Before she could even make out who that person was, all the scenes in her dream vanished, and she woke up.
It was dawn. The space beside her in the bed was empty. Jiang Zhiqing had already gotten up and was sitting in front of the dressing table, combing her hair. Jiang Mian sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Mother, why did you wake up so early?"
Jiang Zhiqing turned around and smiled. "Silly girl, it's you who slept too soundly. No matter how we called you, you wouldn't wake up. Dahuang has been lying beside the bed waiting for you for a long time."
Jiang Mian looked towards the bedside. Dahuang jumped onto the bed and nuzzled up to her affectionately.
"Dahuang, if you didn't come back, I would have suspected that you wanted to change your master."
The yellow dog had been lying in Xiao Jingcheng's room before going to bed last night, but now it was full of energy again. Jiang Mian gave it a good rub, and in return, Dahuang's wet tongue licked her face all over.
"Okay, okay, I know you still love me the most."
After washing up, Jiang Mian sat down in front of the dressing table. Dahuang lay at her feet, wagging its tail.
Jiang Zhiqing was behind her, helping her to tie up her hair. Looking at the reflections of the mother and daughter in the mirror, Jiang Mian said, "I had a dream about you and Father last night."
Jiang Zhiqing looked at her with a smile. "Oh? What were Mother and Father doing in Mujin's dream?"
Jiang Mian turned around and grabbed Jiang Zhiqing's hand.
She still remembered the appearance of the mansion in her dream very clearly. She told Jiang Zhiqing in detail what she had seen in her dream, including the patterns carved on the screen wall, the shapes of the corner beasts on the eaves, and the plaque hanging in the main hall.
The more Jiang Zhiqing listened, the more surprised she became. "This... What Mujin dreamed about should be the mansion of the Li family in Luozhou."
Jiang Mian was also shocked. "Really?"
Jiang Zhiqing smiled. "Really. I remember very clearly that the four characters 'Longevity of Pine and Crane' were hanging in the main hall. This was the calligraphy of your grandfather, the old master of the Li family."
She stroked Jiang Mian's hair thoughtfully. "It seems that Mujin has a special bond with the Li family. To be able to see the glorious past of the Li mansion in a dream, this must be the ancestors of the Li family sending you a dream."
Jiang Mian's heart skipped a beat. She said, "In the dream, Father and Mother were a married couple. Apart from Mother, Father didn't seem to have anyone else. Moreover, Father and Mother gave birth to a younger sister for me. Her name is Wu'er!"
Just now, Jiang Zhiqing thought this matter was a bit mysterious, but now when she heard this, she thought the child was just daydreaming.
If the Li family still existed, with her background, how could she be the wife that her husband married through proper channels?
Even if her husband came up with a way, the process would surely be extremely difficult.
However, since it was just a dream, there was no need to be too particular or care too much.
She just smiled and didn't say a word. Jiang Mian hugged her and winked playfully. "Mother, I had this dream before in Jiaowei Village. Wu'er was still in swaddling clothes at that time. In last night's dream, she could already crawl. Do you think there might be a baby secretly in your belly?"
"You child, you're getting more and more out of control with your words!" Jiang Zhiqing said shyly and annoyed, gently patting her. "Hurry up and turn around. Let Mother comb your hair."
When the two of them came out of the room with their luggage, Li Zhao and Mo Zhizhang were also walking towards them.
Mo Zhizhang's eyes fell on her, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
Thinking of the dream where he and Xiao Jingcheng were standing under the tree, planning to pick her up, Jiang Mian felt inexplicably uncomfortable. She coughed lightly and lowered her head, pretending to tidy up the luggage on her back.
It was okay that she had been dreaming about Xiao Jingcheng recently, but why was Uncle Mo in her dream too?
Moreover, it was okay that Uncle Mo's identity was switched with Xiao Jingcheng's, but why did they both seem to care about her so much?
Mo Zhizhang didn't notice Jiang Mian's strangeness. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a yellow shadow. He saw that Dahuang had run out of the room and was following beside Jiang Mian. Mo Zhizhang squinted his eyes slightly and said with a smile, "Dahuang is awake. It seems that big brother will need my help again."
His words were rather cryptic. Jiang Mian didn't quite understand them. Before she could react, he had already walked towards the room where Xiao Jingcheng and Taoist Yuanzheng were staying.
Jiang Mian came to her senses and quickly followed.
Mo Zhizhang always trusted his intuition. He had always thought that the hostility of Jiang Mian's dog towards him was inexplicable, and it always showed up to cause trouble when they were alone.
Every time Xiao Jingcheng woke up, the yellow dog would fall asleep, and when the yellow dog was awake, Xiao Jingcheng would be in a coma. He thought there must be some connection between the yellow dog and Xiao Jingcheng.
If this could make Jiang Mian angry and completely abandon Xiao Jingcheng, why not do it?
However, just as he was about to knock on the door of Taoist Yuanzheng's room, the door opened from the inside. Taoist Yuanzheng was supporting a sick - looking Xiao Jingcheng, who was standing behind the door. Mo Zhizhang was greatly shocked and subconsciously turned his head to look behind him.
The yellow dog was squatting beside Jiang Zhiqing, sticking out its tongue. When it saw him looking over, it even tilted its head.
How... could this be?!
Xiao Jingcheng saw the flash of astonishment on Mo Zhizhang's face. He slightly curled his lips and deliberately said, "Second brother, why are you here?"
Mo Zhizhang came to his senses and said in a flat tone, "I was afraid that big brother would faint again like in the previous days, so I came to help big brother."
Xiao Jingcheng looked touched. "Second brother, you're so kind. Since you're here, you can take over and support me."
Mo Zhizhang's lips twitched. Suppressing his annoyance, he took Xiao Jingcheng from Taoist Yuanzheng.
Because Xiao Jingcheng was physically weak, they walked more slowly than the others.
Xiao Jingcheng lowered his voice and said, "I heard from Jiang Mian that you're not going to Luozhou with us. That's really a pity."
Looking at Jiang Mian's carefree and happy back in the distance, Xiao Jingcheng said, "However, I'm curious. What private matter does second brother have that requires him to separate from us and handle it alone? And how do you know when we'll leave Luozhou?"
Mo Zhizhang's heart sank.
He had never underestimated Xiao Jingcheng. This man was able to transfer the people in Dongli Town in such a short time. Even if it were him, he might not be able to do it. When he brought up this matter at this time, it definitely wasn't just a casual remark.
He said with a calm smile, "There's naturally something I have to do."
Xiao Jingcheng said, "Really? But I think, second brother, you're afraid."
He looked at Mo Zhizhang beside him and said in a voice so soft that only the two of them could hear, "Second brother is afraid to appear in front of the ancestors of the Li family. You're afraid that the vengeful spirits will come to seek your life at night, aren't you?"
A flash of hostility crossed Mo Zhizhang's eyes, but the smile on his face remained unchanged. "I don't understand what big brother is talking about."
Xiao Jingcheng curled his lips. "Let's make a deal. I'll keep your secret, and you keep mine. How about it?"