“That’s great, the cultural center job is easy, and it seems all my efforts weren't in vain,” Jiang Ziyu said, genuinely happy for him.
He should have enjoyed such a leisurely life long ago; it was Song Hui’s greed that caused him to miss his chance.
Tao Ming clasped his hands behind his back and replied with a smile, “I refused. I’m old, I can’t handle the hustle anymore. Besides, after farming for most of my life, that little bit of knowledge no longer belongs to me.”
On the sofa inside, a backpack riddled with patches lay waiting. If it weren’t for the sudden visit from the education bureau, Tao Ming would have already been on his way home.
He picked up the backpack and looked at Jiang Ziyu sincerely, “Thank you. I can relax and enjoy my life for the rest of my days.”
Watching his carefree demeanor, Jiang Ziyu felt a surge of admiration.
Some people ruin their lives through greed, while others are magnanimous, transforming burdens into joy and living their lives well, even under immense pressure.
After seeing Tao Ming off, Jiang Ziyu felt influenced, and her own thoughts began to shift.
Upon returning to the imperial residence, as her foot touched the living room floor, a somber question emanated from the sofa.
“Where have you been?”
Jiang Ziyu remained silent, quietly changing her shoes.
Di Mingjue mistook her silence for defiance, but his keen nose detected a familiar scent.
“Alright, so now you’ve learned to ignore me!”
“It’s time to give me my acupuncture!”
Jiang Ziyu went to Di Mingjue’s side and pushed his wheelchair upstairs.
Entering the room, Jiang Ziyu took out her needle bag. After sterilizing, she precisely inserted needles of varying thickness into Di Mingjue’s head.
“Thank you for dealing with the Song family matter.”
Jiang Ziyu had already guessed that the influential figure who brought down the Song family was Di Mingjue.
Di Mingjue let out a cold snort, his voice laced with awkward sarcasm, “I never expected your sharp tongue, which can infuriate people to death, would also know how to say thank you!”
The smugness on his lips actually put Jiang Ziyu at ease. “The information you gave me helped me retaliate against the Song family, so I should express my gratitude. However, let me be clear from the start: asking me to keep my distance from Qianqian is impossible.”
Qianqian was her child, whom she had carried for ten months and given birth to with great hardship. If the circumstances hadn't been so dire at the time, she wouldn’t have let Qianqian be separated from her.
“You!” Di Mingjue was enraged by her words.
If she didn't keep her distance, how would Qianqian’s birth mother connect with her and maintain a relationship when she returned?
Di Mingjue took a deep, ragged breath and reprimanded, “Don’t forget we have a one-year contract. Besides the identity of Mrs. Di, you hold no real power.”
No matter how he tried to remind her, Jiang Ziyu remained unfazed. No one could change what she had already decided.
Setting down the needle bag, she said, “There are still needles in my head. If you don’t want to die suddenly, you should relax.”
The urge to retort surged within him, but Di Mingjue forcibly suppressed his resentment.
He’d deal with her once his eyesight was restored!
Jiang Ziyu saw through his petty schemes. She checked the placement of the needles, ensuring there were no issues, and then left Di Mingjue alone.
The argument in the afternoon had left her worried about Qianqian, and she couldn’t stop thinking about her.
She went to the adjacent room and found Qianqian awake.
The child had lost the cheerfulness from the morning, sitting morosely on the bed, clutching a stuffed toy. Even upon seeing Jiang Ziyu, she showed no reaction.
Jiang Ziyu closed the door and approached her with a smile. “When did you wake up, Qianqian? Are you hungry?”
Qianqian drooped her head, offering no reply.
It seemed the argument in the afternoon had deeply hurt her.
Jiang Ziyu regretted it. Why had she hurt the person she cared about the most just to have the last word?
After some thought, she sat cross-legged opposite Qianqian. Catching Qianqian’s gaze, Jiang Ziyu reached out and touched the stuffed toy in her embrace.
“Mommy and Daddy weren’t fighting this afternoon, we just raised our voices because we had different opinions,” Jiang Ziyu said. “You’re still young, Qianqian, and can’t quite understand how adults handle things. But I can promise you, no matter what happens, I will always be by your side.”
Having said that, she held Qianqian’s hand.
Qianqian didn’t struggle, allowing Jiang Ziyu to hold her.
“Don’t be afraid of kindergarten either. It’s different from before. There’s a fun swing, and lots of friendly children. Perhaps there will even be some pleasant surprises.”
“Don’t be scared, Qianqian. With Mommy here, no one can bully you.”
Jiang Ziyu seized the opportunity to pull her into a hug. Qianqian squirmed in her arms, lifting her face to look at her.
Perhaps it was a mother-daughter connection, but Jiang Ziyu understood Qianqian’s unspoken message through her actions.
“The kindergarten we visited today, I’ve been there many times. If you trust Mommy, you won’t be disappointed,” Jiang Ziyu promised confidently.
Sincerity was always a winning strategy.
Qianqian recalled the joy of playing on the swing that afternoon and the aunt who always wore a warm smile. These were things she had never experienced at her previous kindergarten.
She wriggled out of Jiang Ziyu’s embrace, ran barefoot to the desk, and retrieved paper and a pen.
“I want to go to school tomorrow.”