Chapter 28, Section 28: Warm her with his body heat...

The gate to the Zhao family compound was already closed, and Jiang Ninghui's figure could only be seen disappearing behind the courtyard wall.

Pei's father frowned slightly, and when he turned around, he saw that Pei Duo had already looked away.

Pei Duo said calmly, "I didn't see anything, I was just thinking about whether I should go up the mountain again before the New Year."

Pei's father raised an eyebrow; these words had truly struck a chord with him: "Go! How could we not go! Let's go the day after tomorrow, the two of us will go to the deep mountains for a good time!"

He'd been cooped up for over a month, and it had really gotten to him.

Pei's father looked at Xie and smiled, "My wife, you heard it too. It was Duo'er who wanted to go, and I'm just accompanying our son."

Xie ignored him.

Did she really think she couldn't see that he wanted to go too?

However, this winter has seen frequent snowfalls, and the mountains rarely get any sunshine. The snow is already quite deep, so how could she feel at ease letting Dazhao go into the deep mountains alone?

Madam Xie said, "Why don't you and your son go up the mountain the day after tomorrow and take me with you? I also want to go for a walk in the mountains."

Pei Duo lifted the curtain and entered the room: "Either is fine."

Pei's father laughed and said, "My lady, go if you want to. With me and Duo'er protecting you, we will never let those wild beasts get close to you."

Xie laughed and scolded him for being a chatterbox.

The Pei family was harmonious and peaceful, but the atmosphere in the Zhao family was quite different.

When Jiang Ninghui returned home, her parents-in-law ordered her around doing this and that, as if all the household chores had been piled up and were waiting for her to come back and do them. The Zhao couple and their husband were talking about what had happened in the past month or so.

Jiang Ninghui works silently.

She is not afraid of hardship or endless work.

Human strength is inexhaustible; after a short rest, one can continue working. The only hope is that her in-laws will stop bringing up the five taels of silver, lest they further humiliate her already dwindling reputation.

As dusk fell.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the eaves, spreading golden light across the ground.

After preparing dinner for the family, Jiang Ninghui went to bed and prepared hot water for her parents-in-law and husband. Only after finishing all her chores did she turn off the lights and lie down on the couch. Jiang Ninghui pulled the blanket over her shoulders, turned her head and looked at the dim moonlight shining through the thin window paper, and a sorrowful expression appeared on her beautiful face.

As the autumn imperial examinations drew closer, Jiang Ninghui's worries grew heavier.

She was so scared.

I'm really scared.

What if her husband fails the provincial examination? How will she cope with the rest of her life?

If I could just endure it and live the same life as I did in the Jiang family, this life would pass by.

But I fear she might be even worse off than the Jiang family, and I fear unknown torments and suffering await her.

"Wife, are you still angry about what your parents said this morning?"

Zhao Zhixue lifted the covers and lay down, hugging Jiang Ninghui and holding her hand to comfort her: "I've already explained to my parents, and they won't say anything to you anymore."

Jiang Ninghui buried her face in Zhao Zhixue's arms to avoid her husband noticing the tears in her eyes.

She gently shook her head: "My lord, you've misunderstood. I'm not angry."

Zhao Zhixue patted her on the back: "It's good that you're not angry. We're family. Once we talk it out, everything will be fine."

Jiang Ninghui remained silent.

She tossed and turned all night, finally feeling sleepy around 1-3 AM. At the end of 5-7 AM, she hurriedly got up to prepare breakfast for the family. After breakfast, Zhao Zhixue went back to his room to continue studying, while the Zhao couple went out for a stroll. Jiang Ninghui stayed home and piled up firewood.

At lunchtime, the parents-in-law brought up the Pei family's hunting trip into the mountains the next day.

There were no outsiders this time, only the Pei family of three.

With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, who wouldn't want to eat something good?

Upon learning that the Pei family had gone hunting in the mountains, the Zhao couple wanted to take advantage of the situation and get a share of the meat, but neither of them was cut out for going into the mountains.

Zhao's father was old and not in good health, not to mention Li's.

The only able-bodied student had twisted his back, so now all that's left is his daughter-in-law.

Therefore, Mr. and Mrs. Zhao turned their attention to their daughter-in-law.

Even at her advanced age, Madam Xie can still go into the mountains. How can her young daughter-in-law be at a disadvantage?

After dinner, the two elders called Jiang Ninghui into the house and asked her to go to the Pei family and beg Pei's father to take her with him when he went hunting in the mountains the next day.

Jiang Ninghui was startled, and for a moment thought she had misheard.

Father Zhao said coldly, "Go if we tell you to. We spent five taels of silver to marry you, so you have to do your part for the Zhao family. You can't even take care of Xue'er, so are you unwilling to do even this small thing for the Zhao family?"

Zhao's father's words were like iron nails driven hard into Jiang Ninghui's body.

Her head drooped lower and lower, and her face grew paler and paler.

However, he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Seeing this, Li stepped forward, took Jiang Ninghui's hand, and patted it: "Suihui, you know how hard it is to earn money without me saying it. Our family did spend five taels of silver to marry you. Let's not talk about that now. Just listen to us and go to the Pei family to ask your Uncle Pei to take you with him tomorrow. Our two families have been neighbors for so many years, so your Uncle Pei will give us this much face. Besides, your Aunt Xie is going too, so you two will have company when you go into the mountains."

That makes no sense.

The Pei family of three went into the mountains; what was the point of bringing her, a woman, along?

Her in-laws only thought about begging Uncle Pei to take her into the mountains so they could get some meat, but why didn't they think about what she could do there?

He couldn't do anything, and instead dragged down Uncle Pei and Young Master Pei, making him disliked by everyone.

Jiang Ninghui didn't want to go, and she was too ashamed to beg Uncle Pei.

Even though she was unwilling, her in-laws still forced her out.

The Zhao couple stood at the courtyard gate, their glares forcing her to go to the Pei family.

Jiang Ninghui bit her lower lip and forced herself to walk into the Pei family home.

The Pei family's courtyard was very clean, with several doors and windows closed, and the people inside seemed unaware that someone had entered the courtyard.

Jiang Ninghui's legs were like wooden stakes, nailed to the ground, unable to move.

She thought...

She stood there for fifteen minutes, and then went back to tell her in-laws that it was inconvenient for Uncle Pei to take her, a woman alone, with him, because he was afraid that if something happened to her, he would have a hard time explaining it to them.

This way, she wouldn't cause Uncle Pei any complaints, and she could also explain things to her parents-in-law.

But things didn't go as planned.

The closed door opened from the inside.

When Pei's father saw Jiang Ninghui in the courtyard, he paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Suihui is here. Come in and warm yourself by the fire."

Jiang Ninghui wanted to refuse, but fearing that her in-laws outside the courtyard would hear, she could only nod and say, "Thank you, Uncle Pei."

The Pei family's house was very warm, almost identical to the room in Young Master Pei's house.

As soon as Jiang Ninghui entered, she was enveloped by the warmth that enveloped her. When Xie saw her coming, she smiled and invited her to sit down. Jiang Ninghui sat on the chair with a stiff posture, her head bowed and her two delicate hands on her lap nervously twisted together.

The charcoal in the brazier burned a bright golden-red, much warmer than the Zhao family's house.

She had barely sat down when she felt the warm heat on her calves, which were touching the charcoal brazier.

When Pei's father entered the room, he exchanged a glance with Xie.

Both of them could tell that Jiang Ninghui had come for something.

Madam Xie asked with a smile, "Sui Sui has some free time today, did you come to see your aunt?"

Jiang Ninghui hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Mm."

Next, Xie would ask a question, and Jiang Ninghui would answer, without ever mentioning that she had asked them to take her hunting in the mountains.

Jiang Ninghui estimated the time and got up a quarter of an hour later. Her soft voice was pleasant to listen to: "Uncle and Aunt, I have something to do at home, so I'll head back first."

As Jiang Ninghui reached the doorway, Xie Shi inside asked again, "Suihui, tell your aunt, is there anything else you need?"

Jiang Ninghui's slender back stiffened slightly, and she finally shook her head: "No."

She walked into the courtyard and ran into Pei Duo, who was returning from outside.

Jiang Ninghui hurriedly lowered her head, afraid that Young Master Pei would see the helplessness and embarrassment in her eyes.

"Young Master Pei."

Jiang Ninghui greeted them and walked away with her head down.

The young man slightly sidestepped, blocking Jiang Ninghui's path, his clear voice carrying a hint of magnetism: "Sister-in-law."

Jiang Ninghui had no choice but to look up at Pei Duo, who was three steps away: "What's wrong?"

Pei Duo gazed into the woman's almond-shaped eyes.

Her eyes were slightly red, indicating that she had been crying not long ago.

Her nose was red, perhaps from biting her lower lip, as there was a very faint row of teeth marks on her lips.

The young man's dark eyes narrowed slightly for a moment.

He had just returned from outside, and he wondered what grievance the Zhao family had suffered for her again.

Pei Duo recalled seeing the Zhao couple standing outside the Zhao family's gate before entering, and a thought flashed through his mind and he realized what was going on.

The young man slightly raised his eyebrows.

It's a good thing to be able to spend time with my sister-in-law all the time.

Jiang Ninghui couldn't stand it any longer, so she lowered her head and hurried away. But then she heard Young Master Pei ask her, "Sister-in-law, we're going hunting in the mountains tomorrow. Would you like to come with us?"

Jiang Ninghui suddenly stopped and looked up at Pei Duo in surprise.

How could Young Master Pei know her purpose?

Jiang Ninghui felt as if her inner thoughts had been exposed, and she lowered her head in a panic. Just as she was about to refuse, she heard Young Master Pei say, "If you don't say anything, I'll take it as you agreeing."

Jiang Ninghui was stunned, then looked up in confusion.

She's just a woman; if she went there, she'd only be a burden to their family.

Why would Young Master Pei be so foolish?

"sister in law."

Pei Duo approached her, his dark eyes falling on the woman's slightly pale face.

My sister-in-law's bewildered and helpless appearance was truly irresistible.

If there weren't other people around, he would have liked to pinch it.

The young man lowered his gaze.

No rush, there will be plenty of opportunities tomorrow.

"I'll set off at 1:15 AM tomorrow. At that time, I'll go to your house and call you, sister-in-law."

Jiang Ninghui stared blankly as Pei Duo walked past her into the house. He had already made the decision for her and didn't allow her to refuse.

She suddenly remembered that ever since she met Young Master Pei, his eyes had been able to see through her thoughts.

She had no secrets from him.

Jiang Ninghui had a bold guess in her mind.

Perhaps Young Master Pei noticed that she was being pressured by her in-laws, and thus kindly helped her out of her predicament?

If that were the case, Jiang Ninghui felt even more guilty towards Young Master Pei.

She owed Young Master Pei more and more, so much that she was unable to repay it.

As Jiang Ninghui left the Pei family, she saw her in-laws still standing outside the Zhao family's gate waiting for her to come out. She became even more certain that Young Master Pei had come to her rescue. When the Zhao couple saw Jiang Ninghui come out, they pulled her back. Upon learning that the Pei family had agreed, the two elders smiled from ear to ear, but Jiang Ninghui couldn't help but feel worried.

She had never been to the mountains before. The last time her husband went into the mountains, he told her that the mountain roads were extremely difficult to walk on, and in some places the snow was so deep that it could reach his knees with a single step.

Jiang Ninghui was afraid that if she went into the mountains, she would step into the deep snow and not be able to climb out.

Her in-laws told her to keep the matter of going into the mountains a secret from her husband.

Therefore, the young master was unaware of this matter, and the next morning, before dawn, Jiang Ninghui got up.

Before setting off, she made a point of changing into lighter clothes to avoid wearing too many heavy clothes and slowing down the Pei family while walking on the mountain path.

She cannot be a burden, nor can she be disliked by others.

Since Young Master Pei kindly helped her out of that predicament, she was determined to do her utmost. Even if she couldn't help the Pei family hunt, she could help them carry heavy objects and do heavy work. In short, she wanted to ensure that the meat the Pei family gave to the Zhao family wasn't a bad deal.

Jiang Ninghui was waiting outside the door at the beginning of Chenshi (7-9 AM).

It was extremely cold today. Her clothes were rather thin, and she was shivering from the cold, her lips and teeth feeling cold.

At 1:15 AM, the three members of the Pei family came out.

Jiang Ninghui saw Pei Duo.

He was wearing the light blue, arrow-sleeved outfit he had worn on the day he went up the mountain. The belt cinched his slender waist. He carried a quiver of arrows on his back and held a bow and arrows in his hand. His handsome and imposing demeanor was slightly different from his usual aloof and indifferent temperament.

Young Master Pei is exceptionally handsome, with an outstanding appearance.

Before meeting Young Master Pei, she had never imagined that there would be such a handsome and refined young man in the world.

Pei Duo walked ahead, stepping out of the courtyard first. His eyes were fixed on Jiang Ninghui, his cold gaze sweeping over her slightly thin clothes.

The already frail person trembled even more from the biting wind.

Such a pitiful person—

She truly longed to be wrapped in his arms, nestled within his body, and to have his body heat warm every part of her.

"sister in law."

The young man's gaze fell on her reddened earlobes, and his tone left no room for refusal: "Go back and change into some warm clothes."

Jiang Ninghui: "No need, I'm not cold, and this outfit is light and easy to wear, so I can walk fast."

Pei Duo remained firm: "Go back and change into some warm clothes."

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Author's Note: There will be a new chapter at noon, and there will be a red envelope in this chapter! [Sprinkling flowers]