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Jiang Mixia, “…”
While inspecting the courtyard in the county, Jiang Youcheng had been enthusiastic and lively, discussing the nice aspects of the estate and how to decorate each room. Jiang Mixia assumed he wouldn’t mind her and Song Jingyun moving to the county.
As expected, a father’s worries and reluctance would inevitably surface, albeit belatedly, but never absent.
“It’s just the county, of course, I’ll come back often.”
Jiang Mixia hurriedly reassured, “Not only will I come back frequently, but Mom and Dad can also visit the county regularly.”
Given the close partnership between the family workshop and Zheng shop, sending goods to the county was a common occurrence, making the commute quite convenient.
Jiang Mixia believed these arrangements were feasible.
However, Jiang Youcheng seemed to ignore Jiang Mixia’s words, letting out another long sigh, “They say a mother can’t control her grown-up child, but the same goes for a father with his daughter growing up.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mixia fell into a moment of silence.
She had been living here for over two years now.
During this time, both Liu Shi and Jiang Youcheng had shown her a level of care that could be described as wholehearted, far exceeding what she had initially imagined.
Now, as she and Song Jingyun were preparing to move to the county, Jiang Mixia couldn’t help but feel that Liu Shi and Jiang Youcheng would be left with an empty void in their hearts.
Feeling despondent, Jiang Mixia hesitated, unsure of how to comfort Jiang Youcheng after he expressed his concerns.
Jiang Youcheng propped his chin, his face clouded with worry. “Especially when you and Jingyun move together, if I make a mistake in the future, your mother won’t even be there to give me a sympathetic look. Who knows how she’ll reprimand me then.”
In the past, if something went wrong, he could always rely on Song Jingyun for support, and they could discuss how to appease their respective wives. But now that they would be living apart, where would he shift the blame to in the future?
And with Liu Shi focusing on the children, cooking delicious meals and sewing clothes for them, Jiang Youcheng had also benefited from her efforts. With only him and Liu Shi left in the house, would she still put in the same effort into cooking and sewing without the children there?
Jiang Youcheng was well aware of his place in the family and was reluctant to test the waters.
Alas, it was truly a worrisome situation.
In the past, Jiang Youcheng could console himself with fuzzy thoughts, but now that he was facing the stark reality of his position in the family, he was truly troubled.
Jiang Mixia, “…”
Alright, so the main concern is about this?
As he pondered, Jiang Youcheng leaned in closer, “Hey, daughter, in your mother’s eyes, who holds more weight, me or you?”
Before Jiang Mixia could respond, Jiang Youcheng shook his head, “No, this question is rather uninteresting to ask. Can’t phrase it like that. Hey, daughter, in your mother’s eyes, am I more important, or is Jingyun, her daughter’s husband, more important?”
Jiang Mixia, “…”
Without waiting for Jiang Mixia’s reply, Jiang Youcheng shook his head again, “Forget it, there’s no point in comparing. I just feel that in your mother’s eyes, my importance at least surpasses that of the family dog.”
Jiang Mixia, “…”
Speechless in triplicate.
To stoop to comparing oneself with the family dog, there’s no need for further hesitation… It’s time to let go of any lingering doubts.
While Jiang Mixia silently lamented, Jiang Youcheng raised his chin.
At least he surpassed one benchmark, which was better than not surpassing any at all.
In life, it’s important to be content; for a man, contentment is even more crucial for living a fulfilling life.
Jiang Youcheng flicked his whip.
Regarding Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun preparing the courtyard in the county and aiming to move there soon, Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi were quite accepting and had a clear attitude.
Children are like birds in a nest—eventually, they must leave the nest and fly on their own.
Although Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi hoped that Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun would stay by their side, they understood that both children were exceptional individuals destined for great things.
Encouraging children to adhere to filial piety and the notion of “one should not travel far away from the parents” seemed to Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi as mere selfish desires of parents.
They didn’t want to be such selfish parents; their primary concern was their children’s happiness. If their children were happy, then they were happy too.
Moreover, purchasing the estate in the county was primarily to facilitate Song Jingyun’s exams and future studies. The better Song Jingyun’s future prospects, the more capable he would be of protecting Jiang Mixia.
This was a serious matter that would affect their daughter’s future well-being, and they needed to support it.
With this mindset, Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi eagerly assisted Jiang Mixia in planning how to renovate the estate and what types of flowers and plants to cultivate in the courtyard.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Jiang Mixia felt relieved and sketched a simple layout of the estate, attempting to create a decoration layout plan.
After multiple revisions and seeking opinions from family members, Jiang Mixia finally settled on a version that everyone was satisfied with.
Following this layout, they began procuring the most essential furniture.
For furniture needs, Jiang Mixia turned to Qiu’s.
Upon seeing this, Zheng Shi instructed her subordinates to handle the tasks diligently, ensuring careful selection and unprecedented discounts and offers.
The shopkeeper at Qiu, manager Ge, naturally knew how to handle this task and specifically assigned it to the apprentice duo, Chang Yong’an and Jiang Chunshi.
Jiang Chunshi was already connected to Jiang Mixia’s family, and Chang Yong’an was an experienced master craftsman at Qiu’s shop. His keen eye could gauge the right amount of materials needed, the quality of work produced, and the overall craftsmanship at a glance.
Assigning this task to Chang Yong’an and Jiang Chunshi was not only suitable professionally but also aligned with personal connections.
Chang Yong’an was aware that the wooden dolls selling exceptionally well in the shop were carved based on designs by Jiang Mixia. Additionally, Jiang Chunshi often praised his cousin for her talents, leaving a favorable impression on Jiang Mixia’s family. This project was something they took to heart.
With the furniture arrangements settled, Jiang Mixia began focusing on ordering some finer decorative items.
Screens, beaded curtains, and canopy drapes were on the list of items to be ordered.
As June approached, business at the bamboo weaving workshop entered its peak season.
It could be said that Jiang Mixia’s entire family was currently in a rather busy state.
Amidst the sweltering heat and the deafening cicada chirps outside, several horse-drawn carriages arrived in Jiang’s village.
Each carriage was spacious and adorned with elegance, especially the leading one. It was not only large in size but also gleamed with polished tung oil. Hanging from the top were tassels adorned with lustrous round pearls.