Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1195: 1197 Chapter Things remain but not people_1

Jiang Xuexiang and the others also came out. Hearing Little Dengdeng cry, Jiang Zhihe rushed over, anxiously asking, ”What happened to Little Dengdeng? Don’t cry, don’t cry, auntie will give you some candy.”

As she spoke, she was about to grab the candy and fruit treats wrapped in a handkerchief when it suddenly occurred to her to turn to Bai Ruozhu and ask urgently, ”Sister-in-law, is it okay if I give Dengdeng some candy?”

”He can have a small piece, just one will do. Eating too much is bad for his teeth,” Bai Ruozhu was pleased that Jiang Zhihe sought her opinion. Many people genuinely have good intentions for children but neglect the parents’ opinions, or don’t even realize that their kindness can negatively impact the children. Yet Jiang Zhihe, despite her youth, understood this point quite well.

Jiang Zhihe nodded, picked out a tiny piece of candy, and using a clean handkerchief, handed it to Dengdeng while coaxing him, ”No more crying.”

Little Dengdeng gazed longingly at the piece of candy, but didn’t dare to take it and cautiously looked up at his dad, ”Dad...”

Seeing his little one like this, Jiang Yichun said with a heartache, ”Eat it.”

Only then did Dengdeng accept the candy from Jiang Zhihe, popped it into his mouth, and then flashed Jiang Zhihe a sweet smile, ”Thank... thank.”

His ”thank you” was not very clear, dragging the sound out quite long before getting it right. He was so adorable that Jiang Zhihe’s heart melted, endlessly praising Dengdeng for being so polite at such a young age.

Feeling it was about time, Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun bid farewell to everyone.

”We’ll go back to the yard and clean up. Plus, Grandpa isn’t feeling well, so we’ll just have a simple meal at our place for lunch. Let’s all gather for dinner,” Bai Ruozhu suggested.

Jiang Xuexiang also found this to be reasonable. With all the fuss, it was almost noon, and there wouldn’t be enough time to have lunch together. He agreed immediately and told his wife from the Chen Family, ”Add a few dishes tonight to welcome Yichun and his family of three.”

”Thank you, Great-Uncle,” Bai Ruozhu bowed slightly to Jiang Xuexiang.

Jiang Chenshi smiled and said, ”Our home’s conditions are limited, so don’t be too critical, you two.”

Bai Ruozhu shook her head in compassion. Jiang Chenshi really wasn’t smart. She had already crossed swords with Jiang Xuebin and Dou Ning’s families. Even if she wasn’t trying to curry favor with her own, there was no need to be so hasty in picking a fight, was there? Did she really think she was a fighter?

”Great-Aunt need not worry, we usually just have simple meals ourselves,” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

Jiang Xuexiang gave Jiang Chenshi a stern look, and since she couldn’t continue, Bai Ruozhu bowed to everyone before leaving with Jiang Yichun and Dengdeng.

However, from beginning to end, Jiang Yichun hardly interacted with anyone, appearing like a movable iceberg, deterring people from casually approaching.

”I remember Yichun as a child wasn’t like this at all. Why has he become so cold now? It’s quite frightening,” the normally reticent Jiang Zhangshi said in a low voice.

Lady Dou glanced at the retreating figure of Jiang Yichun and muttered under her breath, ”Who knows, he probably harbors some resentment in his heart.”

Jiang Xuexiang was about to leave but furrowed his brows even more tightly upon hearing this.

Bai Ruozhu and her family of three returned to the quarters assigned to them, both adults instinctively frowning at the small and dilapidated rooms. However, Bai Ruozhu knew the Jiang Family’s circumstances and understood this was not a deliberate difficulty imposed by the Jiang Family, but that this was the only space available.

”Is this where you used to live?” Bai Ruozhu turned to ask Jiang Yichun, assuming they would have been arranged to stay in the yard where Jiang Xuerui once lived.

”No, the Yard that my dad used to live in has been occupied by Dou Xingde and the other young masters,” said Jiang Yichun, his tone somewhat cold.

Bai Ruozhu was at a loss for words, he had already made things so clear. Knowing now that this would be the answer, she shouldn’t have asked.

Seeing her guilt, he stroked her head and said, ”Silly girl, what are you thinking? Living here is peaceful, it’s just a bit tough on you and the child.”

Bai Ruozhu smiled, ”You’ve forgotten we come from an Agricultural Family—our old Room wasn’t even as big as this one. As long as our family is together, what does it matter if the house is big or small?”

Jiang Yichun also smiled upon hearing this. Yes, as long as the family was together, the smaller house was even warmer.

Speaking of warmth, Jiang Yichun immediately felt that the Room was very cold, and he quickly ordered a servant to add another brazier, fearing that Ruozhu and the child would catch a chill.

Lunch was simple, and afterwards Bai Ruozhu applied ointment to Jiang Yichun’s wounds again, and then took Dengdeng to nap. Jiang Yichun went out on his own, wandering aimlessly around the Residence.

In the quiet of the afternoon, he walked towards the Yard where Dou Ning and the others lived, watching the Wall from a distance as if he could see his younger self riding on it with his dad. Back then, because a kite had gotten caught in a tree, they had climbed the Wall to retrieve it.

He looked around and was surprised not to see the tree they used to climb. On a closer look, he realized that the tree had been cut down and the Yard had been expanded outward.

Ten years had passed, and indeed everything had changed.

Jiang Yichun turned to leave but then heard a young voice calling from afar, ”Big brother, wait for me!”

He recognized it as Jiang Yihong’s voice, paused his steps, turned back, and indeed saw Jiang Yihong running towards him quickly.

Jiang Yihong, breathing heavily, grabbed Jiang Yichun’s arm, ”Big brother, I saw it was you from a distance. Are you busy? If you’re not, could you teach me some kung fu?”

Jiang Yihong said this with a flushed face. He knew he was being too eager, but he really wanted to learn. Their family couldn’t afford to hire a martial arts teacher, and he had not yet had the chance to learn any fighting techniques.

Jiang Yichun grimaced as the careless Jiang Yihong accidentally grabbed his wound. The pain made him recoil his arm, but his tolerance from having been injured frequently over the years was astounding. Not even a gasp for air changed, let alone a cry of pain.

It was Jiang Yihong himself who sensed something was wrong and asked in surprise, ”Why do I smell ointment? Big brother, are you hurt?”

Bai Ruozhu’s ointment would mostly be scentless after two hours, so Jiang Yichun didn’t smell much in the morning, but now he had just applied fresh ointment.

”It’s nothing,” Jiang Yichun managed to shake off Jiang Yihong’s hand and withdrew his own arm.

”No, it looks like you’re bleeding!” Jiang Yihong exclaimed, and as he spoke, he reached for Jiang Yichun’s sleeve. Jiang Yichun tried to fend him off but was afraid of hurting him more. As a result, the wound was exposed.

”How, how could this happen? I must have been too careless, I must have caused it to bleed again!” The Jiang Family, being a family of scholars, was not accustomed to the sight of blood, leaving Jiang Yihong’s face turning several shades paler.

Jiang Yichun pulled down his sleeve, ”Don’t worry, it’s just a superficial wound, it has nothing to do with you.”

”Big brother, who did this to you? If you don’t tell me, I’m going to find dad and have him seek justice for you. Our Jiang Family may not be noble, but we should not be bullied by others!” Jiang Yihong’s eyes showed concern, warming Jiang Yichun’s heart. His cousin genuinely cared about him.