In the lotus pond, lush green lotus leaves, delicate pink buds, and red and green water caltrops intertwined. A few small boats shuttled among the leaves, some laden with lotus pods, others returning empty. By the pond, six or seven women in coarse linen clothes expertly sorted and arranged the lotus seeds, then loaded them into baskets for burly men to carry away.
Several maids and old women who came from the Xiao Mansion were peeling lotus seeds and water chestnuts.
Green and yellow round lotus seeds, white and tender water chestnuts. The maid Xilian picked up a lotus pod and handed it to Xiao Yao, introducing it: "This is called a lotus pod. It contains lotus seeds. It can be used to make soup or porridge. Miss, you can't eat it now, hehe..."
She knew I couldn't eat it but still explained it in such detail. I had never seen anyone bullied like this. Xiao Yao turned her head and ignored her, continuing to watch the fun.
"Miss, why don't you take a look, ah..."
He had intended to attract the young lady's attention, but instead attracted the young master. Xiao Jun snatched the lotus pod from Xilian's hand and began to bite it. The nurse couldn't stop him. After a bite, he found it unpalatable, frowned, and let go of her hand. Xiao Yao was amused by him, "Haha, haha." He allowed her to put anything in her mouth, but Xiao Jun didn't get angry, and laughed along with her good nature.
As the sun sets, the chubby boy and the delicate girl's clear and cheerful laughter echoes by the pond, making people feel happy when they hear it.
"Let the kitchen make some soup with lotus seeds tonight. Sister-in-law, let's go back." It was getting dark, and the children should go back to their rooms.
Xiao Yao didn't see enough and shook her head, not wanting to leave. Xiao Jun also shook his head.
"Aren't you tired after walking around all afternoon?"
Xiao Yao still shook her head, her little body arching back and forth.
"Miss, can we come back tomorrow?" the nurse coaxed. Xiao Yao turned to look at the lotus pond, then at the lotus pods on the ground, humming and humming, unwilling to do so.
"Will we pick lotus pods and water chestnuts tomorrow?" Tong Mingyu asked the cook who led the way.
"We pick them every day as long as it doesn't rain these days." The cook answered respectfully.
Xiao Yao stopped shaking her head and instead gave her mother a big smile. Mother, you still understand me. We are so in tune with each other!
The women who were working were amazed. She was worthy of being a young lady. It was amazing that such a little person was so smart.
Life at the villa was pleasant and leisurely. We woke up early to listen to the birdsong in the mountains, and during the day we admired flowers and fish. Suddenly, it was a day off, and the family gathered at the villa. Li Jiaoying told everyone about Xiao Yao's interesting stories. Xiao Jingkang held his daughter and rubbed her face with his bearded chin, which brought laughter and made his brothers jealous.
"Ping'an is so smart, Ping'an is amazing, Ping'an..." Xiao Rui finally saw his sister again and was ready to say all the complimenting words he knew.
"Ping An is so pretty, isn't she?" Xiao Jingtai said the last sentence for his nephew, because he always ended with this sentence when praising his sister and never changed the words.
"Second uncle...you are a bad guy." So bad. When I read more books, I will learn new words. Then I will see who you will laugh at.
Xiao Yao smiled and said, "Fourth brother, since you are so supportive, I will support you spiritually."
"Come on, Daddy will take you for a walk in the mountains." Xiao Jingkang picked up his daughter with one hand and pinched his son's chubby arm with the other. The boy had gained weight again.
"Husband, the child is still young. It's not appropriate for him to go up the mountain." Tong Mingyu said worriedly.
"I'm not going to the top of the mountain. I'm just going to look around and see the waterfall and then I'll be back. Don't worry."
With their father taking care of them, there was no reason to worry. The group walked off in a carefree manner. A servant who was familiar with the road led the way. Xiao Jingkang held his daughter, Xiao Jingtai held Xiao Jun, and the fat boy Xiao Qi was sleeping soundly at home. The rest of the boys followed behind.
A well-trampled path winds its way up, with the faint scent of fruit wafting into their noses as they go deeper. Occasionally, they can see clusters of mushrooms. The fragrance of fruit, the freshness of trees, and the beauty of nameless wild flowers intertwine and blend, making people linger and become intoxicated.
Xiao Rui was busy picking mushrooms, fruits, and wildflowers, enjoying himself immensely. Xiao Lang and Xiao Yi stood by, guarding him and letting him have his fun. Xiao Jun, in his uncle's arms, followed Xiao Rui with his gaze, jumping up and down anxiously. "Stinky boy, be quiet! Do you want to fall?" Xiao Jingtai tightened his arms. If the maids or the old women held him, he would definitely fall to the ground. Xiao Yao, on the other hand, was purely sightseeing. This was a rare opportunity, and who knew when she would come again.
After walking and stopping for about a quarter of an hour, we came to a waterfall halfway up the mountain, like a white curtain, cascading from the cracks in the rocks. The gurgling sound was crisp and continuous, and against the backdrop of green, it was picturesque. The waterfall was not large, and the upper part was very imposing. At the bottom, the water flow gradually slowed down, forming a pool of clear water.
The servants said there were small fish at the bottom of the pond with delicious meat. Xiao Lang and Xiao Yi were eager to try their hand at catching them, but unfortunately they didn't bring any fishing gear. Alas!
After seeing the beautiful scenery, we set out on our way home and met hunters from the villa on the way. They caught rabbits, pheasants, and even roe deer and a wild boar. The two teams met up and returned to the villa chatting and laughing.
A sumptuous lunch arrived, and Xiao Jingtai patiently introduced it to his niece, explaining the names of the dishes and the flavors of the others. Xiao Yao babbled in agreement, but this wasn't right. Where was her saliva? As everyone started eating, Xiao Yao made a series of "shush" noises at Xiao Jun, and a stream of water shot up, unfortunately landing on her second uncle, who was closest to her.
Seeing Second Uncle jumping up, Xiao Yao looked much more innocent than her brother, leaning on her wet nurse's shoulder, looking sleepy and ready to sleep. Fifth Brother hadn't peed in ages. This is a huge map for my dear Second Uncle. I hope you eat well! Drink well!
When Xiao Yao woke up from her nap, only a few of them were left at the farm. They came and went in a hurry. Only the second uncle received a special gift. I hope he will like it.
The villa was filled with novelties. Xiao Jun and Xiao Qi were deeply fascinated by the animals, including the cows, horses, and chickens. They would follow them relentlessly, demanding to be chased all the way to the end. The wet nurses and maids were always on their toes, fearing they might bump into or injure the young master. Xiao Yao loved the waterside, for it was so cool! On a hot day, sitting in a pavilion or waterside terrace, watching the fish swim and smelling the flowers, was a truly relaxing experience.
After a few days of relaxation, Tong Mingyu and Li Jiaoying began to pack up the various fruits, vegetables, wild delicacies, and game they would take back home...
Xiao Yao sighed as she watched her mother and second aunt directing the servants to carry things. It was time to go home. Time flew by so quickly, and in the blink of an eye, she would be gone. She thought, "How wonderful it would be to be transported to a farming novel, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters every day." But then she shook her head. Life for ordinary people was even harder, with clear distinctions between the noble and the humble, officials and civilians. She didn't have any special abilities or magical powers, so she could just be the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, a beloved granddaughter to her grandparents, a sweetheart to her parents, and a good sister to her brothers. She shouldn't be greedy, but be content. She was already very lucky.
He shook his head and nodded, his expression changing constantly. Tong Mingyu and Li Jiaoying put down what they were doing and gathered around. What did this kid want to do?
"Ping'an, what's wrong with you?" Tong Mingyu took her daughter from the wet nurse's arms. Her weight had not changed much and was still very light. She had to find a way to nourish her.
"Sister-in-law, I guess Ping'an is reluctant to leave the villa. Look at his frown." Li Jiaoying had an expression as if my guess was right.
"You're getting more and more ridiculous. She's only a little girl. No matter how smart she is, she's still just a baby. You're making her sound like a goddess descended from heaven."
"I've always felt that Ping An was special, but I couldn't put my finger on who she resembled. My sister-in-law reminded me, isn't she like a fairy?"
Tong Mingyu felt that her sister-in-law and her daughter's intelligence should be similar. No wonder they had so much fun playing together before. They were friends! She simply put the child in her arms and said, "You two have fun. I'll go get busy." It would save her the headache of seeing you two. Li Jiaoying walked away happily, holding the soft and tender child in her arms.
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