Glancing at the tea on the table, barely touched, Jiang Wang spoke, “Auntie, have you eaten? I’ll order a table at the restaurant later.”

“Aye, I’ll go!” Du Yehu felt a rush of relief. “I know all the restaurants in Fenglin City!”

Auntie Song sat down, waving a hand. “No rush. Your auntie is here for something.”

Seeing Jiang An’an secretly observing him, Jiang Wang returned a gentle smile while saying, “Whatever it is, please speak.”

Auntie Song stroked Jiang An’an’s little head. “Will you go wander with these two big brothers? See where your brother lives and cultivates.”

Du Yehu immediately opened his arms to little An’an, his big face crinkling into a smile like an old chrysanthemum. “Come, Brother Tiger will take you to buy delicious things!”

Ling He also voluntarily said, “Don’t worry, we’re sworn brothers with Jiang Wang. We’ll definitely take good care of An’an.”

Little An’an was very sensible. Though she was timid and shy, when Auntie Song spoke, she still timidly… walked a few steps towards Ling He.

No matter how one looked at it, the upright, gentle-smiling Ling He was far more reliable than the full-bearded, exaggeratedly-laughing, and terrifying Du Yehu.

Ling He, filled with gratification, led Jiang An’an out. Du Yehu, before leaving, glared fiercely at Jiang Wang. That look clearly meant, “What’s with your sister?”

After the others were sent away, Jiang Wang’s smile faded as he looked at Auntie Song. “Has Fengxi Town been peaceful lately? Are the family’s shops doing well?”

“There aren’t any major problems, it’s just…” Auntie Song seemed a bit hesitant.

Jiang Wang waited patiently. “Please tell me whatever it is.”

“Since your father passed away, the shop’s business has been worse by the day. It’s almost to the point where your auntie and I can barely get by…” As she spoke, Auntie Song suddenly took out a handkerchief and wiped away tears.

The family’s remaining shop dealt in medicinal herbs. Although not large, it had established channels over many years and held a good reputation throughout Fengxi Town. When the family’s fortunes declined, they sold almost all their properties but kept this medicinal herb shop precisely because of its longevity. With this shop in hand, while one wouldn’t become rich, they certainly wouldn’t struggle to survive.

What kind of person could manage to bring a steady, thriving medicinal herb shop to such a state in just a few years?

Jiang Wang wasn’t foolish. Even when his father was alive, he had deliberately discussed some business matters with him, hoping that if his cultivation didn’t succeed, he could still return to live a stable life.

He knew there must be a problem, but Jiang Wang simply said, “Is there anything I can do to help, Auntie?”

He thought that if she needed some gold or silver, he could gather some. Regardless, Jiang An’an was his only sister. Even if only for Jiang An’an’s sake, he hoped they would live better.

“I know Xiaowang has always been diligent and will surely have a good future. But Auntie…” Auntie Song wiped her tears. “Auntie is just a woman with no special skills. I really can’t keep going…”

She looked up at Jiang Wang with teary eyes. “Can An’an come live with you from now on?”

The last trace of warmth in Jiang Wang’s eyes vanished.

He couldn’t have imagined that this woman would not even want her own daughter.

Jiang Wang slowly nodded, then said, “It seems Auntie has found a good match?”

Auntie Song slightly lowered her gaze. Only at this moment, in front of her deceased husband’s eldest son, did a hint of shame finally emerge, slowly rising from the deepest part of her heart.

“Marriage and funerals are all part of human life,” Jiang Wang said, without any harsh words. “So, does An’an know she’ll be living with me from now on?”

“She doesn’t know yet. Auntie thought I’d come and ask for your opinion first. You know she’s always been timid and afraid of strangers. Even if I take her with me, she won’t have a good life…” Although Auntie Song was explaining, her voice became lower and lower.

“I understand,” Jiang Wang interrupted her. “Should I tell her, or will you?”

“You tell her…” Auntie Song said. “I… I have to leave now. The carriage is still waiting for me outside the city.”

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment. “Alright. Then I won’t see you off.”

“I’ll send you money every month.”

“No need. I can afford to raise An’an. Auntie, you… take care of yourself.”

“Okay. You and An’an be well.” Auntie Song said, then rose.

After walking a couple of steps outwards, she suddenly stopped, turned back, and tearfully said to Jiang Wang, “An’an doesn’t like winter melon, she likes eggplant, and she loves sweets… but you can’t give her too much.”

“She often kicks off her blanket when she sleeps… She… she’s young and doesn’t understand things, so you, as an elder brother, should be patient.”

“Auntie.” Jiang Wang hadn’t intended to say anything more, but seeing Auntie Song’s behavior, he couldn’t help but say, “Do you remember? My father could have lived for another two years, but he refused treatment and wanted to leave the family property to you. So that you could take good care of my younger sister, who was still so young…”

Auntie Song was speechless and covered her face as she left.

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

All these years, he had pursued the Dao outside, no matter how hard or difficult it was, he had never asked for a single tael of silver from home. This was because he thought of his father being ill in bed and how difficult life was for Auntie Song and An’an. This was because he thought of his father choosing to die sooner rather than be a burden to them. How could he take the family’s money?

Even though he was the most undisputed heir to that considerable family property.

It was as if the conversation from back then echoed in his ears:

“Xiaowang, you are already grown up. You can take care of yourself, right?”

“Yes, Father.”

That childish figure seemed to overlap with the present, intersecting through the years.

“And I can take care of An’an,” Jiang Wang said softly.

…

Ling He and Du Yehu brought Jiang An’an back after a short wander.

“Hmm, where’s Auntie?” Du Yehu asked thoughtlessly.

Ling He instinctively wanted to hold An’an’s hand tighter, but that little hand had stubbornly pulled away.

Jiang Wang looked over. The little girl, not yet five years old, stood silently, gently biting her lip, her round, black eyes unblinking.

She stood between Ling He and Du Yehu, but it was as if she was isolated in a corner of the vast world.

She didn’t cry, nor did she make a fuss.

Jiang Wang strode over, knelt down, and embraced the tiny figure. He also pulled her back from the solitude of that corner of the world, back into the vibrant human realm.

“An’an, you’ll be living with your brother from now on. Brother will often play with you, just like we used to. Do you remember? You were so small back then…”

“Right, right, Brother Tiger will also play with you often from now on!” Du Yehu quickly added, trying to salvage the situation.

Little An’an glanced at him, then turned her gaze away expressionlessly before gently burying her little head in Jiang Wang’s shoulder.

“Alright,” Jiang Wang said, picking up An’an. “An’an will be living with me from now on. It’s not very convenient to live in the dormitory, so I need to find a place to stay first. We’ll eat together later.”

“You should find a place to stay first,” Ling He said, taking two pieces of broken silver from his怀 and stuffing them into Jiang Wang’s hand without question. “Take this money.”

After entering the inner sect, Ling He’s life wasn’t as tight. The Dao Academy issued a monthly allowance. But these two pieces of broken silver were his entire savings.

“Ah, right, right,” Du Yehu said, inspired, immediately rummaging through his pockets. But in the end, he only found four dao coins, which he sheepishly placed in Jiang Wang’s hand. “My allowance for this month was already spent on drinks.”

He then made a solemn vow. “Next month, next month I won’t drink. I’ll save money to buy An’an new clothes!”

Jiang Wang didn’t stand on ceremony, casually putting the money in his pocket and leaving with Jiang An’an in his arms.

They had already gone far, but Du Yehu still leaned by the door, gazing after them. “Little An’an is so cute! Hey, Old Ling, why don’t I have a sister?”

“Old Ling?” Du Yehu turned back. Ling He was already sitting cross-legged on his bed.

A sister with a full beard… how terrifying would that be? Ling He thought to himself.

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

“Ptooey, ptooey!” Du Yehu spat several times. “Why is this tea so bitter?”

“May you choke on it!” Ling He said irritably.