Chapter 191: The Brothers Line Up

Some were there for the spectacle, like Mu Zhaoyuan.

Some were there with schadenfreude, like the eldest and third sons.

And some were simply curious, like the second son and Jiang Dai.

Bai Tian wore a complicated expression, looking at the curious and concerned little one in front of him, unsure why Juanjuan suddenly asked if he would marry.

“Of course not! Dad, dad…”

Bai Tian suddenly pulled Jiang Dai, who was watching the scene unfold, over to him.

Jiang Dai: ????

This sudden move gave her a bad feeling.

Bai Tian solemnly told the little one, “Daddy only needs your mom! From the vast waters, I only take a single ladle¹!”

Jiang Dai: …

For some reason, she suddenly felt like elbowing the person next to her.

【Such lines about taking only a single ladle from the vast waters sound fine in novels and dramas, but why does it feel so embarrassing when someone you know says it??】

Bai Tian also felt a bit embarrassed and complicated.

【Me? Marry another wife?? I haven’t even had a proper relationship! Here, it’s normal for men to have multiple wives, but not for me!】

【I’m not yet an old lecher; there’s no need!】

Perhaps because both his parents had affairs, Bai Tian naturally had a distaste for infidelity and fickleness.

Neither of them noticed the girl picking out jewelry nearby, looking at Bai Tian curiously, as if pondering his words.

Jiang Dai quickly pushed Bai Tian’s hand away, crouched down, and picked up her little daughter.

“Don’t worry, if your dad dares to marry again, I’ll find you another dad.”

Bai Tian: ????

Mu Zhaoyuan raised an eyebrow: Exciting.

Bai Yunqi’s eyes lit up: 【That’s a good idea! I’ll help mom pick one! Preferably someone with lots of gold and jewels at home. If he doesn’t spend on mom, I’ll beat him up!】

Juanjuan: Is this right?

Bai Yunxing awkwardly scratched his nose; this was indeed something their mom would do.

Bai Yun’an’s lips curved slightly as he stretched lazily: 【That’s how you retire… It’s really boring if there’s nothing to do.】

The Liuyun Pavilion had a variety of items, including some exquisite and beautiful weapons.

Bai Tian chose a rather showy fan; by pressing a mechanism, thin blades would protrude from the fan’s ribs, turning it into a weapon.

Jiang Dai selected a jade-inlaid silver bracelet, small and delicate, but containing hair-thin iron wires inside. By pulling them out and yanking hard, one could slit a throat.

Bai Yunxing and the others naturally didn’t need such beautiful little weapons.

Juanjuan, being young, was not given anything with blades, as they feared she might accidentally hurt herself. Instead, she received a delicate longevity lock².

“Juanjuan, inside this, here is an antidote pill, and here is a Life-extending Pill.”

Mu Zhaoyuan generously gifted two pills. Though not priceless treasures, they were not something ordinary people could obtain.

Compared to fighting and killing, it was more suitable to give a child some life-saving medicine.

As the sun set, the group returned to the General’s Estate.

With the Bai Family’s arrival, the evening banquet at the General’s Estate was particularly lively.

It was Juanjuan’s first time seeing such a large family dining at one table.

In the past, during New Year’s at Dachui’s Home next door, many relatives would come, but they ate separately. Sometimes, with only one small table, the men ate first, then the children, and finally the women.

“Mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, sorry to keep you waiting.”

With a gentle and charming voice, a figure in lake-blue stepped over the threshold.

Juanjuan pulled herself from her thoughts and looked up to see a beautiful woman with a large belly entering.

She knew this meant the woman was pregnant and would soon give birth.

Newborns were wrinkled and not very cute, but they would grow to be plump and adorable.

“It’s lively today; it’s been a while since there were so many children.”

The fifth wife, about to give birth, sat down with a smile. Her bright eyes showed she was a gentle and lively person, and she sat next to Juanjuan.

Perhaps because she was about to become a mother, she was particularly friendly to the young child before her.

“What a cute little girl, how old are you?”

Juanjuan politely nodded in greeting and answered truthfully, “Almost five.”

“Almost five, how clever and bright.”

Seeing the fifth daughter-in-law had arrived, the Old Madam picked up her chopsticks. “Let’s not just sit here, everyone, start eating.”

The food at the General’s Estate was exceptionally delicious.

Juanjuan quietly focused on her meal.

The Old Madam glanced at the Bai Family members eating quietly, her eyes showing a hint of appreciation.

This family was well-mannered even at the table, with handsome men and beautiful women, and even the children were strikingly attractive.

Luckily, Juanjuan didn’t know the Old Madam thought this way.

Otherwise…

Jiang Dai: 【Oh my! So delicious! Truly worthy of the capital, worthy of the General’s Estate! The food looks good and tastes great!】

Bai Tian: 【Though it still can’t compare to the modern seasonings that make even shoe soles taste good, the flavor is really delicious!!! I’m about to cry!!】

Eldest Brother: 【Jingcheng is indeed magnificent, this beef!!! Who in the village could eat this!!】

Second Brother… Second Brother was calm, with no reaction.

Third Brother was also calm, unsurprisingly preparing for big things.

【Indeed, there are many rare items in Jingcheng. Just waiting for mom and dad’s business to take off! Once it does, I’ll find the right opportunity to sell some things from the Spatial Storage.】

Juanjuan, having accidentally overheard a big secret again, sighed inwardly.

Better to just eat quietly!

The next day, Jiang Dai and Bai Tian continued to wander the streets of Jingcheng, learning about the various families and the business environment.

Mu Zhaoyuan didn’t accompany them, reportedly because some old flames had come looking for her.

Bai Yunxing, being a native of Jingcheng, naturally acted as a guide, taking the family around the shops.

Thankfully, they had a carriage, or walking all day would have been exhausting.

As evening approached, on their way back to the Mu Family, Juanjuan was so tired she almost fell asleep in the carriage.

They hadn’t done any work, just eaten, drunk, and strolled with their parents. Yet Juanjuan couldn’t understand why she was so tired.

Perhaps…

Eldest Brother had been too noisy all day.

Eldest Brother was like the treasure-seeking rodents from the storybooks, knowing which places had money wherever they went.

But thinking about meeting Sister Liang tomorrow, Juanjuan was still very happy.

Children need a lot of sleep, and Juanjuan fell asleep in the carriage, missing dinner and sleeping until midnight.

When she woke up again, it was still dark.

Seeing her parents sleeping beside her, Juanjuan decided to go out to the bathroom herself.

Then she heard a sigh from above her head.

Above her head??

Juanjuan immediately looked up.

There, she saw her three brothers sitting on the roof, gazing at the neighboring Prime Minister’s Manor.

In the middle sat Eldest Brother, looking extremely frustrated, chewing on a blade of grass, legs crossed, just missing a jug of wine to swig from like the men in the village.

Second Brother held a piece of grass, deep in thought, weaving a small rabbit without even looking down.

Third Brother looked down at her, a light smile on his face.

Juanjuan: …

She didn’t know why.

But she suddenly thought of the saying, “On a dark and windy night, perfect for murder³.”

Translator’s Notes