Chapter 58: A Noisy Kiss
When Bai Yan heard the sound of silver, she scampered over without a word, simply gazing at Jiang Chengyan with hopeful, eager eyes.
Under Bai Yan’s watchful stare, Jiang Chengyan instinctively slipped the two silver ingots back into his sleeve. At once, Bai Yan’s cheeks puffed out in indignation, and she reached out, intent on fishing them from his sleeve.
Jiang Chengyan curled his lips into a sinister smile, but before he could hide the ingots away, he felt a pecking sensation on his chin. Instinctively, he lowered his head, only to find himself colliding with Bai Yan, who had come to give him a kiss.
This was, up until now, Jiang Chengyan’s very first kiss.
While he stood there stunned, Bai Yan nipped lightly at him, deftly extracted the two silver ingots from his sleeve, and, delighted, tucked them away on her person. Only then did she return with satisfaction to treading the soil.
Jiang Chengyan came back to his senses to find Madam Zhao watching him with a stern expression.
As if unaware of Zhao’s gaze, Jiang Chengyan strode toward Bai Yan, who was still busy with the earth.
“What are you doing?” he asked, frowning at her dirty appearance.
“I’m loosening the soil. Only when the earth is soft can the beans grow well,” Bai Yan replied with utmost seriousness.
Zhao, following behind, was momentarily taken aback. “Isn’t it just because you think it’s fun?” She hurriedly grabbed for Bai Yan’s shoes, urging her, “Silly child, there’s a plough for loosening soil. Put your shoes on quickly—I’ll have your father fetch the ox and the plough.” With that, Zhao hurried home to find Jiang’s father.
…
Zhao returned, leading Jiang’s father with the ox in tow, hastening toward the wasteland. Left at home to recover from his injuries, Jiang Cheng’an was utterly bewildered.
Had his parents really abandoned him so easily?
Out in the fields, Jiang Chengyan guided the ox as he ploughed, while Bai Yan lay sprawled on the animal’s back, her face filled with curiosity.
…
While other families were busy repairing their homes, Jiang Chengyan and his father spent their mornings fixing up their old house, and in the afternoons, the father and son would help Bai Yan plough the fields.
Thirty acres of land took them several days to turn over.
Just as Bai Yan was about to plant the beans, something unexpected occurred.
Early one morning, Zhao went out to fetch firewood, and when she returned, she was in such a hurry she roused the entire family.
Jiang Chengyan tucked Bai Yan beneath the covers, then rose and stepped into the courtyard.
“Your father, my parents, and your little uncle’s family have returned,” Zhao said, sounding troubled.
“Weren’t they supposed to come back in May?” Jiang’s father asked, puzzled by their return nearly two months early.
“What else could it be? Their old house was already in ruins, but once they caught wind of the compensation, how could they resist hurrying back?” Zhao snorted.
Jiang’s father’s younger brother was named Jiang You, and, true to his name, his fortunes had only grown. Through the rouge and powder trade, he had moved his family early on to the neighboring Lin County. Over the years, his business had flourished, and their grandparents had followed as well.
“Sister-in-law, the whole family’s here,” Zhao had scarcely finished her words when Jiang You’s wife, Qian, walked in.
Qian cast a critical eye over the spacious, bright courtyard before looking at Zhao and Jiang’s father. “Elder brother, sister-in-law, you’re really enjoying life now with Ayan, aren’t you? I heard Ayan’s married. When your grandparents arrive later, you should bring your wife out so we can meet her.”
With that, Qian sat down on a wooden stump, making it clear she had no intention of leaving. Her meaning was obvious: she expected to stay for lunch.
“Husband?” At that moment, a soft voice called from the west room.
Jiang Chengyan immediately strode inside, while Zhao practically ran in ahead of him.
Sitting on the stump, Qian watched Zhao’s retreating figure, a thoughtful look in her eyes.