Chapter 55: Hearing is Not Believing
Afternoon.
She had another sweet sleep.
Jiang Mianmian initially resisted her brother stroking her head.
But as he kept stroking it, she eventually found it quite comfortable and enjoyable.
She fell asleep in seconds.
She even forgot she had been teasing the ants just a moment ago.
After nearly being kidnapped, Little Mianmian had unilaterally formed a deeper friendship with her ants; at the very least, she wasn’t so afraid of them anymore.
She even felt that in a critical moment, stuffing them in her pocket was very convenient.
However, the little ants were also very busy, scurrying in and out, and they had more friends than she did.
She was woken up by her elder sister’s “quack-quack” laughter.
Opening her eyes, she found two strangers in the house.
The two young heroes had come to visit without having time to send a formal calling card, which was a breach of etiquette, so they had brought gifts.
What they sent to the Jiang Mansion were the Four Treasures of the Study and a tea set—a safe choice that was also presentable.
For their visit to Jiang Feng, they prepared four boxes of pastries, a tea set, a bolt of fabric, and some silver for travel expenses.
Of course, these were also prepared by their subordinates, tailored to the recipient.
Since Jiang Feng came from a poor family and likely had no scholars in the house, giving the Four Treasures of the Study would have been a bit of a slap in the face.
Pastries and tea, on the other hand, could be eaten and drunk.
Fabric and silver were very practical and useful; fabric could even be used as currency.
It was also to repay Jiang Feng for the jerky he had given them.
They had assumed the jerky was cheap wild boar meat from the mountains and hadn’t intended to eat it; after all, it wasn’t something they would normally touch.
But having received the gesture, they naturally had to reciprocate.
Jiang Yu’s “quack-quack” laughter was because she had smelled the pastries.
She found the two young heroes incredibly amiable.
She was grinning from ear to ear.
She was as busy as the little ants, bustling in and out to fetch bamboo tubes and water, being extremely hospitable.
She even very generously contributed some medicine her Father had made from Red Crow Berries, which she ate like candied fruit, and served a small plate of it.
Castor roots, about the length of a finger; if chewed, they were a bit sweet, and one just had to spit out the pulp.
Python jerky, in small strips, could satisfy hunger and became more fragrant the more one chewed.
In an instant, Jiang Yu was like a busy little bee, setting out three small plates of strange snacks on the stone stools and pouring tea for the guests.
Meng Shaoxia looked at the busy young girl and thought that if his own home had such a bustling figure, he might not have been able to bear leaving to travel the world.
Young Master He Chen felt that Jiang Feng’s sister was very diligent and lively; though she skipped and hopped as she walked, it didn’t seem rude at all, and instead made one feel happy just watching her.
They were very relaxed here.
It was a completely different feeling from visiting the Jiang Mansion in the morning.
Jiang Mianmian woke up, and despite the guests, she still went: “Ee-yah-yah-yah.” (I want to pee.)
Fortunately, her family understood her perfectly.
Her brother excused himself and carried her off to pee.
As Jiang Mianmian’s legs were parted for her to pee freely, she felt relieved that her brother was saving her some dignity.
Actually, sometimes she just peed under the trees.
It felt like those two trees were growing better and more lushly because of it.
Today, her brother took her to pee on a small strip of land her Mother had cleared by the side of the wall, where a few wild onions were planted; this was also Jiang Mianmian’s personal plot, as the wild onions were all watered with her pee.
They were very lush…
After peeing, she was a lively Jiang Mianmian once again.
While her brother went to wash his hands, Jiang Mianmian fell into her sister’s arms.
Her sister was staring intently at the two young men in front of her.
Jiang Mianmian also watched them with serious curiosity.
Their clothes were so nice, the fabric was beautiful with patterns, and it looked smooth and slippery; it shimmered gold in the sunlight and looked very expensive.
They also had head ornaments; she couldn’t see clearly what they were, but it felt like they could be used to tie beautiful high ponytails, which would look great and could save a flat head shape.
They came on horseback, yet their hair wasn’t messy at all; did they have hair gel?
They had swords at their waists, yet they didn’t poke themselves when they sat down.
Their shoes were also nice, with upturned toes, somewhat like boots, but a hip-hop version.
Jiang Mianmian was watching very intently.
She had heard her brother mention at the dinner table last night that he’d met two very wealthy and powerful children of high-ranking officials, and Jiang Mianmian was curious about what the second-generation rich of this era were like.
After looking them over, she saw they were dressed well—very well—and had great temperaments, sat upright, and spoke politely. But, but… Jiang Mianmian actually felt that in terms of looks and aura, they couldn’t compare to her Father.
They couldn’t compete with Father.
It’s over.
Jiang Mianmian didn’t know if her filter was too thick or if her infant aesthetic had gone awry.
She actually thought her poor, herb-stealing Father had more poise and was better looking than these high-ranking official’s kids from the capital.
It was a bit too narcissistic.
She even felt that her brother, sitting there, wasn’t bad either; it was just that his clothes and shoes were a bit lacking. As for his face, her brother’s face was even better looking than that Little Square Face’s.
Jiang Mianmian’s eyes rolled around as she sized them up.
Jiang Yu stared intently.
Meng Shaoxia’s face slowly turned red; seeing Jiang Feng’s sister staring at him with eyes full of blunt admiration (#Huge Misunderstanding), he felt a bit panicked.
How could she be so direct?
Even though he was handsome and dashing, being this direct wasn’t good; he really couldn’t handle it.
His family had been a single-child line for generations, so his marriage would likely be a bit troublesome; his parents, grandparents, seven maternal uncles and aunts, four paternal aunts and uncles, and maternal grandparents would all have a say.
Back then, his Father had married his Mother because his maternal grandparents were very fertile.
But in the end, his Mother had only given birth to him.
Although his family was a military lineage and wouldn’t have excessive requirements for a woman’s background, his grandfather had told him that as the Emperor aged, his suspicion grew heavier, so his wife’s social status couldn’t be too high.
But he still needed to know her background; if he just picked up a woman while traveling and brought her home, his legs would definitely be broken.
The more Meng Shaoxia thought about it, the more serious his expression became.
Young Master He Chen, on the other hand, didn’t feel uncomfortable with Jiang Yu’s scrutiny; his family was an old aristocratic clan following the civil official path—in short, they were lovers of beauty.
He didn’t have any special feelings for the round-faced sister in coarse hemp clothes; she just looked like a chubby little girl.
What he appreciated was magnificence and refinement.
So he wasn’t affected by Jiang Yu’s gaze, but instead looked curiously at the infant in her arms.
Was this the kidnapped child they had rescued last time? He hadn’t paid attention then.
He hadn’t noticed just now when they arrived, either.
But now, seeing the infant staring at him with wide eyes…
Young Master He Chen was startled.
Seeing Sister Jiang Wan at the Jiang Mansion this morning, he felt he had seen the most beautiful girl in the world, like a dusty jade whose brilliance was just beginning to show.
But now he was actually looking at a few-month-old baby and thinking that when she grew up, she would be a thousand times more beautiful than Jiang Wan…
Because this infant currently looked like a piece of precious jade, without any dust, a complete and true masterpiece of porcelain and jade.
She was so beautiful he didn’t know how to describe her.
He even felt that the ragged, patched swaddling clothes on the infant were a defilement to her.
She should be lying in the most luxurious room, on the most magnificent bed, using a chamber pot made of gold (???)
Instead of being here among mud walls, dirt floors, tiled roofs, and wooden basins.
Young Master He Chen felt like his brain was broken.
How could he have such strange feelings about a tiny infant like this?
But this baby was just too beautiful.
Looking at Jiang Feng and his sister, they weren’t even that good-looking.
Could this baby have been kidnapped…?
Jiang Yu stared intently at the two of them, thinking that they must have eaten something delicious for lunch—at least sixteen dishes. Truly, she could smell it; just thinking about it made the drool almost flow from the corners of her mouth.
How could someone be so extravagant, sixteen dishes in one meal?
One dish would be enough for her.
Jiang Mianmian thought, these two BMW-riding boys from the capital look a bit dim-witted.
Their horses were quite nice; her attention had already shifted to them.
These horses were beautiful, with firm muscles and thick tails; there was even hair on their backs, pressed down by the saddles.
If Mother caught these horses, would she divide them up piece by piece, then sort the hair by length and tie it into bundles? The small broom on the table now was made from wild boar hair Mother had gotten.
As she watched, she saw her little black ant puffing and panting as it climbed up one of the horses’ legs.
Watching this, Jiang Mianmian couldn’t help but cheer: “Ee-yah-yah, ee-yah-yah.”
“Brother Meng, Brother He, if you don’t mind my humble home’s crudeness, please stay for dinner tonight,” asked Jiang Feng, having washed his hands.
He had actually checked the kitchen; there was jerky, wild vegetables, and coarse grains, which for his family was already extremely bountiful.
He saw that the two young masters had also brought many gifts.
It would be disrespectful not to offer a meal to guests who came to the door; today, Jiang Feng cared a little less about appearances, so he sincerely invited the two to stay for dinner.
Mother should be back soon.
Meng Shaoxia and Young Master He Chen exchanged a look; facing a very sincere Jiang Feng, they inexplicably agreed.
Jiang Yu was a bit surprised to see them nod and agree to stay for dinner, but she was even happier; with guests, dinner would surely be a bit more bountiful.
Meng Shaoxia and Young Master He Chen were both a bit surprised at themselves for agreeing to stay for the meal.
Since they were already here, they might as well make themselves at home.
Then they saw Jiang Feng call his sister into the house.
The mud walls offered no soundproofing, especially since Jiang Feng’s sister’s voice was a bit loud.
“If I go to Landlord Liu’s house to borrow fine grains, will they be willing to give them?”
“Alright, I’ll be right back, I guarantee I’ll get them.”
The two saw the round-faced girl come out, greet them, and then skip off down the mountain.
Meng Shaoxia and Young Master He Chen felt slightly awkward.
Inviting them to dinner, yet having to go out and borrow grain.
Meng Shaoxia picked up a snack from the plate in front of him and took a bite; the sour, astringent grass root made his cheeks pucker, and his square face almost turned round.
Seeing Brother Meng’s expression, Young Master He Chen learned his lesson and took a small piece of jerky; putting it in his mouth, there was a loud clack. He froze, wondering if his tooth had fallen out…
