Let's Link Pinkies and Swear Not to Change for a Hundred Years

The dinner menu was incredibly extensive, featuring dishes such as roasted yellow sheep, braised wild deer tendon, braised wild boar, roasted muntjac ribs, clear stewed roe deer soup, braised badger meat, stir-fried wild rabbit, matsutake mushroom stewed pheasant, boiled badger meat, braised muntjac chunks, and a mixed wild game hot pot...

The most important thing is the two big bowls of lobsters, one spicy and the other with garlic.

Shen Yunshu's maternal grandfather was also brought out. He sat on a stool, staring blankly at the dishes on the table.

Madam Shen said with a smile, "Father, Yunshu and the others went hunting in the mountains today and caught a lot of game. You should try some."

Old Master Xie glanced at her indifferently and said, "Hmm."

Shen Yunshu looked at him and said, "Grandpa, this is Wanwan. She said she knows medicine; maybe she can heal your leg!"

Old Master Xie shook his head and said, "No need, she's not good enough."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "How do you know I can't do it if you haven't even tried?"

Old Master Xie said coldly:

"How old are you? I've seen no fewer than fifty doctors in Bianjing City, and none of them could cure you."

What can a little girl like you do? This is just how my life is going to be; I've accepted my fate.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "What if I heal you? Your life will be mine, how about that?"

There's no way around it; nobody dislikes having too many high-ranking officials in their family.

Shen Congrong was surprised by Zhou Wanwan's words, and he shouted:

"How dare you speak like that! Do you know who he is? He was once a Grand Secretary of the First Rank."

How dare you speak to him like that?

Zhou Wanwan glared at him and said, "Why are you bothering me? I was just asking, why are you so upset?"

Old Master Xie looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "If you can heal my leg, my life is yours. From now on, I'll do whatever you want me to do."

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Then let's pinky swear, a promise that'll last a hundred years."

Old Master Xie was both amused and exasperated, but he still extended his little finger.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"You said it yourself, that once I heal your leg, you'll be mine."

We pinky swore an oath, a promise that will last a hundred years, and then we stamped it.

Let's eat first! After you finish eating, I'll check your leg.

Old Master Xie seemed to have developed a bit of interest in Zhou Wanwan. While eating, he said, "Most kids are afraid of me, why aren't you afraid of me at all?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and asked, "Is there anything about you that's scary?"

"Hahaha..." Old Master Xie hadn't laughed in a long time.

Everyone around was dumbfounded. Even Madam Shen looked at Old Master Xie and asked, "Father, what's wrong with you?"

Old Master Xie laughed and said, "This child is really interesting."

Zhou Wanwan looked at the lobster and said, "Grandpa, eat more lobster, it's especially delicious."

Shen Congrong loudly stopped her:

"This lobster is completely inedible; it's bright red and looks poisonous."

You're not planning to poison us all, are you?

Old Master Xie glared at Shen Congrong and said, "Congrong, don't be rude. What do you mean by poison or something?"

Shen Congrong said loudly, "Father-in-law, she's not just any ordinary child, she..."

Old Master Xie waved his hand and said, "Alright, I also want to try what lobster tastes like."

Shen Congrong quickly stopped her, saying, "Don't eat yet, I'll eat first. I want to see what she's up to."

Shen Congrong glared at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Let me tell you, if I die, I'll haunt you even as a ghost."

Shen Congrong peeled a lobster with an air of righteous indignation. After eating it, he peeled another one, and after eating that one, he peeled yet another.

After finishing the first one, I even peeled another one.

Shen Yunshu frowned and said, "Dad, what do you mean? If we keep eating like this, we won't have anything to eat."

Shen Congrong coughed and said, "Isn't it because I'm worried about the toxicity being too strong? The taste is alright, but as for whether it's poisonous, I can't tell for now."

Zheng Xing'an helped Zhou Wanwan peel the lobster, saying as she did so, "If you don't like it, don't eat it, lest you get poisoned and then cause trouble for our young lady."

Shen Congrong glared at her and said, "How dare you, a mere maid, interrupt and discuss your master's affairs? Who gave you the guts?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said:

"Lord Shen, are you getting angry out of embarrassment? What are you doing, peeling lobsters with that hand the whole time?"

Do you really like eating lobster that much?

Shen Congrong coughed and stopped talking, while the others began peeling lobsters.

It was also Madam Shen's first time eating lobster. She squinted her eyes and said, "The lobster meat is so tender! How can it be so delicious?"

Shen Wanjun ate with great relish:

"This thirteen-spice lobster is absolutely delicious!"

The spices are flavorful enough but not overpowering; the freshness, aroma, numbing spiciness, and other flavors coat the shrimp meat layer by layer, making it more and more delicious with each chew.

Even the mushrooms underneath were soaked in the broth, becoming tender and flavorful, with a freshness that penetrated to the tip of the tongue. A bite of lobster followed by a bite of mushroom—the more you eat, the more addictive it becomes.

Just as Lord Shen was about to continue, Zhou Wanwan said with a half-smile, "Lord Shen, be careful, it might be poisoned!"

Shen Congrong snorted coldly:

"What's the big deal? If you don't want to eat, then don't eat."

Zhou Wanwan, you better behave yourself. If you dare steal anything from the estate, don't blame me for breaking your legs.

Old Master Xie looked at Zhou Wanwan and asked, "What does he mean by this?"

Zhou Wanwan said with tears in her eyes:

"You have no idea, he locked me in the woodshed for three days and three nights, without giving me food or water, and as soon as I came out, he accused me of stealing his things."

I was clearly staying obediently in the woodshed!

Old Master Xie looked at Shen Congrong and said, "You scoundrel, kneel down!"

Shen Congrong immediately knelt down. "Father-in-law..."

Old Master Xie snorted coldly and said:

"Don't call me father-in-law. I'm your teacher first, and your father-in-law second. Is that how I've always taught you?"

You've really gone too far lately, constantly going against a six-year-old child. Do you even look like a human being anymore?

Do you think that because my leg is broken and I can't control you anymore, you can do whatever you want?

"Aren't you going to climb all over us and poop and pee on our heads after a while?"

Shen Congrong looked at Old Master Xie and said:

"Father-in-law, I really never thought that way. This little girl is just too much."

Our house has never been robbed before, has it? But ever since this little girl came, one thing after another has happened to us. Who else could it be but her?

Old Master Xie said angrily:

"You dare to talk nonsense with a straight face now."

You caused trouble outside, you're incompetent, and you blame everything on a child. Are you even human?

You say she did all these things, so what proof do you have?

"Then show me the evidence."

evidence?

Shen Congrong froze. What evidence did he have? Zhou Wanwan was acting like a cunning old fox.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him while crying and said:

"Lord Shen is a high-ranking official of the court; he must know that evidence is extremely important, right?"

Next time you have evidence, come and arrest me again. I promise I'll cooperate obediently, okay?