My Husband Is a Bit Crazy - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Her search for family caused quite a stir.

In broad daylight, I could hardly throw Chi Wan out just like that, so I had no choice but to endure it and wait until nightfall.

At dinnertime, an extra dish appeared on the table: Yuting Cake sent over by Chen Chongli. It was a famous snack from our hometown, and my favorite. Whenever Chen Chongli felt guilty, he liked to send food to make up for his bad conscience.

I waited for ages without seeing him. Just as I was about to start eating, a maid hurried in to report, “Madam, Miss Wan is missing.”

I had no choice but to set down my chopsticks and take people out with lanterns to search for her.

The Chen Mansion was strict and well-regulated, and I had specifically ordered people to keep a close eye on Chi Wan. She might be able to vanish without anyone noticing, but she could not do it without leaving me a trail to follow.

The least frequented place in the mansion was, without a doubt, the “Study.”

Chi Wan wanted to get close to Chen Chongli, and the “Study” was probably the place she thought offered the greatest opportunity.

But she never could have imagined that this Study was not that kind of study.

Although it was also for Chen Chongli’s personal use, its function was entirely different. It was the tool room where he practiced his craft.

There were no books or desks inside, only rows upon rows of gleaming long knives and short blades. They were extremely sharp, very useful, and all top-quality pieces he had carefully selected from my ironware shop.

Every few days, Chen Chongli would slaughter a pig or sheep here, so our household had fresh pork and mutton to eat every day.

This pleased me greatly, because mutton was best when freshly butchered. Pork did not matter as much.

But his habit sometimes frightened the maids and manservants in the mansion, so I ordered everyone not to go near the Study without reason, especially newly arrived servants.

Over time, everyone tacitly learned to avoid the place.

Chi Wan knew nothing of the situation, yet she insisted on barging in.

The moonlight was dim, and no lamps had been lit outside the Study. She was dressed all in white, her eyes full of tenderness and longing, and she did not notice at all that an unknown liquid winding its way to her feet had already stained her spotless white shoes.

Chen Chongli had changed to a new knife today.

I was in a bad mood and had not had time to clean up the courtyard yet, so I could only frown and carefully step around the bloodstains as I went to Chi Wan’s side.

“What are you doing here?” I asked expressionlessly.

She pretended to be surprised, then smiled gently and gave a shallow curtsy. “Sister, I came to bring Ah Li… No, I came to bring brother-in-law a bowl of soup.”

I sighed. “He never eats in the Study.”

Chi Wan took a smiling step forward. I found her dirty, so I quickly moved farther away from her.

A trace of confidence and self-satisfaction had already appeared in her expression. “Ah Li and I were childhood sweethearts. I understand him very well. It is not that he dislikes it, nor that he does not want it. He is simply very picky. He will only eat food made by me.”

I fell silent.

Who exactly did she understand?

I was rather speechless and had no desire to keep entangling myself with her, so I said bluntly, “I will not agree to let you enter this household. Not as a wife, not as a concubine, not as a maid. It is impossible.”

She froze, then her face darkened. “Sister, if you are this jealous, how is Ah Li supposed to conduct himself in officialdom? Are you not afraid his colleagues will gossip about him?”

I shook my head and gave a soft laugh.

“You have misunderstood me.

“I do not mind him taking a wife or concubines. Tall or short, dark or fair, fat or thin, from the far south or the far north, from our own country or a foreign land. As long as he so much as nods, I could even pay for the betrothal gifts myself and welcome her into the mansion in grand style.

“Everyone except you. Chi Wan, give up on that idea.”

Chi Wan lifted her chin arrogantly. “I know! Ah Li and I have known each other since childhood. Even though I left without saying goodbye back then, I have always had a place in his heart. You are afraid I will threaten your position! That is why you refuse so firmly. But do you really think you can stop me?”

I raised my hand and slapped her.

“Wrong again. This has nothing to do with Chen Chongli. It is entirely because I hate you. I loathe you to the extreme, and I will never share a husband with you.”

She covered her face, unconcealed hatred bursting from her eyes. “Very well, Sister. Then let us each rely on our own abilities.”

The moment she finished speaking, her eyes flickered. She screamed and fell backward, collapsing to the ground. Tears came at once as she said, aggrieved yet forbearing, “Sister, I only wanted to bring brother-in-law a bowl of soup. Why did you hit me?”

My body stiffened. I turned back and saw Chen Chongli striding out of the darkness.

He stopped in front of me, expressionless.

Behind me, Chi Wan sobbed in a delicate voice, “Brother-in-law, do not blame Sister.”

Chen Chongli’s eyes looked somewhat bleak. After a pause, he walked around me and spoke softly to Chi Wan on the ground. “Since you know she hates you, why not stay farther away from her?”

“Madam,” he added, “the courtyard my sister-in-law is staying in now is too small. Move her to a larger one. Let her stay at Lanyue Pavilion near me. Arrange it as soon as possible.”

With that, he strode away and did not look at me again.

I withdrew my gaze from his gradually receding figure and turned to Chi Wan.

She looked utterly disheveled, but the smugness in her eyes could not be hidden.

I gave a cold snort, swept my sleeves, and left. “I hope you can still smile after you look in the mirror.”