Volume 1, Chapter 6: You Are Tugging on My Clothes

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Passing by the courtyard, the door to Lu’s parents’ room was still tightly shut; the whole house was silent except for Jiang Yuan, who had already gotten up. Jiang Yuan let out a small sigh—there was nothing she could do. To lose weight, she had to exercise, and the only time she had was early in the morning. After a long day’s work, she was too exhausted to move at night.

With a towel draped over her shoulders, Jiang Yuan began jogging slowly around the village, regulating her breath evenly—two steps in, two steps out. Having nearly completed a lap, she was drenched in sweat, beads trickling down her cheeks, and she switched from jogging to walking.

“Xiao Yuan?” From afar, the village chief, out for a stroll, spotted a familiar figure and stopped, uncertain, calling out.

Jiang Yuan paused and turned, greeting, “Uncle Liu.”

The “Uncle Liu” she referred to was Liu Youzhi, the village chief of Shitou Village, father of Liu Fendou, and almost her father-in-law.

“Ah, Xiao Yuan, Uncle Liu is sorry,” the village chief said as he approached with his hands behind his back, sighing weakly. “Xiao Yuan, you don’t blame Uncle Liu, do you?”

Jiang Yuan fixed her gaze on the village chief’s face, tinged with guilt, and feigned innocence: “What use is it to blame anyone now that it’s done?”

She didn’t want to dwell on the role the village chief had played in all this. She only wished to use whatever lingering guilt he felt to achieve her own ends.

Catching the tone in her voice, the village chief’s eyes brightened with surprise. “So, Xiao Yuan, you don’t blame Uncle Liu?”

Jiang Yuan didn’t answer directly but instead began talking about herself.

“Everyone says that when you marry, you should find a man who understands warmth and cold. Now I’ve married into the Lu family, but Lu Xiuyi is cold by nature, always indifferent to me. We hardly see each other throughout the day.”

Her long lashes concealed the cunning sparkle in her eyes, but her face wore a look of grievance.

The village chief’s brows furrowed deeply, worry filling his gaze. “What are you going to do? Xiao Yuan, you’ve been wronged. It’s all that scoundrel of mine’s fault.”

“Uncle Liu, do you think that if we spend more time together, the relationship will improve?”

“...Yes, that’s how it works. So, Xiao Yuan, don’t be too upset.”

“But with us both going out early and coming back late, where’s the chance to be together? I think it’s best to just accept it and move on.”

Having said that, Jiang Yuan shook her head in disappointment, slumping her shoulders as she tried to leave.

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Seeing her about to go, the village chief suddenly had an idea and hurried to stop her.

“Hey, Xiao Yuan, wait a moment,” he said, striding up to her. “How about this: from now on, when you work, Uncle Liu will make sure you two are assigned together. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to be with him. How does that sound?”

“Wouldn’t that be a bit awkward?” Jiang Yuan feigned concern.

The village chief patted his chest confidently. “What’s there to worry about? I’m the village chief. If Uncle Liu says it, it will be done.”

“Forget it, maybe not. What if someone complains?”

“Let them come find me.”

“But...”

Seeing she was about to refuse again, the village chief didn’t give her a chance. He hurriedly left, leaving behind a firm, “It’s settled then.”

After he left, a triumphant smile spread across Jiang Yuan’s face, wiping away all signs of her previous grievance.

She had succeeded in making the village chief take the initiative to arrange for her to work alongside Lu Xiuyi, which not only allowed her to nurture her relationship with her dear husband but also silenced the gossip.

Satisfied, she returned home to find Lu’s parents and Lu Xiuyi already up, sitting at the table without touching their food, clearly waiting for her.

“Father, Mother, Xiuyi, you all go ahead and eat; you don’t have to wait for me,” Jiang Yuan said quickly, not wanting to keep them waiting.

With that, she hurried away, sweating from her run and eager to wash her face and hands.

When Jiang Yuan returned to the table, Lu’s mother asked with concern, “Xiao Yuan, where did you go so early, all sweaty like this?”

“Um...” Jiang Yuan felt embarrassed to admit it. She nervously tugged at her clothes and said, “I’m just a bit overweight, Mother. I want to slim down.”

Lu’s mother paused, then smiled. “Don’t worry, you’re still growing. You’ll slim down eventually.”

Though married, Jiang Yuan was only nineteen, still quite young.

Her cheeks flushed, and she only dared act a little bold in front of Lu Xiuyi. At that moment, her grip on her clothes tightened.

“Let go,” came a calm but slightly helpless voice nearby.

Jiang Yuan turned her head, her eyes brightening—Lu Xiuyi was speaking to her?

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Their eyes met. Lu Xiuyi glanced at Jiang Yuan’s small, clenched hand and said with resignation, “You’re pulling on my clothes.”

“Ah!” Jiang Yuan caught sight of a glimpse of his bronzed abdominal muscles where she had been gripping his shirt and immediately loosened her hand.

Heh, no wonder she hadn’t noticed before.

Breakfast ended quietly, with only the occasional exchange between Li Lianhua and Jiang Yuan. The Lu family men were taciturn and said little throughout.

Taking advantage of a moment to wash dishes, Jiang Yuan leaned toward Lu’s mother.

No matter what she did these days, Lu Xiuyi remained cold and indifferent, so Jiang Yuan decided she needed to take a targeted approach and find out his preferences first.

“Mother, has Xiuyi ever liked any girl before?” Jiang Yuan asked casually.

The Lu family had once been landlords, with servants in the household—surely Lu Xiuyi must have once had a crush?

Li Lianhua paused in her washing, suspecting a misunderstanding and quickly explained, “No, Xiao Yuan, don’t get the wrong idea. Xiuyi is just cold by nature.”

Li Lianhua feared Jiang Yuan might think Lu Xiuyi’s indifference was because he had feelings for someone else.

Jiang Yuan was not convinced and pressed again, “Mother, think carefully—is there really no one?”

Li Lianhua’s alarm bells rang loudly, and she stopped washing to turn and seriously explain, “There really isn’t, Xiao Yuan. Did someone say something to you? Or did Xiuyi do something to upset you?”

“No, no,” Jiang Yuan quickly shook her head. “I just want to know what Xiuyi likes so I can nurture our marriage.”

“Oh, I see.” Li Lianhua breathed a sigh of relief. It was good there was no quarrel.

Pleased that her daughter-in-law was taking initiative, she shared everything she knew. “That boy has always been quiet. When he was little, he had a playmate next door—a gentle girl with a soft voice. They got along well.”

Since it was all from childhood, Li Lianhua assumed Jiang Yuan wouldn’t mind and told her everything she knew.