Chapter 341: Don’t Want Him Anymore

Chapter 341: Chapter 341: Don’t Want Him Anymore

Before she knew it, the sun had already set in the west.

The moment Ji Huan stepped into the courtyard, Widow Xie came over and poked her forehead in exasperation.

"Why are you so thoughtless? You’re a married woman now, yet you were chatting with another man for so long. What do you think your husband will make of that?"

Ji Huan brushed it off. "Doctor Xin isn’t a stranger. Don’t worry, Guan Shan won’t get the wrong idea."

Widow Xie was about to say more, but she swallowed her words when she glanced over and saw Guan Shan emerging from the main hall.

"What are you doing out here?" Ji Huan asked.

Guan Shan glanced at her but didn’t speak.

’What was that supposed to mean? He doesn’t seem angry, just strange.’

Widow Xie explained, "Aunt Wang and Aunt Gao went into the bridal chamber to remake the bed for you two."

Ji Huan was puzzled. "But hasn’t it already been made?"

Widow Xie gave her a sharp look. "This time is different. After they’re done, you two can... you can consummate the marriage."

Ji Huan froze for a good ten seconds, then could do nothing but force a laugh.

"Oh, right... right, right, the consummation. I completely forgot about that. We’ll go in now, we’ll go right in..."

Ji Huan figured that once she and Guan Shan went inside, Widow Xie and the others would leave. Then they wouldn’t have to muddle through the whole consummation business.

But she had barely taken a step before Widow Xie pulled her back.

"It’s not completely dark yet... The time isn’t right. Wait a bit longer. Don’t be in such a hurry."

Ji Huan was beyond embarrassed. ’Why would I be in a hurry? I’m really not in any hurry!’

’She makes it sound like I’m so desperate, especially right in front of Guan Shan...’

She stole a glance at Guan Shan, only to find him looking away. Ji Huan breathed a faint sigh of relief.

Staring at Ji Huan in her wedding clothes, Widow Xie looked wistful.

"You only get married once, and you didn’t even get to ride in a bridal sedan chair..."

She had heard that when wealthy families held weddings, the groom’s family would beat gongs and drums and hang festive lanterns and decorations. After sacrificing pigs and sheep to Heaven and Earth, they would set out with a bridal sedan chair to escort the bride.

The bridal sedan could be carried by four or even eight bearers. Large red lanterns would light the way as firecrackers popped continuously along the route. Musicians would play, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Once they arrived at the bride’s home, the groom would face a series of challenges. It wasn’t so easy for him to claim his bride.

Once the bride was seated in the sedan chair, the music and firecrackers would erupt, grandly announcing to the world that this was his wife, married through all the proper ceremonies.

A girl only gets one day like this in her life. Who wouldn’t want it to be a grand occasion?

Ji Huan knew Widow Xie was feeling sorry for her. Touched, she decided to make a joke.

"What’s so great about a sedan chair? Aunt Xie, if you want to ride in one, we’ll buy one for you once we’ve made some money. You can ride in it whenever you please."

"Nonsense!" Widow Xie put on a stern face. "What would a woman my age do in a sedan chair? I’m the one who feels bad for you. Your mother gave you such good looks and raised you so well, only for you to be married off so... so casually..."

Widow Xie suddenly realized Guan Shan was still standing nearby.

She couldn’t let him think Ji Huan felt wronged by this marriage. That could cause friction between the newlyweds.

She quickly changed her tune. "It shouldn’t have been so simple. We should have at least hired an opera troupe to liven things up, but you were the one who refused..."

’That was an awkward change of subject,’ Ji Huan thought, smiling to herself.

"Wasn’t today lively enough? Anyway, I thought today was great. For me, it was perfect."

With her saying that, what more could Widow Xie add?

"Mom!" Hu Liang and Hu Dacheng had just returned from taking the wheelchair home.

Hu Dacheng reported back, gesturing excitedly.

"Grandma was beyond happy in the wheelchair! Ximei pushed her all around the courtyard, and if it hadn’t been getting dark, she would have wanted to go all the way to the village entrance!"

Hearing this, Widow Xie instantly forgot all her troubles.

Just then, the work in the backyard was finishing up.

Sixth Sister-in-law Feng and Second Sister-in-law Xu finished washing all the borrowed tables, chairs, and dishes. Ji Liansong and Shi Yong worked together to dismantle the temporary brick stove. Then, they and the Hu brothers began returning all the borrowed items.

Ji Xuelan, having finished her work out back, was now busy up front, taking inventory in the storeroom.

Widow Xie told Ji Huan to go in and have a look.

Ji Huan saw Guan Shan standing alone in the courtyard, his hands clasped behind his back, and felt bad about leaving him by himself.

’After all, this is a strange place with so many unfamiliar people. He just married into the family; he’s bound to feel out of place.’

Just as she was about to call Guan Shan over to join her, Aunt Wang and Aunt Gao emerged from the eastern room.

After a moment’s thought, Ji Huan walked over and whispered to Guan Shan, "Why don’t you go inside and wait for me?"

Guan Shan lowered his gaze to her and, after a long moment, nodded.

Watching him go into the eastern room, Widow Xie sighed under her breath. "He’s a bit too withdrawn, that one..."

Actually, Ji Huan quite liked that about Guan Shan. ’It’s best if he keeps his mouth shut. Whenever he opens it, he has a way of leaving people speechless.’

None of the guests who came to the feast had arrived empty-handed. The gifts had all been piled in the storeroom when they arrived, creating quite a mess, but Ji Xuelan had now put everything in order.

Ji Huan gave the items a cursory glance. There were needles and thread, all sorts of miscellaneous things—a bit of everything, really.

None of it was especially valuable. The nicer gifts included tri-colored rice, wooden basins and buckets, live chickens, and eggs. There were also two bolts of cloth, which were considered very respectable wedding gifts in the village.

Ji Xuelan kept her hands busy as she looked back and asked, "Several families today were pressing me about when the Spice Workshop will open. They’re anxious to buy the mix for the hot and spicy soup."

Ji Huan did a quick mental calculation. "The raw ingredients have all been processed. We can start mixing them in batches tomorrow. It won’t be long before we can start selling them."

Widow Xie disapproved. "You just had your wedding. You should rest for a few days before thinking about that."

Ji Xuelan chimed in, "A new bride isn’t supposed to do any strenuous work for the first three days. Otherwise, they say you’ll be fated to a lifetime of labor."

"Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you both."

Then, Ji Huan remembered something else.

"I saw there’s still a lot of food left in the backyard—untouched dishes, including chicken, duck, and pork knuckle. Cousin, can you and Aunt Xie divide it among Aunt Wang, Aunt Gao, Sixth Sister-in-law Feng, and Second Sister-in-law Xu? Don’t leave out Uncle Shi Yong. And most importantly, don’t forget to take some for yourselves."

"I know, I know. Don’t you worry about that. We’ll go and arrange it right now."

While those two went to the backyard to divide up the food, Ji Huan went to the western room.

Pushing open the door, she found Dabao was already awake. He was slumped over the desk, not cutting paper or practicing his writing.

Ji Huan crouched down and stroked his cheek. "What’s wrong? You seem so down. Are you hungry?"

Dabao stared at her for a moment before turning his face away.

When Ji Huan moved to face him, he turned his head back the other way.

After they went back and forth like this a couple of times, Ji Huan understood. He was sulking.

She reached out and cupped Dabao’s face in her hands, stopping him from turning away again.

"What have I always told you? When you’re unhappy, you need to talk about it. If you don’t say anything, how is anyone supposed to know?"

Dabao still refused to talk, but his resolve was no match for Ji Huan’s persistence. Finally, he haltingly began to speak.

"Those people... they all said... that you belong to someone else now, and you won’t want me anymore."

Ji Huan started, then immediately understood.

It must have been before the ceremony, when the villagers had gathered to watch the excitement. Who knows what they were all chattering about, but Dabao must have overheard something.

The boy was sensitive by nature; it was no wonder he would read too much into it.

’But how should I explain it to him?’

’Telling him his new brother-in-law is fake is out of the question.’ ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

’For one thing, he wouldn’t be able to understand such a complex situation.’

’For another, if he knew Guan Shan was a fake brother-in-law, it would make Guan Shan’s position in the family incredibly awkward.’

Dabao stared at Ji Huan without blinking. Seeing her silence, he finally lost his temper for real.

His little face flushed bright red, and he shoved at Ji Huan’s arm with all his might, trying again and again to push her away.

Ji Huan was already unsteady in her crouched position. Caught by surprise, she was pushed right onto the floor.

She froze. Dabao froze, too.