"Uncle Jiang, please try our Yanji Hot Pot. You must be tired from your journey. We've already arranged a private room for you, so you can rest in a bit," Yan Wan said softly after all the dishes were served.
"Thank you so much, Boss Yan and you brat, for your trouble. This looks delicious!" Jiang Yan said with a smile, then picked up his chopsticks and started eating the mutton that Jiang Bai had cooked for him.
Fresh, fragrant, spicy, and numbing, with an irresistible aroma and rich flavor, it was truly irresistible. After taking a few bites, Jiang's father complained that Jiang Bai was cooking the vegetables too slowly, so he simply started cooking them himself. He ate until he was sweating profusely, repeatedly saying how satisfying it was.
Jiang Bai looked at his father, who looked like he hadn't eaten for months, and shook his head helplessly. Yan Wan smiled, it seemed that Uncle Jiang was very satisfied with the hot pot. After all, who doesn't love hot pot?
Jing Xi rolled her eyes, picked up her chopsticks, and joined Uncle Jiang's battle. This old man is really not polite. I can't let him get away with this so easily. Humph!
So the two began a fierce battle over the dishes, neither willing to give in, and they buried themselves in their food. Yan Wan and Jiang Bai exchanged a glance, and Yan Wan gave him a helpless look. Jiang Bai sighed in exasperation.
Finally, the two finished eating, but they still looked at each other with resentment. Uncle Jiang pouted and said, "You rude brat!"
Jing Xi immediately retorted, "You old geezer who's just taking advantage of his age!"
The two glared at each other, then turned their heads away, snorted, and ignored each other.
Helpless, Yan Wan could only speak first: "Uncle Jiang, you must know that the Northwest will inevitably suffer a severe drought in a month. Jing Xi and I are of little use, and we hope that you can support us."
Yan Wan spoke earnestly, and Jing Xi and Uncle Jiang stopped bickering and began to think seriously. Jiang Yan said, "The Northwest is in trouble, and I will definitely help. You two should go ahead and do it!"
The Northwest, that was her hometown. This girl, as passionate as fire, ultimately perished in the south of the Yangtze River, never to return to the hometown she longed for.
Yan Wan and Jing Xi were overjoyed and said happily, "Thank you, Uncle Jiang."
Jiang Yan seemed tired. He waved his hand and left, following the waiter to his private room. Jiang Bai saw his father suddenly become lost and knew that he was thinking of his late wife again, that woman who was clear about her likes and dislikes, and also a gentle woman like his mother.
Actually, he is not a blood relative of the Jiang family; he was just an adopted child.
"Wan'er, time is of the essence. In another month, the severe drought in the Northwest will begin. It seems we need to make plans as soon as possible!" Jing Xi said with a solemn expression.
"Well, Jingxi, it seems I'll have to ask you to escort the goods there first and transport the grain to Yunzhou in the Northwest. Yunzhou is located on the Northwest border, next to the Mongol Kingdom, and the border guards are stationed there. Jingxi, we need to go to the very border of the Northwest." Yan Wan said heavily, holding Jingxi's hand.
"I understand, Wan'er. I'll pack up and leave in the next couple of days. You stay in the capital and protect Jingmo," Jing Xi said with a smile. They both knew that they absolutely could not let the Northwest fall into danger, with people displaced, war raging, and the country on the verge of collapse.
"Don't worry, Jingxi. After you leave, I will bring Jingmo to live in the Han Prince's Mansion. Be careful on your journey. In another month, I will come to find you with the second batch of grain," Yan Wan said earnestly.
"Jingxi, let me go with you," Jiang Bai suddenly said.
"You? No, you have to stay in the capital. The Northwest is too dangerous. You can't go there." Jing Xi refused without even thinking.
"How can I just watch a girl like you go there? That's too dangerous. I don't agree," Jiang Bai said loudly, staring straight at Jing Xi, as if his eyes held a thousand unspoken words.
Jing Xi turned her head away, looked out the window, and said calmly, "I don't need your consent, and you have no right to say whether you agree or not. Jiang Bai, we are just business partners."
Jiang Bai's eyelashes trembled slightly. After a long while, he stammered, "Jing Xi, in your heart, aren't we even friends?"
Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was not right, Yan Wan could only hold Jing Xi's hand and silently comfort her. She knew that Jing Xi might have a slightly different feeling towards Jiang Bai. People that Jing Xi didn't like didn't even have a chance to get close to her, such as the Crown Prince and Ye Xiao.
"Jiang Bai, my mind is made up. Don't say anything more." Jing Xi closed her eyes, concealing any unnecessary emotions.
“Jingxi, even if you don’t come with me, I will secretly follow you. I will go with you. Don’t even think about going alone,” Jiang Bai said stubbornly.
"Jiang Bai, are you an idiot? Don't you know there are refugees, bandits, and all sorts of dangers on the road? How am I supposed to explain to that old geezer if something happens to you?" Jing Xi said angrily.
"Won't you be in danger? Jingxi, I know my martial arts are not as good as yours, but don't worry, I will take good care of myself and will definitely not hold you back. Please let me go with you, okay? I don't want you to face those things alone." Jiang Bai said gently. He was afraid that something might happen to Jingxi on this trip. He was even planning to propose to Jingxi.
"Jiang Bai, why are you so determined to go to such a dangerous place? Wouldn't it be better if you went with Wan'er? Why don't you come back with Wan'er on the second trip?" Jing Xi advised helplessly. Along the way, she also had to subdue some bandits to work for her, so she was afraid she wouldn't have time to take care of Jiang Bai.
"No, I want to go with you," Jiang Bai, the wronged little dog, said stubbornly.
"Jiang Bai, why are you so stubborn? What's the difference between the first and second trips? It's just a month later." Jing Xi said angrily. She really didn't understand what Jiang Bai was thinking, why he would run to wherever there was danger!
“Jingxi, the first trip is very dangerous. I want to face it with you. I'll talk to Father about it, so you don't need to worry.” Jiang Bai insisted on his idea. In any case, he absolutely couldn't let Jingxi go alone. What if she met other men who liked her on the way? No, he had to go!!!
No other male fox spirits should ever try to steal Jing Xi from him!
"Jiang Bai!" Jing Xi called out unhappily, but was interrupted by Jiang Bai's words before she could say anything more.
Jiang Bai gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and said loudly, "Jing Xi, I like you. I don't want you to be in danger, nor do I want you to be alone in a difficult situation."
I don't want you to meet other men either!
Yan Wan: Oh ho~ Jiang Bai has really made something of himself.
Jiang's father, who was outside the door and heard them arguing, tried to mediate: "Oh ho~ You've made something of yourself, you brat."
Jing Xi choked on her words. "Huh? Wait a minute? What do I do? Didn't my superiors teach me this when I was a mercenary?"
Jing Xi winked at Yan Wan pleadingly, hoping Yan Wan could save her, but Yan Wan pretended not to see her, keeping her eyes down.
Yan Wan: The CP I ship absolutely cannot break up!
Jing Xi had no choice but to say awkwardly, "Jiang Bai, you, you, I, I, this, this is a bit too sudden."
Good heavens, how is she supposed to answer this? Isn't this putting Fatty Tiger in a difficult position?
"It's okay, Jingxi. I like you, so you don't need to feel guilty." Jiang Bai said with some disappointment, but he was still happy inside, at least she didn't reject him, right?
Jiang's father coughed outside the door, then pretended to push the door open and said, "Well, you brat, you can take him with you. I agree to let him go, haha."
Upon hearing that his father had agreed, Jiang Bai immediately looked at Jing Xi with bright, expectant eyes, as if to say: "Look, my father has agreed, so please take me with you!"
Jiang's father couldn't bear to look at his son's stupid appearance and could only turn away. He thought to himself, "What a good-for-nothing brat! He has none of the style he had back then!"
Jing Xi couldn't stand Jiang Bai's bright and innocent eyes, which looked like those of a small animal, so she could only nod helplessly and say, "Then let's go together."
Her father has already agreed to go together, so what reason does she have to disagree?
Jiang Bai's eyes were almost slits with joy. Great! Jing Xi finally agreed to let him go with her. With him there, no male fox spirits on the road could get close to Jing Xi!
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