"Go home?"
The sudden word startled Jiang Sheng and Wen Zhiyun to say in unison.
Only Chang Yan understood with some pity.
The supreme being loves jokes the most. All possible and impossible things happen at the same time, only when they happen to yourself, you know there are all kinds of wonders in the world.
"Yes, the Jiang Family." Old Lady Jiang went straight to the point, "You are the child the Jiang Family lost, I am your grandmother."
Jiang Sheng's eyes widened in shock, thinking this was a new extortion trick.
Thinking of the jade bracelet with ample quality, and the old lady’s gesture of giving the jade bracelet, she felt it was unlikely again, frowning and said, "Old lady, don't joke with me, can't I not want those 100 wen?"
The Jiang family business was huge, rich and powerful, and had an industry like You Ran House, how could it be related to her, a wandering beggar.
Jiang Sheng shook her head and retreated two steps. "Let's not talk about it, let's go pick up my brother."
Tan Yue anxiously stepped forward, trying to explain everything clearly.
Old Lady Jiang stretched out her hand to stop her, smiled gently, "Good child, can you tell grandma why you don't believe it?"
Of course it was because she was not stupid.
Jiang Sheng swallowed the words and weighed them carefully. "The Jiang Family is so powerful, how could they possibly lose a child."
Old Lady Jiang's expression froze slightly, and Tan Yue on the side was even more heartbroken.
Fortunately, the Imperial Examination Hall’s front gate opened, and waves of vigorous students poured out, full of thriving vitality and excitement.
Jiang Sheng's attention was diverted, and she rushed over tumbling, "Brother, I brought you candied chestnuts."
Although she ate a few secretly.
"Slow down." Wen Zhiyun handed the small medicine box to Jiang San and walked over in small steps to protect his sister.
Oddly enough, Chang Yan did not follow.
The handsome youth stood still in front of Old Lady Jiang. Even if he was slightly shorter, he was not eclipsed at all, but rather carried a unique tranquility and prominence, “Old lady, sometimes what you think is good may not be good in someone else’s eyes.”
Just like the Jiang Family. Even if it was the top family in Fengjing, in Jiang Sheng’s eyes, it may not be as good as two catties of candied chestnuts.
"Most importantly, she is much smarter than you think." Chang Yan said softly.
Jiang Sheng shook her head several times. Was she really not understanding?
She evaded the question and made it clear where she stood early on.
Life was long and lonely. During her most difficult times, the brink of death, the days of being beaten and fleeing like a rat, the Jiang Family did not appear.
Now she was happy and content. She had brothers and aunties and money. Her little life was simple and pure. The appearance of the Jiang Family, was it really a good thing for her?
Every place stained with power was a muddy water.
"But I also want to give her the best." The luster in Old Lady Jiang's eyes faded, "I can understand why my little treasure chooses this, and I know it’s too late for the Jiang Family to come. It’s fine if she doesn’t want to go back, but I want to see her often. I want to know if she is doing well."
The chubby little baby who tossed and turned to bite her feet in her arms, grinning, was the lifelong concern she could never let go of.
The old lady lowered her eyelashes slightly to conceal the tears in her eyes.
Chang Yan pursed his lips and sighed softly, "My little sister has a kind heart. She will remember in her heart those who are good to her. Even if the feelings of the later comers can make up in time."
Just like Auntie Zhang, and just like them as brothers.
A true heart was the unimpeded proof.
Old Lady Jiang raised her head and finally made up her mind, "If my little treasure doesn't want to go back, let her be. If she wants to go back, she is the only daughter of the Jiang Family."
In the corner of her eye, Jiang Sheng had already grabbed the arm of a tall young man and skipped over.
Old Lady Jiang smiled slightly and nodded approvingly at Chang Yan.
When Jiang Sheng found her fifth brother, the old lady with tears in her eyes just now had disappeared without a trace, as if the whole farce was just a big dream.
Unfortunately, Xu Mo was also exhausted, so none of the siblings opened their mouths. They just smiled and got into the carriage to head back to the small courtyard.
"Big Brother should have a good rest tonight when you get home." Wen Zhiyun checked his pulse as he spoke, "Don't eat greasy food, so as not to irritate your stomach."
Xu Mo nodded lightly and soon closed his eyes.
Jiang Sheng leaned against the small window on the other side, watching the Imperial Examination Hall’s front gate gradually moving away. Her disappointment was visible to the naked eye.
She didn’t know why. She felt it was very puzzling, but the old lady's words were still ringing in her heart.
If there was a grandmother, would there be a father and mother too?
What would father and mother look like? She remembered when she was five years old, after being beaten violently by Fatty Shan, she hid in the haystack and cried, crying that she had no home, crying that she had no father or mother to protect her.
She was overheard by some slightly older beggars who mocked her, "How could you have a father and mother? If you had parents you wouldn't be a beggar."
"No, that can’t be." Jiang Sheng argued with them, "I have a father and mother, I just forgot what they looked like and got separated from them."
In fact, she knew that the beggars were telling the truth. Her father and mother were probably already dead in some corner.
But Jiang Sheng still hoped that her parents were alive. Even if it meant that she was abandoned, she hoped they were alive and well.
When they returned to the small courtyard of the second hall, the sky was already dark.
Zhang Xianglian was holding a big spatula for frying, looking left and right anxiously at the door.
Seeing the familiar carriage, she finally felt relieved, "Good thing you’re finally back! Hurry up and eat while it’s hot!"
Xu Mo got off first with support. Wen Zhiyun second. Chang Yan third. And finally the silent Jiang Sheng.
"What's the matter?" Zhang Xianglian keenly sensed something wrong. "Little Jiang Sheng is unhappy?"
"I'm not." She shook her head. "I'm fine, Auntie."
But happiness and unhappiness were impossible to fake.
Luckily, it was pitch dark. Jiang Sheng deliberately rushed recklessly into Zhang Xianglian's arms, embarrassed, and said, "I'm just hungry."
"If you're hungry that's easy to solve, go eat pork elbows." Zhang Xianglian let out of breath of relief. She turned around and entered the kitchen, bringing out plates of rice and dishes.
The aroma made up for the loss in her heart, and her family's company added warmth. Jiang Sheng finally had a smile on her face.
But at night, she still had a dream.
In the dream, she finally saw her father and mother. She wanted to grab her mother's hand and ask why they didn't want her anymore, why they didn't love her.
But Mother just kept walking without ever looking back.
The night was mysterious and long. The weeping little girl still failed to grab her mother's hand in the end.
At the same time, in the brightly lit Jiang house, when Lady Jiang saw the pale and pitiful Jiang Chenghua lying in bed, the usually gentle-spoken Lady Jiang lost her temper. She smashed all the cups. Even her eldest son did not escape reprimand. "How did you protect your sister? What are these rumors from outside? What on earth is going on!"
