Jiang Sheng was stunned.
She had just been agonizing over whether to ask the Jiang Family for help when Old Lady Jiang appeared in the alley outside Feng Tian Fu.
She wore light-colored cotton clothes, with no deliberate friendliness in her smile. Her eyes were just full of gentleness.
When Jiang Sheng looked up, Old Lady Jiang was also looking around.
It seemed she hadn't seen Jiang Sheng. She turned back doubtfully to ask Tan Yue a couple words before suddenly realizing and accurately finding the right direction in the crowd.
This time it was Jiang Sheng who was puzzled.
Yao Siqing spoke lightly, "When people get older, their eyes naturally deteriorate. She can no longer see clearly from so far away, and can only judge by her maid."
That meant from across the wide street, all Old Lady Jiang could see was a blurry figure. She couldn't see the precious granddaughter she was thinking about.
Jiang Sheng suddenly felt sour. She felt like she should have stepped forward a couple steps, at least to let the old woman see clearly.
Her feet followed her thoughts, reflexively lifting then falling back down.
In the small alley, Tan Yue was suddenly excited, "Old Lady, Little Miss has come over, she's come over!"
Old Lady Jiang's expression was unchanged, but she unconsciously tidied her temples, "Is my dress still neat? Is my hair messy?"
"It's not messy, still neat and tidy, Old Lady," Tan Yue soothed her.
Only then did Old Lady Jiang reveal a knowing smile, looking at the blurry child figure that gradually became clear as a graceful young lady.
It had been eleven years.
Time waits for no one, aging people without pause.
If she could, Old Lady Jiang would probably be the one who most hoped to return to eleven years ago. She would definitely guard the baby well, not giving anyone a chance to switch them.
Unfortunately, the rarest thing in the world were the ifs.
Jiang Sheng looked at Old Lady Jiang with her head full of silver hair. After a bit of hesitation, she still followed Yao Siqing's teachings and performed the courtesy of a young lady. She politely said, "Greetings to Old Lady Jiang."
"Why still call me Old Lady, you should call me Grandmother," Tan Yue reminded at the side.
Old Lady Jiang quickly waved her hand with arched eyebrows and eyes. "Let her call whatever she wants, it's just a form of address."
Jiang Sheng stirred her fingers, not knowing how to respond or how to deal with influential people.
"Good child, you've come for your big brother right," It was like Old Lady Jiang knew her thoughts. "Don't worry, the Jiang Family will not stand idly by."
Jiang Sheng's eyes lit up.
The Jiang Family was, like the Qi Family, a family with military exploits. Unlike the Qi Family's path to civil service, General Jiang still fought on the border. Even if he were to transfer to civil service, it would be the next generation.
Speaking only of influence, the Jiang Family was no less than the Qi Family.
It was just...
After much hesitation, Jiang Sheng spoke, "Do I still need to return to the Jiang Family then?"
"No need," Old Lady Jiang smiled. "If you're happy following your brothers, then stay outside."
Jiang Sheng was stunned.
She had thought Old Lady Jiang needed her to return, at least to give the Jiang Family cause when helping. She didn't expect it was to avoid offending the Qi Family over a lone girl.
"Helping you is helping you, no need for excuses," Old Lady Jiang smiled. "Don't think too much, just live happily."
The result exceeded Jiang Sheng's expectations, also making her excited beyond words.
Impatiently, she counted on her fingers. The Jiang, Dou, He, and Qi Families - what were the chances of helping Xu Mo regain justice with them.
At the side, Old Lady Jiang suddenly waved towards the distance.
A slender green figure walked over and courteously saluted, "Greetings Grandmother."
Jiang Sheng's thoughts were interrupted, her mind blank and mouth slightly agape.
Old Lady Jiang endured laughter, a barely noticeable playfulness in her eyes, "In the prominent families of Fengjing, the Jiang Family represents more than just itself. Keep an open mind."
"Yes," Yao Siqing also spoke. "The Jiang Family is related by marriage to the Yao Family, and also the Liao Family, still some relations to the Tao Family... Complex and intertwined, not just talk."
So, Sis Yao was not a sympathetic friend, but her cousin.
Jiang Sheng's mood grew increasingly complicated.
That chance encounter, the sudden friendliness, and the earnest teaching, as both teacher and friend, found reason in this moment.
She didn't know what emotion she should have, sadness that her first friend was still a relative, or indignation that Old Lady Jiang had actually placed her granddaughter's niece by her side.
But they hadn't harmed her and were even helping her.
Jiang Sheng was not an ungrateful person. After long struggling to survive, she was sincerely grateful to everyone who helped her.
As her peripheral vision swept over Old Lady Jiang swaying slightly, she instinctively rushed over to support her.
At the moment their skin touched was an aged feeling, alongside an indescribable warmth.
"I'm getting old and somewhat useless," Old Lady Jiang gave a wry smile. "It seems I can't keep staying. I'll have Siqing keep accompanying you."
"Old Lady, your health is still strong. I was the one aching all over after standing an hour while you just swayed a bit," Tan Yue consoled at the side.
The old woman just smiled without replying. She carefully caressed Jiang Sheng's bobbed hair before getting back into the carriage.
As the driver whipped the reins, the carriage gradually disappeared from sight.
Jiang Sheng turned back around. Before she could speak, Yao Siqing hugged her tightly with a bitter face, "Little Jiang Jiang, don't be angry with me or Great Grandmother. She was afraid you'd suffer losses and told me to teach you."
Teach her the etiquette of prominent families, interpersonal relations, dealing with things, poise...
Old Lady Jiang had arranged so much, how could she not hope for her to return home?
Respecting her choices was just fearing she'd be upset and sad.
Even now at the critical juncture, she was still willing to stand out and help.
Jiang Sheng didn't even know what to say anymore. She could only mumble, "Sis Yao, I should be returning right?"
The Jiang Family couldn't unconditionally help a lone girl, but they could help the Jiang Family's daughter.
Old Lady Jiang was getting old and her remaining time decreasing day by day.
Jiang Sheng felt she couldn't be too ungrateful.
"But," Yao Siqing became serious. "Jiang Sheng, what Great Grandmother hopes least is you compromising yourself. She wants you to live freely."
"It's not that troublesome either," Jiang Sheng widened her eyes. "I just... suddenly wondered what it felt like to have a grandmother."
Like Ergou from Shili Pubu village. When beaten by his parents he'd run crying for grandmother.
After crying, there was sugar water to drink and pastries to eat. He could even watch his parents get beaten crying for mercy.
Ergou had repeatedly bragged to Jiang Sheng, "I have a grandmother, the best grandmother in the world. I love grandmother the most."
But at that time Jiang Sheng was too hungry to care, just wanting to eat. Who cared about grandmothers when she didn't even care about parents.
Finally full and fed, did she also get a chance to drink grandmother's sugar water and eat grandmother's pastries?
The young girl looked up, bright eyes holding some nervousness, awkwardness, worry, and barely noticeable anticipation.
