Reborn as a Landlord

The first update, requesting pink tickets.

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Lian Manman asked Shen Qian why he had lost weight. Actually, even with a bit of slimming down, Shen Qian was still chubbier than kids his age. Shen Qian’s "thinness" was only in comparison to himself.

Shen Qian murmured a response and took what Lian Manman was holding.

"Manman, did you see the saplings I brought over?" Shen Qian, after taking a sip of tea, didn’t answer her question but instead smiled warmly and asked.

Ah, he’s still unwilling to discuss the matter of weight! Fatty Shen not only grew taller but also gained some cleverness. Thinking this to herself, Lian Manman decided not to press further.

"I saw them," Lian Manman replied with a smile. "Fatty, what made you think of bringing us saplings?"

"Last time you moved into your new home, Sixth Brother wasn’t around, and I didn’t manage to come, it was only Third Brother who came... The stewards invited Sixth Brother to inspect the saplings they chose, and I went along with him. I thought about how your family planted fruit trees around your new home but seemed to be missing persimmon trees, so I picked out a few for you," Fatty Shen explained to Lian Manman. "Manman, persimmons are delicious. They look nice on the trees too."

Based on Shen Qian’s words, it seemed as though those persimmon saplings were his supplemental housewarming gift for Lian Manman’s family.

"You still remembered that," said Lian Manman as she picked out some amber peach kernels and chestnut meat from a box for Fatty Shen. Fatty Shen remembered the time they took him to look at fruit trees and noted they didn’t have persimmon trees, thoughtfully deciding to bring them some. This truly showed he held them in his heart. Friendships are valued by this sincerity, which is truly rare.

Lian Manman picked out some snacks for Shen Qian, who took them and started nibbling right away, savoring every bite.

It seemed as though Fatty Shen had grown up a lot — but that was merely on the surface. Secretly grinning, Lian Manman thought, at heart, Fatty Shen was still a foodie. Judging by his few words and how he steered the conversation to food, she knew it was true.

"Manman, I also brought you some pastries and fruit. The fruit was sent over from the south, and the pastries were made by the chef at my house. They’re all delicious; they’re on Sixth Brother’s carriage. Once he arrives, they’ll be brought over," Shen Qian said as he ate the snacks Lian Manman had picked for him, occasionally glancing at her several times.

Today, Lian Manman’s hair was tied into a bun, adorned with a red silk ribbon. She wore a water-red high-collared, side-wrap loose short jacket, paired with a water-red long skirt that revealed embroidered shoes with bright red butterflies. This festive red outfit made her fair and rosy complexion even more radiant and appealing.

With her lively, expressive eyes, pearly teeth, and rosy lips, Shen Qian thought Lian Manman was the most beautiful little girl he had ever seen.

Beyond just being the most beautiful, in Shen Qian’s eyes, the slightly chubby Lian Manman was also an unabashed foodie. From their very first meeting, he had formed this impression, and as they met more often, that impression only deepened. To the point where, whenever he encountered or ate something tasty, he would think of Lian Manman.

"If Manman were here, she’d love this," Shen Qian often thought.

So, he’d chosen persimmon trees, which could produce tasty fruit, as a gift for Lian Manman. Before coming to Thirty Mile Camp, he had specifically asked people to prepare lots of delicious fruits and pastries.

"Why did you come first and not wait for Sixth Master to come with you?" Lian Manman asked, only now remembering Shen Qian had mentioned "Sixth Brother."

"Sixth Brother has a lot to inspect and many affairs to handle, so I came ahead... When I passed by your shop earlier, I saw you, Manman. I waved at you—did you see me?... I figured I’d at least go up the mountain to take a look... Sixth Brother is bound by duties as a steward; I don’t have such responsibilities, so I just came over first."

"At least go up the mountain to take a look" meant that if not for the rules and regulations tying him, he wouldn’t even bother with the mountain and would have come directly to see them, Lian Manman thought.

After finishing the chestnut meat Lian Manman had given him, Shen Qian waved his hand, signaling he was done eating.

"Manman, have the saplings been planted? Shall I help you plant the trees?" Fatty Shen eagerly proposed.

Lian Manman thought Fatty Shen must’ve been cooped up at home for too long. Now that he was out, he couldn’t sit still and wanted to have some fun, so he was restless indoors.

"All right," Lian Manman agreed, standing up. It seemed Shen Liu would take some time to arrive, so she might as well start by showing Fatty Shen around. It was rare that he held his friends in such genuine regard; Lian Manman wanted him to have a good look at her family’s estate.