Chapter 110 Enlightened Foster Father
Xie Daoheng did not start eating immediately. After sitting down with Xie Wei and Jiang Yuan, he first solemnly thanked Jiang Yuan for his help and protection of Xie Wanniang. Then, with Xie Wei's tacit cooperation, he began to probe Jiang Yuan's background in a very kind and amiable manner.
Jiang Yuan quickly realized Xie Daoheng's purpose, but as a brat who wanted to steal someone else's daughter away, all he could do under these circumstances was to actively cooperate with Xie Daoheng's various questioning methods.
When Xie Wanniang brought the chive dumplings and Xiao Yang into the main room, Xie Daoheng stopped his probing of Jiang Yuan.
Xie Bao greeted Xie Wanniang, then took the soup, vegetables, and chive dumplings he had served separately and went to a corner to eat by himself.
Xie Daoheng and Xie Wei sat with Xie Wanniang, Jiang Yuan, and Xiao Yang, enjoying the sumptuous meal prepared by Xie Wanniang.
"I never imagined that you, Sixth Sister, could cook so well." Xie Wei ate without looking up. "If I had known, I should have gone to Uncle's house more often for meals."
Xie Wanniang couldn't help but laugh, ruthlessly shattering Xie Wei's beautiful fantasy, "If you go, it won't be me cooking, it will be the cook."
Indeed, although the main branch of the Xie family lived in the village, they still kept some servants. These people were not only responsible for cultivating the fields and managing the property, but also for the master's food, clothing, housing and transportation.
People like Xie Bao risked their lives to protect their masters, guarding their homes and surviving the war alongside them.
For this reason, he always had a lot of face in front of the Xie family. Xie Wanniang and the other members of the Xie family all called him "Uncle" to show their respect.
After having lunch at Xie Wanniang's place and staying for about two more hours, Xie Daoheng and the other two left Mingfu Village by carriage after she and Jiang Yuan finished wrapping and cooking the zongzi. They took the basket of zongzi, two pheasants, two rabbits, and the drawings that Xie Wanniang had promised Xie Daoheng.
"I will try my best to keep your affairs a secret from others. Be careful as you are all alone out there. If there is anything I can do to help, please send someone to the academy to deliver a message to me."
Before getting into the carriage, Xie Daoheng, who was worried about Xie Wanniang but had no choice but to let her go out on her own, couldn't help but nag his daughter a couple of times.
Xie Wanniang smiled and nodded, "Father, don't worry, I will take good care of myself."
Xie Daoheng then turned his gaze to the silent boy standing not far from Xie Wanniang, "A Yuan, I entrust Wanniang to your care."
Jiang Yuan nodded, "I will do my best."
Xie Daoheng sighed, turned around, and got into the carriage with Xie Wei's help.
Xie Wei followed closely behind, and before closing the car door, he nodded slightly to Xie Wanniang and the other two, "Then we'll be leaving now. Take good care of yourself, Sixth Sister."
Xie Wanniang nodded, "Father, Brother Wei, Uncle Bao, please be careful on your journey."
Xie Bao smiled at her, "Sixth Miss, don't worry, I will definitely escort Master and Young Master Wei back to Xie Family Village safely."
"Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Bao." Xie Wanniang waved to him, and then, together with Jiang Yuan and Xiao Yang, watched him drive out of the courtyard gate.
This time, Xie Daoheng came under the guise of visiting a friend. To be on the safe side, he even arranged for two loyal servants to leave the village a while later than him to keep an eye out for anyone following him.
Whether it was because he left too early or because a year had passed and the people keeping watch had become lax, he was not followed this time.
But just because it didn't happen this time doesn't mean it won't happen in the future. For Xie Wanniang's safety and freedom, Xie Daoheng has made up his mind that he will never take the initiative to contact Xie Wanniang unless absolutely necessary.
He was very satisfied with the results of this investigation into Jiang Yuan.
Although this young man, like Xie Wanniang, also had some issues with his background, in other aspects, he was truly flawless—like Xie Wanniang, Xie Daoheng did not consider Jiang Yuan's taciturnity a flaw.
With such a devoted young man by Xie Wanniang's side, Xie Daoheng felt that Xie Wanniang was safer than if she had returned to the Xie family.
He had already instructed his wife and daughter not to tell anyone that Xie Wanniang was still alive. Xie Wei and the others who helped him search for her were also people he had instructed to keep quiet.
If he doesn't say anything, and they don't say anything either, Xie Wanniang can continue to live her wonderful life peacefully.
As for Xie Jingshu, Xie Wanniang's biological mother, Xie Daoheng does not intend to reveal the news that Xie Wanniang is still alive until she deeply realizes her mistakes.
In any case, after Xie Wanniang disappeared without a trace, that person simply returned to the Taoist temple in silence, without showing any remorse for indirectly causing Xie Wanniang's disappearance.
Regardless of whether others believe it or not, she firmly believes that her decision to have Xie Wanniang acknowledge her ancestors was truly for Xie Wanniang's own good.
Unable to reason with her, Xie Daoheng simply chose to keep it from her, just like Xie Wanniang.
***
Xie Wanniang didn't return home with Jiang Yuan and Xiao Yang until the carriage was completely out of sight.
Jiang Yuan looked at her, his lips moving, but he didn't say anything.
Xie Wanniang noticed his hesitation, and smiled at him, saying, "My father likes you very much."
Jiang Yuan was taken aback; he hadn't had time to consider whether Xie Daoheng was satisfied with him.
He asked Xie Wanniang, "Are you... alright?"
Xie Wanniang then realized that he wasn't worried about not making a good enough impression on Xie Daoheng, but rather about what she was feeling at that moment.
“I’m fine.” She said in a light tone. “My dad understands my thoughts and concerns without me having to say much. He also respects me and won’t force me to listen to him just because he’s my dad, under the guise of doing what’s best for me.”
"Or are you worried that I'll be upset because I can't go back to the Xie family for the time being?"
Jiang Yuan nodded; he was indeed worried about that.
Xie Wanniang laughed, "Not to mention that the hidden danger of my background is still there, even if it were gone, I am seventeen years old this year. If I go back now, I'm afraid I will be married off soon."
She has a biological mother who wants her to be recognized as part of her family, and an adoptive mother who thinks she's reached a certain age and should get married. If she goes back now, there are only two possibilities: either she'll be pushed into a fire pit by her own mother, or she'll be forced into marriage by her adoptive mother.
Regardless of which of these two situations she is forced into temporarily, as long as her biological father's family discovers her, her final fate will only be death.
Xie Wanniang didn't want to die, and she didn't want to be forced to do things she didn't like.
She sighed and said to Jiang Yuan, "If my father were to take me back now, I would really be upset."
After all, the sky was about to fall, so it would be strange if she was in a good mood.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com