Taking a glance at the tea on the table that hadn't been touched much, Jiang Wang greeted, "Auntie, have you had your meal? I'll go to the restaurant and order a table later."

"Wow, I'm going to book it!" Du Yejia exclaimed with relief. "I know all the taverns in Fenglin City!"

Lady Song sat down and waved her hand, "No need to rush. This time I came here because I have something to find you."

Looking at Jiang An'an who was secretly observing him, Jiang Wang returned a gentle smile and said, "What is it you need to say?"

Auntie Song patted Jiang An'an's little head: "Why don't you go for a walk with these two big brothers? See where your brother practices his cultivation."

Du Yecho immediately opened his arms to Xiao An'an, his big face smiling like a chrysanthemum in full bloom. “Come on, Big Brother Tiger will take you to buy some delicious food!”

Ling He also said knowingly, "You can rest assured, we and Jiang Wang are sworn brothers, we will definitely take good care of An An."

Little An'an was very well-behaved. Although timid and shy, when Song's aunt spoke, she still timidly—took a few steps towards Ling He.

Looking at them, Ling He with his handsome features and gentle smile seems much more trustworthy than Du Ye Hu who has a full beard and an exaggeratedly scary laugh.

Ling He felt greatly comforted and led Jiang An'an out. As for Du Yecho, he glared fiercely at Jiang Wang before leaving, his eyes clearly saying — What does your sister mean?

When everyone had been led away, Jiang Wang reined in his smile and looked at Song Shi, "Has Fengxi Town been peaceful lately? How are things at the family shop?"

"It's not a big deal, just..." Aunt Song was a little hesitant.

Jiang Wang patiently said, "If you have anything to say, just go ahead."

"Ever since your father passed away, the business at the shop has gone from bad to worse, and I'm afraid our lives are becoming increasingly difficult…" As she spoke, Song's concubine suddenly took out her handkerchief and began to wipe away her tears.

The only shop left in the family was a medicinal herb business. Though it wasn't large, it had been around for many years and had established channels. In the whole town of Fengxi, its reputation was excellent. When the family fell on hard times, they almost sold all their assets, but this medicinal herb shop remained. It was because of its longevity. With this shop in hand, they wouldn't become rich or famous, but they definitely wouldn't struggle to survive.

What kind of person could manage to run a traditional Chinese medicine shop from prosperous to declining in just a few years?

Jiang Wang was not a fool. His father had taken the time to teach him about business when he was alive, hoping that if his cultivation failed, he would still be able to return to a stable life.

He knew there was something wrong, but Jiang Wang merely said, "Is there anything I can do to help, Auntie?"

He thought to himself, if he wanted some gold and silver, he could definitely scrape some together. After all, Jiang An'an was his only sister. Even if it was just for Jiang An'an's sake, he hoped they could live a little better.

"I know Xiaowang is always hardworking, and he'll definitely have a bright future. But Auntie..." Song Auntie wiped away her tears, "Auntie's just a woman who knows nothing. She can't hold on any longer..."

She looked at Jiang Wang with tear-filled eyes: "Can you take care of An An after me?"

The last glimmer of warmth in Jiang Wang's eyes vanished.

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

Jiang Wang nodded slowly and said, "It seems that your aunt has agreed to a good marriage?"

Song Yiniang lowered her eyes slightly. Only at this moment, in front of her late husband's eldest son, did she suddenly feel a trace of shame. It crawled out slowly from the deepest part of her heart.

"Marriage, childbirth, sickness, and death are all natural parts of life." Jiang Wang had always been a man of few words. "So does An An know that she will live with me afterward?"

"She doesn't know yet. Your aunt thought about it and wanted to hear your opinion first. As you know, she's always been timid and afraid of strangers. Even if I brought her, she wouldn't have a good time..." Although Aunt Song was explaining, her voice grew softer and lower.

"I got it." Jiang Wang interrupted her, "Did I say that to her, or did you?"

>

"You tell her..." Song's concubine said, "I... must be going now, my carriage is waiting for me outside the city."

Jiang Wang fell silent for a moment, “Well then. I won’t see you off.” Please note that "<<<">and "

"Every month, I will send you silver."

"No need. I can still afford to keep An'an. Auntie... take care of yourself."

"Well, how are you and An'an doing?" Aunt Song said before getting up.

Taking two steps outside, he suddenly stopped, turned back and said to Jiang Wang with tears in his eyes: "An An doesn't like eating winter melon, she likes eggplant, and sweets the most... But we can't let her eat too much."

“She often kicks off the covers when she sleeps… She… she’s young and doesn’t understand, you, as her older brother, should bear with her.”

"Aunt," Jiang Wang didn't want to say anything more, but seeing Song's aunt like this, he couldn't help but say: "I wonder if you still remember? Back then, my father could have held on for another two years, but he refused to be treated and left the family property to you. He wanted you to take good care of my younger sister who was so young at the time..."

Lady Song was speechless and left, covering her face.

Jiang Wang sat there in a daze for a long time before finally pouring himself a cup of tea.

For all these years, he has been seeking enlightenment outside. No matter how hard things were, he never asked his family for a single copper coin. It was because he thought of his ailing father, and Song's wife and An An living hard lives. It was because he thought of his father, who would rather die sooner than burden them. How could he possibly take money from his family?

Although he was undoubtedly the most eligible heir to the considerable fortune.

It seemed like I could hear that conversation from years ago again.

"Xiao Wang, you've grown up now. You can take care of yourself, right?"

"Yes, father."

That innocent figure seems to overlap with the present, merging through the years.

>

"And I can still take good care of An An," Jiang Wang said softly.

Here's the translation: Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Ling He and Du Yejia took Jiang Annan for a brief stroll before returning. Let me know if you'd like to translate any other text! ?

"Hey, where's your mother?" Du Yexi asked absentmindedly.

Ling He subconsciously wanted to tighten his grip on An An, but that little hand had stubbornly pulled away.

Jiang Wang looked over, and the little girl, who was not yet five years old, stood there silently, biting her lip lightly. Her big, black eyes didn't blink.

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

She didn't cry or make a fuss.

Jiang Wang strode over, half-kneeling, and pulled the small figure into his arms. He also brought her back from that corner of the world's solitude. Back to the vibrant human world.

"An'an, from now on you'll be living with your older brother. I'll often play with you, just like we used to. Do you still remember? You were so little back then..."

“Yeah, yeah, Tiger will often play with you in the future!” Du Yexi also quickly made amends.

Xiao Anan glanced at him, turned her gaze away expressionlessly, and then gently buried her head on Jiang Wang's shoulder.

"Alright." Jiang Wang stood up holding An'an, "An'an will live with me from now on. It's not convenient living in the dormitory, I need to find a place first. Let's have dinner together again later."

"We should secure lodging first." Ling He took out two silver coins from his bosom and shoved them into Jiang Wang's hand without a word. "Take this."

After entering the Inner Gate, Ling He's life was no longer so difficult. The Daoist Academy would give him a monthly allowance. But these two silver coins were all his worldly possessions.

“Oh, yeah, yeah.” Touno Tora was inspired and immediately began patting himself down, but in the end, he only managed to find four knife coins. He sheepishly put them in Jiang Wang's hand, “This month’s salary has already been drunk away by me.”

He immediately swore again, "Next month, next month I won't drink, and I'll save money to buy a new dress for AnAn!"

Jiang Wang wasn't being polite, he casually put the money in his pocket and carried Jiang Anan out the door.

>

They had all walked far away, but Du Yehu still leaned against the door and watched. "Little An'an is so adorable! Hey Lao Ling, how come I don't have a little sister?"

"Lao Ling?" Du Yecho turned his head, and Ling He was already sitting up in his own bed.

A sister with a full beard, how terrifying that would be. Ling He thought.

“Just like the Third Brother, he's a cultivation fanatic!” Du Yecho muttered, walked to the window, picked up the tea that Jiang Wang had poured earlier, and gulped it down in one go.

"Hmph! Hmph! Hmph!" Du Yexi spat out a few times, "How can this tea be so bitter?"

"You're going to die!" Ling He said angrily.