Even a Straight Man Has to Become a Fulang Chapter 30

Chapter 30 – Truly Delicious

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“This marriage, I accept.”

 

Jiang Changxin finally released the breath he had been holding, slowly letting it out in a long exhale, even feeling the urge to press his chest lightly. For some reason, it was as if a great weight in his heart had been lifted, leaving him extraordinarily relieved.

 

“Mmm mmm mmm…”

 

Cheng Zhao, with Yu Yuan covering his mouth, could not speak. He pounded on Yu Yuan’s arm, pointing at Jiang Changxin beside them.

 

Yu Yuan glanced sideways, frozen in disbelief, dumbfounded because…

 

Their master had actually smiled.

 

Jiang Changxin did smile sometimes, but it was usually a forced, fake smile. To outsiders, he appeared as a simple-minded, foolish boy. Occasionally, he would sneer, chuckle coldly, or mock, but this kind of easy, relaxed smile… Cheng Zhao and Yu Yuan had never seen it before.

 

Both of them knew the burdens their master carried: the blood feud with Empress Cheng’s family, and the entire kingdom and state of Great Liang. The emperor was now under the control of the eunuch faction, reduced to a puppet in their hands. All other princes had been wiped out. Jiang Changxin alone represented the future hope of Great Liang.

 

He bore far too much, and as a result, he never allowed himself to show such a carefree smile.

 

Yu Yuan was stunned, gradually relaxing his grip, and Cheng Zhao finally regained his breath, taking a deep inhale. He wanted to speak but feared disturbing their master’s hard-earned peace, afraid that this rare smile would vanish like smoke.

 

The matriarch of the Jiang family, seeing Ye Ning’s agreement, was overjoyed, even more than the three eavesdroppers outside.

 

“Really? You agreed? How wonderful! From now on, you will be your own person.”

 

“Rest assured, I will treat you as if you were my own son!”

 

“Strangely enough, the first time I met you, I felt a connection, as if your nature set you apart from others in the village.”

 

“This is fate, indeed.”

 

“Oh!” The matriarch clapped her hands. “What a memory I have! I almost forgot. I must go back and tell Master Jiang and Old Master Jiang, so they can rejoice too.”

 

Ye Ning said, “Madam Jiang, there’s no rush. The pepper leaves were just picked. If we don’t prepare them today, they’ll lose freshness. Let’s taste the shoots before heading back.”

 

Although she was eager to report the good news, Madam Jiang could not resist tasting Ye Ning’s cooking, especially the pepper leaves. In Qingtian Village, no one else knew how to handle them properly. They were too precious; even the Jiang family’s chefs had hesitated to touch them.

 

The matriarch laughed. “Wonderful! I am lucky today. I’ll go call Xin’er so we can all taste it together.”

 

Jiang Changxin, who had been eavesdropping, now strode away from the window of the noodle stall and stood at a distance, playing with his slingshot, as if he hadn’t just been listening.

 

“Xin’er.”

 

Madam Jiang emerged, her smile never fading, almost stretching from ear to ear. “You are indeed blessed—Ye Ning agreed to your marriage.”

 

Jiang Changxin naturally understood, but feigned ignorance, tilting his head. “Marriage?”

 

The matriarch explained, “Ye Ning will be part of our family from now on. He will live with us, and you can see him every day. How does that sound?”

 

Jiang Changxin immediately clapped dramatically. “Good! I like Ye Ning!”

 

Ye Ning, standing in the kitchen of the noodle stall, looked out the window, just seeing Madam Jiang speaking with Jiang Changxin. He let out a slight sigh of relief and thought: indeed, Jiang Changxin was still a naive boy. He had no understanding of love or marriage, so Ye Ning could go to the Jiang household without worry, treat Jiang Changxin well, and later, when the boy regained his wits, he would owe Ye Ning a favor as the future crown prince. Not bad.

 

Thinking this through, Ye Ning felt the investment’s return would be high and the risk minimal. He focused intently on picking the pepper leaves.

 

“Hmm?”

 

After her joy, Madam Jiang looked around. “Where’s Qian Ger? Why haven’t I seen him?”

 

Cheng Zhao glanced at Jiang Changxin and respectfully replied, “Earlier, when the Ye family caused a commotion, it became too chaotic. I took the initiative to have Qian Ger sent back to the residence to avoid bumps or injuries.”

 

As he spoke, he silently complained in his mind. “Me taking the initiative? Not at all. It was Master’s orders. Qian Ger kept hanging around Ye Ning, bothering his eyes.”

 

The matriarch felt slightly disappointed, shaking her head. “Alas, Qian Ger has no such fortune. Ye Ning is about to prepare the pepper leaves; I wanted him to taste it too.”

 

Madam Jiang and her party returned to the noodle stall. Ye Ning had finished preparing the pepper leaves, washed them carefully, and added oil recently bought from the county to the pan.

 

Resources in Qingtian Village were scarce and mostly self-supplied. Items like cooking oil were hard to come by, requiring trips to the county. Once Ye Ning moved to the Jiang household, he would no longer need to worry about such things. He felt he had gained even more.

 

Only the tender shoots of the pepper leaves were used; older, thorny parts were discarded. Ye Ning lightly coated the shoots in batter and dropped them into the oil.

 

Sizzle!

 

Oil splashed, and a strong, enticing aroma rose.

 

Jiang Changxin, who normally suffered from hating food disease, could barely stand the smell of oil. He instinctively covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve and stepped back two paces, standing at the stall’s entrance.

 

Cheng Zhao pulled out a feather fan and waved it vigorously, whispering, “Master, perhaps we should wait outside, so you don’t get sick.”

 

Jiang Changxin shook his head slightly, signaling he was fine.

 

In truth, the fried aroma was not greasy. The pepper leaves themselves carried a fresh fragrance, which neutralized most of the oiliness. The scent was subtle yet distinct, unlike anything the well-traveled matriarch had ever smelled.

 

She inhaled deeply and leaned over the pan. “So fragrant! This aroma is extraordinary.”

 

Ye Ning fried the pepper shoots quickly, carefully controlling the heat to make the batter crisp and golden while preventing the leaves from overcooking. He placed each shoot in individually, frying to perfection before adding the next—a tedious process, but it preserved the quality.

 

The fried pepper shoots were coated in a thin, golden crust, revealing the vibrant green beneath, crisp to the touch, breaking apart at the slightest touch. Too much batter would ruin the taste; too little, the texture would be lacking. The thin layer enveloped the shoot just right, partially hiding it like a delicate embrace—perfectly delicious.

 

Ye Ning removed the fried shoots and drained the oil, placing them on a tray. He also prepared a small dish of white salt. Ideally, freshly fried pepper shoots would be eaten with ground pepper salt for the authentic flavor, but he could not find any. Simply put, they were too poor. So white salt sufficed—slightly less flavorful, but still true to the original taste.

 

“All ready.”

 

Ye Ning plated the shoots and said, “Madam, please try them.”

 

Jiang Changxin still did not sit down, standing at the stall’s entrance where the ventilation was best, avoiding the smoke.

 

Madam Jiang, unable to wait, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, picked up a piece of the pepper shoot—small, cake-like, convenient to hold without falling apart.

 

The batter was exceptionally crisp; even a gentle lift made a rustling sound, hinting at the fragrance and flavor awaiting inside.

 

She lightly dipped it in white salt, used her sleeve to cover her hand elegantly, and tasted it.

 

Her almond-shaped eyes widened in delight. The excitement was clear. She chewed quickly, swallowed, and said, “It’s incredible! I never imagined fried pepper leaves could smell this fragrant!”

 

Pepper leaves were, after all, just leaves. Normally, they might taste bland, and their inherent fragrance could be overwhelming—strong, not numbing like peppercorns, but assertive. Coating them in batter and frying created a perfect balance: the bold aroma of the leaves merged with the roasted fragrance of frying, neither overpowering nor greasy.

 

The matriarch didn’t wait to say more. She immediately picked up another piece, dipped it in fine salt, and popped it into her mouth. The crisp leaf shattered with each bite, tiny fragments falling onto the tray. Yet she treated them with utmost care, not wasting a single bit, carefully gathering the crumbs with her chopsticks and placing them back into her mouth.

 

Cheng Zhao watched with curiosity. Though once the young master of the Cheng family, he had never tried such a novel dish as fried pepper shoots. He stared eagerly, saliva welling up in his mouth, looking utterly desperate with hunger.

 

The matriarch had already eaten five pieces in a row before remembering Jiang Changxin. “Xin’er, you should try some too.”

 

Jiang Changxin frowned slightly, still standing far away. Not long ago, he had eaten a slice of plain noodle dish, which was light on the stomach. Today’s fried food made him politely decline, worried that even one slip might trigger his hating-food disease.

 

He gave a dry laugh and shook his head firmly.

 

The matriarch said, “You simply don’t have the fortune for this taste.”

 

Then she noticed the eager eyes of Cheng Zhao and laughed. “Then let Cheng Zhao eat a couple pieces on your behalf.”

 

Cheng Zhao stepped forward joyfully. “Thank you, Madam!”

 

Ye Ning served two pieces onto a small plate, sprinkled them with fine salt, and warned, “Careful, it’s hot.”

 

“Ah!” Cheng Zhao replied, still impatient, wolfing down the pepper shoots with enthusiasm.

 

“Hot… oh… so crisp! So fragrant! Even better than meat!”

 

Cheng Zhao’s performance was more exaggerated than modern food vloggers. Every bite was accompanied by loud exclamations, praising it without end.

 

Jiang Changxin watched the matriarch and Cheng Zhao eat and felt intensely curious. This fried food looked greasy; just the thought made his stomach tighten. How could it possibly taste good?

 

Yet seeing their expressions, it didn’t seem fake.

 

Curiosity finally got the better of him. He stepped into the stall, holding his breath to avoid inhaling too much oil. “Then I’ll try a piece too…”

 

Only to find… the tray was empty, leaving just a few scattered crumbs of batter.

 

The matriarch had finished the last fried pepper shoot, carefully gathering the remaining crumbs and popping them into her mouth with satisfaction. She sighed deeply, “Mmm, calling this a delicacy… it’s no exaggeration.”

 

Jiang Changxin: “…”

 

He asked in surprise, “It’s all gone?”

 

The matriarch laughed. “Ah, Xin’er, since you said you didn’t want any, I only ate a little.”

 

Cheng Zhao quickly shook his head, swearing to the heavens that he had only eaten three pieces—the rest had been hers.

 

The matriarch elegantly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said to Ye Ning, “Ning’er, I see there are still more pepper leaves. If you’re not short of them, would you fry a few more?”

 

Ye Ning couldn’t help but smile. It was obvious she hadn’t had enough.

 

“It’s not that I don’t want to fry more for you, Madam,” Ye Ning said, “but most of the pepper leaves Jiang Changxin brought are not tender shoots. Only the tender tips can be fried. The older parts are too tough and thorny—they’d poke your mouth. They simply can’t be eaten this way.”

 

He glanced at the empty tray. “This is all the tender shoots we have. There’s nothing more I can do.”

 

The matriarch sighed in regret. “What a pity.”

 

She turned to Jiang Changxin. “Xin’er, though your appetite has improved recently, you still must be careful. Don’t let these fried foods trigger your hating-food disease.”

 

Jiang Changxin: “…”

 

He had finally wanted to taste the fried food, but now, even a single piece had been eaten by others…

 

The matriarch, fully satisfied, prepared to leave with Jiang Changxin. “You needn’t worry about expanding the stall. I’ll come back tomorrow and help arrange everything properly, ensuring Ye Ning is pleased.”

 

Ye Ning smiled. “Thank you very much, Madam.”

 

The matriarch said, “Ah, and you still call me Madam Jiang? That’s too formal. You’ll soon need to change how you address me.”

 

Change how? Ye Ning was momentarily stunned, unsure what she meant. Was she asking him to call her… mother?

 

Thinking this, he felt unusually self-conscious, perhaps because the fried pepper shoots had left his face slightly flushed.

 

Jiang Changxin was also taken aback. He never expected his mother to bring this up. He had meticulously planned to marry Ye Ning for his own purposes—to pave the way back to the capital and reclaim the throne, not for love.

 

But the matriarch didn’t see it that way. She assumed her son had finally realized his fondness for Ye Ning.

 

Jiang Changxin looked slightly awkward, tugging on her sleeve and pretending to be impatient, eager to leave. “Let’s go! Let’s go… home!”

 

The matriarch finally relented. “Alright, alright. I’ll wait a few more days.”

 

As they left, Ye Ning let out a deep sigh of relief. He touched his cheek—it was indeed hot, not an illusion.

 

The next day, the matriarch returned, accompanied by Quan Qian. Both treated the stall’s expansion seriously, bustling about and bringing a team of craftsmen.

 

On the first day, they surveyed the shop, and within a couple of days, drafted blueprints. Though Madam Jiang and Quan Qian managed much of the work, the final layout was still determined by Ye Ning—what type of counter, what style—everything followed his preference.

 

Within four or five days, the expansion began. Ye Ning had been living in the back of the stall, which was used for storage, transformed into a small room. But now, with constant foot traffic, he could no longer stay there.

 

The matriarch initially wanted Ye Ning to stay at the Jiang residence nearby, convenient for trips to the stall. However, because Ye Ning and Jiang Changxin were about to be married, old rules forbade them from living together before marriage.

 

After consideration, she arranged for Ye Ning to stay in a small house in Qingtian Village, slightly farther from the stall, requiring him to commute.

 

That day, as Ye Ning checked the stall’s expansion, he heard a commotion. A group of unfamiliar people entered from the village entrance. They were uniformly dressed, more presentable than the villagers, pushing many flat carts in a long line.

 

The carts were piled high with… pork?

 

They entered from the northern end of the village. Ye Ning, though not one for meddling, happened to see them and looked twice.

 

One person looked familiar—not the county magistrate’s clerk?

 

“Lord! Lord!”

 

Another group ran across a small wooden bridge, clattering noisily. Leading them was the head of the Zhou family, carrying a stretcher on which Zhou Dahu lay.

 

Because of the haste, the stretcher jolted on the bridge. Zhou Dahu lay hunched, grimacing, his face pale, shouting, “Careful! Careful! You’ll hurt me! All of you are useless!”

 

The head of the Zhou family ran alongside, smiling broadly and bowing repeatedly to the clerk. “Ah, what wind has brought you here? What’s the matter? If you need anything, just ask. How could we trouble you?”

 

The clerk sneered, mockingly, “Ah, we wouldn’t dare.”

 

The head of the Zhou family’s expression faltered. He peeked at the carts.

 

The clerk waved his hand. “These were returned to you by our master.”

 

It turned out that the carts of pork were offerings to the county magistrate. Recently, the county officer had nearly been harmed by them, unknowingly offending the Quan family from Jiangnan. In a fit of anger, they returned all the Zhou family’s offerings—these…

 

A veritable mountain of pork!

 

“This… this…”

 

The head of the Zhou family hurriedly said, “Lord, could there be some misunderstanding? Look… I’ve brought my son here to apologize to you. Last time, it was our mistake, a slight oversight… but we certainly didn’t mean to offend or fail to inform you—it was purely forgotten, wasn’t it?”

 

He quickly signaled to Zhou Dahu. Lying on the stretcher after so many days of recuperation, Zhou Dahu still couldn’t get up. Unlike his usual arrogant self, he humbled himself and said, “Lord, you are magnanimous. Surely your stomach can hold a boat… please… forgive us this once.”

 

“Hmph!”

 

The clerk sneered. “I’m merely a lowly record-keeper. I cannot speak for the master.”

 

“Then—”

 

The head of the Zhou family lowered his voice and begged, “Could you perhaps convey my words to your master? Tell him we apologize and have prepared a generous gift!”

 

The clerk said, “I dare not take that message back. You do not know how furious my master is about this matter. I make a living here—I have no reason to provoke him, right?”

 

He waved his hand, and the mountains of pork tumbled off the flat carts, clattering loudly as they rolled on the ground. “Master said that Zhou family’s pork is unfit for consumption, might choke him! Naturally, it goes back to where it came from. From now on, Master Zhou, you needn’t send anything anymore.”

 

This clearly meant that the county magistrate intended to sever ties with the Zhou family.

 

Because the scene was so large, more and more villagers gathered to watch. When they heard this, they quietly cheered. If the county magistrate cut ties, the Zhou family’s reputation in the county would be ruined. Who would buy their pork then?

 

The villagers, who usually dared not express anger, secretly rejoiced.

 

“Lord! Lord, please wait!”

 

The head of the Zhou family chased after the clerk. “Lord! It’s a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding! Please say a good word for us… Lord…”

 

The clerk, having unloaded the pork, didn’t even glance back. He strode toward his sedan chair. Once the curtains were drawn, he ignored the head of the Zhou family entirely and left Qingtian Village, leaving behind the heaps of pork.

 

The weather was scorching, and storing so much returned pork was a problem. On top of that, with the magistrate enraged, it would be hard to sell any of it—it would inevitably rot.

 

The head of the Zhou family stomped in frustration, while Zhou Dahu shrugged casually. “It’s just some returned pork, isn’t it? Let it rot. Does our family lack meat?”

 

“You brat!”

 

The head of the Zhou family stomped even harder. “What do you know?! This is all your fault! If the county magistrate severs ties with us, the merchants who curry favor with him will follow suit. All our pork won’t sell!”

 

Zhou Dahu said again, “Don’t worry, Father. Our pork is the cheapest in the county. Who could resist a bargain?”

 

Just as the head of the Zhou family fretted, he heard the sound of gongs, drums, and firecrackers. His anger flared. Who was setting off fireworks at this critical moment, embarrassing the Zhou family?

 

“Who?!”

 

His eyes bulged. “Who’s setting off fireworks?!”

 

A cheerful procession emerged from the Jiang family mansion. Cheng Zhao looked different today, wearing a bright red robe, holding a large brocade box, surrounded by drummers and gong-beaters, all heading toward the noodle stall.

 

Cheng Zhao smiled. “Oh, isn’t this the head of the Zhou family? And this…”

 

He glanced at the scattered pork on the ground, including a pig’s head rolling with its eyes turned upward, and laughed, pretending ignorance. “Head of the Zhou family, what’s this? So much pork—have you decided to sell it in our village instead?”

 

The head of the Zhou family: “…..”

 

His face red with fury. Cheng Zhao didn’t give him a chance to speak and continued, laughing, “Forgive me, today is the Jiang family’s betrothal gift day. Could you move the pork a bit? It’s in the way!”

 

He deliberately bumped Zhou Dahu’s stretcher.

 

“Ah—”

 

Zhou Dahu jolted in pain, nearly bouncing off the stretcher. His face turned dark purple, glaring at Cheng Zhao, but he couldn’t say a word, needing to focus on enduring the pain.

 

Cheng Zhao apologized insincerely, “Sorry, sorry, did I bump you by accident? Ah, Head of the Zhou family, surely you won’t make things difficult for me?”

 

Zhou Dahu shook with anger, pointing at Cheng Zhao. “You—”

 

Cheng Zhao ignored him, even rolling his eyes, clutching the brocade box and continuing forward. He instructed the drummers, “Play louder, beat harder. Old Master has checked—today is an auspicious day, truly a joyous occasion!”

 

The Jiang family’s betrothal procession stretched like a dragon, winding through the village. Their servants went house to house delivering gifts, letting everyone share in the joy. In no time, the entire village knew the news.

 

Qingtian Village had two major events today: first, the county magistrate had cut ties with the Zhou family, returning all their pork offerings; second, Ye Ning had rejected the Zhou marriage and would soon become the Fulang of the Jiang family.

 

Ye Ning stood at the noodle stall’s entrance. “Thank you for coming, Young Master Cheng.”

 

“No trouble at all,” Cheng Zhao said with a smile. “From now on, you are the master here. If you need anything, just ask—no need for formalities with us.”

 

Zhou Dahu gritted his teeth, trembling all over, glaring at Ye Ning from a distance, pounding the stretcher. “This Ning Ger! He must have never liked our family and is trying to curry favor with the Jiang family! Father, I cannot accept this!”

 

The head of the Zhou family threw up his sleeve and scolded, “Look at the mess you’ve made! You cannot accept it? What can you do about it!”

 

Since the noodle stall expansion, the Jiang matriarch and Quan Qian visited daily. Jiang Changxin also came regularly. After all, Ye Ning had been won over with great effort, and before the marriage, there could be no errors in treatment.

 

Jiang Changxin knew Ye Ning’s preferences. He didn’t care for flowers but loved greens, didn’t need silks but appreciated seasonings. He tailored his gifts to Ye Ning’s tastes. Each visit, he brought baskets of vegetables or spices, which Ye Ning could hardly refuse.

 

For example, today, Jiang Changxin brought many foods in small baskets. Seeing Ye Ning, he also handed neatly folded handkerchiefs for wiping sweat. “Ye Ning, tired. Drink water.”

 

He clumsily handed Ye Ning a cup with a smile.

 

Ye Ning wasn’t busy. He didn’t understand the renovations, which Madam Jiang and Quan Qian oversaw. But the weather was stifling, and though he had fair skin and a slender frame, he sweated easily. The heat overwhelmed his delicate body.

 

Although Ye Ning barely moved, he perspired. Jiang Changxin carefully wiped him, making Ye Ning feel slightly uncomfortable. Usually, no one attended to him, yet now someone fussed over him, giving outsiders the impression that he was the busiest one.

 

Ye Ning whispered, “Young Master Jiang, no need.”

 

The matriarch, seeing Jiang Changxin’s attentiveness, laughed. “Ning’er, it’s too hot today. Go rest over there, it’s fine. Take a break.”

 

Ye Ning felt embarrassed but acknowledged he could do little, so he left the noodle stall to rest in the shade. Jiang Changxin, like a giant shadow, followed closely, so much so that they nearly collided a few times.

 

Just as they reached the shade, Zhang Zhiyuan arrived, hesitating a little as he stood at a distance, looking at Ye Ning, mouth slightly open as if he wanted to say something.

 

Jiang Changxin frowned slightly and whispered to Cheng Zhao, “Why is Zhang Zhiyuan here? Didn’t you assign him a task?”

 

Cheng Zhao, looking aggrieved, whispered, “Master, you’re making it difficult for me. Zhang Sanlang has already aired all the books in the library three times, and copied all ledgers and books fast and accurately—he’s done the work of three men. If you give him more tasks, anyone could see it. Master, you’re singling him out!”

 

“Hm?”

 

Jiang Changxin made only a single sound.

 

Cheng Zhao quickly corrected himself, “No, no, Master isn’t singling him out—it’s me. I am the one targeting Zhang Sanlang.”

 

Ye Ning noticed Zhang Zhiyuan’s expression. He seemed to have something to say but hesitated because Jiang Changxin was present. Ye Ning stood up and said, “Young Master Jiang, have some tea here. I’ll be right back.”

 

Jiang Changxin tugged at his sleeve, looking pitiful and eager. “Be quick!”

 

Cheng Zhao: “……”

 

Early in the morning, after eating a bit too much, his stomach felt slightly uncomfortable…

 

Ye Ning nodded, struggled for a moment to free his hand from Jiang Changxin’s firm grip, and walked toward Zhang Zhiyuan.

 

“Cousin.”

 

“Ah!”

 

Zhang Zhiyuan, still lost in thought, was startled. “Ye Ning… you… you need me for something?”

 

Ye Ning laughed. “Isn’t it you, cousin, who came to me for something?”

 

“Uh…”

 

Zhang Zhiyuan froze, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. “Indeed, indeed, I… I came to ask you something.”

 

He glanced secretly toward Jiang Changxin, clearly trying to avoid saying it in front of him.

 

Ye Ning said, “If you have something to say, just say it. Must we still beat around the bush between us?”

 

Zhang Zhiyuan nodded. “Right, actually… I just… um—wanted to ask if your agreement to the Jiang family marriage was… forced?”

 

Ye Ning froze for a moment.

 

Zhang Zhiyuan took a deep breath. “If it was forced, just tell me! I, Zhang Zhiyuan, may have no great skills, but I would never watch you suffer helplessly! If you don’t want it, then even if it’s the Jiang family, I…”

 

Ye Ning finally understood and cut him off. “Cousin, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not that I was forced. I agreed to this marriage of my own will.”

 

Zhang Zhiyuan finally paused, as if absorbing Ye Ning’s words. “You truly agreed?”

 

Ye Ning nodded. “Of course. If I didn’t wish it, neither the Zhou family nor the Jiang family could do anything to me, right?”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Zhang Zhiyuan scratched the back of his head and then gave a sheepish laugh. “Looks like I worried for nothing. Since it’s your choice, cousin, I will support you. Even though you’ve cut ties with the Ye family, don’t forget, you still have me as your cousin.”

 

Ye Ning nodded. “I would never forget you, cousin.”

 

Zhang Zhiyuan sighed in relief, patting his chest. “That’s good, that’s good. I should have asked you sooner—I wasted several days worrying for nothing.”

 

A weight lifted from Zhang Zhiyuan’s heart. His frown relaxed, and he and Ye Ning started laughing and talking again.

 

From a distance, Jiang Changxin watched, squinting. He pulled a slingshot from his sleeve, picked up a small stone, and—

 

“Ah!”

 

Zhang Zhiyuan shouted, clutching his temple.

 

Jiang Changxin moved swiftly, handing the slingshot to Cheng Zhao.

 

Cheng Zhao: “……”

 

Cheng Zhao forced a laugh. “S-sorry, Zhang Sanlang, I… I was just aiming at the bird above, it was so noisy… didn’t expect to miss and hit you…”

 

This was an unlucky turn for him.

 

Zhang Zhiyuan didn’t suspect him, rubbing his head. “No worries, no worries.”

 

Jiang Changxin strode forward, towering between Ye Ning and Zhang Zhiyuan, almost pushing Zhang Zhiyuan over. He held a small paper umbrella to shield Ye Ning from the scorching sun. “Ye Ning, hot. Go sit over there.”

 

Soon, Ye Ning was led by Jiang Changxin to a shaded spot to cool off.

 

“Ah, congratulations, congratulations—truly congratulations!”

 

A sharp, loud laugh came from afar.

 

What a coincidence—Mother Ye had arrived, accompanied by Ye Zhu. Ye Ning didn’t want to see them at all and tried to ignore them.

 

But Mother Ye and Ye Zhu seemed intent on coming to the noodle stall and, deliberately, ended up right in front of Ye Ning. Smiling, she said, “Ye Ning, ah, I hear you’re getting married. That wasn’t easy!”

 

Jiang Changxin cast a cold glance at Mother Ye, blocking her from getting any closer.

 

Mother Ye stepped back in surprise, puzzled why a simpleton had intimidated her, but she didn’t care and seemed in good spirits.

 

Cheerfully, she continued, “Ah, Ye Ning, don’t worry. We’re not here to cling to you. I heard you’re getting married—the Jiang family is generous! They don’t mind that you’re a Ger who has a damaged body, unable to bear children… But as for our Zhu Ger, you don’t know yet, he’s getting married too!”

 

Ye Zhu looked shy, nudging Mother Ye. “Ah, Mother, it’s nothing. Every Ger gets married. There’s nothing to talk about.”

 

“That’s different!”

 

The two spoke in unison. Mother Ye proudly puffed her chest. “Let me tell you, our Zhu Ger is about to marry into the Zhou family! Even earlier than your wedding!”

 

The Zhou family?

 

Ye Ning’s gaze flickered slightly. Ye Zhu was to marry Zhou Dahu?

 

Sure enough, Mother Ye continued, “You see, since you cut ties with our Ye family, this good news came along! Zhou Dalang came back to propose for our Zhu Ger, demanding to marry him. Eight men will carry the sedan chair. Oh my, the betrothal gifts already fill the courtyard!”

 

Ye Ning frowned slightly. After what had happened to Zhou Dahu, now suddenly marrying Ye Zhu, anyone with eyes could see Zhou Dahu’s ill intentions. Unable to take revenge on Ye Ning, he aimed to harm Ye Zhu instead.

 

Unfortunately… Mother Ye didn’t care for Ye Zhu, and Ye Zhu didn’t value himself. Both willingly stepped into the fire, thinking it a joyous occasion.

 

Ye Ning smirked coldly in his heart. As the saying goes, good advice cannot save a fool. Mother Ye and Ye Zhu were probably just that.

 

Ye Ning said simply, “Your Ye family is just as kind-hearted, not minding that Zhou Dahu has been punished, taken to court, and left permanently disabled.”

 

“You… you…”

 

Ye Zhu said, “How can you say that? How dare you slander my husband? Oh—I know, you must be jealous. My husband is a normal man, while yours… yours is just a foolish, silly child!”

 

Jiang Changxin had always been ridiculed for his simple-mindedness. Villagers didn’t even bother to gossip in private; they would speak openly, thinking he wouldn’t understand. In truth, he had long since grown used to it.

 

But today…

 

Smack!

 

Ye Ning raised his hand, giving Ye Zhu a sharp slap before he could react. The sound was crisp and resounding.

 

Jiang Changxin froze. Cheng Zhao froze. Zhang Zhiyuan froze. Yu Yuan, hiding in the shadows, froze. Even Ye Zhu was stunned. Mother Ye hadn’t yet reacted.

 

“Ah!!!”

 

Ye Zhu screamed, belatedly covering his cheek.

 

Ye Ning’s gaze was icy as he said calmly, “Mind your tongue. Consider this your greeting gift. Next time, if you don’t keep your mouth shut, believe me, I’ll knock out each of your teeth one by one.”

 

Ye Zhu’s eyes widened, full of terror. He shifted from covering his cheek to tightly covering his mouth.

 

Mother Ye, a coward when faced with the strong, dared not resist, pulling Ye Zhu away in fright.

 

“Waaah—Mother, he hit me! Ye Ning hit me! You pay him back!”

 

“What pay back? Let’s go, quickly!”

 

“Your face is already swollen. When you go to marry, what if Zhou Dalang complains?”

 

Mother Ye ran off with Ye Zhu, and only then did the others react. Cheng Zhao couldn’t help but raise a thumb in admiration, looking at Ye Ning with respect.

 

Jiang Changxin, after a moment of shock, felt a sudden confusion, like thick, damp fog after rain, tangled and pressing deep in his chest. In all his life, he had seen human warmth and coldness, but aside from “family,” no one had ever defended him like this.

 

Ye Ning, delicate in appearance, always stood up for him. Jiang Changxin stared at Ye Ning’s slender frame, unable to explain the complex feelings rising in his chest…

 

Ye Zhu, ahead of Ye Ning, married first. He went to the Zhou family with a grand ceremony. To show their wealth and that they were not ruined by the magistrate’s severed ties, the wedding was extremely lavish, almost inviting every person in Qingtian Village.

 

Of course, Ye Ning also received an invitation—but he had no intention of going.

 

Several days passed quietly, and soon it was Ye Ning’s wedding day.

 

The night was pitch black. After days of continuous rain, the sky was finally clear. Tomorrow would be the day Ye Ning and Jiang Changxin were to be married. Ye Ning found himself unable to sleep. Already lying down, he sat up again to check the expansion work of the noodle stall.

 

Knock knock—

 

Someone was at the door.

 

This was a small residence of the Jiang family. A young maid remained inside to serve the household, so the one knocking at the door now was surely her.

 

“Ning Ger, someone is here to see you.”

 

Ye Ning draped his outer robe over his shoulders and asked, “Who is it?”

 

“Ye Ning! Ye Ning—”

 

Before the maid could answer, a voice burst in, crying, and barged straight into Ye Ning’s room.

 

It was Ye Zhu!

 

Ye Zhu wore luxurious silk and satin, completely different from the coarse linen he used to wear. Since marrying into the Zhou family, he seemed to have grown quite well-off.

 

But under the dim candlelight, his face and neck were covered in bruises and blood marks, clearly the traces of being beaten, some fresh, some older, intertwined.

 

Ye Ning glanced once and immediately understood: Zhou Dahu’s intentions in taking Ye Zhu into his house were far from pure. Once inside the Zhou household, Ye Zhu had endured many beatings.

 

As soon as he entered, Ye Zhu collapsed to his knees with a thud, crying so hard that tears and snot mingled. Gone was the swagger and pride from the day of his wedding.

 

“Ye Ning, wuwuwu—please save me! Save me!”

 

“Zhou Dahu isn’t human! He’s an animal! When drunk, he hit me with a chair, slashed me with a machete! Wuwuwu—I escaped back home, but Father and Mother said I’m married now, that I’m someone else’s Fulang, and they can’t intervene. They even tied me up and sent me back!”

 

“Ye Ning! Only you can save me! Wuwuwu…I shouldn’t have disobeyed you. I shouldn’t have married Zhou Dahu. I’ll die… Ye Ning… save me…”

 

The young maid saw him rush in and panicked. “You can’t come in! Go out at once!”

 

Ye Ning raised a hand, signaling the maid to leave first, then said to Ye Zhu, “Zhou Dahu has shown this side of himself for more than a day or two. Is it only now that you see it clearly?”

 

Ye Zhu wailed loudly, lifting his sleeve to show his arms, almost no part of the skin was unscathed. Bowing repeatedly, he pleaded, “Ye Ning, I beg you, save me! Only you can! Please, I don’t want to die. I don’t want to be beaten to death!”

 

Ye Ning’s expression remained unchanged. All of this was the result of his own choices. He said calmly, “I cannot save you.”

 

“No, no!”

 

Ye Zhu cried desperately. “Only you can save me! You can’t let me die!”

 

Ye Ning replied, “All of this now is the consequence of your own choices. Your parents can’t save you, and neither can anyone else. The only one who can save you is yourself.”

 

“What… what do you mean?”

 

Ye Zhu looked confused.

 

Ye Ning said, “Go report this to the authorities.”

 

“Report… to the authorities?!”

 

Ye Zhu shook his head violently. “No, I can’t… I don’t dare. The Zhou family has connections in the county, and I…”

 

Ye Ning said, “The county magistrate has recently cut ties with the Zhou family. Being beaten like this is sufficient reason to report it. If you want to save yourself, go report it. There’s a horse in the stable here. I can lend it to you, so you can ride to the magistrate’s office tonight.”

 

Ye Zhu tried to argue, but Ye Ning said resolutely, “If you don’t even have the courage to save yourself, how can I save you?”

 

Ye Zhu bit his lip. “Fine! Fine… I’ll report it. I’ll take Zhou Dahu on! Ye Ning… wuwu, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have disobeyed you…”

 

He got up from the ground, glancing back every few steps as if wanting to say something. After hesitating, he lowered his voice and said, “Tonight Zhou Dahu drank some wine. I… I overheard him, saying he’d burn down your noodle stall, to stop your expansion… He left the house drunk just now, so I took the chance to escape…”

 

Ye Zhu continued, “I don’t know if he really went to burn your stall. That animal Zhou Dahu… he’s capable of anything!”

 

Ye Ning narrowed his eyes and nodded. “I understand. Go now.”

 

Ye Ning instructed the maid to lend Ye Zhu the horse. Ye Zhu rode off unsteadily, disappearing into the thick darkness.

 

Ye Ning thought about what Ye Zhu had said. The noodle stall had been painstakingly expanded. If Zhou Dahu really set it on fire, it would be a serious setback. He had to stop him.

 

Ye Ning kept this in mind and told the maid, “Go back to the Jiang residence and inform the matriarch that Zhou Dahu intends to burn the stall.”

 

After all, the matriarch had invested in the stall too. If it were burned, the loss would affect more than just Ye Ning.

 

The young maid quickly responded and rushed out toward the Jiang residence.

 

Once the maid left, Ye Ning went out alone toward the noodle stall.

 

Because it was nighttime, the craftsmen had already left, and the shop had taken its preliminary form, standing alone in the night.

 

A figure loomed near the stall, impossible to miss. Even from a distance, the mountain-like shape was unmistakable—it was Zhou Dahu.

 

Zhou Dahu held a torch, the flickering flames glaring brightly. Ye Ning could immediately see that he indeed intended to burn the stall.

 

Ye Ning frowned and strode forward, just about to scold Zhou Dahu and snatch the torch away.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Suddenly, someone covered Ye Ning’s mouth and nose from behind. A faintly sweet scent drifted from the cloth. Ye Ning struggled fiercely, elbowing backward hard. The person, stung by the pain, immediately let go.

 

Ye Ning stumbled two steps, lacking support, and fell heavily to the ground, slowly closing his eyes.

 

In the darkness, Zhou Dahu’s laugh was wild and piercing, as if speaking to someone: “Good, good! You did well this time, lured Ye Ning here—you take the credit. I’ll beat you less in the future.”

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