Chapter 24
Jiang Zhaoli asked Nanny Hong to go to the kitchen to prepare some exquisite snacks, as she planned to go to Mingyuan to visit her third aunt.
Third Aunt was in the yard, waving her arms to feed the fish in the pond. Two maids were standing beside her, chatting and laughing with her. When they saw her coming, she handed the fish food to the maids and walked towards her.
Third Aunt welcomed her into the courtyard with a smile on her face. After a few words of greeting, she led her into the hall, personally took the snacks she brought, and hurriedly sent a maid to prepare some fashionable fruits.
"Why did Li'er come here suddenly today? You were always so busy that you never showed up." Aunt San asked while pouring tea.
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoli looked up. Third Aunt's face was calm, her eyes were not evasive, and her voice was still as gentle as usual, and she didn't sound like she was answering in a cliché.
Jiang Zhaoli suddenly smiled and took the tea she handed over: "I'm free today, and I thought I'd come and talk to Third Aunt in a few days, so I wanted to come and see her. Would Third Aunt not welcome me?"
Third Aunt scolded, "Child, when did you become so distant with me? I am naturally happy that you came to my courtyard. These few days, I was complaining to your Third Uncle that you haven't been to my courtyard for a long time since you took over the Jiang Mansion. I thought you were determined to be distant with me."
"I am not good at talking, and I don't know how to maintain relationships with people. Over the years, my relationship with your second aunt and your grandfather has been indifferent. I can only talk to you a few words in this Jiang Mansion. Since you became the head of the Jiang family, you rarely come to my courtyard. Third aunt was afraid of disturbing you, so she didn't dare to bother you."
Jiang Zhaoli was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "No, Third Aunt, no matter what happens, you will always be my Third Aunt, how could I be estranged from you."
Third Aunt looked puzzled: "What could have happened?" Then she seemed to have discovered something: "Li'er, did something happen to you?"
Jiang Zhaoli shook his head: "No, Li'er was just making an analogy."
Aunt San was stunned for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
Jiang Zhaoli glanced around, took a sip of tea, and casually asked, "Aunt San, isn't Uncle San here?"
Third Aunt shook her head: "He went out early in the morning. I don't know what he has been busy with these days. He leaves early and comes back late."
Turning around, he saw the unfinished bean soup on the table. Jiang Zhaoli curled his lips and said, "Uncle San still likes the bean soup from Changming Street."
Aunt Three looked at it and then jokingly said, "He just likes this. It's strange, I didn't see him like it much before, but he started to like it in recent years. I asked him, and he said that this one on Changming Street tastes better than other ones."
"He was busy at the shop all day, and I had nothing to do at home, so I sent someone to buy some every now and then and served him a bowl of bean soup. The bean soup was tender and smooth, and it was really delicious."
Jiang Zhaoli nodded silently in agreement with Third Aunt's words. She raised her eyes and smiled, looking like a greedy cat: "I am already greedy after hearing what Third Aunt said. So, Third Aunt, come with me to try it in a few days. I want to taste how tender and smooth this bean soup is."
It seems that she guessed right. Third Aunt really knew nothing about Third Uncle's affairs. Third Aunt has never been good at lying. When she lies, people can see the flaws at a glance. At the same time, she started to worry about Third Aunt. She and Second Uncle have always been very loving in front of everyone. Although they have no children, they live a happy life. I don't know how many people envy them behind their backs.
But she didn't want to hide these things from her third aunt.
Third Aunt smiled dotingly, "It's not difficult if you want to eat it. Just send someone to buy it. You are the head of the Jiang family. How can you not have this little thing? Besides, I heard that the store there is very small and crowded. Let's not join in the fun."
Jiang Zhaoli tilted his head: "Has Third Aunt been there?"
Auntie shook her head: "No."
Jiang Zhaoli asked again: "How did Third Aunt know that the store was small and crowded?"
Third Aunt: "It was your Third Uncle who told me. At that time, I also suggested going to the store to try some of the new food, but your Third Uncle said that there were too many people on Changming Street and he didn't want me to join in the fun because he was afraid that I would be squeezed. If I want to eat it, I can send someone to buy it, or he can bring me some when he comes back."
Jiang Zhaoli nodded thoughtfully, then said coquettishly: "But Li'er heard that the bean soup is only delicious when it's freshly baked. The one the servant bought was cold when we got home. Can Li'er ask Third Aunt to go with us some other time when we have a chance?"
Third Aunt hesitated for a moment, then shook her head helplessly: "Okay, then it's up to you. You decide when you have time. You are a busy man in the Jiang family."
Jiang Zhaoli thought for a moment and said, "Then let's do it the day after tomorrow."
Auntie San nodded: "Okay."
Third Aunt tried to persuade him, "Li'er, please have lunch in my courtyard today. If your Third Uncle doesn't come back, I'll be lonely."
Jiang Zhaoli smiled and nodded: "Okay, then I will bother you, Third Aunt. Please don't bother me."
Third Auntie tapped her brows: "You."
Third Auntie instructed the maid to prepare the food, then stood up to water the flowers and plants on the window frame, and personally brushed off the dust on the green leaves, saying to herself, "I don't have any hobbies on weekdays. These flowers and plants were brought back by your Third Uncle to help me pass the time."
"However, I'm not good at growing flowers and plants, and many of them died. Your third uncle always brings me new ones."
"This one doesn't look good either. The leaves are turning yellow."
Jiang Zhaoli: "Don't you want a child of your own, Aunt? Then you won't always be surrounded by flowers and plants in the future."
Third Aunt was slightly stunned, her cheeks slightly red, and she forced a smile: "Child, why do you ask such a question?"
"…Actually, I have discussed this with your third uncle. We both plan to live a simple life and not have children. Although we may feel lonely sometimes, life is not bad."
"But your grandfather is unhappy. Although he didn't say anything, I can see it." When Third Aunt said this, she looked lonely and her fingertips were tightly clutching her sleeves.
Jiang Zhaoli nodded thoughtfully, but did not respond this time. She could feel that her Third Aunt did not want to talk about the child.
Third Aunt took the initiative to change the subject and suddenly teased her, "Li'er, what about you? You've been married for some time now. When do you plan to have a child?"
Jiang Zhaoli nearly spit out a mouthful of water, and his speech became incoherent: "I...I...I haven't thought about it yet."
Looking at her shy appearance, she was obviously a virgin. Although she was puzzled, she did not ask any more questions. She just smiled and said, "Okay, Aunt San, I won't say any more."
After Jiang Zhaoli had lunch at Mingyuan, his third uncle still hadn't returned. Jiang Zhaoli couldn't help feeling puzzled. Even if his third uncle had several shops to manage, he wouldn't be so busy for so long. He should at least have time to have meals with his wife.
After Jiang Zhaoli said goodbye to his third aunt and just walked out of Mingyuan, he saw Chuntao waiting outside.
"What's wrong?"
Chun Tao told the truth: "My uncle couldn't find the young lady just now, so he came to ask me where the young lady had gone and why she didn't come back to the courtyard for lunch. I told my uncle the reason, and he has now returned to the courtyard."
Jiang Zhaoli: "What time?"
Chun Tao: "Just now."
Jiang Zhaoli nodded. She was so busy chatting with her third aunt that she forgot to send someone to tell Yin Su that she would not have lunch with him at noon. Thinking of something, she reminded him, "In the future, remember to tell me about anything that happens to your son-in-law."
Chun Tao: “Yes.”
As she was talking, she suddenly stopped and turned her head to look at her: "Chun Tao, please help me with something. I don't trust others to do this."
Chun Tao immediately perked up: "Just follow my orders, young lady."
Jiang Zhaoli lowered his voice and said, "Watch Uncle San carefully these two days to see where he goes and who he meets."
Chun Tao's expression immediately became solemn: "Yes, young lady, I will definitely live up to your expectations."
Just as she finished speaking, she saw a man sneaking around and peeking his head out. Chuntao was about to scold him, but he was kicked out and rolled in front of the two of them, groaning in pain.
It’s Wang Tiezhu.
Song Shiyan snorted coldly and looked down at him: "I have been watching you for a long time. You are sneaky and you don't look like a good person at first glance."
He turned to look at Jiang Zhaoli and said unhappily, "Miss Jiang, please be more careful. Someone has overheard you. Didn't you notice?"
Seeing the person coming, Jiang Zhaoli was stunned: "Song Shiyan, why are you here?"
Song Shiyan raised the Yao Huang in his hand and tilted his head back proudly: "I can't help it. The Yao Huang I planted is too gorgeous. My eldest brother insisted that I send a few plants to my future sister-in-law. I happened to pass by here and saw this scene."
Jiang Zhaoli nodded helplessly, obviously not believing his nonsense: "Song Shiyan, my elder sister's yard is in the opposite direction from here, you... this is not on the way, right?"
Song Shiyan scratched his head and said, "Really? I must have remembered it wrongly. It's all because your Jiang Mansion was built too big and the courtyards all look almost the same."
Jiang Zhaoli: “…”
Where Jiang Zhaoli couldn't see, Song Shiyan stopped smiling, and the hand holding Yao Huang gradually dropped behind his back, his eyes filled with her shadow.
Chuntao took a step forward, stared at Wang Tiezhu, who was kneeling on the ground and shaking like a piece of chaff, and said with a tense face, "Who gave you the courage to eavesdrop on the second girl's conversation?"
Wang Tiezhu was frightened and quickly denied it: "No, absolutely not. How could I eavesdrop on the second girl's conversation? Even if you give me ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare to do it."
Chun Tao: "Then why are you sneaking around like that?"
Wang Tiezhu rolled his eyes and said, "I...I'm going out to get medicine for my wife."
Chun Tao frowned and asked, "Even if you were going out to get medicine, why were you so sneaky? Would someone stop you?"
Wang Tiezhu suddenly lowered his head in depression, his hands hanging weakly at his sides: "I saw the second girl from a distance, I didn't dare to face her, so I had to hide away."
Chun Tao: "Why?"
Wang Tiezhu: "I was able to marry a good wife like Qiushui thanks to the Second Miss, so I am grateful to her. However, Wen Qiushui cursed her every day. I couldn't bear it, so I didn't report it and even protected her. Now that I see the Second Miss, I feel guilty and I dare not face her."
"I originally wanted to wait until the second young lady had passed before I came out." He glanced at Song Shiyan stealthily and said awkwardly, "I didn't expect... I didn't expect to be caught by the second young master Song."
Hearing this, Song Shiyan raised his foot and kicked him again: "You mean it's my fault?"
Wang Tiezhu covered his head and said, "I don't dare."
Chun Tao: "If you dare to say that again, I will beat you up and sell you out. Miss Wen was sold to you by her mother herself. She was not given to you by the second lady."
Wang Tiezhu nodded repeatedly, his head bowed very low: "Yes, yes, I will remember it, remember it."
Jiang Zhaoli waved his hand and said, "Go down. If you dare to do this again in the future, you will leave the Jiang Mansion on your own."
Wang Tiezhu kowtowed several times and said, "Yes, I've made a note of it and I won't dare to do it again."
Song Shiyan was shocked: "No, you just let him go like that?"
He took two or three steps to her side and glanced in the direction where Wang Tiezhu disappeared: "He is obviously lying."
Jiang Zhaoli said calmly: "I know, but I have more important things to do now. He and Wen Qiushui can't make any waves at the moment."
After she has dealt with her third uncle's affairs, she will deal with Wang Tiezhu, and then she will find a reason to send them out of the Jiang Mansion.
Song Shiyan: "What's the important thing? Tell me, maybe I can help you."
Seeing her suspicious face, Song Shiyan was furious: "What are you looking at? Don't underestimate me, my young master. I am definitely more reliable than anyone around you."
After careful consideration, she realized that what Song Shiyan said made sense. Perhaps it was indeed a good choice to find him. After thinking about it, she hooked her finger and said, "Song Shiyan, come closer to my ear."
Jiang Zhaoli whispered a few words, and Song Shiyan heard it, looked up suddenly, and was shocked.
Jiang Zhaoli nodded: "So, this is a family matter, so don't get involved."
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