Chapter 7, Section 7: An invisible pair of arms embraced her from behind.
The coachman waited outside, leaving only Jiang Ninghui and Pei Duo in the courtyard.
The young man's tall shadow loomed over Jiang Ninghui, swallowing up her petite figure and the shadow cast behind her. The faint scent of cedar wafted into Jiang Ninghui's nose, reminding her once again of the first time she came to the courtyard and bumped into Pei Duo.
Jiang Ninghui's heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her eyes to avoid the young man's dark pupils.
Pei Duo said, "Please give my regards to my parents for me, sister-in-law."
Jiang Ninghui nodded vigorously: "I've got it."
After saying that, he turned around and hurriedly got into the carriage.
Watching the person's almost fleeing figure, Pei Duo raised his eyebrows slightly and quietly watched her get into the carriage, watching the heavy carriage curtain sway a little.
The young man's dark eyes narrowed slightly for a moment.
She seemed to be avoiding him.
What is she running away from?
He didn't seem to have offended her.
The alley was very narrow, just wide enough for a carriage. The carriage couldn't turn around and could only go to the end of the road. Jiang Ninghui sat in the carriage, her heart still pounding.
The scent of cedarwood kept reminding her of the awkward scene when she met Pei Duo on her first day at the courtyard.
Jiang Ninghui wished she could dig out her brain and erase this embarrassing and shameful memory.
The carriage left the alley and headed out of Qingping Town.
Jiang Ninghui paused for a moment before taking a look around the carriage. The carriage was clean and spacious, with a layer of paper covering the windows, allowing the bright light to filter through and adding some brightness to the interior.
This was the first time she had ever ridden in a horse-drawn carriage since she was a child; it was truly a novel and exciting experience.
A carriage is much faster than walking. A journey that would take most of the day can be completed in an hour by carriage, and it is only a quarter of an hour now.
Jiang Ninghui directed the coachman to stop outside the Pei family's gate.
The Pei family and the Zhao family lived next to each other. At this moment, both families had their doors wide open. Pei's father was chopping firewood in the yard. Despite the cold weather, he was only wearing a thin outer shirt, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. Pei's father was tall and robust, and there was a scar on his temple that ran through his left eye and extended to the tip of his nose.
Pei's father was handsome, but the scar on his face obscured some of his good looks and added a touch of frightening coldness. When he wasn't smiling, he looked rather scary.
"Is it Duo-ge'er who's back?"
Pei's father chopped the axe into the wooden stake and came over. Hearing Pei's father's voice, Xie Shi lifted the curtain and came out: "It's not a day off today, why is Duo'er back?"
Pei's father: "I don't know."
The couple came out and happened to run into Jiang Ninghui, who was getting off the carriage.
Jiang Ninghui looked at Pei's father, but was startled by the frightening scar on his face and quickly looked away. She then looked at Xie Shi, who was wearing a pine-colored dress, which made her already beautiful and elegant appearance even more captivating.
"It's Sui Sui."
When Xie saw Jiang Ninghui, her eyes softened even more.
Pei's father laughed and said, "I thought it was Duo'er who had returned."
It's no wonder the two admitted their mistake; besides Pei Duo, there was no one else who could return from Xiping Village by horse-drawn carriage.
The couple glanced at Jiang Ninghui but didn't ask her why she had returned by carriage. However, they both glanced at the Zhao family next door, knowing that if the Zhao couple found out, their daughter-in-law would likely give them a good scolding.
Jiang Ninghui took out an envelope from her sleeve and handed it to Pei's father: "Uncle Pei, I came back this time to pick up winter clothes and bedding. This carriage was hired by Young Master Pei. He said that I had a lot of things to carry, so he hired a carriage. Young Master Pei instructed me to give this letter to you, Uncle, saying that you will know what he wants after reading it."
Pei's father understood, and he said that given Jiang Ninghui's personality, why would she hire a carriage to come back?
Jiang Ninghui continued, "Uncle, Aunt, Young Master Pei asked me to convey his greetings to you."
Madam Xie laughed and said, "It's good that the boy still has a heart; he still remembers me and his father."
After reading the letter, Pei's father raised an eyebrow and asked, "Sui Sui, is Duo-ge living with you?"
Jiang Ninghui nodded: "Yes, my husband said that it was inconvenient to stay at the school, so he discussed with Young Master Pei about renting a small courtyard near the school."
Pei's father said, "Alright, Sui Sui, when are you leaving?"
Jiang Ninghui: "I'll leave no later than the end of 9 AM, so I can get home just in time to make lunch for my husband and Young Master Pei."
Pei's father: "Okay, I understand."
Pei's father went inside to pack Pei Duo's things, and Xie asked with a smile, "Sui Sui, are there any portions of the meals you cook for Duo-ge'er? Has Duo-ge'er paid your food rations? Don't let him shortchange you."
Jiang Ninghui quickly replied, "Young Master Pei has already paid."
After chatting with Madam Xie for a few minutes, Jiang Ninghui turned around and went back to the Zhao family. Father Zhao was sitting in the main room brewing tea. Jiang Ninghui obediently called out "Father," but Father Zhao only gave a cold snort and continued brewing his tea with a stern face.
Jiang Ninghui had been married into the Zhao family for four months and had already gotten used to her father-in-law's face.
She pursed her lips and went out, bumping into Li Shi who was coming out of the house.
The first thing Li asked about was Zhao Zhixue, constantly referring to him as "Brother Xue" and checking if he was cold, freezing, or hungry, without asking a single question about Jiang Ninghui.
Having grown up, Jiang Ninghui was used to being ignored. She smiled and recounted in detail everything that had happened to Zhao Zhixue over the past month, including where she had spent the forty coins.
Li was satisfied with what she heard. Knowing that she had come back to pack winter clothes and bedding, she urged her to pack quickly and go back early so that she wouldn't miss making lunch and let her son go hungry.
Jiang Ninghui followed her mother-in-law into the house. After the two of them finished packing, Li Shi turned around and handed Jiang Ninghui twenty coins: "You still have ten coins left. With these twenty coins, it will be enough. Your father and I bought some charcoal a few days ago. You can take it back later. Burn the charcoal when Xuege comes back from school. Don't burn it during the day when Xuege isn't home."
Jiang Ninghui carefully put away the twenty coins, lowered her eyes and said, "I've remembered it."
After packing a large bag of things, Li saw Jiang Ninghui take the things outside and then noticed a carriage parked outside the door.
Li's eyes widened in surprise, and without saying a word, she began to scold Jiang Ninghui. However, before she could finish her scolding, Xie came out with a bundle in her arms, smiling, and greeted Li: "Sister Jinhua."
Li's words of reprimand stuck in her throat, her face stiffened, and she looked somewhat comical.
Li greeted Xie with a smile.
Their family has always been on good terms with the Pei family. Old Pei is a skilled hunter and can hunt large wild animals several times a year, from which their family can get a share. Xie is literate and learned to read and write. When her son was young, Xie taught him to read a lot.
Xie put the bundle on the carriage and said to Li, "My son Duo asked Sui Sui to carry a lot of things, so I hired a carriage to come back and pick them up."
Li was taken aback. She said that with Jiang Ninghui's personality, how could she dare to spend so much money to hire a carriage? She was angry at the time and forgot that Jiang Ninghui did not have the money to hire a carriage.
Li laughed and said, "Then my Sui Sui is just lucky to have your Duo Ge'er, she doesn't have to walk back."
Madam Xie: "To be honest, my son Duo is benefiting from your Sui Sui's kindness. I heard from Sui Sui that the food at their school is not good. Thanks to your son and Sui Sui, Duo is able to eat a hot and good meal."
Pei's father came out carrying two large bags. Li glanced at them and saw that one bag contained bedding and clothing, while the other was a full sack of charcoal.
It's true what they say, comparisons are the thief of joy.
After Pei's father got into the carriage and put his things away, he jumped off and said, "Sui Sui, Duo Ge'er has packed everything."
Madam Xie smiled at Jiang Ninghui: "Alright, time is of the essence, you should get in the carriage and go too."
Jiang Ninghui nodded: "Mm."
She greeted her mother-in-law and then the Pei couple before turning and getting into the carriage. When she came, the carriage was empty, but when she returned, it was filled with many things, making it feel cramped and confined.
Jiang Ninghui was secretly glad that Young Master Pei had hired a carriage; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to carry so many things by herself.
She told the driver to hurry and arrive at the courtyard before noon.
Coincidentally, the young master and Young Master Pei also returned.
The two carried the things from the carriage into the house. Zhao Zhixue was quite surprised when he saw the full sack of coal. He then looked at the coal in his own small sack and realized that it was incomparable.
As soon as Jiang Ninghui returned, she hurriedly went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Because she was in a hurry, she planned to make a simple meal and didn't even have time to boil water.
I added a ladle of cold water to the basin, washed the vegetables and placed them on the cutting board. I wet my fingers with the cold water, rubbed my hands together, and continued cutting the vegetables.
Pei Duo stood at the entrance of the kitchen, looking at Jiang Ninghui who was facing away from the kitchen door.
The woman's shoulders hunched from the cold, her fingertips red from the cold, and a faint mist of warm breath escaped from her lips.
Jiang Ninghui finished chopping the vegetables and hurried to the stove to light the fire. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of darkness at the kitchen door. When she looked up, she saw Pei Duo carrying a bag of things in. The young man placed the black bag on the table and said, "Sister-in-law, this is cured meat that my father brought. You can put some in when you cook. I've been eating meat from your family these days, so you don't need to be polite with me."
The other person's last sentence choked up Jiang Ninghui's words.
She could only lower her head and reply, "Okay."
Pei Duo lowered his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Ninghui's red fingertips: "I need to trouble you with something, sister-in-law."
Jiang Ninghui stood up: "Just say it, no need to be polite with me."
Pei Duo: "I like my house to be as warm as it is in summer during the winter. So, I would like to trouble you to come to my room a few more times each day to add more charcoal to the charcoal brazier so that the house can be warm. You don't need to save coal for me."
Jiang Ninghui thought of the large sack of coal that Pei's father had given to Pei Duo.
Presumably, Pei's father was aware of his son's habit.
With no one around, and the house still so warmly burning coal, Jiang Ninghui felt a little sorry for the coal. She nodded gently, "Okay."
The young man, with his brows slightly arched and composed, said, "Thank you for your trouble, sister-in-law."
Jiang Ninghui cooked quickly, and lunch was ready in no time. Zhao Zhixue put down his books and went into the kitchen one after the other with Pei Duo. Today, Zhao Zhixue was still thinking about the key points that the teacher had taught him that morning while eating. After lunch, he went to the canteen with Pei Duo.
After tidying up the kitchen, Jiang Ninghui took the charcoal brazier to Pei Duo's room.
This was her third time entering Pei Duo's room.
The first time was when my husband brought me in, and we made love on Young Master Pei's bed.
The second time, I folded and washed the bed sheets for my husband.
This is the third time.
The room was bone-chillingly cold, just like the room she shared with her husband, devoid of any warmth.
The faint scent of cedarwood clung to her skin and hair like frost and snowflakes, and even her breath was filled with the aroma of cedarwood, giving Jiang Ninghui a momentary illusion.
It was as if Pei Duo was right behind her, with a pair of invisible arms encircling her in the scent of cedar, her entire being imbued with his fragrance.
A note from the author:
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There's a red envelope in this chapter, and there will be another update at 7 PM this afternoon!
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