Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 753 - 385 Book_2
Lady Chiang and Lian Jizu exchanged a look before directing Lian Manman to the west room.
"...Our family is bringing a lot of people, so the luggage is extensive. We’ve cut it down several times already and still worry that we won’t be able to bring everything. Books and papers take up space and are heavy; we can only bring the useful ones. The ones irrelevant to exams have to be left behind. Manman, pick for yourself, whichever you fancy, you can take."
Lian Manman smiled as she followed Lady Chiang into the west room.
Lian Shouren and Lady Gu weren’t there, only Lian Duoduo who was amusing Niuniu on the kang bed. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
On the ground of the west room, about a dozen chests were haphazardly placed, and even more various items were scattered on the ground around them. In the corner was a roughly three-foot square wicker chest, its lid open; inside were piles of haphazardly stacked books and paper, including some that had fallen to the ground and were stamped with footprints.
"Is this all?" Lian Manman asked.
"Most of it is from your brother Jizu’s writing," Lady Chiang replied.
"If you want them, they’re all yours," Lian Jizu generously offered.
Lian Manman did take a moment to glance at Lian Jizu; Lady Zhang had once said that Lian Jizu was spoiled and Lady Chiang said he didn’t handle affairs. In Lian Manman’s view, whether Lian Jizu was good or bad aside, she was certain about one thing: he essentially was a straightforward man, easy to get along with, without much artifice.
"Okay, then I’ll take all of them," Lian Manman said.
Lian Manman approached the wicker chest and examined it. This was the first time she had seen such a chest, which was clearly specialized for storing books.
The wicker chest was intricately made and had patterns on it. Though it looked aged, it was still very sturdy, and the wicker shone with a dark, glossy luster.
Indeed, it was a fine object; such wicker chests were probably seldom seen even in Jinyang County Town, let alone Qingyang Town.
However, what interested Lian Manman more were the books inside the chest.
Still, Lian Jizu noticed Lian Manman’s gaze on the wicker chest.
"Ah, that, this chest... I still have use for it," Lian Jizu said. His classmates had seen the wicker chest and praised it as a fine object, some even wanting to buy it from him. Lian Jizu hadn’t sold it; he knew that carrying the chest would be a clear display of his scholarly status.
"Alright, then I’ll go call my brother to help me move the books," Lian Manman said, knowing she couldn’t move them on her own.
Lian Manman quickly returned to the West Wing Room with the three books she held, and told Wu Lang and Xiao Qi about it.
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi naturally had no objections.
"Carrying them by hand won’t get much moved; we need to find something to use," Lian Manman said.
Looking around, there seemed to be nothing suitable for moving books.
Wu Lang also looked around, then walked to the corner and grabbed a winnowing basket. Lian Manman laughed when she saw it.
"Not bad."
Since there was only one winnowing basket in the house, Lian Manman and Xiao Qi each took a dung basket.
The three children had just entered the outer room of the Upper Room when they heard Lian Duo’s voice coming from the west room.
"...Why give it to her? If we don’t need it, we’d rather use it for pig feed or firewood than give it to her."
The three exchanged looks and quickened their pace, pushing the door open and entering the west room.
Lian Duoduo had already come down from the kang and stood next to the wicker chest; she was stomping forcefully on the books below her feet, and in her hand she held one that she was tearing up with all her might.
Lady Chiang was trying to persuade Lian Duoduo while also attempting to prevent her from tearing the book.
"Duoduo, what are you fussing about? Go and do what you’re supposed to," Lian Jizu, who was sitting on the edge of the kang, scolded her.
When Lian Duoduo saw Lian Manman and the others enter, she momentarily paused, and Lady Chiang managed to snatch the book from her hand and swiftly pulled her to one side.
"...She’s upset about leaving, not wanting to part with our home," Lady Chiang hurriedly explained with a smile.
"Who doesn’t want to leave? I can’t wait to be away from this..." said Lian Duoduo, angry.
Lady Chiang quickly gave Lian Duoduo a warning look, and she gradually quieted down. Though she stopped talking, the look she gave Lian Manman was decidedly unfriendly.
Lian Manman inwardly curled her lip but didn’t bother with Lian Duoduo. Instead, she turned to Wu Lang and Xiao Qi at the wicker chest, careful to examine the books and papers inside.
Inside the chest were indeed papers written by Lian Jizu, which Lian Manman had no interest in. For the rest, she wanted any book that was bound.
"...Picking up our unwanted scraps..." Lian Duoduo leaned against the edge of the kang, pointed at her face, and mocked Lian Manman.
The three children made a couple of trips back and forth and moved all the books back to the West Wing Room. After thinking it over, Lian Manman filled another dung basket with cut straw paper and brought it to Lady Chiang in the Upper Room.
"What’s this for? We can’t have this," said Lady Chiang with a smile.
"Yes, we can. Why not? We shouldn’t give it to her for free," retorted Lian Duoduo. This straw paper was excellent for kindling or even use in the privy.
Lian Manman just smiled at Lady Chiang and turned to look at Lian Duoduo.
"I’m not taking your things for free. For all those scraps, I’m giving you this straw paper in exchange. I’m letting you profit; aren’t you happy now?"
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Here’s the first update. There will be another one this evening. Your encouragement is greatly appreciated.
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If you like Ruoyan’s completed books, I recommend "The Brocade Screen Chronicles," a story about domestic strife and farming in a large household with its unique set of family dynamics and entanglements.
Book Number: 1771214
Below is a direct link, click to visit directly.
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Another recommendation for one of Ruoyan’s completed books is "The Most Enchanting," a fantasy version of ’My Sassy Girl’ with a medium-length storyline of less than five hundred thousand words. The direct link is below; click to visit directly.
Book Number: 2184407
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Ruoyan’s recommended completed books on farming life:
Book Title: "Rebirth: When Flowers Bloom and the Moon is Full" (Including the main story and extras, fully completed) (Direct link below, click to visit directly)
Description: Through the life of a woman who was wrongfully accused of losing her chastity, and now carrying a small child, she starts a sweet life with her ’practical and economical’ man. (To be continued. If you like this work, please feel free to cast your recommendations and monthly votes at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
