Second shift, asking for votes.

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"Did you hear what Mom and the others were talking about?" Lian Zhizhi blushed slightly and didn’t answer Lian Manman’s question but continued to ask.

It turns out that when Lady Wu Wang came over, she specifically sent her away, talking only with Lady Zhang. Lian Zhizhi saw Lady Wu Wang as if there was something up, and suspected they were discussing her marriage with Wu Jiaxing, hence the need to avoid her. Her mind was occupied, but she couldn’t eavesdrop, so when she saw Lian Manman return, she kept quiet. She knew if Lian Manman heard anything, she would surely tell her.

Lian Manman noticed Lian Zhizhi being shy again and decided not to tease her further, instead telling her word for word what she had overheard.

"Can’t they just calm down for a bit?!" Lian Zhizhi frowned slightly after listening.

Indeed, too much fuss, Lian Manman nodded.

"This matter, Mom and Auntie definitely won’t discuss in front of us. Let’s just pretend we don’t know." After saying this, Lian Manman reminded Lian Zhizhi.

"Hmm, I know that." Lian Zhizhi nodded.

Lian Manman then made Lian Zhizhi stop her work, and the two sisters went out intending to wash some melons for Lady Wu Wang. The melons were not taken to the backyard but were left in the kitchen pantry. As they walked to the front yard, they passed by the study and heard some movement inside.

"Brother, are you back?" Lian Manman called inside.

"Yeah." Wu Lang responded from inside.

"Brother, Aunt Wu has come, chatting with our mom in the backyard." Lian Manman informed Wu Lang. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"I know. I’ll head over right now." Wu Lang said as he walked out of the study. Although Wu Lang needed to focus on his studies, he still needed to greet the guests briefly, as it was proper etiquette.

"Eh, where’s Xiao Qi?" Lian Manman, seeing only Wu Lang, asked curiously.

"Xiao Qi is bathing." Wu Lang pointed towards the courtyard. At that moment, Lian Manman also heard Da Pang and Second Fatty joyfully barking.

Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi passed through the Moon Cave Gate and saw a large water vat placed in the middle of the courtyard. Da Pang was frolicking around it, while Second Fatty stood on his hind legs, laboriously placing his front paws on the rim, barking at the vat.

Xiao Qi, however, was nowhere to be seen.

"Xiao Qi, come out quickly. If you choke on water, there will be nowhere to cry later." Lian Manman called out.

As soon as she finished her words, Xiao Qi emerged dripping wet from the vat.

"Big sister, second sister." Xiao Qi wiped his face and cheerfully greeted Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman.

The water vat was more than half full, and although Xiao Qi stood in it, he was barely taller than the vat, with the water level just above his navel.

In the hot summer, without a bath during the day, one feels sticky and uncomfortable. Around the village, there are a few deep puddles in the small river where even the older kids and adults like to swim and splash, taking the chance to bathe. In the past, Lian Shouxin also used to take Wu Lang and Xiao Qi to the river for baths.

Now, with the family having their own bathroom, and Lian Shouxin being busy and having a different status than before, they no longer go to the river. Bathing is done at home. Xiao Qi, however, still wants to go to the river, actually to swim for fun. Lady Zhang naturally wouldn’t allow it, even with Wu Lang accompanying Xiao Qi, Lady Zhang wouldn’t relent.

In farmsteads, another way to bathe in the summer besides going to the river is to leave a large vat of water under the sun. After a noon of exposure, the water heats up, making bathing most comfortable. Although Lian Manman’s family has a bathroom, Xiao Qi just loves playing in water like this, so every day a vat of water is set in the courtyard, waiting for Xiao Qi to come home from school to bathe.

This is Xiao Qi’s personal bathtub. In the past, either Lian Shouxin or Lady Zhang helped him with baths, and he would strip down completely. Now, having started private school, Xiao Qi claims he’s grown up and refuses to bathe naked anymore. Like now, he’s taken off his clothes but still wears a small apron.

Half-naked, but still bare-bottomed. Lian Manman chuckled to herself.

"Xiao Qi, let sister scrub your back." Lian Manman teased with a smile.

"Ah, sister, no need, brother already helped me scrub." Xiao Qi promptly declined, sinking slightly into the water.

The little kid is starting to be shy, knowing the difference between male and female. Seeing Xiao Qi looking embarrassed, Lian Manman couldn’t help but giggle.