The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1043: Chapter 1020: Prestige in Chaotic Times 88

Xiao Jin finally found Hui Family in the teahouse.

When Hui Family saw Xiao Jin, she didn’t greet him, just got up with her people and was about to leave.

Xiao Jin didn’t know what to say, so he could only follow Hui Family home.

When they got home, Hui Family entered the room, removed the jewelry from her head, and said to Xiao Jin: ”I haven’t been feeling well these days, so I won’t entertain Mr. Four. Mr. Four, go ahead and do as you please.”

Xiao Jin felt a bit awkward, and told the maids: ”You all step out first.”

After the maids and the old woman left, he leaned in, speaking softly to Hui Family: ”I know I was wrong. Earlier, I was blinded by stupidity and made this mistake. I promise it won’t happen again. Darling, please forgive me this time...”

Hui Family said coldly: ”I’ve told you, I’m not feeling well and need to rest. Mr. Four, please go out quickly, lest I pass on my illness to you.”

Ever since Hui Family entered the Xiao home, she had never spoken to Xiao Jin like this.

Xiao Jin truly wasn’t accustomed to this. He reached out to grab Hui Family’s hand, but Hui Family directly evaded him: ”What does Mr. Four mean by this? Now, I can’t even rest for a moment? Am I doomed to be worked to death by Mr. Four?”

Having spoken to this extent, Xiao Jin could only leave.

As he went out, he still asked: ”Should I call a doctor to take a look at you? Let’s properly address this, prescribe some medicine to nourish your body, okay?”

Hui Family kicked off her shoes, lay on the bed, covered herself with the quilt, and said nothing.

Xiao Jin left reluctantly.

He called Xiao Zhong over: ”Your mother is feeling a bit unwell. Stay home these days and look after her more.”

Xiao Zhong nodded: ”I know, father hasn’t been home lately, it’s just been me and my sister taking care of our mother.”

Those words made Xiao Jin’s face turn red with embarrassment.

Xiao Jin felt he couldn’t stay at home anymore.

He had a stomach full of frustration and no one to confide in, so knowing Xiao Yuan was at the military camp, he went to find Xiao Yuan.

Coincidentally, Dong Da was there too. Xiao Yuan was discussing matters with Dong Da. When he saw Xiao Jin come over, Xiao Yuan laughed: ”Since you’re here, come join us in the discussion.”

The two were discussing military training matters. Recently, many new recruits have been brought in on the Southern Yi side, which requires expanding the military camp and undergoing extensive training.

Xiao Yuan proposed holding a competition within the army, where the veterans compete, and after a period of training, the new recruits also compete, with rewards for the victors.

Dong Da also found this method good.

Xiao Jin listened and laughed: ”This method seems quite good. Try it out first, and if it proves effective, it can be maintained in the future.”

After discussing the matters, Xiao Jin proposed: ”Shall we find a place to have a few drinks?”

Dong Da, who loved to drink, immediately responded: ”Sure.”

Xiao Yuan got up: ”Alright, but your Third Sister-in-law won’t let me drink too much, so I’ll only have a few cups.”

Xiao Jin shook his head: ”Third Brother, you’re too afraid of your Third Sister-in-law. You’re now the proper King of Southern Barbarians, yet you fear a woman like Third Sister-in-law. Do you know what people call her outside? They call her ’Mother Tiger’.”

Xiao Yuan lightly slapped Xiao Jin: ”Those people outside speak nonsense without understanding. You’re also speaking nonsense. Your Third Sister-in-law has been very caring towards you and Lao Liu. Her kindness is wasted.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jin immediately became deflated.

The three of them rode to the city, and soon found a restaurant. Xiao Jin had the waiter lead them to a private room on the second floor.

Once seated, Dong Da called for two jars of wine, and Xiao Jin ordered a few dishes.

Soon, the food and drinks were set out, and Xiao Jin first poured a cup of wine for each of the three. He raised his cup and drank it all in one go.

”Great, satisfying.”

Dong Da also downed a cup of wine.

Just like that, the two of them drank around a dozen cups without much delay.

Xiao Yuan occasionally joined in with a cup, drinking only two or three cups in total.

Xiao Jin, whose tolerance was not very good, became somewhat intoxicated after a dozen cups.

Once drunk, his face turned red like a piece of red cloth, and his eyes became misty.

He shook his head and grabbed Xiao Yuan’s hand: ”Third Brother, I’m upset. My wife kicked me out; she won’t let me inside the house anymore. She doesn’t want me.”

”Serves you right.”

Xiao Yuan gritted his teeth and spat the words.

Dong Da laughed and downed another cup: ”Mr. Four, if you ask me, you brought this on yourself. Fourth Sister-in-law is such a good person, how could you treat her this way? It’s understandable that she’s upset. You’ve got a wife, a son, and a daughter; life is good for you. Unlike me, I’m still all alone. I used to have a wife, but my wife...”

He drank another cup and began to cry: ”I missed my wife. If she were alive, our life would be so wonderful now. I wouldn’t be leading troops into war anymore. I would return to our village with my wife. We’d cultivate ten acres of land, I would work hard, and the harvest would be enough for us. We’d have a few children, and I’d be content with my wife and children by my warm hearth...”

Dong Da cried for a while, then turned to Xiao Jin: ”You’re the well-fed man who doesn’t know the hunger of a starving man. Your wife is so good, yet you still want to take a concubine. You’re just idle and bored.”

Xiao Jin drank another cup: ”I truly don’t understand. I’ve always treated her well, always consulted her on everything. I’ve let her make all the decisions at home. Whatever she says goes, I’ve never opposed her. It’s just that earlier, I thought Bai Mei was beautiful and sensible, so I harbored some feelings. You know, aren’t we men like this? Back in Duke Ping Mansion, didn’t Father and Eldest all have concubines and chambermaids? It seemed normal then.”

Xiao Jin turned to ask Xiao Yuan: ”Third Brother, what do you think they’re all thinking? I just wanted to take a concubine, not harm her. She’s still the rightful wife, and the concubine taken home is to serve her. If she were disrespected, I wouldn’t allow it either.”

Xiao Yuan was genuinely amused by Xiao Jin’s words.

He slapped Xiao Jin: ”You’re muddled.”

Xiao Jin was taken aback.

Xiao Yuan handed him a cup of tea: ”Father and Eldest may have chambermaids and concubines, but think about it; if Father met trouble, would Old Madam risk her life for him? If Eldest encountered issues, would Mrs. Zhao put everything on the line for him? They wouldn’t. Now think again, if someone wanted to kill you, would your wife shield you from harm?”

Xiao Jin drank the tea and pondered for a while, then suddenly started crying: ”She certainly would. Though she’s angry with me and ignoring me now, if I really were in trouble, she’d risk everything for me.”

Xiao Yuan poured some more tea for Xiao Jin: ”That’s because your wife has you in her heart. She loves you, cherishes you, feels she can’t do without you. That’s why she can’t accept another woman beside you. If she could truly tolerate another without quarrels, it means she feels indifferent towards you, no longer cares. Your actions would mean nothing to her, so she’d not bother you, and whoever you fool around with wouldn’t matter. Broad efforts would only annoy you.”

Hearing this, Xiao Jin was lost in thought.

Xiao Yuan took a sip of water: ”Everyone says your Third Sister-in-law manages me well and that I fear my wife. But am I afraid of her? No, I respect and love her, unwilling to upset her. I’m aware she manages me for my benefit, her heart entirely invested in me. Without me, she couldn’t live. You see, such a dedicated person towards me, would I willingly let her down? Think about everything your Third Sister-in-law has done for me and our family. Without her, would we brothers have what we have today? Mr. Four, as people, we must have conscience. We shouldn’t let our wives suffer when we’re down, and when we’re better off, ignore them and bring home every temptation, disgusting our wives with concubines and chambermaids.”

Dong Da was quite drunk by now too. He slammed the table, swayed as he stood up: ”Third Young Master is right, absolutely right. If I ever find a woman who sees me favorably, with eyes all on me, I’d marry her immediately and treat her well, risking my life for her kindness forever...”