novelnext Chapter 109 The Last Touch of Warmth
Chapter 109 The Last Touch of Warmth
As the sun rises high in the east and the rooster crows, the world turns white, and the warm sunlight shines on the majestic city of Dinghai along the coastline.
Wisps of white smoke began to rise from several morning tea stalls on the street. The soft calls of vendors gradually grew louder as more people walked by. Whenever a customer arrived, the waiter in charge of greeting them would greet them with a smile, making them feel warm and cared for.
In the northwest corner of the street, at the door of an ordinary house, a gentle woman was saying goodbye to her husband with a reddish-brown food box in her hand. Although her voice was a little coquettish, it could not hide her deep love.
"Anan, when you go back to work at the Jiang residence, you must take care of your health and drink plenty of water, okay?"
"I've put a pitcher of water in this lunchbox. Don't faint like last time, or you'll become a laughingstock."
The man named Anan listened to his wife's daily nagging, his face beaming with a smile. He took the reddish-brown food box, nodded, and said, "Alan, don't worry, I'll be careful."
"Also, I'll ask Master Jiang if he can do more work and earn more money so I can buy you that jade hairpin by the end of the next two years."
Alan's warm eyes trembled slightly upon hearing this, a happy smile playing on her lips. She reached out and smoothed the wrinkles on Anan's clothes, saying with a smile, "Silly boy, it doesn't matter whether we keep the jade hairpin or not, as long as our family is safe and sound."
Her husband's thoughtfulness made her feel warm and happy. She said she didn't want it, but what woman doesn't want to dress herself up nicely?
However, she was also self-aware enough to know that given their family's circumstances, it was not worth it to exhaust her husband for a jade hairpin.
It would be more practical to just wish for the whole family to be safe and sound.
"It's okay, I promised you last night," Anan said, his rough hand covering Alan's fingers, his eyes smiling sweetly.
"Okay, I got it. Then come back soon."
Alan's cheeks flushed slightly as her fingers touched him so lightly, and she whispered a reminder to her lover.
It's strange, though. They've been married for seven years and have two children, but every time they do something so intimate, Alan's face always turns slightly red.
Anan nodded in agreement to Alan as he carried the food box, then turned and strode toward the Jiang residence, a wide smile playing on his lips.
Such joyful and heartwarming daily life filled Anan with contentment. Although life was a bit hard, having a ray of warm sunshine always by her side made her life complete.
I wish this kind of life could continue forever, no, I wish it could continue for all eternity.
Alan, who was silently watching him from behind, had a sweet and innocent smile on her face. Logically speaking, she should be over thirty years old and should be mature and elegant. She shouldn't still have such a girlish side.
But she couldn't hide the joy in her heart, and kept watching her husband until he disappeared from sight. It wasn't until the sound of children crying inside the house that she came back to her senses and went inside...
Not long after Anan set off, he encountered a handsome young man in white brocade robes at a street corner. The young man was carrying a book and his steps were slightly hurried.
"Good morning, Young Master Song. Are you on your way to school?"
Looking at Anan's honest and simple smile, Young Master Song politely bowed and smiled back, saying, "Good morning, Uncle Nan. Yes, I don't want to miss the opportunity to have the most famous teacher in the city give a lecture at the school today."
Upon hearing this, Anan's expression also became anxious. He stepped aside, waved his hand, and urged, "Come on, Young Master Song, follow me closely."
"Alright, Uncle Nan, I'll take my leave now."
The refined and cultured Young Master Song bowed politely to take his leave, his respectful expression remaining unchanged throughout.
"Miss, please stop looking. It's time to go back and have breakfast, or the master will scold me again."
On the opposite side of the street corner, in a small alley that was out of sight of Young Master Song and Uncle Nan, a graceful young lady and a well-behaved maid had witnessed their entire interaction.
Actually, this wasn't the first time they had done this. Young Master Song passed by this street corner every day on his way to school, and Miss Lin also came here to visit him every day.
Sometimes, if they deliberately bump into each other, they can even chat for a few minutes. Even if Miss Lin gets scolded by her father and doesn't eat breakfast when she gets home, it's still worth it.
Because if your heart is sweet, your mouth will be sweet too.
"Miss, let's go, let's go. Young Master Song has already gone far away." A maid in green yawned lightly, reached out and tugged at Miss Lin's sleeve, preparing to drag her back to the mansion.
They had sneaked out of the mansion before dawn to avoid the patrols of the servants.
This was tough on the maid in green. It would be fine if it happened once or twice, but she couldn't stand her mistress doing it every day. If the master found out, she would get a scolding again.
"Okay, okay, Xiao Kui, stop pulling. Let me take one more look."
"What are you looking at? Everyone's gone. Miss, please let me get some sleep!"
"Okay, okay, I'll let you get a good night's sleep tomorrow, don't rush to pull me away."
"Miss, but you always just give me empty promises..."
So the petite maidservant dragged the noble lady back to the mansion. Luckily, the master didn't discover that they had secretly run away, and Xiao Kui was able to get a good night's sleep for the time being.
Because she knew she would have to get up early again tomorrow…
……
The main hall of the county government office.
A solemn and heavy atmosphere spread, and all four people in the room looked grave.
Zhang Chaofa and Quan Fu had already read through all the ultimatums that Yao Huaixiang had thrown on the ground, and they were naturally furious.
Dinghai has been the rightful territory of the Celestial Empire since ancient times. What right do these mere overseas barbarians have to clamor for them to hand over Dinghai's territory?
"Report!" A messenger suddenly rushed into the hall.
The messenger entered the hall, knelt in obeisance, and immediately reported, "Sir, the British demand that you proceed to the ship's cabin for an immediate meeting, or they will attack the city!"
The moment the words "attack the city" were uttered, the hall was filled with shock. The Celestial Empire had always been powerful and influential, subduing all the barbarians. Now, this tiny British barbarian dared to boast that he wanted to attack the city!
Throughout the thousand-year history of our Celestial Empire, how many foreign tribes have been defeated, subjugated, or exterminated?
A barbarian tribe from overseas, uncivilized and as insignificant as a firefly, dares to rival the brilliance of my Celestial Empire?!
Who gave them the courage to attack the city?
Upon hearing this, General Zhang Chaofa frowned even more deeply, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
These British barbarians are far too arrogant. The Celestial Empire has never been threatened by anyone in its hundreds of years of existence. Since they dare to use force, the soldiers of the Celestial Empire are not to be trifled with!
"Let's go! Let's see what these barbarians are up to!"
Yao Huaixiang straightened his official robes, looked at Zhang Chaofa, and said, "As the local official, I should show no fear! I will go and meet those British barbarians."
"But you all must prepare for war early, in case of unforeseen circumstances."
"Yes," Zhang Chaofa immediately bowed his head and agreed.
He then watched Yao Huaixiang walk to the main gate of the county government office, his eyebrows twitching incessantly, vaguely sensing that a storm was about to break.