In Wu Lang’s midnight snacks, pine nut corn and creamy corn soup often appeared. Corn contains plenty of nutrients beneficial for liver health. Eating more of it can help prevent Wu Lang’s eyesight from deteriorating due to late-night studying. Mr. Loo’s favorite was creamy corn soup made with tender corn kernels, fresh peas, and mushrooms.

Lian Manman was also as fond of tender corn as Xiao Qi was. With this, she wasn’t afraid of the discomforts of summer anymore.

Alright, even without tender corn, Lian Manman probably wouldn’t have struggled through summer. The climate in this era was exceptionally good, or rather, incredibly livable. There was no air pollution, and the earth still breathed with its natural rhythm that supported human life. Even in the height of summer’s sweltering heat, it was not so unbearable. And if people ever felt overly stifled, summer afternoons often brought an occasional rain shower that washed away the feeling of heat.

In mid-June, a torrential downpour lasted for two days straight, and the small river in front of Lian Manman’s house swelled.

The flooding wasn’t the kind that would cause disastrous damage. In fact, the kids from farmstead families often treated the rising waters as a fun spectacle. As long as the rain wasn’t pouring too heavily, they would rush outside to the riverbank, cheering as they watched the floodwaters. Even some adults found it entertaining to join the crowd.

Of course, there were also serious and pragmatic farmers who observed the floodwaters with a solemn spirit. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

It was said that Thirty Mile Camp was a blessed place. In most people’s memory, other than the devastating famine caused by a severe drought, there hadn’t been other calamities. And even that drought had swept across the nation, but comparatively, Thirty Mile Camp suffered relatively mild conditions. Very few people actually perished from hunger during the drought.

Those who did pass away mostly weren’t directly starved to death. Many succumbed because hunger drove them to eat things they shouldn’t have, or because malnutrition left them with weakened immunity, leading to illnesses that proved fatal.

On the shady slope of Nanshan, where Lian Shouxin’s younger brother was buried, the poor child had died from poison after eating something unknown due to extreme hunger. This was something Xiao Qi learned only this year from Lian Shouxin.

Thirty Mile Camp had never experienced a flood disaster.

Even so, the elder farming experts remained concerned. They worried that the excessive rain might adversely affect the crops, or that the floodwaters might rise too high and damage farmland near the riverbank, drowning the crops in water.

The children, however, had no such long-term concerns. They were simply fascinated by the rolling waves of the floodwaters and daydreamed about the river calming down after the rain stopped, imagining opportunities to swim in the deeper parts.

As for Lian Manman’s family, even during the heaviest rainfall, Lian Shouxin made multiple trips to the riverbank, including getting up at night to check on it. He was worried about their fish pond and lotus pond, fearing that the excessive flooding might overflow into them. The lotus pond was relatively less at risk, but he worried about the fish pond most, fearing that the grown fish inside might be swept away by the floodwaters.

Fortunately, there was enough distance between the fish pond, the lotus pond, and the riverbank. Additionally, the embankment they had built was sturdy and high enough. While the river swelled significantly, it did not breach the top of the embankment.

When the rain let up a bit, Lian Manman also went outside, accompanied by Wu Lang and Xiao Qi. Because of the continuous downpour, the private school had canceled classes these past two days, so Wu Lang and Xiao Qi stayed home to study.

Each of the three children wore a raincoat. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to use umbrellas, but heavy rain combined with strong winds would render the oil-paper umbrellas useless. Though raincoats were clunky, unattractive, and uncomfortable, they were practical.

As soon as they stepped out the door, Xiao Qi started running around with excitement. He even brought the two little puppies, Da Pang and Fatty, out with him. The two fluffy puppies circled around him, barking as they frolicked.

Lian Manman couldn’t help but slap her forehead. The clean and chubby puppies didn’t stick to walking on the Bluestone Road; they were also running onto mud tracks nearby. In just a short while, they had almost turned into two little mud balls.

"Go ahead, keep at it. Just wait until we get back; I’ll leave you outside the door, and you can forget about coming inside again," Lian Manman joked as she scolded the two round muddy dogs who had run over to her after playing around Xiao Qi.

"Sis, when we go back, I’ll give them a bath. I promise not to let them dirty the house," Xiao Qi said. He was very protective of the two puppies.

Just as Xiao Qi said that, Da Pang ran over to Lian Wanrong’s feet. While it snuggled up to Lian Manman, it shook its wet fur, whining and acting spoiled.

"Ah..." Lian Manman shrieked.

After shaking off the water, Da Pang felt comfortable, but it had splattered mud all over the hem of Lian Manman’s dress.

"Just watch—I’m going to swat you," Lian Manman threatened, pretending to hit Da Pang.

"Da Pang, run!" Xiao Qi called out, leading the charge himself by sprinting ahead. Da Pang, knowing it had caused trouble, immediately turned and followed Xiao Qi. Fatty, who hadn’t yet reached Lian Manman, abruptly halted its plump little body, spun around, and barked as it chased Xiao Qi and Da Pang.

What annoyed Lian Manman further was how the two puppies kept glancing back at her as they ran. Their little dog faces didn’t show a hint of fear—in fact, they were clearly laughing, weren’t they?

Lian Manman clenched her fists and made a menacing face.

"Sis, don’t get mad. When we get back, I’ll wash your dress," Xiao Qi said with a grin. He had run far enough with the puppies to feel safe, and seeing that Lian Manman hadn’t given chase, he finally slowed down and turned back to smile at her.

"Xiao Qi, watch your way," Wu Lang said, smiling as he watched his siblings laughing and playing.

Laughing and joking the entire way to the riverbank, they climbed onto the embankment, and Lian Manman couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

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Here comes the second update! We’ve fallen behind in votes. Pink diamonds haven’t even reached one hundred yet. Manman bun and Xiao Qi bun, along with the two muddy ball puppies, are begging for pink diamonds!

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Recommended: Ruoyan’s finished novel, "The Brocade Screen Chronicles," a light house fight farmland tale depicting family squabbles and entangled grudges in grand mansions.

Book ID: 1771214

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