Even Meng Xinian couldn’t help but curse.
This relative of Chu Liang’s was truly bizarre. The child bride was seventeen or eighteen years younger than Cousin Chu Liang — if the girl had been brought home from birth, wouldn’t the cousin have already been seventeen or eighteen years old? Marriage should have been arranged by then; what’s with bringing home a little girl to be a wife?
Just by doing the math, it was clear: by the time she turned fifteen and was old enough to marry, the cousin would be in his thirties!
Yet they hadn’t even had time to ask for the story behind all this.
But at this moment, there was simply no time for them to consider it.
Meng Xinian’s face turned slightly blue, looking embarrassed as if some secret shame had been exposed.
He glared at Target Number Three and muttered resentfully, "I was badly injured back then and became paralyzed. The Sorceress said Little Little was a child of fortune, and bringing her home as my wife would bring me joy! Sure enough, my injuries healed three years ago and I was able to get out of bed; all thanks to my wife’s merit. I owe her; I’m willing to wait a few more years! You’re Chu Liang’s cousin called in to help, aren’t you? Why concern yourself with so much!"
He spoke with a mixture of annoyance and impatience, so genuinely, that Chiang Xiao almost believed it to be true.
Tyrant Meng was really good at making up stories!
Chiang Xiao’s understanding of him deepened still.
As soon as he finished speaking, she tugged at the hem of her garment, quickly looked up at Meng Xinian with a shy and embarrassed expression, and said, "Brother Xinian, don’t be anxious. Mommy said I can bear you children when I turn sixteen!"
She acted as if she was afraid that Meng Xinian, upon hearing this woman’s words, would really run out of patience and not wait for her to grow up.
Target Number Three was watching her all along and didn’t miss the fleeting shyness and affection in Chiang Xiao’s eyes when she looked at Meng Xinian.
If this were an act, could a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl perform to such a degree? Did she even know what love and romance or bearing children meant?
Obviously, such words couldn’t be said out loud.
A chill ran down Meng Xinian’s spine, almost making his hair stand on end.
Having a child for him at sixteen?
Although he knew it was an act, all a sham, this girl was definitely thirteen or fourteen. Yet she could say something like that to a stranger without batting an eye...
That felt somewhat bittersweet.
Zhao Xin was also quite stimulated by what he heard. He suddenly remembered something the team leader had said to him back in Siyang Village.
She’s just a child, not fit to be a wife...
How absurd life could be.
Now, this child had become the team leader’s wife...
He saw his team leader reach out to rub the girl’s head, wearing a sincere and somewhat sheepish smile as he said, "Little Little, Brother Xinian isn’t in a hurry."
The team leader could act, and Student Chiang Xiao could act even better!
He really wanted to gouge his own eyes out!
The wariness in Target Number Three’s eyes subsided, but she still reached out to take Meng Xinian’s bundle, "It seems I, an outsider, have worried too much. Let me help you carry things; come on in."
She spoke of coming in, but insisted on carrying things out front.
Meng Xinian knew her caution; unless he gave her the things, she likely wouldn’t let them in. So, he hesitated for a moment before handing the items over to her.
Upon receiving the bundle, the woman smiled more genuinely, opened the door, and let them in.
"Hey, little wife, do you know how to cook? We’re starving. Can you cook or not?" she asked, reaching out to put her arm around Chiang Xiao’s shoulder.
Meng Xinian and Zhao Xin both felt a jolt in their hearts.
The cousin’s household was quite poor; it would have been hard for anybody to believe that a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old child bride didn’t know how to cook.
This woman hadn’t completely given up on probing them!
Chiang Xiao nodded, "Big sister, I can."
She really knew how to cook?
Meng Xinian was somewhat surprised.
He had previously pinched Chiang Xiao’s hand, which was so soft and smooth it didn’t seem like it belonged to a village child. He had thought she didn’t do any manual labor at home.