Chapter 39: The Charity Home
"Brother Jiang, I heard General Kou has returned, so I thought you must be back too. I came here to check, and sure enough, I found you! The children have been talking about you nonstop—they all miss you so much." The young woman’s gaze lingered briefly on Yan Jingshu before turning back to Jiang Chenghan, her eyes brimming with joy and familiarity.
"Is that so? Well, the general just gave me a few days of marriage leave. I’ll go see them in a couple of days." Jiang Chenghan clearly knew the young woman well, smiling warmly as he spoke.
"Marriage leave? Brother Jiang, you got married?" The young woman’s eyes widened in surprise, and she instinctively glanced at Yan Jingshu beside Jiang Chenghan.
"That’s right. Let me introduce you—this is my fulang. He’s a year older than you, so you can call him Brother Yan." Jiang Chenghan said to the young woman, then turned to Yan Jingshu. "Jingshu, this is Sanniang. Her natal’s family name is Huang. She helps out at the charity home I told you about before."
During their first days in the capital after their wedding, Jiang Chenghan had explained his financial situation to Yan Jingshu, mentioning that aside from setting aside funds for military emergencies, he had also used a portion of the money Xi Muyuan helped him earn to establish a charity home under Xi Muyuan’s name. It took in orphans, widows, and elderly who had lost their homes and families due to the war—mostly from the Ningcheng garrison and nearby villages.
Jiang Chenghan would visit every ten days or so, bringing snacks, food, and daily necessities. Occasionally, he even taught the orphans some basic martial arts. Despite his tall and imposing appearance, he was gentle and patient with the children, which made him well-liked among them.
This time, he had been away from Ningcheng for three whole months while accompanying Kou Shijun to the capital. Naturally, the children missed him terribly.
Huang Sanniang’s expression faltered for a brief moment when she realized Yan Jingshu was indeed Jiang Chenghan’s newlywed fulang, but she quickly recovered, smiling brightly. "This is such wonderful news! The children will be so happy when they hear."
She then curtsied slightly, her eyes curving into crescents as she greeted Yan Jingshu warmly. "Hello, Brother Yan. You can call me Sanniang, just like Brother Jiang does."
"Sanniang," Yan Jingshu nodded with a faint smile.
Straightening up, Huang Sanniang said considerately, "Brother Jiang and Brother Yan must be exhausted from the long journey. You should rest well these next few days. I won’t disturb you any longer. Brother Jiang, don’t forget to visit the children—they’ve been waiting eagerly. Brother Yan, you should come too! I’m sure the children will love you."
"Of course. We’ll definitely go. Tell the children not to worry," Yan Jingshu replied, his smile unwavering.
In his past life, he had known about the charity home and had even visited it several times with Jiang Chenghan, so he was no stranger to it. However, back then, he hadn’t learned of its existence until two months later, and his first visit had been over a year after that. At that time, this young woman named Huang Sanniang hadn’t been there.
Yan Jingshu didn’t know what had happened during that year, but now that he was here, he would surely find out.
Huang Sanniang had come abruptly and left just as quickly. Watching her figure recede into the distance, Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu turned and entered their home.
As they walked toward the inner courtyard, Jiang Chenghan continued talking about Huang Sanniang. "...She’s had a hard life. Her family was from a small village near Ningcheng. Two years ago, a group of bandits suddenly raided her village, killed her entire family, and took her captive. I happened to be patrolling the area with my men and ran into them. We took care of the bandits and rescued her."
"But with her family gone and her home burned down, she had nowhere to go. I figured since I’d already helped her, I might as well see it through. A lone, helpless woman like her wouldn’t survive if left alone, so I arranged for her to work at the charity home. At least she’d have a place to stay."
Yan Jingshu listened quietly, sighing softly when Jiang Chenghan finished. "She really has suffered. And with such a lovely face too… It’s a good thing she met you, her savior. Otherwise, who knows what hardships she might have endured? It’s truly heartbreaking."
Jiang Chenghan had been about to say something else, but at Yan Jingshu’s words, he paused. What came out instead was: "There’s something I should tell you, but don’t let anyone else know. Before we left for the capital, Lao Xiao went with me to the charity home once. Who’d have thought he’d take a liking to Sanniang at first sight? He even asked me to act as a matchmaker. But with all the preparations for the trip, I had to put it off. Now that we’re back, I should help Lao Xiao settle this matter."
"Xiao Qingfeng?" Yan Jingshu was surprised. He knew Xiao Qingfeng had married young, but his wife had died of illness just two years later. After that, he had remained single—even in their past life, by the time Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu met their tragic fates, Xiao Qingfeng was still alone.
Now Jiang Chenghan was saying Xiao Qingfeng had taken a liking to Huang Sanniang? But since they hadn’t married in the past, something must have gone wrong. Yan Jingshu wondered if Huang Sanniang’s disappearance from Ningcheng in their previous life was related to this.
After a moment of thought, Yan Jingshu said, "I don’t think this matchmaking will work."
Jiang Chenghan was puzzled. "Why not?"
Xiao Qingfeng had been married once before but left no heirs. He was outstanding in character and ability, and in Jiang Chenghan's view, he would be a perfect match for Huang Sanniang. Arranging this match should have been easy.
Yan Jingshu looked at Jiang Chenghan with an ambiguous smile and said, "Huang Sanniang already has someone in her heart, how could she accept another’s proposal?"
"How is that possible?" Jiang Chenghan was stunned, not because Huang Sanniang had feelings for someone else, but because Yan Jingshu had only met her once. Even if she did have someone in mind, how did Yan Jingshu know?
"Why wouldn’t it be? Beauties admire heroes, especially their saviors. You rescued Huang Sanniang, thoughtfully arranged shelter for her, and excel in character, ability, and appearance—few in Ningcheng can compare. With someone like you setting the standard, how could she ever look at anyone else?"
Jiang Chenghan listened blankly, as if struck by Yan Jingshu’s words. It took him a long moment to recover, only to ask, "...Do you really think I’m outstanding, beyond compare?"
Yan Jingshu hadn’t expected Jiang Chenghan to fixate on that single line. He froze, then, under Jiang Chenghan’s intense gaze, his cheeks flushed slightly. He pursed his lips shyly and lowered his lashes, refusing to speak further.
To Jiang Chenghan, Yan Jingshu’s silence was tacit agreement. His chest swelled with something warm and tender, his heartbeat loud in his ears. An unbearably soft smile spread across his face.
Yan Jingshu knew what Jiang Chenghan was smiling about but deliberately glared at him, pretending displeasure. "...What, are you so happy that someone likes you?"
Jiang Chenghan recalled Yan Jingshu’s earlier words, his smile deepening. "So you thought Sanniang liked me? I thought—"
He didn’t finish, clearing his throat before continuing. "But you’re mistaken this time. Though I led the raid against those bandits, I was chasing their fleeing leader. Huang Sanniang was rescued by others and brought back to Ningcheng. As for arranging her stay at the charity home, I only told Xi Muyuan to handle it, she never knew it was my idea. How could she like me for that?"
Yan Jingshu fell silent. Despite Jiang Chenghan’s explanation, he hadn’t misread the warmth in Huang Sanniang’s gaze. But there was no need to argue now—whether she felt as he suspected would become clear in time.
Seeing Yan Jingshu quiet for so long, Jiang Chenghan thought he was still troubled. He moved closer, taking Yan Jingshu’s hand gently. "Don’t overthink it. Have you forgotten? When I came to the Duke’s residence to marry you, I vowed that in this life, there would never be anyone but you. Whether it’s Huang Sanniang or anyone else, they mean nothing to me. If she bothers you, I won’t speak to her again."
Yan Jingshu knew Jiang Chenghan meant it. Even in their past life, when no vows had been made, Jiang Chenghan had remained devoted to him alone. At that time, weighed down by lingering guilt, Yan Jingshu had even proposed finding Jiang Chenghan a second wife. Not only did Jiang Chenghan refuse outright, but it became the first—and only—time he ever lost his temper with Yan Jingshu. From then on, there were no concubines, much less another wife.
So Yan Jingshu wasn’t worried about Huang Sanniang coming between them. But with Jiang Chenghan’s life still at risk, he couldn’t help viewing any unusual person or event with suspicion.
For now, until things were clear, it was best to act normally—and observe what kind of person Huang Sanniang truly was.
With that thought, Yan Jingshu said, "I’m not that petty. If you stopped speaking to her, wouldn’t people call me domineering? Besides... I trust you."
His voice grew softer, as if embarrassed. Jiang Chenghan’s heart melted. He wrapped his arms around Yan Jingshu’s slender waist, kissing the crown of his head. "I know. Jingshu isn’t petty or domineering at all—you’re the most generous, gentle, and best person there is."
Yan Jingshu didn’t reply, only curled his lips slightly and relaxed into Jiang Chenghan’s embrace.
Neither Jiang Chenghan nor Yan Jingshu forgot their promise to visit the charity home. After resting and settling in for another day, on their fourth day back in Ningcheng, they hired a carriage, bought pastries, cotton, cloth, and daily necessities, and set off.
The charity home was on the opposite side of Ningcheng, far from Jiang Chenghan’s residence. The carriage ride took about a quarter of an hour. Before they even entered, the sound of children’s laughter spilled from the courtyard.
Jiang Chenghan went to tie up the horse while Yan Jingshu knocked. Almost instantly, a voice answered—Huang Sanniang’s, whom they’d just seen days before.
But before she appeared, a group of children, the oldest no more than eight or nine and the youngest barely three or four, burst through the door.
They’d been eagerly awaiting Jiang Chenghan’s visit, as Huang Sanniang had told them he was coming. At the sound of the knock, they rushed out, cheering—only to stop short at the sight of a stranger. Wide-eyed and gaping, they stared up at Yan Jingshu.
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