Uncle Lin nodded. "She just got back."
Jiang Cheng's brows twitched slightly as he followed up, "Then what about my dad?"
The smile on Uncle Lin's face faltered for a moment, and he quickly stepped forward half a pace, explaining with a hint of caution in his tone.
"Young Master—his... he really couldn't find the time to come back. This time, only the Madam rushed back to accompany the Old Master for the Qingming Festival."
Jiang Cheng didn't ask further upon hearing this, only giving a faint "Mhm."
He started walking toward the main hall. "Understood. I'll go see my mom."
Just as he crossed the courtyard and reached the entrance of the main hall, he heard his grandfather's gentle voice coming from inside.
It carried a hint of concern: "Has your father's health improved lately? I'm always worried about that old ailment of his acting up."
Jiang Cheng's footsteps paused subconsciously as he heard his mother Li Yan's smiling voice.
Her tone was light: "Don't worry, Dad. My father's health is much better. He was just telling me yesterday that in another month or so, once he can come down from Xiangshan, he'll come to the courtyard to find you for tea and a chat immediately. He told you not to worry."
"Your brother didn't come back either?"
"No, it's too far. A single flight takes over a dozen hours; it's too time-consuming."
"Mhm, he's been there for two years now. Next year, I'll find a way to have him transferred back. Your father's health isn't good, and he's always worried with him being away."
Hearing this, Li Yan immediately nodded. "Dad, I'll listen to you. Your arrangements are definitely right."
Great-Grandfather gave a hearty laugh. "You've been a likable child since you were little."
Jiang Chenghong, who was nearby, chimed in, "That's true. Xiao Yan is also good to Jianming—a virtuous wife and mother who takes such good care of the home. No wonder Jianming is wrapped around your finger."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng silently complained in his heart.
The part about being 'wrapped around her finger' was true, but based on his impressions from childhood to now, using the words 'virtuous wife and mother' to describe his mom was an exaggeration.
He could only say that his ability to grow so tall was purely due to his own good genes and growth spurts.
Otherwise, with his mother's cooking skills, it was already a blessing that he hadn't starved to death.
However, because of this, he had developed the good habit of not being a picky eater.
As those words were spoken, Jiang Cheng had already walked in.
"Grandfather, Second Grandfather, Mom."
Seeing him enter, Great-Grandfather looked up and smiled. "You're back?"
After nodding, Jiang Cheng gave his mother a cheeky look.
Logically speaking, for someone like her who had never suffered hardships to live in the Niuma District for a while—and during winter at that.
While the conditions certainly weren't that bad, her body should have felt somewhat uncomfortable.
However, looking at her, Li Yan's complexion was very good, no different from before she left.
This was likely because Li Yan not only had the good blessings from his Mid-Autumn Festival Wishing Card,
But also because of the Anti-Aging Card he had used on her previously.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me you were coming back..." Jiang Cheng asked with a grin.
Li Yan glanced at Jiang Cheng. "Why tell you? If I did, would you have waited at home for me?"
It was that same old familiar sarcastic tone. Jiang Cheng chuckled. "That's a must. Where are the local specialties Dad said he'd bring me?"
After giving Jiang Cheng a white eye, Li Yan gestured with her chin toward the table. "There, they're all over there. That cordyceps is for your grandfather and second uncle's health. The yak meat and butter tea are for you. You can also try that Tibetan incense; it smells quite nice when lit. Your father lights one whenever he's feeling troubled; it helps calm the mind."
This was his mom. When he sent her a wechat message before asking her to bring back specialties, she said she was going for work, not tourism.
Yet in the blink of an eye, she had brought back so many things.
He didn't sit for long, seeing that his mother and grandfather were talking about Jiang Jianming's affairs in the Niuma District.
This included some tourism policies he had implemented locally after arriving.
After listening to a few sentences, Jiang Cheng went back to his room to scroll through his phone.
After all, children shouldn't meddle in adults' business.
He had already taken over his father's construction company. For the field his father was now stepping into, being in his forties was exactly the age when he should be striving.
As the saying goes, it's better to motivate your parents than to motivate your kids.
Back in his room, Jiang Cheng flopped onto the bed and started scrolling through his phone.
As soon as he opened his moments, he saw that Qiao Yinyin had posted a status saying she was currently streaming.
After clicking in, Jiang Cheng was momentarily stunned.
He stared at the screen for two seconds, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the phone case.
Qiao Yinyin was actually streaming together with Bai Xiaoxiao?
When Jiang Cheng entered, neither of them saw him.
After all, this was TikTok, not Douyu.
On Douyu, Jiang Cheng's account had already reached level 65.
When that account entered a stream, there were already cool special effects.
Streamers would usually stand up with a smile and offer special privileges.
But on TikTok, Jiang Cheng was just a fresh account.
Not only did he lack a special entry animation, but the account hadn't even joined the fan club.
The bullet chat area was scrolling rapidly; Jiang Cheng's ID was mixed in and couldn't even make a splash.
At this moment, the number of viewers in Qiao Yinyin's stream had reached over 100,000.
Jiang Cheng took a look; this stream was being held in the apartment he had bought for her.
Qiao Yinyin was using a frying pan to slowly fry some sausages.
Meanwhile, Bai Xiaoxiao was clearly playing honor of kings on her phone.
The two of them occasionally looked at the comments floating across the public screen.
They specifically picked IDs with fan badges to respond to.
After all, the level of the fan badge represented whether they usually followed her.
They completely failed to notice the "new viewer" Jiang Cheng in the corner.
Qiao Yinyin was holding a spatula and asking the camera, "There are many ways to eat these sausages. Do you know which way is the tastiest?"
With that question, the comment section instantly exploded.
"Just put it in your mouth and eat it. I like eating them raw."
"Aren't you frying them right now? Sister Qiao, are you silly?"
"The one who said to eat it raw, step forward. These sausages are clearly refrigerated; you have to heat them up before eating."
"To the person above, the topic you're talking about and her topic are clearly not the same thing."
Seeing some suggestive comments in the section, Qiao Yinyin simply skipped over them.
She began to ask Bai Xiaoxiao seriously, "Xiaoxiao, how do you usually like to eat sausages?"
Although this was her first time streaming with Qiao Yinyin,
During the time Jiang Cheng was away, she would occasionally go out shopping with Qiao Yinyin.
So, the awkwardness between the two of them from before was gone.
Bai Xiaoxiao looked up at Qiao Yinyin's teasing eyes and replied with a smile, "Don't you already know how I like to eat it?"