After considering this, Jiang Li said, "If it’s convenient for Mr. Pan, we can register the pastry shop under your name. I’ll have someone change the sign to Pan’s Pastry Shop. However, this will only be in name. The property and land deeds will remain in my name and will not be changed."
Jiang Li didn’t explain her reason for doing this, and Pan Shiyan didn’t ask.
Pan Shiyan was overjoyed to hear he could have a relationship with his daughter.
However, Pan Shiyan had a different idea for the shop’s name.
"Could we change it to the Ji Family’s pastry shop? I want people to know that Ayuan existed. Don’t worry, Miss Jiang. I’ll spread the word that I am the shop’s owner."
"Alright. We can tell people that Mr. Pan found his long-lost daughter, and since she loves pastries, he bought Jiang’s Pastry Shop for her."
After Jiang Li and Pan Shiyan came to an agreement, she left with A Gua.
A Gua showed no reluctance to leave, nor did she glance at Pan Shiyan.
To A Gua, this father of hers, Pan Shiyan, was a complete stranger.
She had never met him for as long as she could remember, and she had often seen her mother crying over him.
So in A Gua’s mind, her father had never been a good person; he only ever made her mother sad.
The subsequent journey to the Capital City with her mother made A Gua despise her father, Pan Shiyan, even more. Her dislike had grown into hatred.
Jiang Li didn’t want to interfere too much in the relationship between A Gua and her father. She felt a bond with the girl and was willing to look after her.
In her previous life, Jiang Li had raised two thankless sons, but she had never raised a daughter.
’If A Gua doesn’t want to go back to her father, Pan Shiyan, then after I get my divorce, I’ll just take her in and raise her as my own daughter.’
After what had just happened at the teahouse, A Gua understood that Jiang Li had no intention of abandoning her.
As a result, A Gua was in a very good mood.
"Sister, I like the pastry shop. I can work."
Jiang Li smiled. "You’re still little; you don’t have to work. I’m only leaving you at the pastry shop as a temporary place to stay. If you’re interested in sorting beans, you can do that for fun, but don’t wear yourself out. Do you want to study? I could send you to live with the Jiang family, and I’d find someone to teach you."
’A Gua is a smart girl,’ Jiang Li thought. ’Perhaps getting an education would be a better path for her.’
But A Gua shook her head firmly. "I don’t want to."
"Why not? Don’t you like studying?"
"I’ve heard that scholars are often heartless. I don’t want to be like my father."
At the mention of Pan Shiyan, a sad look appeared in A Gua’s eyes.
She wasn’t thinking of Pan Shiyan, but of her mother.
Jiang Li didn’t press the issue. Instead, she took A Gua by the hand, led her to a stall selling candied fruit skewers, and bought one for her.
Only then did she take her back to the pastry shop.
Jiang Li instructed her, "Be good. I’ll come see you again when I have time."
But A Gua suddenly grabbed the hem of Jiang Li’s clothes. "Sister, when are you moving out of that other person’s house? There’s room to live at the pastry shop. Or... can I live with you at the Jiang family’s home?"
’Jiang Li remembered telling A Gua that she was currently living in someone else’s home when she first brought her to the shop.’
Warmth bloomed in Jiang Li’s chest, and a smile touched her lips. "It won’t be long. When the time comes, we’ll live together."
A Gua was very happy, finally smiling like a child.
Jiang Li told the Shopkeeper about the change in ownership and said that Pan Shiyan would come by to handle the details after leaving the government office. She asked him to have a new sign made first.
Afterward, Jiang Li quietly slipped back to the Yin Family’s residence.
After leaving the government office, Pan Shiyan went to the pastry shop first to meet with the Shopkeeper. The new sign was put up shortly thereafter.
Seeing the words "Ji Family’s pastry shop," Pan Shiyan’s heart grew even heavier.
He had already asked someone to investigate what happened to Ji Yan, wanting to find out if it was all true.
But Pan Shiyan also knew that getting an answer from his mother of the Song Family would be faster.
Pan Shiyan composed himself and returned home. Song Family had already prepared dinner.
When she saw Pan Shiyan return, Song Family’s eyes filled with a smile. She looked every bit the part of a kind and benevolent mother.
As she set out a bowl and chopsticks for her son, Song Family asked, "Was it busy at the government office today? Why are you back so late?"
Pan Shiyan didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, "Mother, did you know that Yan Niang fell ill and passed away?"
Song Family froze in the middle of setting down the tableware, her expression stiffening. "What did you say?"
Having lived with Song Family for many years, Pan Shiyan could see clearly how clumsy her acting was in that moment.
’But why had he never noticed anything amiss before?’
’Five whole years. If only he had realized his mother was lying to him sooner, perhaps Yan Niang would still be alive.’
Pan Shiyan had his personal servant brought in and questioned him in front of Song Family.
The servant claimed he was still searching, that he hadn’t found Ji Yan and her daughter, and that Ji Yan had likely remarried.
’How ridiculous,’ Pan Shiyan thought. ’I’ve been paying this servant a monthly wage, and he’s been lying to me the entire time.’
Pan Shiyan said coldly, "Out of consideration for our time as master and servant, I won’t sell you off. I will have the steward return your contract of indenture. From this day forward, you have nothing more to do with the Pan Mansion."
The servant was dumbfounded and scrambled to beg for mercy, admitting his fault.
Although he had only served Pan Shiyan for a few years, it was a stable life where he never had to worry about food or clothing.
If he were thrown out, the servant didn’t know if he could ever live as well as he did now.
The servant pleaded with Song Family. "Old Madam, I beg you, please try to persuade Mr. Pan!"
Song Family’s brow furrowed. "Shiyan, stop this nonsense. It’s just some woman. Even if she died of illness, what does that have to do with anyone?"
Tears welled in Pan Shiyan’s eyes, and his voice trembled. "She was my wife! If you hadn’t interfered, Mother, why would I have ever been separated from her? You drove her away and refused to acknowledge her. Mother... I’m afraid your son will no longer be able to show you filial piety in the future."
Song Family grew panicked and quickly asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"I am utterly bereft. Now that I know Yan Niang is dead, all I want is to follow her. As for this official post... I don’t want it anymore."
Song Family said furiously, "For that hussy, you’d abandon your own mother? You worked so hard to become the top scholar! If you resign your post, whom will you have to answer to?"
"I don’t understand. You are my mother, and she was my wife. Why did you force me to choose? I cannot bring myself to argue with you about what you’ve done. So I’ll give you two choices: either I resign my post and return to our hometown, or you return there yourself."
Song Family understood. Her son hadn’t given her a choice at all.
She could never let her son resign his post, which meant he was trying to drive her away.
"You’re abandoning your own mother for her sake."
Pan Shiyan closed his eyes, exasperated. ’It seems like no matter what I say, she just doesn’t understand.’
Pan Shiyan said, "Since you are unwilling to choose, Mother, then tomorrow I will go to my superior and resign my post. I will take Yan Niang’s remains back home and spend the rest of my life watching over her grave."
Song Family was genuinely frightened now. She knew how much her son had loved that woman, but she never imagined that even after five years, he was still so devoted to her memory.
"Fine. I’ll go back to our hometown."