USWHC -Chapter 94 My Woman (Part 4)

When Ji Yi returned, he saw several women at home gathered around his bed, inspecting the worn-out quilt!

“What’s so interesting about a quilt?” He followed their gaze and saw the quilt folded perfectly, forming neat, blocky squares like pieces of tofu cut with a knife. He was momentarily stunned. Then he noticed Zhu Jie looking proudly at everyone, with a coquettish, self-satisfied expression.

“You folded this?” Ji Yi asked, equally surprised.

“Mm!” Zhu Jie said, a little embarrassed as she saw him, “I learned a bit before.”

“Hmph, obviously trained to serve people!” Ji Mei finally reacted and sneered in response to Zhu Jie, “Which good family’s daughter learns something like this?”

Hearing this, Zhu Jie immediately frowned, unhappy. “What do you mean ‘which family’? We all know how to do this!”

“Which family, huh? Zhang Yuanwai’s or Li Yuanwai’s?” Ji Mei twisted her head and said sarcastically to Old Madam Ji, “Mother, do you remember Sister Xing from our village? The one who went to town to serve at Zhang Yuanwai’s household? I heard she was in charge of making the master and mistress’s bed. I suppose she learned how to fold quilts too!”

Zhu Jie noticed the meaningful glance she threw at her and continued, “I also heard Sister Xing not only made the master’s bed but even warmed it for him!”

Immediately, Zhu Jie understood what Ji Mei was implying — in other words, she was a servant girl! Hmph, this girl really had a sharp tongue, spitting venom with no good outcome!

Just as she was about to retort, Ji Yi suddenly spoke sharply, furious: “How dare you speak like that about your sister-in-law? Apologize! Apologize right now!”

His shout made everyone in the room flinch. Old Madam Ji and Ji Mei were especially shocked, eyes wide in disbelief.

Has Ji Yi gone mad? How dare he speak to them this way?

“You… you actually talk to me like this because of her?” Ji Mei immediately burst into tears. Usually, she was always obeyed; Ji Yi had never even dared to raise his voice at her, let alone shout. And now, he was scolding her for a woman?

“I won’t apologize! I just won’t! Mother, judge for yourself — am I wrong?” Ji Mei cried and wailed.

“Erhan, how can you speak like that?” Old Madam Ji also raised her voice, displeased. “Mei’er, what did you say wrong? Which good girl needs to learn this? If she were the lady of the house, someone would naturally make the bed for her. She probably wouldn’t even know how to fold a quilt in her whole life! How could it ever be this neat?”

“Exactly! Erhan, ask her! Would she dare tell you what kind of person she is?” Ji Mei also shrieked, pointing at Zhu Jie so that her finger nearly touched her nose.

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Zhu Jie. Yes, what kind of person is she? After all this time, nobody really knows. Ji Yi himself was probably curious. Everyone held their breath, waiting for her answer.

Zhu Jie looked at everyone with hesitation and difficulty, clearly unsure. The room fell into an oppressive silence.

Seeing this, Ji Mei immediately yelled, “What? Don’t dare answer, huh?”

But the next moment, Ji Yi swatted away Ji Mei’s pointing finger and pulled Zhu Jie behind him, speaking with unusual firmness: “No matter what kind of person she was before, I only know she is my wife now. She is my woman, Ji Yi’s woman!”

His words fell like a hammer, both a declaration and a promise. Even Zhu Jie was touched. This man, whether rich or poor, was truly admirable at this moment.

“Hmph! Picking up a worn-out shoe and treating it like a treasure!” Ji Mei’s hand turned red from the blow. Enraged and humiliated, she screamed, “You’re such a fool!” and, crying, ran off.

Seeing Ji Mei run out crying, Old Madam Ji shot Ji Yi an angry glare and followed her out.

Zhu Jie looked at their angry backs and at the innocent quilt on the bed. Could a quilt really trigger such a “bloodbath”?

“No, this can’t end like this! Erhan never treated me like this before! It’s because of that woman — it’s all because of her that Erhan changed!” Ji Mei shouted in anger. “I’ll show her! I’ll make her regret it!” She stomped her feet, glaring at Ji Yi’s room like she wanted to devour them.

“Exactly! I’ll make her regret it!” Old Madam Ji also shouted, fuming.