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Surrounded by darkness, the light from the single lantern in their hands seemed particularly feeble.
Jiang Youcheng strained to see the road ahead, listening to the wind rustling the branches and occasionally hearing mysterious sounds in the distance, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
“If you’re scared, hold onto my arm tightly, daughter,” Jiang Youcheng suggested.
Hearing the tremor in Jiang Youcheng’s voice as he spoke, Jiang Mixia couldn’t help but roll her eyes internally.
Who was really scared here?
Despite her silent exasperation, Jiang Mixia chose to embrace her father’s arm for comfort.
The father and daughter huddled together, finding solace in each other’s presence.
However, their peace was short-lived as a sudden, eerie cry echoed nearby, its tone sharp and mournful.
“Dau…daughter,” Jiang Youcheng quivered, “Do you think ghosts really exist in this world?”
“Well, even if they do, they probably wouldn’t bother with us,” Jiang Mixia nonchalantly replied.
“W-why not?”
“Because we haven’t done anything to deserve their attention.”
“Well, that’s true…”
With clear consciences, there was no reason to fear ghosts knocking on their door.
However, what if ghosts were simply mistaken or had their own misunderstandings, much like some people who might mistakenly seek money or vent their frustrations on others?
As Jiang Youcheng pondered these unsettling thoughts, his anxiety grew. Especially when he noticed a distant flickering light that seemed to be moving back and forth, gradually approaching them. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be heading in their direction…
A ghostly light?
With his heart in his throat, Jiang Youcheng watched as the light drew nearer. Just as it was about to reach them, Jiang Youcheng let out a shout and instinctively embraced Jiang Mixia in fear.
“Dad? wife?” Song Jingyun leaped off the cart, exuberantly approaching them. “It’s really you!”
Song Jingyun?
Staring at his son-in-law holding a lantern, Jiang Youcheng almost felt as if the situation was surreal. He even reached out to pinch Song Jingyun’s cheek to confirm his reality, reassured that he was indeed facing a real person and not some bizarre entity.
“How did you all get here?” Jiang Mixia asked, puzzled by Song Jingyun and Sun Ergou, the cart driver’s unexpected arrival.
“Brother-in-law noticed it was getting late, and you, Sister Xia, and Uncle Cheng hadn’t returned, so he became concerned. He asked me to come along to see if we could find you,” Sun Ergou explained, coiling the whip in his hand. “I was a bit worried about getting lost on the way, but Brother assured me we were on the right path. Turns out, he was absolutely correct.”
When Jiang Mixia expressed surprise about the chosen route, Song Jingyun chuckled, “I just had a feeling that you and Dad would take this path.”
Well, it seemed like their fortunate son-in-law’s luck would never run out.
The group of four slowly made their way back with two carts.
Seated close to Jiang Mixia during the journey, Song Jingyun covered her legs with the small blanket he had brought along. Despite the cold weather, after a day outside, Song Jingyun’s portable heater had cooled off. However, the warm buns he had stashed in his pocket remained toasty.
Ensuring Jiang Mixia was shielded from the wind, Song Jingyun offered her a few bites of the warm buns while Jiang Youcheng nibbled on cooling scallion pancakes, longing for a taste of those warm buns.
Upon arriving home in the middle of the night, chilled to the bone, they warmed up by the charcoal fire inside, brewing two pots of hot tea to thaw out completely.
Sun Ergou headed to the workshop to oversee things while Jiang Youcheng and Jiang Mixia retired to bed for the night.
Snuggled in the warm bed, Jiang Mixia felt incredibly content.
Song Jingyun poured her another bowl of hot soup to help warm her feet.
“Did you really navigate today purely by intuition?” Jiang Mixia knew her husband’s luck was exceptional, but this seemed beyond luck’s reach.
“Not entirely,” Song Jingyun explained. “Considering Dad and you returned from the county town late at night, you’ll likely would have chosen a familiar, flat route closer to the village rather than the deserted official road. So, I directed Sun Ergou to take such a path, and we found them.”
Pleased with his deduction, Song Jingyun felt a sense of accomplishment.
Indeed, it was based on logical reasoning.
“Well done,” Jiang Mixia praised, patting her husband’s forehead.
Song Jingyun chuckled, feeling proud of his deduction.
As the weather grew colder, after two snowfalls, the month transitioned to the twelfth lunar month.
After the Laba Festival comes the New Year, thus, as soon as Laba passes, households begin preparing for the upcoming Lunar New Year festivities.
Rural homes become livelier than usual during this period.
In Jiang Village, known for its prosperity, the Lunar New Year celebrations are particularly significant. Families are willing to spend more on preparations, making the village even more festive than its neighbors.
The Jiang family, especially Jiang Youcheng’s household, buzzes with activity during this time. However, this year, the atmosphere in Jiang Youfu’s household is even more animated due to the arrival of a matchmaker.
This matchmaking proposal was at the behest of Zhu Yongwu, introducing an element of tension between Jiang Youfu and Yang shi.
On the surface, Zhu Yongwu appears respectable with a good appearance, diligent work ethics, and a strong sense of filial piety. Additionally, his porcelain business is thriving, indicating a promising future ahead.
Moreover, with Zhu Yongwu already settled in Jiang Village, marrying Jiang Xiaoxing to him would ensure proximity, convenience, and a sense of security, reducing concerns about her potential mistreatment after marriage.
While everything may seem favorable on the surface, there is a significant concern…
Zhu Yongwu comes with a son named Zhu Guangtai.
Jiang Xiaoxing is a precious young lady, and marrying into this family means taking on the role of a stepmother.
As the saying goes, being a stepmother is challenging. Success in this role is commendable, but failure may lead to widespread condemnation.
Moreover, considering Zhu Guangtai is already of age, with his own thoughts and opinions, there are worries that he might resent Jiang Xiaoxing as his stepmother. There is also the concern of potential jealousy if Jiang Xiaoxing and Zhu Yongwu have their own children in the future.
Although Zhu Guangtai appears well-behaved and lovely on the surface, this demeanor might be due to their distant relationship. If Jiang Xiaoxing transitions from being an aunt to a stepmother, he might…
Jiang Youfu and Yang shi are apprehensive about the potential challenges Jiang Xiaoxing could face in the future due to this marriage proposal.
Ultimately, this is Jiang Xiaoxing’s marriage, and while parents can plan for her, they should not make decisions on her behalf.
Jiang Youfu and Yang shi carefully sought Jiang Xiaoxing’s opinion on the matter.
(End of chapter)