“You haven’t said anything yet. How can I agree?”
Jiang A Yao stared at Lao Jin, her thoughts clear: if this man dared to speak in ambiguous terms, the hairpin in her hand would plunge into his eye.
Though it was just a wooden hairpin, with precise timing, its sharp tip could still pierce his eyeball.
Lao Jin completely missed the fleeting murderous intent in her eyes, mistaking it for mere fierceness.
“It’s like this. In two days, our master will be able to move. I’d like to ask Miss Jiang to accompany us to town. I’m worried that if any emergencies arise during the long journey, we won’t be able to handle them.”
“That’s all?” Jiang A Yao’s heart suddenly relaxed.
“That’s all!”
Lao Jin paused briefly after speaking, then added, “If you could also care for our master in town for a few more days, we would be even more grateful.”
Jiang A Yao thought for a moment and said, “I can escort you to town. There are doctors there who might be more skilled than I am. I’m not really that useful.”
Lao Jin immediately replied, “But your cooking is excellent! Look how well our master has been eating these days.”
“But I have a seriously ill younger sister at home who also needs my care. I can’t stay in town for too long.”
She didn’t even know this group’s background—how could she dare to stay with them in town indefinitely?
What if they kidnapped her?
Then she would have no one to turn to, heaven and earth alike unheeding.
“Bring her along! Conditions in town are better. Wouldn’t it be more conducive to your seriously ill sister’s recovery to take her to town?”
Jiang A Yao looked at him in surprise. Wasn’t this offer a bit excessive just to secure her help?
Seeing a glimmer of hope in her eyes, Lao Jin quickly raised the stakes. “Miss Jiang, don’t worry about your expenses in town. You saved our master—that’s a tremendous favor.”
“How about this: if you agree to come to town and care for our master, not only can you bring your sister, but I’ll also buy you a house. Wouldn’t it be better for you to make a living in town than here?”
“Household registration, a residence, and the reward for saving our master—it’s more than enough.”
“Miss Jiang, your medical skills are truly wasted in this remote mountain valley. Why not open a clinic in town?”
Lao Jin gradually pinpointed Jiang A Yao’s vulnerabilities. After hearing him out, she unconsciously fell into the blueprint he had designed.
But she only indulged in the fantasy for a moment before quickly returning to her senses. “Lord Jin, what you say sounds wonderful, and I am quite drawn to it. However, I must discuss this matter with my husband before making a decision.”
“Miss Jiang, what is there to discuss? Weren’t you trying to run away when you wanted an independent household registration before? This is an opportunity right before your eyes—if you miss it, it’s gone.”
Lao Jin spared no effort in persuasion because, in his view, once Jiang A Yao went to town and settled her husband and sister, she would agree to the subsequent conditions.
The path forward is always paved step by step.
“I understand, but I still need to discuss it.”
Jiang A Yao’s tone was firm, clearly not allowing Lao Jin to probe further.
Lao Jin sighed. He had hoped to resolve this matter in one go but didn’t expect to hit a snag at the most critical moment.
“Miss Jiang, there’s no need to call me ‘Lord Jin.’ If you don’t mind, just follow your husband and call me Brother Jin.”
Lao Jin thought that regardless of whether she agreed or not, he should first try to build a closer relationship.
However, after he finished speaking, Jiang A Yao looked at him with a strange expression.
“Miss Jiang, why are you looking at me like that?”
Lao Jin looked puzzled and glanced down at himself under her gaze. “Could it be that you think I’m not worthy?”
Jiang A Yao calmly replied, “No, I just think you’re old enough to be my father.”
Lao Jin: “…”
“Who says I’m that old?” Almost instantly, Lao Jin exploded. “I’m only thirty-two! How could I possibly be old enough to be a father?”
Jiang A Yao calmly tucked the hairpin in her hand back into her hair. “I’ll be eighteen after the New Year.”
Eighteen after the New Year?
So she’s seventeen now?
He was thirty-two – a full fifteen years older. That indeed made him old enough to be her father.
Lao Jin was rendered speechless by her retort, but his sharp eyes caught her action of putting the hairpin back. “Hey, when did you get that hairpin in your hand? What were you planning to do with it?”
Jiang A Yao said seriously, “Nothing, just playing with it.”
Lao Jin would be a fool to believe that.
This girl was probably holding that hairpin for self-defense.
And it was perfectly clear who she was defending against.
Lao Jin felt a tightness in his chest but still said, “Alright, alright. Just call me Jin Tou from now on. Or you can call me dad – I’ll have my wife be your godmother then.”
Jiang A Yao found his attempts to get close rather strange. She didn’t dare respond to this, so she remained silent.
Lao Jin watched her enter the room, so angry that he put his hands on his hips.
This Miss Jiang might look young, but she was truly stubborn!
Neither persuasion nor coercion seemed to have much effect on her.
Jiang A Yao entered the room and sat down to rest in her usual manner, covering her head with the quilt and tucking the hem of her skirt inside.
Although this made sleeping uncomfortable, it allowed her to sleep with peace of mind.
She didn’t dare gamble that everyone here was a gentleman, so she could only protect her safety in her own way.
The next day, Jiang A Yao kept thinking about what Lao Jin had said.
If she could take this opportunity to escape from here, it would be a blessing in disguise.
But she wasn’t sure – would Lu Da leave?
A few days ago, it was Lu Da who had saved her. If he hadn’t been willing to spend sixteen hundred large coins, she might have been sold by Lin Qinghua to that widower who had beaten someone to death.
Given this current opportunity, while the sixteen hundred large coins would be easy to repay, she couldn’t bear to just leave like this, abandoning Lu Mingzhu who had grown fond of her.
Moreover, if she were to travel alone as a vulnerable young woman with this group of people, the risks would be substantial.
Such behavior would be no different from gambling.
Jiang A Yao was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice the medicine pot boiling over. When the water spilled out, she rushed to remove the lid but forgot to use a cloth. Only when she picked it up did she realize how hot it was, and she immediately dropped it on the ground. With a crash, it broke into two pieces.
The sound attracted everyone’s attention in the room.
“Miss Jiang, what happened?”
Jiang A Yao snapped back to awareness at the sound and unexpectedly met the man’s gaze.
Though she had broken something, the man didn’t scold her but instead showed concern. “Miss Jiang, are you hurt?”
Jiang A Yao shook her head. “I’m fine.”
She lowered her eyes and went to clean up the fragments on the floor. Fortunately, it wasn’t completely shattered and could still be used if glued back together.
The injured man watched her, his gaze darkening.
Lao Jin at his side began, “Master…”
Before he could finish, he was silenced.
He asked in a low voice, “When are we leaving this place?”
Hearing this, Lao Jin glanced at Jiang A Yao. “We’ll have to ask Miss Jiang about that. Previously, it was said we’d leave in five days, which means we can depart the day after tomorrow.”
“We can’t delay any longer.”
“Master…”
Seeing that he couldn’t dissuade his master, Lao Jin could only ask, “Miss Jiang, can we leave tomorrow?”
Without even looking up, Jiang A Yao delivered the harshest words in the most placid tone: “If you wish to die, you may leave at any time.”