Chapter 440 - 440: Lotus Pond

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Yangyang took the book to Little Stutterer and Little Loach to catch up on the text.

Little Loach’s injuries were almost healed. His chest didn’t hurt when he ate, but he couldn’t run or jump. He couldn’t talk loudly. He had to walk slowly.

Yangyang took the book and taught the two of them, “Learning in early childhood makes you strong. To the lord above, to the people below…” Little Loach chanted softly, and Little Stutterer silently chanted in his heart.

After Little Loach finished reading, he said to Yangyang, “Young Master, this is the three-character recital. Mr. Liu taught us in Yunzhou.” Little Stutterer also said, “He taught us.”

Little Loach looked at the two of them. “I miss Mr. Liu, Aunt Xue, Uncle Cai,

Uncle Dashui, and Brother Shuisheng.”

Yangyang sat on the bamboo chair and sighed. ‘Yes! I miss Brother Ah Wei and the others too. Mother said that Father won’t go to Yunzhou again after returning to the capital to become an official.”

Little Loach looked at Yangyang and said, “Master won’t go to Yunzhou to be an official. Young Master can go to Yunzhou to be an official! Young Master is so good at studying. When you become the top scholar, take us to Yunzhou to see them.”

“Alright, Young Master will bring you to Yunzhou to see them in the future.” Yangyang said confidently.

The three children cheered up again. As soon as class was over, Maizi and Mao Bean ran in.

Mao Dou said to Yangyang and the others, “Young Master, a good-looking young lady and a little brother with braids came from the opposite room in the outer courtvard.”

“They are probably the children of the Han family who just came. Let’s go take a look,” Yangyang said.

“Let’s go take a look.” The boys put down their books and walked out. Xiao Bai, who was following them, wagged its tail and followed.

The few of them had just walked to the courtyard when they met Xing Hua. Xing Hua smiled and said to Yangyang, “Young Master, are you going to fish in the ditch again? There’s a lotus pond in our manor and fish in the pond.

Madam taught us to make a net. You don’t have to fish in the ditch.”

Yangyang held Xing Hua’s hand happily. “Really, Sister Xing Hua? Where is it? Show us.’

When Little Loach heard this, he slowly said, “Young Master, there’s no need for Sister Xing Hua to bring us. I know where it is!”

“Yes! I know where.” Little Stutterer also said slowly.

Yangyang smiled and waved his hand. “Alright, bring a bucket and a net. Let’s fish.”

Xing Hua instructed, “Young Master, you have to be careful. Don’t go to the middle of the lotus pond. Sprinkle some rice on the steps and coax the fish over. Just stand on the steps and fish, understand?”

The few of them replied loudly, “Got it, Sister Xinghua.”

Xing Hua found everything they needed and put on straw hats for them. They reminded them again and only let them go after seeing that they had agreed.

They took their belongings and walked out excitedly. Li Qing and Mr. Qian sat under the grape rack drinking tea and eating grapes.

Li Qing saw them walking out with their belongings and asked with a smile,

“Are you going to slack off again?”

Yangyang waved the net in her hand. “Uncle, we’re going to the lotus pond to fish.”

Li Qing looked at the excited children. “A few brats. It’s not a joke to fall into the lotus pond. Wait for Uncle. Uncle will go with you.”

Yangyang could only stop. “Oh! Then hurry up.”

Mr. Qian and Li Qing also went to Mr. Wen’s room to get the clothes they wore to pick herbs. Then, they came out and followed the children toward the lotus pond.

Little Loach and Little Stutterer led the few of them through the bamboo forest and past the rice fields filled with green rice ears. They followed a path made of sand, gravel, and yellow mud to the foot of the mountain.

After walking for almost an hour, they saw the hexagonal pavilion on the lotus pond. Little Loach said softly, “It’s at those two pavilions.”

Yangyang took the lead and ran towards the pavilion. When Xiao Bai saw Yangyang running, it rushed out. The children followed. Mr. Qian shook his head. “Children are playful. They’re not afraid of the sun or the heat. As long as it’s fun, they don’t mind the discomfort.”

Li Qing smiled and said, “You should have brought your son too. Look, there are so many children. It’s so fun for everyone.”

“Next time, I’ll bring the mother and son,” Mr. Qian said with a chuckle.

When they arrived at the lotus pond, they walked into the rose hedge wall. Standing there, Li Qing estimated that there were about ten acres of land in the lotus pond. The lotus pond was filled with green lotus leaves. There were not many lotus flowers left in the lotus pond. There were a few pink lotus flowers standing elegantly in the lotus pond. A faint fragrance wafted across the lotus pond.

Yangyang, Wheat, and the others were not in the mood to enjoy the scenery.

They ran to the lotus pond with their things and walked down the stone steps. They grabbed a handful of rice grains and scattered them in the water, waiting for the fish to swim over.

Mr. Qian looked around the lotus pond and pointed at the flowers and trees. “Ah Qing, look at how this place is filled with chrysanthemums along the lotus pond. Beyond the chrysanthemums are gardenia flowers. Oh! There are also golden laurels, hibiscus, winter plums, and monthly seasons. In this way, the lotus flowers will bloom with the fragrance of golden laurel. When the golden laurels wither, the hibiscus flowers will bloom. There are also winter plums and a pool of remnant lotus flowers. The concept is not bad. The Fan family spent a lot of effort to build this lotus pond back then!”

Li Qing nodded and looked at Yangyang and the others standing on the stone steps. He instructed them loudly and said to Mr. Qian, “Although these flowers and plants are not precious species, it must have taken some effort to plant them all. Let’s take a look.”

Li Qing and Mr. Qian went to the lotus pond to play. The rice grains that Yangyang and the others scattered attracted a group of fish of different sizes. When Xiao Bai saw the fish swimming in the lotus pond, it hurriedly reached out its paws to grab them. It slapped the water and fell into the lotus pond with a thud.

“Xiaobai fell into the pond,” Yangyang cried out worriedly.

Mao Dou pulled Yangyang. “Young Master, don’t be afraid. The dog swims very quickly. Look at it. It still doesn’t want to get up. It wants to cool down for a while!”

Yangyang saw Xiao Bai playing happily in the water, splashing water all over them. Yangyang hooked a lotus leaf with a net and waved at Xiao Bai. The little dog swam in front of Yangyang proudly and climbed to the stone steps to shake off a puddle of water.

Yangyang put the lotus leaf on Xiao Bai’s head. The children looked at the lotus leaf hat on Xiao Bail s head and laughed. They had forgotten to fish.

Li Yu and her husband woke up from their sleep. Li Yu suddenly thought of the lotus pond and turned to look at Zhou Jia, who was lying on the bed and not getting up. “Xiao Xi, there are still lotus flowers in the lotus pond now. It’s quite cool to sit in the pavilion. I went to take a look that day and came back. It’s so boring to sit there alone. Let’s go take a look together?”

Zhou Jia had heard Li Yu mention the scenery of the lotus pond and thought to himself that the Fan family had actually spent so much effort on the farmstead. It had benefited his family. He suddenly recalled that he had heard about it in the Ministry of Revenue. His colleague had privately mentioned Minister Fan and said that he had worked in the Ministry of Revenue for decades and should have siphoned a lot of gold and silver..