Chapter 77: Mother and Son
The cold wind blew chillingly.
Jiang Changtian saw Xiao Douzi off.
Xiao Douzi’s pouch was filled with ointment for treating bruises and injuries.
He left the County Magistrate’s office with quick steps.
He had an innate fear of the office.
Because he knew what his uncles were involved in.
But Old Uncle Five told him to come and take a look, to be sharp.
He saw that there were many people in the office, much more than usual, and everyone looked busy, as if they were preparing for something big.
Xiao Douzi was scared and walked faster than usual, but he still couldn’t help but turn back to look at Mr. Jiang, who was standing in front of the small hut.
He trotted, then stopped, and turned to wave at Mr. Jiang.
Mr. Jiang was a good man.
His Mother said that one must remember kindness.
Mr. Jiang also waved back at him, his expression a bit serious.
Xiao Douzi followed Mr. Jiang’s gaze and was startled. The person wearing the large robe and hat was the County Magistrate, right? The County Magistrate had actually come out. He had seen him with his own eyes, and being this close, he was a bit curious.
He saw that the County Magistrate was seeing someone off, bowing to a gorgeously dressed old lady.
Wearing such a large official uniform and still being able to bow, the rolls of fat around his waist wobbled.
Xiao Douzi paused for a step, was scolded by someone, and then woke up, realizing he had lost his mind to be watching the excitement in the County Magistrate’s office.
This time, he ran away fast without looking back.
He soon disappeared.
The elegant and noble Old Madam whom the County Magistrate personally saw off was none other than Jiang Changtian’s Mother, Old Madam Jiang.
Because the county was not very peaceful, she had specially invited Old Madam Jiang, who had guards of a prince, to come and discuss matters.
Jiang Changtian had not seen his Mother for a long time.
His Mother had not changed at all.
Just as in his memory.
Her posture was elegant; even in this small county town, she possessed that innate imposing manner.
With such an elegant posture, even when she interacted with others peacefully, it would make people feel flattered.
He had aged.
His Mother remained young.
He had become the Father of three children.
His Mother remained young.
Beside his Mother was a pretty young girl.
She was about the same age as his Sister Yu.
His Sister Yu was always thinking about food, pondering over every bite.
That young girl was polite, neither servile nor overbearing when facing the County Magistrate, aloof yet approachable, very much like Old Madam Jiang.
Seemingly sensing something, Old Madam Jiang, who was chatting with the County Magistrate, turned her head.
She saw the thin, tall young man standing in front of the small door.
The young man’s face was very similar to her eldest son’s, which startled her.
Jiang Wan also turned her head and saw that person too.
Judging by his appearance, he looked 60% like her Father, but he felt much more handsome.
Just standing there, there was a sense of chilling wind and autumn waters.
His posture was actually more like a master than the County Magistrate in front of them.
The County Magistrate also noticed the Old Madam’s expression.
He found an excuse and hastily took his leave to attend to official business.
He wouldn’t get involved in family matters.
Jiang Changtian paused.
Since having Fenger, he had become much steadier than before.
He even reflected on himself often.
Only when one becomes a parent does one understand the grace of parents.
He felt that he must have done many things that saddened his Mother in the past.
Later, when he taught Fenger to read and write, he found that Fenger was exceptionally intelligent, smarter than him, and had a good memory.
The poems and books that he had to read several times to memorize, Fenger could memorize after just reading them twice in front of him.
Fenger would tie his hair in small buns, shaking his head as he stood in front of him reciting long poems.
Jiang Changtian was pleasantly surprised.
His heart swelled with much emotion and gratitude.
So the next day, he specially went to the Jiang Mansion. He knelt at the entrance of the Jiang Mansion for half a day, and then knelt at the Old Madam’s door for half a day.
He knelt until dark.
Only then did he see his Mother.
His eldest brother had just had a daughter, and she was as cute as snow from birth, and the smile on his Mother’s face had melted.
His eldest brother was also full of joy.
He understood this feeling of being a Father.
He thought that since they were all happy today, his plea might be easier.
He did not ask for wealth or high status, nor for a grand mansion; he only begged for a word from his Mother. He could give up the imperial examinations; he didn’t even think about passing with top honors or bringing glory to his ancestors; he didn’t dare to think about that anymore.
He only hoped that Fenger could study and progress normally.
He hoped to leave a path for his child.
“You don’t need to pave it, just don’t stop us, we will climb it ourselves.”
He knelt for a day.
His health had always been poor.
He was already tottering.
He knew he looked very pitiful.
He thought, if his Mother saw him looking so pitiful, she would have a little pity.
After all, she was his Mother.
His Mother saw him.
The cute baby suddenly wailed loudly.
His Mother could not care about talking to him and carelessly had people drive him out the door.
The whole family was surrounding the baby, worried that something was wrong.
From beginning to end, he did not get a single straight look from his Mother.
That night was also this cold.
He almost thought he would die.
Finally, the night watchman helped him to the corner of the wall.
He leaned against the wall, looking at the darkness, thinking of just dying.
Because the darkness before him had no end.
In the end, Sister Xia came to find him.
Sister Xia said nothing.
She carried him on her back and walked back to the village.
Just like that year when Sister Xia fished him out of the water.
Carrying him home.
The road was so dark.
He felt dizzy and started running a fever.
Sister Xia’s shoulders were very warm.
Since then, he had never set foot in the Jiang Mansion again.
Even though he worked nearby every day, just a stone’s throw away.
To him, it was the ends of the earth.
He didn’t even see his Mother.
Strange, Mother and son had not seen each other for many years.
He actually didn’t miss her much.
He had three children and had to hustle for a living, so he rarely looked back on the past.
He greeted people with a smile every day, nodding and bowing.
For a few copper coins, he acted obsequiously.
He forgot that he once had crowds of servants, and now he wasn’t even as good as a servant.
He forgot that he once used gold nuggets as marbles, throwing them all over the ground.
Now, when he picked up a pretty stone, he carefully tucked it into his bosom and brought it home to amuse his children.
He forgot that the elegant and noble Old Madam in front of him was his Mother.
Jiang Wan supported her grandmother.
There was a voice in her heart telling her to quickly take her grandmother away.
Leave quickly.
But she was inexplicably curious.
That man standing there really looked good.
So, as if possessed, she actually followed her grandmother toward that small side room.
As they approached, there was a smell of Chinese medicine.
It wasn’t unpleasant.
Jiang Wan curiously glanced inside.
It was kept very tidy.
There was a table and a stool by the small window.
On the windowsill, there were three knife marks; she didn’t know which naughty child had carved them.
Slacking off today.
Jiang Changtian got off work early.
No one bothered to manage him.
When he returned to the village, it was still bright.
Luo Xia was actually holding the baby and chatting with people under the big tree at the entrance of the village.
His little Mianmian saw him first.
“Father, Father!” A sweet and soft voice called out.
And she reached out to him.
He patted himself, then took the child.
She was heavy and soft.
He held Mianmian in his arms.
One hand supporting her back, one hand wrapped around her bottom.
He held her securely in his arms.
He smiled and listened to the villagers chatting, but he was a bit absent-minded.
Even when someone called “Jiang the Second”, he didn’t respond, not knowing what he was thinking.
Qin Luoxia also noticed her husband’s abnormality and pushed him gently.
“Dear, Old Uncle Five is calling you.”
Jiang Changtian finally reacted.
His expression was a bit panicked.
“Sister Xia, let’s go pack our things quickly. I heard news at the County Magistrate’s office today that the bandits from Jishan have taken the County Magistrate’s office, declared themselves kings, and are now heading our way with people, and they will probably be here soon. We should hide for a while. When bandits pass by, it’s like a fine-toothed comb, leaving nothing behind.”
“Old Uncle Five, you guys should also pack up, put away your valuable things. We will hide for these two days, and it will be fine once it passes.”
Jiang Changtian said with a serious expression.
“I came back early today precisely because I got this news and risked my life to escape back. The officials at the County Magistrate’s office all know about this, but they won’t say it out, wanting the villages along the way to delay the bandits’ pace.”
Jiang Changtian held the baby, his expression heavy, his words logical.
The people present believed most of it.
In this day and age, scholars were already considered higher than others.
Not to mention that Jiang the Second was considered a capable person who worked at the County Magistrate’s office, and he had three children of his own, so he certainly wouldn’t lie.
Jiang Changtian told everyone about the seriousness of the situation, then held the child and his wife and walked back quickly.
Jiang Mianmian was startled when she heard this in her Father’s arms.
What kind of miserable world is this?
This, the good days haven’t lasted a few days, and these bandits are coming. They are so poor, what are they coming to rob? To rob wild vegetables?
No, nowadays people can also be robbed; the most important thing is to hide oneself.
Seeing her Father’s face so serious, Jiang Mianmian changed her way of thinking. If the bandits came, then her sister shouldn’t have to be a concubine. Today, she went out for a walk with her Mother, and no one in the village mentioned that her sister was going to be a concubine.
Jiang Mianmian felt her Father walking upwards, his heartbeat speeding up.
She dug and dug into her newly sewn small pocket, and pulled out a small ant.
No, not this one. She stuffed the small ant back.
She reached out to dig into the other pocket.
She pulled out a piece of candied fruit, held it up, and stuffed it to her Father’s serious mouth corner.
“Father, eat, eat, sweet.” Jiang Mianmian said.
Eating something sweet would make him happy.
Jiang Changtian didn’t react, opened his mouth, and the entrance was very sweet, very sweet candied fruit meat, also a little sour, but mainly sweet.
Very sweet.
The sunset shone on the road.
Beside him was his wife.
In his arms was his child.
In his mouth was candy.
That was enough.
What did others’ deaths have to do with him?
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