Zhao Di's cooking skills, although not superb, were quite good. The slow-cooked old hen was tender and not greasy, with satisfying color, aroma, and taste, enough to make one's mouth water.
Besides the well-cooked old hen, the woman had simply stir-fried two vegetable dishes.
Stir-fried bean sprouts and leafy greens.
The flavors were mild and palatable.
Although life was simple and plain, it was suffused everywhere with the unique homely atmosphere of a small family.
Lu Renjia picked up his favorite chicken backside and said with a tone of sour admiration, "They say one should marry a woman who can grace the hall and the kitchen. Old Zhang has cultivated such good fortune over several lifetimes, I wonder how much of it I can share."
Zhang Yunwu scratched his head and grinned foolishly.
Listening to Jia's praise, Zhao Di blushed and said shyly, "With someone capable like Lu, his future wife will definitely be several times better than Zhao Di."
"Indeed, indeed."
Zhang Yunwu chimed in, "The wife Lu marries will surely be better than Zhao Di."
How could this kid speak like that?
Jiang Shouzhong was speechless and kicked the big dumb ox under the table.
Zhang Yunwu stared blankly, looking up at Jiang Shouzhong and asked confusedly, "Jiang, why did you kick me?"
"Never mind, just eat your meat."
Jiang Shouzhong had no desire to enlighten this blockhead.
Zhao Di covered her mouth with a giggle, then thought of something, her eyes fixed on Jiang Shouzhong before shifting to her honest and silly husband; she lowered her eyelids, covering a trace of sorrow.
"What a pity, though my Jia isn't lacking in looks, he's not as popular with the ladies as Jiang."
Lu Renjia munched on a piece of chicken backside and mumbled indistinctly,
"It's also fortunate this kid isn't a playboy, or who knows how many romantic debts he would rack up. I've arranged for him to meet a girl from Yuming Street, but the kid won't even take a look."
Jiang Shouzhong knew this fellow said this on purpose, wanting Zhao Di also to encourage him to go on a matchmaking visit. Somewhat displeased, he replied, "Can't a chicken backside shut your mouth? If you like matchmaking so much, why not switch careers to matchmaker?"
"When I can't make it anymore, I'll definitely become a matchmaker," Lu Renjia smacked his lips.
Seeing the two about to argue, Zhao Di hurriedly interjected.
"The girl from Yuming Street that Lu mentioned, that's the one from the Feng Family, right? Although she's not bad, she seems a bit of a stretch for Jiang."
Zhao Di paused then continued,
"In my view, for a man as excellent as Jiang, he's bound to bring honor to your family and has a limitless future. Even for choosing a wife, one should seek the most beautiful woman in the world."
[To choose, one must seek the most beautiful woman in the world as a wife...]
The familiar yet distant words from the woman caused Jiang Shouzhong to feel momentarily bewildered.
Memories drifted like catkins, back to that autumn day a year ago...
...
"My Shouzhong is the most outstanding man in the world. To choose, one must seek the most beautiful woman in the world as a wife..."
Curtains lightly rolled with the breeze, and the graceful beauty sitting in front of the desk, chin propped on hand, gazed out at the misty rain through the window, her voice so light as though floating in the rain.
"Ye is the most beautiful woman in the world."
The man's tone was gentle.
His injuries had mostly healed.
A year ago, when he first arrived in this strange world, he nearly died in that swamp.
If not for the woman appearing in time, he might have already lost his life.
Therefore, in Jiang Shouzhong's eyes, this woman who saved him from death's door and took care of him for a year, treating him like a brother, was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Sister is very ugly, not worthy of my Shouzhong."
Ye Zhuchan turned her elegant head, her beautifully translucent jade-like side face bearing a self-mocking, sorrowful smile.
Looking just at her left side, the woman was undeniably stunning.
But when she turned her other cheek,
the fierce scar, resembling a centipede, appeared especially shocking.
Each time he saw it, it pained Jiang Shouzhong like a needle prick.
What should have been a perfect piece of art was maliciously ruined, and it was unclear who was responsible.
He had asked several times about the origin of the scar, but she always remained silent.
Jiang Shouzhong propped his hands under his head, tossed a grape into his mouth, and with a teasing look on his handsome face, he jested:
"Then I'll remain a bachelor for life. When eventually no one wants me, Ye will take pity and marry me. Besides, I won't leave this village and will always stay by Ye's side."
Ye Zhuchan smiled brightly.
Then, she remembered something, her spirits dampened, and her dim gaze fell to the ground.
After a moment, she moved her cherry lips and murmured softly,
"It won't happen. Ye really isn't worthy of you."
Rain mist gathered like thin smoke in front of the eaves, enveloping her slender form in a hazy, dream-like veil.
It was like a scene from a delicate dream.
...
"Smack!"
A sudden hand on his shoulder snapped Jiang Shouzhong back from his old memories.
The image of Sister Ye vanished into thin air, like smoke dissipating in his mind.
Lu Renjia, not minding the grease on his hands, wrapped his arm around Jiang Shouzhong's shoulder and said,
"Jiang, I'm not as clever as you, but I really hope you can settle down and start a family soon. Don't end up like me, spending my whole life wanting a wife, as hard as reaching the heavens.
In this house, it's really not working without a woman.
No one to warm the bed, no one to wash clothes, no one to cook, no one to talk to… Sometimes when I think about it, it feels quite bad.
So how about this, find some time tomorrow to go see the girl from the Feng Family, how about that?"
Jiang Shouzhong, ever so serious, replied, "Jia, think of it this way. Without a wife, you can go to Spring Rain Building for some fun, you can drink as you please, do whatever you want without anyone to nag or fight with you.
No one at home will smash dishes, your mother-in-law won't nag at you all day, and no children will call the neighbor Uncle Wang daddy…"
"Okay, okay, I can't argue with you," Jia finally admitted, waving his hands repeatedly in defeat, "If not, then forget it. I might as well return that bit of silver to them."
Jia still had a sense of honor.
If things couldn't be resolved, he couldn't just take their money for nothing.
Jiang Shouzhong didn't plan on holding his tongue, he continued,
"Here's another harsh truth, even if I were your age, there would be plenty of women throwing themselves at me, believe it or not?"
"Pah!"
Lu Renjia wanted to mock him in return.
But looking at the other's handsome, strikingly attractive face, he bowed his head and continued eating his meat, no longer inclined to argue.
So what if he's handsome? Women look at inner beauty.
"And—" Jiang Shouzhong said seriously, "I have a wife."
"Oh yes, yes, you have a wife." Lu Renjia snorted coldly, "Your wife is a fairy from the heavens who descends once a year to meet you, right?"
"My wife is Ran Qingchen."
"..."
The room suddenly fell quiet.
Seconds later, Lu Renjia sprayed the food from his mouth with laughter and pushed a plate of bean sprouts in front of Jiang Shouzhong, "Jiang, don't drink too much, eat more vegetables, eat more bean sprouts…"
Zhang Yunwu was astounded, "Brother Jiang, is that true?"
We Zhaodi helplessly slapped her husband's arm, "Brother Jiang is jesting with us."
Zhang Yunwu just nodded with a foolish smile, scratching his head.
Jiang Shouzhong sighed helplessly.
Truth is not believed.
...
Jiang Shouzhong arrived home just around the time near the hour of Hai, carrying a slight scent of alcohol.
Although he was very tired, Jiang Shouzhong didn't feel very sleepy.
Bored, he casually picked up the "Tianyuan River Map Book" given by Zhang Lang to help him sleep.
This book about cultivating one's moral character was full of lofty principles.
Phrases like "proper energy extends, the true heart observes," "cleanse the body, bathe in virtue, wash the heart, transform concerns," "with a clear mind, all things are inherently seamless, cultivating character and nature comes naturally" filled the pages.
Leisurely reading it could calm one's mind.
The book wasn't thick, just sixteen pages.
Jiang Shouzhong carelessly flipped through it once, then started over. After two rounds and still not feeling sleepy, he began reading from back to front, muttering word by word.
Just like that, back and forth, sleep finally began to creep upon him.
With the book in hand, Jiang Shouzhong fell into a deep sleep.
Shortly after he fell asleep, a blood-red chilly breath suddenly flowed out from his body.
Like a hungry wolf sensing the smell of blood, it seeped into the book.
The ancient book's pages began to flip rapidly.
The characters imprinted on the pages seemed to come alive, continuously twisting and wriggling. Eventually, they detached from the book and transformed into a small, translucent figure.
Around the small figure glowed a strand of golden ancient characters:
"[Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Dao, Dao follows Nature!]"
——
The cold moon hung high, the biting wind to the bone.
The big man in dark clothes coming out of Spring Rain Building burped, leisurely walking on the desolate street.
This attendant and bodyguard of Nalan Xie lightly tapped his scabbard, squinting his eyes, muttering to himself, "Should I break the boy's left leg or the right?"