USWHC -Chapter 9 Morals Shattered All Over the Ground, Want to Pick Them Up? (Part 9)

“You’re from the State of Qi?” When Ji Mei heard this, she immediately looked a little disappointed. Although crossing a mountain would bring them into Qi territory, they were still people from two different countries. It wasn’t like being fellow citizens of Great Liang who knew each other’s background well.

“Yes,” Zhu Jie confirmed.

“Then who else is in your family? What kind of business do you do?” Sister-in-law You could no longer hold herself back and got straight to the point.

“My mother passed away early, and only my elderly father remains at home, whom I worry about greatly. My father has had a hard life—he has always been doing trade to raise me. Our family business is quite large, but unfortunately it cost him the better half of his life. I originally wanted to start helping him earlier, but who would have thought that on my very first trip out, I would end up getting lost!”

As she spoke, Zhu Jie lowered her head and sighed repeatedly. However, while sighing, she secretly glanced at the people sitting opposite her.

“What kind of trade does your family do?” When Old Madam Ji heard that he was just a merchant, she felt somewhat disappointed.

“Mountain goods, furs—anything really. Just small-scale business. We only opened eight branch shops and six money houses in Qi,” Zhu Jie said. Seeing the disappointment on their faces, she immediately raised the stakes a little.

Sure enough, the moment she finished speaking, the eyes of the three people across from her instantly lit up again. The smiles on their faces became extremely attentive.

“Young master, have some sweet potatoes!” Ji Mei even held out the biggest and sweetest one with both hands and offered it to Zhu Jie.

After questioning him for a while, Old Madam Ji suddenly seemed to remember something. She slapped her forehead and said, “Oh right! I forgot to ask the young master’s honorable surname.”

“My name is Zhu Jie,” she said seriously, standing up and making a proper bow. Zhu Jie was a good name—just by hearing it, people couldn’t tell whether it belonged to a man or a woman. She felt a little proud of herself.

Seeing his graceful manner, Ji Mei’s face turned redder than a monkey’s backside. She was completely dizzy with infatuation and could only keep fawning over him.

When Old Madam Ji finally nodded in satisfaction and was about to continue eating, she was shocked to discover that all the sweet potatoes on the table had been offered by her daughter to the object of her affection!

“My sweet potatoes!” Old Madam Ji cried out in alarm, nearly flipping the table.

Meanwhile, Zhu Jie pretended not to notice and said, “Oh dear, how come they’re all gone?” Then she added innocently, “I thought there were still some on the stove!”

Old Madam Ji was almost in tears. In the blink of an eye, the sweet potatoes meant for the three of them had all been swept up by Zhu Jie. This person could really eat!

Zhu Jie licked her sweet, sticky lips while proudly giving Ji Yi a look. Unfortunately, Ji Yi was busy eating his own food and didn’t even raise his head to look at her.

After the meal, some were happy while others were unhappy. Once they finished eating, Zhu Jie quietly pulled Ji Mei aside and asked softly, “Miss, how do you usually wash up here?”

“Wash up?” Ji Mei was stunned when she heard him use such a word.

Zhu Jie quickly explained, “Yesterday the wind and snow were too strong. I must have been lying in the snow for too long, and now my whole body feels uncomfortable. I’d like to take a good bath.”

Hearing this, Ji Mei finally relaxed. A man liking cleanliness wasn’t a bad thing! She quickly said eagerly, “If the young master wants to bathe, I’ll go boil water and prepare everything right away!” Then she happily ran off at once.

Ji Mei was practically humming with excitement, mobilizing the entire family to help Zhu Jie. Yes, she herself had been raised like a pampered young lady at home, so naturally she never had to do anything with her own hands.

This made things hard for Sister-in-law You and Ji Yi. Ji Mei wanted to play the good person, but the two of them had to do the heavy work. Sister-in-law You boiled the water, while Ji Yi placed the bathtub in his own room and carried bucket after bucket of hot water for Zhu Jie.

The room soon filled with warm steam, making anyone who entered feel relaxed. Zhu Jie nodded in satisfaction. Just as she was about to wash up, she noticed that Ji Mei was still following behind her.

Seeing Ji Mei’s lovestruck expression, Zhu Jie had already understood a few things. What young girl doesn’t have romantic dreams? It was just that this girl seemed to have misjudged her target.

Zhu Jie chuckled inwardly and suddenly wanted to tease this silly girl a little. Hehe, yesterday’s account should be settled now! You even wanted to eat me—aren’t you afraid of breaking your teeth on your big sister?

Pretending to take off her clothes, Zhu Jie said, “Not only did your family save my life, but I’ve also troubled you greatly. I truly feel embarrassed. I don’t have much to offer in return, only a few banknotes as a small token of gratitude.”

As she spoke, she reached into her clothes as if searching for them.