In the main structure of theCheng’s resident!
“Sister! Big sister! Big Sister~~~!”
Giggling noises came from outside the courtyard. Cheng Xiao Xiao, whowas planting seeds in the courtyard, turned and saw her little sister in pinkrunning toward her with a big smile.
Behind her followed Lu Zhu. When they got closer, Lu Zhu curtsied andsaid, “Miss!”
Cheng Xiao Xiao nodded at her and put down the little spade in her hand.Looking at her little sister, she asked, “What you calling me for? You haveanother little secret to share with me? Are you going to tell me that mom’scrying?”
“Hehe, big sister, no, mommy is not crying. You be careful she doesn’tspank you if she hear you say that!” giggled little Lan Lan.
Yezu brought over a bucket of water. Cheng Xiao Xiao washed off the mudon her hands and smiled, “If anyone’s getting spanked that would be you. Yousaid it not me!”
“Big sister is cheating!”
“You are cheating!” She wiped her hands dried after she had washed them.Then, picking up her little sister’s hands, she started walked outside as she askedagain, “So, why are you looking for me? You haven’t told me that yet!”
“Big sister is mean. Daddy said he is going to look for a teacher forolder brother, second brother, and me. Big sister, what is a teacher?” Eventhough little Lan Lan was born into a wealthy family, she never had the chanceto experience the benefit of a big family. She had never heard of a teacher.
Cheng Xiao Xiao smiled slightly and said, “It’s a good thing. A teacheris someone who teachers you how to read, paint, play zither and chess.
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Photo: Chinese zither (guqin)
Source: feebee.com
“That’s a lot!! Big sister, do I have to?” Little Lan Lan startedbargaining.
“Do you know any of these?”
“No!”
“Well, that’s why you have to learn them. Once you know them all, then youwon’t need to learn anymore!”
“Does big sister know them?” asked little Lan Lan, but quickly sheadded, “I know big sister can paint, and knows how to read. Does big sisterknow how to play zither and chess?”
“No, I don’t. That’s why little Lan Lan has to learn then play for me,okay?” Cheng Xiao Xiao smiled. The original Cheng Xiao Xiao never had thechance to learn all these; even if she did, she didn’t have her memory,anything she knew she brought with her from her previous life.
She could read, better yet, she started learning that when she wasthree. Painting had always been one of her hobbies, she had spent a lot of timeon that. Zither? She didn’t think she’d have the talent even if she had tried.Chess? She knew go and Chinese checkers, did they count?
“Wow! If big sister don’t know them, I don’t want to learn them either!”Little Lan Lan has finally found her excuse and shouted in excitement.
Cheng Xiao Xiao was just about to say something when she heardfootsteps. She looked up and saw Liu Tianshan walking towards her as he said toher, “Shi mei Xiao Xiao, little shi mei Lan Lan….”
“Shi xiong Tianshan, what happened?” Cheng Xiao Xiao, who wasjust about to go to checkout the herbs behind the bamboo forest with her littlesister, stopped and asked.
“Shi mei Xiao Xiao, master and the old patriarch were at the ricefield next to Willow. They sent me to fetch you!” said Liu Tianshan as he wipedaway his sweat.
Surprised, Cheng Xiao Xiao frowned slightly and said, “What happened?”
“It’s bad. A lot of bugs had appeared in the field. We have no idea whatkind of bugs they are, but they were about to eat all of our rice seedlings.The old patriarch and the villagers worried that the bugs will eat all of ourcrops so they sent me to get you!”
“Really?” Cheng Xiao Xiao headed toward the door immediately with herlittle sister. It was now already fall, these were food the villagers werecounting on for the winter. If the bugs ate them all, everybody would starve!
The three of them hurried toward Willows. When they arrived, thevillagers and the Cheng’s had already gathered around the rice paddies.
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