"Now let’s see who dares to damage the crops again," Lian Manman nodded and laughed. She had already guessed why Shen Liu suddenly wanted to punish the petty official so severely.
The so-called "killing the chicken to scare the monkey," because of this incident, no one dared to damage the crops again, let alone the corn that Shen Liu valued so much!
"Manman, should we start preparing so food?" Lady Zhang was boiling water by the stove when she ca over to discuss with Lian Manman.
It was ti for lunch. But would Shen Liu eat at their house? Regardless, the preparations still needed to be made.
"Mother, let’s just make sothing simple," Lian Manman suggested, "Forget the big fish and at, we’ll just make a few light dishes and cook so white rice."
"That’s fine," Lady Zhang nodded. After mother and daughter agreed on the nu, Lady Zhang asked Lian Zhizhi, Lian Yeye, and Lady Zhao to help.
"Manman, we don’t need you outside, you go and chat with Young Master Shen Jiu, along with your brother and Xiao Qi," Lady Zhang told Lian Manman.
Lian Manman agreed and went back into the inner room.
In the inner room, a table was set on the kang bed with tea, snacks, and fruit. Shen Qian was sitting next to it, reviewing the howork of Xiao Qi and Wu Lang. Upon seeing Lian Manman enter, Shen Qian imdiately put down Xiao Qi’s howork and beckoned Lian Manman to sit next to him.
"Manman, why did you leave behind? Co sit, we can talk," Shen Qian said with a smile.
Lian Manman smiled and took a seat.
"Why did you co with your Sixth Brother again today? Didn’t you say you have to study every day even at ho?" Lian Manman asked Shen Qian.
"Sixth Brother said he was coming to see you, so of course I had to co along. I was afraid Sixth Brother wouldn’t bring , and I was even worried I wouldn’t wake up in the morning. Manman, you know, I slept on the outer kang bed in Sixth Brother’s room last night... I even got Sixth Brother to ask the teacher for a day off for ."
"Manman, the corn is really delicious. If you hadn’t written to about it, I wouldn’t have known. Hehe, you’re so good to , Manman."
"Manman, let’s go out and play. I want to see your Little Yellow Ox, and also the ducklings..." After sitting and talking for a while, Shen Qian beca restless again, insisting on going out to play.
Lian Manman pondered for a mont before agreeing. Shen Liu was outside, and it seed he wouldn’t be leaving anyti soon. She wouldn’t take Fatty Shen too far away, just a walk around her family’s estate would do.
First, Lian Manman took Shen Qian to the store’s backyard to see Little Yellow Ox. In just a few months, Little Yellow Ox had grown a whole size bigger. Upon seeing strangers, it mooed a couple of tis.
Xiao Qi ran over gleefully and tiptoed lightly to stroke Little Yellow Ox’s head.
Fatty Shen also ran over and imitated Xiao Qi, stroking the head of Little Yellow Ox. He was slightly taller than Xiao Qi and didn’t need to tiptoe to reach Little Yellow Ox’s head.
"Little Yellow Ox recognizes ; he’s greeting ," Fatty Shen said, excited.
"Yes," Lian Manman pursed her lips and smiled in agreent.
Next, Lian Manman led Shen Qian to the river to see a flock of ducks swimming there.
"They all belong to our family," Lian Manman said.
"Wow, they’ve grown so big," Fatty exclaid in surprise, recalling when the ducks were small and still had patches of down.
"They can lay eggs now, co on, I’ll show you the ducks’ eggs," Xiao Qi said.
The children went into the shrubbery, and under Xiao Qi’s guidance, Shen Qian found a warm duck egg in a grass nest.
"This one’s just been laid, still warm, right?" Xiao Qi said.
"Mm, mm," Shen Qian’s eyes rounded in amazent, nodding.
After leaving the shrubbery, Lian Manman took Shen Qian to see the various trees newly planted on her family’s property. Under a tall poplar tree, the children stopped.
"Wu Lang is going to take the exam next year, so I will take it too," Shen Qian declared.
"My brother is thirteen years old, how old are you, Fatty? You should study a few more years, and then take the exam with Xiao Qi," Lian Manman said.
Shen Qian looked at Wu Lang and then at Xiao Qi, puffing his cheeks in thought.
"I’m also thirteen years old," Shen Qian stated.
"What?" Lian Manman was taken aback and assessed Shen Qian thoroughly. He had always been chubby and, being from a wealthy family, had fair and tender skin, so Lian Manman initially thought he was about Xiao Qi’s age. Later, as they interacted more, she concluded Fatty must be older than Xiao Qi.
But Fatty couldn’t be as old as Wu Lang.
It’s not unusual for children to want to appear more mature and overstate their age a bit.
"Hey, Fatty Shen, how do you compare to my brother? You don’t look thirteen," Lian Manman said with an embarrassed face, noting that Fatty should consider the reality before boasting.
Shen Qian looked at Wu Lang again and ntally asured their heights, his spirits deflating.
"I forgot just now; actually, I’m twelve this year," Shen Qian corrected, "Manman, how old are you?"
"Psh," Lian Manman turned her face away.
"Okay, actually, I turned eleven this year," Shen Qian touched his nose and said.
"Psh," Lian Manman turned her face the other way.
"I’m telling the truth," Shen Qian defended imdiately, "I really am eleven, it’s just that my birthday cos later in the year."
"My sister is only eleven, and you’re not as tall as she is. You’re only a bit taller than ," Xiao Qi laughed.
"Impossible, I’m taller than Manman," Shen Qian argued, seeing that none of them believed him, he got urgent, "Don’t believe ? Let’s asure, I’m certain I’m taller than Manman."
"How shall we compare?" Xiao Qi asked.
"We..." Shen Qian looked up at the adjacent poplar tree, his eyes suddenly lit up, "We’ll just stand by this tree to compare."
**...***
The second part is up, seeking your pink encouragents. (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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