Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The night in Xiaofang Pancheng was cold, and the body...
The night in Xiaofangpan City is cold, and the body feels cold too.
Jiang Wan sat by the fire, leaning against the wall, breathing in deep breaths. The chilly air, unfiltered by her nasal passages, entered her lungs through her throat, causing her internal organs to tremble and curl together. But she paid no attention to the chill; the suffocating sensation she'd just felt made her crave the cold air.
It wasn't until an unknown amount of time passed that her breathing finally calmed down. Her five senses gradually returned, and the pain from being pinched in her neck became more and more pronounced. She had to grit her teeth to hold back a cry of pain.
Zi Yan had already stood, looking down at her from above, his eyes cold and sharp, like a hawk sensing an enemy. Jiang Wan had only ever thought those eyes were cold and beautiful, but now, facing his hostility head-on, she truly felt the overwhelming pressure. It was as if her heart was bound by an invisible force, ready to crush her if she dared to tell a lie.
She rubbed her neck, regained her composure, and couldn't help but smile softly.
She laughed at herself for having so easily trusted others after so many years in the business world; she felt close to them just because they did her a favor. She knew that only ruthlessness could make one strong, and only ruthlessness could protect one from being hurt. She had understood this truth in her previous life, so how could she have traveled through time and space and come back alive, and become curious about someone whose identity and origins she didn't know.
Don't look at what you shouldn't look at, don't ask what you shouldn't know, how could she forget this?
Jiang Wan raised his head with great effort and smiled ingratiatingly, "Don't worry, I have a very bad memory. I just fainted and forgot everything I saw. I don't have any ideals in this life. I just want to live a peaceful and stable life with my family. I will never say anything that I shouldn't say."
She supported herself against the wall and sat up straight, grabbing Zi Yan's trouser leg. "Sir, you've seen me these days. I have absolutely no bad intentions and I'm absolutely tight-lipped. If you spare my life, I'll be at your service as a slave."
Zi Yan stood motionless beside the fire. In the deep darkness, his silhouette resembled a silent mountain. Jiang Wan observed him by the firelight, but couldn't discern his expression, and felt a sense of unease.
After knowing each other for more than ten days, she thought she understood him, but in the end she couldn't even understand his expression.
"Remember your promise." After an unknown amount of time, Zi Yan finally lowered his eyes. His aura remained calm, but the pressure was gone. He spoke calmly, as if he hadn't been the one who had just strangled her. "What's the matter with you coming to see me?"
Jiang Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the smile on his face remained unchanged. He groped for the long sword on his back with his left hand, and stood up with his right hand holding the wall.
She held the sword in both hands and handed it to Zi Yan: "I have repaired your sword and sent it to you specially. I wonder if it suits your taste?"
Zi Yan frowned, as if he wasn't used to her polite way of speaking. He unsheathed his sword, and saw that the blade was crystal clear, emitting a chill in the moonlight. The previous break was repaired completely, without any signs of cracks, showing the care of the repairer.
He gently stroked the sword he hadn't seen for many days. "Well done, how much silver?"
Jiang Wan smiled and said, "Young Master, you have been very helpful to me over the past few days. It is my duty to repair your sword for you. I will not charge you any fee."
The scabbard in his hand was impossibly cold. Jiang Wan had wiped it carefully before leaving, filled with gratitude towards Zi Yan, feeling the sword's warmth and warmth, a gentleman's sword. Now, suddenly sober, he still wanted to return it to him. As a businessman, he was impressed by his noble status and wanted to establish a friendship, perhaps one that would be of use in the future. Therefore, his palm felt icy cold.
Zi Yan stared at her in surprise. After confirming that she really didn't charge, he said softly, "I thought merchants like you would definitely sell it, or at least ask me for a high price - just like when you sold my armor."
"Ahem," Jiang Wan rubbed her nose guiltily. That was her plan, but when she rescued him, she thought he was just the son of a landlord, or the child of an official from a nearby county. If she had known he had such a close relationship with the dignified commander of the Imperial Guard, and even that Shen Jianqing subtly looked up to him... she would never have dared to act so recklessly.
"You're right. I'm someone who doesn't want to spend a penny on others," Jiang Wan thought for a moment and said carefully, "But I always feel that this sword means something different to you than the armor does. When I found you in the reeds that day, you were gripping the hilt tightly, and I saw the words 'Mountains and Rivers' engraved on the blade."
"Let's start from the beginning, rebuild the old mountains and rivers, and face the sky. [1]" Jiang Wan said, carefully observing the other person's expression, and said word by word, "You are a man of great ambition, but you can only carve your ambition on this sword, right?"
She looked slow and measured, but she was actually extremely nervous. If these words could resonate with Zi Yan, then she would gain his favor, which would in turn bring her more benefits and ensure that he would not assassinate her to cover up the secret. But if they failed to resonate with him, then... saying something she shouldn't have said, presumptuously speculating on the thoughts of someone like him, could very well backfire.
But wealth and honor are achieved through risk, and she's never one to shy away from taking risks. Setting aside her inexplicable trust and closeness to Zi Yan, she can clearly weigh the pros and cons. To settle down safely in Xiaofangpan City and redeem her family as soon as possible, she's willing to take the risk.
Zi Yan had been keeping his head down, but when he heard Jiang Wan's last words, he suddenly raised his eyes, his thick eyelashes trembling slightly, his eyes wide open, and emotions surging in his eyes.
His cheeks were flushed, perhaps from the firelight or his excessive excitement. Jiang Wan, with her sharp eyes, noticed that his fingertips were trembling uncontrollably.
It seems that this risk was worth taking.
Jiang Wan lowered his head to hide the slightly raised corners of his mouth, and said in a tone of loss: "Since the sword has been delivered, I will not disturb you anymore."
After saying that, he slowly turned around and walked towards the brightly lit area.
"Jiang Wan," Zi Yan's voice sounded behind him, "Does it hurt?"
Jiang Wan stopped where he was and shook his head: "It doesn't hurt."
There was a moment of silence behind her, and she could even hear the sound of the tinder burning.
Jiang Wan paused, then continued, "There are things that are a thousand times more painful than this. Young Master, don't worry about this minor injury."
The crackling sound of burning continued. Jiang Wan waited for a while but didn't hear his voice, so he decided to leave.
Being able to achieve such an effect today has exceeded her expectations.
Just as she lifted the hem of her skirt, Zi Yan spoke: "Can you talk to me for a while?"
Because her back was facing away, Jiang Wan couldn't see the other person's expression, but she could tell from the suppressed sadness in his tone that she would hear an unusual story tonight.
It's a story no one may have even heard.
Jiang Wan turned around, sat next to Zi Yan, and watched the dancing flames with him.
"Today is my mother's memorial day," Zi Yan lit the paper flowers and put them into the flames. The flames swayed and quickly engulfed the paper flowers.
"My mother used to live here too. She opened a flower shop at the very spot you chose today. Twenty years ago, she was abducted by the Huns just after she gave birth to me. Three days later, my sister found my mother's body by Lake Duolun."
Zi Yan suddenly flinched, as if remembering his mother's tragic plight, and said in a hoarse voice, "For so many years, I only dared to worship her in secret. No one knew who my mother was, not even me... I hadn't opened my eyes at that time, so I couldn't see what my mother looked like."
The moonlight, like frost, cast a cold white on the ground, making the night even darker. The flame before him seemed especially small against the darkness. Zi Yan suddenly reached out, wanting to touch the fire.
Jiang Wan had no time to stop him and could only watch as his fingertips burned red and blisters appeared. His eyes were also a little red, and he didn't know if it was from the pain of the burn or the smoke from the fire.
He whispered, "I miss her so much."
After saying that, he took a deep breath. Perhaps it was Jiang Wan's illusion, but she actually heard crying in the sound of his breath.
"Jiang Wan, no one knows that I have a mother from a humble background... I didn't dare let others know, so I just hurt you with my conditioned reflex. I'm sorry. Can you still treat me the same way as before?"
Jiang Wan held her head and looked at Zi Yan, and suddenly smiled. It was indeed tragic that she lost her mother at a young age and did not dare to hold a memorial ceremony. But who in the world is without difficulties? If you feel sorry for outsiders, you will only torture yourself. She is not a soft-hearted person who can easily forgive. No matter what the reason, once you hurt her, it will never be the same as before.
If Zi Yan's words were true, then from these words, Jiang Wan could probably guess that he was the son of a concubine from a prominent family, his father's family being noble, but his mother's being of humble origin. But what illegitimate son could be on par with Shen Jianqing? Jiang Wan searched through the original owner's memories, but couldn't find a suitable candidate.
It was impossible as before, but since the other party had apologized, she might as well take advantage of the situation and get close to him, which would definitely be useful when expanding her business in the future.
Thinking of this, she pretended to smile and said, "Okay, I forgive you this time, Zi Yan."
She naturally picked up a few pieces of paper money and lit them with the flame. The light shone on the two young faces, and she clearly saw the surprise and tenderness in the boy's eyes.
After overthrowing Huang Xingquan and Li Weimin, her reputation soared, and she now had 250 taels of silver in her bank. She estimated that she would need another ten taels of silver to reorganize the shop, so she still needed 170 taels of silver to redeem her mother and brother.
Her next task was to leverage her newly rented shop to rapidly expand sales, attract customers, and earn enough money to free her family from the burdens of hard labor. With the incineration furnace, celadon production could be rapid enough; the key was to research how to further improve the porcelain's body. The shop's opening ceremony was also crucial; if it attracted more customers, it would greatly boost subsequent sales.
After much deliberation, Jiang Wan decided to open a special window in the shop for on-site glazing, which would not only attract passers-by but also many professionals.
【1】From Yue Fei's "Man Jiang Hong"
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