As a Fengjing noble family, the threshold of the Jiang Family house was quite high, almost up to the knees of an adult.
The front gate was also magnificent, with a red background and gold rings, emanating nobility and strictness.
Jiang Si was in charge of carrying pastries, while Jiang San went forward to knock on the door.
The doorkeeper didn't poke his head out much. With just one glance, he jumped up and eagerly opened the door, “The young miss has returned. Please come in, young miss!”
Although she knew that doorkeepers with good memory and judgement would be chosen, Jiang Sheng was still a little surprised. “You recognized me quickly.”
“Of course!” The doorkeeper closed the main door again. His tone was proud: “Big sister Tan Yue told all of us to remember the young miss's face. Whenever the young miss knocks on the door, she can enter without needing to announce herself.”
“If any of us sees the young miss being bullied on the street, we should also report it immediately.”
It was obvious these were just kind words, but they were enough to set off huge waves in Jiang Sheng's heart.
“Does the young miss plan to go in by herself, or would you like me to lead the way?” The doorkeeper dropped the door bolt and turned around to ask.
Jiang Sheng waved her hand to indicate that she would go in by herself.
Although she had only lived there for three to five days, she was already very familiar with the Jiang house. She passed through the bluestone avenue, turned at two pavilions, and walked on the winding pebble path to arrive at the somewhat secluded De Ren Courtyard.
According to custom, Grandmother should be lying in a rocking chair sunbathing, while Tan Yue would trim the branches and flowers while chatting with Grandmother. Until there was no sound, Tan Yue would smile and put down the scissors to find a soft blanket to cover the sleeping old woman.
Jiang Sheng couldn't remember who said that when people got older, they wouldn't want to move much and their spirits were limited. Even though they didn't sleep long at night, they would often feel sleepy during the day.
That was because their bodies were declining. They grew old while drifting in and out of sleep, and bid the world farewell in their weariness.
Jiang Sheng had always felt that she only missed her grandmother a little bit, and only liked the kind old woman a little bit. Until this moment, until she realized the grandmother would grow old, die, and become like the beggars she’d seen who could no longer wake up.
That feeling of loss grabbed her heart, condemned her conscience, and blamed her for having no heart.
In twenty days, she hadn't come to see her grandmother even once. She really was a bad child.
With red eyes, Jiang Sheng no longer hesitated. She ran to the door of De Ren Courtyard at the fastest speed and called out loudly, "Grandmother, grandmother, I've come to see you!"
Her voice pierced through the door panels and space, reaching the inner chamber.
The old lady who had just woken up rubbed the corners of her eyes and spoke wearily, "When you get old, you really can’t do much. I keep having these illusions, seeing my granddaughter's figure, hearing my granddaughter's voice."
Tan Yue forced a smile to comfort her. "According to the old saying, it should be because the young miss missed you so the grandmother is having these illusions."
"Is that so?" Old Lady Jiang felt somewhat gratified. "That's good, that's good."
Sunlight shone through the window lattices, warm and humid like a June day. The flowers were stretching in unison, and the birds were twittering freely.
On such a nice day, who knew what the little granddaughter was up to.
Old Lady Jiang gazed blankly into space. But the illusionary voice grew louder and more heart-wrenching.
"Grandmother..." Jiang Sheng’s voice had become hoarse from yelling. "Why is no one answering? Please open the door!"
There weren’t many servants in De Ren Courtyard, but there should still have been three to five. Where had they all gone?
On the other hand, quite a few maids and menservants had been attracted by the noise and were standing on tiptoe to watch the lively scene.
"Young miss, why don't I try?” Jiang San volunteered. “My voice is loud.”
"My voice isn't small either.” Jiang Si chimed in.
The two of them were about to clear their throats, stretch their necks, and unleash their sonorous male voices. But suddenly the door opened, revealing Tan Yue's shocked face.
“Young... young miss?” Tan Yue was dumbfounded. “Is this a dream? How did you get here?”
Jiang Sheng gestured for Jiang San and Jiang Si to keep quiet. In her hoarse voice she asked, "Sister Tan Yue, where have all the maids in De Ren Courtyard gone?"
Only then did Tan Yue react. She said in a conflicted tone, "They were sent to clean Yunqi Pavilion. They must have closed the doors and windows without hearing anything.”
The Jiang house was huge, and the courtyards were quite far apart from each other.
Even with the doors and windows open, Old Lady Jiang could only faintly hear the noise, let alone the maids at Yunqi Pavilion.
Jiang Sheng nodded bitterly to indicate she understood.
Tan Yue held in her laughter and brought Jiang San and Jiang Si away, leaving the space for the grandmother and granddaughter.
“Old Lady, Old Lady, your intuition is truly amazing. No sooner had you spoken of it than she arrived—the young miss is here to see you!”
After being separated for twenty days, the reunion of grandmother and granddaughter was abrupt. Their noses turned sour, their eyes swelled up a little, and even their throats started to itch.
Yet after Old Lady Jiang got over her initial shock, she calmed down and greeted casually, “My granddaughter is here.”
It didn’t seem like an emotional reunion after a long separation, nor like a joyous recovery of something lost. Rather, it was as if she had just woken from a nap at Yunqi Pavilion and came over for lunch.
A natural intimacy, with composed warmth.
Jiang Sheng sniffed and tried hard to hold it in, but couldn’t help bursting into tears and throwing herself in front of Old Lady Jiang. “Grandmother, did you miss me? I've come to see you. It's been twenty days since my last visit. Are you angry with me?”
Old Lady Jiang smiled lightly, her tone still tranquil: “Of course I missed you, wondering if you've been eating and dressing well, if you're happy or not. I missed you so much I didn’t even have time to get angry.”
Only Tan Yue and Jiang San and Jiang Si standing far away could see her red-rimmed eyes brimming with tears.
The old lady had been stubborn and unyielding her whole life, almost never admitting defeat.
Tan Yue smiled conflictedly as she brought Jiang San and Jiang Si out, leaving the space for grandmother and granddaughter.
“It’s fine as long as you’re not angry. Jiang Sheng was ignorant for not coming earlier to visit Grandmother.” The young girl still had her head lowered. “Even today, my only purpose was to deal with the Jiuzhen Store’s business.”
She was quite honest, having completely forgotten Madam Long’s instructions for the feast.
Old Lady Jiang chuckled. “It doesn’t matter. I’m very happy you need the Jiang family’s help. But has the Jiuzhen Store run into trouble?”
“No, not at all.” Jiang Sheng sat up and recounted the conflict with the Liao family, ending with a choking sob. “Although I came today mainly for the Jiuzhen Store, I’ve figured it out. From now on I’ll come visit Grandmother often, regardless of the Store or the Jiang family. I just miss Grandmother.”
Out of familial affection comes longing, out of caring comes intensity.
Old Lady Jiang had waited patiently for twenty days to regain this long-lost grandmother-granddaughter affection that had been missing for eleven years. The corners of her lips curved up slightly, her eyes full of joy. “Wonderful.”
There was no coercion through obligation, no forced restraints. Rather, it was familial affection given voluntarily and actively by Jiang Sheng.
Grandmother and granddaughter nestled affectionately together and chatted for a while longer before finally remembering Zheng Ruqian who was still waiting outside.
“Grandmother, I asked Second Brother to deliver lychees here.” But before Jiang Sheng could stand, strange noises suddenly sounded from outside.
Soon after, Tan Yue hurried in to report: “Mistress... Mistress seems to have found out about the Liao family matter, and is adamantly asking to see the Old Lady.”
