Glancing at the barely touched tea on the table, Jiang Wang called out, "Auntie, have you had your meal yet? I'll go to the tavern and order a table later."
"I'll go order!" Du Yehu exclaimed, as if granted a reprieve. "I'm familiar with all the taverns in Fenglin City!"
Aunt Song sat down and waved her hand, "No rush. I came here to talk to you about something."
Noticing Jiang An'an secretly observing him, Jiang Wang responded with a gentle smile and said, "What is it you'd like to talk about?"
Aunt Song patted Jiang An'an's little head, "How about you go out with these two big brothers and take a look around? See where your brother lives and practices."
Du Yehu immediately spread his arms wide towards Little An'an, his face crinkling into a smile like a withered chrysanthemum, "Come on, Tiger Brother will take you to get some delicious food!"
Ling He also reassured her, "Don't worry, we've been through thick and thin with Jiang Wang. We'll take good care of An'an."
Little An'an was very sensible. Although she was timid and had a small heart, she still hesitantly took a few steps towards Ling He after Aunt Song spoke.
No matter how one looked at it, Ling He, with his proper appearance and gentle smile, seemed much more reliable than Du Yehu, whose face was covered with a beard and whose smile was exaggerated and somewhat frightening.
Ling He, feeling a sense of relief, led Jiang An'an out. However, before leaving, Du Yehu gave Jiang Wang a fierce glare, his eyes clearly saying—what's the deal with your sister?
Once the others were sent away, Jiang Wang's smile faded as he looked at Aunt Song and asked, "Is everything still peaceful in Fengxi Town? How is the family shop?"
"There haven't been any major issues, but..." Aunt Song seemed a bit embarrassed.
Jiang Wang patiently said, "Please, tell me whatever is on your mind."
"Ever since your father passed away, the business at the shop has been getting worse day by day. It's to the point where we're struggling to make ends meet..." As she spoke, Aunt Song suddenly took out a handkerchief and began to wipe her tears.
The family's remaining shop dealt in medicinal herbs. Although it wasn't large in scale, it had years of established channels and was well-regarded throughout Fengxi Town. When the family fell on hard times, they sold almost all their assets but kept this herb shop precisely because of its long-standing reputation. With this shop, they wouldn't become wealthy, but they certainly wouldn't struggle to survive.
What kind of person could have taken a stable herb shop and run it into the ground in just a few years?
Jiang Wang was no fool. His father had taught him about business when he was still alive, hoping that if he didn't succeed in cultivation, he could still live a stable life.
He knew there must be a problem, but Jiang Wang simply asked, "Is there anything I can do to help, Auntie?"
He thought that if they needed money, he could scrape some together. After all, Jiang An'an was his only sister. For her sake alone, he wanted them to live better.
"I know Xiao Wang has always been diligent and will surely have a bright future. But Auntie..." Aunt Song wiped her tears, "Auntie is just a housewife with no special skills. I really can't hold on any longer..."
She looked at Jiang Wang with tearful eyes, "Can I leave An'an in your care?"
The last trace of warmth in Jiang Wang's eyes disappeared.
He never expected that this woman would not even want her own daughter.
Jiang Wang slowly nodded and said, "So it seems you've found a good family for her?"
Aunt Song slightly lowered her eyes. Only now, in front of her late husband's eldest son, did she feel a flicker of shame slowly creeping up from the deepest part of her heart.
"Marriage and remarriage are normal parts of life," Jiang Wang never said anything harsh, "So, does An'an know that she will be living with me from now on?"
"She doesn't know yet. I thought I'd come and ask for your opinion first. You know she's always been timid and afraid of strangers. Even if I were to take her with me, she wouldn't be able to live well..." Although Aunt Song was explaining, her voice grew quieter.
"I understand," Jiang Wang interrupted her, "Should I be the one to tell her, or should you?"
"You tell her..." Aunt Song said, "I... I must leave now. The carriage is waiting for me outside the city."
Jiang Wang was silent for a moment, "Alright. Then I won't see you off."
"I will send you silver every month."
"There's no need. I can take care of An'an. Auntie, you... take care of yourself."
"Alright. Take good care of yourself and An'an," Aunt Song said before getting up.
After taking a few steps outside, she suddenly stopped, turned back with tears in her eyes, and said to Jiang Wang, "An'an doesn't like to eat winter melon, she likes eggplant, and she loves sweets... but don't let her eat too much."
"She often kicks off her blanket when she sleeps... she... she's still young and doesn't understand much. As her brother, you'll have to be patient with her."
"Auntie," Jiang Wang didn't want to say anything more, but seeing Aunt Song's display, he couldn't help but say, "Do you still remember? My father could have held on for two more years, but he refused treatment to leave the family assets to you. He wanted you to take good care of my young sister..."
Aunt Song was speechless and left with her face covered.
Jiang Wang sat there in a daze for a long time before pouring himself a cup of tea.
Over the years, he had been seeking the Dao outside, and no matter how hard it was, he never asked for a single coin from home. It was because he thought of his father lying sick in bed, and how difficult life was for Aunt Song and An'an. It was because he remembered that his father preferred to die early rather than be a burden to them. How could he take money from home?
Even though he was the most undisputed heir to that considerable fortune.
It seemed as if the conversation from years ago echoed in his ears again:
"Xiao Wang, you've grown up now. You can take care of yourself, can't you?"
"Yes, Father."
The youthful figure seemed to overlap with the present, merging through the years.
"And I can also take care of An'an," Jiang Wang said softly.
...
Ling He and Du Yehu took Jiang An'an for a short walk and then returned.
"Hey, where's Auntie?" Du Yehu asked thoughtlessly.
Ling He instinctively wanted to hold An'an tighter, but the little hand had already stubbornly slipped away.
Jiang Wang looked over, and there was the little girl, not yet five years old, standing silently, lightly biting her lip, her big, round eyes unwavering.
She stood between Ling He and Du Yehu, but seemed isolated in some corner of the vast world.
She didn't cry, nor did she make a fuss.
Jiang Wang strode over, squatted halfway down, and embraced the tiny figure, pulling her out of that lonely corner of the world and back into the vibrant human world.
"An'an, from now on, you'll live with your brother. I'll often play with you, just like we used to. Do you still remember how small you were back then..."
"Right, right, right, Tiger Brother will also often play with you!" Du Yehu quickly added.
Little An'an glanced at him, expressionlessly turned her gaze back, and then gently buried her little head in Jiang Wang's shoulder.
"Alright," Jiang Wang stood up with An'an in his arms, "Since An'an will be living with me, it's not convenient to stay in the dormitory. I need to find a place to live first. We'll have a meal together later."
"We should indeed find a place to live first," Ling He took out two pieces of broken silver from his pocket and firmly pressed them into Jiang Wang's hand, "Take this money."
After entering the inner gate, Ling He's life was no longer so financially strained. The Daoist academy provided a monthly stipend. But these two pieces of broken silver were all he had.
"Ah, right," inspired by this, Du Yehu immediately began to search his entire body, but in the end, he only managed to scrape together four knife coins, sheepishly placing them in Jiang Wang's hand, "I've already spent all my monthly stipend on drinking this month."
Then he solemnly declared, "Next month, I won't drink. I'll save money to buy new clothes for An'an!"
Jiang Wang didn't refuse, casually pocketed the money, and left with Jiang An'an in his arms.
They had already walked far away, but Du Yehu still leaned against the door, looking out, "Little An'an is just too cute! Hey, Old Ling, why don't I have a sister?"
"Old Ling?" Du Yehu turned his head, and Ling He had already started meditating on his bed.
A sister with a face full of beard, how terrifying that would be, Ling He thought.
"Like Old Three, both are cultivation fanatics!" Du Yehu grumbled, walked to the window, picked up the cup of tea that Jiang Wang had poured earlier, and took a big gulp.
"Phew, phew, phew!" Du Yehu spat out a few times, "Why is this tea so bitter?"
"Bitter enough to kill you!" Ling He replied irritably.