Chapter 14 Going South to Find Someone
"Father, three years ago, I wanted to find my sister's whereabouts first to give you a surprise, so I asked Sister Yun to keep it a secret from you."
"Yes, Grandfather," Jiang Guanchen agreed hurriedly. "Back then, your grandson and father were very excited to learn that Auntie might still be alive. But Auntie hasn't been heard from for over a decade. If she were still alive, she wouldn't have returned to Beijing. Perhaps she encountered something and couldn't escape. Or maybe Auntie met with an accident, and this peony fruit cake could have been accidentally made by someone with culinary talent. To avoid disappointment, your grandson and father decided to send someone south to investigate. Once Auntie is found, we'll tell Grandfather..."
Jiang Youya couldn't wait to ask, "Have you found it? When will you bring Wanwan back?"
Both father and son were silent.
Jiang Youya's mood instantly plummeted. "You must not have put your heart into looking for her. This peony fruit cake couldn't have appeared out of nowhere. It's impossible for someone to have made it by such a coincidence. Send more people south to search for her. We must find Wanwan at all costs."
Jiang Yunzhou said, "Father, I've been searching for you for the past three years, even paying a large sum of money to have people from the underworld organization Suzaku Pavilion help me find out. This peony fruit cake is from Chen, a member of the Wen family's branch in Yancheng. The Suzaku Pavilion provided a portrait of Chen, and she's not my younger sister. I went south for half a month to Yancheng to verify this person, and I arranged for people to monitor the Wen family for half a year, but I didn't find any trace of my younger sister. Maybe my younger sister had already..."
"Impossible! Your sister must still be alive. Even if someone happened to make the peony fruit cake, why would it taste so similar to Wanwan's? You must have overlooked something."
Jiang Guanchen said, "Grandfather, the taste of this peony fruit cake varies from shop to shop. I've bought and tasted peony fruit cakes from various southern counties. They might not be freshly made, so the taste won't be as good as the ones from Mingyue Tower."
Jiang Youya lowered his head and picked up the fruit cake from Mingyue Tower, taking a few bites. "That's the taste, but it's definitely not as good as when I tasted it at Mingyue Tower. The fruit cakes from Mingyue Tower and the southern counties must be from Professor Wanwan. I'll send someone south tomorrow to inquire about it. Oh no, I'll go south myself to find someone and taste it myself."
"Father."
"grandfather."
"You don't need to persuade me. I have made up my mind. Wanwan must still be alive. Just wait for me to bring Wanwan back."
"By the way, Zhou'er, tell me privately after dinner about the situation of the Wen family's branch in Yancheng..."
At noon the next day, Wu Lingheng learned that Mr. Jiang was going south to meet friends.
"Zhuzhu, it seems that my sister-in-law is really Mr. Jiang's legitimate daughter."
Song Mingzhu hurriedly stood up and walked towards the inner courtyard, "Then I'll go pack up and leave Beijing this afternoon."
"If things change and you can't make up your mind, have Zhang Yuan send a message back to me..."
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Just as Song Yu expected, Song Mingen was unable to concentrate on recuperating and returned to Wushuang Village a day early.
"Madam, the village chief is back and at the village entrance."
"Is Sister Yu back?"
Caiwei shook her head. "No word has come from the Hot Spring Villa yet. Madam, don't worry. Caiyun is waiting at the village entrance. The village chief will return home first."
"Hurry up and wait at the second gate. Let the village chief come to the east courtyard first. No, come with me."
Before reaching the second gate, Song Mingen's voice, like the sound of flowing water in the mountains, came over, "Wanwan, I'm back. Do you miss me as your husband?"
Jiang Yunwan blushed slightly and quickly stepped forward to look Song Mingen up and down. Noticing that his firm, thick face had become noticeably thinner, she spoke with a tone that was both complaining and concerned, "Why are you back so early? Didn't I tell you to rest well?"
"It's okay, look." Song Mingen smiled and raised his right hand to take the box handed to him by Zhang Feng. He quickly took out a jade hairpin from it and said, "Do you like it? I'll put it on you."
Jiang Yunwan noticed that Song Mingen's right hand was trembling, and quickly took the hairpin and the box over. "I like it very much. Let's go back to the room and I'll wear it for you to see."
"Master." Nanny Wen came hurriedly with two maids. "The old lady has prepared your favorite sweet soup and told you to come over as soon as you get back."
"Okay..." As soon as Song Mingen opened his mouth, Jiang Yunwan pressed Song Mingen's palm hard.
Song Mingen:?
"Madam Wen, the master has just returned. He's very tired from the long journey and has lost weight. Please change clothes and rest before going to the old lady's room to pay your respects."
Nanny Wen saw that Song Mingen was indeed thinner than when he left, and his complexion did not look very good either.
This is a serious crime I suffered in Yancheng.
"Okay, Madam. I will report this to you right away."
"Wait." Song Mingen called to Nanny Wen, "Bring the gift you prepared for mother with you."
"Yes, sir."
Jiang Yun looked at the large and small brocade boxes piled up to half a person's height, and felt very distressed for Song Mingen.
Every time Ming'en came back, he would bring back a lot of gifts for Chen Chunhua.
Ming'en was so filial to her, but Chen Chunhua allowed her two children to harm him.
If there is no blood relationship, does that mean all feelings are fake?
Seeing Jiang Yunwan's bad face, Song Mingen asked, "Wanwan, are you feeling unwell?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Let's go back to the East Courtyard."
"Madam." Nanny Wen entered the main room first.
"Where is Ming'en?" Chen Chunhua looked towards the door. Usually, she would hear his voice before seeing him.
Nanny Wen smiled and said, "The village chief was afraid of offending you, so she went back to the east courtyard to tidy up before coming to pay her respects to the old lady. She did have someone deliver the gift she prepared for you first."
Seeing a pile of gift boxes being brought in, Chen Chunhua beamed with joy and said, "Then quickly send the sweet soup to the East Courtyard. Ming'en must have been tired from the journey. Let him rest up before coming to pay his respects. Oh, and quickly notify the kitchen to prepare a few more of Ming'en's favorite dishes for dinner."
"Good old lady."
Chen Chunhua couldn't help touching the gifts piled on the table. They were all nourishing and health-preserving products, as well as the latest fabrics and accessories of the season.
"Mother." Song Minglang hurried over, pulling Cui Shi with him. "What goodies did big brother bring back?"
"Huh? Why are most of them supplements? Where are mine?"
Song Minglang immediately took a bowl of bird's nest and stuffed it into Cui's arms.
Chen Chunhua frowned, "Look at how promising you are. When did your elder brother never bring you anything when he came back?"
"Mom, I just miss my big brother."
"I see you want money, don't you?"
Song Minglang's thoughts were exposed, and he didn't hide it. "...When did mother mention this to big brother? The matter of setting up a shop should be done as soon as possible. Rui Ge'er will be back tomorrow, and the high-quality brushes, ink, paper and inkstone can't be delayed any longer."
"Your eldest brother just came back. Let's talk after he has rested."
East Courtyard.
"Wanwan, can you rest assured now?"
Jiang Yunwan took a deep breath as she looked at the two thumb-sized wounds on Song Mingen's right shoulder.
If Sister Yu hadn't been reborn, Ming'en's right hand would have been really crippled.
"Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt, it's all healed." Song Mingen raised his right hand and pinched Jiang Yunwan's face. "Look, you're very strong."
Jiang Yunwan quickly took his hand away and gently held it in hers. "You're just being stubborn, but your hand has just recovered. You can't use force or move it casually, understand?"
Song Mingen smiled and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you, Madam."
"Don't take any more work at Suzaku Pavilion. Let's just live a peaceful life as a family of three, okay?"
Song Mingen pulled Jiang Yunwan to sit down and said, "I came back this time to tell you this. Not only will I no longer be taking any work at Suzaku Pavilion, I will also temporarily stop being a lawyer. I want to stay with you and your daughter for the next few years."
Jiang Yunwan frowned slightly. "In the next few years? Do you mean we'll continue doing this in a few years?"
"No, Wanwan, you misunderstood. From now on, I won't do anything you don't let me do."
"Really? You'll listen to me?"
"Of course, I never tell lies."
Jiang Yunwan smiled and said, "Okay, I believe you."
"Then I'll go to the temple to pick up Sister Yu." Song Mingen couldn't wait to see Song Yu.
He not only cares about Song Yu's dreams, but also cares about her body.
"Sister Yu isn't in the temple right now. She's in seclusion at the Hot Spring Villa... preparing medicine. She'll be out in the next two days. Shall we go pick her up together then?"
Song Mingen raised his eyebrows. "Retreat to prepare medicine? Are you sure you're not in seclusion for cultivation?"
Jiang Yunwan: ...
"Oh, just listen to me. We'll go pick her up together tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. After dinner, stepmother might ask you to borrow 10,000 taels of silver from Wen Can to help my third brother open a shop."
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