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Messed up the yard...
Jiang Jinsang finished speaking, and even the autumn night's wind seemed to grow colder. Everyone understood—he was subtly mocking Tang Mo.
He beat you up, and you have no way to retaliate.
Tang Wan had seen his knack for insults before; at that time, it could be said he was cunning. Now, however...
He was ruthless!
The Jiang Family struck too hard. Tang Mo, supported by Zhang Liyun, hunched over, holding her waist, her face bruised and swollen, with bloodstains at the corners of her mouth and eyes.
"Send her to the hospital for a check-up. I'll cover the medical expenses," Jiang Jinsang said, rubbing his fingers, his gaze indifferent.
Tang Wan remained silent from start to finish, only feeling that this Fifth Master Jiang was too harsh.
After beating her, stepping on her, he suggested sending her to the hospital, clearly indicating he wanted them to leave.
"It's probably not a big deal; we don't need any medical expenses. I'll change clothes later and take her for a check-up. Applying some medicine should be enough," Zhang Liyun said. She had been cooking just now and was still wearing an apron.
Jiang Jinsang had already made such a statement, how could they have the audacity to ask for medical expenses?
"Miss Tang, you must really mind your words and actions in the future to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."
He never offered a single apology, already using his actions to tell Tang Mo:
Everything that happened today was her own doing.
Tang Mo whimpered as if seriously injured. Zhang Liyun couldn't care about eating and took her directly to the hospital.
**
At the dining table in the front hall, the atmosphere improved significantly after Zhang Liyun and her daughter left.
Old Tang sat at the head, with Jiang Jinsang to his left. Tang Wan brought out a dish of green snail shrimp from the kitchen.
"Why make this dish?" Old Tang recently was on medication that forbade fish, shrimp, and seafood.
"Just don't eat it," Tang Wan said, placing the dish directly in front of Jiang Jinsang. She remembered he had eaten quite a bit of it the last time.
"Thank you," Jiang Jinsang said, slightly moved.
He clearly remembered the dishes they had the first time they dined together, and she...
Remembered his preference.
Old Tang's eyes darted back and forth between the two, unable to contain his smile.
"Chen Ma, I'm happy today; bring out the plum wine brewed last year. Xiaowu and I will have a little drink," said Old Tang in a booming voice.
Zhang Liyun left the meal halfway, and Tang Wan took over, finishing plating the last dish. She caught a glimpse of her grandfather holding small sake cups, placing one in front of both herself and Jiang Jinsang.
"Sir, you shouldn't drink too much of this," Chen Ma said, having already brought out the wine.
The indigo bottle, adorned with a white plum branch, gave off a sweet and sour plum aroma when uncorked.
"It's alright, I'm happy today," the old man chuckled, just about to grab the bottle when Jiang Jinsang stood up. "Grandpa Tang, let me do it."
The Jiang Family members stood by, grumbling to themselves:
Yesterday he was still Old Tang; today he's Grandpa Tang...
The warmth had increased more than just a little bit.
"Ah, it's alright; feel free in our home, no need for formalities." The old man was laid-back, thinking highly of Jiang Jinsang's politeness and manners.
However, just as Jiang took the bottle, a hand reached out from the side to intercept it.
"What are two sickly people doing drinking? You feel a bit better now, so you're going to indulge?" Tang Wan frowned, clearly displeased.
Jiang Jinsang merely looked down at her, his gaze intense, pretending to be angry, but surprisingly...
Somewhat cute.
"Just a couple of glasses, it's Xiaowu's first day here. A little drink to lift the spirits. The doctor didn't say I can't drink at all," Old Tang lightly scoffed. "Xiaowu, can you not drink?"
"A little won't be a problem."
"Look, he can drink too. We'll just have a small glass. You can boss me around, but why are you bossing Xiaowu?" Old Tang smirked. "You're not even the wife, getting too involved."
"Grandpa!" Tang Wan understood his intentions. Saying it privately was fine, but how could he spout nonsense in front of Jiang Jinsang? It made her grind her teeth in anger.
"One glass, right? Then I'll pour for you, but once it's poured, it's being put away."
"You... this girl..." Old Tang was frustrated but had no choice.
Tang Wan poured a small glass for the old man first before filling Jiang Jinsang's cup.
The small sake cup, only the size of two thumbs, required careful pouring; a slight mistake, and the wine would spill over.
"Thanks for your concern earlier," Jiang Jinsang said, seated, slightly tilting his head to catch a clear view of her profile.
With her hair tied up for cooking, it exposed a portion of her neck, fair and slender. Perhaps from the kitchen smoke, her ears were a soft pink.
They say southern women are beauties, and Tang Wan certainly qualified as beautiful.
Even if not stunning at first glance, on the second glance...
She had a way of capturing one's heart.
At that moment, the proximity seemed almost unbelievable.
As he spoke, Tang Wan felt his breath brush against her hair at the temples, tickling her face.
A faint itch lingered in her heart.
"You're welcome," Tang Wan replied quietly.
"Actually..." He seemed to lean in closer.
"My health isn't as weak as you think."
His voice was low, still warm and gentle, strangely a bit intimate.
Your health isn't that bad, but what does that have to do with me? Just get better and go back to your own home.
Tang Wan's hand trembled slightly, spilling a bit of the wine. She retracted her hand, stood up, closed the wine lid, and left composedly.
Old Tang lifted his glass, sniffed it while seemingly appreciating the aroma, but his eyes stayed on the two nearby, seeing how good they looked together.
Even when Tang Wan returned to her seat, her heart was still unsettled.
She raised a hand to adjust the stray locks by her ear, feeling as if his voice echoed in her ears, and with them sitting directly opposite each other, their gaze inevitably met. Perhaps due to a little wine, she inexplicably felt that this man...
Not only was his voice captivating, but even his gaze was warm.
*
Jiang Jinsang didn't speak much; Old Tang was more talkative. He just listened quietly. By the end, the food had gone cold, and Tang Wan had to get up to heat some soup for the two of them.
After the meal, Jiang Jinsang lingered for a while, chatting with the old man. Meanwhile, Tang Wan helped Chen Ma clean up the table.
"Miss, the dish you made is quite to Fifth Master Jiang's taste," Chen Ma said with a smile.
Tang Wan glanced at the table; the only completely empty dish was the green snail shrimp.
With someone appreciating it, anyone would feel good. She smiled, lowered her head to clean up, and said nothing.
Meanwhile, Jiang Jinsang's situation at the Tang home was being truthfully reported back to the Jiang Family.
They were also having dinner at the time, discussing how fussy someone was and their picky eating habits, only to learn that everything went surprisingly smoothly.
He even enjoyed the shrimp with some plum wine.
Madam Jiang breathed a sigh of relief, worried her son would come back and vent his anger, blaming her for making decisions on her own. Now it seemed he had quite a tasteful time.
Could it be that in someone else's house, he wouldn't act out?
After all, no matter how bad his temper was, he had to save face!
She turned to her eldest son, "Stop staring at your son eating, answer me. What do you think is up with Xiaowu this time..."
"Unusual situations must harbor demons, and his unusual behavior..." he paused.
"Must harbor a great demon."
The little guy clutched his chopsticks, sneakily hiding the carrots under his rice, looking innocent, trying to divert his father's attention, "I miss Second Uncle, when is he coming back?"
"Are you digging a hole to bury the carrots?"
"..."
"Don't leave the table until you finish it."
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