Ji Zhai.

Ji's mother was very happy to see her son back and ordered her servants to prepare a table of delicious dishes.

Ever since the Ji family was handed over to Ji Zhixiu, Mr. Ji has never interfered in the company's affairs.

Except for Ji Zhixiu, everyone in the Ji family is idle.

The old man is getting older, and Ji Zhixiu also wants him to take care of himself and take some time to relax, so that he won't work too hard.

Seeing his grandson coming back, the old man smiled and the wrinkles at the end of his eyes deepened, "Xiu'er."

"I'm here, Grandpa."

"Have you been busy lately? You have to deal with things at work, and you can't be too careless about things in life. Pay attention to your health." The old man patted his shoulder and asked him to sit down.

Ji Zhixiu sat upright on the sofa, turned his wrist and poured a cup of tea and handed it to him with both hands, "Thank you for your concern, grandpa. The company is doing well recently, not too busy."

The older Xiu'er gets, the less willing he is to share his inner thoughts with others. The old man sighed inwardly and took a sip of tea, “I know you have been worried about Zhilan recently."

"She is my sister, and I should take more care of her." Ji Zhixiu's expression remained calm, and he turned around and said, "Where is she?"

"Upstairs. Xiu'er, Zhilan's marriage comes first, which can be regarded as a wake-up call for you. I will not interfere with the choice of your future wife, but she must be able to bear the name of our Mrs. Ji. .do you understand?"

Although the old man has passed his sixties, his momentum as a man who has been in power for many years has not diminished.

Ji Zhixiu paused his slender fingers, raised his eyes, and met the old man's eyes. The two were silent for a long time. After a long while, Ji Zhixiu nodded, "I understand, Grandpa."

The old man smiled and said, "As long as you understand. Okay, go find Zhilan."

Ji Zhixiu stood up and said, "Okay."

He went upstairs and knocked on Ji Zhilan's door. Ji Zhilan was putting on makeup. She had made an appointment with some friends in the evening.

It was so happy to be single again and belong to the eldest daughter of the Ji family. She could play with whoever she wanted and was free. There is no pointing from the hateful mother-in-law, and there is no chirping from Jiang Cheng in my ears.

She dropped her makeup brush and turned around, "Mom, I told you I wouldn't be home to eat tonight."

"it's me."

Ji Zhilan opened the door and said, "Brother."

"I have something to tell you."

Ji Zhilan stepped aside and said, "Just in time, I also have something to tell you. Brother, please come in first."

"No, what do you want to say?" Ji Zhixiu asked.

Ji Zhilan suddenly became nervous, and Ji Zhixiu raised his eyebrows, "What's wrong with you?"

"Brother...can you give Xiang Long to me?" She looked up, with a bit of hope in her eyes.

"I know Xiang Long is your right-hand man, but you have so many people, and there is no shortage of him. Wouldn't it be better to let Xiang Long be by my side to protect me?"

Ji Zhixiu said nothing.

Ji Zhilan felt uneasy. I wonder if my brother would refuse...? But his stern look was really scary.

"Brother...can you say something?"

Ji Zhilan narrowed his narrow eyes and looked at her, "Where is Xiang Long?"

"He's out," Ji Zhilan bit his lip, "I asked him to go out and help me buy things."

"We will discuss this matter when he comes back."

This was neither agreed nor rejected, but there was still hope. She nodded, "Okay."

Ji Zhilan postponed the party at night because she wanted to wait for Xiang Long to come back.

Seeing that Ji Zhixiu hadn't gone back after dinner, Ji's mother was happy and said, "Are you staying at home to sleep tonight? The room has been cleaned for you."

Ji Zhixiu shook his head, "No, Mom. I'll wait for Xiang Long."

Ji Muqi said, “Xiang Long is yours, just let him find you. Do you need to wait for him?"

Ji Zhixiu half-smiled, "Zhilan asked me to give Xiang Long to him."

Ji's mother frowned and looked at Ji Zhilan, "What are you doing?"

Ji Zhixiu's subordinates were trained by him, and they were by no means ordinary people.

Ji Zhilan took Ji's mother's arm, cleared her throat, and said, "Mom, look at me these days, Xiang Long has been protecting me and taking care of me. He is honest, upright, and good at skills. I want him to marry me. , how about it? You see, your daughter doesn’t want to be a member of a wealthy family anymore, she just wants to find a normal person to live a good life. "

"If I did anything to Miss that made her misunderstand, please forgive me. Xiang Long was ordered to protect Miss and has no other intentions. He doesn't dare to climb up to the eldest lady. The eldest lady is very talented and will definitely be accompanied by her beloved in the future. .”

As soon as Xiang Long entered the door, he heard these words. He quickly put down his things and bent down.

He is not a stupid person, he is usually taciturn but he is too lazy to speak. Now that he has said so many words in one breath, it is obvious that he is really unwilling.

Ji Zhilan's face turned pale. This naked rejection made her face feel hot and painful.

Ji Zhixiu looked at her, “Did you see it? I let Xiang Long choose."

"Xiang Long! You are not wronged by being with me!" Ji Zhilan was furious.

Xiang Long took a step back and said, "Of course I'm not wronged by being with the lady, but I don't deserve it."

"I say you deserve it, then you deserve it."

Ji's mother glanced at Ji Zhilan and called her, "Zhilan."

Ji Zhilan remained silent, still unconvinced.

Ji Zhixiu stood up and said, "I'm going back, and I'll take Xiang Long with me too."

Xiang Long quickly followed him.

Ji Zhilan watched the two people walking away, she curled her lips and complained, "Mom! Why didn't you just say a few words to me?"

"Can't you see that people don't want to?"

"I know, so what? He won't be wronged by marrying me!"

Ji's mother nodded her head and said, "You. There are so many good men, why are you staring at your brother?"

"I like Xiang Long. He protects me and I feel very safe."

"The same goes for another person."

"I don't care, I want him."

"Then think about it." Ji's mother couldn't explain to her, so she went upstairs with a cup of health-preserving scented tea.

…

On the way back, Xiang Long said, "Thank you, Mr. Ji."

There was a smile in Ji Zhixiu's eyes, "Why do you want to thank me?"

Xiang Long grinned, "I know Mr. Ji doesn't want to keep me with the lady either."

"You're quite smart." His tone didn't sound like a compliment.

"After all, my subordinates have been with Mr. Ji for so many years."

Xiang Long began training at the age of ten and took orders on the road. It was Ji Zhixiu who bought him, and it was Ji Zhixiu who helped him settle down with his family so that he had no worries.

"If you don't like Ji Zhilan, of course I won't wrong you."

Xiang Long felt warm in his heart and said sincerely, “I only want to follow Mr. Ji."

"Go back and pack up, and leave for Jiangnan tomorrow."

"yes."

When Ji Zhixiu arrived home, Jiang Mian had already packed his luggage. She also said hello to Sister Ning, in case Sister Ning could not find her.

Seeing Ji Zhixiu coming back, she rushed over and smiled to please him.

Ji Zhixiu understood clearly, lowered his head and pinched her chin, "Didn't you take the medicine?"

It was so boring to be seen through at a glance.

Ji Zhixiu ordered someone to heat the medicine, turned around and pulled the little girl into his arms, "Just be obedient, Mianmian."

"I drink, I drink."

Jiang Mian was willing to accept soft words rather than hard words. Ji Zhixiu was so gentle and kind to her, and she couldn't refuse him.

When it was served, she took a sip from the bowl and took two more candied dates.

Ji Zhixiu joked, "I thought you would be too bitter to drink it this time, so I was planning to help you." He emphasized the word "help".

Jiang Mian snorted softly, "I don't know how."

…

To be precise, Jiang Mian's hometown is in a small town in the south of the Yangtze River. The long streets and ancient alleys in the town have quite an ancient charm.

There is an ancient temple nearby, and the incense is quite strong. Whenever I go to the market, the Broken Bridge is the busiest with people coming and going. Most of the time, it's as quiet as smoke.

This tranquility is in sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city.

Only a few years ago, the government had plans to expropriate and transform this place into a commercial street.

This plan was killed in the cradle before it was implemented. After Ji Zhixiu learned about it, he spent a lot of money to withhold the renovation plan and promised the government that he would provide all the government's related planning expenses. Only then did this peace remain.

Of course, only he knows this. He didn't want Jiang Mian to lose the beautiful memories he shared with his grandmother.

Returning to this place again, Jiang Mian felt like he was in another world.

She walked slowly on the broken bridge, the setting sun was like blood, smoke curled up from the houses on the opposite shore, it was quiet and peaceful.

Ji Zhixiu held her hand and the two stood side by side.

"It's very beautiful. The south of the Yangtze River is so charming and well-deserved." He actually had the idea of wanting to stay here forever.

Jiang Mian tilted his head, "We can come here to retire in the future."

"Retirement care," he chewed the word carefully, with a smile on his lips, "Okay."

"Hey, is that a girl from the Jiang family?" A woman washing clothes by the river straightened up and shouted.

Jiang Mian looked over after hearing the sound, her eyes lit up, and she ran to the bridge in a few steps, "But Auntie Hu?"

Aunt Hu smiled and rolled her eyes, and walked towards the bridge with one end of the wooden basin, “It's me, and you're Mianmian, right? It's been a long time since we last met, and Chuluo looks even more beautiful."

Her compliments are sincere and don't come across as flattering.

The corners of Jiang Mian's lips curled up, feeling happy in her heart, "Aunt Hu, I didn't expect to see my old friend just after I came back. It's so nice."

When she was a child, Aunt Hu's house lived next to her and her grandmother's house. It was very close, and she often went there to have a meal.

Aunt Hu looked at the man beside her. Ji Zhixiu's presence was impossible to ignore.

She raised her head, “Did you bring your husband back to worship your ancestors?"

Jiang Mian turned to look at Ji Zhixiu. The man looked calm and did not refute.

She smiled, "Yes. Come back and see grandma."

Aunt Hu sighed when she mentioned Aunt Jiang's family, but she didn't mention it again for fear of upsetting the little girl. Then he said, “Since you are back, you must go to my house for a meal this noon. Come, take your husband and go home with my aunt."

"Hey, aunt, no need, I'll just go back and make something myself."

Aunt Hu looked disapproving, "You don't live in your house, how can you use the pots and pans? If you don't go to my aunt's house, you will be seeing her. You little girl, you will hurt my heart."

Jiang Mian was helpless and turned to look at Ji Zhixiu.

But I heard the man's voice had some warmth, "Then I'll trouble Aunt Hu."

He speaks with a clear accent, is handsome and gentle, and has a gentle manner.

Aunt Hu's heart was immediately captured by this young man. She held the wooden basin in her hand and had nothing to do with it, otherwise she would have to pat the young man.

Even though he hadn't been back for a long time, Jiang Mian clearly remembered where the road turned and what was on it.

Several people got off the bridge and walked towards Hu's house.