Chapter 329 Unique

Chapter 329 Unique

Carrying a large amount of local specialties from families in the village with whom they had good relations, such as the Chen family and the Chen doctor's family, Xie Wanniang and her companions arrived at Guangchangwei, travel-worn.

Having already received the news, Jiang Yuan not only sent people to meet them on the way, but also personally went to the city gate to wait for them on the day of their arrival.

With their general standing there like a pillar, the soldiers guarding the city gate felt immense pressure. They dared not whisper among themselves in front of Jiang Yuan, but they all silently wondered who was so influential that their general would abandon his military duties and wait in the sun for two hours.

Only when a large convoy slowly approached the city gate in the afterglow of the setting sun did Jiang Yuan mount his horse and head out of the city to greet them.

Because of his action, the soldiers guarding the city gate all craned their necks and strained their eyes to look at the front of the formation.

There were no ceremonial guards or flags, and no one they recognized. The crowd craned their necks to look for a long time, but they still couldn't figure out who this group of people came from.

But soon, a quick-thinking soldier whispered to his comrade, "Could it be that our general's family has come to see him again?"

When Xie Wanniang came last time, there were no ceremonial guards or flags. In addition, since she entered Guangchangwei, she has been staying obediently in Jiang Yuan's house, only occasionally socializing with the wives of the generals here. Therefore, most people in Guangchangwei do not have a deep impression of her.

All they knew was that their general's wife, though a princess, was an unconventional princess who was unpretentious, unconcerned with pomp and circumstance, and who loved to spend money freely.

Aside from preventing the general from taking concubines, she was practically the perfect example of being reasonable, kind, and virtuous.

Xie Wanniang: ? ? ?

Not to mention Xie Wanniang, who never stopped Jiang Yuan from taking concubines and didn't think she had anything to do with the word "virtuous," she would be completely bewildered and at a loss for words if she knew how these rank-and-file soldiers evaluated her.

Speaking of these rank-and-file soldiers, they had only ever met Xie Wanniang, a person who never flaunted her status, wealth, or power.

Having spent so many years in Guangchangwei, these rank-and-file soldiers had seen other officials' wives before.

But those people, they are not the same kind of people as Xie Wanniang.

Although they were not as high in status as Xie Wanniang, they all shared a deep disdain for Guangchangwei.

Apart from the families of military officers who were local and had lived in Guangchangwei for many years, like Yang Guangtong's mother and wife, none of the other families of military officers from outside the city had ever stayed here for more than two months.

It's not bustling or lively here, and it's inconvenient to buy things. Unlike other places, families can't build large-scale construction projects in their own mansions, such as pavilions, artificial hills and gardens, or divert running water and make ponds.

Naturally, there are no elaborate social gatherings or events here. Things like spring outings, lake tours, opera performances, flower viewing, playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football), pitch-pot, poetry and literary gatherings, chrysanthemum and plum blossom appreciation... none of these exist here.

Apart from the inevitable weddings and funerals in each family, and the occasional visits between relatives during festivals, the women in each family generally only have private gatherings with two or three close friends occasionally.

Unable to buy good things or find entertainment, the women, accustomed to a bustling and prosperous life, naturally did not stay in Guangchangwei for long.

In addition, some parents-in-law take it for granted that their daughters-in-law should stay at home to serve them, while they can arrange a concubine for their sons.

For the two reasons mentioned above, apart from Jiang Yuan, all the other visiting generals of Guangchang Guard who were qualified to bring their families brought their own concubines.

This is why when Xie Wanniang came to Guangchangwei last time, she neither held a grand banquet at home to help Jiang Yuan with his wife's diplomacy, nor did she frequently go out to attend banquets.

Although she had mixed feelings about women who became concubines, she didn't openly or secretly show any contempt. After all, not all women who became concubines chose this path of their own volition.

However, tolerance does not necessarily mean that one must interact with the concubine. Although concubines were legal in this era, the distinction between wives and concubines was still observed.

She was meant to be someone's legal wife; if she were to lower herself to associate with Jiang Yuan's subordinates' concubines, then she would truly be out of touch with reality.

Let alone the fact that Jiang Yuan is capable enough and doesn't need her to help him solve certain problems through "wife diplomacy," even if she did need to, she would have to find a way to befriend the wives of Jiang Yuan's subordinates, rather than the concubines they bring with them.

"Father! Father!" Before Xie Wanniang could even react, her daughter An'an had already poked her little head to the window.

Hearing his daughter's soft, childlike voice, Jiang Yuan's originally cold and stern expression softened instantly.

He rode his horse to the window, reached out and took his daughter's soft little hand with its chubby cheeks, and said, "An'an."

"Daddy!" An'an's emotions became even more excited as her father held her hand. "Daddy, hug me, hug me!"

Xie Wanniang was both amused and exasperated. "Put your hand back first, and let your father get on the carriage."

Linlin looked at her older sister with a blank expression, her big eyes filled with pure confusion and curiosity.

Wang Xiaozhi and her four children were sitting in the car behind. At that moment, they were also trying to look for Jiang Yuan through the window.

Pulled back by her mother and forced into a seat, An'an still stretched out her little arms, calling out, "Daddy! Daddy!"

Jiang Yuan's heart melted. He handed the horse to the guards, opened the carriage door, and got into the carriage.

When An'an saw him, she immediately got up and rushed into his arms.

Xie Wanniang was both annoyed and amused, but she did not intervene again.

Since Jiang Yuan wouldn't let the little girl fall, he might as well let her make a fuss.

Just as Xie Wanniang had predicted, Jiang Yuan reached out and steadily caught his daughter An'an, who was staggering towards him.

An'an was hugged tightly by her father, and she smiled happily, revealing two rows of neat little teeth.

Jiang Yuan carried her and sat down next to Xie Wanniang.

Xie Wanniang held her son upright in her arms and said, "Call me Daddy."

Linlin blinked his big eyes, and after a moment, he turned his head sharply and buried his head in his mother's arms.

Jiang Yuan: ......

It's a bit heartbreaking, but not unexpected.

Xie Wanniang patted her son with amusement, "Don't you need to go and say hello to your sister first?"

"We'll go later."

This will actually come very quickly, because if the caravan wants to enter the city, Xie Wanniang and the others must undergo a routine inspection by the city guards.

Everyone who was sitting in the car got out, including Wang Xiaozhi and her four children.

It was at this time that Jiang Yuan took his daughter An'an to Wang Xiaozhi's place.