Chapter 168 The Amazing Effect of Floral Water
So, for the past few days, he has been constantly imagining what his benefactor looks like.
She might have been a kind-faced rich young lady, or a dignified and composed woman, but no one would have imagined that she would look like this.
The woman in front of me had her black hair simply tied up, and she wore a plain dress that was not made of silk or satin, but was well-tailored.
Her appearance was extremely beautiful, but not in an aggressive or flamboyant way; instead, she exuded a calm and gentle aura.
It makes you want to get closer.
For a moment, he forgot the pain of his wound and what he should say, and just stared blankly at her.
"Brother Ying!" Xiao Ran ran over first and went to the bedside.
"Are you feeling better? Sister Jiang brought you some white rice and red dates, and asked Aunt Chen to cook you some thick porridge."
Zhao Shiying then snapped out of her surprise and looked at the young man in front of her. She smiled and said:
"You must be Xiaoran? It's been five years since I last saw you. You've grown up so much, you're practically a little adult now."
These past few days, unable to get out of bed, he had asked Aunt Chen quite a bit about this mysterious Miss Jiang, and of course, he also learned that Xiao Ran was working as a shop assistant in her shop.
Aunt Chen took the white rice and red dates, her eyes reddening again: "This...this is so kind of me, I always take your things..."
These days, red dates and white rice are considered precious commodities, and some women can only drink red date and white rice porridge during their postpartum period.
Jiang Ling smiled and said, "It's just a small token of my appreciation, no need to be polite."
Zhao Shiying raised her head again and looked at Jiang Lingshi, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Miss Jiang."
Jiang Ling walked to the bedside, nodded slightly, and asked in a gentle voice, "Young Master Zhao, are you feeling any better?"
He hurriedly tried to sit up, but the movement aggravated his wound, causing a sharp pain that made him frown.
Jiang Ling immediately stopped her, "Don't move! The wound hasn't healed yet, be careful not to tear it open."
She didn't want to perform surgery on him again; the scene... she simply didn't want to recall it.
Zhao Shiying leaned back as instructed, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Jiang... It doesn't hurt much anymore. I haven't yet thanked you for saving my life..."
Jiang Ling smiled faintly, "It was nothing, Young Master Zhao, you don't need to worry about it. Taking good care of your health is the most important thing."
Xiao Ran seized the opportunity to ask, "Brother Xiao Ying, I heard you went to learn martial arts from your master? You must be very skilled now, right? Now that you're healed, could you teach me too?"
Ever since Jiang Ling's accident during the last Mid-Autumn Festival, Xiao Ran has wanted to learn martial arts, but she hasn't had the chance.
He was going to Beijing with Sister Jiang in a few days, and he was afraid that something like that would happen again.
Zhao Shiying's heart sank, and the memory of her failed revenge flashed through her mind.
So close! Just a hair's breadth away!
He can then personally avenge his enemy!
I've practiced martial arts for years, all for this moment!
If the other side hadn't outnumbered him, he might not have lost!
Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Jiang Ling quickly said, "Young Master Zhao, don't think about other things for now. The most important thing for you right now is to get well. Only when you are healthy will you have time to think about other things. As long as you are alive, you can always make a comeback."
Zhao Shiying understood the implication in her words and looked up in surprise.
Several adults in the village guessed why he was injured and advised him to let it go, saying that the man was powerful and influential, and he couldn't fight against him.
Jiang Ling clearly knew the reason for his injury, but her words sounded like she was advising him to recover before thinking about a solution.
Zhao Shiying nodded: "Miss Jiang is right. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn."
Xiao Ran also sensed something was wrong. He had been too eager to learn martial arts to think about it more deeply. "Brother Xiao Ying, I'm sorry."
Zhao Shiying softened her expression and smiled at him, "It's alright. If you really want to learn, I'll teach you when I'm better."
Xiao Ran's eyes lit up: "Really? That's great!"
After sitting for a while, Jiang Ling gave Aunt Chen a few more instructions and then took Xiao Ran back.
Back at the shop, Xiao Yi was holding a broom and diligently sweeping the empty space in front of the door.
Upon seeing them return, he immediately put on a smiling face.
In the afternoon, Jiang Ling delivered the money to Grandpa Zhao's house, and then she saw Fu Chengze coming to teach the children.
Fu Chengze also came specifically to thank them for the fabric earlier.
He also sent Jiang Ling two salted duck eggs that he had made himself.
The villagers here are so simple and kind; they always give and take, and never try to take advantage of others.
In the afternoon, Grandpa Zhao and carpenter Wang started measuring the land and marking the lines. They're just waiting to begin construction.
Jiang Ling's shop is closing for several days, so there's no way to cook for the workers.
So the cooking job fell to Aunt Zhao, and Jiang Ling would pay her extra wages.
Xiao Ran and Xiao Yi would also go over to help whenever they had free time.
Time simply passes by.
She finished eating early again today, closed the wooden door, and told Xiaoran and Xiaoyi that she would not open the door for five days.
Jiang Ling changed out of her ancient costume and opened the iron gate.
Now that she has agreed to go to the capital, she should start preparing properly.
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As dusk deepened, the Fragrant Beauty Pavilion in the capital was brightly lit, with the sounds of string and wind instruments filling the air.
The annual "Fragrance Appreciation Gathering" is underway, bringing together wealthy businessmen, celebrities, and literati from the capital to appreciate the talents and charm of the young women in the building.
Tonight, whoever comes out on top will become the focus of conversation for the next year.
As the undisputed queen of peonies today, Hongxiu naturally has to attend such occasions.
She looked up at the private room on the east side, where her beloved Fang Shijie was sitting.
This was a rare opportunity, and she knew that if she wanted to gain more influence in the building and refuse the people her mother arranged for her, she had to be the first to win in this selection process.
That way, she could protect herself as much as possible and be worthy of Fang Shijie's sincere feelings for her.
She specially changed into a brocade dress embroidered with lotus patterns in gold thread, her hair was styled in a high bun, and a jade hairpin was inserted diagonally.
Then, using the rouge and face powder from Sister Jiang's shop, she became incomparably beautiful.
However, at this moment, her greatest hope came from the small, exquisite glass bottle in her arms, the Western-style floral water from Sister Jiang's shop.
Before going on stage, she gently pressed behind her ears and between her wrists twice.
In an instant, a delicate, rich, and layered fragrance quietly spread, blending with the original incense on her body, yet remaining unique and extraordinary, as if it possessed an ethereal quality.
She slowly walked onto the stage, holding a pipa in her arms.
With delicate fingers plucking the strings and lips parting slightly, a melodious tune of "Spring River Flower Moon Night" flowed forth.
Hongxiu's musical skills and singing voice are top-notch in Ping'an County, but they would be considered rather mediocre if placed in the capital.
The audience, accustomed to this type of song and dance, showed little interest.
At that moment, a faint, wonderful fragrance drifted out with her movements and singing, enveloping the entire stage and gradually spreading to the audience.
Soon, the unprecedented aroma attracted everyone's attention.
"Huh? What's that scent?"
A person sitting in the front row, fanning himself with a folding fan, was the first to smell it. He paused, looked around in surprise.
"What a unique fragrance... It's neither like orchids nor like musk, both refreshing and lingering, and it invigorates the mind and body!"
"I was born into a family of spice connoisseurs, yet I have never smelled such a fragrance before."
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