Chapter 245: 245: New Year’s Eve Dog Food – The Pinnacle of Jiang Zhi’s Life (4 updates)

She thought for a few seconds, “No.”

Although she was angry that he deceived her, what made her even more furious was that he had completely forgotten what happened in the bathtub.

Xue Baoyi was still clueless, “Then why?”

The nerve to even ask.

She was too ashamed to say it, “Wait until you know what I’m angry about, then come talk to me.”

Where was he supposed to find out?

“Xue Baoyi.”

“Mm.” Feeling his full name being called out felt pretty good, he probably, like his Uncle Xue Bingxue, was a bit of a masochist.

Fang Lixiang hesitated to ask, looking away at something else, “When you said you wanted to pursue me, were you serious?” It wasn’t that she was overly suspicious, but this guy had too many priors!

Every other day, he was either bringing a girl to a hotel to play mahjong or taking a girl to the beach for a swim. In the rake’s ledger of Imperial City, if he was second, no one dared claim the first spot.

Xue Baoyi suddenly became earnest, “Do you think I’m joking?”

She didn’t know if he was joking, but she never played with emotions, “I don’t like toying with feelings. If you provoke me, get ready to take responsibility. If you can’t settle down, then don’t come and shake my resolve.”

Having made her stance clear, she rolled up the car window and drove away.

On New Year’s Eve, the snow that had been falling for several days stopped, and the morning even saw a bit of sunshine, melting half of the snow. In the morning, Jiang Zhi accompanied Zhou Xufang to buy some New Year’s goods, mostly food, as well as some festive items. Zhou Xufang also picked out a potted tangerine tree, symbolizing good fortune and attracting wealth. The tree was laden with bright oranges, which looked appetizing to Zhou Xufang, but the seller said the fruits weren’t edible.

She placed the potted tree outside in the hallway, hanging red envelopes on it with auspicious numbers written on bills inside each one.

It was Zhou Xufang’s first time doing this, and she found it quite novel.

Just after lunch, Zhou Xufang urged Jiang Zhi to hang up the couplets.

His arms and legs were long, and he could reach the top of the door just by stepping on a stool. He compared the placement against the doorframe and then asked Zhou Xufang, “Is it crooked?”

Zhou Xufang was squatting on the ground, steadying the stool, looking up at the crosspiece on the door, “The left side is a little higher.”

So Jiang Zhi lowered the left side a bit, “How about now?”

“It’s fine now.”

Jiang Zhi affixed the red couplets with black characters and turned around to see Zhou Xufang reaching out her hands to him.

“What are you doing?”

Her expression was serious, her movements proper, “I’m scared you’ll fall.”

Jiang Zhi, standing on the stool, looked at the girl doing her best to catch him, amused, “This stool is only twenty centimeters tall.”

With his height over one meter eighty, would he really fall from a twenty-centimeter-tall stool?

“I’m still worried you’ll fall.” Zhou Xufang was unrelenting, stretching her arms out in readiness to catch him.

Jiang Zhi stepped down with one foot, embracing the silly girl who had come to support his waist, “Did you rub honey on your lips? You always say what I want to hear.”

He kissed her on the lips.

“Jiang Zhi,” she placed her hands on his shoulders, “today is New Year’s.”

Behind her was the tangerine tree, with the bright oranges growing right behind her head. Because it was New Year’s, she wore a bright red sweatshirt, standing on her tiptoes, the shirt hiked up, revealing the red sweater underneath.

She said it was festive to wear that way.

“I’m very happy.”

You could tell, she had been smiling since the morning.

Jiang Zhi straightened her clothes, “Why are you so happy?”

She hugged his neck, planting kisses on his face, “I used to spend it alone, without hanging couplets, without having a New Year’s Eve dinner, with no one to accompany me.”

But this year was different; this year she had Jiang Zhi.

He led her into the house.

The house had many more pieces of furniture now, and many of his belongings, not as cold and empty as before. After his arrival, her room came alive with the warmth of human life.

“At three, I’ve got plans with Baoyi,”

There was still an hour to go.

She didn’t speak, her chin resting on his shoulder.

Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear, his voice low, “Shall we go to the bathroom?”

She obediently replied, “Sure.”

At three o’clock, Jiang Zhi pushed aside Xue Baoyi’s game, and the cellphone on the sink began to ring, a call from Qiao Nanchu. Jiang Zhi freed one hand to answer.

“What are you doing?”

The sound of running water echoed in the bathroom.

“If it’s important, just say it.”

Qiao Nanchu teased, “Am I interrupting something?”

The water was still running, and Jiang Zhi, lacking patience for idle chat, curtly said, “If you have nothing to say, I’m hanging up.”

Qiao Nanchu got down to business, “Are you going to the Jiang family’s tonight?”

“Mmhmm.”

His answer was distracted.

Guessing that Zhou Xufang was probably next to him, Qiao Nanchu cut to the chase, “I also need to go back to the old man’s place for New Year’s Eve dinner. Send Zhou Xufang over to my girlfriend’s place so they can have some company.”

“I’ll ask her.”

Jiang Zhi covered the phone’s mouthpiece and asked Zhou Xufang, “Do you want to go?”

She leaned against the sink and nodded.

Jiang Zhi put the phone to his ear and told Qiao Nanchu, “I’ll bring her over at five.”

After he hung up, he turned off the tap and handed Zhou Xufang a dry towel to wipe her hands, which were small, with very slender fingers.

Her palms were red.

Zhou Xufang looked down, too shy to meet his gaze.

He smiled and kissed her hand.

Because Jiang Zhi hadn’t attended Xue Baoyi’s invitation, he was nagged at length for forgetting his brothers now that he had a wife. Feeling amiable, Jiang Zhi took it all and offered no rebuttals.

At five in the afternoon, he dropped Zhou Xufang off at Wen Baiyang’s residential complex.

Upon reaching Wen Baiyang’s floor, Jiang Zhi decided not to go any further, “I won’t come in.” He handed her the gift box he was holding, “This is a gift for Qiao Nanchu’s girlfriend.”

Zhou Xufang nodded, “Are you heading back to the Jiang family now?” She was reluctant to see him go.

Jiang Zhi touched her wind-chilled, reddened cheek, “Yes, the old lady is already urging me.”

Zhou Xufang let go of her embrace, her eyes brimming with reluctance, “The roads are snowy, please be careful when driving.”

“Okay.” Jiang Zhi instructed her, “Don’t go home by yourself after dinner; I’ll come to pick you up once I’m finished over there.”

Zhou Xufang agreed, then added, “If your grandma won’t let you leave, don’t argue with her. If you can’t come out, I’ll come find you at the Jiang’s.”

“Alright, I’ll do as you say.” Jiang Zhi stood in the corridor, “Go inside.” He wanted to wait until she entered before leaving.

Wen Baiyang’s door was just four or five meters ahead, and Zhou Xufang walked toward it hesitantly, constantly looking back.

Jiang Zhi chuckled, then pulled her back to his side, “You’ll miss me that much?”

“Yes.” She would miss him terribly.

Jiang Zhi bent down to kiss her.

At that moment, a mother and son emerged from a neighboring home, walking right into the scene.

The little boy, only three or four, at that curious yet oblivious age, stared wide-eyed, “Mommy, what are those two people doing?”

The young mother shielded her child’s eyes with her hand, “Baby, close your eyes, you shouldn’t look.”

The little boy sounded scared, on the verge of tears, “I just saw it, mommy, am I going to get a sty?”)

Zhou Xufang was mortified, burying her face in Jiang Zhi’s embrace, unable to lift her head as he laughed.

After loitering for a while longer, Jiang Zhi left.

Zhou Xufang knocked on Wen Baiyang’s door and, remembering she couldn’t hear, sent a text message; soon after, Wen Baiyang came to open the door.

Wen Baiyang’s home was warmly decorated, filled with many handcrafted doodads she’d made. Because it was New Year’s, most of them were festive red.

She was the most dexterous and spiritually gifted girl Zhou Xufang had ever seen.

“Happy New Year,” Zhou Xufang greeted.

Wen Baiyang replied in sign language, “Happy New Year.”

Zhou Xufang remembered this sign. She had a good memory; she could recall most of the signs that Wen Baiyang showed her one or two times and understand simple everyday conversations. Only more complicated matters required Wen Baiyang to write by hand.

“I’ve made some tea, would you like some?”

Zhou Xufang said, “Yes.”

Wen Baiyang, wrapped in a scarf, went to the dining table to bring over the teapot and a few boxes of snacks, all of which she had made herself, arranged exquisitely on the plates.

Zhou Xufang took a sip of the warm tea, “It’s very tasty.”

Wen Baiyang typed on her phone, “I made it myself, and there’s plenty more. Would you like to take some home to drink?”

Zhou Xufang nodded, “Thank you.”

She tasted a piece of the snack, and it too was particularly good.

Her good friend was not only gifted and dexterous with her hands but also particularly good at cooking. Whoever married such a girl must have amassed a fortune of good karma over many lifetimes.

The dexterous and culinarily skilled Wen Baiyang pointed towards the kitchen.

Zhou Xufang stood up from the sofa, “I’ll help you.”

“Then help me pick the vegetables.”

“Okay.”

By seven o’clock in the evening, the whole Jiang family had arrived, and people from a few side branches had also come. Two tables were set up in the main hall, covered with various nuts and snacks.

Old Lady Jiang had someone brew two pots of Da Hong Pao and chatted leisurely with a few of the elders from the side branches. The younger generation sat properly, either listening quietly or chiming in with the conversation.

Only Jiang Zhi was the least concerned about manners, slouching carelessly, head bowed, not looking up for a long time.

Old Lady Jiang called out to him, “Brother Zhi.”

“Um.” He didn’t look up but responded verbally.

If it were someone else, Old Madam would have been angry by now, but she couldn’t bring herself to scold this grandson, “What are you doing? Why are you always looking at your phone?”

Jiang Zhi replied, “I’m busy with something.”

Zhou Xufang said she was making dumplings at Wen Baiyang’s place and asked him what kind of filling he liked to eat.

Not mentioning what he was busy with, Old Madam assumed it was business affairs, “It’s the New Year; put the work aside.”

Jiang Zhi responded to Zhou Xufang with, “Whatever you make is fine.”

Only then did he put his phone down.

After more idle chatter, Old Lady Jiang instructed the servants to clear the tables and set up for the meal. During this interlude, she addressed the Jiang family, “I have something to tell you.”

Jiang Weikai, sitting to Old Madam’s right, said, “Mother, please speak.”

The younger members also listened attentively.

Old Madam took her seat, dressed in a bright red embroidered robe, her hair done up in a bun secured with a jade pin, holding a hand warmer. The elderly lady exuded vitality and keenness, her eyes sharp, “After the spring, when Brother Zhi is feeling better, I plan to transfer all the company shares under his father’s name back to him.”

Before the Old Sir of Jiang Family passed away, the Jiang family’s shares were divided into six parts, one for the wife and one for each of the five children. Jiang Zhi’s father passed away early, and the shares for their third branch had always been managed by Old Lady Jiang. After Jiang Zhi came of age, Old Madam had mentioned letting Jiang Zhi take over, but since he had gone off to become a director, the matter had been on hold for so long.

Luo Changfang from the second branch chimed in with Old Madam, “That’s good, Xiaolin will have someone to help him and lighten his load.”

A veiled reference to the main branch holding too much power.

With one comment, the focus shifted to the main branch, but neither father nor son from the main branch said anything. Jiang Weikai had entered officialdom and did not get involved in business affairs, while Jiang Xiaolin was someone who could keep his composure; his emotions never showed on the surface, keeping everything under wraps.

Old Madam didn’t criticize the main branch, just said, “Whether he takes a position in the company, we will see. However,” her gaze swept over everyone present, and then she stated decisively, “even if he doesn’t join the company, any company movements that should be reported to him still need to be reported. Don’t forget that.”

Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli, who held authority, both nodded in acknowledgment.

“Lin,” Old Madam suddenly turned to the eldest grandson, “I heard from your father that you haven’t been to any matchmaking meetings?”

Jiang Xiaolin paused in his tea-drinking, frowning.

The Jiang family had deep roots and still held many old values and practices. As the eldest son of the main family, Jiang Xiaolin’s marriage had always been pushed urgently. The older generation of the Jiang Family did not advocate for marrying late. One should marry at a proper age and then establish a career.

The eldest son beside Old Madam spoke up, clearly annoyed, “It irks me to speak of this.” Jiang Weikai glared at his disobedient son, “The boy stood the girl up, and I still can’t face President Zhang to this day.”

The girl in question was the daughter of a banking family, whose looks and demeanor Old Madam had seen and approved of; both her appearance and conduct were impeccable. She asked her eldest grandson, “You weren’t satisfied with Miss Zhang from the Zhang family?”

Jiang Xiaolin didn’t let on, “There’s no rush on this matter.” Dressed in formal attire, he looked cultured and confident as he casually tossed the conversation to the person across from him, “Fifth Aunt isn’t even married yet, so it’s early days for me to be setting up a household.”

Jiang Wei’er: “…”

She crushed a peanut in her hand, just like Jiang Zhi, she was also the bluntest little ancestor in the family, “What’s it got to do with me!” She cast a cool glance at Jiang Xiaolin, “Lin, that’s not very nice of you, dragging me into this.”

Jiang Xiaolin just smiled without replying.

At that moment, the second oldest Jiang Weili chimed in, half teasing yet serious, “Lin’s not wrong, Wei’er, I think the third of the Xue Family is quite good, why not give it a try?”

The elders all understood the implications regarding the third son of the Xue Family towards Jiang Wei’er, their thoughts as clear as a mirror.

Jiang Wei’er wasn’t happy with her private matters being discussed so openly and got a bit angry, “What’s the meaning of this, on New Year’s Day of all days? Can’t we just have a peaceful meal?”

Old Lady Jiang cut off the topic and ordered the servants to start serving the meal.

Before a few bites were eaten, Jiang Zhi started coughing, weakened and drained by the bout, he leaned listlessly against the chair.

Old Lady Jiang saw his flushed cheeks and became very concerned, “Are you feeling unwell?”

His eyes were slightly moist, his coughing had made his ears turn red, and his face had flushed, but his lips were pale, he replied weakly to the Old Madam, “It’s cold, feeling a bit sleepy.”

The old lady quickly said, “Then you should go rest first, I’ll have someone bring dinner to your room.”

“No need to bring it, I can’t eat.” He pushed himself up, wrapped tightly in his thick coat, “I’m going to sleep. Keep the firecrackers further away later, don’t disturb me.”

Old Lady Jiang agreed and had someone escort him back to his room.

“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough…”

As he walked, he kept coughing, his hanging hands slightly curled, the tips of his fingers reddened, the pale skin beneath showing barely visible blue veins.

A relative from a side branch hesitated to speak, “Brother Zhi’s health–”

His words were left unfinished, stilled by Old Lady Jiang’s stern gaze.

‘Unwell’ Jiang Zhi returned to his room, locked the door, and messaged Zhou Xufang on WeChat.

Fangbao’s Boyfriend: “Have you finished eating?”

Zhou Xufang replied quickly.

Fangbao: “Not yet.”

Fangbao: “Bai Yang made a lot of dishes.”

Fangbao: “What about you, have you eaten?”

Fangbao’s Boyfriend: “I’m not hungry, want to see you.” He couldn’t stomach a meal with the Jiang Family around, their minds buzzing like a hornet’s nest.

Fangbao: “Can you make it out?”

Jiang Zhi walked to the door, listening for a moment, then replied to Zhou Xufang, “I’m coming to find you now.”

Knowing he was coming made Zhou Xufang very happy, who sent a grinning emoji.

Fangbao: “Bai Yang made a lot of dumplings, shall I cook some for you when I get home?”

Fangbao’s Boyfriend: “Okay.”

Before Jiang Zhi left, he made sure to lock his room securely, instructing the servants that no one was to disturb him, and then left through the back door. Just as he stepped across the threshold, someone called out to him.

“Brother Zhi.”

It was Jiang Fuxi, holding an umbrella. She walked over, “It’s going to snow, take the umbrella with you.”

Jiang Zhi’s tone was neither warm nor cold, “No need, I have one in the car.”

Her hand holding the umbrella gripped tighter.

On this overcast day, Jiang Zhi stood under the bright red lanterns, his tall figure casting a long shadow. His skin was pale, the light casting a faint blush on his face while his eyes held an intense depth, radiating a distant coolness, “Don’t tell grandma you’ve seen me here.”

She said, “I know.”

Jiang Zhi then left.

She called out to him, “Are you going to see Zhou Xufang?”

He replied, displeased, “Mind your own business.”

He had never been warm to her.

Jiang Fuxi didn’t ask any further, only saying, “Be careful on your way.”

He turned and walked away, growing more distant with each step.