Xie Chao didn't get an answer and didn't press the matter. He picked up the chicken leg and sniffed it.
It's soft, tender, sweet, and quite delicious.
He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. If Jin Shanyao and the others came to see him every day and even roasted chicken for him, it wouldn't be hard to accept them growing ginseng.
But... Xie Chao looked at Meng Anci, this kid is too naughty... he actually crushed a hazel mushroom right in front of him!
And then there were the cats and dogs. After circling around Hat Mountain twice, they had tamed all the animals. It's true that no matter what kind of master you have, no matter what kind of mount you keep, they are all difficult to get along with.
Seeing that the two little ones had almost finished eating, Jin Shanyao instructed Xie Chao, "The manor down the mountain belongs to our family. Keep an eye on it and make sure no one goes in to steal anything."
Xie Chao reluctantly grunted, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, but that one grunt completely bound him to Jin Shanyao's pirate ship.
Even after Jin Shanyao attained his own divine position and left this small world, he didn't forget his old friend from Hat Mountain. He still carried his favorite snacks and would occasionally come back for a visit.
Even the descendants of the Meng Household keep in mind their ancestral teachings and go up the mountain once a year to pay their respects to this mountain god ancestor.
Of course, that's a story for another time...
Back at the Anzhi Hall, Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci went straight to the study. They had spent the whole day playing and hadn't read a single book they were supposed to read.
Jin Shanyao sat opposite them and said, "Why don't we go to sleep first?"
Meng Anci coaxed, "Auntie, you go to sleep first. I'll watch for another half an hour and then go to sleep."
Meng Anzhi didn't hear a reply, so she looked up at Jin Shanyao and saw her expression was conflicted and twisted.
He closed the book and Meng Anci, "I'll put Auntie to sleep first. She must be tired after playing all day. Don't turn off the light after you finish reading; I still need to use it."
As he spoke, he stood up, and to Jin Shanyao's astonishment, took her hand. "Let's go, Auntie, I'll stay with you while you sleep."
Jin Shanyao racking her brains, trying to figure out how to get the two children to sleep, when this ladder appeared.
I want both of you to sleep with me.
The two little ones exchanged a glance, Meng Anci stood up helplessly, "Let's go..."
Although my aunt can catch ghosts, she is still a woman after all, so it's normal for her to be afraid at night.
The three of them lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), Jin Shanyao watched as two tiny hands patted her belly alternately, just like she was trying to lull a baby to sleep.
Meng Anzhi, "Auntie, close your eyes."
Jin Shanyao immediately closed her eyes, then secretly opened them after a while, just in time meeting Meng Anci's gaze, whose little expression was quite helpless.
"Um, I want to cuddle you guys while we sleep."
"Hug me, hug me, hug me..." Meng Anci buried his head in her arms, his legs slapping against Jin Shanyao's body. As long as his aunt was willing to sleep, he would hug her, let alone hug her.
Jin Shanyao naturally scooped up the two children in her arms, chuckling incessantly...
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci laughed along; they hadn't slept together in a long time.
Jin Shanyao embraced them, her heart softening completely.
She secretly used Method Formula, and after a short while, the two little ones' eyelids began to droop, and they fell asleep within a few breaths.
The next day, Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci at each other wide-eyed. How did they manage to coax themselves to sleep?
Damn it, I didn't finish reading yesterday's book, I have to catch up today.
Meng Anci got dressed and planned to tell his aunt that boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven, so he wouldn't be able to sleep with them during the New Year. He felt a little disappointed thinking about it.
Maybe this is the trouble of growing up...
"What are you thinking about while sitting on the kang?" Jin Shanyao open the door and came in, only to see the two little ones looking like wilted eggplants, completely listless.
Did you not sleep well last night?
Meng Anci out of her daze, "Auntie, I'll be seven next year, so you know what I mean!!" That means you can't be so clingy anymore.
"What do I know? Get up and eat!" Jin Shanyao grabbed Meng Anci by the armpits and put him on the ground. She was about to hug Meng Anzhi.
The little girl immediately said, "Auntie, I can do it myself..." and then hurriedly got off the kang (heated brick bed) and put on her shoes.
After the meal, Meng Anci went to the academy with his satchel, while Meng Anzhi went to the shop to replenish the medicinal herbs in the medicine drawer.
Wang Xiaohua brought in a bowl of hot milk. " Anzhi... come and try some, my mother just made it."
Meng Anzhi put down the medicinal herbs, wiped her hands, and said, "Why are you bringing me food again?"
Wang Xiaohua smiled and said, "Today is a joyous occasion." She glanced around and lowered her voice.
"My mother has arranged another marriage for me. I'll be married when I come of age, and you must come to the wedding banquet."
Meng Anzhi asked in surprise, "You're engaged."
Wang Xiaohua scolded playfully, "What's the big deal? Girls usually get engaged around thirteen or fourteen... Sigh, I really envy you, being able to stay home for a few more years. I really don't want to get married."
Meng Anzhi didn't hear what she said; her attention was completely drawn to what was happening outside. "Sister Xiaohua... do you think cats can play with fire?"
Wang Xiaohua raised her hand and tapped her on the head, "You've gone mad from reading too much! Have you ever seen a cat playing with fire?"
Meng Anzhi pointed to the other side of the street, Wang Xiaohua looked in that direction and saw a tabby cat covered in sparks, frantically darting out of Brocade Workshop.
Moments later, thick smoke billowed from the doors and windows of Brocade Workshop. Wang Xiaohua cried out and ran next door, "Dad... Dad... Brocade Workshop is on fire..."
The shops on the street were side by side, and if a fire broke out, it was a chain reaction; if the fire was put out in time, one shop would burn down, but if it was put out too late, the whole street would be gone.
Seeing the fire growing larger, Meng Anzhi grabbed a gong and banged it loudly, shouting, "Fire! Fire!"
Soon, neighbors came out carrying buckets. Each well was behind the shop, and it took a lot of time to go back and forth.
Meng Anzhi urged, "Everyone, don't panic! Elderly people and children, stay away. Men, start from the well and pass the buckets one by one. Don't run around..."
If we follow Meng Anzhi's method, we can gather water from at least four sources, instead of the current chaotic and disorganized approach.
The gong rang out loudly, but no one listened to her. The fire grew larger and larger. Meng Anzhi turned and ran back, but before she could enter the door, she bumped into Jin Shanyao.
"Auntie, quickly wet our shop!" The fire started across the street, but seeing the flames, Meng Anzhi was afraid it would spread to her own shop.
Jin Shanyao helped her up, glancing at the wind direction; it was a west wind, so it shouldn't reach their house.
To prevent any accidents, Jin Shanyao instructed, "Go and hide far away from Qing He and the others."
"Auntie... then we don't need this house anymore," Meng Anzhi said, reluctant to part with it, especially since there was a ginkgo tree in the yard. If it were all burned down... she didn't dare to think about it.
But now was not the time to hesitate. She made up her mind, turned around, ran to the backyard, found the money box, and ran outside.
As I passed by the study, I saw Qing He and Qing Yang carrying four or five bundles, desperately trying to hug books into their arms.
Meng Anzhi called out, " Qing He, Qing Yang, stop taking it... come out with me quickly."
"Hey... hey..." Qing He and Qing Yang were carrying a lot of things and couldn't run fast. After taking a few steps, their bundles would clatter. The three of them finally managed to run out of the courtyard.
Qing He slapped her thigh suddenly and said urgently, "Old Niu, Old Niu is still in the yard..."
She stormed into the yard as she spoke, making Meng Anzhi stomp her feet in anger.