Chapter 3: Relief

“Stop crying. Crying too much is bad for your health. I was in the wrong regarding the past…”

Su Yunjin was stunned. She stared blankly at Chen Jie, never in her wildest dreams having imagined that Chen Jiusi would say such things to her.

For a moment, she actually stopped crying.

It was too shocking.

This beast, actually admitting he was in the wrong?

In Su Yunjin’s eyes, the original body was a scoundrel—an alcoholic, a gambler, and a wife-beater. Outside, he was a coward, obsessed with saving face, yet a bully at home.

When they couldn't even afford a meal at home, he had been flattered by a few words and ended up lending their only bag of grain to the lazybones next door, Ma Liu.

He was also a coward. Once, when she had a dispute with their neighbor, Lu Qinshi, the woman had come to their house to curse and hit her. He had been right there in the room, yet he hadn't dared to step out and say a single word in her defense.

When she returned after being slapped twice by that shrew, he had even blamed her for causing him trouble.

His own wife had been chased home and slapped, and as a man, he hadn't dared to let out a single peep. Could a man like that be relied upon?

But if she couldn't rely on him, who else could she rely on? There was no such thing as divorce in this world, not even a separation. For a village woman like her, the only outcome was a letter of divorce.

But her maiden family was gone; where would she go if she were cast out? Should she learn from others and become a half-prostitute?

Besides, she still had a younger sister. She had no choice; she truly had no choice!

She could only blame her own bitter fate for marrying a beast in human skin, a scoundrel who was a coward outside and a bully at home.

Chen Jie looked at the confusion on Su Yunjin’s face and slowly squatted down. He looked at her earnestly and only then realized how beautiful this woman was, especially after crying—her face tear-stained like rain on a pear blossom, making one feel pity.

Seeing the woman react, Chen Jie knew his words had worked.

Since his predecessor had done so many beastly things, he would offer an apology on his behalf.

At the very least, it might bring a sliver of comfort to this poor woman before him.

Seeing the woman’s expression soften significantly, Chen Jie decided to say a few more things to help stabilize her emotions.

He reached out. The woman instinctively flinched, but Chen Jie still cupped her face in his hands and used his thumbs to wipe away her tears. The woman was startled, her body even trembling slightly.

“Yunjin.”

Chen Jie spoke. He had wanted to call her “Jin’er,” but thought it better to take things step by step so as not to scare her. Her emotions were very unstable right now, and he absolutely could not provoke her further.

Su Yunjin looked at Chen Jie in surprise, because Chen Jie usually called her “that Su woman,” or even worse, “bitch.”

He had never called her by her name. She looked at him, not knowing what he was going to do next.

Chen Jie looked at her and said, “Regarding the past, I know I’ve let you down.”

“You’ve suffered a lot by my side, and I never thought you’d be pushed to this point. All of this is my fault.”

Upon hearing this, Su Yunjin trembled all over, her eyes filled with disbelief. She thought she had misheard just now, but now he was apologizing to her again. Was he really trying to turn over a new leaf?

Su Yunjin wavered for a moment, but quickly shook her head. A dog can’t change its habit of eating dung. Who knows what kind of evil he’s plotting now? Is he afraid that if I and Yunrui commit suicide, he won’t be able to sell us for money?

Chen Jie saw the wariness and worry in her eyes.

He took her hand. It should have been a soft, boneless hand, but when he held it, he felt a roughness, and there were even slight cracks.

This was caused by long hours of farm work and washing clothes.

Such hands should not have appeared on such a beautiful woman.

Having her hand held, Su Yunjin panicked and tried to pull it back, but Chen Jie said, “Don’t move. Listen to me. I really know I was wrong; I’m not trying to trick you.”

“I know you won’t believe me no matter how much I say right now, but I still hope you’ll give me a chance. I’ve really changed.”

Chen Jie knew that words were pale, but some attitudes had to be shown.

Su Yunjin was stunned for a long time, her voice gradually turning cold as she asked, “Are you really not going to sell Ruirui anymore?”

Chen Jie said, “Absolutely not!”

Su Yunjin fell silent upon hearing this. After a long while, she said, “Chen Jiusi, my mother was kind to me, so no matter how you treat me, I can accept it. But Ruirui is still young; she absolutely cannot lose hope. Do you understand?”

“Mm.”

Chen Jie nodded.

Su Yunjin continued, “If you say one thing but do another and try to sell Ruirui, then we can die even without poison. I guarantee you won’t get a single copper.”

Chen Jie said, “Mm, I understand. Trust me.”

Hearing this, Su Yunjin slowly climbed up from the ground and began to tidy up the things on the floor. The little bean-sprout beside her also began to help. Seeing this, Chen Jie immediately took the pot of poisoned white rice porridge outside and found a place to bury it.

After finishing this, Chen Jie returned to the room. Neither of the two women paid him any mind. Chen Jie knew that in their eyes, he was probably no different from a demon.

*Gurgle…*

Just as the awkwardness set in, little bean-sprout Su Yunrui’s stomach let out a loud growl.

Su Yunrui looked at her stomach, then tightened the tattered cloth strip around her waist, muttering, “Ruirui is the best. Ruirui isn’t hungry.”

*Gurgle…*

Another intestinal growl followed. Su Yunjin’s face turned red instantly; it was her stomach, but she didn't say a word.

Chen Jie knew the rice jar at home had hit bottom. If he didn't find food, the whole family would likely starve to death. Thinking of this, Chen Jie suddenly remembered that his intelligence seemed to mention a rabbit in the back mountain that had run into a tree and died.

It looked like he had to make a trip up the mountain.

With that thought, Chen Jie stood up and said to Su Yunjin, “You stay at home. I’m going out for a bit and will be back soon.”

No one paid him any attention, but Chen Jie didn't mind. He turned and left the dilapidated grass hut.

Watching Chen Jie walk out the door, Su Yunjin squatted down and looked at Su Yunrui. “Is Ruirui hungry?”

“No, Ruirui isn’t hungry.”

*Gurgle…*

As she spoke, the little bean-sprout’s stomach began to growl again.

However, the little bean-sprout held her head high as if to say, “I am not hungry.”

Su Yunjin smiled and stroked the little bean-sprout’s head, then sighed. “Let’s go dig for wild vegetables with sister in a while. How about we have wild vegetable soup for lunch?”

“Mm-hmm, okay~”

Hearing about food, the little bean-sprout’s eyes lit up. As long as there was food, it was fine. It was just a pity that the pot of white porridge had looked so delicious, and she hadn't gotten to eat it.

Su Yunjin stroked the little bean-sprout’s head again, then stood up, went back into the room, found a bamboo basket, and took a shovel. After a moment’s thought, she also took the scissors from the sewing kit.

She led the little bean-sprout out the door. Although Chen Jiusi said he had changed, who knew if he was just coaxing her to lower her guard so he could sell Ruirui later?

So, she had to take Ruirui with her when she went out, and bring the scissors. If Chen Jiusi was lying to her, even if she couldn't kill him, couldn't she at least kill herself?

(End of chapter)