Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2291 - 2227: Those Who Were Good to Him

After heading out to gather some beans and bok choy, Chiang Xiao noticed that Meng Xinian remained silent.

When she turned to check on him, she saw him gripping the railing with both hands. He was staring toward the horizon, his features clouded by an unreadable, somber expression.

As he stood there, an aura of profound sadness and self-reproach seemed to radiate from him.

Under normal circumstances, Tyrant Meng wasn't the type to make such an error. He was the kind of man who would pursue even the slightest glimmer of hope with everything he had.

After all, how can one determine failure without first attempting the task?

Yet, regarding Old Yang, he hadn't even considered making an effort.

Chiang Xiao, however, grasped the reasoning behind his behavior.

Even Old Yang’s biological son was in the dark about his father's true state of health, but Meng Xinian was acutely aware of it. This proved just how deeply he cared for the man.

Given his sharp observational skills, Old Yang couldn't hide his condition once Meng Xinian started paying attention.

Meng Xinian must have witnessed the agonizing sight of Old Yang vomiting after a meal. Having seen that level of suffering firsthand, he simply didn't dare to try again.

She stepped toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind and resting her face against his broad back.

Meng Xinian’s frame stiffened momentarily before he forced himself to relax.

Looking down, he placed his hands over hers and asked in a hushed tone, "Little, did I almost cause Old Man Yang’s death?"

Chiang Xiao knew he was drowning in guilt and sorrow.

She shook her head against his back and replied, "Of course not. Did you try to convince him to eat, only for him to throw it all up?"

Following a brief silence, Meng Xinian admitted, "I gave him that meat floss you sent over. That day, he vomited so violently he nearly didn't pull through."

In that moment, he felt as though he had personally brought Old Yang to death's door.

And he had used the food Chiang Xiao provided to do it.

That was why he was convinced Old Yang couldn't stomach anything she made; it wasn't a lack of effort, but a failed attempt that haunted him.

He had kept this from her, fearing it would make her feel responsible for the old man's pain.

It was also the reason he insisted on staying here instead of returning to the Capital City; he needed to be close by in case Old Yang’s condition took a turn for the worse.

With Yang Zhiqi away in another province for a conference, Meng Xinian felt he had to remain.

He never anticipated that Little Chiang would show up.

Nor did he expect her to actually get Old Yang to eat.

And the fact that Old Yang could truly keep the food down...

It was overwhelming.

If it weren't for Chiang Xiao, and if he had simply given up on saving Old Yang, wouldn't he have been the one responsible for the man's decline?

The realization finally dawned on Chiang Xiao.

So that was the truth of the matter.

She pressed a kiss to his back, reflecting on how this tyrant truly cherished those who had shown him kindness in the past.

"The meat floss I made before was just a dry snack, so I didn't use much Spirit Spring Water. That's likely why he couldn't handle it," Chiang Xiao explained. "But these snacks required water during preparation, and I put a lot of heart into them. The concentration of Spirit Spring Water was much higher this time, which probably made the effect much stronger."

"I didn't even consider that," Meng Xinian murmured. "Years ago, it was Old Man Yang who steered me toward becoming a Supervisor Guard. I know I wasn't old enough back then, but I secretly joined the Alliance, and no one kicked me out because he had given the order to let me stay."

Without Old Yang’s intervention, he wouldn't be the man he was today.

Meng Xinian’s voice remained low and heavy, "He helped me immensely during those years. Even the choice of my captain and the skills I acquired—he arranged everything from the shadows."

One could argue that Old Yang had been a better, more responsible figure in his life than Meng Chaojun ever was.

But due to the man's failing health, Old Yang had chosen to retire from that world, and Meng Xinian had tried his best to respect that peace.