https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-13-A-Treasure-You-ve-Married-Ah-Lei/12811687/
Chapter 14: The Protagonist Again?
Chapter 14: The Protagonist Again?
Zhou Chenglei’s gaze had been on Jiang Xia’s hands, but he turned to look at the neatly weeded plot of land when he heard the comment. He was surprised by how quickly she had learned, but his stern nature made it difficult for him to offer praise. He simply said, “Sit down for a bit. I’ll go dispose of these weeds.”
He then left, carrying two bags of weeds.
Humans are social creatures, so the villagers’ houses were generally built in clusters. The Zhou family’s old house had many neighbors, and by mid-morning, most of the villagers had come and gone, spreading the news that the Zhou family had split up.
Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia moved into the old house. The women, who were gathered to mend fishing nets, were all discussing this event.
“Why did the Zhou family suddenly split up?”
“Why else? It’s obvious that the educated daughter-in-law caused it. She doesn’t seem like someone who can handle daily life, and now she’s torn the family apart. Any man who marries her is asking for trouble!”
“Zhou Chenglei and his wife moved into the old house with the elders, and she was willing? I saw her happily cleaning the yard, smiling from ear to ear. City girls are different, with skin so fair it glows. She’s more beautiful than the stars on TV, like a celestial being.”
“What good is beauty? She can’t even hold a hoe properly. She’s useless! Why did he marry her? To use her as a decoration?”
“Too beautiful, but useless. She’ll run off with someone else! Zhou Chenglei’s head will be as empty as that yard, ha ha.”
Zhou Chenglei, holding two bags of weeds, suddenly stopped in front of them.
They looked up and fell silent.
“You’re wrong. She didn’t run off with anyone. That person was her high school classmate, and I know him. He came to talk about the college entrance exam. Aunts, don’t spread these rumors. I don’t want to hear this again, and neither does she.”
Zhou Chenglei finished speaking and walked past them, his expression unchanged, carrying the two large bags of weeds.
He didn’t know why he had stopped to say all that. He usually didn’t care about gossip.
Rumors often die down on their own.
Perhaps it was because of the blisters on her palms.
Zhou Chenglei had graduated from junior high and joined the military, serving for over a decade, including in combat. When he was angry, his intimidating aura was more than a few village women could handle.
The women watched him walk away, not daring to breathe, and remained silent until he returned from disposing of the weeds. Even then, they pretended to be focused on their fishing nets as he passed by.
Only after Zhou Chenglei’s figure had completely disappeared did they breathe a sigh of relief. They continued to be quiet for a while, and no one dared to discuss the Zhou family’s affairs again.
---
Zhou Chenglei returned from disposing of the garbage to find his great-grandmother teaching Jiang Xia how to draw water from the well.
The old house’s well didn’t have a hand pump, so they had to lower a bucket tied to a rope into the well and pull it up.
Jiang Xia had never tried this before. She threw the bucket into the well, but it floated on the surface, and no matter how she tried, it wouldn’t fully submerge. After several attempts, she managed to fill only half the bucket.
The great-grandmother pulled it up and demonstrated again. On her second try, Jiang Xia finally managed to submerge the bucket and fill it completely.
“Got it!” she said happily.
The great-grandmother smiled and continued to guide her. “Very good, you learn quickly! Be careful when pulling it up. It’s easier to use your strength if you wrap the rope around your arm…”
Jiang Xia enthusiastically pulled the bucket up, but she overestimated her strength. Halfway through, she slipped on the wet ground and stumbled toward the well. She quickly let go of the rope, and the bucket fell back into the well. She stumbled and collided with a solid chest.
The great-grandmother also reached out to grab her, still shaken. “Thank goodness Chenglei is back. Xia, you’re too weak for this. Don’t try to draw water anymore.”
Zhou Chenglei pulled her a few steps away from the well before letting go. His heart was still racing, and he scowled. “Didn’t I tell you to sit down? Don’t you know it’s dangerous by the well? Do you have any common sense?”
Jiang Xia wasn’t afraid. “It’s fine. I just lacked experience, and my shoes were muddy. It was slippery here.”
"Just bring up half a bucket next time."
Grandma nodded, "Yes, yes, yes, half a bucket at a time."
"Stop fetching water from now on," Zhou Chenglei said directly.
Grandma nodded again, "Yes, yes, yes, no more fetching water. We have Ah Lei for that! He's strong, let him do it. Falling into the well is no joke."
Jiang Xia: "."
Grandma, do you only know how to say yes?
You say yes to everyone, that’s so wishy-washy, don’t you know?
Zhou Chenglei didn’t say much. He picked up the rope that had fallen to the ground and effortlessly brought up a bucket of water.
Jiang Xia felt she could do it too, it was just an accident this time.
But Zhou Chenglei’s stern face was a bit intimidating, so she decided to let it go.
At that moment, Zhou’s father returned, pulling a cart loaded with tiles, followed by another cart with sand and cement.
"Grandma, you’re here? Ah Lei, come and unload the tiles. This is Uncle Wen."
Zhou Chenglei took a small bottle from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Xia, "Sprinkle some of this on your hand wound."
Then he walked over to help, greeting the delivery man, "Uncle Wen."
Grandma also walked over, "You bought so many tiles."
"Many of the tiles have fallen off," Zhou’s father said while working, talking to Grandma.
Jiang Xia glanced at the small bottle, not knowing what kind of medicine it was, and stuffed it into her pocket before walking over.
The cart was loaded with flat tiles and half-cylindrical ones, followed by a cart of sand and two bags of cement, all delivered by someone else’s help.
Jiang Xia also noticed a young girl helping to push the cart.
Another female lead?
She was a bit confused. Weren’t the male and female leads supposed to meet after the female lead was swept away by a wave and the male lead saved her?
They’ve already met twice now!
Sure enough, people with a destiny always meet.
Jiang Xia thought: She needed to find a way to earn money and move out as soon as possible.
Wen Wan saw that Jiang Xia was still there and was startled: Why is she still here?
Didn’t she and Zhou Chenglei go to get a divorce early in the morning and then never come back to the small fishing village?
The kiln was in Wen Wan’s village, and her father worked there. When she had free time, she would help tread the clay and shape the tiles. She knew Zhou’s father, and when she saw him buying tiles to fix the roof, she thought Zhou Chenglei would definitely help. So, she used the excuse of helping her father to push the cart and followed along.
She wanted to get closer to Zhou Chenglei and also to the Zhou family, to make it easier for her to marry into the Zhou family.
She could get married first and then take the university entrance exam.
But why was Jiang Xia still here?
She glanced at Jiang Xia: Her face and clothes were covered in dirt, and she was helping to repair the house?
What’s going on?
She wanted to ask but didn’t know how to start.
Jiang Xia glanced at her and then looked away, walking over to Zhou’s father, "Dad, are the tiles enough?"
Zhou’s father looked at the roof, "They should be enough, definitely enough for the main house. We can buy more for the kitchen areas if needed and fix them gradually."
Zhou Chenglei glanced at Jiang Xia and then signaled the delivery man to unload the materials under the eaves for easier access later.
He directly carried the two bags of cement to the eaves.
Zhou’s father helped with the tiles.
Jiang Xia also went to help with the tiles.
Seeing Wen Wan standing still, Wen’s father shouted, "Why aren’t you helping? What are you standing there for? So useless!"
Being scolded in front of Zhou Chenglei, Wen Wan blushed but still stepped forward, lowering her head and picking up tiles, looking pitiful.
They were standing close to each other.
Zhou Chenglei took a few steps back, "You don’t need to help, go sit on the doorstep and rest."
Wen Wan replied softly and gently, "It’s fine, I’m used to it."
Wishing everyone a happy 520! 520~
Thank you all for your votes and support~
(End of Chapter)
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