Jiang Wan thought it made sense, so she said, “Then you pick first, and the rest are mine.”
Chapter 86: Bringing Jiang Dahai Home
Hearing Jiang Wan say this, Jiang Ling didn’t stand on ceremony. She walked over to Chunhua and the others to assess them.
After looking them over, Jiang Ling reached out and pulled out Qiuyue and Dongshuang: “Big Sister, I want Qiuyue and Dongshuang.”
“Second Sister, you…”
Before Jiang Yan could finish, Jiang Wan spoke up, “Big Sister, since Third Sister wants Qiuyue and Dongshuang, I’ll take Chunhua and Xiayu.”
“Okay.”
As Jiang Yan’s words fell, Jiang Ling spoke up, “Big Sister, aren’t you going to buy two maids for yourself to take care of you and help with tasks?”
Jiang Yan frankly said, “I’m always running around; it’s not convenient to bring maids along, so I won’t.”
With that, Jiang Yan took Chunhua and the others to see where they would be staying.
The women lived in one courtyard, and the men in another, adjacent to each other.
Su Xin was not yet fully recovered, so Jiang Yan didn’t let her cook. Instead, she had Chunhua and the others prepare today’s lunch.
The lunch was quite lavish. Jiang Yan not only made chicken soup and stir-fried shredded meat but also braised pork with potatoes. Additionally, she stir-fried several small dishes, prepared some cold vegetable dishes, and some braised snacks.
Most of Chunhua’s group came from poor backgrounds, and seeing such abundance, they couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Shijiu, the youngest among the servants at only fifteen, boldly asked, “Master, is this really for us to eat?”
“In our family, everyone eats the same, what do you think?”
Jiang Yan smiled and said.
Shijiu was thrilled.
Jiang Yan didn’t say much more and called everyone to start eating.
Before, it was just a few of them eating at home, but now with so many more people, the meal became much livelier.
Jiang Wan and the others ate more than usual.
Jiang Ran, though still under a year old, could now eat on her own, albeit messily.
Given her young age, Jiang Yan didn’t give her the same food as everyone else but cooked her rice porridge with bone broth.
The little girl found it delicious.
Thinking that their little sister would soon be a year old, Jiang Wan and the others wanted to bring Jiang Dahai back for the New Year.
Jiang Yan decided to fetch him back earlier.
…
On the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month, Jiang Yan arrived at the medical clinic where Jiang Dahai was staying by carriage.
She arrived in the morning after Jiang Dahai had finished his breakfast. He was now practicing walking alone in his room.
His room door was open.
Jiang Yan saw him just in time and quietly stood to the side, watching as Jiang Dahai still walked a bit unsteadily.
She pursed her lips and walked into the room.
“Our little sister is about to turn one, and Second Sister and the others want you to celebrate the New Year with us. Come home with me!”
Jiang Dahai hadn’t expected Jiang Yan to come for him. He thought he’d have to stay until his leg was completely healed since she hadn’t visited in a while.
“Big Sister, I’ll pack my things right now.”
Jiang Dahai said excitedly.
Seeing him so happy, Jiang Yan spoke up, “Don’t get too excited too soon. The reason I’m taking you back is because Second Sister and the others miss you.”
“And I have something else to say. From now on, I’m in charge of this family. You can live here, but you’re not allowed to interfere. Also, if you dare do anything against us or continue to associate with Jiang Dashan and his ilk, don’t blame me for kicking you out of this house!”
Jiang Yan’s assertiveness made Jiang Dahai uncomfortable, but he chose to say nothing.
As he packed, Jiang Yan walked ahead. She always paid in advance and settled the accounts at the end of the month, adjusting for any over or underpayment.
This month, Jiang Dahai hadn’t stayed the full month, and his medication usage was less than before, leaving a good amount of money.
Jiang Yan used the remaining money to buy some more medicine.
She carried the medicine and walked towards the back courtyard.
The clothes Jiang Dahai wore and the few sets in his bundle were all bought by Jiang Yan.
He had nothing else.
Thus, he packed quickly.
Before Jiang Yan could enter his room, Jiang Dahai emerged with a bundle, walking slowly.
Fearing he might fall and worsen his injury, Jiang Yan paid someone from the clinic to carry him to the carriage.
After they settled in, Jiang Yan took out a string of 100 copper coins and two taels of broken silver from her purse and handed them to him: “This money is for you. Our little sister is going to have her birthday soon; you, as her father, should show some gesture.”
He wondered why she was giving him money, then realized it was for their youngest daughter.
Jiang Dahai was unsure what to buy, thinking for a while before saying, “Big Sister, help me buy some warm clothes and a pair of tiger-head shoes for your little sister. Also, does she have any favorite foods? Buy some for her.”
He handed the money back to Jiang Yan.
These items didn’t require so much money.
Jiang Yan only took one tael of silver.
After the items were bought, Jiang Yan handed them over to Jiang Dahai with a blank expression.
Jiang Dahai took them, cradling them in his arms, and looked at Jiang Yan, “You’re still angry with me, aren’t you?”
“Since you know, why ask?”
Jiang Yan looked up and said.
Jiang Dahai felt increasingly estranged from his daughter.
For a moment, he didn’t know what to say to Jiang Yan.
Jiang Ling and the others were unaware that Jiang Dahai would be coming home today. They were busy with Chunhua and the others cleaning the place. One, because their little sister was about to have her birthday and they would need to entertain guests. Two, the New Year was approaching, so the courtyard needed to be spotless.
Everyone was busy.
Jiang Yan called for Shijiu several times before he came running to open the door: “Master, you’re back! And this is…?”
“I’m her father.”
To avoid the awkwardness of Jiang Yan not introducing him, Jiang Dahai took the initiative to speak up.
Shijiu loudly called out, “Sir!”
Jiang Dahai felt a bit uncomfortable: “No need for such formality, just call me Uncle Dahai.”
Shijiu glanced at Jiang Yan.
Seeing her nod. Nineteen immediately called out, “Uncle Dahai!”
Jiang Yan asked, “Where are Second Sister and the others?”
Nineteen told her truthfully, “They’re cleaning up around.”
The house was also in need of a good cleaning.
Jiang Yan suddenly thought of something and said, “Nineteen, go find Chu Yi and Shi Wu, have them bring a stretcher to carry him. His leg hasn’t fully healed yet, it’s not suitable for him to walk too much.”
“Okay, master!”
Nineteen took off running, and in no time, he was far away.
Jiang Dahai now felt like he was in a dream.
He really hadn’t expected Jiang Yan to build such a big house, and now they even had servants at home.
When Jiang Ling and the others learned that Jiang Dahai had been brought back by Jiang Yan, they quickly tidied themselves up and came out with their youngest sister to greet him.
“Dad…”
They hadn’t seen him in quite some time, and seeing him thinner than before, they felt a bit of heartache.
“Ai!”
Jiang Dahai responded, looking at his daughters who had all grown up to be so beautiful, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like if he had stood by their side back then.
Jiang Wan, holding Jiang Ran, taught her, “Little sister, this is dad, call him dad.”
Chapter 87: Why Did You Come Back?
Jiang Ran stared at Jiang Dahai with big eyes but didn’t call out to him.
It had been so long since they last met.
It was normal for her not to call him.
