrying me? Wen Family’s member can cook, if you’re with her, you wouldn’t have to worry about food or drink."

This retreating to advance was her usual tactic.

Every time she met Wen Family’s member, she easily ended up being led by the nose. Only when she calmed down did she realize how wrong she was.

Men like these were easy to sway. As long as she didn’t lose her own composure, Xiao Yanci couldn’t be taken by another woman.

This was her only card left, and however dissatisfied she was, she had to hold onto it.

"Talking nonsense again." Xiao Yanci tapped her on the nose.

Indeed, once Jiang Yihuan cried, his tone softened.