Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1284 - 655: Troubles (Part 2)

"Why not use them? I’m terrible at chess." Shen Qian said, full of anticipation. "Manman, don’t laugh at me."

"Saying that leaves me wordless." Lian Manman replied, genuinely taking out the chess pieces and board, "if I find out later that you’re mocking me, you won’t get off easy."

"The punishment is at your discretion." Shen Qian agreed readily.

A few people sat on the kang, Lian Manman sat on one side of the table on the kang, Shen Qian and Xiao Qi sat on the other side, and they really started playing chess. Shen Qian, who had talked about learning chess from Lian Manman, once seated, his attention was divided, mostly focused on chatting with Lian Manman.

"...Xiao Qi said that harvesting wheat involves many processes, and it sounds interesting to me. Manman, I want to come and see." Shen Qian said, holding a chess piece, seemingly contemplating where to place it, but speaking instead.

"Come whenever you’re free." Lian Manman said, "nothing much to see, be careful, you might get covered in dust... oh, right, you’ll need Master Chu to approve your leave."

Lian Manman’s latter comment seemed to touch a sore spot for Shen Qian, as he placed the chess piece which led to Lian Manman capturing a large area of his pieces.

"Ah..." Shen Qian sighed, holding his forehead.

"Brother Xiao Jiu, I told you not to place it there, ah..." Xiao Qi also held his face and sighed.

"No regrets once placed." Lian Manman smiled.

"Originally, I thought I could relax in Nian Garden, who knew..., the next examination is in two years, why so strict now." Shen Qian complained a bit, glanced at Lian Manman’s face stealthily, then suddenly straightened his posture, his face turned serious. "...When Heaven assigns great tasks to a person, it must first exhaust his mind and strain his body..."

"Sixth Brother and Master Chu are strict, ultimately for my own good. I know this in my heart and will surely work even harder." Shen Qian concluded.

"Brother Xiao Jiu’s learning is already excellent, when I don’t understand something, I ask Brother Xiao Jiu, and Brother Xiao Jiu can explain to me." Xiao Qi said on the side.

"Xiao Qi, you should really learn well from Brother Xiao Jiu." Lian Manman said.

"Mm, sis, don’t worry."

The three laughed and chatted continuously, and time flew by, when Maid Xiao Xi came in to tell Lian Manman the meal was ready, asking if they should start eating.

Lian Manman glanced outside, seeing that the hour was late, and put down the chess piece in her hand.

"Let’s go eat, you’ve both had a busy day and must be hungry." Lian Manman said.

Shen Qian and Xiao Qi nodded.

"By the way, you’re eating here, did you send someone to notify Fifth Sister?" Lian Manman suddenly thought of something and asked Shen Qian.

"I’ve sent someone back to inform her." Shen Qian replied.

"That’s good." Lian Manman nodded.

Lian Manman got up, had someone fetch water for Shen Qian and Xiao Qi to wash up, while she went ahead to the front hall to help Lady Zhang and Lian Zhizhi set the table.

The dinner dishes were extremely abundant, including signature dishes from Han Zhong’s Wife, and dishes learned from the menu by Lady Zhang and Lian Manman, all very light and delicious, with snacks like pumpkin cakes, fresh fish balls, shrimp dumplings, and buns with tofu skin, mushroom, and three delicacies as filling, which were very exquisite.

Because Shen Qian praised the snacks, the whole family was delighted. Lian Manman also had a meal box packed to be sent to Nian Garden for Shen Jin, and prepared another meal box, packing some of the snacks, to leave with Shen Qian for his evening supper.

After finishing the meal, Shen Qian didn’t hurry to leave but stayed with Lian Manman’s family, sitting in the courtyard for a cool breeze, having tea, and chatting. It wasn’t until dusk, when Shen Jin sent someone to fetch him, that Shen Qian reluctantly left.

...

Lian Manman had promised to go to Nian Garden the next day, but due to many affairs at home, it was delayed.

After the wheat was brought in, it needed drying, threshing, and proper storage, the fields needed cleaning, fertilizer application, and preparation for the next crop of soybeans. Lian Shouxin mainly led people in handling the fieldwork, while household matters fell on Lian Manman.

It was only after managing the tasks that Lian Manman went to Nian Garden again, several days later.

Having not seen each other for a few days, Shen Jin and Lian Manman were quite warm towards each other.

This time, Lian Manman not only brought fresh milk fruits and fresh fruits to Shen Jin but also a bag of white flour.

"...It’s from the freshly harvested wheat, specially selected for drying first, ground in my sister’s mill. We made noodles at home to taste, it’s no worse than the best white flour bought in grain stores." Lian Manman told Shen Jin, "brought some to you, already sent to the kitchen. Let them make some for you and Brother Xiao Jiu to taste. This new wheat flour smells really good." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"I’ve also heard people say new rice and new flour have a unique fragrance. Also heard that dishonest merchants sometimes sell old rice and old flour as new." Shen Jin laughed.

"It’s rare that Fifth Sister knows this." Lian Manman said.

"I don’t really know, just heard it from subordinates. If I truly needed to distinguish it, I wouldn’t be able to." Shen Jin said.

"Fifth Sister, you don’t need to distinguish it, it’s their duty to purchase responsibly. We’re from a farmstead family, grew up in this environment, unaware but told." Lian Manman laughed.

"Responsibility..." Shen Jin murmured, then asked Lian Manman, "Why didn’t you come these days, really couldn’t break away? You, a girl, isn’t your family able to do without you?"

Lian Manman laughed as she explained her family’s situation to Shen Jin.

"My brother is not at home, so I have to contribute more." Lian Manman said, "It’s not about being indispensable. Even without my contribution, the household would carry on as usual; with it, including myself, the household can be even better off. While I’m part of this family, naturally I must contribute."

Before Lian Manman finished speaking, Shen Jin was stunned.

*********

The first update is delivered, there will be a second update tonight.

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