Wife is hell

Chapter 104 The Reincarnation of a Virtuous Woman, Yuju's Marriage (9,000 words)

On the other side, Shi Baolu followed Jiang Xiaoyuan to the yamen to help with the funeral arrangements for his deceased colleague.

Feeling somewhat exhausted, Jiang Mu went home alone.

Aunt An is not at home.

Only Shi Shuangsui and the big white goose were playing in the courtyard.

The little one rode on the back of the goose, waving a wooden sword in his hand and making "hehe haha" noises.

Upon seeing Jiang Mu arrive, the little girl instinctively rushed forward, only to be grabbed by the back of his shirt and lifted up by Jiang Mu.

Where is Aunt An?

Jiang Mu asked.

Shi Shuangsui said in a crisp voice:
"I went to the temple to burn incense with Aunt Yang. Eldest brother, when are you going to take me out to play? I also want to go to the Insect Temple."

"It is the Temple of Heaven, not the Temple of Insects."

Ignoring the other's struggles, Jiang Mu picked up the little one, went to the low wall, and threw him into the neighbor's yard. "Go do your homework. All you do all day is play."

The sound of wailing came from the neighboring courtyard.

Jiang Mu ignored her, went back inside, took out his notebook, and prepared to write down some of his guesses and clues from the day.

He was unaware of the details of the princess's disappearance.

But the fact that the other person's undergarment was related to the missing apple case is quite intriguing.

The real culprit in the apple disappearance case absorbed the lifespan and youth of so many young women, and then deliberately made Wenxiuniang and her maid hang themselves to steal their corpses.

The purpose is to obtain the other person's body.

To change bodies, one must be in a place with extremely heavy yin energy.

He had previously instructed Tang Jinxian to send people to investigate various parts of Yancheng using magical artifacts, but they had not found any clues.

Only the Prince's residence remained unexplored.

"Your Highness, could he be the real culprit in the Apple case?"

Jiang Mu had a bold guess in his mind: "In order to maintain his youth, he killed those young women. Because his body was collapsing, he wanted to get a new body."

Jiang Mu thought that perhaps Tang Jinxian should check the princess's birth date and time.

Just as Jiang Mu was pondering, the door was suddenly banged on loudly.

"Something's wrong, boss! Big Sister's dead!"

"Boss, come quick! Big Sister's dead!"

"Boss—"

"That little brat!"

Jiang Mu cursed under his breath, opened the door, and was about to kick the little guy's butt a few times.

Seeing the panicked expression on Shi Shuangsui's face, which seemed genuine, Jiang Mu's heart sank.

Suddenly he remembered something and quickly asked:

"Has Yu-ju's illness flared up again?"

Ever since that serious illness years ago, Shi Yuhuan has been experiencing strange symptoms from time to time.

That Dr. Mei often treated her.

Upon hearing Sui Sui say "Big Sister is dead," Jiang Mu immediately realized that she might have had a seizure and fainted.

"My eldest sister is dead."

Shi Shuangsui's voice was trembling with sobs.

Without bothering to ask any questions, Jiang Mu didn't even bother to leave the courtyard. He simply climbed over the low wall and rushed into Shi Yuzhu's house.

I had just stepped into the house.

A wave of chilly, watery vapor rushed towards us.

Jiang Mu looked up and saw that Shi Yuzhu was soaking in the bathtub, her head drooping against the side of the tub.

Is Yuju taking a shower?

Jiang Mu paused, then tentatively called out, "Sister Yuyan?"

There was no response from the other party.

Jiang Mu was now certain that the other person had fainted due to an illness, so he quickly went forward to check on them.

The situation inside the bathtub was alarming.

A thin layer of ice had formed on the water's surface, and a chill permeated the air.

Shi Yuhua leaned back weakly against the barrel, her delicate face as pale as a piece of white silk.

Most of her body was submerged in the cold water.

Only the front of the garment was visible above the water.

Like two moons breaking free from the dark clouds, only to be unexpectedly frozen in the water by the cold air.

Pure and flawless...

"Sister Yuju?"

Jiang Mu swallowed hard and gently patted the other person's cheek.

Shi Yuhua did not react at all.

Jiang Mu checked her breathing again; it was so faint it was almost imperceptible.

He cursed under his breath, then quickly bent down and put his arms into the icy water, supporting the woman's back with one hand and putting the other hand under her knees.

With a little effort, they pulled her out of the water.

wow-

The thin ice shattered.

Shi Yuyu unconsciously leaned her head against the man's chest.

Countless cool water droplets rolled down the woman's smooth curves in a rush.

The delicate feet were forced off the support and swayed slightly helplessly in the air.

Several unusually large water droplets gathered from the tips of her fair toes and then slowly dripped down...

"Hiss, it's so cold."

The chill emanating from the woman sent a shiver down Jiang Mu's spine.

He quickly put Shi Yuhuan on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

Although I didn't intentionally try to gain an advantage, my eyes inevitably scanned places I shouldn't have.

“Sui Sui wasn’t lying before…”

Jiang Mu thought to himself, "Sister Yuhua is indeed bald; she doesn't have any hair."

Shi Yuhua lay quietly on the bed, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

The skin, due to the strange cold, developed a thin layer of frost, giving it a translucent jade-like color.

The woman at that moment looked like she was made of ice.

It has a fragile and brittle texture, as if it would crumble and break if you applied too much force.

Jiang Mu was unaware of Shi Yuhua's condition.

All I know is that when I used to have an attack, I either toughed it out or went to see Dr. Mei at Yong'an Hall.

The doctor's treatment was quite simple: he massaged Shi Yuhua's entire body.

Massage from head to toe.

However, Shi Yuhua's condition is clearly very serious now, and going to see that female doctor might cause delays.

And as a grown man, it's even more inappropriate for him to give a massage himself.

He can only find other women.

"Boss, Big Sister is already dead..."

Little Shi Shuangsui rushed to Shi Yuhuan's side, not daring to shake her forcefully, but only extending two tiny fingers to poke her older sister's cold arm, her voice trembling with tears.

"Waaah... Boss, what do we do? Big Sister really abandoned us..."

"Waaah, big sister, please take my brother with you too."

Jiang Mu grabbed the other person's ear and pulled him away: "Go find my aunt, she—oh, I forgot Aunt An went to the temple. Damn, what bad timing."

Who else can we turn to?
Stone Frost Ear?
This little guy doesn't know anything about massage.

Jiang Mu was speechless.

When it really matters, can't we even find a single useful person?

It seems I'll have to do it myself.

Since I already kissed Yu-ju-nee there, touching her a little won't hurt.

"Sui Sui, you go find Doctor Mei at Yong An Tang first. I'll give Sister Yu Ru a massage first."

Jiang Mu said to Xiaobudian, "Be careful on the road."

"it is good."

Shi Shuangsui ran out of the house again.

Looking at the frail woman on the bed, Jiang Mu frowned in confusion:
"Why did your illness suddenly flare up so badly today? I don't think it's ever happened before. What's going on?"

Without thinking too much, he took the woman's arm out from under the blanket and began to gently rub it to warm it up.

The woman's arm was as cold as a piece of jade, with faint blue veins visible beneath the skin.

Jiang Mu clasped his hands together, sandwiched her forearm between them, and slowly pushed and rubbed it from the elbow to the wrist.

After rubbing for a while, I switched to using the pads of my fingers to patiently massage in circles along the meridians on the inside of my arm.

However, the massage was not very effective.

It even seems that the coldness emanating from the woman's body is exacerbated.

"What happened? Did I massage you wrong?"

Jiang Mu was surprised.

At that moment, he suddenly noticed a faint blue line appearing on Shi Yuhua's neck.

If you don't look closely, you might mistake it for a blood vessel.

Jiang Mu stepped closer to observe carefully.

The lines extend downwards...

Jiang Mu hesitated for a moment, then gently lifted the blanket.

The faint line extended to the woman's heart, where a tiny mark resembling a miniature lotus flower was faintly visible.

Jiang Mu frowned and gently pressed his finger on the lotus mark.

The lotus flower sank slightly...

But then, a sensation of alternating hot and cold, with a slightly stinging feeling, rushed into Jiang Mu's fingers.

Startled, he quickly withdrew his finger.

However, amidst this stinging pain, some familiar memories suddenly welled up in my mind.

"This is……"

Jiang Mu stared intently at the lotus flower mark, his memories piecing together and surging.

As his memory became completely clear, he suddenly looked at Shi Yuhua's beautiful and flawless face, his gaze filled with astonishment.

Wait!
This is not—

An eight-petaled lotus platform with a crystal-clear body!?

"A white lotus in the mortal world, a bright lamp in the five turbidities. Compassion is the celestial maiden, desire and evil the demoness; when these two dharmas unite, the seed of the Tathagata is born..."

This is a description of the "eight-petaled lotus platform and lapis lazuli body" in a lost chapter of the Vimalakirti Lotus Sutra written by a high monk of Wuchan Dabei Temple, one of the three great Buddhist islands in the Xuanming World.

This body is extremely rare, perhaps only once in a thousand years.

Most of them are incarnations of the Buddha Mother or the Goddess of Merit.

If one encounters and practices the Dharma correctly, it is an unparalleled and auspicious opportunity to attain the supreme enlightenment.

In short—

This is the most top-tier furnace physique in the Xuanming World!

hiss--

Jiang Mu gasped.

Ridiculous.

Even in the Xuanming world, such a super treasure would cause a huge sensation, yet it just appeared right next to my house.
This is unscientific.

No wonder the other person is mute.

Because people with this constitution are "alluring in their speech," once they open their mouths in bed, they can instantly put a man into a state of ecstasy, making him feel lightheaded and unable to control himself.

Therefore, the Buddha Mother or the Goddess of Merit ascended to heaven and was reincarnated through "silent meditation".

Only after losing one's virginity can one speak.

For a fleeting moment, Jiang Mu even had the urge to kidnap the woman in front of him and hide her in the cellar.

After all, this kind of physique would cause an uproar in the Xuanming Realm.

"Stay calm, stay calm. This kind of constitution isn't necessarily always effective in this world."

Jiang Mu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
"The Eight-Petaled Lotus Glazed Body is indeed tempting, but without the support of supreme cultivation techniques and spiritual energy from the upper realm, its effectiveness is greatly reduced. At most, it is just a bed goddess, unlike other furnaces."

"Moreover, this world lacks spiritual energy, which makes it impossible to activate the function of the Glass Body."

"but……"

"But it seems to work for me!!"

Jiang Mu clenched his fist.

What he lacks now is a cultivation vessel to help him transform the impure true energy within his body.

Even if Shi Yuhua cannot fully activate the Glazed Body, it is still a superior furnace. The "Wushan Wonderful Golden Elixir Scripture" he cultivates can be effective.

"No wonder Sister Yu-yu once suffered a serious illness. If people with this constitution do not undergo proper cultivation from childhood, the Liuli Xuan Yin Qi in their bodies cannot be channeled in time, which will lead to blockage and illness."

Jiang Mu muttered to himself.

Now that he knew about Shi Yuhua's problem, Jiang Mu naturally thought of ways to alleviate her condition.

The best solution for a complete cure is quite simple.

Find a man, consummate the marriage, and with yin and yang in harmony, the mysterious yin energy will naturally flow.

But Shi Yuhua is not yet married and is still a virgin.

He couldn't take advantage of the situation.

Then we have to use other methods.

For now, we'll use external force to guide some of the stagnant Yin Qi in her body out, just to alleviate her current symptoms.

But this method...

Looking at the woman who seemed on the verge of death, Jiang Mu struggled internally for a moment, then sighed helplessly:
"Sister Yuju, I'm so sorry, there really is no better way."

……

After half a stick of incense.

"Phew, that was tiring."

Jiang Mu let out a long breath, feeling his right arm was extremely sore and tired.

The chill on Shi Yuhuan's body dissipated completely.

My skin has regained its normal pinkish luster, and my breathing has returned to much normal.

Jiang Mu shook the water off his hands.

He took a handkerchief and wiped the woman's sweat, then took out the thick cloth that had been placed under her and covered her with the quilt again before sitting down to rest.

At this moment, a faint, strange fragrance filled the air.

"It tastes a little different from my senior's."

Jiang Mu suddenly had this strange thought.

He tapped his head, trying to clear these thoughts from his mind, and began to think about Shi Yuyuan's condition.

Although he didn't directly deflower her, going to this extent was basically no different from ruining her reputation. As a man, Jiang Mu didn't mind taking responsibility.

Anyway, the ex-wife hero didn't have any objections to his new wife.

It all depends on whether Sister Yuru is willing to marry him.

Moreover, judging from the other person's physical condition, unless they are practicing cultivation, their symptoms will only worsen if they remain single.

At that point, not only massage and acupressure, but even external guidance will be ineffective.

As a man, he naturally wouldn't want to see such a top-tier beauty taken away by another man.

Especially since she's such a gentle older sister.

At this moment, Jiang Mu remembered the mysterious note again.

The note told him to take down Shi Yuhua as soon as possible, otherwise the two were destined to become enemies.

Jiang Mu didn't understand at first, but now he understands a little.

Since Shi Yuyu possesses an eight-petaled lotus platform and a crystal body, and is either an incarnation of the Buddha Mother or the Merit Woman, once her sacred body is activated in the future, she will inevitably cultivate the Great Dao of Forgetfulness.

Moreover, Jiang Mu also had a vague feeling.

This person's sacred body might be related to the Xuanming Realm. Moreover, it's also his enemy.

Jiang Mu rubbed his temples wearily and sighed inwardly:
"Forget it, let's wait for Uncle An to come back and discuss it with him, and see if we can marry Sister Yuzhu first."

Jiang Mu folded the thick cloth, which was soaked with water, into a square, stuffed it into his sleeve pocket, and then opened the window.

A gentle breeze carried the cool scent of pine resin into the room, causing the bed curtains to sway and dispersing the lingering, unusual fragrance.

Just as he was busy, he heard a slight noise behind him.

Jiang Mu turned around and saw that Shi Yuyuan had slowly woken up.

Her pretty face was flushed with a beautiful blush, and her usually gentle and quiet eyes were now misty with tears, looking watery and with a hint of dazedness and shyness.

"Cough cough..."

Jiang Mu cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly, took a few steps closer, and deliberately kept his distance.

"Sister Yuru, you're finally awake. Your old ailment flared up suddenly, and you fainted in the bathtub. Your condition was critical, so I... I used massage to help dispel the cold from your body. How are you feeling now?"

Shi Yuhuan nodded gently.

Her gaze darted around, seemingly deliberately avoiding eye contact with him.

Jiang Mu looked at her like this and felt a little uneasy. After hesitating for a moment, he tentatively asked:

"Um... Sister Yuzhuan, you were probably unconscious just now, right? Did you know I gave you a massage?"

Shi Yuyuan nodded first, then gently shook her head.

"..."

Jiang Mu was stunned.

Does this mean they know, or they don't?

Shi Yuhuan bit her rosy lips, then stretched her fair arms, now restored to their warm jade-like luster, out from under the covers, gesturing in sign language:

"I was unconscious, so I don't know how you massaged me."

"Oh...I see." Jiang Mu suddenly realized and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as I was about to ask another question, I heard hurried footsteps outside the courtyard.

"Dr. Mei, hurry!"

But then Shi Shuangsui rushed in, dragging a young woman carrying a medicine box with her.

The little girl's forehead was glistening with sweat.

Jiang Mu was afraid that the experienced young woman would notice something amiss or ask him more embarrassing questions, so he quickly slipped away and found an excuse:
"Sister Yu-yu, you should rest well first. I... I still have things to do at the yamen, so I'll be going now."

Having said that, he fled in panic under Dr. Mei's strange gaze.

Dr. Mei sniffed the air, then looked thoughtfully at the beautiful woman on the bed, her face flushed.

……

Back in his room, as soon as Jiang Mu closed the door, the female ghost in green floated out.

"Young master, your massage techniques just now were quite skillful. I imagine you've 'taken care' of young ladies like this before, haven't you?"

The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, her tone slightly teasing.

"Get lost."

Jiang Mu ignored her teasing, sat down cross-legged, held his breath and began to cultivate.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Qingyi pouted and transformed into her hair, disappearing back into the bell.

An Chenghu didn't get home until evening.

At the dinner table, he briefly recounted to Jiang Mu what had happened at Prince Cheng's residence that day, as well as how Ke Linyue had specifically requested Jiang Mu's assistance in the investigation.

"...That's just the way it is."

An Chenghu sighed, "The prince is in a bad mood, and Ke Linyue has specifically asked for you. If you don't want to go, just pretend to be sick. I'll handle the rest."

Jiang Mu shook his head after hearing this.

“Uncle An, there’s no reason to refuse. If I were to feign illness and decline now, the Prince would surely hold a grudge against both you and me. In the end, we would be the ones who suffer.”

It's just assisting with the investigation; I'll go. Maybe I can even find some clues about the Apple case while I'm there."

An Chenghu opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more, and just silently drank his wine.

Jiang Mu ate a couple of mouthfuls of rice, then felt it was time to get down to business. He coughed lightly, looked up, and glanced at An Chenghu and Yan Wenxiu.

"Uncle An, Aunt An, there's something important I'd like to discuss with you."

"What's the matter? Tell me."

An Chenghu put down his wine glass.

Jiang Mu straightened his expression and said, "I want to find a wife."

"Cough cough!"

An Chenghu choked on his drink, his face turning bright red.

Yan Wenxiu was also stunned.

She glanced at her husband instinctively, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

An Chenghu patted Jiang Mu's shoulder hard and said with satisfaction, "Not bad, not bad, you brat, you've finally started to care about your own important matters. You kept making excuses before."

Yan Wenxiu came to her senses, but her expression was somewhat troubled:
"Xiao Jiang, I understand your thoughts. But marriage is a serious matter and not something to be taken lightly."

Look, Lingyun isn't home right now. How about... we wait until she comes back and then discuss it properly together?
After all, she's not a child anymore, and we should listen to her thoughts. Although your Uncle An and I wholeheartedly support you…

Jiang Mu was completely confused.

Why should I need An Lingyun's opinion when looking for a wife?
What does it have to do with her?

An Chenghu, being a seasoned veteran, noticed the expression on his nephew's face and suddenly realized that he and his wife had misunderstood each other. He frowned and asked:
"Xiao Jiang, do you have a girl you like?"

"correct."

Jiang Mu nodded obediently.

"?"

Yan Wenxiu's smile instantly turned sour.

She had already considered Jiang Mu as her future son-in-law, and in the past few days she had even taken on the role of "mother-in-law," growing happier and happier with each passing day.

I've even imagined the scene of taking care of my grandson in the future several times.

Why is this kid suddenly acting strangely?

If it were the silly Mu Jiang from before, she would be very happy, and she really didn't want to delay her daughter's development.

But now that Jiang Mu is so outstanding, how could she bear to let him go?
Yan Wenxiu felt a pang of bitterness welling up inside her. In a moment of panic, she kicked her husband hard under the table.

An Chenghu hissed, glared at his wife, and patiently asked Jiang Mu:
"Which family's daughter is she?"

Jiang Mu pointed with his chopsticks in the direction of the neighboring yard.

Yan Wenxiu was stunned for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief.

So it was Shi Xueying after all.

Yan Wenxiu immediately regained her composure as an elder and said earnestly:
"Xiao Jiang, I understand what you're thinking. Are you still thinking about Xueying? I know you like her, you've liked her since you were little. It's just..."

Sigh, that girl is focused on cultivation now, and she made it clear the other day that she didn't want to get married. You can't force a relationship; maybe we should consider something else…

Jiang Mu laughed and said, "Aunt An, you've misunderstood. It's not Xueying."

"what?"

Yan Wenxiu was stunned again.

Not Xueying?

Her eyes suddenly widened, and her voice rose:
"Sui Sui?!"
"That won't do! How old is that girl? Xiao Jiang, even if you're crazy about your wife, you have to act like a normal person first!"

"Cough cough!"

Jiang Mu's face turned black from choking.
“Aunt An, what nonsense are you talking about! Even if I were a beast, I wouldn’t have any thoughts about that little brat.”

"I was talking about... Amazawa-nee!"

I want to marry her!

Upon hearing this, the air in the room immediately fell silent.

Yan Wenxiu stared, her mouth slightly agape, completely stunned.

"Snapped!"

An Chenghu slammed his chopsticks on the table, his face cold, and stared at Jiang Mu, uttering two words:
"no!"

The force was so great that the bowls and plates shook.

Jiang Mu was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Uncle An, why not? Sister Yuzhu, she..."

An Chenghu interrupted him and said in a deep voice:
"I promised your brother that I would find you a good marriage so that your Mu family line could continue."

Uncle An also likes Yu-hu very much. He doesn't deny that she's a virtuous and sensible girl, with a perfect personality and appearance. She would be an excellent wife... But!

An Chenghu moved his lips, but ultimately didn't say what he was going to say. He simply waved his hand and said:
"...In short, apart from her, Uncle An and Aunt An will try their best to match you with any girl you fancy, but Yu Zhu is the only one you can't marry."

Jiang Mu understood Uncle An's concerns and explained:
"Uncle An, you've misunderstood. Sister Yu-yan is perfectly fine, really!"

Her inability to speak, and the things you're worried about affecting her fertility, are not actually congenital problems, but rather caused by some special reasons.

Manager Tang knew about this, and she even specially invited a famous doctor to treat Yu-zhu. The doctor himself said that Yu-zhu's illness could be cured, and she would be no different from an ordinary person in the future.

"Chief Tang?"

An Chenghu looked somewhat suspicious. "Really?"

"Absolutely true!"

Jiang Mu patted his chest and made a solemn vow.

"How about I invite Manager Tang over tomorrow so you can ask him yourself? Sister Yuyan's illness can really be cured, you can trust me."

Big Gummy Bear, sorry, I have to borrow your name again...

Upon hearing this, An Chenghu fell silent and simply took a large gulp of wine.

Yan Wenxiu also frowned, looking sullen.

Seeing this, Jiang Mu stiffened his neck and said:
"Anyway, I'm determined to marry her! Uncle An, Aunt An, please ask Sister Yu-zhu for me tomorrow. If she's willing, we'll get the marriage done as soon as possible."

"And I kissed and touched Sister Yu-yan too. Basically, her innocence is now in my hands!"

Upon hearing this, An Chenghu and Yan Wenxiu were even more dumbfounded.

This brat has already gotten his hands on it?

-

After dinner, An Chenghu and his wife returned to their house.

The two were silent for a while.

Yan Wenxiu sighed and said softly:

"Sigh, it's all my fault... I hesitated too much before. If I had listened to you earlier and let Lingyun come back sooner, maybe they would have gotten together long ago."

"Now that Xiao Jiang has become so successful... I really can't bear to part with him."

An Chenghu gave a bitter smile:
"What can we do if we can't bear to part with him? Can you force that boy to marry our daughter? Fate is something you can't force. As elders, we can only respect it."

He took off his shoes and smiled with relief:

"Since that kid has made up his mind, why don't you go and ask Yu-yu what she thinks tomorrow?"

"No matter what, it's a good thing that he's willing to settle down and start a family."

If Yu-ru's health is really fine as Xiao-jiang says, then she is indeed more suitable to be Xiao-jiang's wife than our carefree, tomboyish girl.

"you……"

Yan Wenxiu instinctively wanted to refute.

But when she thought of her own fiery personality and compared it with Shi Yuzhu's gentle and virtuous nature, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue and could only sit alone on the edge of the bed, sulking.

……

The next morning, Jiang Mu went to the patrol office.

Before leaving, he once again urged Yan Wenxiu to quickly propose marriage.

Yan Wenxiu still held a sliver of hope, wanting to probe further to see if he had any feelings for her daughter.

But seeing his nephew's anxious look, the words that were on the tip of his tongue ultimately turned into a helpless sigh.

After Jiang Mu left, Yan Wenxiu carefully dressed herself up, changed into a brand new indigo blue dress, and went to the street to carefully select a four-color gift box before carrying the gifts to the Shi family.

After all, proposing marriage is not a child's play; it must be done with solemnity.

The morning light was just right in the Shi family's courtyard.

Upon entering the room, one could see Shi Yuhua sitting by the window doing needlework. Sunlight streamed through the window paper, illuminating her and making her appear exceptionally serene and elegant.

Shi Xueying was also there.

I'm helping my sister tidy up some clothes.

When Shi Yuhua saw Yan Wenxiu enter, she quickly put down her work, stood up, gestured for her to sit down, and personally poured her a cup of hot tea.

Seeing the other person carrying a gift, her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of doubt.

Hello, Aunt An.

Shi Xueying greeted him crisply, then quietly retreated to a corner to continue her work.

He just kept glancing this way out of the corner of his eye.

Yan Wenxiu first gave Shi Xueying a meaningful look, and then smiled and started chatting with Shi Yuhua.

Shi Yuhua felt uneasy about her excessive enthusiasm, so she used sign language to ask directly:

"Aunt An, is there anything I can help you with? Whatever it is, as long as it's within my power, I can do it."

Yan Wenxiu looked at the woman in front of her, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

If I had a son, I'd probably want to find such a perfect daughter-in-law.

No wonder Xiao Jiang is so persistent.

She smoothed the wrinkles in her skirt above her knees, then picked up her teacup and took a sip, hoping to ease the slight disappointment in her heart.

“Yuju,”

Yan Wenxiu looked into Shi Yuhua's clear eyes and slowly said,
"Aunt An came today... to propose marriage on behalf of Xiao Jiang."

The words had barely left her lips when the Shi sisters were both stunned.

Shi Yuyuan subconsciously looked at her younger sister, Shi Xueying, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.

After all, not long ago, Yan Wenxiu had come to propose marriage with great enthusiasm, hoping to match his younger sister Xueying with Mujiang.

However, at that time, my younger sister was proud and arrogant, and she was determined to pursue the path of cultivation, so she resolutely refused the marriage proposal.

In the end, the matter had to be dropped.

Upon seeing Yan Wenxiu come to propose marriage again, Shi Yuhua's first thought was: It seems that Mu Jiang is truly in love with his sister, having even managed to get Aunt An to come again.

However, she was genuinely happy about it.

After all, I watched the two of them grow up and really hoped that Mu Jiang and his sister could be together.

I just don't know if my sister will change her mind.

When Shi Xueying heard the words "marriage proposal," her heart skipped a beat and started pounding wildly.

She also thought they had come to propose marriage to her.

Two blushes instantly rose to her fair face, and she was extremely shy.

The girl nervously gripped the hem of her skirt, raised her head, and her trembling voice was like a tender leaf shaking in the wind: "Aunt An... you said you came to propose marriage?"

Yan Wenxiu smiled and nodded, her face showing helplessness: "Yes. That brat insisted that I do it."

Shi Xueying felt an overwhelming sense of surprise and happiness that instantly overwhelmed her.

It felt as if a little sparrow was fluttering in my heart.

A mixture of nervousness, shyness, and a hint of confusion.

So... he still likes me.

So... he still cares about me!
The girl thought about it sweetly.

However, the next moment——

Yan Wenxiu, however, took Shi Yuhua's hand and said gently:

"So, Aunt An came today to ask Yu-yu what you think. Would you be willing to... marry my nephew? To be his wife?"

"Clap!"

The clothes in Shi Xueying's hand fell onto the blue brick floor.

Shi Yu-hu was about to congratulate her sister in sign language, but she suddenly froze before she could even finish the sign.

The woman slowly turned her head and looked at Yan Wenxiu in astonishment.

Pointing to his own nose.

I?
Those clear, gentle eyes were wide open, filled with an endearing... bewilderment.

Shi Xueying was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

The girl's pretty face drained of color, turning deathly pale. Her heart, which had been pounding wildly just moments before, seemed to plummet from a cloud of honeyed bliss into an icy abyss in an instant.

She was so cold that her whole body was freezing.

For a moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of unreality.

She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, her voice trembling: "Aunt An... you mean... eldest sister?"

She desperately hoped she had misheard.

"Yes."

Yan Wenxiu nodded and said with a smile,

"That brat came to us old folks yesterday and said he's found a girl he likes and he won't marry anyone else. Look, it's your eldest sister, Yuru."

They even urged your Uncle An and me to come and ask Yu Zhu what she thinks. Sigh, this child, she's made up her mind now…

Shi Xueying couldn't hear what came after that.

My brain was buzzing.

It felt as if I had been stripped away from the world.

Shi Yuyan finally realized what was happening, and her cheeks immediately burned.

A blush-like rosy hue quickly spread from her cheeks to her ears, and even her neck was flushed with a faint pink.

She waved her hand hastily, her fingertips drawing a series of chaotic gestures in the air, but due to her confused state of mind, she lost all sense of order and didn't know what she was trying to express.

In the end, she could only lower her head helplessly and try to process it.

Shi Xueying stared blankly at her elder sister's shameful appearance, then looked at Yan Wenxiu's loving face, and felt an extremely bitter feeling well up in her throat, almost suffocating her.

The joy that had just quietly blossomed in my heart has been uprooted.

A bloody hole was exposed.

She fought back the stinging pain in her nose and the tears welling up in her eyes, trying to remain calm, and hurriedly said:
"Well... Aunt An, eldest sister, you two chat first... My master is still waiting for me. He told me to go practice early today. I... I'll go now."

After saying that, she turned and rushed out of the house as if she were fleeing.

They didn't even have the courage to look back.

The girl walked faster and faster.

The wind whistled in her ears, making her eyes sting.

As soon as she rushed out of the courtyard gate, the tears she had been holding back for so long finally burst forth, sliding down her pale cheeks.

The girl leaned weakly against the wall.

Her thin shoulders trembled slightly as tears blurred her vision.

"Second sister?"

Just then, Shi Shuangsui, who was playing outside, ran over and saw Shi Xueying crying. She asked curiously.

"Second sister, what's wrong?"

"No...nothing."

Shi Xueying hurriedly wiped away the tears on her face with the back of her hand, forcing a smile, "Just now... I got sand in my eye."

"Then I'll blow on it for you!"

The little girl stood on tiptoe, puffed out her cheeks, and tried to get closer.

"Need not."

Shi Xueying turned around.

Shi Shuangsui sensed that her second sister was acting strangely, but she didn't understand what had happened.

Her gaze fell on the small doll in her hand. After hesitating for a moment, she handed the doll to Shi Xueying and said in a clear voice:
"Second sister, I have a gift for you. It was made for me by the eldest brother, and it's so much fun!"

The doll is very rough.

The exaggerated smiley face embroidered with red thread on its face is quite comical.

Shi Xueying looked down at the comical-looking little doll in her sister's hand, which she could vaguely make out to be human-shaped. Through her teary eyes, she felt a mix of emotions.

She asked in a hoarse voice:

"what is this?"

Shi Shuangsui scratched her head, trying hard to recall:

"The boss said, something like... Clown."

(End of this chapter)