Received A Wife From The Civil Affairs Bureau Ch.23

After moving everything in, Jiang Ziquan dragged Shen Yumo to the supermarket to buy vegetables and other groceries. Even if her mother had brought over a lot, her fridge was still mostly empty. 

The first shopped in the snacks and junk food area because there were too many people crowded near the vegetables and both of them were too lazy to squeeze through that crowd. 

Shen Yumo carefully went over the options presented in the snacks section. The Humanities teachers often liked to exchange snacks with each other during downtime, and even someone like her, who didn’t like to eat junk food, was tempted into eating a few bites. So she at least knew which snacks she liked and wanted to buy. 

Jiang Ziquan pushed the cart around like she owned the place. Since this supermarket was close to her place, she had grown quite familiar with this section of the store. 

She grabbed her favorite potato chips, chocolates, etc. and casually threw them into the cart. She was even able to give Shen Yumo her opinion on certain snacks. 

“This one tastes a bit bitter.” 

“That one will cause you to grow fat.”

“Oh, that one is bad for your health.”

After hearing her opinions, Shen Yumo placed the snacks back to their original spots. Then she glanced at the pile of things in the cart and thought that the snacks Jiang Ziquan picked out wouldn’t be good for one’s health either. 

In response, Jiang Ziquan rubbed her eyes uncomfortably, “Why does my right eye keep twitching?” She rubbed her eyes again. 

“Maybe something flew in there and now it’s infected?”

Hearing this, Shen Yumo took a closer look. Although Jiang Ziquan’s eye was twitching, it could still be considered normal. She seriously replied, “You’ve been reading too many magazines and now you’ve developed an allergy.”

After saying so, Shen Yumo nonchalantly passed her and continued to pick out snacks. 

Jiang Ziquan blinked twice before she realized that Shen Yumo was talking about the magazines she had bought two days ago. She smiled. When Shen Yumo says things like with a serious face….it’s really cute. 

Jiang Ziquan wanted to retort when a few female students suddenly yelled, 

“Teacher Shen?”

Shen Yumo’s hand immediately withdrew her hand that was reaching a snack and turned around to see….it was her class representative, Wang Jie. School had let out hours ago, so it wasn’t surprising to see them hanging around the supermarket to buy something. 

“Hello, Teacher Shen.” Seeing Shen Yumo turn around, they confirmed it was her and greeted her with a shy hello. 

Shen Yumo smiled back and also said hello. She told them to eat less junk food and pay attention to their health. 

“Teacher, is this your wife?” One of the girls asked curiously, her face burning red with an awkward expression. 

The other girls also looked over at Jiang Ziquan. 

Although only a few people had seen the proposal video, all the students already knew that their beautiful and gentle literature teacher had married another woman who was equally as beautiful. The students were quite curious about this unknown woman and would privately gossip about JIang Ziquan’s identity. 

Shen Yumo glanced nervously at Jiang Ziquan beside her. 

“Yes, that’s right, I am your teacher’s wife. My name is Jiang Ziquan.” Jiang Ziquan was not shy at all and pushed the shopping car to the side as she confidently said, “Nice to meet you all.”

The students stared at her silently and Jiang Ziquan stared back.

Since Wang Jie was the one who knew Shen Yumo the best, she wasn’t afraid as she put her hands behind her back and said sweetly, “Teacher’s wife is really pretty.”

Jiang Ziquan froze for a second, but she felt pleased by this sentence and replied, “You are also very pretty.”

“Then we won’t disturb the teacher any longer. Bye.” Wang Jie felt embarrassed and dragged her group of friends away. 

“What was the name of the girl who just spoke?” Jiang Ziquan felt like she had seen that girl before and asked. 

Shen Yumo still hadn’t recovered from the words ‘teacher’s wife’ and pretended to be indifferent as she continued to look through the shelves of potato chips. 

“That brand’s chips taste really bad.” Jiang Ziquan whispered. 

Shen Yumo ignored her, she didn’t even know what type of chips she was holding, “Her name is Wang Jie. Do you know her?”

Jiang Ziquan shook her head, but she now remembered that Chen Feng [1] had shown her photos of Wang Jie during the wedding. 

After picking out the snacks, Shen Yumo also picked out some toiletries. Jiang Ziquan copied her and picked out the exact same products as Shen Yumo. 

“I’ve been away for so long, I just thought it’s time to get new ones.” Seeing Shen Yumo’s glare full of suspicion, Jiang Ziquan replied back seriously. 

Shen Yumo nodded in understanding. 

The two then picked out some ingredients for cooking. Although Jiang Ziquan didn’t know how to cook, she has been in the restaurant business for several years now. So under Tang Jiu’s teaching, she was really good at picking out fresh ingredients. 

Jiang Ziquan’s favorite food is fish, but she knew that Shen Yumo didn’t like to eat a lot of meat, and could only stay silent and comfort herself. Being a vegetarian will make me a little more healthy. 

“I only know how to make boiled fish, so do you want to eat some?”

Shen Yumo was not blind. She watched Jiang Ziquan quickly pick out vegetables yet when they arrived in the meat section, she didn’t move at all. Naturally, she knew something was going on. 

Jiang Ziquan nodded quickly, her complexion visibility getting better, “I want to eat some.”

After saying that, Jiang Ziquan quickly picked out a fat grass carp. The grass carp had a light taste to it, so Shen Yumo could eat some if she wanted to. 

Shen Yumo originally felt that picking out such a large fish might be a little wasteful, but seeing that Jiang Ziquan grinning like she might break out into a dance, she decided not to say anything. 

Afterward, Jiang Ziquan paid for everything and then the two returned home. Her right eyelid was still twitching. 

Shen Yumo’s knife skills were excellent. She cut through the meat like she was cutting through a cloud. Jiang Ziquan felt stunned watching. In her opinion, with those skills, Shen Yumo should become a surgeon and save many lives.

And with that speed and hand coordination, she was looking forward to something else that might happen in the future. (T/N notes: *cough* sex *cough*) 

While Shen Yumo cut the meat, she washed the vegetables and prepared the other things. These were things she learned only after opening up a restaurant. Previously, she wanted to protect her face and skin from the hard labor so she stayed as far away from the kitchen. 

Yet, life seemed to have ways of getting back at her. 

Shen Yumo saw her slightly wired expression but didn’t comment. She did feel that it was a little strange though. Jiang Ziquan’s movements seemed well-practiced but she didn’t know how to cook. However, she didn’t care, and she wanted to cook quickly, so she left the preparation of the ingredients to Jiang Ziquan. 

After about an hour, the fragrant smell of fish drifted in the room, immediately working up Jiang Ziquan’s appetite. She eagerly sent the dishes on the table and then quickly walked into the room to get something. 

Shen Yumo grabbed the silverware and placed them on the table. She then sat there, waiting for Jiang Ziquan. 

Jiang Ziquan came out with a few yellow fairy lights. She had always liked hanging these things around the house because she felt that there needed to be more fun in life. 

“Um, I hope that you can be happy living here.” Jiang Ziquan poured Shen Yumo a glass of juice and poured a glass of wine for herself. 

Shen Yumo smiled helplessly at the lights hanging around them. It was only a meal, it wasn’t necessary to make it this grand. She guessed that maybe it was because Jiang Ziquan had watched too many TV shows, but didn’t want to spoil her fun. She only replied gently, “Thank you.”

Jiang Ziquan started eating and she ate in large bites very quickly, but not because the food was bad. On the contrary, because the food tasted too delicious. However, Shen Yumo ate slowly in an elegant manner.

Any food prepared by Shen Yumo was delicious and eating her favorite type of fish, Jiang Ziquan ate a lot until she was stuffed. Infected by her energy, Shen Yumo also ate a few more bites. 

Finally done, she leaned back with a content sigh and looked up, “Hahhh, as a beauty, to eat so much at night is really a sin.”

Shen Yumo ignored her nonsense and picked up her chopsticks, preparing to start washing the dishes. 

Jiang Ziquan hurriedly stood up and stopped her. Although she could not cook, she could at least do the dishes. She wanted to pamper her wife, “Let me wash the dishes.”

“There’s not many, I can do it. You go take a break.”

Jiang Ziquan had heard a lot of sentences similar to this one lately, and she highly suspected she had become a weak chicken. So she directly plucked the plates from Shen Yumo’s hands and placed them into the sink before washing them. 

However, Shen Yumo didn’t stop and picked up a rag to clean the table. Jiang Ziquan stood on her tiptoes and watched her clean. In her heart, she felt resigned. This wife of hers liked to clean too much. 

After wiping down the table, Shen Yumo finally laid down on the couch and turned on the TV. 

Jiang Ziquan also finished up quickly and sat down next to Shen Yumo to watch TV with her. She held a pillow to her chest, her expression was lazy. It was already seven, and the TV was playing the news, but Shen Yumo was quite immersed in it. 

The news was too boring to her, so Jiang Ziquan watched Shen Yumo instead. Looking at her fair and tender face, she gulped, thinking that life was treating her well. Shen Yumo cooked and she washed the dishes. Afterward, they would be sitting together, and even if they didn’t talk, it still felt very sweet. 

Jiang Ziquan was still feeling emotional when the doorbell suddenly rang, scaring her. 

“I’ll go.” Jiang Ziquan dragged herself to the door and opened it. It was her brother and the annoying Chen Feng smiling behind him. Now she understood why her right eyelid was twitching. [2] 

“Why do you look like you have nothing to live for?” Jiang Zitao had a key to her apartment and she already knew that Shen Yumo was living with her. He worried that he would be interrupting something, so he knocked on the door. However, he never thought his sister would open up the door with that kind of expression. 

Jiang Ziquan stepped to the side and let them in. Chen Feng acted like he was very familiar with the place and walked in nonchalantly. She dragged Jiang Zitao to the side and said hurriedly, “This Chen Feng fellow isn’t here because he wants to live here, right?”

Jiang Zitao gave her a look that confirmed her sinking feeling: “Teacher Shen graduated from Huada University so she will definitely be able to help him.”

“Sh*t! Brother, we just started living together, come on!” Jiang Ziquan screamed, her voice a little loud. She hurriedly glanced inside and then said in an aggrieved tone, “You could’ve at least have given me a heads up! At least let me discuss it with Shen Yumo first. Furthermore, the school should be out for the holiday soon, right?” 

Actually, when Jiang Ziquan first bought the place, the Chen family had wanted Chen Feng to live with her, but since she worked like a dog every day, meaning she had an irregular daily schedule. Plus, she was somewhat unreliable, and they didn’t want Chen Feng to pick up some bad habits, so they stopped thinking about letting him live with her. Then with him going off to the college, they thought maybe it would be better for him to live on-campus. 

However, when they learned that Shen Yumo had moved in, Chen Feng’s mother hurriedly sent him over. His mother put all her hopes onto Shen Yumo, regarding her as the last chance to save her son.

“They’ll be on vacation in about two weeks, and mother-in-law’s intention is to make him study during that time, by getting tutoring from here.”

Jiang Zitao saw her reluctant expression and could only give her an awkward look. Shen Yumo had just moved in, and they already wanted something from her. This was rather inappropriate, concerning how they got married in the first place. However, his wife was pregnant and he couldn’t fight against the Chen family, so he comforted, “Maybe with Chen Feng here, you two will have more common topics to talk about. It might even improve your relationship. Don’t worry, it will be fine.”

Jiang Ziquna glared at him so fiercely, he could feel her eyes drilling holes into his body. Jiang Zitao quickly took out a card and handed it to her, “This is six months’ worth of living expenses, pocket money, and a gift from mother-in-law to you. Please don’t be mad.”

Jiang Ziquan was still angry, but could only kick her brother a few times. 

“Teacher Shen, are you here?”

Shen Yumo was paying attention to the movements at the door. Hearing this greeting and the oncoming person walking her way, her brain worked quickly and she said unsurely, “Are you, Chen Feng?”

“So you know me.” Chen Feng sat down on the couch. He was curious, Shen Yumo did not teach him, so how did she know his name?

Coincidentally, this was because he was a student of Zhou Kairui. As a teacher, Zhou Kairui was very strict with her students, and Chen Feng was one of her students that was constantly making trouble. He would be called into the office every three days and Zhou Kairui always muttered under her breath about how much a thorn in the side he was to her. So of course, Shen Yumo would eventually learn his name. 

Jiang Ziquan heard their conversation and looked up in surprise. However, she knew that Chen Feng was a troublemaker, so it was normal that Shen Yumo knew him. She embarrassedly explained, “Yumo, this is Chen Feng. My Sister-in-law’s younger brother.”

Their relationship was a little bit complicated. 

Shen Yumo nodded to indicate she understood. She could guess what this was about. 

Jiang Zitao gave Jiang Ziquan another look. He wanted to go home and he had already done what he was supposed to do. 

“This…Chen Feng wants to live with us.”

Jiang Ziquan crossed her fingers and hoped that Shen Yumo wouldn’t agree as she looked at her. 

Before Shen Yumo could answer, she heard Chen Feng say, “Yes, that’s right. Teacher Shen, I have come here to receive your tutoring.” 

Jiang Ziquan’s eyes widened at his directness.

Shen Yumo immediately understood. She had only been a teacher for four years, but she had students ask her to tutor them from time to time. Since everyone knew her in the old neighborhood, she couldn’t refuse easily. Some students who improved would thank her, but some did not and their parents would yell at her. 

Shen Yumo took responsibility for her teaching and made every effort when teaching. However, some students just hated learning, and she was a teacher who could only do some temporary tutoring. Without any power over these students and combined with the short time she had, naturally these students wouldn’t be able to improve if they were unwilling. 

And Chen Feng was one of those typical anti-learning students. If the student was willing to make progress, then it would be fine, but if not, it would be awkward if he failed, especially since he was a relative. Precisely, it was because he was a relative that Shen Yumo could not refuse. 

Whose fault was it that she owed the Jiang family so much?

“Ok, I accept.” Shen Yumo felt a headache coming. She could only hope that Chen Feng would listen to her and learn. 

“Thank you, Teacher Shen.” Jiang Zitao smiled embarrassedly, not knowing what to do with his hands 

Jiang Ziquan pulled a face and Jiang Zitao quickly went outside to grab Chen Feng’s things.

Shen Yumo stood up, ready to help, but was suddenly pulled back into a corner. 

Jiang Ziquan blushed and said, “Will this be too much trouble for you?”

Her brown eyes looked a little embarrassed and shy, but Shen Yumo wasn’t angry. In her opinion, this small matter was nothing compared to the things Jiang Ziquan had done for her. 

“Rest assured, I will teach him well.”

The group of people helped Chen Feng unpack his things and settled him in easily. 

After such an exhausting day, the group decided to call it a day and rest early. 

When Jiang Ziquan just finished taking a bath, Chen Feng knocked and walked into his room. 

Seeing his happy expression, Jiang Ziquan could tell that Chen Feng was up to no good. Apparently he wanted Jiang Ziquan to help him buy tickets to Su Yan’s concert. It was in two weeks and was near the area where her business trip was. His parents wouldn’t buy it for him, so he could only beg his dear Sister Quan. This is why he was so cooperative when they made him move in. 

Jiang Ziquan rubbed her temples. Chen Feng only knew how to play every day. However, she remembered that Shen Yumo seemed to like Su Yan too, so maybe it would be better to go along and buy tickets for all of them. 

“I will agree only if you study well with Teacher Shen in the next few days. I won’t ask you to improve significantly, I only ask you to get a pass from Teacher Shen.” 

Chen Feng scratched his head. Suster Quan’s condition was too difficult for him, but it was better than nothing.

“Then can I get two tickets?”

Jiang Ziquan looked Chen Feng up and down. It seems like he has a girlfriend now. However, he was already 18, so it wasn’t uncommon for him to fall in love at this age, “As long as you meet my conditions.”

Chen Feng ran away and Jiang Ziquan ordered the tickets. When the time comes, she will just say it’s too repay Shen Yumo for helping Cheng Feng. If she phrased it that way, based on Shen Yumo’s character, she will definitely agree. 

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T/N notes:

[1] Chen Feng is Chen Lanyi’s brother who used to hang out with Jiang Ziquan. He appeared at the wedding in Ch.14 

[2] Eyelid twitching can be seen as a superstition in Chinese culture. Kinda like when you sneeze it’s because someone is talking about you behind your back. When your right eyelid is twitching, it means bad luck or fortune is coming your way. 

Fairy lights are pretty~

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