Chapter 97: My Apologies, My Apologies
Snow was falling outside the window.
But inside the room, it was very warm.
There were too many people.
Jiang Mianmian felt a bit hot; she dug into her little pocket and let Ant out, letting it scuttle about on its own, careful not to get stepped on.
Watching Ant slide down Mother’s skirt to the floor, Jiang Mianmian’s attention shifted elsewhere.
She actually saw that family.
The family that had basically become a taboo in her home.
She had seen them twice.
Once was when they came to visit.
To stop Elder Sister from going to the Prefecture City.
Once was when they seemed to be going out of the city to burn incense; she heard them talking about worshipping Buddha.
That time, she was almost kidnapped.
Thinking back on it, she still felt a lingering fear.
Back then she couldn’t talk yet, but she was truly furious.
After a long time—Jiang Mianmian felt it had been quite a while—she could now stumble through some words and walk with a wobble.
Those two were quite striking.
The people sitting here all felt like quite wealthy individuals, and they were dressed very well.
Silks, satins, furs, and the like; crowded together, it was quite colorful.
But none of that could overshadow the appearance of those two.
Jiang Mianmian thought, perhaps it was no wonder they were related to Father; they were truly striking.
Sitting there, they looked better than everyone else.
Old Madam Jiang looked just like one of those wealthy ladies with a background; born into a prestigious family, with excellent family circumstances, a graceful sitting posture, and an impressive aura.
And the young girl beside Old Madam Jiang, although her skin seemed a tiny bit darker than before, had the most beautiful facial features present. Looking at her gave one an inexplicable, special feeling; one couldn’t help but want to look again after the first glance.
Jiang Mianmian found it very strange. How could someone have such a quality? It was simply amazing.
Values following facial features?
No, this person seemed to be on bad terms with her family. Jiang Mianmian quickly closed her eyes, taking the opportunity to extend her chubby little hand to rub her eyes.
She opened her eyes and quickly turned her head.
Turning her head, she saw the little boy not far away—that young master of the Rebels—sitting there with an expressionless face.
Jiang Mianmian looked over. The little boy was still expressionless, looking dull and foolish. She thought to herself, being the son of the Rebels isn’t easy; he has to come out to hold up the facade at such a young age.
Her attention shifted back to the dishes on the table.
They didn’t look like anything she could eat.
Her teeth weren’t good enough.
She was a bit thirsty and really wanted to drink some water.
But she was a bit wary of the cups outside; what if they weren’t clean?
But if she sucked on her hands, she might be seen, which would be a bit embarrassing.
Jiang Mianmian looked left and right, everything seemed a bit fresh and new to her.
Seeing the Rebels leader, the uncle with the little mustache, she obediently flashed a smile. Life isn’t easy; the County Magistrate has to sell smiles, so she has to sell smiles too.
She didn’t know how cute she looked smiling with just her two little rice-grain teeth.
Zi Congheng’s expressionless face almost cracked.
Gong Qichi announced the start of the banquet and began to eat seriously.
He didn’t care if others could eat or not; he just had to fill his own stomach first.
The others truly couldn’t eat well; they were trembling with fear, not knowing what the purpose of this banquet was.
Surely the Rebels wouldn’t come just to treat everyone to a meal and call their wives and daughters over, right?
Those with big tempers already had dark faces and couldn’t stand it.
But seeing the County Magistrate carefully accompanying them with a smile, and seeing the dense crowd of soldiers standing upstairs and downstairs, everyone could only force a difficult smile.
Old Madam Jiang trembled all over from nervousness at the beginning, but she quickly recovered.
Everyone was nervous and fearful, and no one thought there was anything wrong with Old Madam Jiang.
Jiang Huaisheng never expected that his younger brother, Jiang Changtian, would be an honored guest of the Rebels leader. Seeing them acting with mutual admiration, his brows furrowed tightly.
To actually follow the Rebels!
If their Father had a spirit in heaven and saw this scene, he would certainly be very angry.
He had no appetite either and just kept a stern face.
Halfway through the meal.
Gong Qichi finally spoke, saying a whole lot of flowery, literary words.
Everyone was silent.
Commander Zi’s adopted son, Zi Ganjiang, spoke up: “Every family must hand over two-thirds of their family wealth and leave one person as a hostage. Once it is paid in full, you may take them back.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene was in an uproar.
How unreasonable; with just one light sentence, they wanted to take away two-thirds of their family wealth.
They were even greedier than their County Magistrate.
The scene was immediately filled with buzzing sounds.
Jiang Changtian didn’t even frown. Since the Rebels invited them to eat, it was impossible that it was just for a meal.
He had already prepared grain, medicinal herbs, linen, and dried meat—in short, everything he could bring out—when Gong Qichi brought people over.
Of course, there was no money.
Their villagers were all poor; it was normal not to have money.
But they were very sincere.
Before Brother Yehang could speak, he had already proactively offered it.
As for the scene, he saw his eldest brother, Mother, niece, and Aunt Yao, as well as the guards, but he acted as if he didn’t know them at all.
He didn’t even spare them an extra glance.
He just conversed seriously with Brother Yehang, occasionally attending to his wife and child, and while talking, he still remembered to pick up food for his wife.
Sister Xia liked to eat meat, but she probably felt embarrassed to use her chopsticks with so many people around.
When Jiang Changtian chatted with Gong Qichi, he chatted while picking up food for his wife.
Without even turning his head, he accurately picked up food for her.
This made those wealthy families very displeased. Men and women shouldn’t sit at the same table; even if they did, he actually served food personally. Serving food should be done by servants.
That woman, what virtue or ability did she have? She was so tall, like a foreigner, without any of the delicate beauty of a young lady.
Jiang Mianmian was used to it.
Father was like this at home.
Qin Luoxia’s face was slightly flushed under the watchful eyes of everyone, but she tried her best to straighten her back, not wanting to make her husband lose face.
She tried hard to appear generous, but her face couldn’t help but turn red.
Old Madam Jiang looked at his appearance, feeling as if there was a fishbone in her throat; she couldn’t eat a single bite.
Jiang Wan only took a shallow sip of the water in front of her.
As a young lady of a prominent family, eating in front of so many people under their watchful eyes was a bit unseemly.
She looked at Jiang Yu, who was eating without any reservations, her eyes lowered slightly. This cousin of hers was, at any time, so willful and brainless, unable to read the room.
As soon as Zi Ganjiang’s voice fell, someone who was dissatisfied stood up to object.
“You want to take two-thirds of people’s wealth just by opening your mouth? Are you crazy for money? Do you know my uncle is in the Military Command?”
Gong Qichi, a scholar, stood up.
He drew the sword at his waist and thrust it into the man’s body, twisting it.
“I didn’t know just now, but I know now. My apologies, my apologies.” Gong Qichi suddenly raised his sword and killed the man.
The scene was stunned, followed by the panicked screams of women.
Jiang Wan was also startled and subconsciously hid behind her grandmother, clutching her grandmother’s arm tightly.
Old Madam Jiang’s face was pale, and she kept chanting, “Amitabha, Amitabha.”
Jiang Huaisheng wanted to stand up, but was held back by Old Madam.
The panicked screams were quickly stopped, turning into low gasps.
Because a sword was held against the front of the girl who screamed the loudest.
When the sword touched her skin, she stopped screaming.
She just couldn’t stop her tears from flowing.
The family of the man who said his uncle was in the Military Command didn’t dare to cry out loud either, just holding his corpse and weeping silently.
“Is there anyone else who has relatives they want to introduce to me?” Gong Qichi asked, wiping the blood-stained sword with a white cloth.
Jiang Mianmian sat in Mother’s arms, witnessing the scene firsthand.
She was stunned.
This uncle with the mustache understands human anatomy; the sword was thrust into the heart, and after a twist, the death was thorough.
Thinking this way, Jiang Mianmian suddenly felt a bit panicked. Her thoughts were wrong; shouldn’t she be afraid? She should be crying.
She turned to look at Elder Sister. Elder Sister was also terrified, eyes wide, stuffing a piece of pastry into her mouth, chewing it quickly, then glancing at the fallen person. Elder Sister’s expression became even more terrified, and she took another piece of pastry.
Elder Sister, caught up in her terrified emotions, ate three pieces of pastry in one breath.
Only then did she fearfully cover her eyes.
Jiang Mianmian also covered her eyes.
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