Chapter 117: Not Good at Running Fast
"What's up?" Jiang Lin half-closed his eyes as he approached Qin Xiangnuan, glancing at Hei Lao Da and the others, feeling a sense of foreboding. Qin Xiangnuan's face was covered with a smile, almost reaching her ears. She approached Jiang Lin's side with an especially friendly attitude, her eyes curved into crescents as she said, "Prince, in previous years, when you stayed up all night in the capital for New Year's Eve, it was definitely a lively occasion. This year, it must be so quiet here."
Jiang Lin frowned, as if he guessed what Qin Xiangnuan was going to say next. He opened his mouth to interrupt, but Qin Xiangnuan didn't give him a chance. Her cherry lips shot out a rapid-fire barrage of words, blocking his words directly. "Brother Hei and his men are short of money and can't afford to spend lavishly. I'd like to light red lanterns all over the village for the prince and prepare some fine wine and food, but you know... the general's mansion was ransacked, and the Seventh Prince didn't find a single cent or thing in the mansion's treasury. We're so poor, and it's embarrassing to let the prince eat coarse food with us."
"Your Highness's heart is as broad as the ocean. Xiaoyao Marquis's family is extremely wealthy, so I believe they won't be short of money, right?"
Qin Xiangnuan's eyes gleamed, but she raised her hands to cover her eyes, deliberately pretending to be pitiful. She quietly lifted her sleeves, revealing the scraps of cloth left over from the surgery on Ading, and two round holes.
Things have come to this point, Jiang Lin will definitely not sit idly by, right?
Qin Xiangnuan pricked up her ears, eavesdropping on the noises around her, but Jiang Lin didn't respond. The gang leader, fearing they might have a conflict over village matters, approached to smooth things over. Jiang Lin raised his hand to signal him to remain silent, staring at Qin Xiangnuan with a hint of interest. "Even if I were interested, there's nowhere near this village where I could buy anything."
Let go! Qin Xiangnuan lowered her hand, and with a growing smile, she turned to meet Jiang Lin's playful eyes. Pointing ahead without fear of being exposed, she said, "Brother Hei said there's a town not far from here. Judging from the speed of the secret guards, they can get back in just half a day. I would like to thank the prince for his kindness on behalf of the villagers! The prince is so kind-hearted, he will surely be rewarded in the future."
Qin Xiangnuan flattered Jiang Lin fiercely, and when she realized she had explained everything, she tried to slip away. Jiang Lin, however, raised his hand and tugged at her collar. Still in her ivory robe, Qin Xiangnuan was lifted up by Jiang Lin. She fluttered her feet, turned around and looked at him awkwardly, "What are you doing, my prince?"
"Why do you always try to trick me?" Jiang Lin stared at Qin Xiangnuan, looking at her rosy face.
She was very cold, and this dress was still a little thin. When Anliu went to town, I should ask him to buy two more thicker clothes. Jiang Lin thought to himself, put Qin Xiangnuan on the ground, and tapped her forehead with his index finger. "Do you think you can succeed by just praising me a few times and coaxing me into doing something?" Qin Xiangnuan rubbed her forehead with her hand. This guy is really difficult to deal with.
"What else? Will the prince reject me?"
Qin Xiangnuan's tone was a little impatient, and she raised her watery eyes to meet Jiang Lin's. For a moment as their eyes met, Jiang Lin could hear his heartbeat quicken. He shifted his gaze to the side and said to An Feng, who was always waiting for orders behind him, "Did you hear what the Third Miss wants? You should go to town now and return before sunset."
"Yes." An Feng nodded and left, looking back every few steps.
He muttered to himself, his master is really different from before, how could he be controlled by a little girl?
Seeing her mission accomplished, Qin Xiangnuan turned to leave. She'd taken just two steps when she heard a clear voice behind her. Cold fingers touched the exposed skin of her neck, and she shrank back. Something warm was stuffed directly into her arms. Qin Xiangnuan looked down and saw it was Jiang Lin's hot water bottle, the water still warm.
"Since someone is taking care of things outside, you shouldn't go out so often. In the dead of winter, even if you are in good health, you will still feel cold." Jiang Lin said a few words seemingly unintentionally, and the figure of the director disappeared from Qin Xiangnuan's sight.
Qin Xiangnuan stared at his back blankly, rubbed her nose which was as red as a rabbit with her hand, turned around and ran into the house.
Most of the village's houses were destroyed by flash floods. Of the few mud houses left, only Hei Da Ge's home was habitable. The General's Mansion and Jiang Lin's men stayed there. Qin Xiangnuan stopped by Hei Da Ge's mother's courtyard, thinking of checking on her. With a creak, she pushed open the wooden door. The old woman lying by the window opened her eyes, leaning on the couch with her hand, and sat up. "Third Miss..."
"Just call me Nuannuan!" Qin Xiangnuan supported her and used the soft quilt to support her waist so that she could lean on it more comfortably.
The old woman apologized, "I'm sorry to bother you! I'm no longer fit for this." Qin Xiangnuan smiled, looking at the bowl of medicine residue beside the bed. There were even a few blackened dried fruits next to it. They must have been brought back by Hei Da Ge, he was a filial son.
Following Qin Xiangnuan's gaze, the old woman coughed twice and said weakly, "I'm the one who dragged him down."
"This child is good in every way, but he's staying here because I need someone to take care of him. It's hard for his future." The old woman muttered with red eyes, "I can see that you are all noble people from the capital. If he could go to the capital, I think he would have earned a reputation by now."
Qin Xiangnuan tucked the quilt in for her and said comfortingly, "The capital may not be a good place."
"Brother Hei's straightforward character, his clear distinction between right and wrong, and his strong sense of loyalty will inevitably lead to his being ostracized by others. It's better for him to stay by your side. In life, happiness and peace are the most important things. Everything else is external. Gains and losses are not the most important things. Isn't that right?"
After Qin Xiangnuan finished speaking, the old woman looked at her in surprise, smiled and said, "Half of my body is already buried in the soil, but I don't see as clearly as you do. I have lived so many years in vain..." She opened her mouth several times, wanting to say something but stopped herself, and rolled her eyes as she said, "It's almost New Year's Day, why haven't I seen the girl's family?"
"Those outside are my family, my mother, uncle, and aunt. My father is far away at the border."
Qin Xiangnuan thought the old woman was asking about this, but as soon as she finished speaking, the old woman shook her head, and seemed to have regained some energy as she held Qin Xiangnuan's hand. "I mean, are you betrothed? Do you have a husband at home?"
"I am not married."
She smiled awkwardly, and Qin Xiangnuan muttered to herself, "Why are people here so obsessed with marriage? I should find a reason to get out of here quickly, otherwise this old lady will definitely say something earth-shattering!"
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