Just as Jiang Tang stepped into the state-run restaurant and before she could find her adoptive parents and eldest brother in the dining hall, a flash of green jumped right in front of her.
“Xiaotang, I knew you’d definitely come to welcome me!”
Jiang Tang looked closely. Who else could this person be if not her eldest brother?
She had thought that after serving in the military for so many years and recently being promoted, his personality might have matured a bit. Now, it seemed he was still exactly the same as before.
“That’s right, how could I not come to welcome my big brother?”
Jiang Tang followed Jiang Sijie to the dining table, meeting the gazes of her adoptive father, Jiang Ming弘 (Jiang Minghong), and adoptive mother, Sang Suxiang.
Suppressing her tears, Jiang Tang smiled and said, “Dad, Mom, I’m sorry I’m late.”
Sang Suxiang hurriedly said, “Sit down, sit down quickly. You’re not late; we just got here ourselves not long ago.”
Jiang Minghong pushed the menu toward Jiang Tang and told her to order whatever she liked.
Jiang Sijie patted his chest and said, “Xiaotang, order whatever you want to eat. Big Brother is treating this meal!”
Looking at the menu, Jiang Tang ordered several dishes according to her family’s preferences.
While waiting for the food, Sang Suxiang hesitated several times with words at the tip of her tongue, looking as though she wanted to ask Jiang Tang something but was afraid to do so.
It was Jiang Tang who spoke up first: “Mom, is there something you want to tell me?”
Only then did Sang Suxiang ask, “Xiaotang, are your biological parents treating you well?”
Jiang Tang could feel her adoptive mother’s care and concern. If not for the matter of her biological parents showing up, the two of them would have gotten along as closely as a real mother and daughter.
Not wanting to worry her adoptive parents, Jiang Tang forced a smile and said, “They’re pretty good. They feel they owe me a lot and said they want to make it up to me. They even gave me the jade pendant left behind by Maternal Grandmother.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” Sang Suxiang let out a soft sigh of relief. Just then, the food was ready, and the waiter brought the dishes over.
The waiter who served the food knew Jiang Minghong and smiled, saying, “Old Jiang, your son is back from the military? I always said this kid was different from others since he was little; he’s bound to amount to something in the future.”
Jiang Minghong nodded with an accompanying smile, while Jiang Sijie awkwardly scratched the back of his head nearby.
Who didn’t know that Jiang Sijie had been a mischievous kid since childhood whom no one could ever keep in check?
If the Jiang family hadn’t adopted Jiang Tang when he was five years old, no one would have been able to handle Jiang Sijie, this little tyrant.
After getting a younger sister, Jiang Sijie became much gentler and learned how to care for and look after her.
Even so, bringing up the past now still made Jiang Sijie feel awkward.
Fortunately, the waiter had other work to attend to and didn’t linger to chat.
The family of four sat together eating, creating a warm and cozy scene.
Not far away, Su Yinyin glanced over from time to time, turning green with envy.
Why is it that even after being lost for years, Jiang Tang can live so well, and even after finding her biological parents, she’s still cherished by her adoptive parents?
Su Yinyin grudgingly suppressed the reluctance and resentment in her heart, thinking only that in just a few days, Jiang Tang would take her place in the countryside.
When that time came, she would definitely snatch away everything Jiang Tang possessed.
When the family had nearly finished eating and was getting ready to head home, someone suddenly walked over and patted Jiang Sijie on the shoulder.
Jiang Sijie raised his head and looked over in pleasant surprise: “Battalion Com—”
Seemingly remembering something, Jiang Sijie quickly corrected himself: “Xiao Xun, why are you here? Shouldn’t you have gone home to visit your family?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
Hearing the name Xiao Xun, Jiang Tang felt it sounded somewhat familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before, though she couldn’t place it right away.
Just looking at Xiao Xun’s appearance, however, his crisp green military uniform set off his sturdy and upright build, with well-defined facial features and striking eyes. He was countless times better-looking than the delicate-faced male lead, Song Chenchuan.
Jiang Tang didn’t think someone with a face like that would be a nobody in the book; it was definitely just that she couldn’t recall it at the moment.
Jiang Sijie nodded repeatedly: “Oh, oh, you’re looking for the fiancée you were betrothed to, right? I remember you telling me about that. Did you find that family?”
Xiao Xun shook his head regretfully: “Back then, my grandfather and Elder Wei set up an engagement for their descendants. But later on, Elder Wei passed away, and I only heard that his daughter had married to Yuan City, so I wanted to come and look for them. Whether the engagement continues or not, I should still find the person.”
Jiang Tang listened in a daze, as a vague recollection of what was going on began to form in her mind.
The book had mentioned that her maternal grandfather, Wei Qinian, had once made an engagement arrangement with a good friend for their descendants—agreeing that if they happened to have a grandson and granddaughter, and the children were willing, they would become in-laws.
Later, Wei Qinian passed away, and the two families lost contact.
The book had only briefly touched upon this matter; it seemed no one ever went to the Wei family to fulfill the engagement, which meant Xiao Xun hadn’t managed to find the Wei family’s descendants.
What a coincidence this was! Since she had run into him, Jiang Tang intended to acknowledge her identity.
She also had a vague feeling that perhaps the man before her could bring her some unexpected surprises.
“Comrade, the Elder Wei you just mentioned—was his name Wei Qinian?”
Jiang Tang was only guessing, figuring that since the man’s surname was Xiao and his grandfather had made an engagement with Elder Wei, it was very likely the person mentioned in the book.
So she asked directly, wanting to confirm the answer.
To her surprise, the moment Jiang Tang spoke, Xiao Xun immediately looked over at her in pleasant surprise.
Xiao Xun hurriedly nodded: “That’s right, it’s precisely Wei Qinian. My grandfather is Xiao Jingsi. Do you know where Elder Wei’s descendants are?”
Jiang Tang nodded slightly and pointed at herself: “What a coincidence—Wei Qinian happens to be my maternal grandfather.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone at the dining table fell silent.
Just a moment ago, Jiang Sijie had been joking about Xiao Xun looking for a fiancée, but now, hearing that Xiao Xun’s fiancée might very well be his younger sister, his expression changed instantly.
Jiang Sijie immediately chimed in: “Even if Xiaotang is Elder Wei’s granddaughter, she wasn’t raised in their family all these years. Doesn’t the Su family have another daughter? That one was raised by the Su family, so if anyone is going to fulfill the engagement, shouldn’t it be her?”
Xiao Xun didn’t yet know what was going on, but he could tell that the girl before him was the younger sister Jiang Sijie always talked about.
So, Jiang Sijie’s sister wasn’t his biological sister after all, and she happened to be Elder Wei’s maternal granddaughter.
No wonder he had found Jiang Tang somewhat familiar just a moment ago; her features bore a striking resemblance to the photographs of Elder Wei he had seen.
Xiao Xun explained: “Rest assured, my grandfather has no intention of forcing anything. He simply heard someone say that Elder Wei’s daughter was in Yuan City and sent me to look for them. As for the matter of the engagement, it depends entirely on whether the Wei family’s descendant is willing or not.”
Afterwards, Xiao Xun laid out his personal situation right in front of the Jiang family.
“My name is Xiao Xun, twenty-six years old this year, currently working in the military as a battalion commander, and I have never been in a relationship. The Xiao family has served in the military for generations with a good family reputation, my parents are friendly, and since I’m an only child, there are no complicated family entanglements. If Comrade Jiang is willing to fulfill the engagement, I can immediately submit a marriage application to the organization and arrange for Comrade Jiang to accompany the troops. Both my family and I will treat Comrade Jiang well, so please rest assured, Uncle and Auntie.”
At these words, the Jiang family members were completely dumbfounded. They had finally raised their daughter up, and the moment she was seen for the first time, someone had already set their sights on her!