Xiao Bao was feeling smug when suddenly a hand fiercely grabbed his ear.
"Ah, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, Mom, I was wrong, let go quickly, my ear is going to fall off."
Jiang Xiao yanked his ear and dragged him aside to lecture him.
Jiang Wan watched the mother and son and couldn't help but smile. Xiao Bao was already ten years old, tall and sturdy, not at all like the skinny child he was when they brought him back.
Through her personal training, Xiao Bao had now mastered a great deal of martial arts and was so bold that it gave his sister Jiang Xiao a headache. Jiang Xiao's education of Xiao Bao had shifted from initial careful pampering to a mode where if he wasn't disciplined every three days, she feared he'd tear down the house.
This was truly good. Xiao Bao would surely be capable of handling things in the future, and her sister wouldn't be tied to Xiao Bao forever.
After spanking Xiao Bao, Jiang Xiao clapped her hands and returned, smiling at the Cheng brothers. "Let's go upstairs, Wan Wan has prepared things for you upstairs."
Cheng Jingnian's tears had already been wiped away while Xiao Bao was being disciplined.
Upon hearing this, he immediately grabbed Jiang Wan and ran towards the second floor.
In the private room with the best view on the second floor, a table was set with eight exquisitely shaped pastries, which looked exceptionally delicious.
As soon as Cheng Jingnian entered the room, he rushed to the table, grabbed a pastry, and stuffed it into his mouth. "It's delicious, it's really delicious! Wan Wan jie, are these pastries going to be sold at Pin Xiang Lou from now on?"
Jiang Wan smiled and nodded, "Yes. Is there anything that needs improvement?"
Cheng Jingnian, this little chubby fellow, had a discerning palate. He was particularly good at eating, and if he said something was delicious, it was absolutely top-notch.
In recent years, whenever Jiang Wan's teahouse introduced new pastries, she would call Cheng Jingnian over for a tasting. Then, based on his feedback, she would adjust the recipe, resulting in products of unparalleled taste.
Cheng Jingnian shook his head, "No, the flavor is very unique, and all the tastes are just right. Wan Wan jie, your pastry-making skills are getting better and better!"
Jiang Wan said gleefully, "Really? Then I'm relieved. With such high praise from Jingnian, these pastries are sure to be a huge hit."
These pastries were all made by Jiang Wan.
In the past few years, her life had been very leisurely. When she had nothing to do, she became fascinated with making pastries. From the initial culinary disasters to the current exquisite delicacies, Jiang Wan had invested a considerable amount of time and effort.
Seeing Cheng Jingnian with crumbs all over his mouth, Jiang Wan took a handkerchief and gently wiped his face, her movements showing none of her usual assertiveness.
Cheng Sinian sat to the side, watching her profile, his heart beating uncontrollably.
Jiang Wan suddenly turned her head, her gaze meeting his.
Cheng Sinian's heart beat even faster, and he flusteredly turned his head away.
Jiang Wan frowned, "Cheng Sinian, are you sick?"
Why was his heart beating so erratically for no reason?
Her special abilities were becoming increasingly powerful, and she could sense even the slightest fluctuations around her.
Cheng Sinian was extremely flustered, his face flushing red. He quickly denied, "No, I'm fine, I'm in very good health."
Fine? Would someone who was fine suddenly experience an abnormal heart rate for no reason?
Jiang Wan didn't believe him and reached out to grab his hand, intending to take his pulse.
Cheng Sinian wanted to dodge, but he couldn't evade Jiang Wan. That girl's hands were as fast as lightning, leaving him no room to maneuver.
Jiang Wan held Cheng Sinian's hand and carefully took his pulse, while also releasing a trace of her special ability to flow through his meridians.
Strange, his body seemed fine, but why was his heart rate getting faster and faster?
Did this fellow have a heart condition?
But her special ability had examined his heart multiple times, yet found no problem.
Cheng Sinian felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his throat. The hand Jiang Wan was holding was also becoming increasingly hot.
He wished Jiang Wan would keep holding his hand like this.
But the next moment, Jiang Wan released his hand and stood up. "Cheng Sinian, come with me to my mother's medical clinic."
Cheng Sinian was a bit slow to react. "Ah?"
Jiang Wan's expression was a little serious. "I suspect you might have some strange illness. Let my mother take a look at you."
Chen Yuezhi had officially graduated and opened a medical clinic in Yao County two years ago.
Divine Doctor Jin had also announced two years prior that he was too old to practice medicine. As his direct disciple, Chen Yuezhi naturally became the most renowned physician in the Jiangnan region, with long queues of people seeking treatment daily.
Cheng Sinian hurriedly shook his head, "I'm really not sick, there's no need to see a doctor."
It wasn't an illness, and there was no need for Aunt Jiang to examine him. If Aunt Jiang discovered something, how would he be able to face anyone?
Fearing that Jiang Wan would drag him to Chen Yuezhi without a second word, Cheng Sinian said hastily, "I have something to attend to. Wan Wan, please keep an eye on Jingnian for me and don't let him run around."
With that, he hurried away.
Jiang Wan called out behind him, "Hey, don't refuse treatment when you're ill!"
Cheng Sinian ran as if chased by a ghost. After escaping Pin Xiang Lou, he found a place to stop and catch his breath.
He raised the hand Jiang Wan had just held and grinned foolishly.
He decided he wouldn't wash his hands for the next few days! Jiang Wan had touched them!
He didn't know when he had started to like that bossy, overbearing girl. He only knew that he was becoming more accustomed to chasing after her and more eager to be by her side.
By the time he realized he had fallen for her, she had already firmly taken root in his heart.
He really wanted to confess his feelings to her, but he was terribly timid.
That girl hit very hard, and he worried that she didn't have feelings for him. If he confessed rashly, she would surely beat him up.
But if he didn't say anything, he worried that one day a young man might suddenly appear and whisk that little girl away.
Alas, why was he so cowardly?
Counting the days, the little girl would reach her coming-of-age ceremony in half a year. He wanted to gather the courage to confess his feelings to her then and finalize their engagement.
He needed to subtly let his mother know about this. His mother doted on that little girl so much, she would surely be delighted to have her as a daughter-in-law!
With a plan in mind, Cheng Sinian began counting the days, eagerly awaiting Jiang Wan's coming-of-age.
Little did Jiang Wan know that a young man was deeply infatuated with her. She was living a very happy life these days. Besides managing the teahouse, she had also planted a large number of precious medicinal herbs and rare flowers and trees.
Her income from selling medicinal herbs alone exceeded ten thousand taels of silver annually.
Now, she was a bona fide rich woman.
She had never considered marriage.
The status of women in ancient times was too low. After marriage, they were confined to the inner courtyards to manage the household, raise children, and serve their in-laws. She would never consider such a life.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to be a carefree rich woman for life?