Chapter 9

The next day, Yun Pianpian took out twenty taels of silver and gave it to Grandpa Jiang as a year’s rent for her and Xiao Changyuan.
Grandpa Jiang quickly declined, “You’re too kind, girl. This house isn’t worth twenty taels of silver. Five taels would be more than enough. In our rural area, earning ten taels a year is considered a lot for anyone. How can I accept so much money from you…”
Only then did Yun Pianpian realize how low the cost of living was in ancient times and what an astronomical sum six hundred taels of silver truly was.
Unknowingly, she had become a wealthy young woman.
This was truly an unexpected delight.
At this thought, Yun Pianpian became even more determined to give the money to Grandpa Jiang. She pleaded earnestly, “Uncle, please take it. My husband and I encountered many bad people on our journey, but you are the only truly good person we met. Consider this our way of repaying your kindness. If you don’t accept this money today, my husband and I will feel guilty…”
After much persuasion and exhausting her words, Yun Pianpian finally managed to convince Grandpa Jiang to accept the money. Later, Grandpa Jiang had Jiang Cuicui bring over cured fish, cured meat, and meatballs as gifts, afraid of taking too much from her.
Learning that Yun Pianpian loved small animals, Grandpa Jiang also gave her a few chicks to raise.
Yun Pianpian kept the bright yellow chicks in a pen, feeding them rice with a look of affection.
“These chicks are so adorable, they must be stewed with mushrooms!”
Xiao Changyuan happened to pass by and, upon hearing Yun Pianpian’s words, felt a sudden twitch in his brow.
“Wife, if you like it, why are you eating it?”
Yun Pianpian said nonchalantly, “Because braised chicken with mushrooms is delicious.”
Xiao Changyuan frowned and said, “Don't you think it's cruel to eat something you raised with your own hands?”
Yun Pianpian: “...” What did I just hear?
This bloodthirsty, murderous, and merciless tyrant is actually discussing with me what cruelty is?
Yun Pianpian looked up at Xiao Changyuan, stunned and speechless.
It took her a long time to find her voice again.
“Why do you think it's cruel? I raised these chicks precisely to eat them.”
Xiao Changyuan's handsome face turned cold, as if he were somewhat displeased.
“Have you ever considered how they might feel?”
Yun Pianpian said, baffled, “They're just food reserves. What feelings could they have? They're not monsters.”
Xiao Changyuan's dark, deep eyes stared at Yun Pianpian for a long time before he uttered a sentence that sent chills down her spine.
“Wife, is it true that everything you raise with your own hands will eventually be eaten by you?”
Yun Pianpian immediately felt a chill run down her spine. “Don't make me sound like some kind of pervert! What I'm raising are poultry, they're food, not my pets. If I were raising cats or dogs, I wouldn't eat them!”
Xiao Changyuan frowned and asked, “How do you distinguish whether what you're raising is food or a pet?”
“I give my pets names,” Yun Pianpian said. “Pets are my friends, my children, my most cherished companions!”
Suddenly, Xiao Changyuan said something completely unrelated.
“My name is Shitou. I have a name.”
Xiao Changyuan raised his dark, cold eyes and stared intently into Yun Pianpian's eyes.
“So, I am also your most cherished companion, right?”
Yun Pianpian was momentarily stunned and said, baffled, “You are my husband. Of course, you are the most important person to me.”
Xiao Changyuan pursed his thin lips and looked at her.
In his deep, cold eyes, an indescribable emotion surged, as if he were doubting her words. Or as if he were scrutinizing her soul through her eyes.
Yun Pianpian felt that Xiao Changyuan was acting strangely today and furrowed her delicate brows.
“Husband, what's wrong with you today?”
Xiao Changyuan didn't answer, only silently gazed into Yun Pianpian's eyes.
His handsome, jade, like face was completely devoid of expression.
Inside the fence, a flock of yellow chicks chirped as they pecked at the grains on the ground.
The two of them locked eyes.
Neither was the first to look away.
Just as Yun Pianpian thought Xiao Changyuan wouldn’t answer her, he suddenly spoke softly, “Wife, you may not have noticed it yourself, but the way you look at the little rabbits and chicks is the same as the way you look at me.”
Yun Pianpian’s heart skipped a beat, her scalp immediately tingled.
Was that true?
Was it really the same?
Why would she look at Xiao Changyuan the same way she looked at food?
Could it be because she was too thirsty?
Yun Pianpian immediately denied it in her heart.
No, she was a proper, innocent soul.
She wasn’t that thirsty.
So it must have been for some other reason.
Yun Pianpian racked her brains, brainstorming intensely.
Then it dawned on her.
It must be because she had ulterior motives toward Xiao Changyuan, which was why her gaze toward him and toward food was so similar.
She took care of the little rabbits and chicks because she wanted to eat them.
And she took care of Xiao Changyuan because she wanted to complete her mission and return to the modern world.
Her gaze carried her hidden intentions, which was why Xiao Changyuan felt there was something off about it.
Thinking of this, Yun Pianpian suddenly felt guilty. The guiltier she felt, the more she began to spout nonsense.
“Husband, you’re mistaken. My gaze is clearly filled with affection.”
Xiao Changyuan furrowed his brows, skeptical.
“Is that so?”
“Of course.”
Yun Pianpian blinked at him, putting on a sanctimonious expression.
“I’m your wife, why would I lie to you?”
Xiao Changyuan pursed his thin lips slightly, his deep, dark eyes fixed on her. He said nothing.
Yun Pianpian patted Xiao Changyuan’s shoulder, desperately trying to divert his attention.
“I think you’ve been too tired lately, husband, so you’re overthinking things.”
Xiao Changyuan stared at her with a cold, handsome face, still silent.
Yun Pianpian thought for a moment and said, “How about this? Let’s go out for a stroll to clear our minds. Although we don’t have household registration and can’t go to the county town, we can still visit the market in town and buy some daily necessities while we’re at it. What do you think, husband?”
Xiao Changyuan did not refuse.
“Alright.”
The town market was very close to Jiangjia Village.
In about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Yun Pianpian and Xiao Changyuan arrived in town.
The market was bustling with people, mostly selling fruits, vegetables, pork, mutton, and some sewing supplies. The atmosphere was lively, with vendors shouting their wares up and down the street.
Xiao Changyuan, with his cool, handsome, and striking appearance, stood out in the crowd, always the most eye, catching.
As soon as he appeared, he quickly drew everyone’s attention.
People in the market, regardless of age or gender, all stared at Xiao Changyuan, some even dropping their belongings without bothering to pick them up.
Yun Pianpian immediately frowned.
This wouldn’t do. Xiao Changyuan was too good, looking, it would be easy for Chu Yi’s spies to spot him.
If Chu Yi found Xiao Changyuan three years earlier.
That would be troublesome.
At this thought, Yun Pianpian immediately pulled Xiao Changyuan into a secluded corner, bent down to scoop up some dirt from the ground, and smeared it onto his handsome face. Xiao Changyuan frowned and pushed away her mischievous hand.
“What nonsense are you up to?”
Yun Pianpian blurted out without thinking, “Everyone's staring at you! I'm jealous! My husband is for my eyes only!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Changyuan furrowed his brows deeply.
Why on earth had he married such an irrational woman?
“Is this the solution you came up with?”
Yun Pianpian asked suspiciously, “Does my husband want to buy a veil to wear instead? Though I do think my husband would look good in anything.”
“Shut up. Just smear the dirt.”
Yun Pianpian paused in surprise. “So, my husband agrees?”
Xiao Changyuan frowned without confirming or denying.
Yun Pianpian immediately brightened up, her eyes curving into crescents as she enthusiastically smeared more dirt onto his face.
“Wait a moment, I'll finish applying it right away.”
Seeing the radiant smile on Yun Pianpian's face, Xiao Changyuan's frown deepened.
“Stop smiling.”
Yun Pianpian halted her movements, instantly looking aggrieved. Her eyes filled with the melancholy of a resentful wife.
“Am I not even allowed to smile? Do you not love me anymore, my husband?”
“...”
Women are so troublesome.
Although Xiao Changyuan disliked his wife's irrational behavior, he indulged her antics.
There was no helping it, she was his wife, he couldn't abandon her.
His wife was so mentally unsound. If he didn't want her, no one else would.