5 Chapter 5: Money is Not a Big Deal

However, upon closer inspection, Jiang Ruobai could spot a few differences.

Madam was a dignified and gentle lady from a wealthy family, but this young girl exuded a lethargic and leisure aura, not caring about how other people might perceive her. Instead of a high-quality gown, she wore a wrinkled old cotton dress. She was sitting with a posture that no upper-class ladies would ever adopt as she leaned on the wooden wheelchair. Her long hair was casually tied up with a thin rope and scattered behind her like a waterfall, messy yet gently swaying with the warm wind.

Jiang Ruobai's eyes remained on the girl's face as he walked closer to her, wondering if he was still dreaming, wondering if she really was the daughter he had been searching for.

He eventually stopped by the sleeping girl, blocking the sun's heat with his body. Probably feeling a cool shadow looming above her, the girl finally opened her eyes. 

A pair of cold eyes that hid a sea of broken stars stared back at him.

"Is that you, Xiao Qi1?" Jiang Ruobai asked in a trembling voice.

Jiang Ning took a good look at this stranger's face. The first thing that came to her mind was the man before her was elegant. He appeared to be in his forties, his skin was smooth, and his hair was well kept, clearly a sign of wealth.

The robes he wore only further strengthened her opinion that he might very well be a wealthy aristocrat.

But why would such a person want to eat in a small, broken shop?

And what did he call her? 'Xiao Qi'?

Could this man be in cahoots with the old woman from before?

'Ah, a guest from the brothel?'

Jiang Ning's eyes were immediately filled with disdain.

This man looked very gentle and kind, yet he partakes in such hideous jobs. You really can't judge a book by its cover, huh. 

Perhaps it was because the disdain in her eyes was too obvious because the man's face instantly fell.

Jiang Ruobai could feel his heart breaking under his daughter's hateful glare. Did she hate him for not being able to find her after so many years?

Yes, she should hate him for it.

Jiang Ruobai steeled his heart and squatted down, lowering himself, "Come with me," He softly said.

'Come with him?'

Was this man that shameless? 

"To tell you the truth, I'm crippled," Jiang Ning started, trying to dissuade the man from taking her. "You'll be disappointed and disgusted by me."

Jiang Ruobai's gaze shifted to her legs, and he felt slightly bitter at her words. "Why would I be disappointed or disgusted with you? You're the person I've been looking for. You... You are my daughter!"

'D-daughter?'

Taken aback, Jiang Ning looked at the man carefully. He was handsome and elegant.

He definitely looked like a rich man.

Was he a wealthy father sent to her from heaven? 

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"You'll know if it's true when you see your mother when you return. You looked exactly like your mother when she was young. "Jiang Ruobai looked excited when she looked slightly more interested in his words, "You went missing during the Lantern Festival when you were three years old. It has been twelve years since then, and we've finally found you!"

"Does your family have money?"

"..." Jiang Ruobai was startled to silence. What kind of question was this?

The Jiang family was one of the top ten noble families in Chang'an City, so money was not a big deal.

"Do you have money or not?" Jiang Ning asked again.

"Oh, yes, yes. I'll give you as much as you want, if you're willing to come back with me." Jiang Ruobai glanced around, feeling extremely uncomfortable at the sight of the crumbling place.

Looking at this shabby house and its straw roof, his child must have been living a hard life. No wonder she cared so much about money. The thought just broke his heart even more.

"Alright, I'll go back with you." Jiang Ning agreed without hesitation.

She was a crippled orphan girl and had a child of unknown origin growing in her womb. Sooner or later, she would starve to death.

How could she be so unlucky right after she transmigrated to another life? 

Look, even her wealthy father had to take the initiative to visit.

"I'm going to pack a few things," Jiang Ning said happily.

"You don't have to bring anything," Jiang Ruobai hurriedly said. "We have everything in the manor,"

'What is worth bringing along from this shabby place?'

A dirty cat jumped down from the wall and meowed as it approached Jiang Ning.

It instantly brought a smile onto Jiang Ning's face, "Miaomiao2, you're here for free food again? I've left half a fish in the pot for you." She said.

Besides Old Li, this cat had been diligently visiting her for the past two months.

To feed her special and loyal customer, Jiang Ning told Jiang Ruobai to wait for a moment, then she moved her wheelchair into the house and brought half a fish to the cat.

Jiang Ruobai looked at her leg, and his heart ached so much that he wanted to kill someone.

If he found out who had kidnapped his daughter and crippled her, he would execute all ten generations of his family!

As he continued to fume on the inside, Jiang Ruobai observed as the girl rests her chin on her palms, watching the skinny cat greedily gulp down the fish. The small smile that crept to the girl's face somehow made her seemed much gentler and more refined than before. 

The sight slightly eased his heart. Now that he had finally found his missing daughter, Jiang Ruobai could feel the weight he had carried for the past twelve years had slowly been lifted off his shoulders. His eyes unconsciously moved down to the cat bowl on the ground when he noticed something familiar…

Then he suddenly froze.