Chapter 318: Chapter 312 Unusual Situation_1 Chapter 318: Chapter 312 Unusual Situation_1 Lin Yue had returned to find Jiang Ziqi sitting in the courtyard, his countenance slightly soured from the earlier incident. He swiftly put on a smile and greeted him, “Brother Jiang, you’re here! Why didn’t you come inside to sit? Are you enjoying the scenery in the courtyard?”
Jiang Ziqi, seeing Lin Yue, also greeted her with a warm smile, “Indeed, the scenery in your family’s courtyard is quite unique and charming. I’ve been savoring some tea while enjoying the view; it’s rather pleasant.”
“That’s not it. Our young master was blocked at the door by that Liu Aniu, who claimed that your family is hiding treasures and feared our young master would steal them. What kind of person do they think our young master is to covet the things in your home? It’s really belittling,” Axin said indignantly.
“Do not be rude!” Seeing Axin like this, Jiang Ziqi reprimanded in displeasure. Axin quickly realized his mistake. Unknown to others, but as someone who had served the young master for so long, how could he not be aware? This Miss Lin was the one his young master cherished deeply. His earlier blunder, provoked by that fool Liu Aniu, yet again led to folly. He hoped his young master wouldn’t punish him upon their return and inwardly lamented, cursing Liu Aniu once more in his heart.
“This is Axin, my personal manservant. I had sent him on an errand last time, so you didn’t meet him. Axin, quickly pay your respects to Brother Erhu and Miss Lin,” Jiang Ziqi introduced Axin as he noticed Lin Yue curiously eyeing him.
“Yes, Axin has met Brother Erhu and Miss Lin. I was impolite just now and ask for your forgiveness,” said Axin, who was not one of those uncouth folks from the backwoods. Realizing his error, he immediately adjusted his attitude to apologize to Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue—mostly to Lin Yue—as that was who his young master truly cared about. He hoped that this good behavior might offset his earlier discourtesy.
“My apologies, I was at fault. I knew that Brother Jiang was coming today but forgot to instruct Brother Liu to let you in first. Brother Liu is an honest man, who never goes back on his word to me or Erhu. That’s why he refused to let you in. Please don’t blame him; it was my error. I ask for forgiveness from both Brother Jiang and Axin,” Lin Yue said, knowing Jiang Ziqi wouldn’t blame her, but she still felt the need to say the formalities.
Zhao Erhu looked on with a hint of sourness. Was his little wife so happy to see Jiang Ziqi? Her mood had been affected by the incident with Zhao Yunxiang and Chunxi, and she hadn’t shown much of a smile. He hadn’t managed to cheer her up the whole way here, but as soon as Jiang Ziqi arrived, his little wife was all smiles!
He also didn’t appreciate Jiang Ziqi’s reference to his wife as Miss Lin rather than Mrs. Zhao or Erhu’s wife. What was he thinking? Clearly, the man still harbored feelings for his wife, the eternal scoundrel, he thought. His wife was always attracting unwelcome suitors, which caused him much concern. Over in Shanglin Village, there was Jiang Wenshu still thinking of her, and now Jiang Ziqi had shown up at his door.
What was he to say? It wasn’t his wife’s fault. She didn’t invite them; they came on their own accord. If anyone was to blame, it was because his little wife was too beautiful, too excellent, too eye-catching to men. He thought he should hide her away.
Feeling depressed, Zhao Erhu realized that he became petty in the face of any man coveting Lin Yue, seething with jealousy, especially someone like Jiang Ziqi, who was so outstanding and knew how to please his wife. Fortunately, though Zhao Erhu felt strong jealousy, he never directed it toward Lin Yue. Cherishing his wife was far more important than blaming her, and that, at least, was a merit.
In the end, Zhao Erhu still felt a bit inferior, his wife deserved someone better, yet she had married a coarse fellow like him. But Zhao Erhu was just an ordinary selfish man, and now that he had set his mind, he would absolutely not let his little wife leave in this lifetime. However, he would be doubly good to her, cherishing and pampering her, ensuring she lived a happy life.
Jiang Ziqi saw that Zhao Erhu’s complexion didn’t look too good, and knew that Zhao Erhu was being petty again, most likely seething with silent jealousy. This man was indeed too stingy. He hadn’t even done anything outrageous, yet Zhao Erhu was already making this face; if there had been something real, he would surely have turned everything upside down. Aren’t women supposed to be the jealous ones? Yet here was Erhu, a grown man, exhibiting such pettiness.
Jiang Ziqi scorned Zhao Erhu in his heart. Although he had no intentions of breaking up a marriage, just like Zhao Erhu viewed him, Jiang Ziqi found Zhao Erhu equally distasteful. Any opportunity to vex Zhao Erhu with Lin Yue was a good one, who could blame him when Zhao Erhu had taken the lead by marrying a good woman like Lin Yue. Jiang Ziqi was a man with his own pride; empty of too many schemes, he would never stoop so low as to snatch another man’s wife, an act he deemed contemptible, unless Lin Yue herself did not wish to be with Zhao Erhu. But as far as he knew, the relationship between Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue was still quite good, so all he could do was to make these little moves, purposely provoking Zhao Erhu.
Liu Aniu had no idea about the private rivalry between Jiang Ziqi and Zhao Erhu. Seeing that the atmosphere between Zhao Erhu and Jiang Ziqi was off, he thought it was because he had previously blocked Jiang Ziqi from entering, which might have caused a rift between them. “Doctor Jiang, I apologize, I didn’t know you were a good friend of our Dongjia, and that’s why I didn’t let you in. It was all my fault, you can blame me. Li Chang’an is right; I lacked discernment.”
Although Liu Aniu said this, he did not regret his actions at all. Even if he could go back in time, he would still choose to do the same, for at that moment he was unaware of Doctor Jiang’s identity. If he had let in those with sinister motives plotting against the Dongjia, that would have been a true betrayal of the Dongjia’s trust.
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. When the master is not at home, it’s your duty to keep the door shut tight and not let anyone in. That is the most loyal course of action.”
“Yes, Aniu, you did well!” Zhao Erhu patted Liu Aniu’s shoulder, his satisfaction with Liu Aniu growing, as his gaze swept over to where Li Chang’an was standing, his expression turning cold.
Initially, keeping Li Chang’an around was his little wife’s idea, to turn the tables on the person instructing Li Chang’an in secret against them, and he had agreed, holding the same intention as his wife, to teach the person behind Li Chang’an a lesson. But now the condition of his little wife had changed; she couldn’t afford to expend mental effort and worry, so Zhao Erhu no longer wanted to take the risk of keeping this troublemaker around.
“Li Chang’an, what are you doing here? I don’t recall allowing you into the courtyard?!”
“Dongjia, I, I saw Liu Aniu in the courtyard, and with the Dongjia not around, I was afraid he might harbor ill intentions, so I came to keep watch together with him.”