Jiang Li was a bit surprised to see Sheng Shuocheng at the drama troupe so early in the morning. But she still walked over and said, "Mr. Sheng."
"Has everything been going smoothly at the drama troupe recently?"
Jiang Li couldn't figure out what brought him here in person. She just answered in a proper manner and picked up the conversation. "Everything has been going smoothly. The new shows introduced to the troupe earlier are almost ready for rehearsal. They'll probably be on the schedule for performance soon."
After thinking for a while, she added with a smile, "Are you here for an inspection?"
"If you like, it's not impossible," Sheng Shuocheng laughed along with her. "But I'm afraid it won't work today."
Now Jiang Li knew there must be something else he wanted to talk to her about.
"I'll take you to meet someone."
With Sheng Shuocheng's status, he didn't have to come in person to pick her up. It was obvious that the person they were going to meet was extraordinary.
At least, extraordinary enough for someone like Sheng Shuocheng.
After getting in the car with Sheng Shuocheng, Jiang Li still felt a bit nervous. She wanted to ask but was afraid of being offensive.
"Don't be too nervous," Sheng Shuocheng could sense the uneasiness of the person beside him even with his eyes closed for a little rest. His voice was gentle. "Just relax."
Jiang Li could tell he was trying to comfort her. She lowered her eyelashes slightly and answered honestly, "It's no wonder I'm nervous. You came to pick me up in person. With such a grand arrangement, the person you're taking me to meet must be an important guest."
She said softly, "I'm just afraid the person I'm going to meet is so noble that I might say something wrong out of recklessness and make everyone unhappy."
Her restraint and politeness made Sheng Shuocheng laugh.
"You're overthinking," his voice was steady, showing the grace and poise of an elder. "On the contrary, she's eager to meet you."
"Eager to meet me?" The moment Jiang Li asked, her mind raced, trying to think of the important guests she had met who were on good terms with Sheng Shuocheng.
There were a few, but none of them were in Huacheng. Was he going to take her out of the city?
Jiang Li began to have wild thoughts.
Although it was a bit immoral, Jiang Li immediately thought of the worst possibility -
Was some noble boss going to take her to perform for them?
She stared nervously out of the window, and her palms started to feel cold.
The driver drove the car very fast, gradually leaving the bustling city behind and heading towards the suburbs.
Jiang Li turned to look at Sheng Shuocheng. He still had his eyes closed, looking very serene. The corners of his lips were slightly upturned, as if he was about to watch a good show.
Jiang Li took a deep breath and looked at the scenery outside to calm herself down.
Suddenly, she seemed to realize something and turned around abruptly. "Are we going to visit Ms. Cheng?"
"You're a bit slow to react. Didn't you sleep well last night?" Sheng Shuocheng opened his eyes, and the smile on his lips deepened. "Otherwise, where did you think I was going to take you?"
"I thought you were going to sell me," Jiang Li turned her head slightly and answered him very seriously.
Sheng Shuocheng laughed as if he had heard the most absurd thing. "What kind of person with no bottom - line would do such a thing as selling a girl?"
Jiang Li just smiled and didn't answer.
She didn't say that she had been sold by her parents to pay off debts, and more than once.
Fortunately, she was smart.
But maybe she was too smart.
If she had been a bit stupider, duller, and more sluggish, she might have been sold to a remote mountain village by now, becoming an uneducated rural woman, spending her days with farm work and children; or, if she was unlucky, she might have died of illness during her difficult childhood.
But she didn't.
She still survived, in this suffering and tortuous life.
It was hard to tell if it was good luck or bad.
Pulling her thoughts back, the tension in her heart finally eased. She leaned back on the seat, feeling more expectant than nervous and flustered before.
Seeing her emotional changes, Sheng Shuocheng thought she was very interesting. It was rare for a girl in her early twenties to have such a lively spirit.
At this age, she should be more vibrant. Otherwise, always being so worldly and steady would make her seem lifeless.
"I'm taking you there today for the old lady's birthday," Sheng Shuocheng said lazily. "Later you..."
"Is it Ms. Cheng's birthday today?" Jiang Li seemed surprised by this reason. She interrupted him without thinking about the etiquette. "But I haven't prepared a gift."
She was a bit annoyed. "You should have told me earlier. At least I could have prepared a thoughtful gift to visit her."
"She lacks nothing," seeing how concerned she was, Sheng Shuocheng smiled silently. "Just go and accompany her. She just wants some excitement."
Although Jiang Li had guessed the relationship between Cheng Yingchun and Sheng Shuocheng from the previous misunderstanding, she still asked for confirmation. "May I ask, Ms. Cheng is your..."
"Mother - in - law," he answered casually. "The old lady is in good health, but as she gets older, her mind is a bit confused. She always stays in this yard, saying she's nostalgic. As the younger generation, we can only humor her. I usually come to visit when I'm free."
Jiang Li nodded.
...
When they arrived at the town, they got out of the car and walked along the narrow, cobblestone - paved path, stopping in front of Cheng Yingchun's small courtyard.
It had rained heavily last night, and the road was a bit muddy. They had to walk carefully, and their shoes were inevitably covered in mud.
Cheng Yingchun's yard was at the end of the alley.
This location was relatively low - lying, and the accumulated water flowed towards it. They had to wade through the water to reach the door.
"Here you are," the wooden gate creaked open. The moment Cheng Yingchun saw Jiang Li, she showed a big smile and pulled her wrist, leading her inside. "Come in quickly!"
Jiang Li was about to turn around to look for Sheng Shuocheng, but the old lady didn't stop pulling her. "There's a lot of water at the door. Be careful not to get your pants wet. Come in quickly and wipe them off."
Sheng Shuocheng, left alone at the door: ...
He didn't believe it before, but now he did.
The old lady clearly only had eyes for that little girl. How could she care about him, her son - in - law?
Sheng Shuocheng smiled helplessly and stepped over the threshold and followed them in.
Not only was there water outside the yard, but the yard itself was also full of potholes. There was hardly any dry place to step on.
The room was obviously a bit damp, with a musty smell as if the wood had been soaked in water for a long time.
"This small yard always gets flooded when it rains. It's like a pond," Cheng Yingchun hunched over, muttering to herself as she picked up the broom leaning against the threshold and started to sweep the water.
Jiang Li quickly walked over and took the broom from her. "You go and sit down and rest. Let me do it."
She was very skilled and quick. When sweeping the water, she didn't splash it everywhere. She swept it bit by bit towards the drain.
"Sheng Shuocheng, what are you standing there for?" Cheng Yingchun suddenly turned her head and said bluntly. "Is this how you treat guests? The little girl knows how to care about me, an old woman, but you're like a hands - off gentleman."