ebookland Chapter 263 Help
Chapter 263 Help
Nianyao's illness came on quickly and went away quickly. Her fever subsided the next day, but she was still weak and listless.
Xue Chenxi is almost two months old, but she's not even as big as Hu Zi's half-month-old baby. With big eyes and fair skin, she's incredibly adorable, babbling away.
The wet nurse held the baby in her arms, basking in the sun. Nianyao played with the child, rocking the rattle from left to right and then back again. The crisp, melodious "plop, plop" sound dispelled the autumn's melancholy.
Tiger draped the baby over his arm and smugly leaned closer, saying, "Chief, how about we arrange a marriage between our children?"
Nianyao hadn't even had a chance to speak.
Tiger added, "Forget it, the age isn't right. The body type isn't right either, too skinny, won't do."
An unnamed fire was about to ignite in Nianyao's chest.
The wet nurse spoke first: "Tiger, she's a noble lady, destined to be either an empress or a princess, she wouldn't look down on your big, dumb guy."
Tiger was indignant: "Don't the Empress and Princess need to eat? The rice and vegetables you're eating now are all grown by Eighth Sister. Chief, Eighth Sister asked if the gang has any spare money; she wants to buy a batch of piglets."
Also, ducks can be raised in Xianyue Lake, and chickens can be raised after the rice harvest. What else did she say? Let me think… She also said that this money is a loan, and she will pay it back later.”
Nianyao asked curiously, "Isn't she still in her postpartum period?"
Tiger said, "She hasn't actually come out yet, but her mouth has been running around for ages. She talks about this and that all day long, I can't even remember it all. Ugh, that little brat, she's peed again, she poops and peees so much every day..."
Tiger went back while reciting it.
Nianyao watched Hu Zi's increasingly robust figure and shook her head. She placed the rattle drum in the child's hand, walked to the tea room, and sat down against a pillar.
She looked at the tea table and seemed to see Luo An sitting in front of the tea room in the past: peaceful and serene.
An Jingchen's matter felt like a thorn in her heart. Nianyao felt lost; what would the future hold? What would become of her and Luo An?
Nianyao was lost in thought when someone gently tapped her shoulder from behind, startling her into a scream.
Xu Sheng sat down next to Nian Yao: "Chief Xue, it's me. I'm sorry I scared you."
Seeing Xu Sheng's sincere attitude, Nian Yao naturally didn't want to cause a scene: "It's nothing."
Xu Sheng asked casually, "Are you really going to disband the Great River Gang?"
Xu Sheng seems different from before, but he is the Prince of Nanyue and poses no threat to the Dahe Gang.
Nianyao honestly replied, "Most of the brothers from the various islands have already left. As for Uncle Sun and Uncle Zhou Yan, they all have their own masters and can't really be considered members of the Great River Gang."
The remaining brothers divided the money and settled on various islands to farm, raise pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, and fish; their lives wouldn't be bad.
Xu Sheng nodded: "That's true. It's good this way. You're a girl, you don't need to work so hard."
Nianyao took a while to say, "It's just that sometimes I feel really sorry for my father. He founded the Dahe Gang, and I ruined it in just two years."
Xu Sheng disagreed: "The world is what it is, how can you change it? Fortunately, your father is gone. If he were still alive, we would be in a dilemma now."
If there's no war, that's fine. But if there is, with Dongyang on one side and Nanyue on the other, it's not good to side with either of them.
Dao Liyao understood, and Xu Sheng wasn't wrong, but it sounded somewhat jarring: What did he mean by "Luckily your father is gone"? She didn't have a father anymore. She didn't have anyone who loved her so much anymore.
Love? Nianyao's heart suddenly stirred. She used to think that even without a father, she still had Luo An. Now it seemed that having one was not the same as having another. No one would ever love her like her father did, someone she could rely on without reservation.
Nianyao looked up at the sky. The autumn air was crisp and clear, without a single cloud in the sky, and wild geese were flying south. Time flies; another year has almost passed.
Nianyao turned her head to meet Xu Sheng's gaze and suddenly asked, "You've been looking at me, do you like me?"
Xu Sheng was taken aback by Nian Yao's direct question. After a moment of surprise, he burst into laughter: "Yes, yes, I like you. Are you considering remarrying?"
In the past, Nianyao would have thought that Xu Sheng was being inappropriate and offensive, but now she just thinks that Xu Sheng is simple and loves to joke.
Nianyao shook her head: "I haven't seen Luo An in a long time, and I miss him very much. I heard you sent Ninth Brother to Bianjing to bring him back? Why did you send him back?"
Xu Sheng said, "I actually came to find you. I thought that since you two were together, you would definitely come back when Luo An returned. Did you two have a fight?"
Nianyao didn't respond, but simply asked, "Why did you call me back?"
Xu Sheng thought for a moment and said, "I'll help."
Nianyao frowned slightly: "Help? What can I do for you? Fight? Don't even think about it, I'm not going to help you fight."
Xu Sheng scoffed: "I don't need women to help me in battle."
Nianyao scoffed in return: "Don't look down on women. You were born of a woman too. Besides, if you look down on women so much, don't ask me for help."
Xu Sheng paused for a moment: "That's not what I meant. I meant that girls don't need to work so hard..."
Nianyao interrupted him: "Yes, it doesn't have to be so hard. You can just stay home weaving, embroidering, making shoe soles, taking care of the kids, and cooking, right? Then what about someone like me who can't do anything and can't even have children? Wouldn't I just have to give up on life?"
Why are you so self-destructive? What big argument did you have with Luo An?
Xu Sheng asked, "Did Luo An take a concubine in Bianjing?"
Nianyao glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Xu Sheng thought he had guessed correctly and comforted him, "It's not a big deal for a man to take a concubine, try to look on the bright side. If you're really uncomfortable, you can consider it..."
The last "I" disappeared in Nian Yao's sharp gaze.
Being sensible enough, Nianyao snorted, "I don't like you."
Xu Sheng choked slightly, finally unable to hold back any longer: "I was just joking with you, did you really think I was interested in you? Let me tell you, you..."
Nianyao slightly opened her eyes, her gaze sharp as knives, as if to say, "You're dead after you finish speaking."
Xu Sheng suddenly changed the subject: "...How could a mere mortal like me possibly covet such a heroine as you, who is both literate and skilled in martial arts?"
"Luo An has already married you. He would never look at ordinary girls. You can rest assured, you will never fall out of favor. As the eldest brother, I will teach him a lesson when Luo An returns."
After staring in disbelief, Nianyao burst into laughter: "You really are flexible and adaptable."
Xu Sheng seized the opportunity and said, "Chief Xue, I would like to ask you to accompany me to Bohai..."
Nianyao said seriously, "I don't have time, I have to go to Qinzhou."
Xu Sheng was stunned: "What are you going to Qinzhou for?"
Nianyao said, "Take Chenxi back to meet her grandparents and ancestors. She is the eldest granddaughter of the Xue family."
Xu Sheng was quite surprised: "Based on my understanding of Su Wuming and Xue Yunyao, they shouldn't have mentioned Xue Yunting yet. Go now..."
Nianyao said, "Yes, I'll go tell them about Xue Yunting's death."
Xu Sheng couldn't understand: "Why?"
Nianyao remained silent for a while before saying, "I understand them, I understand Su Wuming and Xue Yunyao."
What's the reason? Xu Sheng said, "I suggest you don't get involved. It's best to wait for the Xue family to come to Chongming Island to pick up Xue Chenxi. If they don't come, just pretend you don't know anything."