The next day, as expected, Xianyun Pavilion did not send anyone to collect the seafood.
After questioning Jiao Sanlang, Jiao's mother learned the whole story. She was instantly filled with shock and anger, and started making jokes again.
In front of the Qiao family father and son, she slapped Jiang Shan's back and scolded him angrily, "How can you face Erlang? You wretched girl, Erlang is going to be an official in the future, how can he face people? How can your mother live with you!"
Jiang Shan had struggled through these days, but at this moment, she could no longer hold on!
The strength that had sustained her through this unknown world vanished in an instant.
Exhaustion, bitterness, and helplessness overwhelmed her like a tide.
She let Jiao's mother pound her back, her gaze empty and indifferent through the wooden gate of the courtyard.
"Mother, Mother! Don't hit my sister, don't hurt her child, that's our child, your grandson!" Jiao Sanlang anxiously grabbed one of his mother's arms, his small body trying to move closer to Jiang Shan, wanting to shield her.
Qiao Shi belatedly realized what was happening and quickly stepped forward to pull Jiao's mother away.
Jiang Shan was also helped aside by Sanlang.
"Sister, have you lost your mind? Shan'er is pregnant and has been working hard all over the place. How could you do this to her? She's your child too. If you don't care about her, who else will?" Qiao Shi, who usually didn't dare to raise his voice when speaking to Jiao's mother, was truly angry this time, and his tone was more severe than ever before.
Jiao's mother wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and sobbed, still calling out Jiao Erlang's name.
Suddenly, she pushed Qiao Shi away forcefully and asked in horror, "Where's Erlang? Where's my Erlang? Where is he? I have to find Erlang, I have to find him right away!"
After saying that, she rushed out without hesitation, and Qiao Shi couldn't stop her for a moment.
Seeing this, Qiao Sheng went over to help, and the father and son worked together to pull Jiao's mother back.
Jiao's mother acted as if she had gone mad, hitting and yelling at Qiao's father and son; the scene was utterly chaotic.
"Mother, Mother...!" Jiao Sanlang cried helplessly, but held Jiang Shan tightly, not daring to let her take a single step forward.
Jiang Shan swallowed hard, pulled Sanlang to Jiao's mother, and reached out to tidy her messy hair.
"Mother, Mother!" she cried out once, then again.
“You have more than just Erlang, you also have Sanlang, and you also have me! Sanlang is your biological son, and I am your adopted son. Whether you like it or not, we are right here in front of you. Look carefully, there is no Erlang here, only us!”
After saying this, she closed her eyes and said bitterly, "I am not ready to give birth to this child. His existence will only remind us at all times that he (she) is an adulterer's child and a disgrace to the Jiao family! Don't worry, I will find a way to get rid of this child, raise Sanlang to adulthood, take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days, and fulfill all my missions in this world."
After saying that, she didn't look back again and walked out.
"Sister, sister!" Sanlang's mournful cries came from behind, but Jiangshan never turned around.
Jiangshan had traveled the road to town many times, but today this road felt exceptionally long.
She first needed to go to Old Master Yan's pharmacy to get a prescription for abortion, then get a few more doses of tonics, and also buy some supplements to nourish her body.
When she arrived in town, she suddenly remembered that the seafood at home hadn't been processed yet. Although she might get scolded by Manager Qi, she still wanted to give it a try.
Upon seeing Jiang Shan, the waiter hesitated for a moment, but still went to inform Manager Qi.
Jiang Shan waited for a long time, but only his waiter came out.
“Miss Jiang, the manager said… he said that the restaurant doesn’t need seafood with broth for the next few days…”
In fact, Manager Qi didn't say anything. When he heard that Jiang Shan had come, he simply avoided seeing him.
Since they were already so familiar with each other, the guy didn't want to be too blunt in his refusal.
Jiang Shan nodded, seemingly unsurprised, and said nothing more before turning and slowly walking away.
She walked and stopped frequently, and the path that she could usually walk in the time it takes to burn an incense stick took her a full half hour today.
When Manager Yan saw Jiang Shan in the shop, he assumed she had come to deliver pastries to the ancestor, but when she entered, he found her empty-handed.
"Miss Jiang, what brings you here today?" Manager Yan greeted her, invited Jiang Shan to sit down, and poured her a glass of water.
Nothing in this ancient town could escape his notice, because the ancestor loved listening to such mundane stories.
Jiang Shan straightened his back uncomfortably, his eyes darting around erratically, and stammered, "Um, Manager Yan, I... I'm here to get medicine."
"Oh! Does Miss Jiang have a prescription?"
"Ah? Medicine, prescription..." Jiang Shan felt even more uneasy. Where did she get a prescription? It was just an abortion pill.
"No prescription?" Manager Yan stroked his beard. "Then, may I ask who Miss Jiang is getting the medicine for? What are the patient's symptoms? Is it male or female? How old is the patient?"
Faced with a barrage of questions from Manager Yan, Jiang Shan's fake smile crumbled, and he froze.
Manager Yan twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "I see that Miss Jiang doesn't look well, as if she is overly tired. How about I give you acupuncture first to clear your chest and relieve your fatigue?"
Jiang Shan nodded hesitantly.
"There is a quiet room in the inner courtyard where the ancestor rests, and there is also an old woman who is in charge of cleaning. Please come in, Miss Jiang!"
After the acupuncture, Jiang Shan fell into a deep sleep.
Manager Yan instructed the old woman to take good care of the woman, and then went to the counter.
Jiang Shan slept soundly, unaware that the Jiao family was in dire straits.
After finally calming down Jiao's mother, Qiao Shi and Sanlang, along with their son, carried their seafood dishes and hawked them along the village toward the town.
Before leaving, Qiao Shi clearly instructed Jiao Sanlang to stay at home and take care of Jiao's mother until Jiang Shan returned.
However, Sanlang was preoccupied with Jiangshan, and after Jiao's mother fell asleep, he left the village alone to go to the town to find Jiangshan.
Leaving aside the hardships encountered by the Qiao family father and son, Sanlang was small and the mountain road was rugged. Coupled with his fear and anxiety, he stumbled and fell countless times along the way.
Although he had been to the market town a few times with Jiangshan, the mountain roads were difficult to navigate and it was hard to tell which way was which. Sanlang accidentally missed the turnoff to go down the mountain and got lost.
When Jiang Shan woke up, Manager Yan gave her some medicine to calm her nerves and nourish her pregnancy, gave her a few instructions on how to take care of her body, and then sent her away.
Jiang Shan only realized after leaving the town in a daze that she wanted abortifacient medicine, not a medicine to prevent miscarriage!
It seems that Manager Yan already knows about her situation. After all, he meant well, so she shouldn't go back.
Carrying two packets of pregnancy-preserving medicine, Jiang Shan returned to Huaigu Village in the afterglow of the setting sun, only to find Jiao's mother at the village entrance.
Jiao's mother was frantic. As soon as she saw Jiang Shan, she rushed over and said incoherently, "Shan'er, Sanlang is missing! I can't find Sanlang! He's gone! He's all gone!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
