Chapter 53: Smoothly Returning Home

Chapter 53: A Smooth Return Home

In his half-life, Jiang Huailiang’s greatest regret was that despite being such a talented man, he suffered from not having a face that could win over a wife.

So, he helplessly grew a thick beard to cover his plain looks and held a strong disdain for any pretty boys.

His eyes swept over Li Laosan’s face, and he grumbled under his breath, "This guy’s a grown man, yet his face is more delicate than a young girl’s—how annoying!"

But when he turned his head and saw the way his daughter was smiling, his heart immediately sank in dread.

Oh no!

They say sons take after their fathers, and daughters take after their mothers.

Would Eldest Daughter be like her mother, choosing men based solely on looks?!

"Ahem, well, let me say something."

He quickly stepped forward to interrupt.

"It’s getting late, and everyone’s tired—both people and horses. Let’s not stand around here anymore. We should head back to the city first and talk later!"

"Uncle Jiang is absolutely right."

Li Yanxiu tactfully chimed in.

"After all, there will be plenty of time later. Wan Jieer, we can talk more another day."

As he spoke, he subtly winked his right peach-blossom eye at Jiang Wan, as if sharing a knowing look.

Indeed, clever people can communicate with just a glance.

Jiang Wan immediately smiled and nodded, blinking back in response, which made Li Chengxiu, who had been watching her, feel a little uneasy in his heart.

He felt an inexplicable and absurd surge of anger in his chest, as if Wan Jieer had lied to him.

What did she mean by not wanting his brother? Look at how she’s smiling like a blooming flower—does that seem like she doesn’t want him? Clearly, she has improper thoughts about my brother!

He lowered his eyes, feeling a little down, and for some reason, a bit resentful welled up in his heart.

Just this morning, you were so set on liking me—how could you change your mind the moment you saw my brother? Even if I wasn’t that keen on marrying you, you shouldn’t shift your affections so openly right in front of me!

As Father said, pretty but fierce girls are the worst—they just love to play with people’s feelings!

And here I was, finally working up the nerve to make a decision, only for this budding flower to wither before it even had a chance to bloom.

The group hurried back to the city, and no one had the time or energy to care about the delicate feelings of a young man.

After trudging through the dark for most of the night, they finally reached the towering city gates of Maocheng just before midnight.

Jiang Huailiang and Li Yanxiu each produced a token, which finally persuaded the guards to open the tightly shut gates. Everyone filed in safely, returning to the city.

At the crossroads where they had to part ways, Li Yanxiu once again sincerely thanked the Jiang family’s eldest daughter and left her with a cryptic message.

Li Yuanxiu had been assassinated, and his condition remained unclear.

Jiang Wan met his seemingly affectionate peach-blossom eyes for a few moments, analyzing in her mind the intention behind his sharing this news with her. Before she could figure it out, Li Chengxiu spoke up beside her, sounding aggrieved as he bid farewell. To be honest, she still hadn’t quite figured out the meaning.

Maocheng was under curfew, and the streets were empty. The group that had returned from outside the city quickly dispersed, each heading home.

Though it was already late at night, the main courtyard of the Jiang residence was still lit by candlelight. Xu Shi knelt before her sister’s memorial tablet, crying uncontrollably.

"Sister, I’ve lost the child. I’ve lost our Wan Jieer. Sister, I’ve failed you!"

From the moment she received news of her eldest daughter’s danger until now, Xu Shi’s tears had hardly dried. She repeatedly blamed herself, regretting ever allowing the child to go play outside the city!

"If my husband… if he can’t bring Wan Jieer back, I’ll atone with my death! Sister, please watch over our Wan Jieer…"

"Madam, they’re back! The general has brought our young mistress back!"

Qing Zhu, who had rushed into the courtyard in a panic, began shouting at the top of her lungs before even entering the room. Gone was the usual dignity and composure of the head maid of Anran Residence.

Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, mirrored her mistress’s disheveled state. But now, her face was filled with excited and joyful smiles.

Zi Yu, who had been guarding the door, heard her friend’s good news and quickly wiped away her tears before rushing into the room.

"Madam, the young mistress has been found!"

Xu Shi scrambled to her feet as fast as she could and hurried outside.

"Wan Jieer!"

"Mother!"

Jiang Wan had rushed home without delay, knowing that there was a woman at home crying her heart out for her.

This woman was her mother, the person who had doted on her most in both her past and present lives.

"Mother, don’t cry. I’m back!"

She rushed into the courtyard and caught the slender figure rushing toward her. As expected, her mother was crying uncontrollably, looking utterly disheveled—just like the first time Jiang Wan had opened her eyes and seen her.

But this was the person who loved her most in the world!

"Mother, I’m sorry. I made you worry."

"Wan Jieer, Wan Jieer, my child…"

Only when she held her daughter tightly in her arms, feeling the familiar warmth, did Xu Shi’s fearful and anxious heart finally settle back into place.

Mother and daughter embraced, crying together, their tears bringing both joy and exhaustion to those who had followed them home.

Jiang Huailiang stepped forward and gently pried his weeping wife—whose tears pained him deeply—away from their eldest daughter, then carefully held her against his large frame.

"Yu Jieer, don’t cry. Didn’t I bring Eldest Daughter back?

I’ve already checked her over—no missing arms or legs, no broken branches or plucked leaves. I guarantee she’s whole and unharmed.

Don’t worry, alright?"

Though she knew this big black bear was trying to comfort her, Xu Shi still reached out and pinched his arm in displeasure.

"Do you even know how to speak? What kind of description was that? Is our child one of the radishes Mother planted in the backyard?"

"Ouch, that hurts! The child is watching!"

He cried out in exaggerated pain, playing along with his wife’s strength, and finally managed to make her stop crying. The thick-skinned Old Jiang then grinned, flashing his white teeth, and stepped aside.

"Wasn’t I just afraid you wouldn’t understand, so I made a comparison in the heat of the moment? You know what I meant—why nitpick the inappropriate wording of a rough man like me?"

His wife had cried herself out today and was now too angry to speak. But his daughter was still a good daughter, quickly taking both her parents by the hand and pulling them toward the house.

"Dad, didn’t you tell me last time that you were known in the army as a man of learning? How is it that after just a few months, you’ve degraded into a rough man?"

The mischievous child both defended her father and teased him at the same time. Sure enough, her words elicited an eye-roll from him.

"Degraded? There you go again with words nobody understands. Of course I’m a man of learning—just not that much learning. But in the army, I’m definitely one of the top talents!"