The sisters had truly mastered the act of playing good cop, bad cop. In just one morning, Xiao Bao had become inseparable from Jiang Xiao, sticking to her side like glue. Chen Yuezhi, upon learning of the sisters' little scheme, couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Aren't you afraid Xiao Bao will get revenge on you when he grows up?"
Jiang Wan gritted her teeth, "He'd have to have the ability for that."
The bite mark on Jiang Xiao's hand wasn't too serious. Xiao Bao was young and not very strong. Although there was bleeding, it was only a superficial wound that would heal in a few days.
More pressing than the wound on her hand was Jiang Xiao's urgency to leave.
After all, this place was too familiar to Xiao Bao. When a person stays in a familiar environment, it's harder for them to forget certain things.
Xiao Bao hadn't remembered the guard couple yet. Once he did, he would undoubtedly start crying and making a fuss.
Therefore, they had to leave this place quickly.
Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Pan felt the same way. However, they believed that before they left, they must go and see the guard couple.
After all, it was thanks to them that Xiao Bao was still alive.
How could they not repay such a life-saving kindness?
So, the couple informed Jiang Xiao of their intention and asked her to accompany them to express their gratitude.
Jiang Xiao thought about it and agreed.
The family of four went to the inverted courtyard house behind the Shen mansion. Xiao Bao was entrusted to the care of Yan Li and his disciple.
Upon hearing that the Jiang family had arrived, the guard, surnamed Ma, felt a bit apprehensive.
Jiang Pan, along with his family, bowed to him, "Guard Ma, thank you for saving Xiao Bao's life and for keeping him safe these past few months."
Guard Ma quickly sidestepped, "Master Jiang, Madam Jiang, both Miss Jiangs, please rise."
Jiang Pan produced a bank note and handed it to Guard Ma, "We will never forget your life-saving kindness. We originally intended to prepare a generous gift to express our gratitude, but given the current circumstances, this is all we can offer. We hope you won't find it too meager."
Guard Ma repeatedly waved his hands, refusing to accept it, "Master Jiang, this is absolutely not acceptable."
Chen Yuezhi stepped forward and said, "It is acceptable. Guard Ma, please accept it."
Jiang Xiao also said, "Benefactor, please accept this token of our appreciation. It will bring me peace of mind."
Guard Ma, unable to refuse, was about to accept it.
Suddenly, a woman's voice cut in, "Take your money back, we don't care for it!"
Everyone turned to see a thin woman, around thirty years old, glaring at them with anger in her eyes.
This woman was Guard Ma's wife, Madam Zhao.
"We took in Xiao Bao not for money at all; we cherished him as our own son! You came and immediately wanted to take him away without even asking our consent, and now you're offering money. Are you trying to say that after we take your money, we should no longer care for him?"
Madam Zhao's emotions were running high, and her gaze towards the Jiang family was filled with obvious resentment.
When her husband first brought Xiao Bao back, the child's head wound was still severe. The little person, upon seeing her, had called her "Mom."
That single word, "Mom," had touched her to the core.
From that day on, she had resolved to raise Xiao Bao as her own son.
However, after raising him for a few months and developing deep affection, several people suddenly appeared, claiming to be Xiao Bao's birth mother and relatives, wanting to take him home. The master had also given his orders, telling them to hand over the child to his family immediately.
From beginning to end, no one had asked them, the couple, if they were willing.
How could anyone accept such a situation?
Seeing Madam Zhao's agitation, Chen Yuezhi quickly said, "Madam Ma, you've misunderstood. This money is merely a token of our family's gratitude. Your kindness towards Xiao Bao and our family is far beyond what this small amount of money can repay."
"Xiao Bao is my daughter's flesh and blood. We searched for him for so long and finally found his whereabouts, so naturally, we must take him with us. We cannot compromise on this point."
"However, I understand this may be difficult for you. After all, you have raised him for so long, treating him as your own, and caring for him so well. He also relies on you so much. It's evident that you two genuinely love him. Therefore, if you are willing, I propose that Xiao Bao acknowledge you as his godparents. How does that sound?"
Madam Zhao was stunned, completely taken aback by Chen Yuezhi's words.
Chen Yuezhi took a few steps forward, approaching Madam Zhao, and took her hand. "Madam Ma, we truly have no ill intentions. We are genuinely here to thank you both. We are all people who genuinely love Xiao Bao. If you are willing, we can certainly interact as relatives."
Madam Zhao's attitude softened slightly. "But I truly cannot bear to part with Xiao Bao. When he first came to me, he was so small and thin, and so badly injured. The moment he saw me, he called me 'Mom.' At that moment, I knew he was my child, and I was willing to protect him with my life. Now that you want to take him away, it feels like you're taking my life."
As she spoke, Madam Zhao began to cry. She broke free from Chen Yuezhi's grasp, ran to Jiang Xiao, and knelt down with a thud. "Miss Jiang, please, don't take Xiao Bao away. Let him stay. I swear I will raise him well and ensure he never suffers any grievance..."
Jiang Xiao also began to cry. She could not possibly agree to this request.
Xiao Bao was her life. Her life was sustained by Xiao Bao.
She tried to help Madam Zhao up, but Madam Zhao refused to budge. Cornered, Jiang Xiao knelt down as well.
"Madam Ma, I beg you too, please return Xiao Bao to me. Without him, I truly cannot live. He is my only child, and I cannot let him go. Please, don't make things difficult for me."
Madam Zhao remained unyielding.
The two women knelt facing each other, both weeping miserably.
Guard Ma also looked deeply distressed, turning his head away with red eyes.
Seeing the stalemate, Jiang Wan spoke up, "Madam Ma, please don't make things so difficult for my sister. Both in terms of emotion and reason, you have no right to keep Xiao Bao."
"Although you rescued Xiao Bao, our Jiang family acknowledges this kindness. But to use this kindness to coerce my sister into giving up Xiao Bao is absolutely impossible."
"It's true that you two have treated Xiao Bao very well. But your kindness is merely in raising him and ensuring he doesn't suffer. What else is there?"
"If Xiao Bao stays with you, he is destined to be a servant his entire life, living under the Shen family's roof and constantly watching their expressions. In contrast, Xiao Bao could return to the Jiang family and become a young master of a wealthy household. He could recover from his physical deficiencies, attend school, pursue knowledge, and perhaps enter officialdom in the future. Or he could learn business from his two maternal uncles, or even study medicine under the direct disciples of Divine Physician Jin. Which of these paths isn't far better than staying with you?"
"Do you truly love Xiao Bao? I don't think so. You simply don't have children of your own, so you've poured all your maternal love onto Xiao Bao, selfishly wanting to keep him. If Xiao Bao were your own child, would you truly be willing to let him live his life in subservience, as a household servant, serving others for his entire life?"