Chapter 194
Mu Yingying looked at the smug expressions on the faces of Bai Niu and her mother with pity. Even the villagers were eagerly awaiting to see the matching jade amulets. The Bai family must have thought she couldn’t produce the matching jade. They underestimated her too much.
"My jade amulet,"
At that mont, Lu Jiu, who had been silent for a long ti, spoke up and held up the matching jade amulet for everyone to see. This caused great shock to the Bai mother and daughter, especially Bai Niu, who widened her eyes and stomped her feet anxiously, shaking her mother’s arm in panic.
"Ah, so they really are husband and wife. I suspected as much."
"Yes, yes, it turns out that Da Shan and her daughter are the liars. The mother wanted her daughter to steal soone else’s husband. How shaful."
The villagers voiced their agreent. Everyone firmly believed that Mu Yingying and Lu Jiu were really husband and wife, and not just pretending.
When Bai Niu saw the jade amulet, her eyes widened in shock, and she blurted out, "Impossible! I sold that jade amulet in the market myself. How could it be here now...?"
"Bai Niu!"
Da Shan quickly covered her daughter’s mouth before she could say anything more foolish. But it was too late, as the evidence Mu Yingying and Lu Jiu presented clearly showed the truth. The villagers began to condemn the mother and daughter for not admitting their wrongdoing.
"What kind of hellish upbringing did Da Shan and her daughter co from to be so cruel as to try to separate a husband and wife?"
"So vicious. They think they can do anything just because this young man lost his mory?"
"Despicable, truly despicable. Go back to your own ho!"
The villagers started to scold and berate them. Bai Niu raised her hands to cover her ears, screaming and cursing without restraint.
"Shut up! He’s my husband! He’s mine!..."
Bai Niu’s voice gradually weakened as Da Shan quickly dragged her daughter away from the area in sha. Mu Yingying watched them go, laughing with satisfaction. Playing with her?
They were a hundred years too early!
"You’re clever," Lu Jiu praised. The credit for this situation was all due to Mu Yingying’s careful planning. She had managed to bring evidence that clearly proved her words.
"Of course,"
She replied proudly, standing tall. It was fortunate that she had asked Lu Jiu earlier if he had any belongings left with him. When Lu Jiu told her that when he woke up, he had nothing left with him, Mu Yingying knew imdiately that the Bai mother and daughter had stripped him of everything.
Several days earlier, Mu Yingying had secretly gone to the market in a town not far from the village. She went to the only shop that bought valuables to inquire if anyone had sold a jade amulet similar to hers. When the shopkeeper confird that soone had, she bought the jade amulet back to return it to its rightful owner.
She rembered that this jade amulet was an important keepsake left by Lu Jiu’s mother. She had never imagined it would be used as evidence to prove Lu Jiu’s identity today.
“A few days ago, a woman of about your size and build brought this jade amulet here and asked to appraise it,”
The shopkeeper revealed without hiding. Mu Yingying smiled broadly, because she wanted to buy the jade amulet back. She didn’t care about other valuables; those could be replaced as long as one was still alive. But the jade amulet held too much sentintal value for her and Lu Jiu to let it go.
“May I buy this jade amulet back from you?”
Mu Yingying asked calmly. However, the shopkeeper didn’t respond imdiately, perhaps regretting parting with such a valuable item, as it was rare for soone to sell such treasures in his shop.
“How much did you pay for it? I will give you twice the amount,”
She was unwilling to give up and offered what she believed that the middle-aged shopkeeper wouldn’t refuse. Luckily, after she regained consciousness, Mu Yingying still had all her valuables. She had sold so of them to get money to help support Granny Ma’s household.
The price the shopkeeper paid for the jade amulet must have been substantial. Even so, Mu Yingying was willing to pay for it. The jade amulet’s sentintal value was priceless.
“Wait here; I will bring the jade amulet out for you,”
The shopkeeper said, disappearing into the back of the shop for a mont. When he returned, he ca with the jade amulet that was carefully wrapped in a cloth. When he unwrapped the cloth, it was indeed Lu Jiu’s amulet. Without hesitation, Mu Yingying bought it back.
She paid the shopkeeper a hefty price, but it was worth it to reclaim such a valuable keepsake.
After Bai Niu and Da Shan were berated by the villagers and fled in sha, Mu Yingying turned to Lu Jiu.
"Let’s go. I’ll take you to Granny Ma’s house."
Now that Lu Jiu was no longer Bai Niu’s husband, there was no need for him to return to the Bai family house. She would take him to stay at Granny Ma’s house instead. Granny Ma was kind-hearted and would surely not mind if Lu Jiu stayed with them.
“Mm,”
Lu Jiu responded with a nod. He let Mu Yingying walk ahead while he glanced in the direction the Bai mother and daughter had fled. His eyes darkened, filled with a nacing and ominous look, before he followed Mu Yingying.
Even though Lu Jiu’s mories had not fully returned, one thing was clear in his feelings: anyone who caused Mu Yingying distress would not be left unpunished.
This al made Mu Yingying more excited than any other. She no longer had to eat just vegetables and flour as she did when she first recovered. Every dish now included at. Previously, Mu Yingying had mostly eaten vegetable soup because her body had not fully healed, and Granny Ma insisted she eat it every al, saying it was mixed with herbs to nourish her body.
For this reason, Mu Yingying had to endure eating mostly vegetables and flour for a long ti. Today, she would finally have her fill of at. Just seeing the delicious-looking food and slling the wonderful aroma made her mouth water.
"Granny, please eat a lot,"
Mu Yingying said, placing pieces of at into Granny Ma’s bowl. It could be called a small celebration, as Mu Yingying had gone into the forest to hunt food. She managed to catch a rabbit and a wild chicken.
The old woman laughed heartily and took a large bite of her food. It had been a long ti since she had cooked a al with at. Usually, elderly people living alone and in poverty could only eat vegetables and flour.
This young girl was kind and cheerful. After overcoming her trials, she hoped Mu Yingying would find happiness.
"You should eat a lot too,"
A piece of rabbit at was placed in Mu Yingying’s bowl. She looked at Lu Jiu in surprise, her eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you giving food? You should eat it yourself."
"Why? Is it strange for a husband to give food to his wife?"
Lu Jiu asked, puzzled. Mu Yingying realized she was supposed to be playing the role of his wife and should act accordingly.
She almost forgot that she had fabricated a story to deceive Lu Jiu into believing they were husband and wife. That was why he was acting strangely, doing things he had never done before. As her supposed husband, he was now attentive and caring.
"It’s...not strange,"
She replied softly, focusing on her food. She secretly touched her left chest where her heart pounded so hard she feared it might leap out of her chest.
"This couple must be destined for each other. Despite all you’ve been through, you remain together. Truly a match made in heaven. I wish you both happiness," the old woman said with a smile, feeling happy for the young couple.
"Thank you, Granny," Lu Jiu responded, bowing his head slightly in gratitude.
Mu Yingying was in a strange dilemma. She started to feel guilty about fabricating their relationship but reassured herself that it was because she had no other choice. Who would want to fabricate things to get themselves in trouble? Besides, right now, Lu Jiu had lost most of his mories and was difficult to trust. If she didn’t do this, Mu Yingying couldn’t figure out how she could approach Lu Jiu now, not to ntion the relationship between her and Lu Jiu before, which was also very difficult to talk about.
Ultimately, when she had no choice, Mu Yingying decided to fabricate a story that had gone too far until now.
"Try this dish; it’s delicious."
Mu Yingying barely had ti to think about things that couldn’t be undone as Lu Jiu kept filling her bowl with food. What he tasted and found delicious, he would place that food in her bowl, filling it to the brim.
"I know, I can serve myself."
"Mm, but I want to do it for my wife."
Since Lu Jiu put it that way, Mu Yingying didn’t know how to argue, so she could only eat the at he placed on her bowl. It was the first ti Lu Jiu called her wife so earnestly, causing her to lower her head and chew her food quietly, feeling a strange sensation inside.
After the al, Mu Yingying had to deal with another problem: washing the dishes. Lu Jiu approached her, offering to do it himself, both cleaning up the leftovers and washing the dishes.
"I’ll take care of it. You go rest,"
He said, ready to clean up. But Mu Yingying was also unwilling to give up easily She had been doing this chore for days, so it felt awkward about suddenly being relieved of her duty.
"What? I can do it myself. You should go rest."
"Is it wrong for a husband to want to help his wife?"
Lu Jiu didn’t only ask, but his expression also turned somber. Mu Yingying found herself at a loss for words, seeing his saddened face. She eventually nodded in agreent, stepping back to watch as Lu Jiu washed the dishes, looking incredibly efficient.
Mu Yingying smiled; a warm feeling blossod in her heart. It felt good to be cared for so gently and attentively.
anwhile, Lu Jiu kept glancing at his wife while washing the dishes. Calling Mu Yingying his wife made his heart swell with indescribable joy. Deep down, he felt a profound sense of contentnt. Although he still couldn’t rember everything, Lu Jiu believed that the good feelings he had towards Mu Yingying had returned more than halfway. He wanted to take care of her, feeling a strong sense of affection and the urge to protect her, ensuring she never had to endure hardship.
...
..
.
Mu Yingying suddenly rembered, as she walked to her own bedroom, an important issue that had slipped her mind due to the many other things occupying her thoughts. Granny Ma’s house had only two rooms: one for Granny Ma and one for herself. Then, where would Lu Jiu sleep tonight?
Should she find so blankets to lay out on the floor for him? But wouldn’t that be too hard and uncomfortable? She feared that Lu Jiu’s back might hurt, especially since he had just recovered from his injuries. Letting him sleep on the floor might be too harsh on his body.
“A’Ying, I brought a blanket and pillow for you,” Granny Ma entered the room, holding a pillow and blanket. Before Mu Yingying could ask anything, Granny Ma spoke first, “For your husband, so you both can sleep comfortably.”
“Thank you, Granny,”
Mu Yingying had to accept the items. Once Granny Ma left the room, she sighed, trying to figure out the best solution. The room was small and cramped. How could they both sleep comfortably? There was so space next to the bed, but it wasn’t wide enough for soone as tall as Lu Jiu to sleep comfortably.
But sharing the bed felt awkward since they weren’t really husband and wife.
“I’ll just sleep on the floor,”
Mu Yingying mumbled to herself, deciding to sacrifice the bed for Lu Jiu. She would take the pillow and blanket and sleep on the floor next to the bed. The small space next to the bed might be enough for her, and it was better than having Lu Jiu sleep in a cramped space.
Not long after, Lu Jiu entered the room, having just finished bathing. Upon entering, he saw the bedding set up in two places: one on the bed and one on the floor, and Mu Yingying was sitting on the narrow and chilling floor. He frowned in confusion.
“What are you doing?”
“Go to bed. The bed is yours. I’ll sleep on the floor,”
Mu Yingying answered. Lu Jiu’s eyebrows remained furrowed, not understanding her actions.
“Why sleep there? Why not share the bed?” Lu Jiu asked, puzzled, but then, he was even more confused by her reasoning.
“I like sleeping on the floor. It’s cool and comfortable.”
Lu Jiu’s wife was quite odd, wanting to sleep on the floor, which was narrow and hard. If she slept there all night, she would definitely have a sore back the next morning. This was not good for her health. “The floor is hard. I don’t think it’s comfortable.”
“But I like it.”
“Or do you not want to share the bed with ? Is that why you’re making excuses?”
His serious tone made Mu Yingying pause, unable to argue. She opened her mouth to speak but said nothing. They stared at each other for a long mont before Mu Yingying finally spoke, forcing a smile.
“Why would that be? Why wouldn’t I want to share the bed with my husband? You’re overthinking it.”
“Mm. Alright then, co up and sleep. We’re husband and wife, aren’t we? What’s strange about sharing a bed?”
Mu Yingying had no argunt. She was caught in her own web of lies. Lu Jiu was right; there was nothing strange about husband and wife sharing a bed. But since they weren’t truly married, it made her uncomfortable.
In the end, with no other choice for escaping, Mu Yingying reluctantly climbed into bed with Lu Jiu.
The bed was small, and with the two of them, there wasn’t much space between them. Mu Yingying lay on the inner side, while Lu Jiu lay on the outer side. Lu Jiu had already settled in, but Mu Yingying remained sitting on her side.
“Why aren’t you lying down? Will you sleep tonight or not?”
Lu Jiu’s voice contained a hint of surprise, possibly wondering why she was so fussy over sothing as simple as sharing a bed. Thus, Mu Yingying tried to act normal and quickly lay down beside the husband she had fabricated.
With the almost nonexistent space between them, Mu Yingying lay rigid, her body stiff as a board. She stayed in the sa position until she was sure that Lu Jiu had fallen asleep. Only then did she begin to shift and turn because her body was starting to ache. She didn’t know how long she had been lying awake in the dark, but with her heart still pounding, she wondered when she would finally be able to fall asleep.
Mu Yingying had never shared a bed with any man before, even though Lu Jiu was soone she knew well. It felt like she had dug a grave for herself by lying to him about being husband and wife. The situation was getting out of hand, and now she had to endure this discomfort. She couldn’t even imagine where it would all end.
Lu Jiu, on the other hand, was also unable to sleep. He tried closing his eyes and forcing himself to sleep, but it was futile. His heart beat rapidly, a strange excitent filling him. Sharing a bed with one’s spouse should be normal, yet why did he feel so excited?
Maybe it was due to his loss of mory that he was acting weird, Lu Jiu reasoned with himself.
Ti passed slowly. Eventually, Mu Yingying fell asleep without realizing it. However, Lu Jiu continued to lie there with his eyes open, staring at the ceiling. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t fall asleep.
“Mm...”
A soft, sleep-induced murmur escaped from Mu Yingying as she turned in her sleep, wrapping her arm around Lu Jiu, who was still wide awake, making him freeze, his body going rigid. Lu Jiu exhaled slowly through his mouth, not daring to move for fear of waking her.
He let out several deep breaths, lying and staring at the ceiling until the first light of dawn crept in...
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