Chapter 20: A Lifetime of Jiang An’an

Glancing at the barely touched tea on the table, Jiang Wang greeted them, “Auntie, have you eaten yet? I’ll go reserve a table at a restaurant later.”

“I’ll go reserve it!” Du Yehu said as though granted amnesty. “I know all the restaurants in Maple Forest City!”

Aunt Song sat down and waved her hand.

“There’s no rush. Auntie came this time because I have something to discuss with you.”

Looking at Jiang An’an, who was secretly observing him, Jiang Wang returned a gentle smile and said, “Whatever it is, just tell me.”

Aunt Song stroked Jiang An’an’s little head.

“Why don’t you go out with these two big brothers for a bit? Go look around the place where your brother cultivates and lives.”

Du Yehu immediately spread his arms toward little An’an, his big face wrinkling into something like an old chrysanthemum as he smiled.

“Come on, Brother Hu will take you to buy tasty food!”

Ling He also tactfully added, “Don’t worry. Jiang Wang and we are brothers who’ve gone through life and death together. We’ll definitely take good care of An’an.”

Little An’an was very sensible. Though timid and shy, once Aunt Song spoke, she still timidly… took a few steps toward Ling He instead.

No matter how one looked at it, the proper-looking and gentle-smiling Ling He appeared far more reliable than Du Yehu, whose full beard and exaggerated grin looked downright frightening.

Ling He felt greatly comforted as he led Jiang An’an out by the hand. Meanwhile, before leaving, Du Yehu fiercely glared at Jiang Wang. That look clearly meant—

What does your little sister mean by this?

After everyone had been sent away, Jiang Wang finally withdrew his smile and looked at Aunt Song.

“Has Fengxi Town been peaceful lately? How’s the family shop doing?”

“There haven’t been any major problems, it’s just…” Aunt Song looked somewhat hesitant.

Jiang Wang patiently said, “Whatever it is, just say it.”

“Ever since your father passed away, the shop’s business has gotten worse day by day. It’s getting to the point where An’an and I can barely survive anymore…”

As she spoke, Aunt Song suddenly took out a handkerchief and wiped away tears.

The family’s remaining shop dealt in medicinal herbs. Though it was not large, its trade channels had been built over many years, and throughout Fengxi Town it had always enjoyed an excellent reputation.

Back when the family had declined, almost all their properties had been sold, yet this medicinal herb shop had specifically been kept because it was stable and enduring. With this shop in hand, they might not become rich and noble, but there was absolutely no way they would struggle just to survive.

What kind of person would it take to run such a steady business into the ground in just a few short years?

Jiang Wang was not a fool. Even when his father had still been alive, he had intentionally taught him some matters about business management, thinking that if Jiang Wang failed in cultivation, he could still return home and live a steady life.

He knew there had to be problems here, but Jiang Wang merely asked, “Is there anything I can help with, Auntie?”

He thought that if she needed money, he could scrape some together. No matter what, Jiang An’an was still his only younger sister. Even if only for An’an’s sake, he hoped they could live better lives.

“I know Xiao Wang has always worked hard, and you’ll definitely have a good future ahead of you. But Auntie…” Aunt Song wiped her tears again. “Auntie is just a woman without any special skills. I really can’t hold on anymore…”

She looked at Jiang Wang through tearful eyes.

“Can you take care of An’an from now on?”

The last trace of warmth in Jiang Wang’s eyes vanished.

No matter what, he had never imagined that this woman no longer wanted even her own biological daughter.

Jiang Wang slowly nodded before saying, “It seems Auntie has found herself a good family to marry into?”

Aunt Song lowered her gaze slightly.

Only at this moment, in front of her deceased husband’s eldest son, did she suddenly feel a trace of shame. It slowly emerged from the deepest part of her heart.

“Marriage and funerals are all ordinary matters of life,” Jiang Wang said without speaking harshly. “Then does An’an know she’ll be living with me from now on?”

“She doesn’t know yet. Auntie thought I should first ask your opinion. You know how timid she’s always been, how afraid of strangers. Even if I took her with me, she wouldn’t live well…” Aunt Song was clearly trying to explain herself, but her voice grew softer and softer.

“I understand.” Jiang Wang interrupted her. “Then should I tell her, or will you?”

“You tell her…” Aunt Song said. “I… I should be leaving now. The carriage is still waiting outside the city.”

Jiang Wang was silent for a while.

“Very well. Then I won’t see you off.”

“Every month, I’ll send silver to you.”

“No need. I can afford to raise An’an. Auntie, you… take care of yourself.”

“Mm. You and An’an live well together.”

After saying that, Aunt Song rose to leave.

After taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped again and turned back with tears in her eyes.

“An’an doesn’t like winter melon. She likes eggplant, and she loves sweets most of all… but you can’t let her eat too much.”

“She often kicks off her blanket while sleeping… She… she’s still young and doesn’t understand things. As her older brother, please be patient with her.”

“Auntie.”

Jiang Wang originally did not want to say anything more, but seeing Aunt Song like this, he could not help himself.

“I wonder if you still remember? Back then, my father could actually have lived another two years. But he refused treatment because he wanted to leave the family property to you. He wanted you to take good care of my little sister, who was still so young…”

Aunt Song had no answer. Covering her face, she hurried away.

Jiang Wang sat there blankly. Only after a long while did he pour himself a cup of tea.

All these years, he had sought the Dao outside. No matter how bitter or difficult things became, he had never once reached home for even a single tael of silver.

It was because he always thought of his father bedridden with illness, of Aunt Song and An’an struggling through life. Because he thought of how his father would rather die earlier than burden them further.

How could he then ask the family for money?

Even though he himself was unquestionably the rightful heir to that considerable family fortune.

It seemed as though that conversation from years ago sounded again beside his ears:

“Xiao Wang, you’ve already grown up. You can take care of yourself now, can’t you?”

“Yes, Father.”

That childish figure seemed to overlap with his current self, crossing the years to meet in this moment.

“And I can take good care of An’an too,” Jiang Wang softly said.

…

Ling He and Du Yehu had only taken Jiang An’an around briefly before returning.

“Huh? Where’s Auntie?” Du Yehu asked without thinking.

Ling He instinctively tried to tighten his hold on An’an’s hand, but the little hand stubbornly slipped free.

Jiang Wang looked over.

That little girl, not even five years old, stood there silently, lightly biting her lips, those dark, round eyes unblinking.

She stood between Ling He and Du Yehu, yet somehow seemed isolated in some corner of the vast world.

She did not cry.

Nor did she make a fuss.

Jiang Wang strode over, crouched halfway down, and pulled the tiny figure into his embrace.

And in doing so, he pulled her back from that lonely corner of the world. Pulled her back into the living human world.

“An’an, from now on you’ll live with big brother. Big brother will play with you often, just like before. I wonder if you still remember—you were so tiny back then…”

“Right, right, right! Brother Hu will also play with you often from now on!” Du Yehu hurriedly added.

Little An’an glanced at him expressionlessly before turning her gaze away, then quietly buried her little head against Jiang Wang’s shoulder.

“All right.”

Jiang Wang stood up while holding An’an.

“Since An’an will be living with me from now on, staying in the dormitory isn’t very convenient. I need to find a place to live first. After that, we’ll all eat together.”

“You should settle the living arrangements first.” Ling He took two pieces of silver from his robe and shoved them into Jiang Wang’s hand without allowing refusal. “Take this silver.”

After entering the inner academy, Ling He’s life was no longer as tight. The academy now issued monthly stipends. But these two pieces of silver were still all his savings.

“Ah right, right.”

Inspired, Du Yehu immediately started rummaging through his entire body, but in the end only managed to gather four knife coins. Embarrassed, he placed them into Jiang Wang’s hand.

“I already drank away this month’s allowance.”

Then he immediately declared with absolute confidence:

“Next month! Next month I won’t drink. I’ll save money to buy new clothes for An’an!”

Jiang Wang did not stand on ceremony. He casually stuffed the money into his pocket before carrying Jiang An’an out the door.

Even after they had gone far away, Du Yehu still leaned against the doorway watching them.

“Little An’an is way too adorable! Hey, Old Ling, why don’t I have a little sister?”

“Old Ling?”

Du Yehu turned around. Ling He had already sat cross-legged on his bed to meditate.

A little sister with a full beard… how terrifying would that be?

That was what Ling He was thinking.

“Just like Third Brother, both cultivation maniacs!”

Du Yehu muttered as he walked to the window, picked up the cup of tea Jiang Wang had poured earlier, and gulped it down in one swallow.

“Ptooey! Ptooey!”

Du Yehu spat several times.

“Why is this tea so bitter?”

“It’d serve you right if it were bitter to death!” Ling He snapped irritably.

(End of Chapter)