A Good Country Wife
Chapter 324 - 318 A Streak of Shadow_1

Chapter 324: Chapter 318 A Streak of Shadow_1

"So it is, I can manage the home affairs, and you can handle the business negotiations, but the money we earn must be managed by me," Lin Yue leaned against Zhao Erhu and said cheerfully. Ever since their wedding night, Zhao Erhu had handed over the management of the household money to her. He only kept the silver coins needed for daily expenses, which is why Lin Yue could state such terms, agreeing to Zhao Erhu’s proposal.

"Alright, I’ll leave the money management to you," Zhao Erhu finally understood. All women had something in common: that tendency to worry needlessly. In the past, he would have promised his little wife solemnly, but now he simply skipped these pointless conversations and went straight to the point. After all, Lin Yue was his wife, and he, Zhao Erhu, had no intention of having another woman in his life. It made no difference who managed the money.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ziqi left Zhao Erhu’s home, clutching the precious embroidery close, not trusting it to anyone else’s hands for fear of damaging it. When the carriage was halfway to its destination, he suddenly remembered that he forgot to give Lin Yue the silver for the embroidery. It was rare for him to be so absent-minded. The embroidery and the business negotiation with Zhao Erhu had distracted him so much that he forgot such an important matter. Lin Yue did not remind him either. Well, he would make another trip to Zhao Family Village tomorrow to deliver the payment. After all, Xiaoyue needed to rest and recuperate; it would be a good opportunity to have a chat with her. With this thought, Jiang Ziqi once again dismissed Zhao Erhu from his mind.

Zhao Erhu would not even dream of allowing other men to get close to his wife!

"Axin, do you remember what I instructed you to do earlier?" At this moment, Jiang Ziqi remembered another matter and worried that Axin might also forget it in a moment of absent-mindedness.

"Rest assured, young master, I remember everything. I will attend to it as soon as we’re back," replied Axin.

"Be careful, and don’t leave any traces. Don’t take it lightly just because it’s a minor matter. I do not hope to hear even the slightest hint of unusual gossip," Jiang Ziqi said, his face calm. Gone was the warmth and comfort he showed when with Lin Yue, and the delight in matching wits with Zhao Erhu. His words, though spoken lightly, easily decided the fates of two lives. This was another side to him, the side he showed in public.

"Understood, young master. The medicine you’ve provided works wonders — no one will notice anything amiss, nor will they find any evidence," Axin replied respectfully, then, as if something occurred to him, he added, "Young master, you are really good to Miss Lin. If Miss Lin knew about all the things you’ve done for her in secret, she would be very grateful."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziqi neither confirmed nor denied, merely saying, "Those who conspire against Little Yueyue and attempt to take her life, with such brutal intentions, I cannot allow them to continue living. It’s better to rid of the trouble completely. However, Little Yueyue, despite being lively and daring, is still a girl at heart, and such a bloody affair might frighten her." He looked towards Axin as he spoke.

"Do not let Little Yueyue know about this, and don’t let any traces show in her presence. I just hope she lives a simple, happy life every day, unaware of the dark and dirty dealings. Her lively and cheerful nature is well-suited to a life with that big fool Zhao Erhu, and it’s said that he is unworthy of such a fine woman as Little Yueyue. But who else would cherish his wife like him, loyal to Little Yueyue alone for all his life? Even I can’t do that," he said.

Jiang Ziqi self-deprecatingly added to his speech, considering himself the sole heir of the Jiang Family, carrying the family’s future on his shoulders, unable to attend to his own desires. He would have to marry a woman of equal social standing who could benefit the Jiang Family. Therefore, his affections for Xiaoyue were only ever a beautiful sentiment held in his heart.

"Young master, you truly have a hard life, carrying the future of the Jiang Family on your shoulders, unable to do as you wish. Seeing this, it seems much better to be just a simple man from the countryside. Look at Zhao Erhu, how carefree he lives — with a home, a business, a wife, and children. With such a life, what more could one ask for?"

Jiang Ziqi laughed when he heard Axin say this. "What nonsense! I was born into the Jiang Family, and since I’ve enjoyed all the privileges of being a young master of the Jiang Family, I should give something in return. Heaven is actually quite fair, what it gives to a person, it also expects that person to pay in kind."

"Young Master, the things you’ve said are too profound, Axin doesn’t understand!"

"If you don’t understand, then let it be. What’s the use of you understanding these things? Hurry up and go back, take care of the matter for me. However, Zhao Yunxiang is, after all, Zhao Erhu’s older sister. Ensure that she is treated with respect, grant her a couple more years of life, just let her lie in bed, too weak to cause trouble—without the strength to look for someone to annoy. If both of them are gone all of a sudden, it will inevitably raise suspicion."

"Yes, Master."

Now, speaking of Zhao Yunxiang, she returned to Shanglin Village with Lin Genfa. Naturally, after such an incident, it was impossible for him to continue working at Zhao Erhu’s home. Except for the time at the ancestral hall of the Zhao Family Village, where Lin Genfa pleaded with Zhao Erhu to take the punishment for Zhao Yunxiang, he had been silent the whole way back, his face ashen, ignoring Zhao Yunxiang’s apologies and pleas for forgiveness.

Zhao Yunxiang was also in a panic, for ever since her marriage to the Lin Family, Lin Genfa had never treated her in such a manner. It was normal for him to be angry given his character and the nature of her actions. She hadn’t expected such well-hidden deeds to be exposed, and now it was too late for regrets.

"Genfa, can you stop ignoring me? I know I was wrong, I’ll change; I won’t dare to do it again, I won’t target Erhu’s wife, alright?" Zhao Yunxiang followed Lin Genfa with a trot.

"Genfa, I was the one who made a mistake. I was momentarily possessed by a foolish impulse, I just couldn’t control it; I really didn’t intend for things to happen this way. Please, I beg of you, stop ignoring me, alright? We’ve been husband and wife for over a decade, and the kids are all grown up now. Give me a chance to rectify my mistake."

Zhao Yunxiang begged all the way, said all the nicest things in apology, yet Lin Genfa remained unmoved. As soon as he returned home, he locked himself in his room, and no matter who knocked, he wouldn’t open the door. Zhao Yunxiang was at a loss for words when questioned by her mother-in-law and didn’t dare speak of the earlier incidents, fearing that her mother-in-law’s temperament wouldn’t allow her to stay in the Lin Family any longer.

"Yunxiang, what kind of disagreement are you and Genfa having again? There should be nothing a couple can’t discuss properly; why create such a scene? Have a good talk with Genfa, don’t be confrontational with him."

"Understood, Mother-in-law, don’t worry." Zhao Yunxiang already knew she had done wrong; how could she dare to show any defiance at this time? She replied respectfully. As evening fell and Lin Genfa still refused to come out, Zhao Yunxiang had no choice but to return to her room first, only to catch a glimpse of a dark figure flashing by.