Chapter 80: The Visit

Chapter 80: The Visit

Outside the City Walls.

Noon.

"Younger brother, why are you back today?" Jiang Li exclaimed in surprise upon seeing Jiang Ning's figure at the courtyard entrance.

"I was a little worried, so I came back to check on things!" Jiang Ning replied.

"What's there to worry about?" Jiang Li smiled and said, "Everything has been fine these days, and yesterday Xu Yunfeng came by and said the case has new developments. That matter is completely unrelated to me now."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

With the matter resolved, it was now in the past.

Thinking of this, he silently thanked Shen Congyun in his heart.

If not for Shen Congyun's intervention, how could the Cao family have resolved the issue?

Just then, a baby-like voice called out from the main house, "Dudu!"

"Little Dumpling!" Jiang Ning's face immediately lit up with a smile.

Hearing Jiang Ning's voice, Little Dumpling eagerly spread her arms and toddled towards him, "Dudu hug!"

Jiang Ning squatted down and scooped her up into his arms.

"Dudu, Dumpling misses you so much!" Little Dumpling beamed with happiness, rubbing her plump cheeks against him.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but laugh, "I've missed you too, Little Dumpling, so I came back!"

"Yay!"

Jiang Li watched this scene unfold, his face also filled with joy.

"Younger brother, are you eating at home or going back to the Martial Arts Academy for lunch?"

"I'll eat at home!" Jiang Ning said.

"Good!" Jiang Li nodded, "I'll ask your sister-in-law to prepare a special meal for you, and we'll slaughter that old hen!"

"No!" Jiang Ning quickly stopped him, "Just a simple meal is fine. I've been eating rich food at the Martial Arts Academy every day, and I'm getting tired of it! Moreover, Little Dumpling and Yaming are both growing, and if we kill the hen, where will they get eggs to eat?"

"You don't have to worry about that!" Jiang Li said, "According to a colleague I met yesterday, my compensation will be coming soon, and we'll have money then!"

Little Dumpling pressed her face against Jiang Ning's shoulder and chimed in, "Dudu, Dumpling wants chicken legs!"

"You!" Jiang Ning gently rubbed her nose.

Jiang Li turned and headed towards the kitchen.

An hour later.

"Younger brother, the chicken soup is ready!" Jiang Li carried a bowl of chicken soup and quickly approached Jiang Ning.

"I'll get it!" Jiang Ning quickly stood up and took the bowl of chicken soup from Jiang Li in two strides.

Then he said, "Big brother, you shouldn't do this kind of work with your injured hand! Sit down, and I'll help you bring the dishes."

Jiang Li smiled, "It's just a bowl of soup, nothing difficult!"

As he spoke, he obediently sat down on the stool.

At this moment, Jiang Ning placed the bowl of chicken soup on the dining table.

"Whoosh—"

He quickly blew on his red, scorched fingers, then rubbed them on his body.

The stinging pain in his fingers immediately subsided.

"Dudu, I'll blow on it for you too!" Little Dumpling watched this and said, swinging her legs back and forth on the stool.

Jiang Li smiled, "You haven't mastered your fist technique yet! Your hands don't have thick calluses."

Jiang Ning also smiled, "Big brother, I'll go and bring the rest of the dishes."

"Dudu, don't worry! Dumpling isn't that clumsy!" Little Dumpling sniffed and hummed.

A moment later.

"We can start eating!" Liu Wanwan placed the last dish on the table and asked, "Do you want some wine?"

Hearing this, Jiang Li's eyes lit up, "Madam, do we have wine at home?"

"I got some wine from our neighbor, Elder Ge, when I saw you were back," Liu Wanwan explained.

Jiang Li looked at Jiang Ning, "Younger brother, do you want some wine?"

"Sure!" Jiang Ning replied.

Jiang Li's face lit up with joy, and he immediately turned to Liu Wanwan, "Thank you, Madam! I haven't had wine in a long time, and I've been craving it these days. Thanks to you, younger brother, I can finally satisfy my craving."

"Daddy, drink less later," Little Dumpling said in a baby-like voice.

"Okay! I'll listen to you, Dumpling," Jiang Li said with a hearty laugh.

Little Dumpling happily shook her little legs upon hearing this.

Jiang Ning sat beside them, "Is it because big brother doesn't have money to buy wine?"

Jiang Li scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "That's one reason, but mainly, your sister-in-law is strict and won't give me coins to buy wine."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning understood the situation.

Previously, his big brother had borrowed 100 taels of silver from him to join the Canglang Martial Arts Academy, and later, he somehow obtained 20 taels of silver and asked someone to deliver it to him.

Now, without his salary and with the recent targeting by Cao Bin and the delay in compensation, the family was naturally in financial difficulty.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning sighed inwardly.

For his big brother's sake, he needed to find a way to make some money quickly.

Just then, a voice called out from outside.

"Brother Li—"

"Brother Li—"

Several calls echoed from outside the house.

"It's Yang Zong!" Jiang Li's expression froze slightly. "Younger brother, you stay here, and I'll go check it out."

"I'll go with you, big brother!" Jiang Ning said, and he also stood up.

The two of them stepped out of the house and saw two people standing at the courtyard entrance.

One of them looked young and innocent, not even twenty years old, wearing a patrol officer's uniform and a long sword hanging at his waist.

The other person was much older, with wrinkles on his face, probably in his forties, wearing a captain's uniform and carrying a long sword.

"Chief Inspector Feng!" Jiang Li recognized them and quickly walked over.

"There's no need to be so uptight!" said the leader of the group, Feng Chief Inspector.

Jiang Ning observed the two men, and then he noticed Feng Chief Inspector's gaze shift from Jiang Li to him.

At that moment, a glint flashed in Feng Chief Inspector's eyes as he looked at Jiang Ning.

"Jiang Li, this must be your younger brother, right?"

Jiang Li patted his head, "Oh, I forgot to introduce him to Chief Inspector Feng."

Then, he raised his hand towards Jiang Ning, "Chief Inspector Feng is right, this is indeed my younger brother, Jiang Ning."

After that, he raised his hand towards Feng Chief Inspector and addressed Jiang Ning, "Little brother, this is Chief Inspector Feng, also my superior."

Jiang Ning cupped his hands respectfully, "I've met Chief Inspector Feng!"

Feng Chief Inspector waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no! I'm just a small fry in the county office, how could I be called 'Chief Inspector' by a young man like you?"

"With the recognition of Lord Shen, your future is bound to soar. A small county like Luoshui can't hold back a rising talent like you."

"I really can't accept the title of 'Chief Inspector,' it makes me feel unworthy."

As Feng Chief Inspector spoke these words, Jiang Li looked at him in surprise, then glanced at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning: "..."

Then, seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Jiang Li quickly spoke up.

"Chief Inspector Feng, it's just the right time for lunch. Why don't you join us?"

Feng Chief Inspector smiled, "I didn't expect you to have your meal so late. If I had known, I would have come later, so as not to disturb your lunch."

Jiang Li shook his head repeatedly, "No disturbance, no disturbance! It's just adding a pair of chopsticks, how could that be considered a disturbance?"

Then, Jiang Li said with some discomfort, "Chief Inspector Feng, just call me Jiang Li like before!"

Feng Chief Inspector laughed, "You've been working under me for years, calling you by your name feels a bit distant. Calling you 'younger brother' is more appropriate, showing the closeness between us."

"If anyone dares to look down on you because of your injury, I'll stand up for you."

Jiang Li said, "Thank you for your concern, Chief Inspector Feng."

Feng Chief Inspector smiled, "It's the least I can do!"

Then he continued, "As for lunch, it's not necessary. I've already eaten before coming. I came to find you because I have something to discuss."

"It's quite a coincidence to meet Jiang Ning here, seems like fate is at play." As he said this, Feng Chief Inspector's gaze fell on Jiang Ning again, and a kind expression appeared on his face.

Jiang Li looked at Jiang Ning and Feng Chief Inspector, then said, "Since you've already eaten, let's have some drinks! My wife brought some wine, so we can chat while we eat."

"Sounds good!" Feng Chief Inspector agreed.

Then, they all entered the main room.

After taking their seats, Liu Wanwan placed the drinks on the table and picked up Little Bean.

"You guys eat, I'll take Little Bean inside first."

Then she said, "Little Bean, take some food from the table to eat!"

At this moment, Little Bean pouted at the chicken leg in the bowl, her eyes glistening with tears.

Jiang Ning said, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for that, let's all sit and eat together!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li glanced at Feng Chief Inspector.

Having worked under Feng Chief Inspector for many years, he knew that Feng Chief Inspector had a habit of never eating with women, showing a strong preference for men over women.

The last time Feng Chief Inspector came for a meal, Liu Wanwan was aware of this and chose to eat separately.

Today, when Jiang Ning spoke up, a fleeting displeasure flashed across Feng Chief Inspector's eyes.

But he immediately put on a smile, "Jiang Ning is right, let's eat together! Little Nannan is about to cry from hunger."

"And let's have your younger sister join us too!"

"When eating at home, there's no need for so many rules. Just do what feels comfortable!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li was surprised.

He had expected Feng Chief Inspector to show displeasure, but he never imagined that he would change his attitude so quickly and agree with what his younger brother said.

"My younger brother sure has a lot of influence!" Jiang Li thought to himself.

He now understood that Feng Chief Inspector was being so friendly because of his younger brother.

Otherwise, why would he, a half-disabled man, receive such kindness and be addressed as 'younger brother' by Feng Chief Inspector?

In the past, even after years of working under Feng Chief Inspector and making contributions, Feng Chief Inspector had never shown such warmth.

Not to mention calling him 'younger brother.'

Moreover, after Jiang Li's injury, Feng Chief Inspector had been indifferent and had not inquired about his well-being, as if the incident never happened.

The pension that should have been issued was delayed.

A few days ago, when Jiang Li's family was arrested, Feng Chief Inspector didn't show up.

But today, their reunion was completely different.

"My younger brother has grown up, he can now support the family. I can finally rest easy!" Jiang Li felt a sense of relief.

At this moment, Liu Wanwan looked at Jiang Li.

Jiang Li smiled and reassured Liu Wanwan.

"Sister-in-law, please sit and eat with us!"

"Okay!" Liu Wanwan nodded.

She placed Little Bean on the stool and sat down beside her.

Then, Jiang Ning picked up the large chicken leg from his bowl and placed it in Little Bean's bowl.

"Thank you, Dudu!" Little Bean giggled, showing her white teeth.

Then, she also tried to pick up a chicken leg with all her might, her trembling hands indicating her effort.

"Dudu wants one too!"

"Sure!" Jiang Ning held out his bowl and caught the chicken leg Little Bean picked up, then smiled and rubbed her head.

Watching the scene at the table, Liu Wanwan and Feng Chief Inspector both smiled sincerely.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end