Chapter 68: Godfather
Night fell.
Jiang Changtian returned home accompanied by the moonlight again.
As he neared the village, he saw someone standing by the side of the road.
He was startled.
When he saw who it was, Jiang Changtian relaxed.
“Jiexi, what are you doing sitting here?” Jiang Changtian asked Jiexi, who was by the roadside.
He was one of the few in the village who didn’t call him Saner, but used his name instead.
Jiexi was also one of the few who didn’t call Jiang Changtian Jiang the Second, but called him Changtian.
“I’m waiting for you here,” Jiexi said.
“Perfect. We had guests yesterday, so there should still be some food at home. Let’s go eat.”
Jiexi nodded and stood up, stumbling slightly.
Jiang Changtian gave him a strange look but didn’t say anything more.
The two walked back to the village together.
The villagers weren’t surprised.
It seemed that Jiexi and Jiang the Second had always had a good relationship; everyone started calling him Saner because of Jiang the Second.
Jiexi was actually a bit younger, but he never combed his hair or shaved, so he looked old.
“Saner, mooching a meal at Jiang the Second’s house again!” the villagers teased.
“Jiang the Second’s house has good food today. A noble gave them so many things; you sure know how to pick your timing, Saner.”
“Saner is sharp!”
“Saner even knows to bring a gift when visiting, just like the noble. What treasure are you carrying in your hand?” someone reached out to grab it.
Jiexi protected the item, hugging it to his chest and not letting anyone touch it.
“Brother Jiang the Second, your Fenger is quite something. My maternal family has a niece who is diligent and strong. I’ll bring her over to see him tomorrow.”
Jiang Changtian replied politely, smiling or declining.
Usually, Jiexi would talk back and roast people—he was quite good at it, with a whole set of grand theories—but today he didn’t say a word, just clutched the item in his arms and walked slowly behind Jiang the Second.
The person who wanted to touch Jiexi’s item cursed, “What kind of treasure is it? You’re guarding it like your own manhood!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
The laughter trailed off behind them.
The two continued walking up.
When Jiang Changtian reached his door, someone was waiting to greet him.
Jiang Yu shouted excitedly, “Father, Father.”
Jiang Mianmian shouted excitedly, “Iya yaya, iya ya” (Father, Father).
Qin Luoxia smiled.
Seeing Jiexi, Qin Luoxia smiled graciously as always and said, “Saner is here. Perfect, come eat with us.”
Jiang Yu greeted him properly, “Third Uncle.”
Jiang Feng also called out, “Father, hello Third Uncle.”
Jiang Mianmian looked at the newcomer with curiosity.
He seemed to have a good relationship with their family. Was he her Father’s younger brother?
He was dressed even worse than her Father and looked like he was doing even worse than her Father.
But she was a polite child, so she waved her arms and greeted him too, “Su-su, su-su…”
Jiang Changtian washed his hands, took Mianmian into his arms, and laughed, “Jiexi, you’re here. She can even call you Uncle now.”
Jiexi looked curiously at the little girl in Jiang Changtian’s arms, “She looks like you.”
He pulled a copper medallion from his person, placed it on her swaddling clothes, and said, “A gift from Uncle for our first meeting.”
Jiang Changtian was slightly stunned. This was a personal item; why was Jiexi being so formal?
At dinner, the family sat around, with Jiexi joining them.
Jiexi ate very seriously, and as he ate, he began to cry.
“Sister-in-law Luo Xia, if I had known that marrying you would mean such good food, I would have jumped off the bridge you pass by every day and waited for you to fish me out.”
Qin Luoxia tapped the table with her chopsticks and scolded, “Saner, if you talk nonsense again, I’ll hit you. In front of your brother and the children, what kind of nonsense are you spouting? If you jump, I’ll just watch you drift away; I won’t fish you out.”
“Mother likes my Father because he’s good-looking. Third Uncle, you aren’t good-looking enough,” Jiang Yu said, lacking tact.
Jiexi laughed, then pointed at Jiang Feng and scolded, “Useless. The noble asked you to go to the capital and you didn’t go. If the noble had taken a liking to me, I would have run right over. I’d even be willing to carry the noble’s shoes.”
Jiang Feng had sorted through his thoughts all night and had already let it go. He felt some regret, but as a man, supporting his family was his duty, so there was nothing to regret.
He returned to his usual cheerful self and said, “Can’t help it, Third Uncle. I can’t bear to leave my Mother; I can’t eat the food she makes anywhere else. How about this: when you make it big, Third Uncle, you take me with you, and I’ll live the high life.”
Jiexi suddenly said, “Alright. I was just planning to go out and make my way in the world. Fenger, I have no children. Acknowledge me as your godfather. If I make it big, I’ll take you to live the high life. If I don’t make it and die, remember to burn a stack of paper money for me.”
Jiang Feng was stunned for a moment and glanced at his Father’s expression.
Then he stood up and bowed deeply.
“Bang, bang, bang,” three sounds rang out.
“Godfather.”
Qin Luoxia mused internally, wondering what was wrong with Jiexi today. He kept clamoring about marrying her—what a brat.
Jiang Mianmian was curious. Was this person a suitor of Mother’s? So Mother had admirers too.
Jiang Yu asked curiously, “Third Uncle, can my sister and I join too? We can burn paper money for you as well.”
Jiang Mianmian:…
Others:…
Jiexi’s eyes were red, but he couldn’t help but laugh.
“If you are willing to acknowledge me, I am very happy. Suddenly having three children—my life is complete, I have no regrets.”
So Jiang Yu held her sister, and together with her brother, they kowtowed.
Thus, the three siblings had gained a godfather.
Jiang Mianmian hadn’t even clearly seen what her godfather looked like.
After the meal.
Drinking water.
Jiang Mianmian had specially added something to her Father’s tea, but before her Father could drink it, the new godfather solemnly handed her Father a bundle.
“Changtian, this is my treasure. Help me find a place to bury it. If I become wealthy one day, I will come back to retrieve it. If I don’t return, consider me dead.”
“Where are you going?” Jiang Changtian asked.
“I am skilled at singing. I hear the nobles in the imperial city love to listen. I want to go and sing for money. If I’m going to sell my songs, I want to sell them to the most expensive person.”
After Jiexi finished speaking, he was very agitated. He snatched the water from in front of Jiang Changtian and drank it in one gulp.
He stepped forward, hugged Jiang Changtian, and choked out, “Brother.”
Then he looked around at Jiang Feng, Jiang Yu, and Jiang Mianmian, and finally called out to Qin Luoxia, who was by the doorframe, “Sister-in-law, I’m leaving.”
Qin Luoxia felt something was off with Saner. She went back into the room, took out a small piece of silver, put half back, then added another piece.
She came out with the silver, but Jiexi’s figure had already disappeared. She handed the silver to her son and said, “Go, take this to your godfather.”
Jiang Feng took the silver and ran after him.
He gave the silver to his godfather just outside the village entrance.
He watched his figure disappear into the darkness.
He felt a bit of envy.
He waved and shouted, “Godfather, you have to work hard!”
Jiexi walked away without looking back.
From the darkness came the sound of singing: “For what my heart finds good, though I die nine times, I would not regret it…”
The singing was melodious and continuous, causing the birds to fall silent.
