Chapter 86 Two Combined, Three Months Later, Never to Be Entangled Again...
She instinctively resisted, hiding far away, leaning back, and quietly covering her chest with her hands.
She didn't even glance at the huge pile of dishes on the table.
She shook her head like a rattle drum, her hair standing on end. After eating vegetarian food for several days, she now felt nauseous at the sight of anything green.
They accidentally kicked the stone table with their feet, but instead of hitting the table, they kicked a wooden bucket.
She looked down and saw that the room was full of small fish, which were swimming around lively and clearly had just been caught.
Did he go fishing?
Then why feed her these things!
She saw through his thoughts in an instant. Shen Jizhao suddenly removed the lavish dishes and threw away the bland soup that she couldn't swallow at all, as punishment for her words: "A man who steals someone should have his legs broken."
She felt so wronged. Couldn't she even have a moment to vent? She said something he didn't like, and he tormented her like this.
She resolutely refused to give in: "No, no, your legs are perfectly fine!"
Shen Jizhao's eyes narrowed. What was she thinking?
His gaze was fixed on her, taking in all her grievances. He suddenly understood, relaxed, and spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Don't worry, even if you run away many times, I won't break your legs."
See? He really did punish her for this!
She became increasingly aggrieved, her eyes welling up with tears, but the man immediately stopped her when he saw this.
"I knew you'd be scared. You're such a coward, I wouldn't let you witness those filthy things."
What did he mean by that?
It seems he knew about it before she did.
A question instantly popped into Jiang Shuifu's mind: You came back early?
in advance?
Shen Jizhao happened to bring her back to her parents' home on the very day that someone else's leg was broken.
He had already received the news, and he took her away in advance because he was afraid she would be frightened if she bumped into him.
He didn't say it explicitly, and she wasn't sure either.
Her grievances had lessened considerably; it seemed he still possessed some humanity. She was about to seize the opportunity to ask for meat, but seeing she wasn't going to cry anymore, Shen Jizhao quickly craned his neck and pointed to the entire table of food:
"I personally grew these vegetables, so I cooked them myself. Don't worry, there was no poison."
To show his sincerity, he took the first bite with his chopsticks, looking completely unconcerned.
Jiang Shuifu, who had just calmed down, widened her eyes again when she heard him say those three words.
I'm even more scared now!
Not to mention that Shen Jizhao had never cooked before, and had always been a noble prince who had everything done for him, he was also busy with many affairs of state, so how could he have time to sit by the boiler all the time?
This is not Shen Jizhao's way of doing things. He would never waste his precious time doing things that are defined by worldly rules as belonging exclusively to women.
This broke his rules; no member of the royal family would ever cook for themselves, as they considered it the most disdainful and contemptible thing.
Therefore, his unusual decision to cook a meal must have had ulterior motives.
She kept her lips tightly shut, not intending to give the dishes any chance.
Shen Jizhao was not satisfied with her reaction. Was she looking down on him?
Having been used to being disliked, he remained unfazed, casually chewing his food and then casually placing a piece of rice in her bowl with his chopsticks.
"We can't waste it."
Jiang Shuifu looked at the steaming dishes in her bowl: stir-fried cucumber with pork, stir-fried loofah with eggs, and braised eggplant...
Her face fell, filled with reluctance, and she stared at them with deep resentment.
Not only was it cleaner than her face, but the color was also strange, a mix of dark and light, making it obvious that it was inedible.
Her gaze shifted and shifted until it finally landed on the wooden bucket on the ground, and on the fresh fish inside, which she then looked at with burning longing.
How should we cook it? Deep-fry? Braise? Make soup? Or grill?
Her gaze was so intense that it was impossible for Shen Jizhao not to notice her. He tapped the bowl:
"Let's eat first."
Jiang Shuifu was threatened, and in order to eat the fish, she had no choice but to compromise. She pushed all the vegetables in her bowl aside, leaving only the carefully selected slices of meat from the stir-fried cucumber with pork.
She mixed the meat slices with rice, stirring it several times. Her brows furrowed into a deep frown as she mentally prepared herself, before scooping up a large mouthful and swallowing it with a death-defying air.
As long as she swallows quickly enough, she won't taste the unpleasantness.
However, she couldn't swallow it at all, but surprisingly, it wasn't bad at all!
She slowed down, savoring the taste in her mouth. Perhaps she was eating too fast, causing her to have a misperception?
Jiang Shuifu ate more and more slowly, going from wolfing down her food to chewing slowly and carefully, becoming more and more puzzled and confused with each bite.
What happened?
Could it be that her taste buds are damaged?
Why did she find it not only not bad, but also surprisingly delicious?
The meat slices are tender and melt in your mouth, without any fishy or dry texture!
But that's impossible!
She tried the rest of the dishes in the bowl. The cucumber was crisp and refreshing, the stir-fried loofah with eggs was tender and fluffy, and the braised eggplant was so delicious that she ate it bite after bite. The sauce had thickened and was very appetizing!
As Jiang Shuifu ate, she fell silent, raising her eyes to look at the man beside her who was eating without a care in the world. A growing sense of disbelief was hidden in her eyes.
Shen Jizhao had actually been secretly observing her and her reaction, so he ate bite after bite to hide his nervousness.
However, her cheeks puffed out repeatedly without stopping, so it seemed that she was alright and not having trouble swallowing.
Jiang Shuifu threw a tantrum, throwing down her chopsticks. She couldn't accept that a grown man who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen could cook such a dish, even better than hers: "I'm not eating anymore, I want grilled fish!"
Shen Jizhao followed her wishes and left with the wooden bucket. She thought he was going to process the fish, but a little while later, Weiwei came out carrying a small fish.
He followed closely behind, this time with a scratch on the back of his hand, not his back, clearly from feeding the fish.
Weiwei devoured the food with gusto, taking bites of each piece and thoroughly enjoying herself.
Shen Jizhao looked at the puzzled woman, then suddenly stopped on the steps. This made him much taller than her; she couldn't even reach his chest and could only look up to be scrutinized from his superior position.
"When it hurts me, and you stand idly by, then I am the only one left to suffer."
When Weiwei hurt him, Jiang Shuifu never stopped her. He knew that she was doing it for revenge.
His actions were an attempt to please it.
Hearing his accusatory words, Jiang Shuifu raised her chin and scoffed: "So you blame me?"
Shen Jizhao walked slowly towards her, his head and eyes neither lowered, his demeanor resolute, yet his words betrayed a different story:
"It's nothing but a beast; it's not the one I'm trying to please."
It's not that they're weird, it's that they're trying to please!
He wasn't trying to please a beast, but her!
Jiang Shuifu scoffed: "Shen Jizhao, have you ever thought you'd say something like this! It's all a waste of time, just like I was back then. The only difference is, you're just pretending, saying you're trying to please me, but it's just an excuse to imprison me! And your final result will only be the same as mine!"
Jiang Shuifu stormed onto the swing and swung high into the air. Her fish had escaped, he had tricked her into eating the food he had cooked, she was sweating profusely, and the smell of him washing clothes would suffocate him.
After finishing his meal, Shen Jizhao started tending to his fruits and vegetables again. He placed a bamboo basket on the ground, seemingly about to pick some.
When she saw these fruits and vegetables, she remembered how she had almost ruined her image by eating so much. Although they were just simple vegetarian dishes, she had to admit that they were very appetizing, and she really wanted to have another bowl.
Therefore, she became suspicious of him, staring at him intently, trying to figure out if this man was indeed Shen Jizhao.
She yelled at him, "Shen Jizhao! I'm trying to run away again!"
Shen Jizhao quickly turned around and stared at her, scrutinizing her words, judging her motives, and whether she had the ability to put them into practice.
Jiang Shuifu felt relieved; he was still the man who wouldn't tolerate any disobedience.
The man picked a large basket full of vegetables, then looked at her and asked, "Tomorrow, will you go to the morning market with me?"
This is a question, not a command.
.
Jiang Shuifu never expected that Shen Jizhao would bring her out again so soon after their last trip!
He drove the carriage in front, and she sat in the back, enjoying the scenery along the way.
The last time, the carriage for her return visit was to show that she hadn't been mistreated after "marrying" into the family. This time, the carriage was much more dilapidated to ensure that no one could recognize their identities.
The carriage soon came to a stop.
This time, Shen Jizhao did not force her to wear a veil. She no longer had to sneak around like a thief and could greet others openly.
Jiang Shuifu was the first to jump down and go to her familiar wonton stall to eat wontons, but this time she wanted to add a little bit of spice to satisfy her taste buds.
She looked around excitedly, finding everything novel and fresh. The lively atmosphere of the morning market was the best way to soothe her loneliness and weariness from her daily life, which she could not leave her secluded courtyard deep in the mountains.
It's a pity we couldn't bring Weiwei along, otherwise, it would have recovered much faster.
The stall owner served her wontons, and the fresh, fragrant, spicy aroma immediately filled her nostrils. She took a deep breath; it smelled so good! She smiled brightly and scooped up a spoonful of the thin-skinned, generously filled wontons.
The minced meat is tender, the broth is rich, and when sprinkled with chopped green onions and chili peppers, it's simply delightful.
Similarly, she also ordered pies to eat with it.
The stall owner was delighted to see her again: "Girl, your husband is so hardworking. He brings you out so you can have breakfast in the market, while he's busy earning money. You're so lucky!"
Jiang Shuifu didn't understand what she was talking about. What husband? What money?
Then she became a little confused. How could the stall owner recognize her face when she wasn't wearing a veil?
The stall owner gave her a mocking look.
Jiang Shuifu followed her gaze and was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped.
Who is that man who's sitting between two middle-aged women, one on each side, laying out fruits and vegetables on a thin cloth on the ground?!
Who is it!
Who is it?!
Why does he have the exact same face as Shen Jizhao?
The dignified and proud Crown Prince, the emperor's son who is above all others and is deeply loved, and who has always set an example by strictly adhering to rules and regulations and valuing his reputation above all else, is actually selling vegetables among ordinary street women!
At the same time, Shen Jizhao met her gaze. He was not ashamed of his extremely low-class behavior at all. He gestured to her with his eyes, telling her to go shopping by herself, as he had already given her money.
He continued tending to the vegetables he had grown himself, arranging them one by one, waiting for people to come and buy them.
The old lady next to her had never seen a man with such appearance and demeanor before, especially since this man was selling vegetables!
However, all the capable men in town have gone to hunt or do business, and that's about it for a vegetable vendor!
They were extremely curious and started shouting at the top of their lungs, one after another:
"What are you doing, a grown man, trying to take over the stall from us old women! Where's your wife? Why isn't she coming out?"
"You're not married yet, are you? You're getting on in years. But it's not impossible for you to get married. I have a niece who just turned 18 this year. She might be a bit beneath you, but just give us a few more pigs!"
The first old woman who spoke spat at the second old woman:
"Don't listen to that old widow's nonsense! Her niece has a big mole on her face, and it's even hairy. She has a terrible temper. Who would want to marry her? And she'd even give you a few pigs. These days, who can afford to raise pigs?"
The second woman, not to be outdone, exposed her flaws: "Hey, your old maid is as fat as a pig, and she hasn't been able to give birth to a son since she got married!"
Then the old woman stopped arguing with her and turned back to try and take advantage of Chen Jizhao:
"Here's the deal: if you don't have pigs, you'll at least have rice and eggs. I guarantee I'll find you a wife! So you can carry on the family line!"
······
Shen Jizhao ignored them; he was tired of hearing about them.
He just waited quietly, without making any noise; his vegetables didn't need such methods.
Sure enough, people arrived shortly afterward, especially the young, unmarried women from various families who shyly lined up to buy his vegetables.
Of all the vegetable stalls, he was the most popular.
On the other side, Jiang Shuifu browsed through one shop after another, buying quite a few things; she wouldn't treat herself badly.
Rouge, face powder, silk and satin—everything was there. Last time, Shen Jizhao took her to get her makeup done, and she felt she should dress herself up nicely. She couldn't lose her interest in beauty just because she was in the deep mountains. Besides, he would take her out to play.
She put the things in the carriage and continued shopping.
However, while buying things, I ran into the same unscrupulous vendor who sold Sichuan peppercorns last time.
The pepper stall owner stopped her, "Beautiful and kind-hearted young lady, we've met again!"
If Granny Wonton recognized her because of Shen Jizhao, then how did the person in front of her recognize her?
The pepper stall owner explained to her: "In the entire town, no, I'm afraid in the entire Suyang, you can't find another woman with a figure like Madam's."
Jiang Shuifu: ...Can it be like this?
She was about to leave when the pepper stall owner stopped her. She narrowed her eyes and questioned him about his intentions.
The pepper vendor immediately took a few steps back to distance himself from her so as not to offend her, and then continued to fawn over her with a grin:
"Last time, your husband bought all of my family's peppercorns, and also placed orders for autumn and winter. They're all sold out. If I were to run into you and pretend not to recognize you, I would be doing your husband a disservice! Therefore, I have come to pay my respects to you!"
Jiang Shuifu raised her eyebrows in confusion. He still bought the Sichuan peppercorns? But she didn't see them.
She raised her eyes again and solemnly corrected him: "He is not my husband."
The pepper vendor immediately stopped talking: "I came here this time to ask about your husband..."
She shot her a look, and the pepper stall owner smiled obsequiously, agreeing to everything she said.
"Oh no, does your suitor want our Sichuan peppercorns for next year? How about this, I'll reduce the price by 30%, and if you also want to order for the year after, then I'll reduce it by another 20%..."
Jiang Shuifu rolled her eyes at him, pushed him away, and left. So she thought they were idiots! No, she thought he was an idiot!
But isn't he just an idiot?
The pepper vendor caught up again, relentlessly recommending:
"My uncle's family sells chili peppers. If you don't want Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers will do! They're all auspicious items, guaranteed to make your relationship fiery and passionate! It'll be a bittersweet experience! He'll never escape your grasp! Chili peppers are really addictive!"
Jiang Shuifu wished she could sew his mouth shut immediately. She didn't even want to say no; he couldn't understand her.
She intended to continue walking forward, but a bold and confident voice boomed out in front of her:
"I'll buy..."
Before he could finish his boastful speech, Jiang Shuifu covered his mouth with her hand.
She covered Shen Jizhao's mouth.
Even if he has more money than he can spend, he shouldn't waste it like this!
Pure waste of money!
If he weren't the crown prince, she would have suffered a lot if she followed him!
She was referring to the past. Back then, she was only attracted to his looks. If he hadn't had a certain status and she hadn't been so infatuated, she might have married him. In that case, he would have squandered all of the Jiang family's assets. He was simply a male stunner!
She held out her palm and commanded him imperiously, "Give me all the money you have on you!"
Don't waste it! If he spends it all, won't she be left starving?
Shen Jizhao's eyes suddenly lit up. What did she say? She wanted his money?
This was the first time she had asked him for something he had, even if it was just money, because it was something he had something to do with.
He was momentarily stunned.
Seeing that he was not giving it to her for a long time, Jiang Shuifu decided not to make a fool of herself and was about to put her hand down. The pepper stall owner next to her also lowered his gaze as he watched this scene.
A man can pamper a woman, but he cannot indulge her without limits. Money symbolizes status and identity, and it is a man's bottom line! No man can abandon his bottom line!
But before she could retract her hand, the next moment, several strings of coins and a bulging purse appeared in her palm.
"They're all here. My vegetables didn't make much money, so just use them as bells for fun."
The pepper vendor's eyes widened in disbelief. Had he been blind? Someone actually gave it to him! The girl hadn't even lifted her skirt yet, and the sucker was already kneeling on the ground!
He certainly couldn't let go of this rare opportunity to take advantage of, so he kept pestering Shen Jizhao, introducing him to chili peppers.
Shen Jizhao only gave him a look, a look that didn't conceal his cold and imposing aura, and he obediently retreated.
This man is not someone to be trifled with.
Chen Jizhao walked side by side with Jiang Shuifu, holding the heavy money in her hand and deciding to spend it.
She looked at the stalls not far from where Shen Jizhao had just set up his stall, where there was a long queue of stalls selling roasted goose and duck and candied Buddha's hand fruit.
She lined up at the back, and Shen Jizhao naturally followed behind her, waiting for a long time.
Just as he was about to reach her, she suddenly chased him away, saying that he was blocking the way for the people behind him.
Shen Jizhao left, only to hear a woman's sweet voice behind him:
"Uncle, give me a plate of roasted goose and duck, and a plate of candied Buddha's hand fruit shaved ice!"
Shen Jizhao walked alone to the stall where he had just been. There were not only people selling vegetables like him, but also selling fish, meat and crabs, all of which were extremely fresh and had just been caught from the river.
He stopped in front of the stalls, bent down and squatted down to pick out fish and crabs. He picked out all the big and fat ones, and quite a lot of them. The stall owners were at a loss. They had all seen him selling vegetables. Did he have the money to buy so many?
The stall owner reminded him of the prices of these items, but Shen Jizhao didn't care.
He was allowed to weigh it.
When the stall owner saw that a big customer had come, he changed his attitude and started chatting with him with a smile.
But when it came time to pay, Shen Jizhao discovered that his money wasn't with him.
The stall owner immediately stopped smiling when he saw his appearance, waved him away, and looked at him with the same eyes as a beggar, secretly clicking his tongue: "Bad luck."
Just then, a beautiful woman slowly walked over from not far away. The woman's hands were full of food, and the food was not cheap. Ordinary people would not dare to buy such things.
Jiang Shuifu took out her money, and the stall owner reached for it, but to his surprise, she threw the money at him with disgust.
"Don't touch my hand, it's bad luck!"
The stall owner could only apologize with a wry smile.
Several older women witnessed this scene and whispered amongst themselves, watching the spectacle with amusement.
"So he hooked up with a woman! Ugh! What a spineless bastard, the kind of guy even our ancestors wouldn't want!"
Shen Jizhao was surprised that she had bought it so quickly and even came to his rescue. His heart warmed and melted instantly.
He then subconsciously looked at her hand and raised an eyebrow in surprise. She had bought two servings of roasted goose and duck and candied Buddha's hand icing.
He didn't pay attention.
Jiang Shuifu pouted: "How much longer are you going to make me carry this for you? My arms are getting sore!"
Shen Jizhao didn't delve into her meaning and quickly took the things from her hands. After taking one portion, he was about to take a second portion when Jiang Shuifu turned around and started eating.
He was completely bewildered until the woman's reluctant voice came from the front:
“I’m spending your money, I’m not that selfish.”
So, the one he has is the one she bought for him!
Shen Jizhao smiled. Repaying is a way of showing concern, isn't it?
At this point, the old woman who had initially called him a gigolo immediately changed her tune, though it was still unpleasant:
"Oh, so you already have a woman. Can you afford to support her?"
"Exactly! That woman's clothes, her food, her looks—she'd probably drain his entire fortune and still not want him!"
Every word and phrase was a veiled mockery of Shen Jizhao.
He didn't care.
Because what they said was true, she really didn't want him.
.
Shen Jizhao prepared fish and crab in the afternoon, and when it was served, even Pan Tao couldn't help but drool.
Jiang Shuifu had actually smelled the aroma long ago, but she stayed in her room pretending to be reserved and not hungry, so she wouldn't give him a chance to show off!
Not only the master and servant, but even the tail of the house couldn't hold back its desire to eat. It jumped and hopped to go out, but Jiang Shuifu held it down tightly to prevent it from going out and betraying her.
Since she wouldn't go out, Shen Jizhao had no choice but to come and invite her in person.
Jiang Shuifu then leisurely pretended to have just woken up and went out to eat.
As soon as she sat down, she couldn't resist the urge to eat, so she pulled the peach to sit down with her. Although the peach really wanted to eat, she didn't dare to sit with His Highness the Crown Prince, so she stood there without moving.
Shen Jizhao didn't look at her, but nodded: "Let's eat together."
Not only was Pan Tao surprised, but Jiang Shuifu was also surprised that he would agree.
After all, for the past twenty-odd years, the idea that servants could not eat with their masters was still deeply ingrained in everyone's minds.
So before that, she was always the one feeding the peaches inside the house.
Shen Jizhao wanted to say that, indeed, in his heart, the peach was a servant, but in her heart, she was not.
The table was laden with fish, crab, lion's head meatballs, roast suckling pig, and several vegetarian dishes—a perfect combination of meat and vegetables that made for a very enjoyable meal.
Every dish was perfectly prepared and delicious, not oily, not greasy, and not spicy, yet with a rich and flavorful taste. It was as if the dishes were tailor-made for Jiang Shuifu, making it hard to believe that it was made by Shen Jizhao.
She voiced her doubts:
"A wise man keeps away from the kitchen; how do you know these things?"
Shen Jizhao scoffed: "When have I ever been a gentleman? Am I not a beast? Besides, I've heard that to win a woman's heart, you must first win her stomach. I deeply believe this, and I'm putting it into practice."
Jiang Shuifu remained silent, so her question was unnecessary.
He never says anything serious.
Unexpectedly, the man had no intention of letting her off the hook and told her directly:
"I solemnly tell you, I love you. You are the only woman I've ever loved. I will never give up. I've always wanted you, body and soul. I imprisoned you, you escaped, and I brought you back, but you still refused. I thought I would give up, but I can't. I feel I shouldn't have done this. From now on, I won't force you or order you around. I'll give you equal rights. I just want to make a bet with you. I bet you three months. If you give me a chance to get close to you during these three months, I will do everything in my power to win your heart. I'm waiting for you. Accept me! Fall in love with me!"
These words shocked her, yet they also gave her hope. Jiang Shuifu quickly asked, "What if the three-month deadline arrives?"
If by then she still hasn't fallen in love with him again, will there be another three months?
He answered her question casually and slowly, yet his words were extremely forceful and clear:
"I will let you go and never bother you again."
His promises are as good as gold.
.
Shen Jizhao went out again and didn't return for several days. He sent a message saying that he would be back tonight.
Jiang Shuifu didn't want to wait for him and went to bed early.
Half-asleep, she noticed it was raining outside. At first, it was just a light drizzle, not enough to wake her.
But the rain was getting heavier and heavier, gradually hitting the brick and tile roof with a pitter-patter, like firecrackers.
Jiang Shuifu was still woken up. She looked out the window, where the darkness was still shining through.
She sat up. Since Pan Tao was fast asleep, she was about to light a small candle to continue reading her storybook to relieve her fatigue when she suddenly heard an unusual sound from outside.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
It wasn't a knocking sound; the sound came from inside the yard.
Then, she calmed herself down and listened carefully to the chirping sounds of the chicks, which they were making out of fear.
She couldn't resist getting out of bed and walking towards the door.
Did someone steal a chicken?
She quietly opened a crack and peered through the tiny opening to observe what was happening outside.
To her utter surprise and shock, someone actually stole a chicken!
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Author's Note: [doge][doge]
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