Both types of snakes are very docile in nature and will not actively attack humans. Should there be any disturbance, they will slip away in advance. Even now when caught by Lady Zhang, it has not launched an attack.
There is another kind of snake, even rarer than these two, called the Fragrant Worm. The Fragrant Worm is a tender yellow color and can be said to be pretty. In the eyes of tenant farrs, it is in the sa category as the Great Immortal; it’s considered magical and can enthrall people. Upon encountering a Fragrant Worm, tenant farrs wouldn’t think of harming it, but rather respectfully send it away.
A few days ago, a Fragrant Worm erged from the low wall of the garden in the front courtyard of Lian Manman’s family and was spotted by Old Master Lian. Old Master Lian respectfully escorted it away. "Respectfully escorting" it away ant using honorifics, but in reality, it was just thrown far away.
As for the Fragrant Worm that was escorted away, whether it would quietly co back, stay reclusive to avoid being detected, or find another more secluded place to live, that was beyond Lian Manman’s knowledge.
As for the snake caught by Lady Zhang, it wasn’t treated with the sa regard as the Fragrant Worm.
"Mother, what should we do with this worm? I think our Xiao Yan wants you to kill it," Lian Manman said to Lady Zhang.
"It hasn’t bitten Xiao Yan; I will send it away, throw it by the river bend. If it’s far enough, it won’t co back," said Lady Zhang as she prepared to send the worm away.
This type of snake, like the Cauliflower Snake, is also considered a beneficial one. While tenant farrs don’t hold the sa superstitions about them as they do for the Fragrant Worm, most people, like Lady Zhang, would not harm them and simply throw them away.
Sotis Lian Manman felt that although most tenant farrs in Thirty Mile Camp had not been educated and couldn’t discuss profound philosophies, their conventionally agreed behaviors demonstrated the most straightforward and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Lady Zhang walked out with the worm perched on a wooden stick, and just then, Si Lang ca running in with Liulang from the gate.
"Auntie Si, give the worm," Si Lang’s eyes lit up imdiately upon seeing the worm curled around Lady Zhang’s stick.
Most tenant farrs would not harm the worm, but youngsters like Si Lang were indifferent to such considerations. They would play with the worms, and whether they ended up killing them or torturing them to the brink of exhaustion before losing interest and setting them free, nobody could say for sure.
"This thing should not be hard," Lady Zhang moved the stick in her hand to the side, aware of what would happen if she gave the worm to Si Lang. "Take your brother back to the room and see if you can help your mother with sothing."
Lady Zhang took the worm outside the gate and threw it far away, avoiding Si Lang and Liulang. Si Lang and Liulang felt sowhat resentful but dared not say a word.
After averting a small crisis, Lady Zhang returned, placed the stick at the entrance, and stared sowhat absently at the swallow’s nest under the eaves.
"It would be nice if the swallows could move with us," Lady Zhang murmured softly.
Turns out she was thinking about the planned move after autumn and felt reluctant to leave the nest of swallows behind.
"Mother," Lian Manman pulled Lady Zhang toward the West Wing Room, glancing in the direction of the Upper Room. They preferred to keep their plans to move a secret for the ti being.
"Mother, once we build the new house, there will certainly be other swallows coming to nest," Lian Manman comforted Lady Zhang, "This one nest of little swallows, they will have grown up by next year and won’t be able to all stay in one nest. Maybe when they recognize us, they might just co and nest at our new ho."
"That makes sense," Lady Zhang smiled.
The mother and daughters sat back down on the kang and continued to fold paper swallows and gourds with Lian Zhizhi.
"Mother, Brother Youheng gave a packet of incense dicine, claiming it can repel insects and ward off evil spirits, and suggested we wear it. Slls quite fragrant too," Lian Manman spoke without pausing her hands, telling Lady Zhang.
"Young Doctor Wang is always so thoughtful," Lady Zhang comnted, "If he gave it, it’s definitely better than what they sell outside, able to repel insects and ward off evil spirits. Zhizhi, find so ti to embroider two purses or sachets, and put the incense dicine in them so each of you can wear one."
"Mother, I have so already embroidered, one for each of the six mbers in our family," Zhizhi offered.
"Even better," Lady Zhang responded.
While they spoke, the mother and daughters had folded quite a few paper swallows and gourds. Lady Zhang cut out more diamond-shaped colored paper pieces, then took out a needle and thread to sew through the folded swallows and gourds, wrapping them with the paper pieces to create hanging strings and pendants.
Zhizhi went to the outer room to prepare a bowl of thick paste, while Manman stood on a stool and started sticking the swallows and gourds to the room’s beams.
The wind blew in through the window, causing the strings of brightly colored swallows and gourds to sway back and forth, looking very eye-catching.
After decorating the West Wing Room, they packed the remaining paper swallows and gourds into a basket. The three locked the door and headed to the snack shop to decorate it too. With the festival coming up, they wanted to create a festive atmosphere.
Lian Shouxin was inside the shop and pointed to several bags, saying that they were filled with sorghum and glutinous rice delivered from the grain store.
"Once we’ve finished sticking these up, we’ll start soaking the rice," Lady Zhang said with a smile.
As the three won entered the shop ready to get to work, they heard soone outside talking to Lian Shouxin.
"Uncle."
Zhizhi’s face imdiately flushed red.
×××...××
Delivering the first update, seek pink. A second update will co later.
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Recomnded completed book by Ruoyan: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles," a light house fight farmland tale, filled with family affairs and emotional entanglents within a large household.
Book number: 1771214
A direct link is below, click to access directly. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welco to support by voting for recomndation tickets, monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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