Chapter 34
In the morning.
A little maid tiptoed to take down the big red lantern on the door that looked like a bubble. She blew out the candle inside.
Another little maid carefully carried warm water towards the old lady's room.
The old lady was extremely particular about health preservation. She would not touch anything cold in the morning, otherwise it would easily hurt her lungs.
She was also particular about her breakfast. It did not look abundant but was well matched, all longevity foods.
The soft and hard vegetarian dishes were very well balanced.
As the old lady's door was gently pushed open, the whole family was also waking up.
Everyone had their own maids attending to them for washing and dressing up.
Jiang Wan also got up early. After getting up and washing briefly, she sat upright and first copied a Buddhist scripture. She was very serious, sitting straight, holding the brush firmly, every stroke mindfully.
Grandmother liked Buddhist scriptures.
She would copy one every day to send to her.
Her boudoir was very big. There were also quite a few bottles and jars on the antique shelves, but the most conspicuous was that she had a bookshelf with many books on it.
These books were really precious.
Nowadays, most people outside did not know words.
Being able to read made one be respectfully addressed as a teacher.
For her to not only be literate but also have so many books, not only a prominent family was needed, but also a heritage.
On the desk, apart from the Buddhist scripture, there were also a few books placed rather casually that looked quite worn, apparently often read daily.
Under the books were also a few landscape paintings, just some ordinary mountains and waters, but the angles were very good, with innate interest. They were also stamped with Wan'er's seal.
Next to the bookshelf was another window overlooking the garden bridge and flowing water outside. Inside the window was placed a guqin. The place where one would rest their hands on the guqin was glossy, Jiang Wan often played and practiced it.
The bookshelf contained all kinds of books, there was also a section specially for chess manuals and books.
After copying the Buddhist scripture, Jiang Wan got up and washed her hands with the maid’s attendance.
She took the towel handed over by the maid and politely thanked her.
The little maid blushed slightly.
......
The lady of the house Wu also got up, her complexion ruddy.
Her husband got up even earlier, probably went to the martial arts field to exercise.
Although her life was far less extravagant than before, her jewelry was not following the latest trends, and the people she interacted with in this remote place were those she would never have associated with in the past.
But she was obviously living very well too.
Her husband doted on her, and their harmonious life was also perfect.
Although her husband did not have a handsome appearance like second uncle, he was gentle and talented in both civil and military arts, superior to that skinny second uncle by hundreds of times.
Only after marriage did she know a man's looks were useless.
Wu was in a very good mood and ordered the head maid Bi Luo, "Go to the yard and pick a new branch, change it, liven things up."
......
Under the big tree in the martial arts field, luxuriant with branches and leaves.
A man in ink blue training clothes made powerful punches, breathing orderly.
Very robust.
Jiang Huaisheng was a rare talented gentleman in this era, born in nobility, accomplished in the six arts, outstanding in everything.
Even in this rural place, he did not give up on diligent study and training, strict with himself day after day.
......
The most worrying person in the family was probably the young master Jiang Rong.
Jiang Rong was whipped twice by his father before, took sick leave for two days as an excuse.
Resting further would probably lead to another whipping, so he also got up early today to go to school.
He wore the new robe his mother rushed to have made.
He first went to pay respects to Grandmother, and saw Grandmother's demeanor was the same as usual, no different.
He thought, Jiang Feng must not have gotten into trouble then. Although Grandmother had expelled that family from the clan, if anything happened to them, she would be the first to know here.
His sister was also the same as usual, dull and boring.
After paying respects, Jiang Rong took the chance while Father had not arrived, and quickly slipped away.
Today, guard Wu Liu did not come.
He did not know where that guy went.
With Wu Liu following him everyday Jiang Rong did not feel anything, but now that he was absent, he inexplicably felt a little empty.
He must be afraid of being punished by himself.
Jiang Rong slowly walked towards the county school with the servants.
Unexpectedly, he saw several loafers ahead not far away, one of them was Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng also seemed to have spotted him.
And Jiang Feng's eyes were strangely intimidating for some reason.
He involuntarily took a step back, but also felt very cowardly. What was there to be afraid of on the main street.
He swaggered past Jiang Feng with the servants.
Sure enough Jiang Feng was not looking at him.
He was chatting with the loafers around, smiling.
Jiang Feng smiled as he watched young master Jiang Rong walk past him with servants.
The wound under his hair-covered eyes was itchy.
The teenager next to him held a steamed bun, swallowing mouthfuls while bumping his arm, "Brother Feng, shall we do it! Um, my big brother said, we just need to go along to intimidate, no need to really take action. They will take care of the real action. With us there will be strength in numbers. Later they get the meat, we can drink the soup."
Jiang Rong heard from afar and could not help cursing in his heart.
It was nothing but robbing and looting!
A dog cannot change eating shit.
Villains were villains to the bone, making such evil deeds sound justified.
No need for him to deal with them, loafers like Jiang Feng would eventually do themselves in.
Jiang Rong quickened his pace, feeling that being close to the likes of Jiang Feng would lower his own status. He was also surnamed Jiang, an insult to his surname.
Hearing the teenager’s words, Jiang Feng calmly asked, "How many people do we have? How many does big brother have? Who are we intimidating?"
The teenager scratched his head, forcefully swallowed the steamed bun in his throat, and said in bewilderment, "Just us who hang out together, seven or eight. Big brother said we just need to intimidate. The ones to intimidate are some rich young masters who came out to play, very rich, wearing silks and satins."
"Brother Feng, are you going or not, it just takes one word from you. We all trust you. If you go we will follow you." Another teenager had no steamed bun, but kept swallowing as he stared at the one eating.
Jiang Feng looked at Jiang Rong's retreating figure in his silk robe, nodded and said, "Let's go, help big brother intimidate. I must go."
"Let's go, let's go. Big brother said he has meat for us, we will definitely have soup to drink." The teenager pulled Jiang Feng along.
No pulling happened.
Jiang Feng patted his patched-up robe and laughed, "Let's go drink soup."
The few teenagers walked arm in arm, swaggering...