Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1230 - 628: There Is Much Strife in a Wealthy Household

The first watch, requesting pink tickets.

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After lunch, Lian Manman did not go back to Nian Garden. Xiao Qi was going to Xiao Shan Ju to study together with Shen Qian. It is said that Master Chu arranged the lessons for Shen Qian, two Chinese hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. With such an arrangement, Xiao Qi temporarily couldn’t attend the private school.

Lian Shouxin personally took Xiao Qi to the town’s private school to request leave. At home, Lian Manman and Lady Zhang packed the things Xiao Qi would need to take to Xiao Shan Ju for study.

"Xiao Fu and Xiao Gui have already been taken by my brother. I see that He Tao, although young, is also quite clever. He’s been getting along well with Xiao Qi these days. Why not let He Tao follow Xiao Qi and temporarily be an Attendant Student?" As she packed, Lian Manman discussed with Lady Zhang.

"Alright, as long as you two siblings have it settled." Lady Zhang nodded.

"Mom, we also need to prepare a gift for Master Chu." Lian Manman added. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Studying with Master Chu naturally wouldn’t require Xiao Qi’s tuition. A gift was a gesture of the Lian Family’s goodwill and respect for Master Chu. This gift naturally couldn’t be too modest. After discussing with Lady Zhang, Lian Manman finally prepared a high-quality inkstone, a block of ink, a box of lake brushes, a folding fan, two rulers, and additionally wrapped several packets of silver, carefully packing them in two gift boxes to be presented to Master Chu the next day.

After packing up the items, Lian Manman instructed Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing to set up the table, put out a chessboard, and she took out a chess manual to play by herself.

She learned Go from Mr. Loo. Mr. Loo loved playing chess in his free time, adept at both Go and Chinese chess. In a place like Thirty Mile Camp, finding someone to play Chinese chess with wasn’t difficult; even Old Huang from the mountains could play a few rounds. But finding someone to play Go was hard.

So Mr. Loo started teaching Go to his three young students outside of lessons.

Lian Manman wasn’t particularly fond of Go, but in an era with few entertainment options, playing Go was a good way to exercise the brain and pass the time, so she took it quite seriously. Usually, she’d play a few games with Mr. Loo, or make small bets with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi, which was very entertaining.

Lately, because she had been helping Lian Zhizhi embroider her dowry, she hadn’t touched the chess pieces for some time. Now, she suddenly brought them out again after seeing a chessboard and scattered pieces on Shen Jin’s desk in Lotus Pavilion, indicating Shen Jin often played.

Knowing she would inevitably visit Nian Garden to see Shen Jin, Lian Manman took the time to review her chess skills, not out of a desire to win, but because she didn’t know Shen Jin’s level of play. If their skills varied too greatly, it wouldn’t be fun.

"Miss, are we going to Nian Garden tomorrow?" Xiao Xi brought in a bowl of sour plum soup and handed it to Lian Manman, cautiously inquiring.

"Yes." Lian Manman put down the chess manual, took a sip of the sour plum soup, then looked up at Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing, who was doing needlework nearby, "Do you both want to go very much?"

Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing both laughed.

"If Miss takes us, we’re willing." Xiao Xi said.

"I am taking you there, but it’s not for fun." Lian Manman intentionally put on a stern face, "It’s to let you learn some manners."

"Miss, we’ll definitely learn well." Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing both replied.

"Miss, let me tell you." Xiao Xi then told Lian Manman, "...while Xiao Qing and I were standing outside, a little maid came over and gave us some snacks."

"Oh?"

"...She asked about our family, and about you, Miss. She also asked how old you were this year, and whether you were betrothed."

"What did you say?"

"You told us, Miss, to use our eyes and ears more when out and say less. We remembered. We only told her a couple of things about our family that everyone knows. As for your matters, Miss, we didn’t say anything." Xiao Xi said.

"While she was asking us questions, I also asked her some." Xiao Qing said, "She didn’t answer freely, and after realizing she couldn’t get anything, she left."

Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing, these two maids, Xiao Xi being older, had a steadier and more gentle temperament, while Xiao Qing, being younger, was very lively and especially sharp-tongued.

"What is this girl’s name, and whom does she serve? Did you find out?" Lian Manman asked.

"She said her name was Xiao Tao, but when asked what her duties were and whom she served, she was vague and unwilling to say." Xiao Qing replied.

"In the future, whether it’s going to Nian Garden or anywhere else, if you encounter such situations, you should continue to handle it this way." Lian Manman thought for a moment, holding her teacup, and said.