Seeing Jiang Xia return, Jiang Linxi was overjoyed. “She didn’t leave, she came back.”
As he spoke, Jiang Linxi was about to run forward but was immediately pulled back by Jiang Yinan beside him.
“Xiao Xi, what did Second Brother tell you? Don’t trust her so quickly. If you get beaten later, Third Brother and I won’t help you.”
Jiang Yinan spoke with a stern expression on his young face, which seemed mismatched with his age.
Jiang Yangdong pursed his lips thoughtfully and whispered, “Second Brother, should we go help her? She looks like she’s struggling to carry those two buckets of water.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yinan looked up.
Jiang Xia’s thin, small frame swayed unsteadily as she carried two large buckets of water. It seemed she was using all her strength just to barely maintain her balance.
It truly looked difficult.
But Jiang Yinan hardened his heart and said, “If she wants to put on a show, let her do it to her heart’s content. Let’s go inside!”
With that, he took Jiang Yangdong and Jiang Linxi by the hand and turned to go back inside.
From a distance, Jiang Xia saw the three children standing at the gate and thought they were waiting for her, so she quickened her pace.
Unexpectedly, just as she was about to reach the gate, all three children turned and went inside.
Fuming, Jiang Xia strode through the gate and set the two buckets down on the ground.
Those three little ingrates! She had just tried so hard to show goodwill, yet they didn’t seem to care about her at all.
Ah, the mess left behind by the original owner was so huge—when would she ever be able to fix it all?
Despite the frustration in her heart, her hands didn’t stop moving.
Jiang Xia deftly poured all the water from the buckets into the water vat, then covered it with a broken wooden board to keep dust from blowing in and dirtying it.
Then she went to the backyard to check. She remembered there was some firewood sent over by a neighbor uncle.
Carrying the firewood back to the house, Jiang Xia began scrubbing the pot, searching for flint to start a fire, planning to boil water first for herself and the children to wash up.
The three little beans stood under the eaves, staring in astonishment at Jiang Xia’s actions, completely dumbfounded.
Jiang Linxi blinked his big eyes and whispered, “Second Brother, Third Brother, she isn’t angry with us…”
Yes, it was strange!
She had gone to fetch water herself, and even though the three of them hadn’t helped, she didn’t scold them. Instead, she went to the backyard to fetch firewood to boil water.
This woman had never done these things before.
A flicker of doubt appeared in Jiang Linxi’s eyes. “Has she really changed for the better…”
“Impossible!” Jiang Yinan coldly cut off Jiang Linxi’s words, his young features tightly scrunched together. “Xiao Xi, have you forgotten what happened before? Just because you accidentally spilled a little water while handing it to her, she locked you in the cellar for half a month. You almost starved to death.”
Hearing this, the light that had been flickering in Jiang Linxi’s eyes gradually dimmed.
Yes, he had almost died back then.
But she hadn’t shown the slightest bit of concern for him.
As if he were nothing more than an insignificant stranger.
Thinking of this, Jiang Linxi felt sad again.
Seeing this, Jiang Yangdong reached out and patted Jiang Linxi’s shoulder. “Fourth Brother, don’t be sad. Third Brother will always protect you.”
He and Jiang Linxi were the youngest, and though they were only a year apart, Jiang Yangdong still acted like an older brother.
Jiang Yinan looked at the two and said, "Don't be afraid. When big brother comes back tonight, we'll talk to him and let him decide."
That's right! There's still big brother!
At the mention of Jiang Xiangbei, a hint of calm appeared on the three previously bewildered faces.
Jiang Xiangbei was the oldest and the most decisive. As the sky gradually darkened, he would soon finish work and return.
Just then, a fragrant aroma wafted over.
Jiang Linxi sniffed with his little nose, "So fragrant…"
The door opened, and Jiang Xia poked her head out, smiling as she said, "Hungry? We'll eat in a moment."
Eat?
This woman cooked?
She actually knows how to cook?
The three exchanged glances, all looking skeptical.
Ignoring their thoughts, Jiang Xia simply said, "I've heated water. The three of you line up to bathe. After washing, you don't need to change clothes—just wear your inner garments and wait for me."
The three looked at Jiang Xia in surprise.
Jiang Yinan shielded the other two, asking, "What are you trying to do now?"
He remembered clearly how Jiang Xia, in a bad mood before, had deliberately scalded them with boiling hot water.
Was this woman planning to repeat the same trick?
Seeing the wariness and caution in Jiang Yinan's eyes, Jiang Xia suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
This was her own biological son, only seven years old. How could he be so guarded against her?
It seemed she had truly broken his heart in the past.
Jiang Xia turned back into the room and tested the temperature of the water in the basin with her hand. "The water's just right. If you don't come now, it'll get cold!"
Seeing the three still unmoved, Jiang Xia had no choice but to lose her temper. "If you don't come now, I'll get angry. Hurry up!"
Not daring to delay any longer, the three reluctantly shuffled inside.
Jiang Xia helped Jiang Linxi and Jiang Yangdong take off their clothes and tossed them aside. "Get in and wash yourselves quickly!"
Then, she moved to undress Jiang Yinan.
But Jiang Yinan remained highly guarded. "I'll do it myself!"
Jiang Xia chuckled, "You're my son. Are you afraid I'll see you?"
Jiang Yinan still tightly clutched the ties of his clothes.
Jiang Xia sighed, "Alright, alright, do it yourself! Hurry up, don't catch a cold."
As she spoke, she stood up to check the hot water in the pot. "Call me if the water gets cold. I'll add more for you."
Sitting in the basin, Jiang Linxi blinked his big eyes and whispered, "She prepared bathwater for us… It's the first time."
Jiang Yangdong remained silent, only nodding.
Jiang Yinan, however, muttered stubbornly, "This is just a sugar-coated bullet! Don't be fooled. This woman might have something worse waiting for us later."
Even as he said this, he still reminded them, "Wash quickly, don't catch a cold."
Meanwhile, Jiang Xia also brought a basin of water into the room, took off her clothes, and wiped herself down.
Though it wasn't as comfortable as soaking in a modern bathtub, in this environment, what more could she ask for?
After wiping herself with the hot water, Jiang Xia felt all her fatigue vanish instantly, leaving her refreshed and relaxed.
She gathered her loose long hair into a braid in front of the water's surface, then quickly coiled it at the back of her head, revealing only her delicate, pretty face.
When she stepped outside, the three little ones had already finished washing.
Jiang Xia glanced at the floor—the dirty water in the basin had already been emptied.
Her heart warmed. These children were truly sensible.
Then, she scolded, "You just took a bath, you can't go out in the wind. Be careful not to catch a cold. Go sit on the kang. It should be warm after I lit the fire."
As she spoke, Jiang Xia picked up the basin herself, placed it properly, and went to check the porridge she was simmering in the pot.
Three pairs of eyes were fixed intently on her. Jiang Xia felt curious and turned to look at the three of them. "Why are you all staring at me? Did I say something wrong?"
The three of them shook their heads in unison.
Jiang Linxi couldn't hold back any longer and pointed a little finger at Jiang Xia's hair. "Your hair…"