She was about to continue nagging when Jiang Zhixing finally couldn't take it anymore: "Mom, if you keep nagging, my sister-in-law will miss lunch—"
Jiang Yuan immediately shut up: "Okay, okay, I won't say anything more! You guys go back now!"
Only then were they completely released.
As Xu Ningyan left the hospital, she sat in the passenger seat. The autumn air was crisp and clear, the clouds were light and the sky was a deep blue, a sight that instantly lifted her spirits.
The car wasn't going fast, and a gentle breeze was blowing in from the window. The midday sun was still quite hot, but the breeze was just right.
Xu Ningyan took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and felt the warm autumn sun.
Jiang Zhiyuan and Jiang Zhixing were relieved to see that Xu Ningyan was in good spirits.
The car wasn't going very fast. Seeing Xu Ningyan looking out the window with curiosity, Jiang Zhixing decided to explain to her along the way where they were, what fun things to do, and what delicious food to eat.
Jiang Zhixing was born and raised in the capital, so there was nothing in the capital that he was not familiar with.
He spoke with great knowledge and expertise, knowing exactly what was in every nook and cranny of the alley.
One was talking enthusiastically, and the other was listening with great interest.
They returned to the courtyard in the alley in a lively atmosphere.
The car stopped at the entrance of the courtyard. As soon as he got out, the courtyard door opened from the inside, and Sun Zhou greeted him with a beaming smile: "You're finally back! Come in quickly, let's get rid of the bad luck first—"
Just then, a figure darted out of the courtyard and pounced in front of Xu Ningyan.
Who else could it be but a lackey?
The lackey placed its front paws on Xu Ningyan's legs, making whimpering noises, and wagging its tail, stirring up dust from the ground.
Xu Ningyan hugged her lackey tightly with delight. "Oh, my little lackey, I missed you so much! You missed me too, didn't you? I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, you scared me, didn't you? Let Dad—uh, let my sister give you a couple of pats, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I won't leave you behind—"
The person and the dog huddled together, and no one else could squeeze in.
Sun Zhou glanced gloatingly at Jiang Zhiyuan, who was carrying luggage behind him. "Old Jiang, didn't expect this, did you? Your biggest rival in love has arrived! Not a person, but a dog!"
Look at Comrade Xu, he's more enthusiastic towards the dog than towards you! Doesn't that make you feel bad?
Jiang Zhiyuan glanced at Sun Zhou's furious expression, not even lifting his eyelids.
Jiang Zhixing felt a pang of jealousy seeing the lackey so affectionate with Xu Ningyan! This was his sister-in-law, and he was her brother-in-law. How could he feel that he was less than a dog in front of his sister-in-law?
Holding his anger in his heart, he approached and asked, "Sister-in-law, is this your dog? Is it called 'Dog Lackey'? Why is it called that?"
Xu Ningyan rubbed the dog's head, "Yes! My dog! Isn't he handsome? Calling him 'dog' sounds so nice, it's simple and clear, he's an obedient and good dog!"
Jiang Zhixing: Okay, sister-in-law, you decide!
She couldn't help but take a few more glances at the lackey, and after a long while, she said, "Sister-in-law, your dog is really not bad! With its physique and appearance, why do I feel like it looks a bit like a wolf?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Ningyan and his lackey turned to look at Jiang Zhixing, who was taken aback: "Did I say something wrong?"
Jiang Zhiyuan stepped forward, helped Xu Ningyan up, and said casually, "The lackey is a hybrid of a local mongrel and a wolf, so you look like a wolf! Alright, we're all home, what are you doing crowding at the door? Come on in!"
Upon entering the courtyard, Sun Zhou produced some pomelo leaves from somewhere and handed them to Jiang Zhiyuan: "Quickly sweep for Comrade Xiao Xu to get rid of bad luck."
Jiang Zhiyuan hesitated, then held back.
Silently, he took the pomelo leaf and gently swept it over Xu Ningyan a few times to ward off bad luck.
Under the grapevines, a deck chair was already set up, covered with a thin blanket. On the small stone table next to it, there was a large tea tray with fruit, sponge cake, milk candy and other snacks.
Jiang Zhiyuan helped Xu Ningyan sit down on a recliner to rest, while he, Jiang Zhixing, and Sun Zhou moved their things in and put them away.
The lackey followed Xu Ningyan closely, and when Xu Ningyan sat on the recliner, it lay down at her feet.
All three were quick and efficient, and they soon moved the things in and put them away.
When Xu Ningyan was taken away, she didn't take anything with her.
During her hospital stay in Beijing, Jiang Yuan secretly went out and bought everything she needed. By the time she was discharged, she had accumulated a large bag of things.
Jiang Zhiyuan put these things away separately.
After tidying up, Sun Zhou went out of the yard, knocked on the door of Aunt Wang's house next door, whispered a few words, and soon came over with the food.
As he placed the food on the table, he said, "I've already spoken with the neighbors. For the time being, Aunt Wang will help with the cooking. Just tell Aunt Wang what you want to eat the day before."
For lunch, we had Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste), a traditional Beijing style that smelled delicious.
Xu Ningyan had a bowl of chicken porridge with two side dishes.
After finishing their meal, Sun Zhou and Jiang Zhixing left first. Both of them had taken leave to come out, so naturally they wanted to go back early.
Xu Ningyan's body was indeed weakened after this ordeal. She had only eaten for a short while when she sat on a recliner, enjoying the breeze, with Jiang Zhiyuan and his lackeys beside her. It felt as if she had suddenly returned to Jingshan County.
Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
While processing his work documents, Jiang Zhiyuan kept an eye on Xu Ningyan.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep, he quickly put down his pen, got up, bent down, gently picked up Xu Ningyan, and carried her into the room to sleep.
He held her in his arms; she was so light and airy, and much thinner than she had been in the capital.
He kissed Xu Ningyan's forehead tenderly, placed her on the bed, and covered her with a light blanket.
These have all been sun-dried in advance, so they smell of sunshine and are very soft.
Xu Ningyan was sleeping soundly, and even after being moved to a different spot, she didn't wake up.
Jiang Zhiyuan's eyes were filled with worry and heartache. He quietly watched Xu Ningyan's sleeping face for a long time before tiptoeing out the door.
The lackey had been dutifully guarding Xu Ningyan's door, and wagged its tail when it saw Jiang Zhiyuan come out.
Jiang Zhiyuan squatted down and rubbed the lackey's head: "Keep a close eye on her."
The lackey wagged his tail perfunctorily and closed his eyes.
Over the next few days, Jiang Zhiyuan left early and returned late. Fortunately, he had his lackeys and Aunt Wang, who would come over from time to time to keep him company and talk to him.
Aunt Wang was a very perceptive person; she didn't ask many questions and just chatted about everyday things.
Seeing that the lackey was clever and understanding, he praised him even more.
Within two days, everyone in the alley, from children to adults, had heard that the new family had adopted an extremely intelligent and perceptive dog.
Every day, the neighborhood kids would sneak outside their doors to watch the dog's lackeys.
Xu Ningyan was bored anyway, and when she saw him, she called the children into the yard so they could see the lackey up close.
The children in the alley had never seen such a majestic dog before. Its fur was glossy and smooth, and its tail was thick and powerful, slapping the ground with a loud crack. It was truly awe-inspiring.
Especially its aura, which makes it only suitable for admiring from afar and not for getting close to play with, is simply their dream dog!
A bunch of kids, some in school and some not, would sneak away and squeeze into the yard, sitting in a row watching the dog.
The lackeys flicked their tails, and they let out a chorus of "waaaah!" sounds.
The lackey gnawed on a bone, while they continued eating.
When the lackeys take a few steps, there's an even bigger chorus of "wows!"
If Xu Ningyan hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would have suspected that her yard was full of frogs.
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