Yunduo tiptoed and carefully placed a clean, worn-out earthen bowl next to the beehive. The bowl was filled with clean water, and a few cypress branches were tossed on top of the water.
"Duo'er, come back for dinner after you've put it away."
Just as Yunduo put the bowl down, she heard her grandfather calling her from the front yard.
"Hey, I'm here." Yun Duo responded, walking forward cheerfully. As she walked, she spoke to Xiao Jiu in her mind: "Xiao Jiu, is everything alright now?"
"Okay, that's fine. As long as there's water, they'll drink it themselves," Xiao Jiu replied in Yun Duo's mind. Then she added, "Don't worry, Master. This swarm of bees was specially selected by me. It's the strongest and most numerous swarm in the vicinity. Once they raise a new queen, they can swarm, and then you'll have two swarms of bees. Then we'll figure out a way to slowly attract the swarm over without arousing Grandpa Yun's suspicion, so that Grandpa Yun will think it's a natural swarming."
"However, before Xiao Jiu's abilities improve, you can only keep a maximum of ten bee colonies, Master. Any more than that, and the nearby nectar will not be enough."
"Ten colonies?" Yun Duo thought for a moment and laughed, "Ten colonies is quite a lot. I originally thought we could only manage three or four colonies. But will it be difficult to harvest the honey then?"
"Xiao Jiu has a way."
"Duo'er, hurry up, the pancakes are fresh out of the pan, they taste best right now."
Xiao Jiu said she had a plan, but since Yun Dazheng was calling Yun Duo to eat, Yun Duo responded first, then said to Xiao Jiu, "Xiao Jiu, we'll talk about it later. I'm going to eat first, and I'll get you some honey later."
"No need, Master. You go and eat first. I'll find something to eat myself," Xiao Jiu said to Yun Duo.
"Okay, then take care of yourself and don't fly too far," Yun Duo silently reminded herself.
"Mmm, don't worry, Master, I'll find something to eat nearby." Little Nine said, flapping its wings and flying higher. Little Nine actually preferred meat to honey, but there was no meat at its master's house today, so it had to find it itself. And its target—naturally, the birds that were preparing to return to their nests.
Unbeknownst to Yun Duo, although Xiao Jiu is still small, it actually has a large appetite and can eat a whole sparrow in one go. Of course, it can also withstand hunger; it can go ten days or half a month without eating and be perfectly fine. Naturally, the more it eats, the faster it grows. Since Xiao Jiu has been with Yun Duo since birth, it's gotten used to eating three meals a day, just like Yun Duo.
Upon seeing the clouds, Yun Dazheng said, "Duo'er, come here quickly and wash your hands first. Grandpa has already scooped out the water, so you can just wash them directly."
"Yes, thank you, Grandpa." Yun Duo quickly replied and ran to wash her hands. As soon as she entered the kitchen, Yun Qi handed her a chopstick with a flatbread stuck in it.
"Come on, Duo'er, try one first. Hold the chopsticks and eat slowly, be careful it's hot," said Yun Qishi.
"Thank you, Grandma," Yunduo said, taking the chopsticks and then asking, "Grandpa, Grandma, won't you try some first?"
"Grandpa, start the fire first. We'll eat after Grandma has cooked the soup," Yun Da said from the side.
“No, that won’t do.” Yun Duo shook her head and said, “Let’s eat together.” As she spoke, she brought the cake to her little mouth, blew on it gently, and handed it to Yun Qi Shi, saying, “Grandma, you have to have a bite first.”
Knowing Yun Duo's habits, Madam Yun Qi didn't refuse too much. She had made enough pancakes today, and the reason she was giving Yun Duo one now was simply because it was a habit of the old lady who doted on her granddaughter.
So, Yun Duo told her to try it first, and she carefully tore off a piece of the pancake, divided it in half, ate one half herself, and gave the other half to Yun Dazheng.
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