"Does Crown Prince Song and third sister have any arrangements next? If not, we can go to the glass factory today. If we leave now, we can still make it for lunch at the canteen." Song Xun looked at her brother expectantly.
Song Ze faced Xie Jiang and asked, "Will it be too much trouble for Young Master Xie?"
Xie Jiang smiled and replied, "It just so happens that I also need to go to the glass factory, so it's on the way."
With that, he called out to someone outside the door. Once the carriage and horses were ready, they set off for the glass factory.
Xu Hengyi noticed that Song Xun kept staring at Xie Jiang. Don't think that because she was leaning against the carriage window, secretly lifting a corner of the curtain, no one would notice.
"Cough..."
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Xu Hengyi wanted to remind her to restrain herself. One might not know the heart of a person by looking at their face; a wolf could be disguised as a sheep.
Unexpectedly, Song Xun ignored his reminder. When she finally looked his way, her words almost choked Xu Hengyi to death.
"Are you sick? Why do you keep coughing?"
Song Xun's childish voice was sweet, soft, and gentle. Xu Hengyi felt it was unreasonable to be angry; how could someone so sweet and cute be scolding him?
Xie Jiang found Xu Hengyi to be in the way, blocking Song Xun's view of her. She flicked a whip at his horse's hindquarters, and there was no longer any obstruction between her and Song Xun.
Song Xun opened her mouth to her, silently calling out, "Second Sister."
Xie Jiang nodded, indicating she had heard.
One day, Song Xun would be able to call her sister openly.
Song Xun's nose stung, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Fearing that she couldn't hide her emotions and be noticed by those who were paying attention, Song Xun quickly lowered the curtain and sat back. A warm hand landed on her small head, and Song Xun instinctively leaned closer to Song Ze.
"Brother, I'm so happy today..."
And also so sad.
Song Ze stroked her head and said softly, "We are all very happy today."
Second Sister is also very happy to see you.
Xie Jiang, riding her horse, looked up at the sky, the corners of her eyes and lips curving into a faint arc.
At this moment, Xie Jiang was in a very good mood.
She couldn't quite explain her feelings for the Song family.
Did she see the Song family as a spiritual or emotional anchor in this world?
Or was there truly a connection of flesh and blood, a bond of kinship?
It didn't matter.
In this life, she was a member of the Song family anyway.
Xu Hengyi rode his horse back, his face dark as he looked at Xie Jiang. Not wanting the Song siblings to hear, he said in a low voice, "Be a decent person and don't deceive the young girl."
Xie Jiang retorted, "Are you jealous?"
Xu Hengyi said, "Speak human!"
Li Chi, who was guarding the carriage, looked at the road ahead and said in a low voice towards the carriage, "We should be reaching the glass factory soon."
Song Xun suddenly thought of something and lifted the curtain again, even sticking her head out.
"Are those the legendary head towers?"
Looking at the scene by the roadside, Song Xun showed no fear, only curiosity.
"You know about them?"
Xie Jiang hadn't expected her little sister to have such courage.
"The origin of the head towers has spread to the capital. The bandits of Huanglan Mountain retaliated against Young Master Xie and wanted to rob his glass factory. As a result, over a thousand bandits were wiped out."
Song Xun leaned by the carriage window, counting the number of head towers as she spoke to Xie Jiang.
Xu Hengyi asked her, "Why are you counting them?"
"Rumors are often absurd. Without seeing it with my own eyes, I can't fully believe it. I'm seeing if there are that many." Song Xun glanced at him and continued counting with her chubby hands.
Xu Hengyi felt a little guilty under her gaze. The little girl's bright, cat-like eyes seemed to speak.
For a moment, Xu Hengyi actually felt that the little girl was a bit like Xie Jiang.
Both were subtly criticizing his elder brother.
"Aren't you scared seeing so many heads, little girl?"
"They're already dead, what's there to be afraid of? Are they scarier than the living?" It's better for those who want to bully her second sister to be dead and gone.
"..."
The carriage stopped outside the main gate of the glass factory. Xu Hengyi couldn't help but glance at the carriage window again. "Are you done counting?"
Song Xun said, "Over eight hundred heads. Young Master Xie, did I count correctly?"
Xie Jiang nodded, "Yes."
Song Xun said, "I knew rumors were unreliable. The number of bandits was just over eight hundred, but it doubled by the time it reached the capital."
The siblings got off the carriage one after another.
Xie Jiang and Xu Hengyi also dismounted.
Xie Jiang led everyone slowly into the glass factory.
Luo Shou, who was diligently trying to be Young Master Xie's follower, couldn't help but marvel at the gate of the glass factory.
Song Xun asked as they walked, "Young Master Xie, everyone in the capital says you have a deep hatred for the bandits of Huanglan Mountain and have sworn to exterminate them. Is that true?"
Xie Jiang said indifferently, "If they say so, then so be it."
Song Xun worriedly asked, "Then are you really going to exterminate them? The bandits of Huanglan Mountain are notorious, and you don't have any troops."
Xie Jiang smiled mysteriously at Song Xun, "As for troops, when you want them, they will naturally appear."
Song Xun nodded, as if she understood but not quite. Her second sister didn't seem worried at all, as if everything was under control, so she and her brother felt reassured.
Xu Hengyi, upon hearing Xie Jiang's words, was very curious. "What do you mean, when you want them, they will appear? Why don't I have them when I want them? Could you summon heavenly soldiers and generals to help you?"
Xie Jiang said, "Since you're so curious, just wait and see."
Tian Kangtai led them directly to the canteen of the glass factory.
By this time, the workers had finished their meals, and the canteen was empty with few people. Tian Kangtai invited them into a private room.
Xu Hengyi looked around. "Your kitchen has private rooms? Old Tian, you have good treatment."
Tian Kangtai managed all the affairs of the glass factory, so Xu Hengyi naturally assumed that this comfortably furnished private room was for Tian Kangtai's daily use.
Tian Kangtai didn't explain, smiling as he ordered dishes to be served.
As the dishes were served one after another, Xu Hengyi's expression changed.
This was clearly the standard of Xie Jiang's daily meals. "Do the workers at the glass factory usually eat like this?"
Xie Jiang said, "This is the first time I'm seeing third sister. Can I let third sister eat simple fare on my territory?"
Song Xun's face was full of smiles, and her appetite was whetted at a glance. "It looks delicious. Young Master Xie has gone to great lengths."
Xu Hengyi was truly envious and jealous now. This scoundrel Xie Jiang was too extravagant; wherever he went, chefs followed!
Oh, no.
It should be said that before Xie Jiang moved, the chefs had already arrived.
However, despite the envy and jealousy, as long as there was food for him, he had no complaints.
It's just that today's meal was a bit bland.
The fish was carved into a flower, and as soon as it entered his mouth, it melted and slid into his stomach. The taste was truly exquisite.
Song Ze and Song Xun also praised the meal.
"It's not spicy at all," Xu Hengyi complained. The meal was delicious, but it lacked flavor.
He looked up at Song Ze and Song Xun opposite him and immediately understood. This meal was specially prepared for them.
After the meal, he asked Tian Kangtai to find someone to take the Song siblings on a tour of the factory.
Xie Jiang said goodbye to the siblings and went to the office with Tian Kangtai.
"Young Master, you were a hostage and in one go gained Yongfeng Village. So, do we still need our original plan to suppress the bandits?"
"The name of Yongfeng Village is enough."
"Then will our factory's goods still be shipped by sea?"