After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety
Chapter 729 - 719: Stay in Xiyuan, Taxi Fare 200

Chapter 729: Chapter 719: Stay in Xiyuan, Taxi Fare 200

Jiang Runcheng and Jiang Wenhu are visiting Xiyuan for the first time.

When Jiang Wenhu was young, although her family wasn’t extremely wealthy, they started off quite early. Aside from owning property in the city, they also had a small villa in the suburbs for vacations.

After getting married, even though they went through some tough times initially with Jiang Runcheng, once his career took off, they lacked neither a luxurious home nor fine clothes.

The couple considers themselves seasoned with life’s ups and downs, having lived in mansions over a thousand square meters during good times and small rental apartments less than a hundred square meters during tough times. Now, after enduring so many experiences, they feel it doesn’t matter what kind of house you live in—as long as you can afford it and it feels comfortable.

But when their daughter drove them through the gates of Xiyuan, viewing from the slow-moving car, pavilions and towers presented scenic spots everywhere, decorated with festive red lanterns welcoming the New Year. Scattered winter plums bloomed freely and, amazingly, there was even a lake in their sight!

The couple: "..."

Suddenly realized there is still a difference!

You don’t need to ask whether those living inside feel comfortable; you’d rather ask if they’re happy?

They must be happy!

They couldn’t imagine anyone living in a place like this not being happy.

When Jiang Runcheng was at the peak of his career, he even dabbled in the construction industry. As the car passed by a cluster of small stone formations made of various sized stones, he nearly stood up in the car.

It was Jiang Wenhu who quickly held him back, "The car is still moving; what are you doing?"

Jiang Runcheng took a deep breath, intending to speak out but afraid of appearing unsophisticated in front of his son-in-law. Unable to hold back, he simply pulled out his phone and messaged his wife across from him: [Did you see those stones just now? One could exchange for a house in the Imperial City!]

Receiving a message notification, Jiang Wenhu looked at her phone, prepared to retort, but upon seeing the content, took a deep breath as well.

She just glanced at those stones earlier, thinking they were placed nicely, never imagining they were so valuable!

She also just learned that this place is called Xiyuan. "Xi" is due to the fact that this character is also in her daughter’s name?

Jiang Lingxi parked the car in front of the already tidied guest courtyard.

Looking back, she saw Jiang Wenhu and Jiang Runcheng sitting impeccably upright.

"You’re here; just act as if you’re at home. Why do you seem like you’re going to negotiate?"

Jiang Wenhu tugged at her mouth corner, "We know, we know, it’s just our first visit."

Getting out of the car, stepping onto the meticulously tended ground, she stepped some more to truly feel grounded rather than walking on clouds.

Summer Solstice knew as soon as the car drove into Xiyuan that Your Majesty and Mr. were back, so he waited early in the guest courtyard.

Seeing the two alight from the back seat, he immediately realized they were Your Majesty’s parents of this life.

"Hello Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang, I’m Summer Solstice, also the butler of Xiyuan."

Jiang Wenhu looked at the young man with an especially charming round face.

In her mind, butlers were either those older, dignified ones with gray hair she had met in grand ladies’ homes or middle-aged people. Older ones have the stability and suppressive power over all household servants.

It was her first time seeing such a young butler.

Considering he manages such a large garden, he must be capable.

Moreover, he addressed her as Aunt Jiang instead of Mrs. Jiang or Madam Jiang, which felt much more comfortable and intimate than the latter.

"Summer Solstice, is it the Summer Solstice from the twenty-four solar terms?"

"Exactly, because I was born on the day of the Summer Solstice, and my family name is Xia (Summer), so that’s how I got the name." Seeing Jiang Wenhu getting out of the car with several things in her hand, Summer Solstice took some over, "I arranged this guest courtyard, so if you or Uncle Jiang feel uncomfortable in any way, just let me know."

Jiang Lingxi opened the car trunk, while Shen Yunqing started unloading the New Year goods they brought over, glancing in Summer Solstice and Jiang Wenhu’s direction.

"I didn’t expect Summer Solstice and Mrs. Jiang to hit it off so well."

Shen Yunqing: "He is naturally shrewd and skillful."

The reason he got along well with Jiang Wenhu certainly had to do with this person beside him.

Jiang Runcheng watched helplessly as his wife chatted and laughed with that young butler named Summer Solstice, then went over holding the New Year goods in his hands, "Ahem, what are y’all chatting about?"

Jiang Wenhu glanced at him, "Summer Solstice said after settling in, he’d take me for a walk in the garden. My legs feel a bit weak from the car ride; are you coming?"

"I’ll go too!"

It’s more interesting to walk around than to quickly glance from the car.

There was naturally nothing dissatisfactory about the guest courtyard’s arrangement; Jiang Wenhu was worried she might not want to leave after staying a couple of days.

Once settled in and having sorted the New Year goods, the couple happily went off to tour the garden with Summer Solstice.

Jiang Lingxi and Shen Yunqing didn’t join them, thinking Jiang Wenhu and Jiang Runcheng might be more at ease without them.

They returned to their courtyard next door.

Jiang Lingxi sent the address of Xiyuan to Jiang Lingxu, then received a train schedule from him, "Xiaoxu will be off the train at six tonight. By the time he gets here, it’ll probably be close to seven. How about we delay dinner by an hour and wait for him to eat together? That kid’s gone through a lot this time."

"I’ll let the kitchen know."

Waiting for him to put down his phone, Jiang Lingxi picked up the already dried lucky character and couplets they wrote in the morning, "Come on, let’s put these up at our courtyard and the main courtyard."

Other entrances and houses were tended to by Summer Solstice and others, leaving these two courtyards for them to do themselves.

To be honest, it was her first time doing this by hand.

Back in her previous life, her family had servants when she was young; later, during wars, there was no time for this, and even less so after she ascended the throne.

They energetically pasted them around, having a lengthy debate on whether to paste the lucky character upside down.

As for who compromised in the end, no need to guess.

At six o’clock in the evening, it was nearly dark.

Jiang Lingxu came out of the station with a simple backpack.

He once again checked the address sent by his sister, confirming there was no direct bus or subway, then headed toward the taxi area on the other side.

Despite the approaching new year, there were still many out and about making a living.

He casually opened the door of the nearest available taxi and, after getting in, handed his phone to the driver, "Sir, go to this address."

"This place, it’s not close. I’ve been driving a taxi for a long time but haven’t been there before." The taxi driver looked at the young man beside him. Dusty and tired-looking, his clothes were wrinkled. He didn’t seem like the type to go to such an address.

"Nobody is going to hire my cab on the way back; I won’t charge you by the meter, a flat two hundred bucks, deal?"

Jiang Lingxu furrowed his brow.

The driver added quickly, "Even if you switch to another cab, I’m afraid it’ll be similar."

Jiang Lingxu: "...Alright!"

"Buckle up, let’s go!"

After nearly an hour of driving, the taxi finally reached the address.

Jiang Lingxu and the taxi driver both stared at the exquisitely large red lantern with golden dragons embroidered on it glowing in front of them, illuminating the grand entrance and extending outwards to walls that disappeared into the night, "Are you sure you want to get off here?"

Jiang Lingxu: "..."

Honestly, he wasn’t so sure himself right now.

Was this really a residential area, not some scenic spot?

"Please wait a moment, sir, while I call my sister to confirm."