Eternal Beast Taming Family

Jiang Nian remained silent for a moment, standing still without making any move.

The woman inside the courtyard had already put down the wooden basin she was holding and rushed outside. She took Jiang Nian's arm and carefully looked her over from head to toe.

With tears in her eyes and a trembling voice, she said, "My son is doing well. He hasn't changed much over the years. Good, he's doing well."

Jiang Nian opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say, so she could only remain silent.

The old woman took Jiang Nian's arm and led her into the courtyard, then pulled her to sit down at a small wooden table inside.

"Take a rest first, I'll go get you some water."

Just as the old woman was about to get up, Jiang Nian grabbed her and said, "No need. The letter said he was seriously ill. Take me to see him."

The old woman was silent for a moment, then nodded heavily. "Come with me, your... father is in the east room."

In the afternoon, the east room gets better sunlight. The room is simply furnished with a small square table and some basic household items such as a wardrobe.

Bright sunlight streamed through the windows into the room, casting a golden glow across the floor.

Lying on the bed inside the room was an excessively thin figure with sunken cheeks and a sallow complexion, fast asleep, completely unaware that someone had entered the room.

After just one glance, Jiang Nian suddenly turned her head and went back into the courtyard.

She raised her head high, looked up at the sky, then took out a slender, green leaf and handed it to the old woman, saying, "Take this, crush it up, and feed it to him."

The old woman held the leaf in her hand, looked worriedly at her daughter whom she hadn't seen in a long time, and said hesitantly, "Xiao Nian, what kind of leaf is this? Can your father really eat it?"

Jiang Nian remained silent, but Liu Mama, who was standing to the side, explained, "Madam, these are spiritual materials used by the Contract Master. Since our young mistress has brought them out, they can naturally cure the illness. You can rest assured."

It seemed that Granny Liu's explanation gave the old woman confidence. She gave her daughter a deep look, then rushed into the kitchen, apparently to extract juice from the leaves of the herbs.

Jiang Nian sat down quietly at the wooden table.

Listen to the old woman's clattering and clanging as she explains how the leaves are extracted into juice, and watch her carry a small bowl into the east room.

Finally, I heard the old woman's joyful cry, and then I heard the voice of another old man.

She suddenly stood up, glanced at Granny Liu, and said softly, "Let's go."

A moment later, the overjoyed old woman returned to the courtyard and saw that Jiang Nian was no longer there. She hurried to the courtyard gate, calling out and looking around.

"Xiao Nian, Xiao Nian..."

"Stop shouting, he's probably already far away." The old man, who had been lying unconscious on the bed with a sallow complexion, had already staggered out of the house.

Seeing this, the old woman quickly went to help him. The old man slowly walked to the wooden table and sat down.

"We owe her, so it's understandable that she doesn't want to see me. I reckon this old man can hold on for a few more years, and by then Xiao Yan will be able to stand up."

The old woman wiped away her tears. "Xiao Nian should be doing alright in the Chu family. Although the son-in-law is sickly, at least he can ensure that Xiao Nian has enough to eat and wear."

As the two old people sighed to each other, a boy carrying a basket entered the courtyard. He looked at the two old people in surprise and exclaimed with delight:

"Sir, are you feeling better?"

Jiang Kui looked at the boy with loving eyes, "Yes, Grandpa is all better."

The boy found it strange and asked worriedly, "How could Grandpa suddenly get better? Could it be...?"

Seeing the boy's worry, the old woman gently patted his shoulder. "What are you thinking about? Your aunt brought you medicine this afternoon, and your grandfather got better after taking it."

"My aunt?" The boy's eyes revealed great confusion. He had never heard of such a relative in his family before.

"Yes, you have an aunt. You're all grown up now, it's time for you to know some things."

Jiang Yan panicked a little, sensing something was off about his grandfather's tone. "Wh...what's wrong?"

"Twenty years ago, many villagers in our village contracted a strange disease that could only be cured by a contract master's elixir. However, our Ziyuan Village is just an ordinary village. Which family could afford the elixir to cure the disease?"

Then a middle-aged man came to our village with a sickly boy, saying that he could cure the strange illnesses of the villagers.

However, the condition is that the village chief's daughter, who is also your aunt, must marry his sickly young man.

The sickly boy was clearly not going to live much longer, and your aunt was naturally extremely unwilling. However, at the urging of many villagers, your grandfather still cruelly forced her to marry him.

After taking the elixir given by that person, the villagers gradually recovered, but your aunt who married into the family never heard from you again.

Even though your father visited the Chu family several times, he never saw your aunt. So after that, there was no news of your aunt in our village.

It's understandable that she hates me, and hates the entire Ziyuan Village. As long as we know she's doing well now, Grandpa and Grandma can have some peace of mind.

Jiang Yan's heart remained unsettled for a long time. It turned out that such a past event was hidden in the long-buried past.

"Xiao Yan, remember that there's nothing wrong with being a little selfish in the future. Even though our Jiang family has done so much for the village, what have we gotten in return?"

Your parents died early, and I, the old man, was bedridden for a while. Nothing good has ever happened to our family, and the villagers treat us like a jinx.

So from now on, you must take care of your family first, and then think about everything else.

Jiang Yan lowered his head and responded in a muffled voice, "I understand, Grandpa."

……

As dusk settled, the carriage carrying Jiang Nian swayed and rattled back to the Chu family mansion.

Looking at the warm orange light cast by the lanterns in front of the gate, Jiang Nian felt her heart gradually calm down.

She had just stepped off the carriage when a little dumpling ran out from behind the gate and bumped into her arms.

Chu Shengyuan lifted his chubby little face and asked, "Mom, where did you go today? Why didn't you take me with you?"

This simple question, like a gentle spring breeze, dispelled all the bitterness and loneliness in her heart.

She patted Xiao Yuan's head and smiled gently, "Mommy just went for a walk to clear her head. Next time, I'll definitely take Xiao Yuan with me, okay?"

"Okay." Chu Shengyuan led Jiang Nian into the house. "Mom, Dad brought lots of delicious food from town today. We're just waiting for you to start eating."

What a wonderful family; they will never forget anyone.

Jiang Nian thought to herself that all the previous complaints and bitterness should be wiped away.

After Jiang Nian washed her hands and sat down at the dining table, Chu Jingyu waved his hand, dismissing the maids who were serving her.

The Chu family wasn't used to such harmonious times as mealtimes, with others sitting around watching over them.

During the meal, Chu Qinhui's caring gaze fell on Jiang Nian, who responded with a generous smile, more cheerful than usual.

The look in Chu Qinhui's eyes then shifted from worry to joy.

After dinner, Chu Jingyu, Chu Qinhui, and Chu Shengfan each carried several cages covered with black cloth to the ancestral hall.

After the three of them offered incense and paid their respects as usual, Chu Qinhui and Chu Shengfan lifted the black cloth covering the cage, revealing three different kinds of source beasts inside.

"Medicine Crystal Rabbit", "Green Leaf Insect", "Phosphorescent Butterfly".

Three kinds of medicinal beasts appeared in the cage. Chu Shengfan looked at them with a sense of realization. These were the three kinds of source beasts that Grandpa Sun had provided to him when he made a contract with the source beasts.

There are five "Crystal Rabbits", ten "Green Leaf Insects", and three "Phosphorescent Butterflies".

The "Medicine Crystal Rabbit" and "Green Leaf Insect" are relatively easy to manage; as long as the enclosure is properly secured, there's no need to worry about them running around.

However, phosphorescent butterflies can fly, and if you don't form a contract with them, they might accidentally fly into the deep mountains.

While Chu Shengfan was pondering how to solve this problem, Chu Jingyu had already begun to report to Chu Zu.

"Ancestor Chu, we have brought three kinds of source beasts home. What kind of spiritual materials would you like?"