Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Just as the widow's slap was about to land...
Just as Widow Qian's slap was about to land on Jiang Can's face, Shen Lang caught it and slapped her hand away with a 'smack'. He then grabbed Widow Qian's collar and flung her away. Widow Qian flew backward and crashed into several other laughing neighbors.
Shen Lang looked at everyone expressionlessly, his gaze icy: "What's wrong with my wife? Say it again so I can hear it."
The person being stared at involuntarily shuddered and took a step back.
Widow Qian was thrown to the ground, wincing in pain, but dared not utter a sound.
Shen Lang is ruthless when it comes to beating people; he can draw blood.
Jiang Can watched as the group of people who had been mocking and disdainful fell silent, their eyes lowered, and they dared not meet her gaze again. Only then did she realize the benefits of having a powerful man by her side; being protected like this saved her so much trouble.
But the thought of Shen Lang's debts made her feel utterly disheartened. She asked, "Zhang Yuning came to collect the debt. Did our family borrow money from the Liang family?"
Shen Lang's face was very unpleasant. He never expected that someone would come to collect a debt on the second day of their marriage, and even from his wife. He had lost all face: "I'll pay it back when I get my salary in a couple of days. You don't need to worry about this."
"That means he really owes money," Jiang Can said, turning and walking into the house.
Zhang Yuning was also a little frightened, but when he heard that it would be paid back in a few days, he forced himself to say, "I want the money now! You collected several hundred yuan in wedding gifts yesterday. Are you trying to renege on the debt in a few days? Pay me back now."
Shen Lang is called a hoodlum and a street urchin, but those who know him well know that Shen Lang always means what he says; if he says a few days, he means a few days.
Shen Lang frowned and said, "Pay it back next Monday, at usurious interest rates."
Zhang Yuning wanted money right now. She clutched her stomach and took a step back. "I want money right now. Let me tell you, I'm pregnant with Lao Liang's child. Don't you dare lay a hand on me."
Shen Lang: "If we can talk this out properly, why would I resort to violence?"
He's penniless now, where would he get the money? As for the gift money, he gave it to Jiang Can yesterday; it belonged to Jiang Can.
He said, "Wait for me for half an hour."
Shen Lang was about to borrow money when Jiang Can came out of the yard and asked, "How much interest?"
Shen Lang lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the wad of money in her palm. So she had come in to get money: "If you pay it back today, there will be no interest."
Zhang Yuning was quite dissatisfied when she heard that there was no interest. This was Lao Liang's childhood friend, and he had lent her money without even charging interest. However, she didn't bring it up again; she couldn't very well ask for interest.
That would be a poor choice and would damage her reputation.
Jiang Can handed a wad of cash to Zhang Yuning: "One hundred and twenty yuan, please count it."
My heart is bleeding. Without this 120 yuan, the amount I would have given as a gift has shrunk by a third.
Zhang Yuning counted the money twice, feeling great, and turned to leave with it.
She wondered if Shen Lang would fall out with Lao Liang. She hoped they would break up and never speak to each other again, so that Shen Lang wouldn't lead Lao Liang astray.
As for whether Lao Liang would be angry, she didn't care anymore, since she was pregnant with Lao Liang's son.
Jiang Can was speechless: "What, are you planning to come back next time with the IOU?"
Zhang Yuning was so happy that he forgot. After being reminded, he threw the IOU at Jiang Can and turned to leave.
Shen Lang lifted his eyelids slightly: "You're all blocking my doorway, and you still want to come in for a meal?"
Everyone quickly retreated.
Jiang Can felt a pang of regret at the reduced amount of money he was giving as a wedding gift, and stepped into the courtyard.
Shen Lang closed the courtyard gate behind him, caught up with Jiang Can in a few steps, and reached out to hold her soft little hand. "I didn't know what you liked to eat, so I bought wontons and fried dumplings."
Jiang Can struggled a couple of times but couldn't break free, so she let him hold her hand and turned to look at her: "Shen Lang, when you pay me back next Monday, will the interest be calculated at usurious rates?"
She spoke very seriously, which shows that she cared a lot about the 120 yuan and the high interest.
Shen Lang was amused. He reached out and hugged Jiang Can tightly, resting his chin on her neck and laughing non-stop. "It's settled, it has to be settled. If it's three days, I'll give you back 150 yuan." After laughing, he kissed her lips.
Jiang Can quickly covered her mouth and leaned back, trying to separate herself from him: "I haven't brushed my teeth!"
Seeing her resistance, Shen Lang perked up and teased her with feigned enthusiasm, pressing the back of her head closer and saying, "I don't mind you."
Jiang Can: "I find you repulsive."
Shen Lang was speechless: "You, who didn't brush your teeth, are complaining about me, who did brush mine?" He lifted her up by her bottom and carried her towards the roof.
Jiang Can's cheeks flushed slightly, and she twisted her body uncomfortably: "What do you want to do?"
Shen Lang: What do you think?
Jiang Can thought he wanted to come again, and panicked a little. She softened her voice and called out to him, "Shen Lang, Shen Lang, I haven't eaten yet."
Shen Lang deliberately scared her, but he simply carried her under the eaves to let Jiang Can wash up. He just thought he couldn't let her go hungry.
How could someone be so beastly?
Jiang Can gritted her teeth in anger. After washing up, she braided her waist-length hair into two pigtails and walked towards the dining table.
Breakfast consisted of large portions of wontons, pan-fried dumplings, soy milk, and sweet tofu pudding.
Shen Lang didn't know what Jiang Can liked to eat, so he bought some of everything, so they could save the leftovers for lunch.
The wontons were topped with seaweed and dried shrimp, sprinkled with scallions and cilantro, and drizzled with chili oil and vinegar. They looked quite appetizing.
There was quite a lot of wontons in one serving. Jiang Can took a bowl, scooped out a small half, and pushed the other half to Shen Lang.
The wontons looked appetizing, but the taste was just average. The filling wasn't fresh enough, and the soup base wasn't very appealing. While eating, she asked Shen Lang, "How much debt do we still have? Will anyone come after me for my share of the money?"
Her tone was soft and gentle, her voice naturally sweet and charming; no matter what she said, Shen Lang loved listening to her.
Shen Lang: "Liang Kaiwen got married, but the others didn't. There's no way any of their wives would come asking for money."
If every single one of them came to collect their debts, then he must have been blind and made friends recklessly all these years.
Jiang Can then stopped asking questions.
Shen Lang picked up a fried dumpling for her: "Their fried dumplings are amazing! They're even better when they're fresh out of the pan, with a crispy and crunchy outer layer. You should try them."
"I can get it myself." Jiang Can ate two more pan-fried dumplings. The dumplings were indeed delicious, but the filling wasn't seasoned enough. Seeing Shen Lang eating with great relish, seemingly really enjoying them, he asked Shen Lang, "Where did you buy your breakfast? How's the business?"
"I bought them from Zhang's Restaurant on the street. They're very popular. I can eat these fried dumplings for half a year straight. From now on, I'll buy you fried dumplings and wontons every morning."
Jiang Can stared at the fried dumplings in thought. She had studied in Liao County for five years, so of course she knew about Zhang's Restaurant, but she had never eaten there. The money for one breakfast was enough for her to eat steamed buns for two days.
If Zhang's food can sell so well, how could her food business be any less successful?
She felt that her own cooking was much better than this.
She used to be able to earn money as a tutor, but after that incident, no family would be willing to let her tutor anymore, and that way of making money was cut off.
Why not sell food?
Shen Lang ate the rest: "Tonight I'll take you to eat clay pot rice noodles and grill some lamb skewers. Girls love these."
He has no talent for cooking, but he likes to eat and can't stand bad food, so he has never eaten at home and knows all about street food.
Jiang Can thought for a moment and said, "I'll treat you to lunch."
After the two ate breakfast and washed the dishes, Jiang Can wanted to take a closer look at the small courtyard. The courtyard was neither too big nor too small, about ten square meters, with a total of two and a half brick and tile houses.
One room is the bridal chamber, one is the living room, and the other half is the kitchen.
The last time she came to this courtyard was a month ago. At that time, she was drugged and surrounded by some hooligans. She was almost raped, but was later rescued by Shen Lang, who was also drugged, and he carried her to this courtyard.
At that time, the yard was overgrown with weeds, dilapidated and messy, and there was only a broken bed in the house.
Now, everything has changed. The house has been renovated, plastered, and the windows replaced with new glass. The walls of the yard are now smooth and clean. This little yard will be her home from now on.
A home that can shelter you from the wind and rain.
"The kitchen is so clean, even mice would starve to death," Jiang Can complained.
There was absolutely no rice, flour, or cooking oil.
Fortunately, we had pots and pans.
Shen Lang leaned back in a wicker chair in the yard, basking in the sun. "Even rats would run away from me. We don't have any of those things in our house."
Jiang Can was speechless and prepared to ride his bicycle to the market to buy things.
This blue Phoenix brand women's bicycle was her betrothal gift.
Shen Lang did not mistreat her in the marriage; he provided her with everything others had, including a three-turn watch, a watch, and a 600 yuan dowry.
Of course, wealthy families don't have big color TVs, large refrigerators, or laundry facilities.
This is not something that people of their social class can think about.
Shen Lang was unhappy about being ignored by his wife. He only had three days of wedding leave, how could he waste it? Newlyweds should be living a life of pleasure in bed.
He walked over, straddled the back of the bicycle, and put his arms around Jiang Can's slender waist. "Where are we going?"
Jiang Can was a little annoyed. Shen Lang was too clingy, always hugging and kissing, as if they were some kind of intimate couple. She leaned forward slightly, trying to create some distance, "Let's go to the market to buy groceries, or I'll treat you to the cold wind at noon?"
Shen Lang was pleasantly surprised that Jiang Can could cook: "Let's go! Let's also get the things for tomorrow's homecoming visit."
Jiang Can: "I'm not going back to my parents' home." She got married out of that family and has no intention of going back.
Shen Lang didn't ask why. "Fine, you decide."
The two rode bicycles to the market. Jiang Can couldn't carry Shen Lang, who was so big, so Shen Lang carried Jiang Can.
Jiang Can felt a little sorry for the bicycle. Shen Lang was so heavy, he shouldn't be able to break it, right? Along the way, he reminded Shen Lang to ride slowly, choose the right path, and not to damage the tires.
Shen Lang: "...Do you think this bicycle is made of paper?"
The car slammed into a large stone with a loud thud, and Jiang Can quickly reminded him, "Watch the road, don't run over the stones."
Shen Lang: ...
When they arrived at the farmers' market, Jiang Can strolled around. The market was quite large, selling all sorts of things. After walking around for a while, she could roughly tell which stall had the freshest meat.
She plans to sell steamed buns in the morning and boxed lunches at noon and in the evening.
Shen Lang: "What are your specialty dishes? Can we take a bite?"
Jiang Can smiled and said, "As long as the money is right, I'm good at everything."
Shen Lang really had no money, and his status in the family kept dropping: "Can we buy on credit? We'll have boiled beef for lunch."
Jiang Can: "Okay, you can wash the dishes as interest."
She washed the dishes in the morning because Shen Lang had bought the breakfast.
Shen Lang didn't want to wash the dishes, but he had no money and no confidence to bargain, so he decided to just wash the dishes.
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