Chapter 364 Li Rong felt inferior
What are you standing for? Sit down!
Jiang Nuanzhi took Xiao Baozhu up to the second floor, then put her arm around Baozhu, and the two of them snuggled together on the sofa.
This sofa was made from a wooden cabinet shaped like a sofa, covered with thick cotton and old quilts. The top layer was filled with duck and goose feathers that Jiang Nuanzhi had bought earlier. It had been rinsed many times and was packed full. Sinking into it, the softness almost buried her whole body, was a feeling that Jiang Nuanzhi really liked.
At that moment, Jiang Nuanzhi saw Li Rong standing there blankly and patted the spot next to her.
“I know you want to ask about Xinbo’s condition, so I’ll tell you now.”
Then, he took the bamboo tube from Baozhu's hand and threaded the rope through the hole that had been drilled at the bottom of the bamboo tube.
"Anuan." Li Rong's gaze fell on Jiang Nuanzhi's slightly gentle profile. "It's my fault. I left you alone to take care of the family. You also had to handle the moving arrangements. I didn't help you at all."
“You’ve said that many times. There’s no need to be so polite.” Jiang Nuanzhi turned to look at him and said, “Although Uncle Xin often makes mistakes in his understanding, in my opinion, this is a sign of improvement. Do you still remember his condition before?”
Li Rong nodded naturally. Previously, Xin Bo even had trouble speaking, but now, at least he knew who he was.
After saying that, Jiang Nuanzhi took an account book from the sofa table and handed it to Li Rong: "Look, Uncle Xin helped with these calculations. Uncle Xin's mind is really super sharp. What would take me a long time to calculate, he can do in no time. Although he sometimes mistakes people for others, we can communicate most of the time. Of course, except when he's fighting with Uncle Jing for food. You don't need to worry too much."
Li Rong took the account book, glanced at it, and nodded: "The family business of the former general's mansion was also managed by Uncle Xin. Uncle Xin has always done a very good job. Ah Nuan, since Uncle Xin is alright, you can just use him. His martial arts skills are also quite good; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he is second only to me."
As he said this, it seemed like he was boasting. Li Rong paused for a moment, then coughed lightly: "Um, what I mean is, if we don't consider poison skills, Xin Bo's martial arts are no less than Jing Bo's."
Jiang Nuanzhi was taken aback: "Okay."
In fact, she is already ordering Simbo around.
As she spoke, she deftly tied a knot with her fingers. She repeated the process with the second bamboo tube, finishing it in no time. She handed the tube to Baozhu: "All done. Baozhu."
"Mother, is this the megaphone?"
Jiang Nuanzhi nodded; "Hmm, Baozhu, would you like to try it?"
"Thank you, Mother! You're so kind, Mother!" Baozhu, holding the bamboo tube, happily rushed towards Jiang Nuanzhi. Jiang Nuanzhi caught the child, but due to inertia, she fell backward.
The next second, however, he collapsed onto a warm, soft cushion.
She was startled and subconsciously turned around, only to see Li Rong's large hand catch her head.
Although the backrest was also padded with cotton, Jiang Nuanzhi was still caught off guard by the warmth and couldn't help but smile, saying, "Thank you."
Li Rong's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. The smooth, silky touch seemed to still linger in his hand. Because he was afraid of hurting him, he caught his head, bringing them even closer. A faint medicinal scent wafted into his nose. For no apparent reason, a surge of heat rose from his chest. He subconsciously tightened his grip.
"Father, take this to your room. Mother and I will stay here and see if this tube works." Baozhu didn't notice the change in atmosphere and excitedly handed one end of the bamboo tube to Li Rong.
Li Rong glanced at his daughter, then took Baozhu out of Jiang Nuanzhi's arms and patted her little head: "Baozhu, go ahead, you're fast, Daddy won't."
"Daddy's silly." Baozhu pouted, then ran off with one end of the bamboo tube in her hand, as if she were having a great time.
Li Rong breathed a sigh of relief, then met Jiang Nuanzhi's probing gaze and coughed lightly: "Well, there's something else I want to tell you."
Jiang Nuanzhi nodded: "Hmm?"
Li Rong composed himself, his brows furrowing slightly as he said seriously, "Among those who attempted assassination this time, it seems some villains are taking advantage of the chaos. Ah Nuan, I feel like we're being watched. You and the children should be extra careful when you go out these days."
Jiang Nuanzhi nodded: "I also feel that something is wrong."
As she spoke, she got up and took out a sketch from the drawer of the coffee table, opened it and said: "Look, do you recognize this person?"
Li Rong frowned: "Who...is this person?"
Jiang Nuanzhi: "The ones who came to the village before were all bandits. This man mingled among the bandits and tried to set fire to our house. Luckily, the old man caught him. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Think about it, have you seen this man in the capital?"
Li Rong examined him carefully. Then he frowned: "I've never seen him before." The next second, he looked at Jiang Nuanzhi: "How does Nuanzhi know he's from the capital?"
Jiang Nuanzhi: "It's not just him. The people you said you couldn't find out about today are most likely from Kyoto."
Li Rong's pupils contracted, and he subconsciously looked over.
Jiang Nuanzhi then said, "The Great Wilderness is located in a remote area, especially in winter, where there is little sunshine. People who live in the Great Wilderness year-round, lacking sunshine, tend to have fairer skin. Due to the cold weather, the people of the Great Wilderness also have slightly higher nose bridges."
These people didn't have very fair skin, their lips were rather thick, and their features were regular—their appearance was more typical of people from the Central Plains.
Li Rong stared wide-eyed in surprise: "You can tell just by looking at them?"
Jiang Nuanzhi suddenly laughed: "Of course not, there's another point. Although they've changed into local Great Wilderness clothes, their undergarments are different. I saw them on the guards the little princess brought before, and the material of their undergarments is almost the same as theirs."
Li Rong was taken aback: "Anuan, I am ashamed of myself. If I remember correctly, you didn't even get close, you just looked at people from afar, right?"
Li Rong was astonished by Jiang Nuanzhi's keen insight and keen observation. If Nuanzhi weren't a doctor, she would definitely be a natural investigator!
Jiang Nuanzhi winked at him: "Of course, another important point is that I heard them talking, and they had a strong Beijing accent."
Li Rong: "Hmm?"
Jiang Nuanzhi chuckled: "What's wrong? You probably don't know that you, the little princess, Ping'er, and the old man all speak with a different accent than the people of the Great Wilderness, right?" Although it was subtle, if you paid close attention, you could still tell that they were different.
Li Rong: "..."
"Li Rong admires you."
Jiang Nuanzhi modestly replied, "There's no need for that. I'm just averagely good."
Li Rong subconsciously glanced at the sly smile on her lips and couldn't help but smile back. He couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile as well.
Jiang Nuanzhi propped her head up, somewhat worried: "I just don't know what these people's purpose is. I'm feeling really uncertain now. And those bandits who came today look much more difficult to deal with than the ones before."
Li Rong glanced at the sky, looked down at Jiang Nuanzhi, and took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket and placed them in her hand: "Anuan, don't worry, leave it to me. After tonight, we should have an answer."
Jiang Nuanzhi stared at the silver notes in her hand, her eyes wide with shock. But before she could speak, she heard the sound of a door opening downstairs.
"Report! General! We've captured him!" came the excited voice of the young soldier.
(End of this chapter)
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