Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

Chapter 20: Jiang An'an for a lifetime

Jiang Wang glanced at the tea on the table that had not been touched much and asked, "Auntie, have you had your meal? I'll go to the restaurant to reserve a table later."

"I'll go!" Du Yehu exclaimed as if he had been granted amnesty. "I know all the restaurants in Fenglin City!"

Auntie Song sat down and waved her hand. "No hurry. I came here with something to discuss with you."

Jiang Anan sneakily observed Jiang Wang. Jiang Wang smiled gently and said, "What is it? Please tell me."

Auntie Song touched Jiang Anan's head and said, "Would you like to go out with these two big brothers and take a look at where your brother practices and lives?"

Du Yehu immediately opened his arms to Jiang Anan and laughed like a chrysanthemum. "Come on, let Brother Hu take you to buy delicious food!"

Linghe also said, "Don't worry. We have a close relationship with Jiang Wang and will take care of Anan."

Although Jiang Anan was timid and shy, she was sensible. After Auntie Song spoke, she walked a few steps towards Linghe. No matter how you looked at it, Linghe, who had a dignified appearance and a gentle smile, was much more reliable than Du Yehu, who had a scary and exaggerated smile.

After the group left, Jiang Wang finally restrained his smile and looked at Auntie Song. "Has Fengxi Town been peaceful lately? How is our family's shop doing?"

"There isn't any major problem, but..." Auntie Song was a bit hesitant.

Jiang Wang patiently asked, "What's the matter? Please tell me."

"Since your father passed away, the business in the shop has declined day by day. We can barely make ends meet..." As she spoke, Auntie Song suddenly took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears.

The only shop left in the family sold medicinal herbs. Although it was not large in scale, it had been operating for many years and had a good reputation throughout Fengxi Town. When the family's fortune declined, they almost sold all their assets, but they kept this medicinal herb shop precisely because of its longevity. With this shop in hand, they may not become rich, but they would never be in dire straits.

What kind of person could manage a small medicinal herb shop that had been operating for many years and make it decline day by day in just a few years? Jiang Wang was not a fool. His father had talked to him about some business matters before he passed away, hoping that he could have a stable life if he failed to cultivate.

He knew there must be a problem, but he just asked, "Is there anything I can help with, Auntie?"

He thought that if they needed some gold or silver, he could gather some for them. After all, Jiang Anan was his only sister. Even if it was just for her, he hoped they could live a better life.

"I know that Xiaowang is always hardworking and will surely have a bright future. But Auntie..." Auntie Song wiped away her tears. "As a woman with no special skills, I really can't hold on anymore..."

She looked at Jiang Wang with teary eyes. "Can I entrust Anan to you in the future?"The last trace of warmth in Jiang Wang's eyes dissipated.

He never expected that this woman would not even want her own daughter.

Jiang Wang nodded slowly and said, "It seems that Auntie has agreed to a good marriage?"

Song Auntie lowered her eyes slightly. At this moment, in front of her deceased husband's eldest son, she suddenly felt a hint of shame. It slowly emerged from the deepest part of her heart.

"Marriage and funerals are a common human emotion." Jiang Wang never said anything harsh. "So, does Anan know that she will be with me in the future?"

"She doesn't know yet. Auntie wants to ask for your opinion first. You know, she's always timid and afraid of strangers. Even if I take her with me, she won't be able to adapt..." Although Song Auntie was explaining, her voice became lower and lower.

"I understand." Jiang Wang interrupted her. "Should I tell her or will you?"

"You tell her..." Song Auntie said, "I...I have to go now. The carriage is waiting for me outside the city."

Jiang Wang was silent for a while. "Okay, then I won't see you off."

"I will send you silver every month."

"No need. I can support Anan. Take care of yourself."

"Hey, take good care of Anan." Song Auntie got up and walked two steps before suddenly stopping and turning back with tears in her eyes. "Anan doesn't like winter melon, she likes eggplant, and she loves sweets...but don't let her eat too much."

"She often kicks off the blanket when she sleeps...she...she's young and doesn't know any better. Please take care of her as her older brother."

"Auntie." Jiang Wang didn't want to say anything more, but seeing Song Auntie like this, he couldn't help but say, "Do you remember or not? My father could have lived for two more years, but he refused treatment and wanted to leave the family property to you. He wanted you to take good care of my younger sister..."

Song Auntie had no response and left with her face covered.

Jiang Wang sat there in a daze for a long time before pouring himself a cup of tea.

Over the years, he had been seeking the Dao outside, no matter how hard it was, he never asked his family for money. It was because he thought of his father bedridden, Song Auntie and Anan living a difficult life. It was because he thought that his father would rather die early than burden them. How could he take the family's money?

Even though he was the undisputed heir to that considerable family fortune.

The conversation from years ago echoed in his ear:

"Xiaowang, you have grown up. Can you take care of yourself?"

"Yes, Father."

That childish figure seemed to overlap with the present moment, intersecting through these years of time.

"And I can take care of Anan too." Jiang Wang said softly.

...

Ling He and Du Yehu brought Jiang Anan back after a short walk.

"Hey, where's Auntie?" Du Yehu asked absentmindedly.

Ling He instinctively wanted to hold Anan closer, but that little hand had already stubbornly pulled away.

Jiang Wang looked over. The girl who was not yet five years old stood there silently, biting her lip lightly, her big round eyes blinking without pause.She stood between Linghe and Du Yehu, but seemed isolated in a corner of the world.

She didn't cry or make a scene.

Jiang Wang walked over and squatted down, holding the small figure in his arms. He pulled her back from the loneliness in that corner of the world and back into the vibrant human world.

"An'an, from now on you'll live with me. I'll play with you often, just like we did before. Do you remember how small you were back then?"

"That's right, I'll play with you often too!" Du Yehu quickly added.

An'an glanced at him, then turned her gaze expressionlessly back and buried her little head on Jiang Wang's shoulder.

"Alright." Jiang Wang stood up holding An'an. "It's not convenient for her to live in the dormitory with me, so I have to find a place first. We'll eat together later."

"Right, you should find a place first." Linghe took out two broken silver pieces from his pocket and handed them to Jiang Wang without hesitation. "Take this silver."

After entering the inner gate, Linghe's life was no longer so tight. The academy would give out monthly allowances. But these two broken silver pieces were all he had left.

"Oh right." Du Yehu was inspired and began searching his pockets, but in the end he only came up with four knife coins, which he sheepishly handed to Jiang Wang. "I spent all my allowance this month."

Then he vowed, "Next month, I won't drink and will save money to buy new clothes for An'an!"

Jiang Wang didn't refuse and put the money in his pocket before carrying An'an out of the door.

As they walked away, Du Yehu was still leaning against the door, looking after them. "An'an is so cute! Hey, old Ling, why don't I have a little sister?"

"Old Ling?" Du Yehu turned around, but Linghe was already sitting on his bed, practicing.

A little sister with a face full of whiskers, how terrifying that would be. Linghe thought to himself.

"Like the third brother, both obsessed with cultivation!" Du Yehu muttered, walking to the window and picking up the cup of tea that Jiang Wang had poured earlier, taking a big gulp.

"Ptui, ptui, ptui!" Du Yehu spat out a few mouthfuls of tea. "Why is this tea so bitter?"

"Serves you right for being so picky!" Linghe said irritably.