Reborn as a Landlord

The first update, asking for pink votes and genuine subscription support.

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Lian Manman heard Fatty Shen say he had something to tell her, and couldn’t help but look at Fatty Shen carefully. At this moment, Fatty Shen’s expression was very serious, yet also a bit nervous.

"This little rascal is quite impressive," Lian Manman thought silently.

The two of them walked a bit to the side and stood under a poplar tree.

"Go on, what’s the matter?" Lian Manman asked.

"Manman, well, the reason I could go out this time is that I passed the county exam," Shen Qian said.

"Your family is pretty strict with you now, aren’t they?" Lian Manman realized. Seeing Fatty Shen like this, it was obvious his family had set rules for him to meet certain goals before he could go out and play. "Last time only your third brother came, and you didn’t. You must have been at home preparing for the exam."

"Yeah." Shen Qian nodded, seeing Lian Manman showing sympathy, he added, "No one forced me, I wanted to do it myself."

Lian Manman didn’t want to comment on this; having ambition and goals was a good thing for Fatty Shen.

"Is this what you wanted to tell me?" Lian Manman laughed, "I thought of you when I heard someone from your family was coming. Later, when you didn’t come, I figured you must have been busy. Important matters are crucial; if you were really my age, you couldn’t always think about playing all day."

"Manman, I’m not lying to you. I’m really the same age as you, I’m even older. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Sixth Brother, or ask those with me; they all know," Shen Qian said earnestly, "Look, I’m taller than you now."

When Fatty Shen said this, he tried to gesture over Lian Manman’s head as he usually did.

Lian Manman looked up. Fatty Shen was indeed a bit taller than her now; there were growth marks on the poplar tree trunk from last year.

The little tree was growing, and so were they. Shen Qian’s mark was still level with his head. The little tree and Fatty Shen grew equally fast, while Lian Manman’s mark was now higher than her.

Passing this poplar almost every day, Lian Manman never paid much attention to it, but comparing with Shen Qian made her secretly resolve she couldn’t just eat and sleep or sit on the kang reading, doing accounts, and sewing every day; she needed to exercise. Although Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang weren’t short, and Lian Zhizhi, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi weren’t small either, she felt she didn’t need to worry about her height. Yet, better safe than sorry.

"I work on serious matters every day now. I’m not a child anymore, not always thinking about playing," Shen Qian said earnestly, watching Lian Manman’s expression, "But if you come to my house, I will have time to play with you. I don’t play with others."

Hearing what Fatty Shen said, Lian Manman slowly moved her gaze from the poplar trunk to Fatty Shen’s face.

Fatty Shen’s face was red, and his eyes were watery. Although he had lost some baby fat, his face was still pink and pinch-worthy.

Especially with Fatty’s current expression, such an adorable chubby little guy, she really wanted to pinch him.

Lian Manman’s heart suddenly stirred, although she didn’t reach out, her eyes widened.

Could Fatty Shen like her?!

Recalling a few of her encounters with Fatty Shen, Lian Manman thought this was quite likely. But what kind of fondness could a little boy have? The kind from enjoying playing together, a fondness for a playmate? Judging by Fatty Shen’s demeanor, it seemed not just that.

This made Lian Manman inadvertently think of a phrase, "More than friends, less than lovers."

A precocious little rascal, Lian Manman hummed internally. What lover’s stuff, doesn’t involve any lover stuff, right? Fatty is only twelve.

Lian Manman raised an eyebrow and was about to scold Fatty Shen. But as she looked at Fatty’s somewhat nervous yet very serious expression, she relaxed her eyebrows again.

Fatty liked her, even if she didn’t like Fatty, but Fatty was sincere and hadn’t offended her. Such pure affection from a little boy shouldn’t be encouraged, nor should it be scarred.

They would all grow up; this affection turning into love was highly unlikely. This affection might turn into a beautiful friendship or fade away and disappear as they grew.

And between Fatty Shen and her, Lian Manman felt the latter was more likely.

So it was best to just let things be.

Having decided this, Lian Manman thought of Xi Bao.

Xi Bao had expressed his fondness for her, and she even believed that if she showed Xi Bao a bit of interest, Old Jin would bring the matchmaker to propose before the next day.

Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin were clear that the Lian Family would not marry into the Jin Family. Xi Bao was straightforward and reckless, and Lian Manman was rough with him for their own good and the families’ good.

Fatty Shen’s situation was completely different.

"Manman, my house is so big and nice. There are so many things you haven’t seen, and you’d definitely like them. There’s a big garden, bigger than your entire house, Manman, don’t be mad, I didn’t say your house isn’t good. And...swans, prettier than white geese, they can fly..." Fatty Shen said excitedly about the good things in his house.

Lian Manman just listened with a smile.

"I have lots of nice things to eat, play with, and look at. Manman, come to my house, everything I have is yours." Fatty Shen said, clenching his fists several times, finally gathering the courage to grab Lian Manman’s hand.

Lian Manman looked at Fatty Shen in surprise but didn’t immediately pull away.

Fatty Shen’s face turned even redder, eyes even brighter.

"Manman, come home with me. We’ll be together every day, whatever you want to eat, or play, I’ll be with you. Sixth Brother said they’ve chosen Boye Mansion for me, a large, beautiful house and big garden, and when I grow up, I can move there. Manman, then it’ll be just us living there, wouldn’t that be nice?"

After saying that in one breath, Fatty Shen looked at Lian Manman with great anticipation as if once she nodded, he would immediately take her home with him.

Oh my, this little rascal, even thinking this far ahead.

Lian Manman squinted, a mischievous thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

"Fatty, you want me to go home with you. What would I be if I went home with you?" Lian Manman asked, looking at Fatty Shen.

Lian Manman’s question made Fatty Shen’s already rosy face turn even redder, with the skin of his ears, back of his ears, and neck all turning red. Lian Manman could almost feel the heat rising from Fatty’s head, as if it might combust at any moment.

Still, Fatty didn’t let go of Lian Manman’s hand.

Fatty Shen’s hand was a size larger than Lian Manman’s, still chubby because the baby fat hadn’t all disappeared. Lian Manman’s hand itched while being held by Fatty’s, rubbing Fatty’s chubby hand back with her thumb.

"Ma-Manman, y-you come, come with me, b-back," Fatty Shen stammered, "We can, always b-be together, never separate. We, we can get, get, get married!"

Lian Manman abruptly pulled her hand back and covered her face.

"Ma-Manman, don’t be mad, I’m serious," Fatty Shen said anxiously, grabbing Lian Manman’s wrist and shaking it.

Lian Manman took her hand away, revealing her face, looking at Fatty Shen.

Shen Qian looked at Lian Manman too, and in his eyes, Lian Manman’s face was also red now, her big eyes sparkled, looking at him, making his heart skip a beat.

Manman was shy, Shen Qian thought.

To be with Manman forever...what would they do together? Of course, do everything, definitely play fun things, and eat delicious food! Shen Qian at this moment was even more determined. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"You’re just a kid, thinking about getting married." Lian Manman teased Fatty Shen, "Little boy, sitting on the doorstep, crying and shouting for a wife."

Fatty Shen opened his mouth wide, with an expression full of complexity.

"N-not at all." Not what, he couldn’t articulate.

"Can you make decisions now, saying this and that?" Lian Manman raised her eyebrows, feigning fierceness, "Think about these things when you can make decisions. Hmph, Fatty Shen, I’ll remember what you said today..."

When they both grow up. At that time, if they remained friends, Lian Manman thought she would definitely tease Fatty Shen about today.

Wondering if by then, Fatty Shen’s expression would be even more splendid.

"Manman, wait for me, there, there’ll be that day..." Fatty Shen’s expression seemed on the verge of tears, but his clenched fists remained.

"...looking forward to it..." Lian Manman blinked, by then, Fatty Shen would undoubtedly become Fatty Shen, I’m really looking forward to it.

"Fatty, you’re not mad at me, right?" After a while, Lian Manman said.

"No."

"Then, we’re still friends, right?" Lian Manman added.

"Yes."

When Wu Lang and Xiao Qi gathered a basket of duck eggs, the four children headed back.

Lian Manman also took Shen Qian to the vegetable garden, picking some fresh rape, bok choy, and pea tips.

Fatty was quite a nice kid; by now, he had returned to his usual self, at least that’s how Lian Manman saw it.

When they came out of the vegetable garden, Sixth Brother’s entourage just turned in from the main road. Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhang, and others were busy greeting, as Sixth Brother got off the carriage and was led to kneel in front of the Imperially Bestowed Archway. Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang then invited Sixth Brother into the courtyard.

Sixth Brother acknowledged with a nod, his gaze fell on Lian Manman and Shen Qian.

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Presenting the first update, it’s the end of the month, asking for pink votes, genuine subscriptions, and recommendation votes for support.

With the New Year approaching, many affairs are pressing, trying to update again at night. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)