Actually, without asking, Song Shi’an also knew that the extra silver money in Jiang Chun’s hand must have been obtained through the ability of “taking things out of thin air”.
It’s just that he didn’t know whether the objects being taken came from some unknown place, or from various places across Great Zhou.
If it’s the latter, then it would be a bit troubling.
Ordinary items were still okay, but antiques, calligraphy and paintings, famous zithers and swords — such rare objects each had their own origin, and only one of each existed in the world. If she “took” such a thing and then blatantly pawned it at a pawnshop, she could very well be treated as a thief and get arrested.
Song Shi’an slanted his eyes and carefully sized her up. At the same time, he mentally combed through all her past deeds. Even though he had seen much of the world, he still really couldn’t come to a conclusion — did she have brains, or not?
After all, this person was at times crazy and scatterbrained, and at times solemn and proper, completely unlike normal people.
After pondering for a moment, he still couldn’t rest assured and gave a reminder: “The fact that you can find a way to earn silver is your own ability. It’s just that the human heart is hard to fathom. Be careful not to get fooled with a fake.”
“After all, many antiques, calligraphy and paintings, famous zithers and swords, only exist as one item in the world. The people who collect them are either rich or noble — how could they possibly take them out so easily to sell or pawn?”
Ehem, although the conversation turn was a bit stiff — since she hadn’t said she was dealing in antiques, calligraphy and paintings, famous zithers or swords — but it didn’t matter, as long as he could use this to bring out a warning.
But Jiang Chun, upon hearing this, did not appreciate it in the slightest. She rolled her eyes at him and harrumphed: “Antiques, calligraphy and paintings, famous zithers and swords? You think too highly of me. With the thirty or so taels of silver in my hand, I couldn’t even afford the crudest fake.”
The productivity of ancient times couldn’t compare to modern times — the cost of counterfeiting was very high. Even the crudest fakes were quite valuable.
Song Shi’an: “….”
Was that the point?
The point was that those rare items had uniqueness, and couldn’t just be casually taken out to exchange for money.
He took a deep breath, considered his tone, and patiently said: “Not being able to afford it is a good thing. If you could afford it, and you happened to be extremely lucky and really bought a peerless treasure, then pawned it at a pawnshop — I fear it could bring you a fatal disaster.”
“After all, people die for wealth, birds die for food.”
Jiang Chun bit her lip.
Honestly, he had a point. Though she didn’t know why this guy kept bringing up antiques and zithers like he was convinced she was in that trade, what he said wasn’t entirely without merit.
The items rewarded by the check-in system were randomly copied from one or several items inside the shop where she checked in. If it just so happened that an item in the shop was unique, and she then turned around and pulled out an identical one — with both being genuine — then that would be “Barbie Q’d.” [芭比Q了 — internet slang derived from “barbecue”, used jokingly to mean “game over” or “screwed.”]
So in the future, when taking out items rewarded by the system, she had to carefully discern and make sure they weren’t unique items.
In fact, she was more cautious than Song Shi’an imagined. For slightly more expensive things, like the huālí wood circle-back chair or the red gold hairpin inlaid with ruby, she didn’t even dare to touch them.
But since it concerned the livelihood and safety of her whole family, no amount of caution would be too much.
She swish jumped up onto the kang, then immediately wrapped her arms around Song Shi’an’s neck. Tilting her head to look at him, she grinned and said, “Husband is so concerned about my safety — could it be you’ve fallen for me, your wife?”
Before Song Shi’an could reply, she proudly laughed and said, “Aiya, that’s not surprising at all. After all, a woman like me — as beautiful as a flower and able to support the family — is rare even with a lantern. For husband to fall for me is perfectly reasonable. If you didn’t, that’d be strange!”
Song Shi’an let out a snort of laughter, not bothering to take her bait. He raised his hand and pushed her arm: “Let go. What sort of propriety is this?”
Jiang Chun immediately hugged tighter and shamelessly said, “If you don’t speak from the heart, I won’t let go.”
Song Shi’an glanced sideways at her and said lightly, “You really want to hear what’s in my heart?”
Jiang Chun wasn’t stupid — if she said yes, nothing good would come out of his mouth.
So she immediately changed her words: “If husband doesn’t say he loves me, I won’t let go.”
Song Shi’an: “……”
What a cunning and scheming fellow—just to take advantage of him, her mind turned even faster than a thousand-year-old fox!
He placed the brush in his hand back into the dish serving as an inkstone, leaned back against the quilt behind him, and said calmly,
“Then just hold me.”
At most, she could hold him until noon—then she’d have to go make lunch.
She could go hungry herself, or let him go hungry, but she definitely couldn’t let Jiang He go hungry.
“Eh?” Jiang Chun was utterly surprised upon hearing this. Since when did this guy grow such thick skin?
In the past, even teasing him just a little would make him flush red to the ears.
What was this called?
“The child can be taught”, or “one who stays near vermilion becomes red, one who stays near ink becomes black?” [近朱者赤，近墨者黑 — idiom meaning people are influenced by those they associate with].
She rolled her eyes, and in the next instant, suddenly tightened her arms, pressing her whole body against his.
The two of them stuck together, seam to seam.
The sudden softness pressing against his chest made Song Shi’an’s fair face instantly ignite like blazing fire—redder even than the evening glow.
Jiang Chun blinked her large apricot eyes, glanced at him sideways, and smugly said:
“It was husband who told me to hold him. Since husband is so rare in taking the initiative, shouldn’t I hold on nice and tight?”
Song Shi’an: “……”
Although those words were indeed said by himself…
But was that really what he meant?
This fellow’s ability to twist words and push the blame was practiced to the point of perfection in the furnace.
And she wasn’t just hugging closely, she even rested her chin on his shoulder.
As she spoke, her breath landed on his neck—warm and hot, tingling and numb—like someone was teasing his neck with a feather, making goosebumps rise uncontrollably, his limbs softening a bit.
Deliberate. This person was definitely deliberately teasing him.
Sure enough, in the next instant, she suddenly blew a breath of air into his ear.
Song Shi’an’s whole body instantly gave a violent shudder, a wave of tingling heat shot straight up his spine to the top of his head.
The culprit laughed heartily in joy:.“Aiyaya, so husband’s ears are so sensitive!”
Song Shi’an gritted his teeth and said: “How could you—how could you be so lacking in restraint…”
Her ability to flirt came out wave after wave, not inferior at all to those seasoned playboys of the romantic field.
Jiang Chun’s arms were still hanging on his neck, twisting and wriggling in his embrace, smiling as she said:
“Restraint is for outsiders. Toward my own husband, of course I’ll be as unrestrained as I please.”
Song Shi’an, a man who hadn’t been close to women in either of his two lifetimes, now had a fragrant, soft, warm jade in his arms—and she was even twisting and rubbing herself against him with all that softness.
How could he possibly resist?
His body, shamefully, reacted.
He was completely stunned.
After a moment, he frantically started pushing Jiang Chun away with both hands, yelling: “Let go! Stop hugging! If you don’t let go, I really will get mad!”
In the next moment, Jiang Chun immediately let go,.then quickly backed off, putting distance between them.
Uh-oh.
Looks like she got herself into trouble.
The two had been so close—of course Jiang Chun could feel the change in him.
The impressive hardware poking at her thigh couldn’t possibly be faked.
She just wanted to tease him a little, and in passing, push forward the development of their relationship.
If relying on this cold and indifferent fellow to make progress, then even after ten more years, the two of them would still be respectful like guests.
But she didn’t expect… she actually lit a fire.
Yet his body was still quite weak now—if she wanted to help him “put out the fire,” he probably couldn’t even handle it.
But…
She curled the corner of her mouth.
Looks like this guy, when facing her, wasn’t as calm and indifferent as he looked on the surface, huh?
Song Shi’an was both embarrassed and flustered, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into, just to escape the current awkwardness.
He felt that with Jiang Chun’s usual wicked personality, she would definitely make a big deal out of this and take the chance to ask for even more.
Who would’ve thought—she didn’t say anything at all.
She just jumped down from the kang and left the west room, leaving him alone here, sparing him much embarrassment.
He pressed his lips together.
This fellow could actually be so considerate at times?
Then, a wave of deep regret rose in his heart.
Knowing full well that she’s someone who’ll climb up the pole the moment you hand it over, and never knows when to stop—he really shouldn’t have spoken and told her to hold him.
Sure enough, it caused trouble?
Also, blame himself for lacking discipline, for actually having a physical reaction to her.
In his previous life, he held high power and status. Who knew how many women had thrown themselves at him—yet he only felt disgust.
After being reborn, he felt the same toward Jiang Chun.
When did this feeling start to change?
Song Shi’an furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment, but truly couldn’t make sense of it.
The only possible explanation—was that maybe, he wasn’t truly “moved” by her.
It was just a normal reaction of a man being close to a woman he didn’t dislike.
Yes, that must be it.
After all, she treated him so well—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she spoke from the bottom of her heart. He really couldn’t hate her anymore.
Not only did he not hate her, he was even somewhat moved.
But this person had too many secrets, and even had a supernatural power of taking things out of thin air.
He didn’t want to get too entangled with her emotionally.
Maintaining a nominal husband-and-wife relationship was perfectly fine.
As for Jiang Chun, who had hidden away in the kitchen, she was feeling very guilty.
To make up for it, she especially made shredded radish pancakes for him at noon, and even sliced a few oil-seeping salted duck eggs.
The salted duck eggs were nothing, but those golden crispy shredded radish pancakes made Jiang He drool.
He grumbled: “Chun-niang, honestly, if there’s one thing this house isn’t lacking, it’s radish. Why didn’t you make a few more radish pancakes?”
Thinking of the little quarrel between the young couple, he deliberately added sourly: “You only care about your son-in-law, huh? Not even your old dad?”
Jiang Chun picked up a salted duck egg and put it in front of Jiang He, snorting: “If you wanted to eat shredded radish pancakes, just say it. I’ll fry some for you tonight. Why say all that nonsense?”