Chapter 65: A Youth Dares Not Pursue His Future
Last night.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse.
Jiang Feng did not sleep well either.
He looked out the window through the small opening in his room.
He could see the stars, very high and very far away.
He could see the moon, very crescent and bright.
That day, when Jiang Yu said she wanted to betroth him to two young masters from the capital, neither of those two young masters responded.
They didn’t refuse directly, but they were very polite.
Later, when he recalled it, it was actually a rejection.
He felt a bit disappointed, but this disappointment could not be put into words.
It should have been that way.
People like them, how could a playboy like him ever hope to climb so high?
He hadn’t expected that one day, Brother Meng and Brother He would actually invite him at the same time.
Jiang Feng was surprised, yet also felt a bit happy and proud.
It was a kind of pride from being recognized.
He even let his imagination run wild.
He imagined himself going to the Meng Family in the capital, showing off his skills, just like Brother Meng’s guards—riding good horses, wearing fine armor, looking majestic, and even being praised as a young hero.
He imagined himself going to the He Family in Qingzhou, wearing elegant robes, bowing to scholars, drinking and chanting poems, composing a fine poem that girls would sing, with everyone praising Brother Jiang for his literary talent.
Thinking about it, he laughed.
He laughed until he woke up.
If he hadn’t had that near-death experience the other day, he might have eagerly agreed.
He would follow them to see the world, to see the vast landscapes; where could a youth not go? There were roads everywhere.
But he dared not go.
He was afraid that Jiang Yu would get lost again.
He was afraid of his little sister and Mother lying in the mud again, and he was afraid of Father crying alone.
He could not leave.
He had to stay.
He wanted to stay, to stay behind; he had grown up, his shoulders were strong, he could carry many burdens, and he could support this family.
When he thought this way, his heart settled.
He finally fell asleep.
Peaceful, without dreams.
…
Early in the morning, Jiang Mianmian started clamoring for her brother to hold her.
She reached her hands up high and threw herself at her Elder Brother.
She didn’t sleep well last night either; she woke up twice in the middle of the night to drink milk, wet herself twice, and even pooped once in between.
She was still worried about her brother leaving.
But she couldn’t express it.
She was so worried that when she woke up, her brother would be gone.
Like a brat running away from home to brave the world.
So, seeing her brother early in the morning, she excitedly threw herself at him, wanting a hug.
Her life was still very short, only about two months, but her Elder Brother, Mother, Father, and sister had been with her for her entire life.
She would be very sad if anyone left.
In the morning, when her brother ruffled her hair, she obediently didn’t resist.
But until Father went to work, her brother hadn’t mentioned leaving.
So, was her brother not leaving?
Jiang Mianmian was very happy.
Of course, she hoped the whole family would be together.
This world was very dangerous, and her supernatural ability was very small; if her brother went far away, in case something happened, she wouldn’t be able to look after him at all.
She stuck to her brother all morning and wouldn’t get down.
After eating last night’s leftovers, a thick pot of broth, Mother went to dig for wild vegetables.
Her brother held her, and her sister led the white horse, and they went to the roadside together to wait for people.
They even saw a rainbow, which was very beautiful.
When the rainbow faded, the team of fine horses and young heroes appeared.
Jiang Mianmian lay in her brother’s arms, looking at the procession curiously.
Last time she was rescued, she had actually seen it once, but she hadn’t had the chance to look closely then.
It could be said to be quite grand.
Many horses.
There were many things too.
In ancient times, there were no traffic lights; she wondered how they managed when several teams of people met at a crossroads?
Whenever Jiang Mianmian thought, she couldn’t help but drool.
Young Master He Chen, who had jumped off his horse, saw the little sister in Jiang Feng’s arms drooling, and his OCD flared up.
“That, Brother Jiang!” He pointed at the baby in his arms, then pointed at her mouth.
Jiang Feng thought he wanted to hold his little sister again; she was just too cute, loved by everyone.
And the other party was about to leave.
The carriages were slow, the capital was far, and Qingzhou was even further; perhaps this parting would be a final farewell.
Jiang Feng generously handed his little sister into his arms: “Here, hold her again.”
Young Master He Chen hurriedly took the baby, pulled out a handkerchief, helped wipe the drool, and only sighed in relief after finishing.
Meng Shaoxia looked at the round-faced little girl with grass in her mouth and suddenly asked: “Little Yu’er, did you sleep well last night?”
Jiang Yu didn’t react at first; she was Jiang Yu, not Little Fish, and only her brother called her Jiang Xiaoyu, and not Little Yu’er either.
However, seeing that this square-faced brother was speaking to her, she nodded: “I slept very well, I ate until I was full, so I slept very well.”
Meng Shaoxia laughed.
He reached out his hand, and just as he was about to reach Jiang Yu’s head, he suddenly pulled it back.
Jiang Yu looked up curiously.
She thought he wanted to touch her head ornament.
She smiled: “Is the hair flower very pretty? It’s the red string Elder Brother gave me.”
Meng Shaoxia nodded: “Very pretty, excellent.”
Meng Shaoxia turned his head and said seriously to Jiang Feng: “Brother Jiang, come with me to the capital. Your family can come along; it hasn’t been peaceful lately, with wars and chaos everywhere.”
Young Master He Chen looked up at Brother Meng, feeling that this Brother Meng was more decisive than him at critical moments.
He actually invited Brother Jiang’s whole family to go.
Jiang Yu looked surprised. Did this Little Square Face want their whole family to go with them? Did they have to repay the life-saving grace with the whole family?
Jiang Feng was also stunned for a moment.
He had already decided not to leave, but Brother Meng’s proposal still made his heart waver for a moment.
But his family had no relation to Brother Meng; how could they just rely on someone else’s family? Unless they became servants.
He shook his head and refused.
“Many thanks to Brother Meng and Brother He for the sincere invitation. I am very tempted; last night I tossed and turned, too excited to sleep. I have grown up until now without ever going far from home. My experience is shallow, and I have always longed for the capital and Qingzhou.”
The youth paused for a moment and continued:
“I have never seen the prosperity of the capital, nor have I smelled the scholarly air of Qingzhou. My heart longs for them. But at home, my little sister is young, Mother is introverted, and Father is frail. I am the only one in my prime. I long for the prosperity of distant places, but I care even more for the peace of my home. So, I, Feng, bow and thank you two brothers, but I must stay at home.”
Jiang Feng bowed to thank them.
His eyes were red, but a relaxed smile spread across his face, sighing in relief for his choice.
The youth dared not pursue his future because he had to take care of his family.
The youth did not regret it.
Where he was, the home was.
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