Volume One, Chapter 17: Your Husband Is Quite Stingy, Isn’t He?

“Really?” With no one in sight, Jiang Yuan couldn’t quite relax; she had just been tricked once that very morning.

Chen Xiangxiang also recalled the promise she had made earlier that she failed to keep, scratching her head with some embarrassment, but this time she said, “Jiang Yuan, don’t worry, this time it’s true. I’m not lying to you.”

Jiang Yuan nodded silently, choosing to get back to work first.

Seeing Jiang Yuan’s expression, Chen Xiangxiang knew she wasn’t convinced. But since she had just deceived her that morning, she could only wait for others to arrive and confirm the truth.

The two of them started working in the field an hour early. It was the peak of the sun’s heat, and sweat poured from their foreheads, trickling down their cheeks.

Chen Xiangxiang straightened up and walked to the edge of the field to grab the water bottle she had brought, filled with mung bean soup her mother had made that day.

“Jiang Yuan, have a sip to quench your thirst. I specially added sugar.” She placed the bottle in front of Jiang Yuan.

“Thanks.” Jiang Yuan didn’t hesitate and drank deeply. The cold, sweet liquid tasted quite refreshing.

“Good, right?” Seeing the look in Jiang Yuan’s eyes, Chen Xiangxiang knew she was satisfied. Her effort to cool the mung bean soup in the well at noon was not in vain.

“You cooked this?” Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt in her voice.

“Hehe,” Chen Xiangxiang smiled sheepishly. “Well, not exactly. My mom made it, but I personally packed it and chilled it in the well.”

Jiang Yuan took a few more sips and then handed the bottle back to her.

“Here, there’s still some left for you.”

“Hey, it’s still my Jiang Yuan who’s kind to me.” Chen Xiangxiang accepted it happily and drank it down.

Nearly an hour after the villagers began arriving to work, the help Chen Xiangxiang had been waiting for finally appeared.

At that moment, Jiang Yuan was still bent over cutting wheat when she suddenly heard Chen Xiangxiang’s excited shout.

“Third Brother, I’m here! Hurry over.”

Jiang Yuan turned her head to see a young man, no older than his early twenties, full of energy and vitality. His sun-kissed face was lit up with a broad smile as he strode toward them.

“Xiangxiang, you go rest on the side. I’ll take over.” Chen Jianye took the sickle from Chen Xiangxiang and quickly got to work.

“That’s great, Third Brother is always good to me,” Chen Xiangxiang said with a beaming smile. She could finally take a break.

Sitting on the field’s edge, rubbing her arms and legs, Chen Xiangxiang called out to Jiang Yuan, “Jiang Yuan, come rest. You’ve been working so long.”

They had come early, and now with her third brother’s help, they were sure to finish before the end of the day.

Jiang Yuan glanced up at the sky, then back at Chen Xiangxiang, shaking her head.

“Forget it. If I finish earlier, I can rest sooner. Sitting here just means getting sunburned.”

“All right then.”

Jiang Yuan’s reasoning was sound, so Chen Xiangxiang didn’t urge her further.

---

“Jiang Yuan, thanks for helping my little sister,” Chen Jianye said with a hearty smile as they worked together.

He knew well that no one in the village wanted to team up with Chen Xiangxiang at this time.

Jiang Yuan felt a stir inside and raised an eyebrow. “No need to thank me. Just keep coming to help her later.”

“Well…” Chen Jianye scratched his head, smiling awkwardly. “Thanks for your hard work this morning. I thought my elder brothers would come, so…”

“But don’t worry. I’ll come later, just a bit delayed.”

Chen Jianye had his own tasks to finish first before he could help more.

Jiang Yuan nodded; she had no objections. Having help was what mattered.

Jiang Yuan’s straightforward manner pleased Chen Jianye, and they naturally talked a bit more.

Chen Jianye asked, “Jiang Yuan, you didn’t come to the village often before, right?”

Jiang Yuan nodded. “No, before marriage I lived at my aunt’s house in the county town.”

Chen Jianye frowned thoughtfully. “You look… a bit plumper than last time.”

Jiang Yuan widened her eyes and scolded him, “Get lost.”

…

When Lu Xiuyi arrived, he saw the two chatting happily, exchanging words, and Jiang Yuan laughing at Chen Jianye’s jokes, a gentle smile curving her lips.

Lu Xiuyi’s usually calm face darkened with a faint trace of displeasure, sharp glints flickering in his eyes.

His jaw tightened as countless thoughts twisted inside, a nameless fire quietly burning within his chest.

It felt as though something that had once belonged solely to him was now being shared.

“Ah!” Suddenly, the sickle in Jiang Yuan’s hand was snatched from behind, startling her. She turned around.

“Husband?”

Without a word, Lu Xiuyi took the tool and began working beside them, ignoring any remarks.

Out of Jiang Yuan’s sight, Lu Xiuyi cast a dark, penetrating glance at Chen Jianye.

Jiang Yuan was confused—had she upset him?

But he was helping her; so was he angry or not?

“Jiang Yuan, your husband’s really petty,” Chen Jianye whispered mischievously to her, unafraid despite the warning, leaning closer to share some unkind words about Lu Xiuyi.

“?” As soon as Chen Jianye finished, Jiang Yuan immediately scowled, moving aside and correcting him word by word.

“You’re the petty one. Don’t ever speak badly about my man again.”

---

Jiang Yuan was serious about protecting her husband; no one was allowed to speak ill of him.

Chen Jianye looked surprised. “…?” He hadn’t said anything wrong.

Having just seen them whispering, Lu Xiuyi’s expression had darkened considerably, but upon hearing Jiang Yuan’s words, it softened slowly.

At that moment, Jiang Yuan happened to turn her head and caught the faint smile still lingering on Lu Xiuyi’s face.

He smiled—a slight, gentle curve at the corner of his lips. Jiang Yuan watched, enchanted, and leaned in closer to look at him.

But as she approached, Lu Xiuyi’s smile vanished, his lips pressing into a straight line, returning to his usual indifferent expression.

Jiang Yuan looked up and said, “Husband, your smile is so beautiful. Smile again?”

Lu Xiuyi replied, “…You should go rest.”

Jiang Yuan knew it was hopeless, but before moving away, she asked uncertainly,

“Husband, you’re not angry anymore, right?”

Lu Xiuyi said, “Mm.”

From the moment she defended him, nothing else mattered anymore.

While the couple’s matter was resolved, Chen Jianye was far from finished—he glared openly at Lu Xiuyi.

Jiang Yuan could see from a distance that Chen Jianye’s fists clenched, ready to confront him.

Fortunately, Lu Xiuyi’s calm, reassuring gaze stopped her from reacting.

Still displeased, Jiang Yuan complained to Chen Xiangxiang beside her,

“Xiangxiang, your third brother is like a busybody, so annoying.”

“He’s not usually like this,” Chen Xiangxiang replied, surprised.

Jiang Yuan touched her chin and asked, “Next time, can someone else help you? I don’t want to see him.”

“Hm…” Chen Xiangxiang opened her mouth but hesitated. “That might be difficult.”

“Ah~” Jiang Yuan sighed.

Across from them, Lu Xiuyi’s eyes darkened as he warned Chen Jianye,

“Stay away from Jiang Yuan from now on, or don’t blame me for being rude.”

“Come on, who’s afraid of you?” Chen Jianye sneered, utterly dismissing Lu Xiuyi’s threat.