Chiang Xiao’s heart wrestled mightily.
With her intervention, she could completely heal his wounds within five days.
Completely healed, that kind.
But by doing so, she would definitely not be able to hide it from Meng Xinian.
Given Meng Xinian’s intelligence, he would certainly not believe any excuse about having found some effective medicine.
Because even the best medicine couldn’t possibly have such immediate effects.
To heal wounds that exposed bone and flesh within a few days.
How would she explain it then?
However, she felt that even if she didn’t intervene, Meng Xinian already knew she had many secrets. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said what he did just now.
Meng Xinian watched her quietly.
He had noticed the struggle in Chiang Xiao’s eyes.
This girl had specifically brought him here, which meant she definitely had something to tell him.
And it wouldn’t be just any ordinary thing.
But looking at her now, it’s clear she still hadn’t decided whether she could speak of it.
"This difficult for you?" he sighed, then ruffled her hair, and said, "How about we go inside to eat, and after we have lunch and grandfather and my grandfathers and grandmothers go for their nap, we can talk upstairs?"
It was the first time Chiang Xiao took the initiative to mention her secrets to him, and he absolutely couldn’t miss it.
Chiang Xiao quickly stood up and pushed him back inside.
She indeed hadn’t made up her mind yet.
"Where did you push Xinian to? It’s cold outside, come in and eat quickly." Ge Liutao had just finished bringing out all the dishes.
A table full of dishes, their fragrance filling the air. Chiang Songhai took out a bottle of medicinal liquor he had brewed himself, fetched three small cups, and Chu Liang brought over the warmed wine, pouring just a little into each cup.
Old Meng suddenly felt that this was what a warm home should feel like.
Unlike his daughter-in-law, who would not even touch spring water, and if she ever did, one can’t even guess how long her son would fuss over it. The maid made good food, yet she would complain about using the wrong plates, insisting on her own set of delicate bone china tableware, and even the setting had to be arranged like a flower.
In Old Meng’s view, all that was simply fuss over nothing, just someone being finicky.
Furthermore, in his home, the rule was to eat without speaking. With so few people already, if not a single word was spoken during meals, it truly felt cold, without any taste of home.
Anyway, he came from a farmer’s background, a simple man without much for fancy etiquette, preferring a lively and warm atmosphere that felt like home.
Also, that daughter-in-law’s smile was always fake, like a mask, nowhere near as genuine and brilliant as his granddaughter-in-law, who smiled like a blooming flower.
"Good, good good good, good food, good wine." Old Meng first drank half a cup of wine, his eyes slightly narrowed, looking quite content.
Meng Xinian didn’t drink normally, and now that he was injured, he was even more prevented from drinking.
He just sat there quietly eating.
Old Meng, Chiang Songhai, and Chu Liang, the three of them drank together.
They began by talking about Meng Xinian’s situation, but as they did, Old Meng’s eyes reddened, and the conversation shifted to Meng Chaojun.
"Xinian’s father was actually not bad. Though he didn’t really know how to educate a child, whenever Xinian came home from a fight, he’d just beat him. But after beating him, he’d still properly teach him how to win against older kids. Apart from fighting, his mother managed everything else for this child."
"But, my daughter-in-law has been too competitive all her life..."
Meng Xinian said flatly, "Old man, you’re drunk."
"Brother, come on, have some meat." Chiang Songhai hurriedly picked up a piece of Dongpo pork for him.
Old Meng sighed and looked towards Chu Liang, "And you, Chu Liang, what’s the deal with you? I heard Li Hanzhong asked you to go to the Capital, why didn’t you go?"