Chapter 16: Truly Deeply Intoxicated

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Jiang Nian was pondering the words of the woman before her when suddenly Pei Jiuru hurried into the government office. She took two steps forward and quickly asked, “Have you found her?”

Pei Jiuru noticed that the crying woman was someone else and explained, “No, we haven’t found her.”

“How could she be found? It’s clearly a kidnapper. She probably ran off long ago!” The woman cried as she explained, patting the little boy’s head beside her and scolding softly, “How dare you follow a stranger? You scared your mother to death!”

The little boy puffed out his cheeks, hesitant to speak.

After the woman thanked Jiang Nian and Pei Jiuru with a bow, she took the child and left.

Jiang Nian and Pei Jiuru walked back together. When they reached the alley earlier, the fire was not fully extinguished, with black smoke still rising.

Jiang Nian was surprised, “How did there end up being a fire?”

“I don’t know. Actually, the fire broke out shortly after you left, so I didn’t dare go further in to search for anyone.”

“Hm, it’s still most important to keep oneself safe.” Jiang Nian watched the firefighters leaving the alley, frowning slightly. “But since you went into that alley, I wonder if this matter might implicate you in any way?”

Pei Jiuru replied calmly, “Suspicion is natural when one is in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I have nothing to do with this, so I’m not afraid of being implicated.”

Jiang Nian nodded calmly. Today’s events were indeed strange… Before Pei Jiuru went to the office, she had just brought the child there when she ran into a woman who had lost her child and was desperately reporting it to the authorities.

The woman said she lived on Zhuque Street, her husband had died early, and she was raising the child alone. She claimed she had been careless, allowing a kidnapper to take her child. But when she mentioned her husband’s death, her face flushed red—clearly she was lying.

Her curiosity sparked, Jiang Nian stared at the woman a little longer. The woman was somewhat attractive, bearing a resemblance to her second aunt in her youth. Looking at the little boy, she vaguely saw traces of her second uncle.

Jiang Nian guessed with high certainty that these two were her second uncle’s mistress and illegitimate son.

But she did not plan to mention this to Pei Jiuru. Whether or not the child was her second uncle’s illegitimate son, or whether the child had been lured to the alley by kidnappers, it was irrelevant to Pei Jiuru.

She did not want to disturb his focus on studying.

Jiang Nian stepped forward. “Let’s go. There’s nothing more we can do, and we can’t put out the fire.”

“All right.” Pei Jiuru nodded, pretending not to notice Jiang Nian’s distracted demeanor.

They did not linger at the alley entrance, and after crossing three more streets, they arrived at the Jiang residence.

At the entrance, a group of people waited expectantly. When Jiang Nian and Pei Jiuru arrived, the two elders of the Jiang family merely nodded slightly.

Clearly, they were not waiting for the new son-in-law.

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After a moment, a servant hurried back, and the two elders quickly asked, “What happened? Have you heard anything?”

Jiang Nian whispered apologetically to Pei Jiuru, “Forgive me, my parents love to stir up trouble…”

“Master, Madam! We’ve gotten word! There was a fire in that deserted alley just three streets away, and someone died in it!”

Madam Jiang was shocked. “Who would go into that alley for no reason? Could it be some fugitive on the run causing trouble?”

Master Jiang asked, “Have you found out who died in the fire?”

“The body was unrecognizable; no one could identify the deceased… The firefighters said the blaze was unusually large, and they found wax residue on the road. It’s suspected to be arson.”

“That means the government office will definitely investigate!” Upon saying this, Madam Jiang suddenly remembered the newlyweds returning from their wedding visit. “Nian Nian, Jiuru, you’re here! Come inside quickly!”

“Mother, we’ve been here for a while!” Jiang Nian feigned displeasure but really wanted to playfully tease Madam Jiang.

Pei Jiuru, however, spoke earnestly, “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, we’ve come late.”

“Not at all! Tea was just served. You arrived at the perfect time!” The Jiang elders warmly ushered Pei Jiuru into the residence.

Jiang Nian lagged behind, saying to herself, “Green Wax, why are my parents so nice to him? Is this what they call a mother-in-law warming up to her son-in-law?”

Green Wax, her maid, was too busy to respond. After holding back her words for a while, seeing that everyone was nearly inside the main hall, she finally spoke: “Miss, you scared me to death! You were so late, and then the alley you passed caught fire. I almost thought it was you and Master!”

“No need to worry, nothing happened to us. You haven’t said anything improper in front of my parents, right?”

“No, I didn’t dare…”

Jiang Nian nodded with relief. She had two personal maids—Green Wax and Red Bud. Compared to Red Bud, she preferred taking Green Wax out because she was more intimate with her and knew exactly what should or shouldn’t be said.

As the two chatted, they entered the main hall.

“Father, Mother, I…”

“Jiuru, how have you been in Bianjing? How is the new residence?” The Jiang elders asked after Pei Jiuru’s well-being and then about his studies.

Pei Jiuru answered each question politely. The conversation flowed harmoniously.

At first, Jiang Nian did not pay much attention, but by dinner she realized she had been playing the role of the supporting character all day!

Given her parents’ concern for her, they should have been asking her endless questions, yet all their attention was on Pei Jiuru. And Pei Jiuru responded with such courtesy that it delighted them!

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Now, as they fed each other dishes, she felt like an outsider.

“You two…” Jiang Nian started to speak but then fell silent. On reflection, playing the part of a loving couple to reassure her parents was exactly what she wanted.

So be it—she’d play the supporting role!

The more she thought about it, the more her mind grew muddled.

After some time, she heard Madam Jiang exclaim, “Heavens! Nian Nian, how did you drink so much wine?”

“Is it that much?” Jiang Nian shook the wine jug beside her. “Huh, it’s empty?”

“You’ll have a headache tomorrow!”

“True! Mother is right!” Jiang Nian raised the jug and glanced at Pei Jiuru through its mouth with one eye. “Pei Jiuru, I’m not going back to your house tonight. I want to sleep at home!”

Madam Jiang glared at her daughter. “What nonsense! Who sleeps at their mother’s house after the wedding? Aren’t you afraid of what people will say?”

Jiang Nian hugged the jug and tilted her head. “Who would laugh at me? Why would they laugh at me?”

“If Nian Nian wants to stay at home, then I’ll accompany her. The Pei residence isn’t so strict. Mother-in-law needn’t worry. As long as Nian Nian is happy.”

Hearing this, Madam Jiang smiled broadly—she wished her daughter could live at home every day!

Jiang Nian smiled too, squinting at Pei Jiuru with a mixture of gratitude and disdain. “Pei Jiuru, you can sing too…”

“…” Pei Jiuru twitched his eyelid and quickly covered Jiang Nian’s mouth with his hand.

Trying to say he was also someone who could sing opera? She was really drunk to say such things.

“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, I will take Nian Nian back to rest now.”

Just as he finished speaking, Pei Jiuru suddenly shivered all over and swiftly withdrew his hand.