Chiang Xiao had finished rinsing the rice, added water, lit the fire, and started to cook. She set up a folding table in the courtyard, initially intending to take this time to work on another painting, but instead, she happened to overhear a drama unfolding next door.
Upon hearing Chiang Caijiao’s cries, Chiang Xiao felt her heart turn cold.
A nine-year-old child, having already learned to manipulate words and fabricate things out of thin air, truly left her at a loss for words.
Even if she had thought so in her heart, she clearly had not cursed Ho Laidi in front of Chiang Caijiao. And when did she ever say she wanted Meng Xinian to teach her how to fight and how to increase her strength?
However, while listening to Ho Laidi blindly slander Meng Xinian, Chiang Xiao really felt like picking up the sack of rice bran again and charging over to give that old woman another thorough thrashing.
Perhaps because of the newly built wall, the people of the Old Chiang Family couldn’t hear the goings-on in her house, so they naturally assumed that their conversations couldn’t be heard on this side either, otherwise, they wouldn’t have started causing a commotion in the courtyard.
They didn’t realize that Chiang Xiao’s hearing was exceptionally sharp now, and their noisy arguing had reached her ears, every word of it.
It was only after hearing Chiang Baohe’s roar of anger, without knowing what was being stirred up inside the house again, that Chiang Xiao drew her attention back and remembered she hadn’t yet read a certain person’s letter. She quickly took the letter out and began opening them one by one, according to the date on the postmarks.
The first letter was worded neutrally and without any remarkable tone, merely mentioning that his injury was healing quickly and that the doctor had praised his recovery ability, highlighting particularly that a young person’s body is strong. He then asked her if something had delayed her from writing back and reminded her to call him if there truly was anything troubling her. He assured her that he would find a way to help with any issue.
The second letter began by asking if she had received the first one, then teased her, asking if the school hadn’t yet taught her how to write letters, and proceeded to explain how to buy envelopes and stamps and how to send a letter. He also shared several amusing incidents from the Guard Squad in great detail, filling up four pages.
The third letter contained only one page of writing, with two lines written in very large characters that clearly showed great effort.
Comrade Chiang Xiaoxiao, although you are young, I know that you are neither small in heart nor in wisdom. Please face the fact that you already have a fiancé. It’s essential for us to keep in touch, how else can we understand each other?!
Then, enclosed within were several envelopes and stamps.
Chiang Xiao felt that these two lines could almost puncture the paper, and she could tell that Tyrant Meng must have written the letter with a cold gaze, tightly pursed lips, and a tensed jaw.
She broke out in a cold sweat.
What does he mean by being young in age but not young in heart or wisdom?
Tyrant Meng, do you know the truth yet!
The fourth letter was completely empty, with just a blank piece of paper enclosing even more envelopes and stamps, and a stack of writing paper.
The message was very clear.
Chiang Xiao sighed over it.
She felt that she probably should write him a letter back, otherwise he might make another trip to Siyang Village. Right now, Chiang Xiao did not want the people from the Old Chiang Family to see him at all. No matter what, the grudges between her and the Old Chiang Family should not be brought upon him. If Ho Laidi faced him with a barrage of scolding, it would truly dirty his ears.
So, resigned, she sighed deeply, checked the fire, added some more wood, grabbed a pen, and began to write him a letter on the paper he had sent her.