A Lifetime of Jiang An'an

Glancing at the untouched tea on the table, Jiang Wang called out, "Aunt, have you two eaten yet? I'll order a table from the restaurant later."

"Ah, let me order it!" Du Yehu said, as if granted a reprieve. "I know all the restaurants in Maple Forest City!"

Aunt Song sat down and waved a hand. "No rush. I came this time to talk to you about something."

Noticing Jiang An'an sneaking glances at him, Jiang Wang gave her a gentle smile and said, "Whatever it is, just say it."

Aunt Song patted Jiang An'an's little head. "Why don't you go out for a stroll with these two big brothers? See where your brother lives and cultivates."

Du Yehu immediately opened his arms wide to little An'an, his big face crumpling into a grin like an old chrysanthemum. "Come on, Brother Hu will take you to buy some good snacks!"

Ling He also stepped up. "Don't worry, Jiang Wang and I have been through life-and-death together. I'll make sure An'an is well taken care of."

Little An'an was very sensible. Though timid and scared, since Aunt Song had spoken, she hesitantly—took a few steps toward Ling He.

No matter how you looked at it, Ling He, with his proper features and gentle smile, seemed far more reliable than Du Yehu, with his full beard and exaggerated, frightening grin.

Ling He, deeply gratified, led Jiang An'an out. Du Yehu, however, shot Jiang Wang a fierce glare before leaving, his eyes clearly saying—What's your sister's deal?

Once they were sent away, Jiang Wang's smile faded. He looked at Aunt Song and said, "Has Phoenix Creek Town been peaceful lately? How are the family shops?"

"Nothing too serious, but..." Aunt Song seemed a bit hesitant.

Jiang Wang kept his patience. "Whatever it is, just tell me."

"Ever since your father passed, the shop's business has gotten worse day by day. It's gotten to the point where the two of us can barely get by..." As she spoke, Aunt Song pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping her tears.

The only shop left in the family dealt in medicinal herbs. Though not large, it had years of established channels and a good reputation throughout Phoenix Creek Town. Back when the family fortune declined and almost all assets were sold off, this herb shop was kept precisely because of its stability. With this shop in hand, while it wouldn't bring great wealth, it should never have made survival difficult.

What kind of person could run a steady herb business into the ground in just a few short years?

Jiang Wang wasn't foolish. When his father was still alive, he had deliberately explained some business matters to him, hoping that if Jiang Wang couldn't succeed in cultivation, he could still return and live a stable life.

He knew something was wrong, but Jiang Wang only said, "Is there anything I can help with, Aunt?"

He thought that if she needed money, he could scrape some together. After all, Jiang An'an was his only sister. Even if only for her sake, he wanted them to live better.

"I know Xiao Wang has always worked hard and will have a bright future. But your aunt..." Aunt Song wiped her tears. "I'm just a woman with no skills. I really can't hold on anymore..."

She looked up at Jiang Wang with tearful eyes. "Can An'an stay with you from now on?"

The last trace of warmth in Jiang Wang's eyes faded.

He never would have imagined that this woman didn't even want her own daughter.

Jiang Wang slowly nodded, then said, "It seems Aunt has found a good match?"

Aunt Song lowered her gaze slightly. Only now, before her late husband's eldest son, did a hint of shame slowly rise from the deepest part of her heart.

"Marriage and funerals are all part of life." Jiang Wang never said anything harsh. "So does An'an know she'll be living with me from now on?"

"She doesn't know yet. I thought I'd ask your opinion first. You know she's always been timid and afraid of strangers. Even if I took her along, she wouldn't have a good life..." Aunt Song tried to explain, but her voice grew quieter.

"I understand." Jiang Wang cut her off. "Should I tell her, or will you?"

"You tell her..." Aunt Song said. "I... I need to 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'll send you money every month."

"No need. I can still support An'an. Aunt... take care of yourself."

"Mm. You and An'an take care." With that, Aunt Song stood up.

She took two steps toward the door, then suddenly stopped. Turning back, tears in her eyes, she said to Jiang Wang, "An'an doesn't like winter melon. She likes eggplant. Her favorite is sweets... but don't give her too many."

"She often kicks off her blanket when she sleeps. She... she's young and doesn't understand things. As her big brother, please be patient with her."

"Aunt." Jiang Wang hadn't intended to say more, but seeing Aunt Song like this, he couldn't help himself. "I don't know if you still remember? Back then, my father could have held on for two more years, but he refused treatment. He wanted to leave the family property to you. So you could take good care of my little sister, who was still so young..."

Aunt Song had no words to reply. She covered her face and left.

Jiang Wang sat there in a daze. After a long while, he poured himself a cup of tea.

All these years, as he sought the Dao away from home, no matter how hard or difficult it was, he had never once asked his family for a single silver coin. It was because he remembered his father lying sick in bed, and how hard life must have been for Aunt Song and An'an. It was because he remembered his father would rather die early than burden them. How could he take money from the family?

Even though he was the most indisputable heir to that considerable fortune.

It was as if he could still hear that conversation from years ago:

"Xiao Wang, you've grown up now. You can take care of yourself, can't you?"

"Yes, Father."

That young figure seemed to overlap with the present, merging across the years.

"And I can take care of An'an too," Jiang Wang said softly.

Ling He and Du Yehu took Jiang An'an for a short walk before returning.

"Hey, where's Aunt?" Du Yehu blurted out without thinking.

Ling He instinctively tried to hold An'an's hand tighter, but that little hand had already stubbornly pulled away.

Jiang Wang looked over. That little girl, not yet five years old, stood silently in place, gently biting her lip. Her big, dark eyes didn't blink at all.

She stood between Ling He and Du Yehu, yet seemed isolated in some corner of the vast world.

She did not cry, nor did she throw a tantrum.

Jiang Wang strode over, crouched down, and pulled this tiny figure into his embrace. He also drew her back from that corner of loneliness in the world. Back into the vivid realm of the living.

"An'an, from now on, you'll live with your big brother. I'll play with you often, just like we used to. I don't know if you still remember, but you were so small back then..."

"Yes, yes, yes! Brother Hu will play with you often too!" Du Yehu quickly chimed in to make amends.

Little An'an glanced at him, expressionlessly turned her gaze away, and then gently buried her little head against Jiang Wang's shoulder.

"Alright." Jiang Wang stood up, holding An'an. "An'an will live with me from now on. Staying in the dormitory isn't convenient, so I need to find a place first. We'll have a meal together later."

"You should settle on a place first." Ling He pulled two pieces of silver from his bosom and, without argument, pressed them into Jiang Wang's hand: "Take this silver."

After entering the inner sect, Ling He's life was no longer so tight—the Dao Academy issued a monthly stipend. But these two pieces of silver were already all he had.

"Ah, yes, yes." Inspired, Du Yehu immediately began patting himself down all over, but in the end only scraped together four knife coins. He sheepishly placed them in Jiang Wang's hand. "I've already drunk up this month's stipend."

Then he promptly vowed: "Next month, next month I won't drink. I'll save up to buy An'an new clothes!"

Jiang Wang didn't stand on ceremony. He casually pocketed the money and carried Jiang An'an out the door.

They had already gone far, but Du Yehu still leaned against the doorframe, watching. "Little An'an is so adorable! Hey, Old Ling, why don't I 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 face full of stubble—how terrifying would that be? Ling He thought to himself.

"Just like Third Brother—a cultivation maniac!" Du Yehu muttered, walked to the window, picked up the cup of tea Jiang Wang had poured earlier, and downed it in one gulp.

"Ptoo, ptoo, ptoo!" Du Yehu spat several times. "Why is this tea so bitter?"

"Bitter enough to kill you, for all I care!" Ling He snapped.