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Chapter 015: They deliberately made things difficult for him
Everyone here was waiting to see Jiang LinZhiâs joke.
However, it was not known whether Jiang LinZhi really didnât put the Old Ladyâs obvious target against him in his eyes, or was really heartless, he ignored the Old Ladyâs ridicule and insinuation, and sat down with an indifferent expression, as if nothing deserves his attention.
Pei Cheng took Jiang YanZhi and sat down with Jiang LinZhi, and for the first time, he had a clearer understanding of Jiang LinZhiâs situation in the Jiang family.
Jiang YanZhi was a little scared when he saw so many strangers for the first time. He raised his hand quietly and grabbed the corner of Pei Chengâs clothes, only then he felt at ease.
Pei Chengâs heart moved, he glanced at Jiang YanZhi on the side without a trace, and silently comforted him.
The Old Lady shuddered with anger. She really didnât like Jiang LinZhi very much, but, even if she didnât like him, she had to maintain the harmony with Jiang LinZhi for the sake of the Jiang familyâs face, even if they were already tired of facing each other and could not wait the other party to die.
Pei Cheng raised his head as if he had sensed something, because he didnât catch the killing intent flashing through the eyes of the Old Lady, so he quickly put aside the discomfort in his heart.
Jiang LinZhi didnât even lift his eyelids, as if everything here could not raise his interest.
The atmosphere of the entire dinner party was a bit weird.
A woman, wearing a blue dress with an up-do hairstyle, leaned over to Hu XiaYunâs side, her voice was not too loud, and she asked, âWhy havenât Third Master and Qiâer come?â
Hu XiaYun, who had been making a face, had finally recovered. She smiled and replied, âQiâer insisted on going to the Yamen with Third Uncle to learn things. I couldnât stop it, so I just let him go.â
*(T/N: Yamen (čĄé¨) - government office in feudal China <from Pleco>)
The womanâs expression was a bit startled; she probably didnât expect Hu XiaYun to give her this reply. However, the occasion was still wrong; the woman quickly suppressed the unwillingness in her heart, and said with envy: âQiâer is really fortunate. He can go to the Yamen to learn and experience things from the government officials at a young age. He will have a bright future.â
Hu XiaYun covered her lips as she chuckled, but she didnât follow the womanâs words. After all, some words could be said, but those words could sometimes be outrageous and turn into weapons that could hurt oneself if one was not careful enough. Hu XiaYun cleverly avoided the pursuit of women and said: âIâve already sent someone to send the message earlier. It stands to reason that Third Master and Qiâer should be home by this time. Why havenât they arrived yet?â
The womanâs face was a little bit uncontrollable.
After all, she was the granddaughter-in-law of the Old Ladyâs natal family. Hu XiaYun clearly didnât give her face, even if she had the Jiang familyâs support, wasnât it too much to look down on people like that?
As she was thinking about it, the woman looked at the Old Lady in the main seat with a plea for help, but the Old Lady never looked in her direction. She didnât know if the Old Lady was intentionally avoiding her, or it was just that she heard it but didnât want to care about this matter.
It just so happened that just after Hu XiaYun and the woman had discussed Third Master Jiang, everyone saw Third Master Jiang in a light-colored gown, followed by a six-year-old boy who looked exactly like Master Jiang.
Third Master Jiang walked straight in the direction of the Old Lady, then knelt in the middle of the hall, and said, âMother, I had something to do, so I was a step late.â
*(T/N: he actually used âĺŠĺżâ which could be translated literally as âthis sonâ or âyour sonâ. But, Iâll simply use âIâ which is also one of its meanings.)
The Old Ladyâs stern face instantly bloomed with joy. She hurriedly asked Third Master Jiang to get up from the ground, and then the start of the banquet was announced.
The people who had been quiet from beginning to end began to speak, and the atmosphere was finally not as cold as before.
Third Master Jiang stood up from the ground, and when he just turned around and about to walk to his seat, he just met with Pei Chengâs line of sight, fixedly looking at him. Pei Cheng retracted his gaze, as if it was not him who had just stared at Third Master Jiang.
Jiang LinZhiâs hand holding the chopsticks tightened.
Third Master Jiang just calmly got into his seat. His face was not as sharp as Master Jiang, he had a scholarly and upright aura. Third Master Jiang should have known that Pei Cheng was staring at him in secret just now; he faced towards Jiang LinZhi and slightly nodded at him as a greeting.
Jiang LinZhi did not respond, he lowered his eyelids, not knowing what he was thinking.
Third Master Jiang didnât take this matter to heart, and walked to his own position and then talked to Master Jiang.
Pei Cheng liked to eat the ribs in front of him, but he just recovered from his illness. So, he only ate two pieces and then stopped eating, fearing that he would feel unwell later.
A steaming little butterfly-shaped sweet cake was put in front of Pei Cheng. Pei Cheng was taken aback, he raised his head and looked up at Jiang LinZhi, but he only saw the manâs pale profile which has no blood color, and could make people tremble inexplicably.
Pei Cheng picked up a piece of sweet cake and put it in his mouth. It was very sweet and fragrant. The most troublesome thing was that it perfectly suited his taste. However, Pei Cheng was uneasy eating it.
After pondering it, Pei Cheng still said, âThank you, Second Master.â
âThis sweet cake, the cook in my courtyard also knows how to make it.â Jiang LinZhi lightly took a bite of the sweet cake, frowned, he raised his head and drank another sip of hot tea, only then he could suppress the uncomfortable sweetness of his mouth, then he continued to say: âIf my wife likes it, just order the cook to make it later.â Pei Cheng refused and said: âIf I eat too many sweets, I will have a toothache. Just trying it occasionally will be enough.â
Jiang LinZhi tilted his head sideways, with a chuckle at the corners of his mouth, but the smile did not reach the bottom of his eyes, he said: âThatâs true.â
Pei Cheng frowned, not knowing what to say.
But in the next second, Jiang LinZhi no longer looked at Pei Cheng. Pei Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, no longer thinking about how to deal with Jiang LinZhi.
Jiang YanZhi was still eating with his head down. He just learned how to use chopsticks. He still couldnât hold his chopsticks firmly when eating, let alone picking the dishes by himself. Therefore, when eating, it was usually Pei Cheng who put the dishes in his bowl and let him eat by himself.
But this time, didnât know what was going on, Jiang YanZhi didnât eat the meat that Pei Cheng had put in his bowl. Instead, he stubbornly used chopsticks to pick the ribs in the plate. The thing was that Jiang YanZhi couldnât even hold the chopsticks, let alone picking the ribs in the plate.
Pei Cheng watched the ribs fall back into the plate for the fifth time, feeling funny and helplessly, he said: âYou really are......â
Jiang YanZhi stopped his movement and looked at Pei Cheng blankly.
Pei Cheng was defeated by Jiang YanZhi, he picked up the chopsticks again, and just about to give him a piece of ribs, but was stopped by a pair of chopsticks sticking out next to him.
Jiang LinZhiâs eyes were resolute, he insisted: âLet him do it.â
Pei Cheng paused. He didnât quite understand Jiang LinZhiâs meaning, but he didnât want to fall out with him on this occasion because of this trivial matter. Thus, he put down the chopsticks and continued to watch Jiang YanZhi stubbornly repeating the process of picking and dropping the ribs.
Jiang YanZhi didnât show a frustrated look, but instead, because of the repeated action of picking the ribs, his fingers holding the chopsticks were a lot more stable.
Pei Chengâs heart jumped, and suddenly he understood what Jiang LinZhi meant.
Jiang LinZhi was still cold and indifferent; he did not speak or explain anything. And, Pei Cheng was also used to this kind of Jiang LinZhi. So, he didnât care too much but at this moment, Hu XiaYunâs chuckling voice sounded next to him: âWhy? Isnât YanZhi already four years old and he still doesnât know how to eat by himself? Then, Pei Cheng, it would be your fault for not teaching him.â
Hu XiaYunâs voice was not too loud, but she succeeded in attracting the sight of people nearby.
As soon as her voice fell, everyone saw Jiang YanZhi put a piece of pork ribs that he had finally picked up in Pei Chengâs bowl, then raised his head and whispered: âDaddy, eat meat.â