On the other side, Jiang Yuxin, who received the news, also got up early to dress up. Looking at the time, it was nine o'clock. She yawned with some annoyance. It was truly cold to go out in the dead of winter.
The room was heated, but it always felt cold.
However, upon thinking about today's plan, Jiang Yuxin felt revitalized.
She had been listless earlier, but now her spirits were much better.
She remembered that in winter, Mu Jiuchen would sit in the snow and daydream, lost in thought.
She would stand not too far behind him and play the violin. Her violin playing was excellent, but he had never praised her.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuxin's mood turned somewhat vexed.
After finishing everything, she also set off quickly.
The three of them set off around the same time and met at the entrance of the old mansion.
"Brother Chen, Nuannuan, what a coincidence." Jiang Yuxin walked towards them with a smile.
Upon seeing her, Mu Jiuchen frowned slightly with displeasure. Why was she everywhere?
"Nuannuan, you're here to see Grandpa too?" Jiang Yuxin looked at the pastry box in her hand with disdain in her heart.
At the old man's age, he should eat more tonics. Yet, she had only brought pastries.
How shabby!
"Mm!" Jiang Nuan's expression was distant.
"Oh! Yuxin, you're here."
Mu Xue walked out with a smile.
The moment she saw Jiang Nuan, her face instantly turned cold.
All three of them noticed this obvious attitude.
Mu Jiuchen and Jiang Nuan remained expressionless.
Jiang Yuxin was secretly pleased; she had always been likable.
"Come in, everyone." Mu Xue said, taking Jiang Yuxin's hand and leading her inside.
"Yuxin, you could have just come, why do you always bring so many gifts?" The gifts Jiang Yuxin sent were all bird's nest and ginseng, very valuable.
After speaking, she glanced at the cheap pastry box in Jiang Nuan's hand.
Mu Jiuchen held Jiang Nuan's hand, glanced at her, and said in a deep, sexy, and gentle tone, "Nuannuan, Grandpa will surely like the pastries you made for him yourself."
"Mm!" Jiang Nuan smiled.
"Tch, Xiao Jiu, it's not that I'm saying this, but your wife is of such noble status, yet she does these menial tasks. Look at those rich wives and daughters, none of them wake up early to cook. Xiao Jiu, I don't think you love Jiang Nuan that much."
Mu Xue couldn't help but sow discord.
She seized the opportunity to belittle Jiang Nuan's standing in Mu Jiuchen's heart.
As long as Jiang Nuan and Mu Jiuchen were not well, she would be well.
Mu Jiuchen sneered sarcastically, "Isn't that how Aunt has lived a useless life?"
"Xiao Jiu, you..." Mu Xue was furious.
But she wasn't in a hurry. A smile flashed in her eyes. She wondered if he could still smile after a while.
"Xiao Jiu, Nuannuan, you're here." The old man, wearing a black cotton jacket and snow boots, with a slightly hunched back.
Jiang Nuan looked at him with concern. Falling down the stairs last time had still taken a toll on his vitality.
The old man's spirits were not as good as before.
"Grandpa." The two called out in unison.
"Quick, quick, come in and sit. It's so cold outside. Xiao Jiu, why didn't you hurry and bring Nuannuan along?" The old man doted on Jiang Nuan.
Mu Jiuchen held Jiang Nuan's hand and walked in, smiling, "Grandpa, it's not cold."
"How can it not be cold? It's minus ten degrees today, and there's a blizzard in the afternoon. I don't know what's wrong with the weather this year, the snow is so heavy."
The old man only looked at Mu Jiuchen and Jiang Nuan, as if he hadn't seen Jiang Yuxin.
This made Jiang Yuxin's expression somewhat displeased.
She stepped forward and called out with a smile, "Grandpa, I've come to see you."
Only then did the old man look at her. "Oh! Jiang girl, why would this old man be worthy of your constant concern? You young people should go out and have fun, don't always be thinking about this old man."
"How can that be? I finally came back to the country just to spend time with Grandpa properly." Jiang Yuxin put down her gifts.
Mu Xue had a servant collect them.
Seeing that the old man was in a good mood, Jiang Nuan placed the pastries she was holding on the table.
"Grandpa, I made some sugar-free pastries. Would you like to have some?"
"Quick, quick, Nuannuan, get me some. The sugar-free pastries you make are delicious, I've been craving them!" The old man was very happy.
He wasn't used to ginseng or bird's nest; he just liked to eat some folk snacks. On such a snowy day, he also wanted to eat hot pot.
Jiang Nuan took a small plate and served some for him on the table.
The old man eagerly picked up a walnut crisp and took a bite. It was crisp and not too sweet, suiting his palate perfectly.
"Nuannuan, delicious!" The old man looked at Jiang Nuan with a doting smile.
With Nuannuan being so thoughtful, he no longer worried about Xiao Jiu.
Jiang Nuan also smiled. Seeing him happy made her happy too.
"Grandpa, you can't eat too much. Just have two or three pieces a day. I'll make some more and bring them to Grandpa in a few days. I can make many flavors."
"Okay, okay, okay. At my age, I don't like other things, I just like to eat a few tasty morsels. I've also scheduled a health soup, I drink it once a week, and after drinking it, my spirits are much better."
Jiang Nuan had already made arrangements for the old man to have a pot of health soup brewed once a week, and the old man quite liked it.
It contained medicinal herbs she had specifically added, which were also good for the old man's health.
"Jiang Nuan, since you cook well, then today's lunch will be made by you." Mu Xue said from the side.
By sending Jiang Nuan away, Mu Jiuchen and Jiang Yuxin would have an opportunity.
Jiang Nuan did not refuse. "Okay!"
She looked at Grandpa and asked, "Grandpa, what do you want to eat?"
The old man was overjoyed when he heard they were staying for lunch. "Hot pot."
"Wow! Grandpa, I want to eat hot pot too! It's especially warm to eat hot pot on such a cold day."
Jiang Yuxin looked at Jiang Nuan and smiled happily. "Nuannuan, then I'll have to trouble you."
Jiang Nuan pursed her lips and smiled, saying nothing, and walked towards the kitchen.
She had originally come wanting to cook a good meal for Grandpa.
Grandpa needed companionship!
Mu Xue said to Jiang Yuxin, "Yuxin, I'll take you upstairs. Let Xiao Jiu keep my father company and talk."
Jiang Yuxin understood and followed Mu Xue upstairs.
Once upstairs, Mu Xue looked at the incense burner not far away and said, "I've put something in the incense. When Xiao Jiu comes up later, he'll smell it and become very impulsive. You need to seize the opportunity. Afterwards, say that Mu Jiuchen bullied you. This way, Mu Jiuchen won't be able to shirk responsibility."
Jiang Yuxin nodded nervously, "Okay!"
Then, she thought of what happened to that warm person and was still a little worried, "Aunt, will Brother Chen blame me?"
"What are you afraid of? Here, you have Grandpa to back you up?"
Jiang Yuxin felt relieved upon hearing this.
Jiang Nuan was preparing the hot pot and needed to simmer the soup base.
She would need a long time in the kitchen to prepare all the ingredients.
The kitchen was quite far from the main hall, and she was busy alone in the kitchen.
About half an hour later, a servant came in and said, "Miss Jiang, Master Jiu asked you to bring two cups of hot tea to the second floor."
Jiang Nuan was slightly puzzled. "Okay!"
She returned to the main hall, brewed two cups of tea, and carried them upstairs.