USWHC -Chapter 80 A Curse About Water (Part 10)

Ji Yi moved decisively, and Hu Sanliu plopped heavily onto the bench opposite him. Of course, this kind of carriage didn’t come with any soft cushioned seats—just two long benches on either side. The impact made Hu Sanliu feel like he’d landed on a solid rock with his backside, pain shooting through him as he yelped loudly, his face contorting.

He howled, and in a mix of shame and anger, his eyes widened as if he was about to rush over and punch Ji Yi hard.

But Ji Yi, calm and unhurried, simply sat down beside Zhu Jie, casually glancing at Hu Sanliu and softly said, “The carriage isn’t stable, so you should sit properly. Don’t let yourself really fall and get hurt.”

That single glance froze Hu Sanliu in place. He stared at Ji Yi in shock, as if someone had cast a spell to hold him still.

The two of them locked eyes, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the carriage was awkward. Then Er Gou’s mother teased loudly, “Haha, Hu Sanliu, trying to take advantage of the new bride, huh? Aren’t you afraid Er Han will tear you apart?”

Yes, that one glance earlier had made Hu Sanliu feel like Ji Yi could actually kill him. The piercing, soul-stirring chill in Ji Yi’s eyes had shot straight at him—Hu Sanliu felt like his heart had stopped beating.

But now he was confused. Sometimes he felt that moment must have been an illusion—wasn’t Ji Yi famous for being a simpleton? How could he have such a sharp, commanding gaze?

Ji Yi sat across from Zhu Jie, his long legs slightly bent and placed in front of her, naturally creating a private space around her. He sat there, calm and collected, silently protecting her, keeping anyone else from getting close.

“Ah, I just lost my balance earlier!” Hu Sanliu quickly forced a sheepish grin, laughing nervously at Ji Yi. “Don’t get me wrong, Er Han!”

Ji Yi only smiled at his words.

By now, everyone had boarded the carriage. It didn’t take long before it was crowded, and the interior quickly became hot and stuffy. At some point, the carriage started moving, slowly and steadily forward.

Before long, everyone seemed to have forgotten the earlier incident, chatting and laughing loudly in all directions. It seemed no one was paying attention to Zhu Jie and Ji Yi anymore.

“Er Han, why didn’t your mother come?” Er Gou’s mother leaned forward eagerly, sitting nearby and chatting with Ji Yi.

“Didn’t,” Ji Yi answered simply, showing no particular interest in talking.

Zhu Jie looked up and could see his profile. Even though his face carried that simple, goofy smile when he spoke, Zhu Jie noticed that his eyes were exceptionally bright—so bright, it felt as if they could see through everything.

“Taking the new bride shopping, that’s nice!” Even though he didn’t answer, Er Gou’s mother kept talking to herself, curious. “How much money did your mother give you for this trip?”

The question wasn’t polite at all, but Ji Yi seemed to have anticipated it. His face didn’t change, though his eyelid twitched slightly, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his eye.

“It’s just to let her go out for a stroll, maybe not even buy anything!” Ji Yi said with a smile, skillfully sidestepping her question. Then he deliberately asked her, “What are you shopping for?”

“It’s almost New Year, so we’re going to get another two pounds of meat!” Er Gou’s mother boasted loudly, as if worried the others in the carriage wouldn’t hear.

She was clearly showing off, but Ji Yi seemed to guide the conversation on purpose. She immediately started rambling about all the things they’d already bought at home, except for those two pieces of meat. In no time, everyone forgot the original matter they had been curious about.

This man wasn’t foolish at all! He could naturally divert the topic and guide the conversation—something no simpleton could manage, Zhu Jie thought silently.

He clearly understood the tastes and temperaments of these village women. He also knew that if he answered Er Gou’s mother directly, it would likely bring ridicule, because Ji Yi hadn’t received a single coin from his mother.

Yet, with just a few words, he successfully shifted the conversation. Zhu Jie realized that he was not only not a fool, but actually very clever—a clever man who knew how to act like a fool.