He was really thirsty; he had been working for almost a day and a night, and his throat was parched.
After a short while, feeling his throat was a little better, Liu An came back to his senses and suddenly remembered something. "Look at me, I'm getting old and my memory is getting worse. I was going to tell Madam some good news."
"What good news?"
"Madam, you no longer need to worry about the stigma."
"Huh? He's already cleared his name?" Jiang Nuan asked in surprise.
She hadn't even had a chance to do anything yet!
"Hmm," Liu An said with some pride, "The previous earthquake caused widespread panic. I had people guide public opinion, making them think that they had offended the earth by disrespecting the immortals. Now no one in the capital dares to talk about you, Madam."
When did this happen?
Half a day had passed since the earthquake, and she hadn't received any warning.
"The news was already being disseminated immediately after the earthquake; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so effective so quickly."
This kind of statement is most easily accepted when people are panicked and uneasy.
"That's thoughtful of you."
"It's just my duty, Madam, you don't need to worry about it," Liu An said, glancing at the door. "It's getting late, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
"Okay, you go ahead with your work."
Upon hearing this, Liu An gave Jiang Nuan a resentful look, composed himself, and strode towards the door.
He had originally planned to come and freeload a meal, as he hadn't had a satisfying meal in a long time. However, since his wife didn't want him to stay, he couldn't just stubbornly refuse to leave.
Before, at the mountain resort, I could do whatever I wanted since there were no outsiders around. But here in the capital, with so many people around, I really have to save face for myself.
Jiang Nuan was unaware of Liu An's thoughts.
After sending someone out to inquire and confirm that what Liu An said was true, she told the two elders the good news.
"Really?" The old lady was pleasantly surprised. "Those awful rumors are really gone?"
All along the way, all she heard were curses and insults directed at her daughter. Her reputation was ten or a hundred times worse than it had been in Huangjiakou. This had become a worry for the old lady, but knowing that her daughter was having a hard time in the capital, she had kept quiet and dared not say a word.
"It's not that it has completely disappeared, but most people are reluctant to mention it."
Even if it's just hearsay, people will subconsciously believe it if they hear it too often, let alone the fact that an earthquake would happen so coincidentally.
"Whatever the reason, as long as no one is spreading rumors, that's fine," Grandma Jiang couldn't help but smile. "Although it's not very kind of her, I'm really happy."
The old lady was originally worried about the damage from the earthquake, but upon hearing this news, she suddenly felt that the earthquake had come at just the right time.
"Finally, this matter is resolved," the old man felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart, and he suddenly felt relieved. "Those words were really suffocating to hear, and now my ears can finally have some peace and quiet."
"Father and Mother," Jiang Nuan said with a smile, "everything is alright now. You can eat and drink as usual and stop worrying."
Although the two elders didn't say it explicitly, she knew they were extremely anxious and frustrated, but they hadn't lost their temper because she had been comforting them.
“Liu An is a good man,” the old lady thought, feeling that her daughter had made the right choice in taking him as her steward. “Old man, we must treat him with more respect from now on.”
"Don't worry, I know."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan's lips twitched slightly.
She discovered that the old lady was incredibly pragmatic, and after realizing Liu An's role, she immediately changed her attitude.
"No need, just do it the same as before, he won't care about these things."
“Daughter, you’re old enough to understand human relationships,” the old lady said earnestly. “It’s true that Liu An is in charge of our household affairs, but he’s also a high-ranking official. We can’t let him down.”
Besides, if those who have made contributions aren't rewarded, who will dare to put in the effort next time?
“That’s right,” the old man said seriously. “If someone is truly capable, we should respect them and not treat them with the same casual attitude we used to have.”
Back home, the old man didn't think there was anything wrong with his attitude, but after arriving in Beijing, he immediately realized it was inappropriate.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan looked up at the sky speechlessly.
Is it too late to say all this now?
If Liu An really cared about these things, he might have already turned against him.
“Father, Mother,” Jiang Nuan said helplessly, “I have never let Liu An suffer any losses, and besides, things are not that simple.”
Knowing that the two elders would have to deal with these things sooner or later, Jiang Nuan explained them in detail, from the reasons to the methods and even the results and impacts. She also gave a detailed analysis of the relationship between her and Liu An, where both suffered losses.
Upon hearing this, the two elders remained silent for a long time.
The old man looked dejected. "Girl, we've dragged you down."
"Dad, don't overthink it. I didn't mean anything by it, really."
Jiang Nuan didn't know what she had said that displeased the old man.
“I’m not just thinking wildly,” the old man said with a sigh, rubbing his wrinkled face. “Your mother and I have always lived in Jiangjiazhuang. If it weren’t for you, we would never have left Ping’an County in our entire lives. We may have a little bit of cleverness, but compared to these people in the capital, we are completely insignificant.”
It's clearly the same person, but they give off completely different vibes at home and in Beijing.
After arriving in the capital, he realized that even if he lived for more than fifty years, it would still not be enough to deliver vegetables to others.
Once again, the old man was absolutely certain that he must not meddle in other people's business. Living a quiet and peaceful life without causing trouble would be the greatest help he could give his daughter.
These words left Jiang Nuan at a loss for words.
“Who said that?” the old lady retorted. “We are all born of mothers and fathers, so why can’t we compare ourselves to others? Being worse now doesn’t mean we will be worse in the future. If we keep learning from others, I don’t believe we can’t learn.”
Upon seeing Ji Xuan for the first time, the old lady realized that the capital was different from home, so she subconsciously became timid.
Part of it was out of fear, but more so out of apprehension.
Knowing those people were not to be trifled with, they dared not show their faces and tried to minimize their presence.
He appeared timid on the surface, but his determination only grew stronger; he was determined to make something of himself.
Her thoughts were simple: if they weren't destined for wealth, they would just live honest and law-abiding lives. But since they were destined for it, why not fight for it?
"What are you thinking?" the old man snorted irritably. "You really think you're something special just because your daughter praised you a little. You have to break down such a simple plan into such detail. How can you compete with others?"
"You're a loser yourself, yet you forbid others from being ambitious. You insist on belittling me to the point of being worthless," the old woman said, clutching her chest in anger. "I can't stand people like you!"
As she spoke, she lunged at the old man.
Seeing this, Jiang Nuan quickly stopped him, "Mother, don't be impulsive, Father didn't mean that."
"If it doesn't mean that, then what does it mean?"
"He's just worried that you'll suffer losses and get hurt."
Upon hearing this, the old lady paused for a moment, then returned to her chair and snorted coldly, "All you know is how to say nice things about him."
This daughter was born in vain; all she knows is to favor her father.
Seeing this, Jiang Nuan rubbed her nose and stopped talking.
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