Chapter 362

"It's not necessary to be so extravagant," Jiang Jizu felt a bit embarrassed.

He had only come to accompany his daughter for a meal and didn't intend to make such a fuss.

"It's not just for you, but also for San Ge (Third Brother)," Jiang Sheng said seriously. "San Ge has traveled all the way back from the northern frontier. He rarely gets to eat these delicacies."

Jiang Jizu fell silent and turned to look at Fang Heng, catching a glimpse of a familiar face.

Recalling the words in the letter from Old Lady Jiang, he smiled knowingly.

"Come, come, the braised pork knuckles are here. Try them while they're hot; they won't taste as good when they're cold," Zhang Xianglian served the final dish and invited everyone to sit down. "You have to eat the pork knuckles while they're hot; they won't be as delicious once they cool down."

Everyone picked up their chopsticks and served their loved ones with dishes from their own bowls.

Jiang Sheng stood on her tiptoes, just as she was about to offer a piece of pork knuckle skin to Fang Heng, she turned around and found a piece in her own bowl.

Jiang Jizu earnestly ate his meal, occasionally exchanging a few words with Master Zhang Xianglian, without a hint of the air of a high-ranking general.

Was he really the head of the Jiang family, who had fought battles outside?

Was he the beloved eldest son that his grandmother had always yearned for?

Was he the father that Jiang Chengyuan would forever admire?

And also her... father?

Jiang Sheng lowered her eyelashes and slowly nibbled on the pork knuckle skin. For the first time, she felt somewhat spoiled and decided to have a bite of the braised fish to alleviate the greasiness.

Master Zhang was fond of using grass carp for braising, tender and juicy but with many bones.

Jiang Sheng always had to spend a long time picking out the bones to enjoy a mouthful. However, just as she had barely finished picking out half of them today, a clean piece of fish meat fell into her bowl from above, accurately landing inside.

Glancing at the people around her, who were all earnestly eating, she couldn't tell who had put it there.

Jiang Sheng sighed, picked up the fish meat, examined it for a while, and finally put it in her mouth.

Someone chuckled softly, then picked up another piece of fish and meticulously removed the bones.

Jiang Sheng had eaten more than half of the whole grass carp, and Jiang Jizu's bowl was also filled with fish bones.

As the meal was coming to an end, Zhang Xianglian remembered the simmering soup and hurriedly went to serve it.

Master Zhang was concerned and also put down his chopsticks to help.

There were only a few people left at the table. Jiang Sheng finally could set down her chopsticks and whispered, "Regardless of everything, thank you for helping our eldest brother. You've also eaten the pork knuckles. As for the iced lychees, I'll have someone deliver them to the Jiang residence later. What do you think?" Although it seemed like a question, it was actually a way of dismissing him.

The young girl knew who he was and what he wanted.

For the sake of her eldest brother, for gratitude, she obediently returned home and finished the meal.

As for the remaining things, she didn't dare to think about them or ask for them.

The man who was picking out the bones stopped his actions, removed the bone thorns that were as fine as hair, dipped the remaining fresh and tender fish meat in the sauce, and placed it in Jiang Sheng's bowl.

"Child," Jiang Jizu sighed, "The Jiang family has let you down, and we've missed too much of your time. It's only right to help you in any way we can. You don't need to be grateful, and you don't need to worry about us."

"I've been stationed in the northwest for twenty years, and my time in Beijing has been only a brief two or three years. I have never made a great effort to find you, nor have I personally raised you or supported you."

"Being able to have a meal with you and remove fish bones for you is already rare. It's not appropriate to have too many expectations."

"I'm just here to tell you that you have a home, you have a father. As long as you're willing, the Jiang family will always open its doors to you, and your father will always be waiting for you ahead."

The man stood up, tears seemingly welling up in his eyes, only to blink them away.

His stubble covered his face, giving him a rough appearance while concealing all emotions.

He seemed like an unbreakable mountain, standing proudly in the world, blocking the front wind and subduing the backwaters.

The table was filled with delicious food, and the young girl who had been eating remained silent, her head lowered. The scene was dreamlike, both real and unreal.

He reached out his hand, as if wanting to play with her black bun, but fearing to cause displeasure, he could only sadly place his hand behind his back.

"After eating the pork elbow, save the ice lychees for my brothers. Don't worry about the examination; I'm here." He finished speaking and turned to leave with big strides.

Zhang Xianglian and the master chef happened to bring the soup over, their faces filled with astonishment and confusion.

They were probably wondering why the benefactor who had helped them didn't even drink the soup before leaving.

Or perhaps they were wondering, who was it that the general, who had fought on the battlefield, had rushed back from the border for?

Jiang Sheng suddenly lifted her head and looked at the silent Fang Heng. "Third brother, is it currently wartime in the northern frontier?"

Fang Heng nodded, his tone heavy. "Not only is it wartime, it's the most intense and tense moment. If I hadn't accumulated some significant achievements, I wouldn't have the face to request a leave for a family visit."

And what about him?

How many achievements would the general have to accomplish, how many wounds would he have to suffer, how many enemies would he have to kill to return to Fengjing with his head held high?

Would the imperial family reproach him? Would the court be furious? How many passionate and indignant petitions would the civil officials submit?

She had simply dismissed him with a pork elbow. Wasn't that a bit too much?

The more Jiang Sheng thought about it, the more upset and conflicted she became.

Impulsively, she stood up, took two or three steps, and rushed behind Jiang Jizu, wanting to speak but hesitating. "You... What do you need? I will do my best to help you, I will repay you."

After a while, the man who had walked to the entrance of the main hall turned around. His eyes revealed neither joy nor anger. "I only have one wish." "What wish?" Jiang Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. "Tell me, I will help you."

"I want to play with you for half a day."

This request didn't sound unreasonable, but it felt strange.

Jiang Sheng hesitated before agreeing. "Alright then, after we finish eating, I'll take you."

Jiang Jizu's lips curled up as he replied, then he went back to drink his bowl of soup.

After the meal, they didn't bring any guards or servants; it was just the two of them heading to the marketplace.

Zhang Xianglian still had some worries and was discreetly reminded by the long banquet before finally putting her mind at ease. There were many marketplaces in Fengjing, but there were very few dedicated to food. Most of them were filled with clothing and jewelry shops, with a couple of pastry shops and noodle stalls in between, or perhaps a couple of small restaurants.

For example, Tianjie Street, or the Four-Way Intersection.

This marketplace in front of them was quite unique, as from beginning to end, it was all about food, making it a feast for the eyes.

Jiang Sheng followed behind Jiang Jizu, initially feeling somewhat reserved, but as various fragrances wafted towards her, her eyes were filled with nothing but joy.

The man suppressed a smile and first bought two sticks of candied hawthorn. Each of them held a stick, savoring the delicious treat.

They then passed by a pastry shop selling layered pastries. They tore one piece in half and only sampled the flavor.

There was also eight-treasure porridge with hawthorn flavor, baked buns stuffed with donkey meat, rich and fragrant mutton soup, persimmon cakes, and chicken served in a gourd.

Even though they only took a bite or two of each, Jiang Sheng's stomach became round and full, almost unable to walk.

"Why have I never heard of this place, this market?" she couldn't contain her curiosity and asked actively.

"It's a place I discovered when I was a child," Jiang Jizu chuckled. "I rarely came here after going to the battlefield. I didn't expect so many delicious foods to be added."

Jiang Sheng burped, and the food she just ate surged along with the heavily braised fish.

She was stuffed, too stuffed.

Being so stuffed made her feel drowsy, unwilling to move.

It's a pity her older brother wasn't here; otherwise, she would definitely cling to his back and refuse to come down.

Next to them, a father and son passed by. The son spread his legs and sat on his father's shoulders, passing by with laughter.

Jiang Sheng blinked, and her thoughts became even more blurred.

She heard a low, deep voice asking, "Are you tired?"

She foolishly nodded, and then felt herself lifted into the air, as if leaping over something, and soon landed on broad and sturdy shoulders.

The sudden height made her instinctively hold on tightly. Only when she came to her senses did she realize that it was a head.

"Don't be afraid." A hand firmly grasped her ankle, securing her in place.

The surrounding scenery kept receding, and an inexplicable sense of security washed over her. Accompanied by a strong drowsiness, she finally buried her face in the thick, black hair, as if suppressing her emotions.

It was as if she was hiding those two sparkling and translucent golden beans.