Translator: Lonelytree
Mother Xiao knew these people could eat, but she had no idea they could eat so much! They ate so fast that Mother Xiao had to cook another pot of rice.
"Mother Xiao, there's no need to cook anymore." Old Master Gong saw this and quickly stopped her. "They should be full already. You've been busy all day. Come sit down and eat!" If his people were not full, they would go back and eat. They had boxes of instant noodles at home!
Mother Xiao looked at her guests who put down their bowls, and she said hesitantly, "But..."
"Auntie, we're full!" The men at the table said in unison. They wiped their mouths. The eldest young master and Secretary Li weren't lying to them. Auntie Chen's cooking was really delicious.
It would be great if they could eat it every day in the future!
But was it possible?
Maybe it was possible!
The five people's hearts suddenly surged.
Their mission was to keep the old man safe. With the old master's picky taste and thick skin, if he really likes Auntie Chen's food, he would hire her to cook for him every day. When the old master came to the Xiao Family to eat, they would follow him.
However, there was another problem. Five of them were tasked to escort the old master to Taoyuan Village, but only two would remain to protect him. Before they arrived, none of them wanted to stay at Taoyuan Village. It was not that they didn't want to protect their general, but they knew the place would be too peaceful. They were soldiers, and they couldn't get used to a peaceful life. They hoped to return to the battlefield and fight alongside their comrades.
However, after eating this meal, they changed their minds.
Old Master Gong also ate this dinner very happily and contentedly. Before this, he heard from Li Yuanhang and Gong Tianhao that there was an Auntie who was an amazing cook. They said he would love her cooking after he had a taste. Old Master Gong had to admit it was true.
Mother Xiao's cooking skills were not the best he had seen, and she was not as professional as the chefs in the capital city. However, the dishes she made had a great taste. This taste was home and love. She poured her love into her every dish. Everyone who ate them would be wrapped in love.
Old Master Gong noticed that this family was one filled with love and harmony. Old Master Gong spent most of his life in the capital. The first half was on the battlefield, dancing around life and death. In the second half, he was honored for his service, but he lost his wife, son, and daughter-in-law in an accident. He only had a young grandson left. However, due to the busy schedule of a military officer, he ignored his eldest grandson.
If not for the accidental discovery of his grandson's injury, he would never have known his second brother's family would be so cold-blooded and heartless. For the sake of the Gong Family's wealth and power, they had been trying to kill his eldest grandson.
When he found out, he was exceptionally furious. He went to his second brother's house to give him a warning. From then on, Old Master Gong brought his eldest grandson everywhere with him. However, he could never give his grandson the feeling and warmth of a family. The battlefield was not a place for that.
Now, Old Master Gong understood why his picky grandson had such high praise of Mother Xiao's cooking. Her cooking tasted of a mother's love. Old Master Gong felt he owed his eldest grandson. At this point, Old Master Gong smiled and said, "Mother Xiao, your cooking is really delicious!"
Mother Xiao smiled and said, "Old Master, you flatter me! My cooking is only average!"
"You're really too modest!" Old Master Gong smiled and said, "Zhengyang, you're really lucky to have such a capable wife!"
Xiao Zhengyang was still in a state of shock due to the flowers. When he heard Old Master Gong's words, he snapped to attention and said, "Yes, it's my good luck to marry such a wonderful wife!"
Xiao Zhengyang never concealed his respect and love for his wife. In this family, he never acted like the ruler and thought marriage was for the sake of having children. He didn't think his wife was born to help around the house and take care of the family on her own. Xiao Zhengyang had a positive outlook on life, so his family was filled with love and happiness. No matter how big the storm was, the family would be able to survive it.
Xiao Zhengyang said proudly and contentedly, "Not only is my wife capable, but she has also given birth to a pair of good children for me!"
Mother Xiao blushed when Xiao Zhengyang praised her so openly. She said with a smile. "What nonsense are you talking about in front of the elder?"
Xiao Zhengyang said seriously, "I'm not talking nonsense!"
"Haha..." Old Master Gong burst into laughter.
Li Yuanhang poked Gong Tianhao and said with a smile full of envy, "Auntie Chen and her husband are so cute!"
They had seen many loving couples in the capital. They were often hailed as the model couples on the news. However, everyone knew that the husband and wife had their own flings on the side. Gong Tianhao and the others didn't comment too much on it.
When they saw this pair of simple love, it made them feel envious. There were many women around the two young men. They were daughters of socialites. They wanted to give themselves to Gong Tianhao and Li Yuanhang. But both men knew that the women only saw them for their money and power. If they lost those things, would the women still love them? Impossible.
Li Yuanhang glanced at Gong Tianhao and said deliberately, "If Young Master Jiang can win over Miss Xiao, this will be the life he'd lead."
As soon as he said this, two pairs of eyes glanced at him.
One was Gong Tianhao. When his sharp eyes shot at him, he seemed to be a little dissatisfied. However, what was he dissatisfied with? No one knew.
The other was, of course, Jiang Tao. He seemed to have made up his mind.
Gong Tianhao glanced at Jiang Tao and also noticed the change in his expression.
He frowned and finally asked, "Tao, did you and Miss Xiao have any misunderstanding or conflict?"
Jiang Tao smiled bitterly and said, "Actually, you're not wrong. We do have a misunderstanding between us!"
Gong Tianhao and Li Yuanhang nodded with understanding. Gong Tianhao thought for a moment and reminded, "Since that is the case, you better clear it up as soon as possible!"
"I know!" Jiang Tao finally met a woman who could move him. He didn't want to miss out on her.
Li Yuanhang looked at Jiang Tao and then at Gong Tianhao. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't say anything.
He just sighed in his heart and said in puzzlement, 'Am I wrong? Didn't Young Master Gong fall in love with Xiao Lingyu at first sight? Oh well, it's hard for outsiders to do anything about these things. Hopefully, the young master can figure it out soon so that the old master can have a great-grandchild.'
Li Yuanhang didn't think Xiao Lingyu was worthy of Jiang Tao or Gong Tianhao. However, Xiao Lingyu had such a great charm that she made the two greatest bachelors at Beijing fall in love with her.
However, Li Yuanhang also worried for Jiang Tao.
This was because the Jiang family would never allow Jiang Tao to marry a woman who had no status and would bring no benefits to the family. He had heard that the Jiang Family had already prepared a fiancee for Jiang Tao. They were only waiting for Jiang Tao to come home. Then they would hold the engagement ceremony.
However, this was only hearsay. The Jiang family had not spread the news. They didn't even know if Jiang Tao knew that or not.
Thinking of this, Li Yuanhang frowned.
If Jiang Tao knew he already had a fiance in the capital and still pursued Xiao Lingyu, it would be too unfair to Xiao Lingyu. It would even bring trouble to Xiao Lingyu.
If Jiang Tao did not know that his family had found him a fiancée, it would also bring trouble and harm to Xiao Lingyu.
Old Master Jiang was an extremely stubborn person. He didn't like his grandson to go against him.
If he knew that Jiang Tao liked a poor country girl, while he might not do anything to his grandson, he would definitely do something to this girl.
Li Yuanhang knew he had to remind Tianhao and Jiang Tao about this. He didn't want Xiao Lingyu to be harmed by the Jiang Family.
Xiao Lingyu had a nice family, but they would be ruined if they were targeted by the Jiang Family.
...
Everyone enjoyed themselves at the Xiao Family. Old Master Gong left unwillingly after being urged by his grandson.
Gong Tianhao said helplessly, "Grandfather, from now on, you'll be living in Taoyuan Village. Are you afraid that you won't have time to come back?"
Xiao Zhengyang immediately agreed, "Yes, old master. Our family will always welcome you. However, it's getting late now. You should go back to rest. You must be tired after traveling for a whole day!"
Old Master Gong nodded. "That's right. I live here now. I can come and play whenever I want!"
The group left Xiao Zhengyang's house and returned to their own residence.
On the way back, Old Master Gong muttered, "Hao 'Er, you and Yuanhang are really thoughtful. Grandpa really likes this time. I will stay here."
Gong Tianhao said, "Grandpa, I'm glad!" Most importantly, those people couldn't disturb Grandpa anymore, so Grandpa could recuperate and rest.
Old Master Gong slept in the main room. Of the remaining three rooms, one was occupied by the security staff, and the remaining two were used by Jiang Tao, Gong Tianhao, and Li Yuanhang.
Gong Tianhao didn't like to share rooms, and he was the host. So naturally, Gong Tianhao had one room while Li Yuanhang and Jiang Tao shared the other room.
However, apart from the main room, each side room had at least two single beds.
Each room was very spacious. Even with the two single beds, the rooms were large.
Li Yuanhang and Jiang Tao lay in bed.
Li Yuanhang thought about it and couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Jiang, do you really like Xiao Lingyu?"
Jiang Tao frowned and asked with some dissatisfaction, "Yuanhang, are you suspecting me?"
Li Yuanhang shook his head and said, "Young Master Jiang, I'm not suspecting you. I'm just asking, how long has it been since you've inquired about the movements in the capital?"
He did not directly mention the Jiang Family but the capital. He wanted to remind Jiang Tao, but he couldn't be too obvious, or else the Jiang Family might see it as meddling. It would not end well if they found out.
Jiang Tao shot him a sharp gaze. "What do you mean by that?"
Li Yuanhang was certain that Jiang Tao absolutely did not know that the Jiang family had found him a fiancée.
Perhaps the Jiang family thought that this was a fact set in stone, so it did not matter whether they told Jiang Tao or not. They just needed to wait for Jiang Tao to return to the capital and get engaged directly.
For the big families, marriages were used to cement power than the coming together of two lovers. As for the bride and groom, it was perfect if they could fall in love at first sight or eventually. If not, at least they needed to pretend in public.
Li Yuanhang shook his head. "Young Master Jiang, it's nothing."
Jiang Tao didn't believe that Li Yuanhang would bring these up without any reason. Since Li Yuanhang was unable to say more, it had to be because Li Yuanhang couldn't.
The light in Jiang Tao's eyes darkened as he thought to himself, 'Perhaps something has happened in the capital or with the Jiang Family. I need to find time to go back and take a look!"
...
The next morning, Jiang Tao bade farewell to Old Master Gong and returned to the county.
Xiao Lingyu's case of the assassination was still under investigation. He had to go back and personally supervise and investigate. Someone dared to hire a murderer. It was simply ridiculous. If this case weren't investigated, it would definitely cause people to panic.
Gong Tianhao and Li Yuanhang didn't have the time to stay and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Taoyuan Village with Old Master Gong.
"Grandpa, we're going back. You have to take good care of yourself and take care of your health, understand?" Gong Tianhao urged, "There's a river around the village. Have Brother Wang accompany you to go fishing or walk around the village if you're free."
Old Master Gong waved his hand and said impatiently, "Alright, I got it. I'm not a child. I know how to take care of myself. You guys should hurry back."
"..." Gong Tianhao continued, "Grandfather, I'll come and visit you when I have more time in the future."
"Okay. I know you're very busy, so you should hurry back!" Old Master Gong chased them away like he was chasing away flies.
Gong Tianhao and the others, "...."