Leaving the glass factory, Xu Hengyi found Tian Kangtai in the group as well, carrying a bundle. "Old Tian, are you returning to the county town with us?"
Tian Kangtai replied, "There's nothing important left at the glass factory. Lao Xiang can manage it. I need to follow Young Master and be his steward."
Xu Hengyi couldn't understand, "Why would you give up being the grand steward of a thriving glass factory to be a steward?"
Guarding a glass factory that brought in a fortune daily was like guarding a mountain of gold and silver. What could be more important than the glass factory?
Xie Jiang only had a small residence in Ninghe County. Did it really require Old Tian to be so overqualified as a steward?
Tian Kangtai smiled and remained silent. Businesses like the glass factory were plentiful under Young Master's name and didn't warrant too much attention.
Young Master Xu San, a man of poverty, likely couldn't comprehend this.
The important thing was to stay by Young Master's side and share his burdens.
Upon returning to Ninghe County, the Song siblings had to bid farewell to Xie Jiang. Fuyun Inn was still some distance from the back street of the county yamen.
Song Xun, ignoring the hustle and bustle of the street, half-protruded from the carriage window, gazing at Xie Jiang with reluctance. A thousand words were held in her heart, but in the end, she only managed to say, "Young Master Xie, you... you must take good care of yourself."
Even though they would remain in Ninghe for two more days, it wasn't appropriate to meet their second sister again. Who knew when they would meet next after this parting.
Song Xun's eyes welled up, but she forced a smile.
Xie Jiang said, "Lu Baohong has been fed to the dogs. Don't worry."
Waving goodbye to Song Xun and Song Ze, Xie Jiang spurred her horse and departed.
There was no need for reluctance.
Since she had returned, she and the siblings would have plenty of time to reunite in the future.
Xie Jiang's figure had already disappeared at the end of the street, yet Song Xun still leaned against the carriage window, unwilling to retract her gaze.
Song Ze sat upright and instructed, "Let's return to the inn."
Song Xun, feeling a bit dejected, leaned her head on her brother's shoulder, fiddling with the glass bead bracelet clutched in her palm. "When will our second sister come home?"
Song Ze replied, "Not too long."
Song Xun whispered, "Does Second Sister intend to avenge herself single-handedly? What can we do?"
Song Ze pondered, "Your second sister is prepared for this return; we don't need to intervene for now. Although we are all worried about her, we cannot disrupt her plans."
Song Xun frowned, "But Second Sister, it seems she has chosen a very, very difficult path."
Song Ze said, "With us accompanying her, walking together, she won't be alone."
~
Upon returning to the mansion, Xie Jiang's first action was to send someone to the county yamen to inquire if Xu Hengyan had returned.
She knew that Xu Hengyan wouldn't have returned at this hour.
Wasn't this the prelude to a melodramatic tale?
She still had to ask.
Moreover, she had people inquire every hour.
During dinner, Xu Hengyi sighed, "I thought my second brother, being demoted to a minor official, would be quite idle. I didn't expect him to be so busy."
Xie Jiang scoffed inwardly. Your second brother isn't busy; he's discovered he's gay and is having a breakdown.
"You've been in Ninghe for quite some time now. When are you planning to return to the capital?"
Xia Zeshi, who had come with him, had returned to the capital obediently, and Ruan Ziji had been taken away by his uncle. Only Xu Hengyi remained, freeloading.
"I plan to leave in a couple of days."
If he didn't leave soon, his family would send someone to tie him up and drag him back.
This would save him from continuing to implicate his second brother by staying in Ninghe.
He had come to Ninghe to visit his second brother, but instead, he had caused his second brother to be taken hostage!
Thinking of this made Xu Hengyi feel suffocated. It was all that scoundrel Lu Baohong's fault!
Suddenly remembering something, Xu Hengyi's eyes lit up. "Hey, Young Master Song and Miss Song San are also returning to the capital in a couple of days, aren't they? We're going the same way."
Xie Jiang: "Are you ashamed to travel the same way as them?"
Xu Hengyi: "Young Master Xu and Miss Xu San are both very nice people, kind to others."
Xie Jiang: "Just because they are kind to others, does that mean you can intrude and offend them?"
Xu Hengyi: "..."
Xie Jiang: "If you have any sense of shame, stay away from them and don't try to get close."
Xu Hengyi: "Today, we all had tea and dinner together, and visited the glass factory. Wasn't it quite harmonious?"
Xie Jiang: "The people who had tea and dinner with Young Master Song and Miss Song San and visited the glass factory were me. You don't think they even noticed you, do you?"
Xu Hengyi didn't want to talk to her anymore.
He buried his head in his food.
He would eat them out of house and home, the scoundrel named Xie!
Even if it was the truth, did she have to say it so directly!
After eating, he still couldn't help but speak. If he didn't say it, he would suffocate, not Xie Jiang, so why shouldn't he speak?
"I knew you first, and you've only met Young Master Song and Miss Song San a few times. Yet you're siding with them and criticizing me."
"Am I criticizing you?"
"Yes, you are."
"Then I'll add more fuel to the fire."
"Do you like Song so much... Do you like Miss Song San? Or Young Master Song?" Xu Hengyi suddenly remembered that before he had met Miss Song San, Xie Jiang had already treated Young Master Song differently.
"Anyone who is good-looking, I like them." I have to say, the Song family's genes are excellent. They are all beautiful, one after another. This reason, once spoken, is irrefutable.
"You're even more so than Ruan Ziji..." Ruan Ziji only liked men, but Xie Jiang was not picky about gender.
Xu Hengyi looked at his own face. He thought he was quite good-looking too. Would Xie Jiang also...
"Alright, go play by yourself." Xie Jiang saw Lou Yi'an returning from outside and waved to Xu Hengyi.
Xu Hengyi: "Let's go out for a walk to digest our food..."
"No time."
Xie Jiang went back to the study.
Lou Yi'an followed her in.
Xie Jiang looked at him. "How is it?"
As soon as he returned from outside, she had asked Lou Yi'an to personally go to Fuyun Inn.
Lou Yi'an personally went, of course, not just to run errands and deliver calming medicine and Zi Shen pills.
Lou Yi'an also followed her instructions and examined Song Ze's eyes.
Lou Yi'an shook his head and said frankly, "I'm not confident."
Xie Jiang already had an idea, but she still asked, "Not confident at all?"
"With my abilities, I cannot cure Young Master Song's eyes." In front of Xie Jiang, Lou Yi'an didn't need to beat around the bush.
"Young Master Song also asked me to tell you not to feel bad. He's gotten used to it over the years. Young Master Song is afraid you'll be sad," Lou Yi'an picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of water.
People who drink medicine long-term are not worthy of drinking tea.
"There's nothing to be sad about, just a bit of regret." Such a flawless person, yet unable to see, is ultimately a flaw.
Xie Jiang sighed and extended her hand to Lou Yi'an, signaling him to pour her a cup.
Lou Yi'an poured her a cup. "Have you taken your medicine tonight?"
Xie Jiang rolled her eyes, "Aunt He will bring it over soon. I won't forget."
The noon medicine was specially delivered to the glass factory.
Insane.
Not even one dose could be missed.
Lou Yi'an's expression worsened. "You've already delayed for quite some time staying at Yongfeng Village. Do you want to die?"
Xie Jiang: "..."
Lou Yi'an said, "If you continue like this, I won't bother managing you anymore. I'll let you die early and be reborn early, leaving your brothers and sisters to be bullied in this world."
Xie Jiang: "...Hey, hey!"