"But Uncle Grandfather is still at the foot of Bai Gu Mountain, packing those things."
Chiang Songhai said, "Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll go rent an ox cart and load the stuff on it first. You all go ahead and eat dumplings. After you’ve finished, Little, you bring some to your Uncle Grandfather. He can follow and eat on the ox cart—this way we won’t waste any time."
Chiang Xiao looked at him in surprise, "But, Grandfather, your injury... "
"I’ve rested for two days, it’s much better, and besides, I’ll move slowly. When driving the ox cart, I’ll sit on it, so it won’t be a bother." Chiang Songhai saw the way Chiang Xiao and Xu Linjiang looked and knew they were quite exhausted from the day’s work.
His granddaughter was working so hard to earn money for the family. He felt useless for making her go through such hardship. Now that there was something he could do, he was eager to take it on. Otherwise, he would have felt quite uneasy.
"Alright then, just be careful, Grandfather. We’ll follow shortly," Chiang Xiao said.
Ge Liutao hesitated for a moment, "Or I could go with your grandfather. Little, you can handle boiling the dumplings, right?" She was worried that later on there might be heavy things to move, and Chiang Songhai, with his current state, his back not yet straight, truly wasn’t fit for such tasks.
And on top of that, the one waiting there was her own brother—she wanted to go help as well.
Chiang Xiao understood her meaning and nodded, "Boiling dumplings, I can do. Grandma, you go with Grandfather."
Xu Linjiang, in fact, wanted to volunteer for the task, but no one in the Chiang family agreed.
The person who was the most tired today was him, and Chiang Xiao also wanted him to rest for a while.
Thus, Chiang Songhai went to rent the ox cart with Ge Liutao.
Zhao Xin hurried to join Chiang Xiao by the stove, "Sister-in-law, I’ll help you make the fire."
"You’re still calling me that?" Chiang Xiao gave him a sideways glance.
Seeing Xu Linjiang had gone to the latrine, Zhao Xin lowered his voice and said, "Sister-in-law, this is also our team leader’s order. He told me to call you ’Sister-in-law’!"
"Did Tyrant Meng get kicked in the head by a donkey?"
While tending the fire, Zhao Xin explained, "The incident had a big impact. If others found out that you saved the Chief Alliance Officer’s Wife, your life wouldn’t be peaceful! Moreover, our team leader has sworn enemies in the Capital who have been looking to make trouble for him since they were young. If they found out about your existence, they’d definitely use you to cause trouble for our team leader! Anyway, I don’t really understand all the ins and outs. When the team leader comes back, he can explain it to you himself."
Chiang Xiao was taken aback for a moment, "So that’s why he’s having you call me ’Sister-in-law’?"
"By calling me ’Sister-in-law,’ all these problems go away?" Chiang Xiao bit her lip, "What sort of logic is that? Besides, even if his problems are solved, what about me?"
Zhao Xin felt he might have misspoken, potentially causing Chiang Xiao to misunderstand.
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and after a long pause finally managed to say, "Well, when the team leader comes back, let him explain it to you himself."
Indeed, Chiang Xiao was getting a bit annoyed at this point.
From what Zhao Xin implied, Meng Xinian wanted to prevent his enemies from using her as leverage against him, to cause him trouble. So, regardless of whether she agreed or not, he intended to call this thirteen-year-old girl his wife?
Why didn’t he consider the impact it would have on her?
Why didn’t he consider whether she agreed to it or not?
She was compelled by the circumstances that day, but that wasn’t the case now!
This Tyrant Meng truly lived up to his name with his dictatorial ways! Did he expect her to follow his orders in everything?
Unaware of Zhao Xin’s blundering conversation, Meng Xinian who had just gotten off the train had no idea his well-intentioned teammate had unwittingly earned him negative points with Chiang Xiao.