Chapter 34: Settling In and the So-Called Guarantee of the Old Zhou Residence

"When we first arrived here, we had nothing and started entirely from scratch. Compared to being hunted down, at least we had a stable place to live."

"As our days slowly began to look up, the old family estate kept coming over to sponge off us under the pretext of offering protection. We had no choice but to spend money to avert disaster."

"Chuan'er has been smart since childhood. Later, when we had some silver, we sent him to school at the age of twelve. By the next year, he passed the preliminary scholar examination, and the academy tutors all praised him as a seedling of great promise. Who would have expected that on his way to the provincial examination, that bandit attack would happen... Sob, Chuan'er's mind was impaired, and An'er's leg was crippled... I fell bedridden with illness. If it weren't for the fact that I would be too ashamed to face the young mistress in the underworld, I would have really wanted to just end it all... Sob." Zhou Yaru wept uncontrollably.

Meng Yun had now learned the entire truth as well. She pulled Zhou Yaru into her arms and said, "Mother, everything will get better. A-Chuan's condition was cured by me. Once I recuperate for a while, Father's face and legs, as well as A-An's leg, can all be cured by me."

"Really?" Zhou Yaru still found it hard to believe.

"Really. Although I don't practice medicine, what I cultivate is spiritual energy—a special method of healing. A-Chuan's case is right here before you; how can you still doubt it?" Meng Yun explained simply.

"Mother believes you." Zhou Yaru wiped away her tears.

"Mother, after hearing everything you've said, I analyze that this matter wasn't done by that woman." Meng Yun stated.

"Why?" Jin Shan, who had been listening with reddened eyes while his wife recounted the past, chimed in.

"Father, just think about it: that woman wanted to get rid of A-Chuan every single day so that her own sons and daughters would become the rightful legitimate heirs of the estate. If those bandits were her people, would they have merely injured the brothers? They would have uprooted the weeds and eradicated the roots long ago." Meng Yun reasoned.

Jin Shan nodded.

"But A-Chuan is kind-natured and never quarreled with anyone. He has a great reputation at the academy; both students and tutors are very fond of him. Aside from those places, he doesn't go anywhere else, let alone make enemies..." Zhou Yaru rushed to explain.

"Mother, there is an old saying: 'It is easy to draw a tiger's skin, but hard to draw its bones; knowing a person's face does not mean knowing their heart.' Human hearts are the hardest things to measure. It is precisely because A-Chuan is outstanding that he has drawn jealousy. You might think you get along well with everyone, but in reality, others probably harbor the desire to get rid of you." Meng Yun felt that Jin Yanchuan's enemies should be sought out starting from the academy. After all, her mother-in-law had mentioned that his usual routine was confined to home and the academy, keeping his social circle strictly limited to the latter.

"The academy? Then who could it be?" Jin Shan was troubled.

"Father, there's no need to rush this. Once word gets out that I've healed, that person might just pop out on their own initiative." Jin Yanchuan, who had remained silent all this time, watched his wife analyze the situation. She truly was a woman one could not take one's eyes off.

"A-Chuan, what are your plans for the future? Will you still go back to study?" Jin Shan asked.

Jin Yanchuan looked at Meng Yun and asked, "What does Yun'er think?"

Meng Yun found it somewhat awkward now that Jin Yanchuan had recovered his memory.

"As the old saying goes, all roads lead to Rome, but studying is the shortest path. So I think you should go back to school." Meng Yun said.

"Then I'll study." Jin Yanchuan smiled, his handsome features becoming even more captivating.

"Mother, this time let A-An and A-Zhe go as well. Even if they can't pursue an official career, reading makes a person wise. No matter what they do in the future, having some education is always better than being completely in the dark. In a while, I also want to open a shop or something in town; how can one manage accounts without knowing how to read?" Meng Yun said.

"Yun'er, do you want An'er to manage the accounts?" Zhou Yaru asked, somewhat excitedly.

"Of course. Fighting wars takes brothers, and going into battle takes a father-son duo. Family business should definitely use family members. Besides, A-An has reached the age to discuss marriage; once we have a shop in the future, it will be much easier for him to find a wife." Meng Yun wasn't making empty promises to her family—this was something she had considered long ago.

"Alright, we'll listen to Yun'er." With Zhou Yaru's words, the meeting was adjourned.

Returning to their room, Meng Yun suddenly felt a bit awkward. Previously, Jin Yanchuan's intelligence was only that of a six or seven-year-old child; whatever she said went, and whatever she did, she felt no mental burden. But now things were different.

"Wife, what's wrong?" Jin Yanchuan hugged Meng Yun tightly.

"Nothing. Let's go to sleep quickly." Meng Yun rolled into the bed fully clothed.

Jin Yanchuan smiled and walked out the door.

A moment later, Meng Yun heard some commotion. It turned out Jin Yanchuan had brought in a bathing tub, having fetched several buckets of hot water from the kitchen.

"Wife, take a soak. It'll be comfortable for sleeping." Jin Yanchuan tested the water temperature; it was just right.

Meng Yun feigned death and didn't move.

"Then let your husband serve you in your bath, my lady." Jin Yanchuan pressed close from behind and embraced Meng Yun.

"What are you doing!" Meng Yun swatted Jin Yanchuan's hand away.

"I see my wife is tired, so I'm taking care of her bath." Jin Yanchuan said with a straight face as his hands began to move.

"You... where did your aloof persona go?" Meng Yun asked.

"Who needs pride in front of their wife?" As he spoke, he had already undone Meng Yun's buttons.

"Get out." Meng Yun felt rather shy.

"Wife, we might already have our child in here, yet you're still acting so distant with your husband?" Jin Yanchuan smiled as he stroked Meng Yun's lower abdomen.

"Shameless! Why are you so glib-tongued now, uttering all sorts of nonsense?" Meng Yun pushed him away in annoyance.

Jin Yanchuan remained unfazed. "I'm only like this with my wife."

With her clothes unbuttoned, Meng Yun stepped into the bathing tub.

"Wife, do you want your back scrubbed?"

"No!"

"Wife, do you want a massage?"

"No."

"But I want to do something for my wife." Before she knew it, Jin Yanchuan had stripped off his clothes and stepped into the tub as well.

"Ah, get out, there's no room for two in here!" Meng Yun cried out in near panic.

"There is." Jin Yanchuan pulled Meng Yun over, making her sit right on top of him.

"Wife, I want to cuddle." Jin Yanchuan's voice murmured right beside her ear.

"In your drea—Ah!" Before Meng Yun could finish speaking, she felt a surge of strength... Afterward, she didn't dare move recklessly anymore, and then, she simply drifted along with Jin Yanchuan's rhythm.

When the dance was over, Jin Yanchuan held Meng Yun back to the bed, caressing her exquisite body. Although his wife was still quite slender, she lacked nothing where it mattered, and another sweet duet between husband and wife naturally followed.

In the master bedroom, Jin Shan and his wife could also hear the rustling sounds, filling them with a sudden restless heat, which naturally led to their own loving symphony of affection.

The next day, Zhou Yaru woke up early to cook. Now that Chuan'er was well, she felt motivated and hopeful in everything she did.

"Mother, A-Chuan and I are going into the mountains to pick some medicinal herbs so we can sell them at the market in a few days." After breakfast, Meng Yun prepared her back basket, shovel, and other tools.

"Elder Sister-in-law, A-Zhe and I want to go too." Jin Yanchuan's younger brother, Jin Yan'an, chimed in.

"Alright, let's all go together." Meng Yun didn't hesitate. With her around, there wouldn't be any danger. As for her secrets, she would protect them for as long as she could; if the Jin family developed greed, she could simply leave at a moment's notice. Though she felt a little reluctant to part with her handsome and striking husband, she could find a man anywhere.