Reborn as a Landlord

"Alright," Lian Manman readily agreed, simultaneously reaching out to Lady Zhang, "but I can’t go for nothing. Mother, you’ll have to give me wages."

"I’ll give," Lady Zhang laughed, "whatever you ask, I’ll give. The little money I’ve saved will all be yours eventually."

The next day, after Lian Manman’s family finished breakfast, they got everything ready. By the early Hour of Si, Zhang Qingnian arrived driving a carriage. Inside the carriage were Lady Li with her two grandsons, Xiao Long and Xiao Hu, along with Lady Wu Wang and Lady Hu, the two daughters-in-law. The group, dressed in new clothes, looked extremely radiant.

Xiao Long and Xiao Hu, being around the same age as Xiao Qi, were obviously delighted. Even Lady Wu Wang and Lady Hu, both still young, were happy about heading into town to see the lantern festival.

After rearranging the carriages, they set off and met the four members of the Wu family in town, then headed together to Jinyang County Town.

Before noon, everyone arrived at the house of Lian Manman’s family in Willow Tree Well Alley. Shopkeeper Chiang welcomed everyone inside, arranged accommodations, and prepared lunch, busying himself for quite a while.

There were plenty of rooms in this house, just enough to host about twenty members of the Lian family. Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, Zhang Caiyun, Lian Yeye, and Wu Jiayu, being the young girls, naturally shared a room.

After lunch and tea, Shopkeeper Chiang brought over paper and pens, requesting the young master and young ladies of the host family to write a few riddles for the lanterns. It turns out, it’s a custom in Jinyang County Town during the lantern festival for larger stores to prepare flower lanterns and fireworks for people to enjoy. Some shops also post riddles on the lanterns for people to guess, often with prizes for correct answers.

This serves as a goodwill gesture from the stores to the townspeople and is also an effective promotional activity. Lian’s Department Store, not wanting to fall behind, had prepared several racks of fireworks and some beautiful lanterns. They also planned to select some exquisite goods to sell.

Shopkeeper Chiang knew that among the children in the family, Wu Lang was a newly titled scholar, Xiao Qi was attending private school, and the family had a grandmaster, so the two young ladies had also read quite a bit. This is why he brought paper and pens for Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and the others to write riddles for the lanterns, with prizes provided by Lian’s Department Store for correct answers.

"If Mr. Loo could contribute a riddle, that would be even better," Shopkeeper Chiang said with a smile to Mr. Loo.

Lian Manman and the others found it interesting and naturally agreed. Mr. Loo, smiling, didn’t say anything.

"Let’s make the riddles based on things found in our store, and then we can use the store’s goods as prizes," Lian Manman suggested to Wu Lang, Lian Zhizhi, and Xiao Qi.

Wu Lang, Lian Zhizhi, and Xiao Qi all smiled and nodded. They each took paper and pens and started thinking hard.

"It shouldn’t be too difficult so that no one can guess it. But it shouldn’t be too easy either. Hmm..." Lian Manman, holding a brush, thought for a moment, had an idea, and then wrote four lines on the paper.

"This treasure is thin and fine, it speaks with its head bowed low, it doesn’t eat a farmer’s food, but gives a voice for the people! Guess what it is."

Seeing that Lian Manman had finished writing, Wu Lang, Xiao Qi, and Lian Zhizhi came over to take a look. After reading, Wu Lang laughed, and Lian Zhizhi and Xiao Qi murmured as they thought about the answer.

After they finished looking, Lian Manman handed the paper to Mr. Loo.

After reading it, Mr. Loo also laughed. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

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Two Chapters combined into one, requesting pink tickets.

Thank you all for your concern and support for Ruoyan. Sincerely grateful. Ruoyan will follow the doctor’s advice, take good care, and strive to find more time to write during the permitted computer hours, also hoping for your continued support and care.

***

Recommend Ruoyan’s completed book: "The Brocade Screen Chronicles" light house fight farmland tale, short stories of family matters in a big mansion, entanglements of affection and grudges.

Book Number: 1771214

There’s a direct link below, click to go straight to it. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)