Chapter 1038 - 1040: As Poor As a Church Mouse_1
Jiang Xuexiang’s smile grew wider, deepening the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Jiang Yichun couldn’t help but feel a twinge in his heart as he looked at the face that bore a resemblance to his father’s.
Had his father still been alive, would he also have looked like this? Perhaps not as aged as his uncle?
However, he quickly withdrew his thoughts, reminding himself not to let his guard down around the Jiang family members. Who knew who was responsible for his father’s downfall?
As the three of them were talking, a group of people came along the side path. Bai Ruozhu glanced over quickly and saw that two women were leading the group, followed by several young girls.
"Big brother, we heard that Yichun was back and specifically came to welcome him. This is truly wonderful!" The slightly older woman said with a radiant smile, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Jiang Yichun.
Jiang Xuexiang hastily turned to Jiang Yichun and said, "This is your third aunt by marriage, who used to live in our residence; you remember, right?"
Jiang Yichun nodded slightly and said indifferently, "I remember."
He didn’t have a particularly good relationship with this third aunt, but neither had there been any conflicts. They had already been living in the residence before he left the Jiang family.
Jiang Zhangshi wasn’t upset by Jiang Yichun’s manner. She smiled and introduced the girls behind her, "Zhixin, this is Yichun, you remember him, don’t you?"
Jiang Zhixin gave Jiang Yichun a modest bow and said, "Big cousin, it’s been a long time."
Jiang Yichun nodded at her, treating the younger members of the Jiang family with courtesy.
The other woman seemed a bit anxious and said, "Yichun surely doesn’t remember us. I’m your first cousin-once-removed’s mother, and these are your two first cousins-once-removed, Dou Yun and Dou Yu."
Jiang Zhangshi, fearing Jiang Yichun might not understand, added, "Your first cousin-once-removed is the eldest son of Old Master’s sister."
Jiang Yichun had not been familiar with his first cousin-once-removed’s family as they had not moved into the residence by the time he left the Jiang family, so he simply glanced at them indifferently. Dou Zhengshi’s face stiffened, feeling humiliated.
Dou Yun, the eldest of the girls and most graceful in demeanor, greeted Jiang Yichun with respect, saying, "I pay my respects to my first cousin and his wife."
Bai Ruozhu glanced at the girl. The two women had spoken for some time as if she were invisible and never mentioned her, seemingly looking down on her status. But Dou Yun knew to greet her respectfully.
"I, too, have met both aunts and all three cousins. Our sudden visit must have troubled you," Bai Ruozhu said politely.
Aside from Dou Yu, who looked under ten and was younger than her, Dou Yun and Jiang Zhixin seemed older. It was only due to Jiang Yichun that she was in a position to call them cousins.
Jiang Zhengshi hurriedly greeted her with a warm smile, appearing very cordial. "How could it be troublesome? We couldn’t be happier that you have returned. Oh, where is eldest sister-in-law? Doesn’t she know that Yichun and his wife have come back?"
Embarrassment flashed across Jiang Xuexiang’s face. "I sent her to oversee the preparations for lunch."
In her heart, Bai Ruozhu chuckled. It seemed there was never a lack of intrigue in the grand manor.
"Let’s hurry and see Grandpa. We wouldn’t want to keep the old gentleman waiting," Jiang Zhiyi reminded timely, helping her father out of an awkward situation.
The group continued towards the Old Master’s yard, while Bai Ruozhu quietly observed the state of the Jiang residence, finding it amusing.
When she had last seen Jiang Zhiyi and Jiang Yihong, she could tell the Jiang residence wasn’t exactly flourishing, even bordering on not providing well for the children. She speculated that it was because Elder Jiang Ge lived an incorruptible life and looked down on those in commerce, so relying solely on his and Jiang Xuexiang’s modest salaries, life was inevitably tight.
Now that she had arrived at the Jiang Residence, she could confirm even more that the Jiang Residence was in decline.
She heard that the mansion was granted by the Former Emperor, at least a decade or two ago. Although the mansion was large and its layout and scenery were well-designed, many places showed clear signs of neglect and serious disrepair that had not been addressed in years.
For instance, the paint on the handrails of the walkway was peeling, and in some areas, there was even mildew due to dampness— the Jiang Residence didn’t even have people to take care of these things.
There were also weeds sprouting along the small path leading to the backyard, with no one to weed them.
Moreover, with the appearance of Jiang Zhengshi and others, all dressed in somewhat old clothes, one could see the current situation of the Jiang Family.
Bai Ruozhu sneered inwardly, Elder Jiang Ge was really poor as a church mouse, thinking poorly and with nothing presentable left.
All along the way, Jiang Yichun did not speak, so Bai Ruozhu had no choice but to make small talk with the Jiang family women. She was somewhat familiar with Jiang Zhiyi and asked casually, "The Residence also has some cousins and distant cousins, right? Are they attending School with Hong’er?"
"Hong’er and Cousin Xun from the third uncle’s family are studying at Chang’an Academy, while Cousin Xingde and distant Cousin Xingji from the Dou Family attend Private School," Jiang Zhiyi replied.
Upon hearing this, Dou Zhengshi seemed somewhat displeased and glanced at Jiang Zhiyi askance.
Bai Ruozhu was a little surprised; to attend Chang’an Academy, one had to pass the exam to become a Scholar. She didn’t expect Jiang Yihong, at such a young age, was already a Scholar, even more remarkable than her second brother.
"I remember Hong’er is only fifteen, and he is already a Scholar, truly a great talent," Bai Ruozhu praised sincerely.
Jiang Zhiyi laughed lightly, saying, "He’s just a bookworm who does nothing but eat and read. Even though he’s a Scholar, he doesn’t understand worldly affairs at all."
Jiang Xuexiang smiled beside them but offered no objection, his eyes brimming with warmth.
"He’s still young. It’s good that he can focus on his studies; he can socialize more in a few years," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.
As they continued to talk, they arrived at Elder Jiang Ge’s yard, and Bai Ruozhu almost burst out laughing.
People say that Elder Jiang Ge enjoys playing the part of being incorruptibly clean, but did he have to take it to such an extent? To actually live in a Thatched Cottage in his own yard, was it because he was eager for others not to know how shabby he was?
Jiang Yichun flashed a look of disdain but was not surprised, which meant that before he left the Jiang Residence, Elder Jiang Ge was already living like this.
Just then, a gust of wind blew by and a few thatch straws on the roof were carried away, and Bai Ruozhu could not help but burst into laughter.
In her attempt to cover it up, she quickly exclaimed, "Oh my, why does Grandpa live in such a place? Wasn’t it said that he’s ill and bedridden? With such a humble living environment, how can he recuperate properly?"
Jiang Yichun held back his laughter, his eyes shining; he knew his wife must be doing it on purpose. That loud "Oh my" —was it because she was afraid Elder Jiang Ge couldn’t hear her?
It wasn’t that Bai Ruozhu looked down on those who value frugality, but Elder Jiang Ge’s act was overly deliberate, clearly just for show.
Intense coughing sounds came from inside the house, followed by Elder Jiang Ge’s hoarse voice, "Who’s making noise outside? Leave at once, do not disturb my rest!"
"Dad, it’s Yichun and his wife here to see you," Jiang Xuexiang hurriedly said. But given the Old Master’s words, he stopped in his tracks, not daring to barge into the house for fear of angering him again.