Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1258 - 642: Gourds and Ladles (Part 2)

Shen Qian and Xiao Qi exchanged glances and both chuckled softly.

Lian Manman also smiled with pursed lips.

The three of them understood implicitly. After all, Nian Garden was newly built, and the koi in the lotus pond were primarily for decorative purposes. Knowing that Shen Liu wanted to fish, someone below them had bought numerous live fish to stock the pond.

The three children grabbed chopsticks and happily shared a grilled fish. The elder girl Shao Yao was considerate, bringing up fresh tea and two plates of fresh fruit.

"...It’s tastier than the ones we grilled ourselves before..." Lian Manman said to Xiao Qi after a couple of bites.

"Yes." Xiao Qi nodded, then turned to Shen Qian, "Brother Xiao Jiu, what seasoning did you use for your family’s grilled fish?"

"This grilled fish is made using a recipe given by one of Sixth Brother’s guards." Shen Qian replied, "Manman, Xiao Qi, if you like it, I can grill too. Later this afternoon when we have nothing to do, we can go fishing, grill what we catch, and eat it fresh. My grilled fish is quite delicious too."

"...I’ll go ask for the seasoning recipe for you later."

As they were talking animatedly, Zi Wan brought another grilled fish over.

"...It was sent by Sixth Master, for Ninth Master to enjoy while it’s hot." Zi Wan presented the grilled fish and reported.

Lian Manman looked at the grilled fish; it was unlikely that Shen Liu could grill one so quickly. This must be the one Shen Liu intended for himself.

He worried one fish wouldn’t be enough for three people, so sent another one over.

With an extra grilled fish, equally fragrant and flavorful, Lian Manman, Xiao Qi, and Shen Qian didn’t hold back and shared that one too.

At noon, Lian Manman was kept by Shen Jin and had lunch together at the Lotus Pavilion with Shen Jin. Xiao Qi and Shen Qian were invited to the Evergreen Garden to dine with Shen Liu.

During the meal, Lian Manman learned that Shen Liu planned to stay longer at Nian Garden.

"...Watching Sixth Master always so busy, it’s rare to have some leisure..." Lian Manman said.

"Sixth Brother works too hard." Shen Jin sighed, "To speak of leisure, there really isn’t any, always things to do. I often advise him, always tending to things, the endless tasks, never reaching an end. Sixth Brother lives a hard life, all for this family."

Lian Manman listened quietly. In her past life, she had heard a theory, prevalent in many large corporations: Twenty percent of the people do eighty percent of the work, while the other eighty percent do only twenty percent.

In large families like the Shen Family, there are many "idle people" surviving off the family, and people like Shen Liu, who exhaust themselves daily for the family’s sake.

In terms of dedication and diligence, Shen Liu was worthy of respect.

Shen Jin spoke of Shen Liu’s hardships for the Shen Family, then seemed lost in thought, with a somewhat gloomy expression. Lian Manman deliberately mentioned two jokes, Shen Jin finally showed a smile, but the gloom in her eyes didn’t fade. Lian Manman remembered Shen Qian had mentioned they came to Nian Garden mainly to cheer Shen Jin up if she had troubles.

It seemed Shen Jin’s troubles were significant, yet hard to inquire about.

In the afternoon, Shen Qian and Xiao Qi were released after just one Chinese hour of lessons.

Originally intending to return to Prefecture City, Shen Liu decided to stay, and in good spirits, took Shen Jin and Shen Qian to tour Nian Garden. Naturally, Lian Manman and Xiao Qi were invited along.

In the summer, Nian Garden was lush and fragrant with flowers. Good moods were contagious. Shen Liu was in high spirits today, without releasing his usual low pressure or cold demeanor. After walking a while, everyone started genuinely enjoying themselves.

Lian Manman already knew there was a small vegetable garden specially enclosed within Nian Garden. They stopped beside this vegetable garden now.

"Yesterday visiting Manman’s family, I recognized a lot of things." Shen Jin said with a smile, pointing at the vegetables in the garden one by one. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Shen Jin identified them, and Lian Manman smiled confirming she was correct.

"Before, the saying ’unskilled in four physical activities, unfamiliar with five grains’ described me. But now, I’m a person of insight." She laughed, pointing to a trellis ahead, covered with vines bearing flowers and a few gourds.

This vegetable, Shen Jin didn’t recognize because she hadn’t seen it in Lian Manman’s backyard.

"What is this, Manman?" Shen Jin asked Lian Manman.

Lian Manman smiled without speaking, turning to look at Shen Liu and Shen Jiu.

"I recognize it; it’s a gourd." Shen Qian eagerly said.

"Ah," Shen Jin was surprised, even though Shen Qian was a boy, having seen more things than her, it was unlikely he’d know many tenant farm vegetables, especially ones not yet fully formed. "Brother Xiao Jiu, how do you recognize it?"

Xiao Qi snickered, holding back laughter beside her.

"Xiao Qi told me." Shen Qian chuckled.

The Thirty Mile Camp’s gourds were dipper-shaped, differing greatly from the familiar gourd shapes, hence Shen Jin didn’t recognize them. As it turned out, Shen Qian didn’t know them either, and Xiao Qi had secretly told him.

"These gourds are just right to eat now." Lian Manman said.

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Recommended completed work by Ruoyan: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles" light house fight farmland tale, domestic stories and entanglements within mansions.

Book number: 1771214

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