Chapter 299
Chapter 299
“I raised all of them.”
Jiang Yunsui proudly pointed around at the animals.
Old Madam Ji looked them over, unable to conceal the astonishment in her eyes.
Everyone else was amazed as well.
Among these creatures, even the ordinary chickens looked anything but ordinary.
This child truly was extraordinary.
Only Second Aunt remained unimpressed, though she no longer dared speak. That little brat had talked back to her just now, yet not a single person had defended her.
“Little Yunsui, you’re truly remarkable.”
Ji Yan’an’s eldest sister-in-law offered the praise sincerely.
Jiang Yunsui chuckled.
“Ji Yan’an, I’m going to brew wine.”
After accompanying the Ji Family’s women around the courtyard for a while, Jiang Yunsui was still thinking about her wine. She said goodbye to everyone and ran off.
Old Madam Ji was surprised. “Little Yunsui knows how to brew wine too?”
How could such a young girl know so many things?
Ji Yan’an nodded. “Her wine is better than anything sold on the market.”
He had deliberately set aside the entire day to show the Ji Family’s women where they would be living and take them through the city streets.
The buildings inside the city, especially those lining a street dedicated to commerce and trade, were neither as prosperous nor as refined as those in the Capital City, yet they still felt fresh and impressive.
The shops offered a wide variety of goods. Ji Yan’an bought his grandmother some jade, animal pelts, and other things.
“If you like them, Grandmother, I have several sable pelts and a tiger skin in my storeroom. When the weather turns cold, they can be made into bedding or cloaks to keep you warm.”
Old Madam Ji smiled. “Why go to all that trouble? Grandmother doesn’t need them.”
She had lived most of a lifetime and enjoyed her share of luxury and extravagance when she was young.
But now she had seen through it all. Nothing mattered more than the family being safe and living together in reunion.
Yet even such a simple wish could never again be fully realized.
With Ji Yan’an keeping her company, Old Madam Ji spent a very happy day.
Likewise, countless small details revealed how well Beizhen City was doing now.
Ji Yan’an’s standing in Beizhen City was even higher than she had imagined.
After Yelü Qi withdrew, Ji Yan’an’s poison was removed and he stopped concealing his identity.
He had now become the true, publicly acknowledged ruler of Beizhen City.
The Ji Family’s women had also reached the city, so he no longer needed to fear the Emperor using them as leverage. Ji Yan’an had nothing left to hold him back.
The next day, Ji Yan’an intended to spend another day with his grandmother, but she refused.
“It’s enough that you thought of it. Your grandmother isn’t blind. I know how busy you are. How could I keep wasting your time?”
“I’m doing very well now. It only pains me that you’re so young, yet carry such a heavy burden on your shoulders.”
“Whatever you intend to do, do it without fear. Your grandmother will always support you.”
Ji Yan’an’s eyes reddened. He dropped directly to his knees before her.
“Grandmother.”
Old Madam Ji hurriedly helped him up. “Good child. You’ve worked so hard.”
*
Ji Yan’an left to attend to his work. By now, Jiang Yunsui had grown into an enthusiastic Little Mushroom.
Early that morning, she carried a small basket and pattered into Old Madam Ji’s room.
Little Mushroom naturally liked this kind old lady who liked her.
“Old Madam, Old Madam, let’s go pick mushrooms!”
Ji Yang was also in the room.
When she saw Jiang Yunsui run inside, followed by eagles landing on the eaves and roof outside, and five plump puppies trotting behind her with wagging tails, the little girl was beside herself with envy.
But Ji Yang was reserved. She did not voice her envy and merely watched Jiang Yunsui curiously.
Old Madam Ji smiled at Jiang Yunsui.
“Little Yunsui, call me Grandmother from now on. ‘Old Madam’ sounds too distant.”
Jiang Yunsui walked to her side. “Yangyang is Ji Yan’an’s niece. Does that mean I can call her my little niece too?”
Old Madam Ji nodded. “Of course.”
Ji Yangyang’s little face reddened as she called Jiang Yunsui, “Little Aunt.”
Jiang Yunsui nodded happily, her eyes curving into crescents and her smile brilliant.
“Yangyang, let’s go pick mushrooms!”
She affectionately took Ji Yang’s hand. Now that she had gained seniority, Little Mushroom considered herself an elder and eagerly took the younger member of the family out to play.
Old Madam Ji did not want to remain sitting indoors all day either, so she followed the two children to the courtyard next door.
There, she found exceptionally tall and beautiful fruit trees, a small bamboo grove, and a little pond filled with plump koi and lovely lotus flowers…
Several children were also sweeping and pruning branches while reciting their lessons.
The courtyard was not even half the size of the Ji Family’s, yet it brimmed with almost excessive vitality.
“Greetings, Miss. Greetings, Old Madam.”
The children greeted them, then returned to their tasks.
They had completely accepted this place as their home.
And since it was their home, they naturally had to maintain and protect it.
“Who are they?”
Old Madam Ji looked at the group of children in confusion.
Jiang Yunsui said with quiet pride, “I found them and brought them home to raise.”
“Their fathers, mothers, and relatives didn’t want them anymore. I saw them when I was outside, so I picked them up and brought them home.”
Old Madam Ji: “…”
Could people simply be raised like that?
Ji Yang gazed at Jiang Yunsui with utter admiration.
She was incredible. She was even a little younger than Ji Yang, yet she had planted so many beautiful fruit trees, raised so many powerful animals, knew how to brew wine, and was now raising so many impressive people too!
“Grandmother, come over here. There are lots of mushrooms here.”
Old Madam Ji walked over and indeed saw a patch filled with mushrooms of every kind.
She recognized some, but most were unfamiliar.
Wait. Were Mobei’s weather and soil even suitable for mushrooms?
She had lived in Mobei for several years in her youth. Why had she never seen mushrooms growing here?
Picking mushrooms was genuinely relaxing and enjoyable.
They set their baskets aside, crouched down, and began searching.
“This mushroom is so large and plump!”
Old Madam Ji broke a bolete from the corner by the wall. It was considerably larger than her hand.
Just looking at it was deeply satisfying.
“Can this kind of mushroom be eaten too?”
What about those with beautiful colors? Wasn’t it said that the prettier a mushroom was, the more poisonous it would be?
Jiang Yunsui said, “That one isn’t for eating. It’s medicine. It’s called a Verdant Jade Mushroom. It can treat both external and internal injuries. We have to store them so Shen Qingzhu can make pills for wounded soldiers.”
“That’s medicine?!”
The only medicinal ingredient she knew that resembled a mushroom was lingzhi.
“This one is medicine too. It’s a Sleepy Mushroom, the main ingredient in the sleeping pill you took before.”
“This is a Truth Mushroom. This is a Beauty Mushroom…”
Old Madam Ji felt as though, despite living an entire lifetime, the world still contained an astonishing number of things she had never known!