Reborn as a Landlord

In front of the flower lanterns and stalls of Lian’s Department Store, quite a crowd had gathered. Some were looking at the goods, while many were admiring the lanterns and trying to solve the riddles posted nearby. Shopkeeper Chiang was clever; he didn’t put up all the riddles at once. Just in the short time Lian Manman paused at the stall, a five or six-year-old child, held by a couple, guessed the riddle written by Xiao Qi: "Slippery and shiny, eyes at the rear."

"It’s a needle, it’s a needle, my little granny told me this riddle!" the child shouted excitedly, reciting the riddle in a babyish voice, eliciting a wave of good-natured laughter from those around.

In some parts of Liaodong Prefecture, the custom is not to call grandfather ’yeye’ but ’big granny’, and grandmother not ’nainai’ but ’little granny’.

"Who wrote this riddle?" Lady Li asked with a smile.

Lian Manman pointed at Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi chuckled sheepishly, and Lady Zhang laughed along, recalling that she had posed this riddle to Xiao Qi when he was still wearing crotch-less pants.

"I gave this riddle to your mother when she was little," Lady Li said nostalgically.

"I know this riddle too," Xiao Long and Xiao Hu both eagerly said.

The shop assistant, seeing that the child had guessed the riddle correctly, picked out a packet of needles from the stall and handed it over.

The child took the needles, grinning so widely his mouth couldn’t close. It wasn’t about the value of the item; it was about the pride of winning it himself. The couple was also pleased, thinking their child was clever.

After watching for a while in front of Lian’s Department Store, Lian Manman’s group moved on. There were many people on the street, and to avoid getting separated, and to prevent the girls from being jostled, Lian Shouxin, Zhang Qingnian, Wu Yugui, Wu Jiaxing, Wu Lang, and Mr. Loo, with some assistants and long-term workers, walked on the outside, forming a circle. Inside were Lady Zhang supporting Lady Li, along with Lady Wu Wang, Lady Zhang Wang, and several wives including Lady Hu. Inside them were Lian Manman and several young girls, while Xiao Qi, Xiao Long, and Xiao Hu were even more treasured, wrapped in the very center. Lian Manman held Xiao Qi’s hand, Zhang Caiyun held Xiao Long, and Lian Zhizhi held Xiao Hu.

"Don’t run around, be careful of kidnappers," Lady Zhang Wang deliberately scared her son Xiao Long and nephew Xiao Hu, fearing the little ones would break free from their sisters and run off.

Everyone knew that when strolling in a busy market, the more people there were, the slower the pace. Someone might get attracted by something one moment, and another person might want to buy something else the next. Lian Manman’s group was no exception, stopping and starting so often they weren’t much faster than a snail.

But no one urged them to hurry; such was the way of lantern viewing.

When they had walked about half the length of the street, almost everyone in Lian Manman’s group was holding a lantern, some bought, some won from solving riddles. Xiao Qi, Xiao Long, and Xiao Hu’s pockets were bulging with small trinkets.

The women and children were enjoying themselves immensely, and the men were in a very good mood too. They hadn’t come out to view lights for fun but to protect the whole family.

When Lian Manman’s group reached Nine-layered Pagoda Front Street, there were even more people gathered in front of Lian’s Department Store’s stall on Guangmao Street. Many were drawn by the news that Lian’s goods were selling cheap today and that the riddles were easy to guess, each with a prize.

In the swelling crowd, a young nobleman dressed in fine mink, surrounded by servants and attendants, stood out conspicuously.

The nobleman looked only about ten years old, still growing, with mink hat framing long eyebrows that slanted up into his temples, slightly narrow eyes with upturned corners, an aquiline nose, shapely lips, and ingot-shaped ears, his face fair with a hint of pink, still retaining baby fat, making him look quite endearing.

He sat on a sturdy horse standing calmly among the crowd. The young nobleman, seated on the horse, scanned the posted riddles with growing interest. Finally, his eyes lit up, stopping on one particular riddle.

A riddle that had stumped others was finally solved by this well-dressed young lord. The assistant at Lian’s respectfully took out a Hu brush.

"You’re very talented, young lord. This riddle has been posted for half a day, with guesses ranging from a hoe to a tobacco pipe, and only you guessed correctly... this is your prize."

As the assistant spoke, he watched as the lavishly dressed young lord carefully received the brush and tucked it away with great care, still puzzled in his mind. But he didn’t forget the next words he had to say.

"...The owner also instructed that if the young lord can explain the origin of this riddle, there is an even better Hu brush as an additional prize."

This, of course, didn’t stump the young lord.

The crowd gathered around was captivated by the young lord’s storytelling. When he finished, a round of applause broke out. In the glow of lanterns, the young lord appeared even more handsome and spirited.

Shopkeeper Chiang personally presented a case of brushes, offering it with both hands to the young lord who had made a name for himself.

The young lord accepted it, carefully placing it inside his sleeve.

"Has your owner come to view the lights?" the young lord asked softly, slightly lowering his head from the horse, inquiring of Shopkeeper Chiang.

"The young lord knows our owner?" Shopkeeper Chiang was momentarily stunned, then replied with a smile, "Forgive my ignorance, may I ask who the young lord is?"

The young lord smiled without replying, while a servant next to him leaned over to whisper something to Shopkeeper Chiang.

Shopkeeper Chiang’s demeanor instantly became more respectful, bowing and saluting the young lord.

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Romance is exhausting, Ruoyan wipes her brow, living an ordinary life is more comfortable.

Asking for pink support, original subscriptions, and recommendation votes.

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Completed farming novel recommended by Ruoyan:

Title: "Rebirth: When Flowers Bloom and the Moon is Full" (Full story with epilogue completed) (Direct link below, click to arrive)

Introduction: Transmigrated to a wrongfully disgraced woman, clutching a little bun, embarking on a sweet life with a practical man. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation.)