Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 925 - 473: Reading at Night

The second update, asking for pink tickets.

********.........******

Lian Manman here bought the land, planned it out, and now just waits for the thaw to start construction, while Old Huang, carrying the silver from Lian Manman’s family and accompanied by two attendants, has already embarked on his journey south.

Lian Manman sat by the table, calculating under the candlelight. By the time Old Huang returns from the south, their fish pond should already be dug. By then, the warm spring and blooming flowers will make it the perfect season to plant lotus roots.

"What are you thinking about, smiling so cheerfully?" Lian Zhizhi, who was working on her needlework across the table, raised her head and glanced at Lian Manman, smiling as she asked.

"I was thinking about how, once our family starts raising fish, we’ll be able to eat fish every day." And in the winter, we’ll also have an extra vegetable: fresh lotus roots.

Lian Zhizhi laughed too.

"You’re just like Xiao Qi—both of you are cats." Lian Zhizhi joked.

Mentioning Xiao Qi made Lian Manman glance out the window. Hearing the sound of the water clock from the temple, she realized it was already Hai Hour. Wu Lang and Xiao Qi were probably still studying.

"Sister, rest early, it’s not an urgent task." Lian Manman said to Lian Zhizhi.

"Let me finish locking this edge, and that’ll be it for today." Lian Zhizhi replied. She was currently sewing a flower-patterned bellyband for Xiao Qi.

Lian Manman put on her shoes and got out of bed. She took four tea cups from the cabinet, along with a box of dried fruits. Into each tea cup, she placed two dried longans, two dried jujubes, a small handful of goji berries, and two pieces of rock sugar. Then she went outside to fetch the kettle from the outdoor stove, preparing one cup of longan and jujube tea for Lian Zhizhi first.

"Sister, drink this first. I’ll take some tea to Mr. Loo and the others." Lian Manman said to Lian Zhizhi.

"I don’t need this; save it for Mr. Loo, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi instead." Lian Zhizhi quickly replied.

"Sister, just drink it already. I bought plenty of these ingredients; anyone who likes it can have some." As Lian Manman spoke, she packed the other three tea cups into a food box, carried a lantern in one hand, and the food box in the other as she headed to the front courtyard.

Walking through the passageway and standing atop the steps, she looked ahead to see the study room illuminated, while the kitchen in the opposite courtyard flickered with candlelight.

Lian Manman first went to the study room. She pushed open the door, walked past a screen, and saw a short bed set by the window. On it were two sets of bedding, one belonging to Xiao Qi and the other to Wu Lang. Ever since moving into the new house, the two brothers had been sleeping in this study room.

On the bed was also placed a table, where Xiao Qi sat beside, deeply engrossed in his writing.

Hearing movement at the door, Xiao Qi lifted his head to see Lian Manman.

Lian Manman quickly gestured for Xiao Qi to keep quiet.

The door between the study’s inner and outer rooms stood open, with the curtain hanging down. Standing by the bed in the outer room, Lian Manman could hear Mr. Loo’s low voice explaining articles to Wu Lang from the inner room.

Lian Manman placed the food box on the bed, took out the tea cups, and then turned to fetch the kettle from the stove nearby. The outer room also had a stove, and as long as Mr. Loo and the others were in the study, the stove was never extinguished, always keeping water hot.

Opening the kettle lid to find the water boiling hot, Lian Manman brewed three cups of longan and jujube tea. She left one cup for Xiao Qi, then picked up a tray and placed the remaining two cups on it. Carefully lifting the curtain, she stepped gently into the inner room.

The study’s inner room had another short bed by the window, with the rest of the space filled with bookshelves. Between the shelves stood a large desk with four chairs arranged around it.

It was still early spring, cold and biting, so a brazier of charcoal warmed the room. Wu Lang and Mr. Loo sat cross-legged on the bed, with a small table between them. On the table were a candlestick, writing utensils, and two stacks of books. Mr. Loo held one of the books and was calmly explaining it in his deep voice, while Wu Lang, his dark eyes shining brightly, listened intently.

Not wanting to disturb the teacher and student, Lian Manman stayed silent, carefully placing the two cups of tea before them. She swapped out two cold cups from the table and put them into the tray, then quietly left.

Back in the outer room, Lian Manman set the tray aside, removed her shoes, and climbed onto the bed to sit next to Xiao Qi. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Xiao Qi playfully leaned his head against Lian Manman.

"Focus on your writing." Lian Manman whispered to Xiao Qi.

Both Wu Lang and Xiao Qi studied under Mr. Loo, though the assignments he gave them differed. Currently, Mr. Loo’s main efforts were focused on preparing Wu Lang for exams, though he hadn’t neglected Xiao Qi, ensuring he solidified his foundation, especially in calligraphy.