This night was yet another heart-wrenching ordeal for Chiang Baohe.
In the end, he nearly woke up the entire hospital ward, including Chiang Songhai and Ge Liutao.
Chiang Xiao only slipped downstairs to escape the chaos when many onlookers came out, and by the time she returned, Chiang Songhai and Ge Liutao were already up, draping on their coats.
"Little, when did you go out?"
"I just went to the bathroom," Chiang Xiao replied, casually closing the door behind her.
Ge Liutao hesitated before speaking, "I thought it sounded like Baohe’s voice?" The night before they came to the hospital, Chiang Baohe had wailed all night, so they were somewhat familiar with the sound of his howling.
"It seems like it was him," Chiang Xiao nodded, turning on the light.
Ge Liutao then looked toward Chiang Songhai, "Uncle Hai, shouldn’t we go up and check on him?"
Chiang Xiao looked at her grandfather.
If he wanted to go up and check, she wouldn’t stop him, but what good would it do? He couldn’t help with the injury. As for rushing up only to be scolded and beaten again, she would definitely drag him back immediately.
However, to her surprise, Chiang Songhai was silent for a moment, then took off the coat he had put on and sat back down on the bed, "No need to go, it’s probably just pain from his wounds. Baoguo is there, isn’t he? It’s not our place to intervene. Let’s sleep, everyone sleep. Little is tired too, just cover your ears and get some rest."
Chiang Xiao’s eyes widened in astonishment. Despite Chiang Baohe’s dire cries and others going to look, Chiang Songhai, once the most protective of the Old Chiang Family, was actually planning on turning a blind eye?
But this was indeed good news!
Chiang Xiao immediately agreed, happily turning off the light and going to bed.
The sky lightened, heralding a new day.
The earliest bus to arrive at the town’s bus station brought with it a tall and straight man in Supervisor Guard uniform, sporting a faint stubble on his chin.
He tilted his head slightly and squinted at the rising sun, a bitter smile curling the corner of his lips. He hadn’t expected himself to act so recklessly, to travel with injuries via train for an entire day and night, followed by the earliest minibus, just to find that young girl and settle the score.
Thinking this, Meng Xinian felt that since he had taken such trouble to come all this way, he must settle accounts with that girl properly—otherwise, how could he live with himself?
Zhao Xin should have already given her the bag of items, though he wondered what her reaction was.
Meng Xinian was somewhat eager to know her response.
And, he was curious about her reaction when she saw him appear before her.
However, he was starving at the moment.
Meng Xinian strode towards the town center.
He remembered there was a breakfast vendor there; he planned to eat breakfast first and then find Zhao Xin at Hu Xibing’s teahouse, before heading to Siyang Village.
While his plan was sound, he hadn’t anticipated the huge surprise that awaited him shortly.
The early morning in Peace Town was tranquil, streets already cleaned and clear. Students on their way to school, women and elderly shopping, and shopkeepers opening for business, all started their new day.
The breakfast vendor was doing good business today, especially with customers taking their orders to go. People bought a couple of buns, wrapped in paper, eating as they walked.
Those buying more were given bags.
"Auntie, give me twelve vegetarian buns to go. And I’ll have a vegetarian bun with a bowl of soy milk here," said a voice.
"Alright, young lady, take a seat inside and I’ll bring it right over," replied the vendor.
Just as Chiang Xiao was about to step inside the shop, she suddenly felt an intensely focused gaze upon her. It was scorching, inescapable.