Glancing at the tea on the table, hardly touched, Jiang Wang greeted them. "Aunt Song, have you eaten yet? I'll go book a table at a restaurant in a bit."
"Oh, I'll book it!" Du Yehu said, as if granted a pardon. "I know all the restaurants in Maple Forest City!"
Aunt Song sat down and waved a hand. "No need to rush. I came this time because I have something to discuss with you."
Jiang An'an was sneaking glances at him. He gave her a gentle smile, then said, "What is it, Aunt Song?"
Aunt Song patted Jiang An'an's little head. "Would you like to go out with these two big brothers for a while? You can see where your brother lives and cultivates."
Du Yehu immediately spread his arms toward little An'an, his big face creasing into a grin like an old chrysanthemum. "Come on, Tiger Brother will take you to buy something tasty!"
Ling He sensibly chimed in, "Don't worry. Jiang Wang and I have been through life and death together. We'll take good care of An'an."
Little An'an was very well-behaved. Though timid and shy, when Aunt Song told her to go, she still nervously took a few steps toward Ling He.
No matter how you looked at it, Ling He, with his regular features and gentle smile, seemed far more reliable than Du Yehu, whose exaggerated grin and full beard made him look terrifying.
Ling He led Jiang An'an out, feeling deeply gratified. But before Du Yehu left, he shot Jiang Wang a fierce glare. The look clearly said, What's the deal with your little sister?
Only after the others had been ushered out did Jiang Wang let his smile fade. Looking at Aunt Song, he asked, "Has Phoenix Creek Town been peaceful lately? How are things at the family shop?"
"There haven't been any major problems, but..." Aunt Song looked a little uneasy.
Jiang Wang patiently prompted her. "Whatever it is, just tell me, Aunt Song."
"Ever since your father passed away, business at the shop has been getting worse by the day. It looks like your sister and I are almost at the point where we can't make ends meet..." As she spoke, Aunt Song suddenly took out a handkerchief and dabbed at her tears.
The family's last remaining shop dealt in medicinal herbs. It wasn't large, but it had built up years of connections and enjoyed an excellent reputation throughout Phoenix Creek Town. When the family fell on hard times, they had sold almost all their property, but kept this herb shop precisely because it had been a steady source of income for so long. With the shop, they might not have grown rich, but there was no way they should have struggled to make ends meet.
What sort of person could run a steady little herb shop into the ground in just a few short years?
Jiang Wang wasn't a fool. When his father was still alive, he had deliberately taught him a few things about business, hoping that if cultivation didn't work out, Jiang Wang could return home and live a stable life.
He knew there had to be a problem, but all he said was, "Is there anything I can do to help, Aunt Song?"
He thought that if she needed money, he could certainly scrape some together. No matter what, Jiang An'an was his only sister. Even just for her sake, he wanted her to have a better life.
"I know you've always worked hard, Xiao Wang. I'm sure you'll have a bright future. But I..." Aunt Song wiped her tears. "I'm just a woman with no particular skills. I truly can't keep going..."
She looked at Jiang Wang through tearful eyes. "Could you take An'an in and raise her from now on?"
The last trace of warmth in Jiang Wang's eyes vanished.
He had never imagined that this woman would be willing to abandon even her own daughter.
Jiang Wang slowly nodded, then said, "It seems you've found yourself a good match, Aunt Song?"
Aunt Song lowered her eyes slightly. Only now, standing before her late husband's eldest son, did a faint sense of shame come over her. It slowly crept out from the deepest part of her heart.
"Marriage and funerals are all part of life." Jiang Wang had never said anything harsh. "Does An'an know she'll be living with me from now on?"
"She doesn't know yet. I thought I'd ask what you thought first. You know she's always been timid and afraid of strangers. Even if I took her with me, she wouldn't do well..." Aunt Song tried to explain herself, but her voice grew quieter and quieter.
"I understand." Jiang Wang cut her off. "Should I tell her, or will you?"
"You tell her..." Aunt Song said. "I... I'm leaving now. The carriage is waiting for me outside the city."
Jiang Wang fell silent for a moment. "All right. I won't see you off, then."
"I'll send you money every month."
"No need. I can still afford to raise An'an. Aunt Song, you... take care of yourself."
"Mm. You and An'an take care of each other." Aunt Song said this and got to her feet.
She walked a couple of steps toward the door, then suddenly stopped. Turning back, she looked at Jiang Wang with tears in her eyes. "An'an doesn't like winter melon. She likes eggplant, and she loves sweets most of all... but don't let her eat too much."
"She often kicks off her blanket when she sleeps... She... She's young and doesn't know any better. As her older brother, please be patient with her."
"Aunt Song." Jiang Wang hadn't wanted to say anything more, but seeing her like this, he couldn't help adding, "I wonder if you still remember? My father could have held on for another two years, but he refused treatment. He wanted to leave the family assets to you, so you could take good care of my little sister..."
Aunt Song had no answer. She covered her face and left.
Jiang Wang sat there in a daze. Only after a long while did he pour himself a cup of tea.
All these years, he had sought the Dao far from home. No matter how hard things got, he had never asked his family for so much as a single silver coin. He had thought of his father, bedridden with illness, and Aunt Song and An'an struggling to get by. He had thought of how his father would rather die sooner than become a burden to them. How could Jiang Wang take money from the family?
Even though he was, without question, the rightful heir to that considerable fortune.
The conversation from back then seemed to echo in his ears:
"Xiao Wang, you've grown up. You can take care of yourself, can't you?"
"Yes, Father."
That young figure seemed to overlap with the person he was now, crossing all these years to meet him in the present.
"And I can take care of An'an, too," Jiang Wang said softly.
Ling He and Du Yehu returned after taking Jiang An'an for a short walk.
"Huh? Where's Auntie?" Du Yehu asked without thinking.
Ling He instinctively tried to tighten his grip on An'an's hand, but her little hand had already pulled away with stubborn resolve.
Jiang Wang looked over. The little girl, not yet five years old, stood silently in place, gently biting her lip. Her big, glossy eyes didn't blink.
She stood between Ling He and Du Yehu, yet seemed isolated in some distant corner of a vast world.
She didn't cry or make a fuss.
Jiang Wang strode over and crouched, drawing the tiny figure into his arms. He pulled her back from that lonely corner of the world, back into the living, breathing world of people.
"An'an, from now on you'll live with your brother. I'll play with you often, just like we used to. I wonder if you remember how little you were back then..."
"That's right, Tiger Brother will play with you often, too!" Du Yehu hurriedly added, trying to make up for it.
Little An'an glanced at him, expressionless, then turned her gaze away and gently buried her little head against Jiang Wang's shoulder.
"All right." Jiang Wang stood with An'an in his arms. "An'an will live with me from now on. The dormitory isn't very convenient, so I'll have to find us a place first. We'll all have a meal together afterward."
"We should find a place to live first." Ling He took two bits of silver from his robes and pressed them into Jiang Wang's hand without giving him a chance to refuse. "Take this."
After joining the inner sect, Ling He's life had become less difficult. The Dao Academy gave him a monthly allowance. Still, those two bits of silver were all he had.
"Oh, right!" Inspired, Du Yehu immediately patted down his clothes, but all he managed to come up with were four Knife Coins. He sheepishly put them in Jiang Wang's hand. "I've already drunk away this month's allowance."
Then he declared with conviction, "Next month—next month I won't drink. I'll save up and buy An'an some new clothes!"
Jiang Wang didn't bother with false modesty. He tucked the money into his pocket and carried Jiang An'an out.
They were already long gone, but Du Yehu was still leaning in the doorway, watching them. "Little An'an is just too cute! Hey, Old Ling, how come I don't have a little sister?"
"Old Ling?" Du Yehu turned around. Ling He was already sitting cross-legged on his bed, meditating.
A little sister with a full beard? How terrifying would that be? Ling He thought.
"Just like Third, always obsessed with cultivation!" Du Yehu muttered. He walked to the window, picked up the cup of tea Jiang Wang had poured earlier, and gulped it down.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!" Du Yehu spat several times. "Why is this tea so bitter?"
"Serve you right if you choke on it!" Ling He said irritably.
Before you continue