Chapter 9, The Turmoil of the Mother Tiger

"My master is waiting inside, do you not wish to see her?"

Jiang Xiaohu looked at her for half a day, suddenly sighed, and picked her up: "I just like a tigress"

Without waiting for Jiang Xiaohu to respond, he looked at the person on the bed with a half-smile and said: "How pitiful, a man with a wife still has to hold back every day. It would be better to enter the palace and become a eunuch. I could even spend some money to help you out."

After speaking, she gently sighed and embraced his arm: "You must have forgotten all about these matters, haven't you?"

As they stepped out, the sky had already darkened. Miss Lan walked ahead in a huff, while Jiang Xiaohu followed silently behind, occasionally frowning and sighing, his expression one of dejection

"You have changed your nature, how rare!" The man in black looked at him and sighed in a seemingly proper manner, "I didn't like it before, but now I like it a little bit. If you become a bit more useful, I might like it a little bit more."

Indeed, you are a true friend, thank you for your kindness

The black cloak was large and billowing, and he sat with his knees drawn up, resembling a bat with its wings folded in.

"Because she is indeed breathtakingly beautiful," Jiang Xiaohu said with a frown as he gazed into the depths of the alley, "if my eyes are not deceiving me, this is precisely Xiyun Street Alley."

Then why not ask

Just as Miss Lan stepped out, a charming young lady unexpectedly walked in

Jiang Xiaohu glared: "I almost forgot, thieves enjoy eavesdropping on others' conversations in secret."

"Xiao Hu, did you really not hear anything last night?"

It is just a little bit

What! You still want to go to that kind of place

With her long eyelashes fluttering twice, Jiang Xiaohu's expression fell, and she got up to leave: "Then you might as well stop liking me, go back, I am going to Yongcuilou."

What do you see me doing

I suddenly do not want to go

Jiang Xiaohu quietly followed behind

In the presence of many onlookers, the charming maid showed no concern at all; she merely cast her gaze around, sweeping over everyone present, and then walked straight towards Jiang Xiaohu: "Are you Young Master Jiang? My master requests your presence."

Why not go?

"I only guessed half of it," Jiang Xiaohu thought seriously for a moment, "Your master must be incredibly beautiful"

Jiang Xiaohu smiled and said: "I haven't finished speaking yet. Although you are quite handsome, I still believe that I should look better than you, so she will definitely always like me."

Jiang Xiaohu also looked at her and said: "So do you really like me?"

Jiang Xiaohu looked at him seriously and said: "To deal with thieves, one must light a lamp; if one is afraid of losing things, it is inevitable to spend some lamp oil."

Remember, I want a golden coffin, one that is larger, capable of holding ten thousand luminous pearls

When you become more useful, there will be more.

The charming maid could not help but laugh out loud: "I suppose Young Master Jiang is often beaten by his wife?"

If you do not like me, then why do you want to marry me

After watching her for half a day, Jiang Xiaohu suddenly smiled and said, "I remember."

The man in black quickly stepped back one meter, glaring: "If you were a woman, I might as well take my own life."

Miss Lan remained silent for a moment, then shook her head: "I didn't like it before"

Useful

Upon entering the restaurant, just after ordering a table full of dishes, Miss Lan suddenly remembered something. "Oh dear," she exclaimed, standing up. "Xiao Hu, you eat first; I will go out to buy something."

Do not forget, you still need my help, could you not be so polite in asking me?

Jiang Xiaohu thought for a moment: "Yes, when I challenged Liuhe Wang back then, it seemed that someone had also cursed me like this."

Jiang Xiaohu stood abruptly in front of the lamp, gazing up at the ceiling, his handsome face marked by a look of headache, seemingly in a bad mood, while Miss Lan had already fallen into a deep sleep on the straw mat by the wall

That was my first time gambling, and I immediately threw out a one, two, three, losing my collar

Do you not want to go

Jumping out of the car, Jiang Xiaohu quickly surveyed the surroundings. After confirming, he stood there in silence, lost in thought.

"It does not matter if you do not recognize me, as long as you recognize my master," the clever maid seemed to have anticipated his reaction and said with a smile, "Young Master Jiang, the esteemed often forgets, and naturally, we maids do not catch your eye."

The young girl is approximately fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed like a maid, with long legs and a slender waist. Her eyes are not large but very bright, and her oval face is rosy, resembling the peach blossoms of early spring

"I will definitely be useful," Jiang Xiaohu quickly turned over and embraced her, swallowing hard, "Now... can we consummate the marriage?"

"You have no right to tell me where to go!" Miss Lan shook off his hand, her eyes slightly swollen, pouting as if she were about to cry again. "What good is it to marry a tigress at home? Without me, aren't you very happy?"

How do you know

Jiang Xiaohu did not respond; instead, he rolled his eyes and looked him up and down.

Before me lies a straight and deep alley, much wider and more imposing than an ordinary hutong. On the left side stands a tall and sturdy old locust tree, and the smooth and clean bluestone pavement extends forward until the corner at the end.

Nowadays, everyone knows that you are already my wife, how can you go back in the future

Suddenly, Miss Lan stopped in her tracks and said, "If you want to find her, then go quickly"

Yes

Not like, not like.

Of similar age to Jiang Xiaohu, he has a proud high nose bridge, slightly arched eyebrows that reveal a hint of arrogance, and a pair of pitch-black eyes that shine brilliantly in the night. On this face, every feature is practically beyond reproach; however, there was a slight issue in the combination of these perfect features, inadvertently creating a somewhat rogue demeanor that has long persisted on his handsome face. To put it bluntly, it gives off an impression that is quite punchable.

What? The man in black suddenly jumped down from the windowsill, crossed his arms, and stood in front of him with an expression of disbelief. "I must have misheard you; you are actually praising me?"

Do you dare to go

The man in black was speechless, and the next moment, his handsome face returned to its mischievous appearance. He patted Jiang Xiaohu on the shoulder and said, "It's rare to see you so concerned. Since we are friends, you must also contribute to the coffin money."

Fool, I am not going back

Jiang Xiaohu said with a stern face: "It seems that having a wealthy friend like you, I truly have to thank heaven and earth."

Jiang Xiaohu quickly shook his head: "I will not go, absolutely not."

Miss Lan gazed at him eagerly and asked, "Tell me, am I not a gentle and virtuous wife?"

Having said that, he could not help but burst into laughter

Meanwhile, laughter was heard

What to do

You won't say anything even if I ask, since we are going to meet soon anyway, I might as well guess for myself

How much is a little bit

There are no constables here, come out.

The exterior of the carriage was unremarkable, yet the interior decorations were exceptionally exquisite. Jiang Xiaohu did not hold back, climbing directly into the carriage and settling down comfortably. Throughout the journey, the charming maidservants were exceedingly polite and courteous, occasionally stealing glances at him. A handsome man always holds a certain allure for young girls, even if they are already aware that he is the most useless spendthrift in the world.

I do not want to be beaten anymore

The man in black laughed in anger: "Fine, you don't need my help, I am being overly sentimental!"

What can you do

Jiang Xiaohu was already lost in thought, and it was not until she spoke that she came to her senses, puzzled: "I do not recognize you."

Indeed, that pond is still in the backyard, and it is nearly dry

I am a fierce tiger, what are you following me for

The charming maid smiled and said: "Young Master Jiang is indeed interesting, no wonder the mistress treats you this way. Can you guess who she is?"

Miss Lan looked at him in profile, hesitating: "Xiao Hu, I am so fierce, scolding and hitting you, do you... really like a tigress?"

Jiang Xiaohu asked strangely: "What to buy?"

Jiang Xiaohu looked at her: "Strange"

"Indeed," Jiang Xiaohu nodded solemnly, "No wonder so many women are fond of you; you are truly handsome, charming, and irresistibly charismatic. If I were a woman, I would certainly like you as well"

Rouge, Miss Lan touched her face and said, "Without these things, I would definitely look terrible now"

I have a wife, yet I am living as a monk

Where are you going alone so late

Miss Lan bit her lip, feeling a bit guilty as well. Blushing, she tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Although I can't do ... ... right now, I can do other things."

Jiang Xiaohu panicked: "Wife ... ... "

It is not necessarily the case; the charming maid may very well be a man, as men always enjoy having beautiful women by their side

The cloak suddenly unfurled, resembling a bat with outstretched wings, swiftly darting out of the window and silently gliding past the eaves

Jiang Xiaohu was about to speak when the carriage suddenly came to a halt, and the driver's voice rang out: "We have arrived"

If she were not beautiful herself, how could she have such a beautiful maid as you

Miss Lan was instantly filled with joy: "What do you want to eat? I will go buy it and make it."

Cooking? Jiang Xiaohu thought for a moment and felt it was a good idea. Having a wife who can cook seems quite nice as well

Jiang Xiaohu's gaze shifted slightly, remaining silent

"You should thank me," the man in black raised an eyebrow, amused. "I don't often do good deeds. Now that she has been acupointed, you can go wherever you wish, so as to avoid any complications."

I can cook

This useless fellow indeed has a way with women, leaving everyone feeling disheartened

You have a wife, and you are not allowed to seek other women

Because I have developed a slight fondness for you

Isn't it too little? Disappointment

As soon as the words fell, a figure in a black robe had already appeared on the windowsill, as if a ghost had materialized out of thin air, utterly silent

Jiang Xiaohu looked at her, hesitating: "A little."

Seeing him stammer, Miss Lan wiped her eyes and turned to leave: "You must think I'm a fierce tigress!"

In the afternoon, the sky remains overcast, with not a trace of sunlight. On the street, two idle individuals walk side by side, and by the end of the day, they have achieved nothing.

You? Gentle and virtuous? Jiang Xiaohu began to scratch his head, contemplating for a long time, yet still found this question very difficult to answer: "This..."

How do you know

After a while, the oil lamp was lit again

Miss Lan suddenly jumped up and shouted sternly: "Who on earth are you!"

The man in black rolled his eyes, deliberately coughed once, and took a couple of steps: "My silver is not lent for free"

Once it was confirmed that the "haunting" was due to human factors, the feeling of fear dissipated. After Miss Lan finished admonishing her husband, she took the initiative to extinguish the oil lamp and returned to bed. Due to the exhaustion from the day, Jiang Xiaohu also gave up on murmuring and soon fell into a deep sleep, with only the soft and steady sound of breathing heard in the room

Miss Lan's face flushed red as she pushed him away: "No!"

With his wife absent, Jiang Xiaohu became much bolder, stating seriously: "If she were a man, daring to bring along a girl more beautiful than a fairy, she would probably have been beaten to the ground by his wife long ago"

Wife, let's go home

The guests around were nearly wide-eyed, filled with speculation about which family's maid was so charming

The charming maid smiled and urged him, "Young Master Jiang, are you not leaving yet?"

Finally, the clever maid could not help but ask: "Young Master Jiang, are you not curious about who my master is?"

"Not bad," Jiang Xiaohu nodded seriously, "This matter is quite perilous. I have decided to go to the temple early tomorrow to burn a few more incense sticks for you. After all, we are friends. I will cover the cost of the incense and candles myself. However, in case you accidentally get struck by his sword on this trip, I must find a good coffin for you, so that we can hold a grand ceremony to guide your spirit, right?"

Jiang Xiaohu ignored him and extended his hand: "Lend me several thousand taels of silver"

Later, when I returned home, I practiced dice every day. Lady Lan said proudly, "At first, I was just planning to come over to annoy you for a few days and then go back."

Go back by yourself

Miss Lan bit her lip and said, "Xiao Hu, do you think I resemble a tigress?"

Why

Wife, I am a man

At that time, I also came here with my father to celebrate a birthday, but I was deceived by you into gambling, and you even pushed me into the garden pond to catch fish

Jiang Xiaohu nodded: "My wife is truly remarkable"

"What is the point of lighting it? I do not like it at all"

Jiang Xiaohu laughed heartily

The man in black angrily said: "Is there anyone who curses their friends like you do!"

In any case, you are not allowed to go

Since it helps me while also allowing you to make a windfall profit, how could you possibly refuse such a twofold benefit

Who among girls does not love beauty? Especially those who are already beautiful. Jiang Xiaohu sighed and looked at her, nodding: "Wife, come back soon, I am waiting for you"

In the darkness, laughter suddenly came from above.

Oh no, please don't hit me, I don't like fierce women at all, help me!

"It is quite interesting to listen to people speak," the man in black said without changing his expression, nodding in acknowledgment. "But she is a clever girl, not to be trifled with. Are you sure she will truly continue to like you?"

The business plan has long been cast aside, and Miss Lan is now concerned with another significant matter. At last, she will no longer have to wake up in the wilderness. Last night, that person pressed her acupoints but did not take action. He has been following Jiang Xiaohu; what could his purpose be? Could it really be for the treasure of the Jiang family?

"Liar! Fraud!" Miss Lan pushed him away angrily, "You are afraid of me, so you deliberately say this, you must think of me as a fierce tiger in your heart!"

Jiang Xiaohu no longer asked any questions and stood up: "Let's go."

The man in black looked around and sighed: "In this rundown house of yours, it truly poses a challenge for me to find anything worth stealing"

The man in black stared at him incredulously, remaining in a daze for quite some time before murmuring: "This person, to be able to deceive even himself with lies, is not an easy feat."

I no longer dare to meet.

I desire to go very much

The man in black was taken aback: "Me?"

Do you remember the year of your grandfather's grand birthday celebration

What!

The sound of the wind swept past her ears, and before she could react, a sudden chill ran down her neck. Immediately after, a wave of drowsiness overwhelmed her, and she felt her eyelids grow heavy, utterly fatigued, causing her entire body to collapse once again.

Jiang Xiaohu sighed: "I know you are a miser, but this money is being spent on yourself; are you really unwilling to part with it?"

This person is not afraid of the light, and surprisingly wants the luminous pearl, Jiang Xiaohu muttered a few words and laughed, "His sword is not easy to deal with, you better pray for your own safety, don't come back missing an arm or a leg, I have no money to buy a coffin, nor do I have money to pay for your medical treatment"

I dare not, but I am your husband; you should serve your husband well.

Jiang Xiaohu shook his head and said: "She is not a man"

"What did you hear?" Jiang Xiaohu, still in a bad mood, mumbled with a long face, "Having a wife is worse than not having one; you can't even touch a woman. That girl from yesterday even asked me to go to the alley on Xiyun Street..."

In fact, saying and doing have always been two different matters. Without the essentials of life, such as rice, oil, and salt, what good dishes can be prepared? Therefore, until the evening, Miss Lan meticulously compiled a detailed list of the various ingredients needed for her four signature dishes, which she was most skilled at. After realizing the gap between her ideals and reality, Jiang Xiaohu immediately suggested that it would be better to eat at a restaurant.

"His tricks have been seen through by us, and he will no longer dare to come here," Miss Lan said, blinking her eyes, happily lying beside Jiang Xiaohu. "From now on, when we wake up, we will no longer be in the wilderness."

You are very handsome

Then there will be constables, and I will still come out

In the middle of the night, the oil lamp indeed did not extinguish.

Why