Chapter 397

Jiang Mingyuan's words were still rather conservative.

Interpretation: Jiang Mingyuan's words were still relatively conservative. Could be "Jiang Mingyuan's remarks were still rather conservative." Keep concise.

An Qinghe not only couldn't see sorrow.

An Qinghe not only didn't look sad, he...

Let's look at context: Later An Qinghe says he's not sad. So line 【2】 likely: "An Qinghe not only didn't look sad, he..." Actually maybe it's "An Qinghe not only didn't look sad, he was still..." I'll translate as: "An Qinghe not only didn't look sad, he was still..." but that adds "was still". Might be considered padding. However we need to convey meaning; maybe the Chinese is elliptical but we can fill with "was". I'll decide to translate as: "An Qinghe not only didn't look sad, he was still..." Let's see if other lines clarify.

He was still the same as usual, enthusiastic and lively.

He was still as usual, enthusiastic and lively, open and cheerful.

An Qinghe grabbed a handful of dry grass and put it in the feeding trough, laughing as he said, "Why should I be sad?"

An Qinghe grabbed a handful of dry grass and put it in the trough, laughing, he said, "Why would I be sad?"

Jiang Mingyuan stared, thinking he hadn't understood, and had to explain more clearly.

Jiang Mingyuan was taken aback, thinking he hadn't understood, so he had to explain further.

"You must also be sincere toward Miss Xixi, right?"

"You must also be sincere towards Miss Gu Xixi, right?"

"But how come I can't see any change in you?"

"But why can't I see any change in you?"

"Oh, I'm not doubting your character, Brother An; I'm just genuinely confused."

"Oh, I'm not questioning your character, Brother An; I'm just genuinely puzzled."

"I can't figure out whether Brother An is just putting on a brave face, unwilling to show his true feelings in front of me as a brother,"

"I can't figure out whether you're putting on a brave front, unwilling to show your true feelings in front of me as a brother,"

"or whether he's broad-minded enough to have already moved on and let it go?"

"or whether you're broad-minded enough to have already moved on, letting it go?"

"Although Jiang Mingyuan appeared normal in front of everyone,"

Although Jiang Mingyuan appeared normal in front of everyone.

"when he turned away, he inevitably felt gloomy and dejected, filled with a sense of loss."

Yet when his back was turned, he inevitably felt gloomy and dejected, a sense of loss.

"So he even felt a little envious of An Qinghe's ability to stay happy both in public and in private."

So he even felt a little envious of An Qinghe's ability to stay happy both in public and private.

"After An Qinghe finished adding the fodder, he turned and smiled at Jiang Mingyuan, saying, 'I'm not putting on a brave face, nor have I gotten over it.'"

An Qinghe finished adding the fodder, turned to Jiang Mingyuan with a smile, and said, "I'm not putting on a brave front, nor have I gotten over it."

"Jiang Mingyuan became even more puzzled, 'Huh?'"

Jiang Mingyuan grew even more puzzled, "Huh?"

"An Qinghe turned to fetch a water bucket, saying matter-of-factly, 'It's just a matter of who comes first.'"

An Qinghe turned to fetch the water bucket, his tone matter-of-fact, "It's just a matter of who came first."

"Besides, even if Xixi isn't married to him now, even if she someday does marry him, it wouldn't matter."

"Not to mention that Gu Xixi isn't even married to him yet; even if she someday marries him, it wouldn't matter."

"After marriage, they could still divorce, right?"

"After marriage, can't they still divorce, right?"

"We Western Region folks don't care about that; anyway, I'll spend my life working with Xixi, and I can wait."

"We people of the Western Regions never care about that; anyway, I'll spend my lifetime working with Gu Xixi, I can wait."

"Jiang Mingyuan was greatly shocked."

Jiang Mingyuan was greatly shocked.

"What if the girl you like is taken by someone else? Then just wait for her to divorce."

"What do you do when the girl you like is taken by someone else? Just wait for her to divorce."

"He had never heard such reasoning before in his life."

He had never heard such reasoning before in his life.

"Jiang Mingyuan picked up a ladle to give water to the horses."

Jiang Mingyuan picked up the ladle to give water to the horses.

"He said with mixed feelings, 'No wonder you're not sad; it turns out you'd already figured it out.'"

He said, his feelings complex, "No wonder you're not sad; it turns out you'd already made up your mind."

"An Qinghe put his arm around Jiang Mingyuan's shoulder and gave him a pat, saying, 'Brother, you probably can't beat me on this point.'"

An Qinghe hooked his arm around Jiang Mingyuan's shoulder and gave him a pat, "Brother, on this point you probably can't compete with me."

"You are the glory of both the Jiang and the Gu families; when you go back, you'll surely be pressed into marriage talks!"

"You are the glory of both the Jiang and Gu families; when you go back this time, you'll surely be pressed into marriage talks!"

"Maybe they've already picked out a new wife for you at home."

"Maybe they've already picked out a new bride for you at home."

"Having said that, An Qinghe laughed triumphantly."

An Qinghe said that and laughed triumphantly.

"Jiang Mingyuan became unhappy and muttered, 'I've already told my parents I'll establish my career before starting a family.'"

Jiang Mingyuan became unhappy, speaking in a low voice, "I've already informed my parents: I will establish my career before starting a family."

"As a newly appointed official, I'm busy with many matters, so I'm not in a rush."

"As a newly appointed official, I have many duties, so I'm not in a hurry either."

"Moreover," he glanced coolly at An Qinghe, "Brother An probably doesn't know yet, does he?"

"Besides," he gave An Qinghe a cool glance, "Brother An probably doesn't know yet."

"The elders of the Gu family have always intended to pair me with Miss Xixi."

"The elders of the Gu family have always intended to pair me with Miss Gu Xixi."

"An Qinghe frowned and asked, 'Does Xixi know about this?'"

An Qinghe blinked, frowned, and asked, "Does Gu Xixi know about this?"

"Jiang Mingyuan nodded, 'Hmm. Given her intelligence, she wouldn't be completely unaware.'"

Jiang Mingyuan nodded, "Hmm. Given her intelligence, she won't be completely unaware."

"An Qinghe couldn't laugh anymore."

An Qinghe couldn't laugh anymore.

"As fellow suitors rejected by Gu Xixi, he had the advantage of being closer."

As fellow rejectees of Gu Xixi, he had the advantage of proximity.

"While Jiang Mingyuan had the edge of family support."

And Jiang Mingyuan had the added advantage of familial support.

"Compared this way, the two were again evenly matched, with no clear winner."

When compared like this, the two were again evenly matched, neither superior.

"Jiang Mingyuan seemed to know An Qinghe's thoughts and continued, 'The position of county magistrate in Qingting County was previously a temporary fill-in.'"

Jiang Mingyuan seemed to know An Qinghe's thoughts and continued, "The position of county magistrate of Qing Tian County was previously a temporary fill-in."

"Now I have officially taken the post of county magistrate, and Miss Xixi is about to establish her tea garden."

"Now I have officially taken the post of county magistrate, and Gu Xixi's tea garden is about to be established."

"We'll see each other more often from now on."

"We'll see each other more often from now on."

"He lifted his eyes to An Qinghe, half-smiling, 'Brother An, you still have affairs in Yunling County; you can't stay in Qingting County all the time.'"

He lifted his eyes to look at An Qinghe, a half-smile, "Brother An, you still have affairs in Yun Ling County; you can't always stay in Qing Tian County."

"Thus, in An Qinghe's internal balance, Jiang Mingyuan's side gained more weight, actually outweighing with a small advantage."

Thus, on An Qinghe's inner balance scale, Jiang Mingyuan's side again gained chips, actually overcoming with a slight advantage.

"The two locked eyes, and the air seemed to crackle with tiny sparks."

The two locked eyes, and it seemed as if tiny sparks crackled and flew in the air.

"The journey back was especially smooth."

The return journey went especially smoothly.

"In the afternoon, at Huachi Ferry Village."

In the afternoon, Flower Pool Ford Village.

A group of children were playing shuttlecock in the open area at the village entrance.

A bunch of children were kicking a vine ball in the open space at the village entrance.

Gouwa was running with the ball, then suddenly stopped, saying, "Wait a moment."

Dogwa was running with the ball when he suddenly stopped, "Wait a moment."

Shitou laughed while running, saying, "What, you're not playing anymore?"

Shitou ran and laughed, "What, you're not playing anymore?"

Gouwa lifted his chin and said, "You guys look over there, someone's coming."

Dogwa lifted his chin, "Look over there, someone's coming."

Several children then all turned their gazes in that direction.

The few children then all turned their gazes that way.

Indeed, they saw a carriage approaching.

Indeed, they saw a carriage approaching.

Shitou stared intently to recognize it and exclaimed delightedly, "It's Big Brother An!"

Shitou focused his eyes to recognize, delighted, "It's Big Brother An!"

"My sister Xixi is back!"

"My sister Gu Xixi is back!"

He ran while turning his head to plead with Gouwa, "Gouwa bro, first go to my house and give Granny Zhang a message!"

He ran while turning his head to beg Dogwa, "Dogwa brother, first go to my house and tell Granny Zhang!"

"I'll come back after I pick up Xixi!"

"After I pick up Gu Xixi sister, I'll return!"

The carriage hadn't even entered the village entrance when it was surrounded by several children.

The carriage hadn't even entered the village gate before being surrounded by a few children.

An Qinghe pulled the reins to slow down, smiling and saying, "It's been a while since we last saw each other—have you guys missed me?"

An Qinghe pulled the reins to slow down, smiling, "It's been a while since we last saw each other; do you guys miss me?"

The children jumped and chattered, and for a moment it was impossible to make out who was saying what.

The children jumped up and down, chattering, and for a moment couldn't make out who was saying what.

An Qinghe laughed heartily.

He has excellent relations in Huachi Du Cun; both adults and children like him.

This land had long been equivalent to a second hometown for An Qinghe.

At this moment he felt both happy and at ease.

The children climbed onto the carriage one after another, squeezing to sit beside An Qinghe.

Those who couldn't squeeze in could only jog alongside the carriage all the way.

Gu Xixi also lifted the carriage curtain from inside, smiling and greeting everyone.

Only then did the children notice that there was an unfamiliar older sister inside the carriage.

Gu Xixi then introduced Lv Jing, saying she would reside here long-term and thus be considered one of them.

I hope everyone will look after her and not bully her.

These little kids in the village are practically walking gossip messengers.

If they learn of something, in the blink of an eye it spreads throughout the village.

This saves Gu Xixi the trouble of having to introduce Lv Jing to everyone individually later.

Upon learning that Lv Jing was an outsider, the children curiously eyed her.

Seeing Lv Jing smiling and ready to answer any question,

Everyone quickly grew fond of this sister who was both amiable and pretty.

When the carriage arrived at Gu Xixi's home, Zhang Shen was already waiting at the door.

She had been fairly composed at first, but upon seeing Gu Xixi step down from the carriage, her eyes instantly reddened.

"Xixi..."

Zhang Shen choked up, but seeing the children present, she forced herself to hold back her tears.

She hurried forward, taking Gu Xixi's hand and examining her carefully from head to toe.

"Good, you haven't lost much weight; you look even more spirited and prettier!"

Gu Xixi took Zhang Shen's hand and gave it a firm squeeze, saying, "I've been following your advice outside—eating well, drinking well, sleeping well."

"Now that you've seen it with your own eyes, you can finally relax, right?"

Zhang Shen nodded through tears and smiles, "Mm! Relaxed, relaxed!"

This child was born and raised in Huachi Du Cun, brought up by her, and had never been away for so long.

Only now, seeing and touching her in person, did Zhang Shen's hanging heart finally settle.

Gu Xixi then introduced Lv Jing to Zhang Shen.

Zhang Shen was already accustomed to Gu Xixi bringing back different friends, and she warmly welcomed Lv Jing inside.

"She's clearly a good girl! Just treat this place as your own home."

"This afternoon, Aunt will tidy up the west room for you, ensuring you'll live comfortably."

Of course, Zhang Shen didn't neglect An Qinghe either, saying, "Little An, you're familiar here, so Aunt won't fuss over you."

"You've worked hard driving all the way; later I'll boil some sweetened poached eggs for you to eat."

Since Gu Xixi left, the home has become overly quiet.

Today it suddenly became lively again.

Zhang Shen felt warm in her chest, bustling about the courtyard, busying herself nonstop.

Gu Xixi first opened the bundle of local specialties and entertained these early-arriving young guests.

The various preserved fruits, candies, and pastries brought back from the capital were mostly things the locals had never seen before.

The children merely swallowed their saliva, with no one rushing to eat.

Gouwa said solemnly, "Let's first help Brother An unload the carriage and move the luggage, okay!"