Chapter 122 One Hundred and Twenty-Two

Chapter Summary: Wei Wuxian's favorite dish is lotus root and pork rib soup made by Jiang Yanli.

Besides being incredibly delicious...

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Wei Wuxian's favorite dish was lotus root and pork rib soup cooked by Jiang Yanli.

Besides the truly delicious taste, he also remembered the first time he tasted it.

At that time, Wei Wuxian had only recently been taken in from Yiling by Jiang Fengmian. The moment he entered, he saw a spirited young master leading several puppies running around the training ground. He immediately covered his face with his hands, let out a loud cry, and clung to Jiang Fengmian for the entire day, refusing to get down. The next day, the puppies Jiang Cheng had been raising were given away to someone else.

This incident angered Jiang Cheng so much that he cried. Even though Jiang Fengmian tried to comfort him gently and kindly, telling them to "be good friends," he refused to speak to Wei Wuxian. Several days later, Jiang Cheng's attitude softened a bit, and Jiang Fengmian wanted to strike while the iron was hot, so he asked Wei Wuxian to live in the same room with him, hoping that they could get to know each other better.

Jiang Cheng had been reluctantly agreeing, but things went wrong when Jiang Fengmian, in a moment of excitement, lifted Wei Wuxian up and placed him on his arm. Jiang Cheng was stunned by this sight. Madam Yu gave a cold laugh and stormed off. Because the couple had their own urgent business to attend to, they hurried out and didn't have time for further argument.

That evening, Jiang Cheng locked Wei Wuxian out, refusing to let him in.

Jiang Cheng stared at his own stunned expression in the sky, then lowered his head, his eyes unconsciously dimming.

Actually, his childhood memories were quite vague. He only remembered his strict parents and his gentle and kind older sister. However, he remembered the year Wei Wuxian came to Lotus Pier very clearly, just like Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Fengmian often had important matters to attend to. Back then, he probably knew that Jiang Cheng and Madam Yu were unhappy, but he forgot about it afterward because he was busy. He also thought that children don't remember things, but he didn't expect that it would cause such great trauma to Jiang Cheng.

"A Cheng..."

Jiang Fengmian put his arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulder, but because he was not good at communicating with children, he didn't know how to start the conversation.

"Father, I understand now." It's just that back then, I... craved recognition too much.

Wei Wuxian knocked on the door and said, "Junior brother, junior brother, let me in, I want to sleep."

Jiang Cheng, standing inside the room with his back against the door, shouted, "Who's your junior brother! Give me back Fei Fei, give me back Jasmine, give me back Xiao Ai!"

Feifei, Jasmine, and Xiao Ai were all his former dogs. Wei Wuxian knew that Jiang Fengmian had given them away because of him, and whispered, "I'm sorry. But... but I'm really afraid of them..."

In Jiang Cheng's memory, Jiang Fengmian had picked him up no more than five times in total, and each time was enough to make him happy for months. A surge of resentment welled up inside him, his mind filled with "Why? Why? Why?" Suddenly, he saw a set of bedding that wasn't his in his room, a place that had always been his. That resentment and unwillingness instantly surged to his head, driving him to grab Wei Wuxian's mat and blanket. Wei Wuxian had been anxiously waiting by the door for a long time when it suddenly opened. Before he could even show a hint of joy, he was nearly knocked flat on his back by a pile of things thrown out at him. The wooden door slammed shut again, and Jiang Cheng said from inside, "Go sleep somewhere else! This is my room! You even want to take my room?!"

At that time, Wei Wuxian had no idea what Jiang Cheng was angry about. He paused for a moment and said, "I didn't steal it. Uncle Jiang asked me to live with you."

When Jiang Cheng heard him still mentioning his father, as if he were deliberately showing off, his eyes reddened, and he shouted, "Get away! If I see you again, I'll call a pack of dogs to bite you!"

Wei Wuxian stood at the door, and upon hearing that they were going to call the dogs to bite him, he felt a surge of fear. He twisted his hands together and quickly said, "I'll go, I'll go, don't call the dogs!"

Hearing Jiang Cheng's words from Tianying, everyone could clearly feel Wei Wuxian's inner grievances and fear.

But hearing Xiao Jiangcheng's shouts made everyone present feel heartbroken.

Young children are always the most sensitive. His father's strict upbringing and his mother's frequent scoldings made him doubt his own existence. So, Wei Wuxian's appearance at this moment touched upon his deepest fears.

It's as if Wei Wuxian, who is so adorable and pleases his father, would make his existence meaningless.

He dragged the mat and blanket that had been thrown out and ran as fast as he could out of the corridor. Having only recently arrived at Lotus Pier, he dared not wander around so quickly, spending his days obediently in the few places Jiang Fengmian had designated for him. He didn't know the way or the rooms, and dared not knock on doors carelessly, for fear of disturbing someone's sleep. After thinking for a while, he walked to a windless corner of the wooden corridor, spread out the mat, and lay down. But the more he lay there, the louder Jiang Cheng's words, "I'll call a pack of dogs to bite you," echoed in his mind. Wei Wuxian grew increasingly frightened, tossing and turning under the blanket, every rustle of wind sounding like a pack of dogs quietly approaching. After struggling for a while, he decided he couldn't stay there any longer, jumped up, rolled up the mat and folded the blanket, and fled Lotus Pier.

He ran breathlessly through the night wind for a while, then saw a tree and climbed it without hesitation. Hugging the trunk with both hands and feet, he felt quite tall, and only then did his composure begin to settle. He didn't know how long he clung to the tree when suddenly, Wei Wuxian heard someone softly calling his name in the distance. The voice grew closer, and soon a girl in white appeared beneath the tree, carrying a lantern.

Wei Wuxian recognized her as Jiang Cheng's sister and remained silent, hoping she wouldn't notice him. Unexpectedly, Jiang Yanli asked, "Is that A-Xian? What are you doing up there?"

Wei Wuxian remained silent. Jiang Yanli raised her lantern and said, "I see you. Your shoe fell off under the tree."

Wei Wuxian glanced down at his left foot and exclaimed in surprise, "My shoe!"

Jiang Yanli said, "Come down, let's go back."

Wei Wuxian said, "I...I'm not going down, there are dogs."

Jiang Yanli said, "That was Acheng lying to you. There's no dog. You have nowhere to sit, and your arms will get sore and you'll fall down."

No matter what she said, Wei Wuxian just clung to the tree trunk and wouldn't come down. Jiang Yanli, afraid he would fall, placed the lantern under the tree and stood there with her hands outstretched to catch him, not daring to leave. After about an incense stick's time, Wei Wuxian's arms finally got tired, and he let go of the trunk and fell. Jiang Yanli rushed to catch him, but Wei Wuxian still fell with a thud, rolled a few times, and cried out, clutching his leg, "My leg is broken!"

Jiang Yanli comforted her, "It's not broken, so it shouldn't be fractured either. Does it hurt a lot? It's alright, don't move, I'll carry you back."

Wei Wuxian was still worried about the dog, and whimpered, "Has the dog...has the dog come yet..."

Jiang Yanli repeatedly assured her, "No, I'll chase the dog away for you." She picked up Wei Wuxian's shoes from under the tree and asked, "Why did your shoes fall off? Did they not fit?"

Wei Wuxian, suppressing the tears welling up in his eyes from the pain, quickly replied, "No, they fit perfectly."

Actually, the shoes didn't fit; they were way too big. But since this was the first pair of new shoes Jiang Fengmian had bought for him, Wei Wuxian felt bad troubling him to buy another pair, so he didn't mention that they were too big. Jiang Yanli helped him put on the shoes, pinched the flattened toes, and said, "They are a little big. I'll alter them for you when we get back."

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuxian felt uneasy, as if he had done something wrong again.

When you're living under someone else's roof, what you fear most is causing them trouble.

Jiang Yanli carried him on her back, walking back with uneven steps as she said, "A-Xian, whatever A-Cheng said to you just now, don't hold it against him. He has a bad temper and often plays alone at home. He loved those little puppies the most, but Father gave them away, and he was sad. Actually, he's happy to have someone to keep him company. You ran away for half a day and didn't come back, so he was worried something had happened to you and rushed to wake me up, which is why I came out to look for you."

Jiang Yanli was only two or three years older than him, around twelve or thirteen at the time. Despite being a child herself, she spoke with the natural grace of a little adult, constantly coaxing him. She was very thin and frail, not very strong, and would sway occasionally, stopping to support Wei Wuxian's thighs to prevent him from slipping. However, Wei Wuxian felt an unparalleled sense of security nestled on her back, even more so than when he was sitting on Jiang Fengmian's arm.

Seeing this, everyone seemed to finally understand why Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng loved their sister so much.

For Jiang Cheng, when his parents were busy with official duties, his sister was the one who would bring him delicious food, care about his feelings, and keep him company.

For Wei Wuxian, his senior sister was a ray of light in his life, the one who rescued him from the tension and anxiety of living under someone else's roof.

Those sitting in the back looked at Jiang Yanli's back in front. She was clearly a weak woman, yet she provided the two young men with the strongest support.

How can such a woman not be respected?

Lan Wangji stared at the relieved look on Wei Wuxian's face in the shadowy image for a while, then suddenly turned around and nodded to Jiang Yanli in thanks.

"Miss Jiang, thank you." Thank you for giving him a warm childhood.

Jiang Yanli paused for a moment, then smiled gently. The next thing she said was exactly the same as what she had said during the hunt at Baifeng Mountain that year.

"A-Xian is my younger brother." Protecting him is something I do willingly.

Suddenly, a mournful sobbing sound was carried by the night wind. Jiang Yanli shuddered in fright and asked, "What was that sound? Did you hear it?"

Wei Wuxian pointed and said, "I heard it, it came from that pit!"

The two walked around to the edge of the pit and cautiously peered down. A small figure lay at the bottom of the pit. When it lifted its face, two streaks of tears ran through its muddy skin, and it choked out, "...Sister!"

Jiang Yanli breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Acheng, didn't I tell you to call people to come out and search together?"

Jiang Cheng simply shook his head. After Jiang Yanli left, he waited for a while, feeling restless, and finally chased after her himself. However, he ran too fast and forgot his lantern, tripping and falling into a pit, injuring his head.

Jiang Yanli reached out and pulled her younger brother out of the pit, taking out a handkerchief to place on his bleeding forehead. Jiang Cheng looked dejected, his dark eyes stealing glances at Wei Wuxian. Jiang Yanli said, "Is there something you haven't said to A-Xian?"

Jiang Cheng pressed the handkerchief to his forehead and said softly, "...I'm sorry."

Jiang Yanli said, "Could you help A-Xian take the mat and quilt back later?"

Jiang Cheng sniffed and said, "I've already taken it back."

Both of them had injured their legs and could not walk. They were still some distance from Lotus Pier, so Jiang Yanli had to carry one on her back and hold the other in her arms. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng both had their arms around her neck. She was panting after walking a few steps and said, "What am I supposed to do with you two?"

Both of them still had tears in their eyes, and together they hugged her neck even tighter, feeling wronged.

In the end, she painstakingly carried her two younger brothers back to Lotus Pier, gently waking the physician and asking him to bandage and treat Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. After repeatedly apologizing and thanking him, she sent the physician back. Jiang Cheng looked at Wei Wuxian's foot with a worried expression. If the other disciples or servants found out about this, and it reached Jiang Fengmian's ears, Jiang Fengmian would dislike him even more for throwing away Wei Wuxian's mat and causing Wei Wuxian's leg injury. This was why he only dared to chase after him alone and didn't dare tell anyone else. Seeing his worried expression, Wei Wuxian said proactively, "Don't worry, I won't tell Uncle Jiang. I suddenly wanted to climb a tree at night, so I got hurt."

Hearing this, Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and vowed, "Don't worry, from now on, I'll chase away any dogs I see!"

Seeing that the two had finally opened up, Jiang Yanli said happily, "That's exactly how it should be."

After fussing around for most of the evening, the two of them were hungry. Jiang Yanli went to the kitchen, tiptoed around for a while, and heated up a bowl of lotus root and pork rib soup for each of them.

The fragrance lingers in my heart, and it hasn't faded even now.

Everyone: ...This little Jiang Sect Master is truly the most stubborn person in the whole body.

Jin Ling muttered to herself, "This is practically like saying they're going to break my legs..."

As if he had just brushed against Jin Ling's ear, Jiang Cheng turned his head and glared at him. Jin Ling quickly sat up straight and looked straight ahead, thus missing his uncle's bright red ears.

Jiang Cheng: How could Miss Nian Gui even release this? Don't I have any dignity?!

Compared to the hypocritical Jiang Cheng, it was Jiang Yanli's actions, one after another, that made the elders unable to help but chuckle.

“Ah Li, these two brats should just be left there. You really spoil them.”

Seeing how much Jiang Yanli doted on Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian, even when they were children, Jin Zixuan felt a little jealous.

“You…” Jiang Yanli pinched Jin Zixuan helplessly.

"Jin Zixuan! If you keep doing this, believe me, I'll make sure my sister never returns to Lanling!" Jiang Cheng, who was listening from the side, was displeased and began to threaten again.

Jin Zixuan hugged his wife tightly, gave Jiang Cheng a defiant look, and earned a familiar eye roll from the young sect leader.