Extra 18 Linglan's past (Part 1)

More than 800 years ago.

Nancheng, Kyoto.

The streets are bustling, with people coming and going, and small vendors shouting to attract business.

In front of the roadside teahouse, stood a dusty middle-aged man, holding a little girl in his hand who looked at the passers-by with wide eyes.

The little girl is about three or four years old. She is neatly dressed and has a chubby face. She is very cute.

She wore two uneven braids, one thick and one thin, and her hair was parted crookedly.

The middle-aged man knelt down and tugged on the girl's braid, trying to make her hair look more pleasing to the eye - but it failed.

It was three-year-old Cheng Xiaoling and her father, Inspector Cheng.

"When you meet someone later, do you know what to shout?" Father Cheng asked.

Cheng Xiaoling shouted crisply: "General Jiang!"

"Good girl!" Commander Cheng gently pinched his daughter's round cheeks and tugged on her ponytail before standing up and looking towards both sides of the street.

Commissioner Cheng Kuang and his daughter came to Kyoto this time to look for an old friend they had not seen for more than ten years - Ambassador Jiang Jiedu.

Cheng Guanshi and Jiang Jiedushi were classmates and confidants who talked about everything. They had similar temperaments and similar hobbies, and they called themselves brothers.

The two once shared the same bed and talked all night, and also traveled hand in hand through mountains and rivers, expressing their true feelings.

Later, the two went to work in their respective places.

In the beginning, the two exchanged letters constantly. Unfortunately, the situation later became turbulent, the monarch was weak, and the surrounding countries repeatedly raised troops to attack him.

Both of them are military generals, rushing to the battlefield——

As the saying goes, "The war rages for three months, and letters from home are worth ten thousand dollars." In the war-torn times, letters were a luxury item, and the two of them were tired of fighting the war. Gradually, there were fewer and fewer letters.

Later, the news was completely cut off.

When the situation stabilized slightly, Brother Jiang had reached the second rank of official rank - Jiedushi, and the monarch personally granted him the title of hereditary "general". Civil and military officials, and even the people of Li, all like to call him General Jiang.

Father Cheng sighed.

He was unwilling to come to Jiang Jiedushi - after all, the difference in official positions between the two could easily lead to criticism, saying that he, Cheng Kuangshi, was clinging to power.

It's just... Father Cheng glanced at his three-year-old daughter and sighed again.

The monarch ordered Cheng's father and the eldest son of the Cheng family to go to the northwest battlefield to meet the enemy. Years of war had caused the people's sentiments to fluctuate, and nine out of ten local residents had surrendered to the enemy.

The enemy's army is strong and their troops are well-prepared.

As for them, their treasury was in short supply and their soldiers were weak.

It is foreseeable that this is an expedition that is almost impossible to win.

Cheng's father and son are both military generals. As generals, it is the duty of ministers to protect their families and the country. Even if they die in battle, they will not hesitate to do so——

But Cheng's father couldn't let go of his young daughter.

His wife was ill-fated and fell ill a year ago. She stayed in bed with her for half a year before she reluctantly passed away, leaving behind a little daughter who had just been weaned.

The younger daughter Cheng Ling, although naughty and restless, is still well-behaved and sensible, and does not like to cry or fuss.

I have to say a shortcoming, but she is a bit greedy.

The military situation was urgent, and Cheng's father had no time to find his distant relatives. After thinking about it, he remembered his old friend living in Kyoto - Brother Jiang.

Is Brother Jiang, who has reached the second rank of official rank, still the same Brother Jiang that he once knew?

Could he be willing to take care of Cheng Ling?

Cheng's father didn't know.

Even if she is a maid in Jiang Mansion, her life is more stable than that of the people outside. Father Cheng looked at his daughter's innocent face and was filled with sadness.

*

Nine-year-old Jiang Qilan followed his father towards the Nancheng teahouse.

Even though Jiang Qilan is only nine years old, he has an extraordinary bearing, a straight back, and an aura of righteousness between his brows.

The streets were bustling with people, and when people saw General Jiang traveling with his son, they stepped forward to say hello.

Many small vendors wanted to give things to General Jiang, but they didn't dare to make any mistakes, so they stuffed them into Jiang Qilan's hands. Jiang Qilan avoided them all, except for an old man selling hawthorn candy snowballs.

The old man took advantage of the crowd and clutter, stuffed a paper bag of sugar snowballs into Jiang Qilan's hand, and then nimbly got out of the crowd.

Jiang Qilan chased for a few steps but failed to catch up, so he could only return to his father with the paper bag.

"Father, that old man has run away, I can't catch up -"

General Jiang stroked his beard: "I understand. That's Uncle Hub from the north of the city. I'll ask the concierge to send the money to him later."

Jiang Qilan is cold by nature and doesn't like noisy and lively environments.

"Father, there are so many people on the street, why don't you travel by carriage?"

Father Jiang laughed loudly and said:

"If an official lives alone in a temple, how can he understand the sufferings of the people? Only by being down to earth and taking a look at the people's livelihood can we know how difficult the people's lives are -"

"You have to take a look at how food grows from the soil, how it is sown, raised, harvested, transported, bought and sold...until it appears on our dinner tables."

"You have to look at the people walking in and out of grain stores, cloth stores, medicine stores, and pawn shops on the streets... Why do they go to these stores? Can they have enough to eat and clothing?"

"If you don't understand the people's livelihood, sit high in the temple, and do not think about ways to implement policies, you will only suffer the people -"

"Eating the emperor's salary is a matter of loyalty to the emperor - if the king issues any irrational decree, as a minister, he should analyze the pros and cons for the king until the king modifies or abolishes the decree."

"As an official, you must protect and care for the people - in times of war, you must use your horses to bring peace to the world, and in times of prosperity, you must speak your mind and protect peace. Lan'er, you must remember -"

Jiang Qilan pondered for a long time, and finally bowed: "Yes, father, the child knows."

For the rest of the journey, Jiang Qilan lost all his annoyance.

He carefully observed the people coming and going on the roadside: the withered old man crying in front of the medicine shop, the dejected fat man in the pawn shop, the woman holding her child carefully selecting fabrics, the juggling artist...

All living beings are diverse, lively and interesting.

I walked and looked around, and after a while I reached the street where the tea house was located.

"Envoy Jiang Jiedu——" a shout came from afar.

Jiang Qilan looked for a voice and saw a man wearing coarse clothes, holding a chubby three or four-year-old girl in his hand, striding towards their father and son. His expression was slightly uneasy.

Father said that the person he met today was an observer who was about to go to the northwest battlefield. His surname was Cheng.

He was once his father's classmate and confidant.

Jiang's father laughed loudly, stepped forward and hugged Commander Cheng's shoulder, and patted him: "Brother Cheng, you're fine!"

Most of the restraint and anxiety on Cheng Zhu's face disappeared.

He also patted his father's shoulder hard and smiled sincerely: "How are you, Brother Jiang! It's been a long time since we last met - a rough calculation, it's been eighteen years since we said goodbye!"

"Eighteen years already? Life is only a few autumns-" Jiang's father had a look of sadness on his face.

Father Cheng nodded silently.

"This is Quanzi - Qilan." Jiang's father introduced.

Jiang Qilan clasped his fists and said impolitely: "My nephew—Jiang Qilan, pay homage to my uncle."

"Okay, okay!" Father Cheng looked up and down for a moment, then nodded in approval, "Good son, as the saying goes, a tiger father has no dog son!"

After he praised Jiang Qilan, he picked up Cheng Xiaoling who was on the ground and said, "This is my little girl. She has a single character and has not yet celebrated her fourth birthday."

Cheng Xiaoling, who was held in her father's arms, immediately saluted generously - she said crisply: "I am the little daughter of the Cheng Observer - Cheng Ling, pay my respects to General Jiang!"

The little girl has a childish voice, a generous posture, and a pair of big black and white eyes that are full of intelligence.

"What a good boy! He has a lot of energy - he really lives up to his name!" Father Jiang praised, "Come on, brother Cheng, let's talk inside."

The waiter in the teahouse nodded and bowed and led the few people to the private room on the fifth floor.

Jiang Qilan followed silently at the end - when he went up the stairs, the little girl in his arms smiled at him.

Although the child is young, he still has aesthetics - a tall and handsome boy, wearing a blue shirt, with handsome eyebrows, handsome face, black hair like jade, quite good-looking - and he is still good-looking in a not-girly way.

Cheng Xiaoling thought: This brother is prettier than my brother!

Walking into the private room, the waiter prepared tea and refreshments and closed the door.

Father Cheng took out a sheepskin rattle from his sleeve, put it in his daughter's hand, and warned: "Father wants to talk to this uncle about something. You play nearby and don't interrupt us. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" Xiaoling happily took the rattle.

She glanced across the table, lingering a moment longer on a plate of preserves.

But soon, she looked away.

Jiang's father was as attentive as a hair, so he naturally didn't miss the little girl's eyes.

He waved to Cheng Xiaoling, picked up the preserves plate, handed it to her, and said with a smile, "Try whether our preserves in Kyoto are delicious."

"Don't you want to eat?" Cheng Xiaoling didn't answer.

"My uncle and brother don't like sweet things," Jiang's father said.

Cheng Xiaoling glanced at her father, who nodded. Then she happily took the plate, ran to the window at the other end of the room, sat down properly, ate the preserves, shook her rattle and watched the passersby downstairs.

Father Cheng drank a cup of tea and hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to speak.

Jiang's father filled the tea cup for Cheng's father and asked proactively: "Brother Cheng, I heard that the king sent you to quell the war in the northwest?"

Father Cheng sighed, "Yes. This is exactly why I came here."

"Brother Cheng is looking for me this time, but do you want me to find someone to take your place on the battlefield?" Father Jiang asked.

Father Cheng was stunned: "Brother Jiang, why did you say this? I am not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death. It is my duty to protect my family and my country!"

Jiang's father looked puzzled: "Then Brother Cheng is looking for me?"

Father Cheng glanced at his daughter who was sitting by the window watching the scenery, and sighed again: "This battle in the northwest is extremely dangerous. Quanzi and I went to the battlefield together, and I'm afraid we will never come back..."

"If a man dies, he will die, so what should I fear? But I really can't let go of my young and ignorant daughter..."

"Where's Mrs. Sister-in-law?" Father Jiang asked.

"Brother Jiang doesn't know something. I only have one first wife, and I have never taken a concubine. My wife suddenly fell ill last year, and medicine and stone failed to treat it, leaving me alone to raise two children. Although it is a bit painful, my life is barely manageable."

Father Jiang looked at the little girl's uneven braids - Father Cheng was a man and it was not easy to take care of two children.

"My poor little girl has lost her mother since she was a child... I'm afraid that from now on, she will be alone and helpless."

"The military order is like a mountain. I have no one I know well in the capital who can entrust my little girl to... After much thought, I can only contact Brother Jiang. I only ask Brother Jiang to help take care of the little girl out of the sake of our friendship as classmates. To protect my little girl, I don’t ask for rich clothes and food, as long as I give her food to eat and clothes to cover her body, even if I am a slave, I still..."

"Brother Cheng, why do you say that!" Father Jiang raised his hand to interrupt Father Cheng, "Even if I, Mr. Jiang, don't have enough to eat or wear, I will definitely not be missing a daughter! I will definitely treat him as She is like a biological daughter - Brother Cheng came to me because he trusts my character, Jiang. Of course, I will not betray your trust! Brother Cheng, feel free to go into battle and kill the enemy!"

"Thank you Brother Jiang!" Father Cheng bowed deeply.

A big thing came to his mind, and he felt that the weight on his shoulders was instantly lifted by half.

Jiang Qilan, who was sitting silently, raised his eyes and looked at the little girl playing with the rattle by the window - the innocent and charming little girl probably didn't know that she was about to become an orphan.

Jiang Qilan was also confused.

Cheng Observer clearly knew that this expedition was going to be a disaster, so why did he go without hesitation?

For a moment, the room fell into silence.

Everyone is thinking about their own thoughts.

Cheng Xiaoling by the window noticed something strange and looked over -

"Father, what's wrong with you?" She ran over.

My father looked like he was about to cry.

Cheng's father quickly lowered his head, lifted up his shirt, wiped his eyes, and explained: "Father's eyes were narrowed by the wind and sand by the window."

"I'll help my father blow -" Cheng Xiaoling held her father's face in her chubby little hands and started blowing.

Seeing Father Cheng's lips trembling, Father Jiang cleared his throat, fearing that he might not be able to bear it.

"Lan'er," Father Jiang said, "I heard that there is a noodle maker in the north. The animals he makes are so vivid and interesting. You can take the Cheng family's little sister to see it."

Jiang Qilan stood up: "Okay, father."

Cheng Xiaoling's eyes lit up instantly.

For a child, there is nothing more attractive than a lively market.

She had just taken two steps towards the door when she remembered something and looked back at the table where she had just been sitting -

Jiang Qilan followed her gaze: there were two candied fruits left on the plate that originally contained five candied fruits on the table.

Jiang Qilan said understandingly: "I'll help you pack these two candied fruits. You can eat them when you go shopping later."

Cheng Xiaoling smiled sweetly: "Thank you, brother! However, I can't eat these two candied fruits. They are reserved for my father and brother."

Father Cheng's eyes turned red again.

Xiao Cheng Ling picked up two candied fruits and was about to stuff them into his pocket.

Jiang Qilan stretched out his hand to stop him.

Cheng Ling gave him a wary look.

Jiang Qilan found it funny. He tore off a strip of the paper bag containing the sugar snowballs and said, "You can't put it in your pocket, it will get dirty. Use this oilcloth paper bag."

After watching the two little guys go out, Father Cheng sighed: "I made you laugh."

Jiang's father praised, "For such a young child, he can resist his greed and leave snacks to his father and brother. He is really a good boy."

Yes, what a good child - Father Cheng thought with some sadness - if there is an afterlife, if the little spirit does not dislike him in the next life and is still willing to be his daughter, he will make a lot of money and buy snacks from all over the world. Come, give it to your daughter.

But how can there be an afterlife?

Father Cheng took out a money bag made of coarse cloth from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards Father Jiang.

"This is it?" Father Jiang picked it up.

There was the sound of silver and copper coins colliding inside.

"I feel ashamed to say that I have been an official for more than ten years and have not saved much money..." Cheng's father looked ashamed, "I hope Brother Jiang will not refuse. My daughter has nothing wrong with her, but... her family is poor, although she is not hungry. But I rarely buy snacks for my child. If Xiaoling is greedy, Brother Jiang will use this little money to buy her some snacks... It’s also a sign of my kindness as a father.”

Jiang's father took the pitiful and shriveled money bag: "Since it is money from father to his daughter, I am not qualified to refuse."

He solemnly put the money bag away close to his chest.

"In the final analysis, I am still incompetent as a father. I can't even satisfy my child's desire for snacks."

"Brother Cheng is an upright and honest official, which is a blessing to our dynasty." Father Jiang said, "If everyone can be like Brother Cheng, then the people will be blessed..."

————————————————————————————————————-

Jiang Qilan took Cheng Xiaoling to the market.

There were many new gadgets in the market, and Cheng Xiaoling enjoyed looking at them while shopping.

Cheng Xiaoling was also sensible. Although she would approach each stall with joy and look at it, she would never touch it.

If a customer comes to the stall, Cheng Xiaoling will wisely stay away so as not to cause trouble to the stall owner.

Jiang Qilan took Cheng Xiaoling to see the dough-maker, the sideshow, and many beautiful glass ornaments.

For Cheng Xiaoling, the most attractive thing is the dim sum stall.

And those steaming big steamed buns, fat white steamed buns, sweet sugar balls, crispy fried snacks, orange pea cakes...

Cheng Xiaoling kept swallowing, trying hard not to show his greedy look.

Jiang Qilan has always hated children.

He feels that children are greedy, ignorant, naughty and noisy.

But the Cheng Xiaoling in front of me was different. She was well-behaved, cute, and smart——

Children have a strong sense of territory, and Jiang Qilan is no exception.

But when he knew that Cheng Xiaoling might live in his home, he didn't feel disgusted at all and was even looking forward to it.

It's good to have a sister like this. Jiang Qilan thought.

It wasn't until he saw Grandpa Hu selling sugar snowballs that he remembered that he also had a bag of sugar snowballs here.

"Little sister," Jiang Qilan handed over the sugar snowball in his hand, "Brother, here is a pack of sugar snowballs. Let's give it to you."

Cheng Xiaoling's eyes lit up after hearing this, and she stretched out her chubby little hand to get the paper bag.

But when she reached her hand halfway, she stopped abruptly.

Xiao Ling swallowed, looked at the hawthorn ball wrapped in snow-white icing very close by, and forced herself to look away:

"No, I won't eat. Thank you, brother."

"Why?"

"My father said, no reward for no merit."

"But didn't you eat the candied fruit just now?" Jiang Qilan thought the serious look of the little girl in front of him was really cute and couldn't help but want to tease her.

"That's different. That was given to me by General Jiang, and the money for this tea should be paid for by my father. Of course, I can eat the money my father spent. Besides, I don't eat this candied fruit for nothing. Yes. After I eat the candied fruit, I won’t disturb their chat. This is my credit.”

This little guy is as big as a kid! Jiang Qilan raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

Then, he pretended to sigh: "What should I do? If the sugar snowballs are kept for a long time, the icing will melt and become unpalatable and inedible. Then I can only throw them away. But I don't want to waste them, so what should I do? "

Cheng Xiaoling's eyes rolled.

"Let's play a game. If you win, I will give you the candied fruit. If I win, you will give me the sugar snowball. How about that?"

"fair enough."

"But what game are you playing? You are older than me, you know more than me, and you are stronger than me..." Cheng Xiaoling was in trouble.

Jiang Qilan said slowly: "Let's do this, I grab a stone and hide it in my hand. You guess which hand the stone is in. If you guess right, you win; if you guess wrong, I win, how about that?"

"Although it's a bit childish, it's okay."

Jiang Qilan bent down to pick up stones.

After a moment, he stood up, clenched his fists, and placed them in front of the little girl with the backs of his hands facing up.

"Guess whose hand the stone is in?"

Cheng Xiaoling looked at the boy's two clenched fists very seriously.

"Left...no, right...wait, left hand!"

Jiang Qilan stretched out his left fist and opened his palm - in the middle of his palm, there was a small stone lying quietly.

Cheng Xiaoling jumped up happily: "Okay! I won!"

The elated little girl didn't notice that the boy's right hand quietly moved behind him: a stone slipped from his right hand to the ground.

Cheng Xiaoling took the paper bag, pinched out a sugar snowball and put it in his mouth.

Her eyes widened instantly.

The sugar snowballs are so delicious!

It's sour and sweet, and the sugar shell on the outside has the sweet aroma of roasted caramel.

Cheng Xiaoling lowered his head and ate three candy snowballs with concentration, and then he remembered Jiang Qilan.

She took out a candy snowball and handed it to Jiang Qilan: "Brother, I'll give you one -"

"You won this, so I won't eat it."

Jiang Qilan's bright eyes were slightly bent, and she raised her hand to wipe the frosting on the corners of Cheng Xiaoling's mouth.

"Ah... If you really don't want to eat, there will be nothing left." Cheng Xiaoling opened the paper bag with her fingers and looked inside, "One, two...seven, there are seven left, six for my father and brother, only one left can be used have eaten."

"Do your father and brother like sweets?"

"I don't particularly like to eat," Cheng Xiaoling carefully took out a candy snowball. This time she ate it very slowly, "but my father and brother usually leave delicious food to me, so of course I should leave delicious food to them." ”

A trace of compassion flashed in Jiang Qilan's heart.

After today, the little girl may never have the chance to see her father and brother again.

An hour later, Jiang Qilan returned to the teahouse with Cheng Ling, who had frost on his face.

Father Cheng and Father Jiang stood at the door waiting for their two children.

Father Cheng's mood, which had finally calmed down when he saw his daughter, became turbulent again.

"Father, what's wrong with your eyes?" Cheng Xiaoling asked.

Cheng's father's heart was churning and it was difficult to speak.

Cheng Xiaoling suddenly put his hands on his hips, raised his head and said fiercely to Jiang's father: "Did the general bully my father? General, you can't bully others just because of your high rank!"

Father Cheng quickly grabbed his daughter and wiped the corners of her eyes: "Xiao Ling, don't talk nonsense! Remove the sand from your eyes first, before it comes out..."

"I see, I'm sorry, General Jiang." Cheng Xiaoling apologized immediately. After apologizing, she stretched out her chubby little hand and grabbed her father's lapel, "Father, you've finished talking about the matter, it's time for us to leave."

But my father didn't move.

"Father? Why don't you leave?"

Cheng Xiaoling looked up at his father.

Cheng's father knelt down, rubbed little Cheng Ling's head and said, "Father and your brother are going to war. This war may last for a long time... Therefore, father temporarily asked Uncle Jiang and Brother Jiang to take care of you for a while... You Can you be obedient?"

"Ah?" Xiao Cheng Ling was a little panicked, "Can't Aunt Liu take care of me?"

"Aunt Liu is going back to her hometown in a few days, and she can't take you back."

"But..." Cheng Xiaoling glanced at Jiang's father and Jiang Qilan.

Father Jiang and brother Jiang are very nice people...but she wants to stay with her family more.

"Little Ling, be obedient," Father Cheng said, "Father... will definitely find a way to come back as soon as possible."

Cheng Xiaoling bit her lip.

"Oh well."

After a while, she nodded. Then he took out a bag containing six sugar snowballs and two candied fruits from his pocket and handed it to his father.

"Father, this is the snack I give to you and your brother. You can't eat it all by yourself. You have to leave half of it for my brother."

"Okay, okay." Father Cheng's nose was numb with soreness.

"Father, please be safe, fight away those gangsters, and come and take me home!"

"...Okay!" Father Cheng tugged on his daughter's braids, one high and one low.

"Pull the hook——" Cheng Xiaoling stretched out her fat little fingers.

Father Cheng stretched out his rough and scarred little finger.

"Hang yourself with a hook and don't change for a hundred years!"

Father Cheng loosened his fingers, couldn't bear it anymore, and hugged his daughter.

The steely man shed a few tears.

Tears fell on the solid yellow earth and soon disappeared.

"Listen to General Jiang and Brother Jiang just like you listen to your father and your brother."

Cheng Xiaoling nodded.

Jin Wu Xi Chui - If you delay any longer, your departure will be delayed.

Father Cheng gritted his teeth, let go of his daughter, and stood up.

He silently bowed deeply to Jiang's father.

Jiang's father silently stepped forward and helped Cheng's father.

The two looked at each other for a moment.

"That's it, don't pass!"

"Brother Cheng, take care of me! I will treat Xiaoling well."

Father Cheng turned his head and strode back the way he came.

Cheng Xiaoling stared blankly at his father's broad back, gradually fading away from his field of vision.

Father Jiang picked up Cheng Xiaoling and watched Father Cheng off together.

Just when Cheng's father's back was about to be drowned by the crowd, Cheng Xiaoling suddenly raised his voice and shouted:

"Father--"

Father Cheng's back suddenly froze.

After struggling for a long time, he finally turned around and looked deeply at his daughter across the sea of ​​people.

After a while, he waved his hand and turned back.

This time, his steps were more hasty and more decisive.

After a while, he completely disappeared into the crowd.

————————————————————————————————————-

Cheng Xiaoling behaved extremely well-behaved in the Jiang family.

Eat when you are allowed to eat, sleep when you are allowed to sleep, and bask in the sun when you are allowed to.

He just doesn’t like to laugh, play, or eat very much.

Whenever she was free, she would move a small bench and sit in front of the concierge, looking into the distance.

Father Jiang sighed after listening to people's reports.

"She is a loving and sensible child... It's a pity... Just take care of her and don't bump into her. For the rest, just let her be."

A month later, the bad news came.

Cheng's father and brother Cheng, along with six thousand soldiers who went on the expedition, all died on the battlefield.

The news of the defeat made the monarch furious.

Cheng's father and brother Cheng, together with the dead soldiers, died tragically on the battlefield, but did not receive any posthumous reward from the monarch.

When Jiang's father heard about the death of Cheng's father and son, he asked a tailor to make a set of white linen clothes overnight.

In the early morning, Cheng Xiaoling put on linen clothes with the help of her maid, and followed Jiang's father to the riverside in the suburbs of Beijing, where they bowed to the northwest chief.

Paper money was scattered everywhere.

Cheng Xiaoling knelt alone by the river, watching the pale paper money fluttering in the air.

After Jiang's father scattered the paper money, he placed a row of incense in the incense burner, solemnly filled a glass of wine, lifted his sleeves and poured it on the ground.

He clasped his fists and said loudly: "General Cheng, from now on, Cheng Ling is my Jiang's child, and I will definitely treat her as my own. You can rest assured and go with Little General Cheng!"

Cheng Xiaoling understood.

Father and brother died.

But she didn't cry.

Once upon a time, she gave her mother paper money like this, and from then on she no longer had a mother. But she still has a father and a brother.

Now, she has nothing.

After returning home, Cheng Xiaoling fell ill.

I didn't eat anything for three whole days.

The doctor said worriedly: "If the little girl doesn't eat, I'm afraid she will..."

Jiang's father brought half of the capital's delicious food to Cheng Xiaoling and coaxed him, but Cheng Xiaoling remained unmoved.

She lay like a rag doll, silent, not eating or drinking.

Everyone looked sad, but they were helpless.

The housekeeper was smart and said to Father Jiang: "The young lady has a good relationship with the young master. Why don't we ask the young master to come back and give us some advice?"

Father Jiang clapped his hands and immediately sent his servants to call Jiang Qilan back who was studying in the library.

The library where Jiang Qilan studied was a boarding school. He moved into the library ten days ago and never returned home.

——At this time, he did not know the news that Cheng's father and Cheng brother had died in the battle. Until the book boy in the school brought the Jiang family's servant into the school and explained the situation to Mr. Kodu.

Jiang Qilan listened nearby and understood what happened.

He hurriedly said goodbye to Mr. Reading, grabbed the horse that the servant had ridden when he came, and galloped towards his home.

Passing by a dim sum shop, Jiang Qilan reined in the reins.

After a while, he held a few pieces of milk cake sprinkled with sweet-scented osmanthus in his arms and rode on horseback again.

Rushing to the door of his house, Jiang Qilan got off his horse and strode towards Cheng Xiaoling's room.

Jiang's father was waiting at the door. When he saw his son rushing back, he gave a few simple instructions and asked the servants to retreat.

Jiang Qilan lifted up his robe and walked into Cheng Xiaoling's room.

Children become fatter and thinner.

When I first met Cheng Xiaoling, her face was as round as the full moon.

Within a few days, her chubby face had shrunk by more than half, revealing her pointed chin.

Cheng Xiaoling closed her eyes and lay motionless on the bed.

Jiang Qilan sat on the stool beside the bed and called her softly.

"Sister Ling, it's me, Brother Lan."

The girl didn't move.

But Jiang Qilan was keenly aware that her breath had become unstable.

"I... heard about your father and your brother... you must be very sad. I'm sorry, I wasn't by your side when you were so sad. It was Brother Lan who neglected his duty."

Cheng Xiaoling's mouth dropped and she wanted to cry. But she still held back.

"Do you remember the story I told you? After death, the soul will go to the person it cares about the most, take a look, and see the person it cares about the most. Only when it is good can it ascend to heaven without worries... "

"Your father was worried about you the most during his lifetime. That's why he sent you to our home. He hoped that his precious daughter could be safe and happy."

"If your father, your brother, came back to see you so sad... how sad they would be."

Big tears rolled down.

Cheng Xiaoling covered her face and cried: "But... I didn't say goodbye to my father properly, nor did I say goodbye to my brother properly."

"I should have given them all the candied fruits and sugar snowballs..."

"And I thought at the time, General Jiang's house might have a lot of delicious food...I...if I had left with my father, at least I wouldn't be alone."

Jiang Qilan picked up a handkerchief from the table, wiped Cheng Xiaoling's tears, and comforted softly: "Then have you ever thought about how your father and brother feel? If you followed them to the battlefield and encountered misfortune, how painful would they be? "

"Also, who said you are alone? You have me and my father. We are all your family."

Cheng Xiaoling choked with sobs: "But what if one day you leave too?"

Jiang Qilan took Cheng Xiaoling's hand: "I will never leave you in the future. Even if I become a ghost, I will stay with you."

Cheng Xiaoling sat up suddenly, hugged the quilt and cried loudly.

When people are heartbroken, they often have no tears.

But only if emotions are vented and tears are released, can people get out of the sad situation.

Cheng Xiaoling cried so hard that she was out of breath, and her eyes were red and swollen.

Jiang Qilan sat next to her and let her cry.

Only when you have cried happily and cleanly can you stand up.

When her crying subsided, her many emotions slowly recovered.

When Cheng Xiaoling completely stopped crying, Jiang Qilan patted the little girl's shoulder: "I'll get some warm water to wash your face."

By the time he came back with a warm basin of water, Cheng Xiaoling had already fallen asleep.

Jiang Qilan gently used a towel dipped in warm water, wiped her face clean, brushed her messy hair to the side of her face, covered her with the quilt, and placed the milk cake beside her pillow to ensure that she could see it when she woke up. .

After doing everything well, Jiang Qilan got up and went out, carefully closing the door.

Father Jiang was waiting on the porch outside the house.

"Father, Xiaoling is asleep."

"Yes." Father Jiang nodded, "Do you have anything to ask my father? Ever since Xiao Ling came to our house, I've noticed that you always look like you're missing something."

Jiang Qilan lowered his head and said softly: "Father... I was thinking, why did Inspector Cheng go to die without hesitation even though he knew that there would be no return from this expedition?"

Father Jiang slowly spoke: "It is human nature to be greedy for life and afraid of death, and seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages is the way to survive. One day, you will find that some people and some things are more important than your personal life and death interests. You That’s why we understand Cheng’s behavior.”

Jiang Qilan seemed to understand.

Ten years later, Jiang's father passed away. Jiang Qilan inherited his father's legacy and went to the battlefield as a general.

It wasn't until this moment that he finally understood why Cheng Kuanzhi was looking forward to death, and finally understood the true meaning of his father's words.

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Father Jiang is a man who sticks to his word.

He said if you take good care of Cheng Ling, you will take good care of him.

What's even more commendable is that he really raised Cheng Ling as if he were raising a daughter.

Cheng Ling has all the girls in the capital;

What the girls in the capital don't have, Cheng Ling also has.

Someone joked: "Child brides in other families are hardworking and hard-working, but your family is better. They are more valuable than a thousand pieces of gold."

"Cheng Ling is not my child bride." Father Jiang denied.

The other party understands.

"What kind of status does General Jiang have? How can an ordinary woman be worthy of being the lintel of the Jiang family?"

Father Jiang shook his head again.

"I raise Cheng Ling as a daughter, not a child bride - Cheng Ling has the right to choose her own husband. We can't tie her up at an age when she doesn't understand anything."

Thanks to Father Jiang, Cheng Ling was raised well.

When Cheng Ling turned twelve, he moved to the outer courtyard of Jiangzhao to avoid being misplaced.

There was just one thing that gave Father Jiang a headache.

Cheng Ling, who was a military general, was not interested in the girl's things at all, but was interested in dancing with guns and sticks, and practicing the art of war.

And Jiang Qilan never hides anything, and all the knowledge he has learned will be imparted to him.

Cheng Ling's knowledge and skills have already surpassed most of the generals in the court.

Jiang Qilan comforted his father: "Father, the world is getting worse and worse now."

"There are many courtiers who pat their beards and slip away from the throne, but it is the capable ministers who are upright and loyal. They are punished and demoted... Maybe it won't be long before the world will be in chaos."

"In troubled times, everyone is in danger, and we cannot guarantee that we can be by Xiaoling's side to protect her at all times. It is also good for her to learn some skills to protect herself."

Father Jiang acquiesced.

————————————————————————————————————-

Three years after Jiang's father passed away.

Jiang Qilan is twenty-two years old. As a general, he has been leading troops to kill enemies for three years.

Three years are enough to eliminate all the frivolousness of a young man.

Jiang Qilan, who emerged from the sea of ​​​​blood fighting, became more and more calm, with an aura of self-anger and anger. He was a young general that everyone respected and feared.

Sixteen-year-old Cheng Ling had grown up, and her immaturity had faded. Her eyes were full of charm, and her figure became more and more exquisite.

At this time, Cheng Ling was clinging to the edge of the cliff, and she raised her hand to throw a fat mushroom into the backpack on her back.

Then she climbed onto the platform, breathed a sigh of relief, and wiped the sweat off her face.

The backpack was heavy, which made her feel at ease.

Only then did she realize that the sun had set.

"Oh no, I was so busy picking herbs that I forgot to check the time! Brother Lan is probably almost home!"

Cheng Ling carried the backpack and ran towards the market at the foot of the mountain.

The backpack was full of herbs and mushrooms she picked, which could be exchanged for money - plus the money she had saved before, she could buy Brother Lan a short sword that he had long admired but had not been willing to buy today.

"Oh, Ling girl, are you going to make money to buy things for your husband again?" Liu Xiaosi, the fish seller, joked.

"Go to hell!" Cheng Ling scolded with a smile, "You are going to be a father soon, can't you learn something good!"

"Girl Ling, you are back."

"Yes, Aunt Zhang - hey, you put the bag there, I will help you move it, be careful not to hurt your waist -"

"Sister Ling -"

"You little bastard, why are you lying on the roadside? Go away! Go lie under the tree. What if someone pushes a cart and can't see you, and squeezes your intestines and stomach out?"

"Sister Ling, you are back? I heard that General Jiang is coming back today, why don't you go home quickly?"

"I'll be back soon. Brother Fei, here, this is the herb I dug for my sister-in-law. The doctor at the pharmacy said that this herb can be stewed with the hen, which is good for the recovery of the mother. My sister-in-law just gave birth to twins, and her body has not been getting better... You can't be careless, let my sister-in-law eat something good to replenish her body."

Cheng Ling is warm-hearted, cheerful and generous, and everyone likes her.

After she exchanged the silver, she ran to the blacksmith shop to buy a dagger and hurried home.

She saw the door of the house open from a distance.

Brother Lan is back!

Cheng Ling rushed into the house in two steps. Because she had been on the mountain for half a day, her legs were weak and she tripped over the threshold when she entered the house.

Fortunately, Jiang Qilan, who was sitting in the house, was quick-witted and stepped forward to help her, so that she didn't fall to the ground.

Jiang Qilan couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, and he had to tease her: "Cheng Aiqing, why do you have such a great ceremony!"

"The general is famous, and it's only right to perform a great ceremony!" Cheng Ling's eyes sparkled.

I haven't seen Jiang Qilan for half a year. He is taller, darker, thinner... and more handsome.

The man who has been immersed in the battlefield has a more baptized look, majestic and imposing.

Cheng Ling stood up, but her legs cramped at this moment, and she fell into Jiang Qilan's arms.

The girl's warm lips accidentally brushed against Jiang Qilan's rough face.

Both of them were shocked.

(There will be another update tomorrow.)