Chapter 3, The Oddities in the Room

The book states that a girl should marry and serve her husband well, ensuring his satisfaction, as this is the mark of a good wife. As for physically assaulting her husband, that is something only a "tigress" would do. However, our Miss Lan would never equate herself with the term "tigress". She thinks that since Jiang Xiaohu agreed to marry her only after being beaten, the person she hit at that time cannot be considered her husband.

She exclaimed, "Can anyone live in such a hellish place?"

The light in the room gradually diminished, slowly, slowly, the flame on the lamp grew smaller and smaller, as if it were about to extinguish...

No matter how she pleaded, Jiang Xiaohu remained unwilling to relent. In the end, Miss Lan simply resorted to playing the victim: "You are my husband, so you should take care of me"

Miss Lan comforted him: "Rest assured, you are my husband, and I will not hit you again"

The already tattered garment appeared even more worn after being pulled and tugged at

"Yes," Miss Lan said shyly, softly pleading, "Could you please go?"

A long time

The woman who strikes her husband is a fierce tigress. Remembering this unpleasant metaphor, Miss Lan quickly concealed her anger, transforming her expression into one of pitiful helplessness as she looked at him: "I specifically came to find you, and I understand the principle of following the chicken when marrying a chicken and following the dog when marrying a dog. Now that my father has long since abandoned me, why do you insist on making me go back? How am I supposed to explain this to my father?"

Of course, now he is her husband, and from now on, she just needs to treat him well

I have heard that all those who died in the Jiang family back then were piled up in one courtyard. Could it be this very courtyard? The gruesome scene of blood flowing everywhere gradually took shape in her mind, and Miss Lan felt a chill run through her body. At the same time, she began to feel guilty, lying there without daring to move. Originally, she did not believe in such things, but now the facts were vividly presented before her; this house truly has something strange about it

Miss Lan was taken aback and stepped back two paces: "You... you live here?"

No, no, Jiang Xiaohu nodded repeatedly, "You are doing exceptionally well."

"Do not worry, I have money," Miss Lan quickly took out some silver from her pocket, her face beaming with joy. "As long as you use it to make money, no one will dare to say you are useless again"

No, "Jiang Xiaohu shook his head repeatedly, feeling quite displeased. "Why do you need to use my clothes to make the bed? Just sleep by yourself."

"Sleep naturally here," Jiang Xiaohu yawned, lying on his back with his hands behind his head, lazily gazing at her. "If you follow me, you will have to sleep on straw. If you are unwilling, you may return."

Something happened. It rushed past me.

Of course, it is sleeping! How unfair.

But it is very dark outside

Jiang Xiaohu was amused by her laughter, his hair standing on end: "Go... go in?"

Let everything be simple

No.

Full of desire | The fire has nowhere to vent, Jiang Xiaohu is also annoyed, getting up and walking towards the door: "Then you can slowly wait for the bridal sedan here, I am going to the Yongcui Building."

Jiang Xiaohu rubbed his kicked leg, feeling quite annoyed in his heart, yet he did not dare to offend her too much. He could only lie on the bed with a displeased expression, allowing her to continuously apologize in his ear

Still no answer

In the past, the Jiang family was quite prosperous, even surpassing the Lan family. Unexpectedly, a "heavenly treasure" suddenly descended, and acquiring this treasure was initially a cause for celebration. Who would have thought that this "exotic treasure" would instead bring them catastrophic misfortune? It seems that obtaining a treasure is not necessarily a good thing

He responded vaguely and slowly walked over

Jiang Xiaohu first felt joy, but then as if recalling something, his expression turned sorrowful: "But I am afraid that before I can earn any money, you will have killed me."

Being constantly criticized as "useless" made Jiang Xiaohu feel quite indignant, so he decided to prove himself "useful" in front of women. Therefore, he straightened his chest and raised his face, saying: "Yes, don't!"

Stepping onto the steps in front of the Jiang family gate, Miss Lan wore a cold expression. Finally, she released her grip, throwing Jiang Xiaohu, who had a face full of distress, aside. Taking advantage of the light from the corner of the alley, she compared their heights and then lifted her feet, moving up two more steps, before looking down at him with a glare.

Miss Lan mustered her courage and raised her voice slightly: "Jiang Xiaohu!"

"What?" Miss Lan, in a fit of anger, kicked him squarely in the backside, sending him tumbling over. She then bent down and grabbed his ear, saying, "You want to marry me, yet you dare to go to such places? What do you take me for!"

The sound of crying? Goosebumps rising on the neck

What is going on? There is certainly no shortage of kerosene!

My clothes are dirty, how can I go out to meet people tomorrow

scream

Miss Lan nodded seriously: "A girl must follow her husband after marriage, so I will naturally listen to you and will not hit you"

Miss Lan jumped up, grasping her collar with both hands, both startled and angry: "You, you, you... what are you doing to take liberties with me!"

Say it again!

Mouse

The tense nerves felt like a taut string, ready to snap at any moment. Miss Lan could no longer hold back and tried to call out with a trembling voice: "Jiang Xiaohu!"

A moment

The thief will not come

Miss Lan, in anger, raised her hand and said: "Do you dare to look down on me?"

We... are we going to sleep here?" They were taken aback.

I do not want to marry a tigress

Because there is nothing to steal here, I have not been able to find anything to pawn since last year

The rumors of the Jiang family's haunting have long been known to everyone, yet Miss Lan does not believe in such things. She thinks there are no ghosts in the world, and that they are merely fabrications meant to scare people. She is only afraid of the dark, and now that the lights are lit, she feels quite at ease. She thinks to herself that she must see for herself whether she will indeed wake up in the wilderness tomorrow morning

Miss Lan also found it reasonable and walked over, just about to take off her clothes, but then she hesitated again

Jiang Xiaohu nodded: "Yes"

Jiang Xiaohu thought for a moment and suggested to her: "Well... just take off your clothes and lay them down."

Miss Lan angrily asked: "What is wrong with me?"

The delicate makeup on her small face was washed away, leaving it clean and, in fact, appearing much more beautiful. The exposed section of her slender arm was also fair and pristine, resembling freshly harvested lotus roots

The shabby oil lamp was lit, and by its faint light, Miss Lan looked around, preparing to familiarize herself with her new home. However, she soon realized that this was entirely unnecessary, for aside from the large wooden board and the bed made of straw, the entire room was left with only that oil lamp. The lamp was very old, so old that even a pawnshop would not accept it.

As she watched the handsome face marred by her own fists, becoming bruised and battered, Miss Lan's resentment suddenly vanished without a trace, and instead, she felt a bit of amusement. She let out a satisfied hum, retracting her fists to indicate her approval of this outcome. However, deep down, there was a hint of disappointment—how could it be that the esteemed eldest daughter of the Lan family had to rely on her fists to secure a marriage, and the man she was to marry was merely a useless poor boy

What is the purpose of closing the door

Jiang Xiaohu's voice trembled: "I ... ... my room"

Miss Lan jumped up in surprise

Miss Lan raised her eyebrows and placed her hands on her hips: "You refuse to marry me, do you think I am unworthy of you?"

Who called herself married to a useless person! She began to regret it

"Getting scratched by grass makes my face look unattractive; I certainly do not want to marry an ugly woman," he lamented while taking off his clothes with a frown, sighing, "I knew long ago that others enjoy happiness with their wives, but for me, having a wife brings not only trouble but also the loss of my last piece of clothing."

Miss Lan curled up in fear, exclaiming: "Jiang Xiaohu! Jiang Xiaohu!"

Miss Lan was in high spirits: "Good."

You are aware that upon marriage, a woman follows her husband, thus it is understood that a woman should not concern herself with where her husband goes

What else is there

The ears are quiet, with no response

I have silver, and I will go buy you new clothes tomorrow

Surrounded by darkness, unable to see one's own fingers, a wave of fear surged from the depths of her heart. Miss Lan, disregarding many thoughts, hurriedly groped her way to lie down, beginning to regret having driven Jiang Xiaohu away

Jiang Xiaohu hurriedly covered his face: "Hey, didn't you say you wouldn't hit me!"

Jiang Xiaohu asked, "What happened?"

Are you willing to listen to me

Aren't you going to close the door? I'm not at ease

Before receiving a response, another living creature jumped onto my hand, furry and wriggling in my palm, making a chaotic "chirping" sound.

Silence

"Don't worry, I won't think less of you," Miss Lan also felt a bit guilty, kindly patting his back and helping him up. "From today onwards, I will sleep in this room, and you should sleep elsewhere."

Ah? That's right, when a girl gets married, she has to sleep with her husband. Miss Lan finally remembered this and quickly made space beside her, accompanying him with a smile to comfort him, "I didn't mean to, come on, you sleep."

Miss Lan could no longer contain herself, let out a startled cry, and fainted.

Afraid?

"What?" Miss Lan immediately put away her shy demeanor, her eyes wide open, raising her voice, "You actually don't want it?"

Not acceptable

At that very moment, the lights went out

Jiang Xiaohu stared blankly at her, feeling dry in the mouth and tongue, his whole body heated up, and something in his heart was stirring—having such a wife seemed quite good, she was more beautiful than all the girls, although a bit fierce, yet she was still very obedient when not fierce.

When a person loses their vision, their hearing becomes exceptionally acute. Miss Lan perked up her ears and discovered that the sounds were numerous and chaotic. There was the sound of mice gnawing on wood in the beams, the creaking of windows swaying in the wind, and various insect chirps. Most terrifying of all, there was a faint, almost imperceptible sound of crying mixed in, which, upon closer listening, seemed somewhat different...

But I do not wish to marry you

Jiang Xiaohu's eyes immediately lit up, and he repeatedly bowed to her, saying: "I have long said that I am very poor and cannot support Miss Lan, so you do not have to insist on marrying me. It would be better for you to return quickly."

I have the capital, we can earn it

"Sleep with me?" was met with great astonishment

Of course

Where is good

Jiang Xiaohu jumped back in fright: "No, no, don't hit!"

A crisp slap.

How could a perfectly good lamp end up like this? Miss Lan suddenly recalled that bizarre and strange rumor

"Are you not going in? Do you really want to spend the night outside?" Miss Lan clung to his arm, half complaining and half acting coy, "Could it be that you do not want to take me inside?"

A hand slowly glided to her chest

No.

Miss Lan was filled with joy: "I am sleepy."

Realizing the impending darkness, Miss Lan began to feel afraid. She hurriedly set down the lamp and ran back to lie down, praying that she could fall asleep before the light went out. However, sleep is a peculiar thing; the more one wishes to sleep, the less it seems to come. In the end, the flame was reduced to the size of a mung bean, yet she still felt no trace of drowsiness.

Confirming that he would not be beaten, Jiang Xiaohu let out a sigh of relief, looking at her with a similarly pitiful expression: "I am not trying to drive you away; I am afraid you will regret it in the future. Look at me, I have neither money nor usefulness..."

How do you know

Jiang Xiaohu is intentionally not agreeing, right? He is so afraid of himself and must live quite far away. Miss Lan has started to shed tears. She lives in a large house, sleeps on an exquisite carved bed, and has a soft, fragrant brocade quilt. Now that she is getting married, not only does her husband look down on her, but she also has to endure this kind of suffering

"Where is there such reasoning?" Jiang Xiaohu exclaimed

Jiang Xiaohu was at a loss for words, repeatedly pleading: "Miss Lan, I beg you not to marry me, please go back. I truly cannot endure having a wife like this"

Miss Lan took a breath and quickly instructed, "Light the lamp, hurry and light the lamp!"

Miss Lan hesitated for a long time, then looked at him and said softly: "Is it alright to use your clothes?"

You are so useless, yet you still don't want me

No. "He shook his head"

At last, Miss Lan, after contentedly washing her face in a broken wooden basin and then washing her feet, carefully avoided the straw and lay down on the "bed" made of tattered clothes by Jiang Xiaohu, preparing to sleep

Jiang Xiaohu choked slightly, regaining a pitiful expression, and choked out: "My Lady Lan, please spare me. A good wife like you is truly beyond my fortune to enjoy"

Less than two hours after my wife entered the door, she had already endured both punches and slaps. Jiang Xiaohu covered her face, feeling even more wronged: "Since you have already married me, of course we should consummate our marriage and engage in marital relations"

Why

Out of nowhere, a wife fell from the sky, and to make matters worse, she forcibly pulled him out of the tender embrace of the casino. Although Jiang Xiaohu was filled with dissatisfaction, he was nonetheless intimidated by her imposing presence and dared not voice his complaints loudly. He could only tug at his clothing and mutter, "What are you doing!"

Jiang Xiaohu sighed, got up, and walked outside. It is quite normal for a wife to act coy when she just enters the door. In ancient times, there was even someone to paint the eyebrows for their wives. Moreover, since the beauty is so endearing in her request, it is truly hard to refuse.

Looking at the empty room, she couldn't help but sigh

The wedding chamber is adorned with flowers and candles. Miss Lan seems to understand something, her face gradually turning red as she murmurs: "This... we haven't performed the heaven and earth ceremony, nor have we drunk the cup of union, how can we..."

Having gauged the opponent's strength and noticing their unfriendly demeanor, Jiang Xiaohu quickly took two steps back, a feeble smile reappearing on his face, and his voice softened considerably: "Miss Lan, at present, I can barely support myself, how could I dare to marry again?"

"Go to bed early, it will save some lamp oil," Jiang Xiaohu walked straight over and sat down on the straw mat, "This lamp oil was fetched by me from a lamp in front of the Bodhisattva at the small temple ten miles south of the city."

Jiang Xiaohu stared at her, speechless

It... it won't crawl over, will it

No, that is my lifelong affair; you must carry me into the door in a bridal sedan chair

The gaze inadvertently swept to the side, where a large spider was slowly crawling down the wall

Jiang Xiaohu quickly refused: "Where is there a man who serves his wife? Since you have married me, you should serve your husband instead."

Compliments based on appearance are hard for any girl to resist. Miss Lan forgot to be angry, a blush appeared on her fair face, and her voice became much gentler: "Such a wonderful wife, don't you want her?"

My name is Lan Xinyue," she interrupted him, raising her face and smiling sweetly, her eyes curved like the moon, "Husband, I am a bit tired, could you take me inside to rest?

As I stepped through the door, a wave of cold air rushed towards me

Jiang Xiaohu was overjoyed: "Is it true?"

Miss Lan could not help but shiver several times, feeling somewhat eerie. The courtyard was devoid of light, pitch dark with nothing visible. Generally, girls are afraid of the dark, and the highly skilled Miss Lan was no exception. Thus, she tightly grasped Jiang Xiaohu's arm, stepping forward cautiously, moving deeper and shallower, carefully following him inside

What are you doing here!

Pushing the door open, a musty smell rushed to her nose, and Miss Lan almost felt like vomiting. She hurriedly covered her nose with her sleeve, frowned, and exclaimed: "What is this place!"

After this incident, Jiang Xiaohu no longer dared to have any thoughts of affection. He nodded repeatedly, and being able to keep a distance from this fierce woman was already a blessing, as it at least ensured his personal safety

Unable to accept her change, Jiang Xiaohu was stunned. By the time he reacted, his arm had already been firmly grasped, and he was so frightened that he repeatedly pleaded, "Miss Lan... Miss Lan... I beg you..."

The beauty before him feigned weakness, and Jiang Xiaohu's blood, which had not boiled for a long time, began to surge once again. He suddenly felt very useful: "Just this once, and there will be no next time"

Attractive

Jiang Xiaohu, after turning this way and that, finally found herself in front of a door.

I want to enter in a grand manner

Upon marriage, a woman follows her husband; I simply do not strike my husband. Miss Lan said proudly, "Since you are unwilling to marry me, you do not count as my husband, and thus I can strike you without hesitation"

What I say is reasoned. With reason comes confidence

"Shall we proceed with today's matters first, and then bring you in tomorrow?"

I want to marry you, please spare my life!

Upon thinking of this, Miss Lan lowered her eyelids, regaining her gentle and charming demeanor, and reached out to pull Jiang Xiaohu: "Husband..."

"Think, think, think," Jiang Xiaohu broke out in a cold sweat, his face contorted in distress, nodding like a chick pecking at rice, "I will take you in, in..."

What should we do if a thief comes? Surprised

Martial arts skills are excellent

Miss Lan sighed to herself, while Jiang Xiaohu beside her turned over.

"Are you trying to drive me away?" For some reason, Miss Lan became angry upon seeing him like this and slapped him.

Have you not already entered?

"Husband," she seemed to recall something, looking at him with a pitiful expression, "Shall we light the lamp and sleep well tonight? I have money, and I will buy some more tomorrow"

I am your wife, and you are not allowed to seek others

Miss Lan is about to cry: "But that grass will scratch my face."

Seeing her solemnly assure him, Jiang Xiaohu hesitated for a moment, scrutinizing her for a long time, and finally nodded with joy: "Since you say so, then Marry me is fine."

I am your husband; if I do not sleep with you, who else would I sleep with

In the darkness, various rustling sounds emerged one after another

Miss Lan was very pleased, ignoring his complaint: "Go fetch some water, I want to wash my feet"

I do not want to marry ... ... Oh no! Help! Ah ah ... ...