When Jiang Shan returned to the Jiao residence, he seemed to have lost his soul. His mother called him several times but he didn't respond until she put Jiang Huai in her arms and he came back to his senses.
"Mother! Mother!" Jiang Shan grabbed Jiao's mother as if she were a lifeline and pulled her back to the room.
"Mother, what should we do, what should we do! Fifth Brother is going back to the capital. He wants me to go to Yuzhou next month to manage the branch store!" Jiang Shan said anxiously.
Mother Jiao patted her hand reassuringly, met Jiang Shan's slightly flustered eyes, and said softly, "Shan'er, don't panic, Mother is here. We can talk about it slowly."
Jiang Shan took a deep breath and tightened his grip on Jiang Huai's arm. "Mother, Fifth Brother said that he has already taken over the shop in Yuzhou. He won't go to Yuzhou with me; he will send someone else! But I don't know anyone there, and I don't have Fifth Brother's help. What am I going to do?"
Jiao's mother smiled and said, "So what? No one helped you when you were in Guxian Town, and Boss Zheng didn't participate in the whole process when you reopened Jiang's Private Kitchen. What do you have to worry about? Don't you even trust yourself?"
Jiang Shan said hesitantly, "Yuzhou is not like Guyang County. The competition there is much fiercer, and there are different forces at play. I have no power or influence, and I have no confidence..."
"So you're not going to do it? Even if Yuzhou is a den of dragons and tigers, you have to go for it! Don't forget, Sanlang is still waiting for you there. No matter how difficult it is, you have to grit your teeth and get through it! Even if it's just for Huai'er, you have to make a name for yourself in Yuzhou! Sanlang needs to make a name for himself, and you and Huai'er need new identities. You two siblings must make your mother proud!"
Jiang Shan bit his lip and lowered his voice, "Mother, do you know the Pei family of Yuzhou?"
A strange light flashed in Jiao's mother's eyes, "The Pei family? What happened?"
"Last time, it was the Pei family who cut off the seafood supply to the shop! Mother, let me tell you again, the group that set fire to Uncle Qiao and tried to take Jianghuai away were from the Pei family!"
A strange turmoil surged in Madam Jiao's eyes. She gripped Jiang Shan's hand tightly, struggling to control her emotions. "The Pei family of Yuzhou, Mother knows. Mother won't let them harm you, so you don't need to worry. As for those thieves, Mother will go to Lord Fu and get to the bottom of this! Shan'er, you must take good care of yourself and Huai'er. I'm entrusting Sanlang to you! Mother believes in you; you and your brother won't let Mother down!"
Jiang Shan's eyes widened, and he said somewhat helplessly, "Mother, aren't you coming to Yuzhou with us? Didn't we agree to go to Yuzhou together to find Sanlang?"
With tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, Jiao's mother said, "Shan'er, Mother is still waiting for Erlang to come back! Erlang will definitely come back, and then Mother will go to Yuzhou with Erlang to find you!"
It's Erlang again! Jiang Shan was incredibly frustrated, but she had no right to persuade Jiao's mother to give up Erlang and go to Yuzhou with them. Erlang was an insurmountable obstacle in Jiao's mother's heart, her deepest wound. She couldn't let go of Erlang, just as she had risked her life to give birth to Jiang Huai.
Unable to persuade Jiao's mother, Jiang Shan remained uneasy. But she had to make a decision; she had no other choice!
Just as Jiao's mother said, if she couldn't develop her own power, she wouldn't have the strength to fight against the Pei family no matter where she was. Yuzhou was her battlefield, but wasn't it also her opportunity? Since there was no other way, she might as well go all the way down this path!
When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave one will prevail; it's not certain who will win or lose!
Jiang Shan held a meeting with all the employees of Jiang's Private Kitchen, and the content of the meeting almost scared them to death!
The "Jiang Family Private Kitchen" restaurant in Guxian Town was later handed over to the Qiao family father and son for management. Qiao Shi was the head manager, and the Qiao family father and son owned 20% of the shares in the Guxian Town restaurant. Other employees jointly owned 10% of the shares, and Jiang Shan only owned 30% of the shares.
After delivering that heavy blow, Jiang Shan immediately contacted Xia Qing and explained a series of matters.
Whether in Guyang County or Chongqing, Jiang's Private Kitchen relies heavily on Xia Qing's assistance. Xia Qing's fleet is now lined up at the port of Zongyang County. With this support, even if Jiang Shan is not in Guyang County, the shops in Guxian Town can still operate very well.
Knowing that Jiang Shan had a long, long road ahead, the Qiao father and son reluctantly accepted the task. Qiao Shi wanted Qiao Sheng to go to Yuzhou to help Jiang Shan manage the branch store, but Jiang Shan politely declined. Although Qiao Shi was capable, without Qiao Sheng's connections, the shop really couldn't do without him.
But Jiang Shan decided to take Fu Wen to Yuzhou. When making this decision, Jiang Shan only asked Fu Wen one question: whether he wanted to go with her or with Fu Qiyuan.
Without a second thought, Fu Wen declared that he would follow Jiang Shan.
"Young Master said that I only need to listen to Miss at any time. Even if Miss tells me to punch Young Master, I will do it without hesitation!"
Jiang Shan remained noncommittal, only offering a slight smile.
Her thinking was actually very simple. Fu Wen was skilled in martial arts, so even if he was Fu Qiyuan's spy, it was still better than her having no one to rely on. Having him by her side would always provide more protection.
On a snowy day, Jiangshan set off.
After bidding farewell to Jiao's mother, Jiang Shan left the Jiao family mansion with only Xi'er, accompanied by Xue Zhen and Fu Wen.
She did not inform the Qiao family father and son, nor did she inform anyone else in the shop.
The carriage traveled along the quiet road, and Jiang Shan felt no ripples in his heart.
It was still early, and because of the snow, there were few people on the road. Xi'er, holding Jiang Huai, lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the snowflakes falling from the sky, her eyes full of novelty and excitement.
"Ahhh! Sweetie! Sweetie!" Jiang Huai suddenly grabbed the carriage curtain and shouted outside, almost falling off Xi'er, startling her into a cold sweat.
"Young master, what's wrong?" Xi'er hugged Jiang Huai tightly, her gaze sweeping across the outside of the carriage, but she saw nothing.
Jiang Shan was brought back to his senses by his son's shout. He took him and rubbed his fluffy little head against him.
"Darling, ahh, darling!" Jiang Huai struggled with all his might, desperately trying to lean his body out of the carriage.
"What's with the cutesy talk? Where did you get that cutesy attitude from! Behave yourself, or I'll beat you up!" Jiang Shan patted Jiang Huai's bear-like buttocks lightly.
"Aww...!" Jiang Huai turned his head, stretched his hand out of the car, and stared intently at the outside with his bright black eyes.
Just as Xi'er was about to pull down the carriage curtain, a rapid sound of hooves rang out, and a dark figure appeared in the distance.
"Darling...!" Jiang Huai called out in a high-pitched voice, then stopped making a fuss and stared intently at the figure riding towards them on horseback.
In a flash, Jiang Shan looked up and saw that figure.
He still came!
I thought he had come to terms with it since we hadn't been in contact for days, that he wouldn't know if I didn't notify him, that we would never cross paths again after this parting, and that the melancholy in my heart was just due to my bewilderment at the unknown world.
She thought...
Everything was just what she thought.
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