Chapter 10: Changing the Map

Chapter 10: A Change of Scenery

The days were a bustling yet orderly blur. It took the Jiang family another three days to settle all their affairs.

Early that morning, Xu Shi took the children to visit Big Xu Shi’s grave and burn joss paper. After the three children had kowtowed, she herself knelt and bowed three times.

"Sister, the children and I are leaving now.

I promise to take good care of Wan'er in this life, so rest assured. Once we’re settled there, I’ll set up your memorial tablet. When the time comes, you can join us, and we’ll live together again.

That way, you won’t be all alone here, with no one to talk to. Wouldn’t that be lonely…"

She lingered, chatting tenderly with her sister for a good while longer. Only when the sun gradually climbed above the clouds, revealing its flushed red face, did the mother and her children pick up their small bamboo baskets and head back.

Jiang Wan quietly trailed behind Xu Shi, observing the deep sisterly bond she had just displayed with her birth mother in the grave. It was hard not to feel a surge of emotion.

The ancients truly valued promises and affections deeply. As an aunt, Xu Shi had undeniably done her utmost for her niece!

Though Jiang Wan had no memory of her birth mother, she carried years of memories of Xu Shi’s tireless efforts and had even witnessed her secretly shedding tears on several occasions.

Raising a child with special needs was far more challenging than raising a typical child—it even meant preparing to care for them for a lifetime.

If it were her, she wasn't sure she could have done it.

She quietly turned her head, glancing towards the grave.

Just as the path was beginning to warm, a cool breeze swept through, caressing her cheek as if someone had gently, reluctantly touched her face.

Two large tears inexplicably rolled down from her eyes.

"Sister, why did you stop?"

Jiang Han habitually turned to look for her, then called out loudly.

"Why are you crying? Did you twist your ankle? Mom, Mom, quick! What’s wrong with our silly eldest sister again?"

"You shut up!"

Jiang Wan calmly wiped away her tears. The sudden sadness she had felt moments earlier was completely dispelled by her noisy little sister’s shouts.

Jiang Yaozu, having been disciplined often, was timid and dared not provoke his eldest sister. But it had been so long since he’d seen her cry—he found it quite peculiar. He followed behind his mother, craning his neck to join the commotion.

Xu Shi turned back, took her eldest daughter’s hand, and gently touched her slightly reddened eyes. Her voice was as tender as ever.

"There, there, good child, don’t cry. Mother’s here."

She had spoken these words for twelve years, and they were deeply etched into the child’s mind, easily soothing any sudden sadness or unease.

"I wasn’t trying to cry. The wind just blew into my eyes, and some dust got in."

"Does it feel better now?"

Xu Shi quickly checked her daughter’s eyes, gently lifting the lids, and then carefully blew into them.

"It’s better now. Mom, it’s getting late. We should hurry back. The clan members who are seeing us off are probably already at our door."

Jiang Wan pointed at the sun, and Xu Shi nodded.

"Alright, let’s go quickly. Second child, third child, pick up your pace. We mustn’t delay our departure time."

The children responded and quickened their steps.

"Alright, got it."

"I’m already walking as fast as I can. Any faster and I’ll be out of breath. How about you carry me, Mom? I can’t walk anymore, Mom…"

For such whimsical remarks, there was always someone to put him in his place. Jiang Wan gave a chilling grin.

"Jiang Laosan, how many servings of bamboo shoots with shredded pork would you like?"

The threat was remarkably effective, working instantly.

The little chubby boy, who had been dawdling, immediately started moving his stout legs again, huffing and puffing as he jogged to catch up.

"Big Sis, don’t hit me! I was just joking!"

"Hahaha, Jiang Yaozu, you coward! You deserve a beating! Let’s see if you still dare to bully me?"

Little Jiang Han, who loved to watch a good show, always seized the opportunity to mock her brother and rub it in. Jiang Yaozu glared at her fiercely.

"When did I ever bully you? Clearly, you're the one bullying me now! Big Sis, you’re playing favorites—why aren’t you hitting Jiang Han?"

Jiang Wan smirked leisurely.

"Hmm, perhaps it’s because I am biased?"

"Hahahaha, Jiang Laosan, did your tattling fall on deaf ears? Don’t you see the bond I’ve built with Big Sis over all these years, sharing a room? How could you, the annoying one, ever compare?"

"Mom! Look, Big Sis and Second Sis are ganging up on me! Aren’t you going to do something? I’m telling you, I’m going to get angry—and I won’t be easy to calm down!"

The lively bickering among the children brought Xu Shi a rare moment of peace. She looked up at the newly risen sun in the east, her heart filled with hope for the days to come.

Surely, things would only get better from now on?

Jiang Huailiang was at the courtyard gate, meticulously inspecting the two carriages. These had cost a fortune to procure from the county town, and he couldn’t afford for them to break down halfway.

His guard, Wang Hu, approached for orders.

"General, are we setting off today?"

"Why wouldn’t we? The deadline given by the Prince of Huai is almost here. If we delay any longer and something goes wrong, I might end up getting a beating myself!"

Jiang Huailiang joked lightheartedly as he tightened the horse’s reins. Turning, he saw his wife returning with the children.

"Alright, go tell the brothers to prepare quickly. We’ll set off now."

"Yes, sir!"

The guard acknowledged the order and left, while Jiang Huailiang went to greet his wife and children with a smile.

He then helped his elderly parents, who were caught in a crowd of weeping elders, into the carriage. Amidst the tearful farewells and frantic waves of their clansmen, Jiang Huailiang mounted the carriage with a smile, cracked the whip, and set off.

After all, there weren’t many valuable belongings left at home—the most precious things in the Jiang family were these few people. Oh, and there was also that hen that could lay eggs on command. All of them were packed into the two carriages and taken along.

Though it was hard to leave their homeland, the future still lay ahead on the distant road. No matter how reluctant they were, they had to wave goodbye.

Once again, they journeyed tirelessly through the dust and wind. The three Jiang siblings drifted in and out of sleep in the carriage. After several bleary-eyed, disorienting days and nights, the carriage finally pulled up before a towering city wall.

"Yu Niang, look—this is Maocheng! It’s where your man is stationed now. What do you think? Impressive, isn’t it?"

Jiang Huailiang reached out with his large, fan-sized hand and gently patted the carriage door. His wife leaned out from inside.

"Keep your voice down. The children aren't feeling well. Just get us to our place already. Since we’ve arrived, it won’t be too late for you to take us out for a stroll once we’ve recovered our energy."

"Oh, alright then."

The man, who had originally wanted to show off his achievements in front of his wife, was deflated by her response. He looked a little down. Even his bushy beard seemed to sag, no longer looking as spirited as before!

Xu Shi found it amusing and reached out to pat her husband’s bracer. She then hooked her finger to pull his ear closer and whispered some praise.

"My husband is truly a towering hero, to have achieved such success and secured a future for his family! Your wife truly admires you greatly!"

The great hero and fine gentleman, who had served as a coachman all the way, immediately broke into a wide, toothy grin.

"Well, at least you’ve got good taste, woman, knowing how to admire a talented man like me! Not bad, not bad at all. Hahaha!"

He cracked the whip, driving the carriage into the city.