Chapter 39: Cherry Picking

“Cousin, come over here. The cherries on this side are ripe. You guys came a bit late—there was this one tree that had grown so huge!”

Yan Fengjiao’s two darling sons were named Lü Yuanjie and Lü Yuankai. The two little boys didn’t look alike, likely because they were fraternal twins. Still, the brothers shared a strong sense of camaraderie—one wielding a wooden sword, the other holding a slingshot. Dressed in similar outfits, they dashed into the orchard like fish returning to the sea, leaving the attending servants completely at a loss.

Fortunately, it was the Lü family’s estate, so Sun shi simply laughed and let them be.

Little boys shouldn’t be too restricted—especially not at their age.

The Lü family’s cherry trees weren’t tall. They had hired a gardener to trim the tops so the trees wouldn’t grow too high. Instead, the dense branches stretched out in all directions, forming short, round trees. When the trees were laden with fruit, even the children could easily reach up and pick them.

This was part of Sun shi’s loving kindness as a grandmother.

The Sun family’s business was doing well, so they didn’t lack money. The cherry orchard had been cultivated from saplings of a single mother tree. Though individually the trees weren’t large, the sheer number of them made for a very impressive sight.

If cherries weren’t such delicate fruits that spoiled easily, this orchard alone could generate substantial profit for the Lü family.

But Sun shi had a keen business mind. Cherries were expensive—not just because a certain sage had once sought them in vain—but also due to their rarity.

Anything that becomes too easily accessible loses its value. So the Lü family didn’t sell their cherries to the public. Instead, during cherry season, they would gift baskets to wealthy merchants and influential figures. It was a form of “cherry diplomacy.”

But for the Lü brothers, the orchard was simply their paradise. When the cherry blossoms were in bloom, they would play among the trees—though the blossoms didn’t appeal to them much. What truly caught little boys’ attention were the fruits. Once the cherries ripened, the two would rush in with their “treasures,” eat their fill, play until exhausted, and then pick more to eat.

During cherry season, the brothers were basically free-range children on the estate.

This year, however, Gu Yuzhu had arrived late. Most of the cherries were already gone—only a few trees still bore fruit. Along the way, Lü Yuanjie and Lü Yuankai chattered nonstop.

“This year’s cherries are super sweet! Cousin, look over there! That tree ripened later—we’ll take you to it.”

“Cousin, you’re a boy too. Why are you walking so slow?” Lü Yuankai chimed in.

Gu Qingbai: “…”

He was about to begin formal schooling, so he had deliberately started mimicking how Big Brother Fu walked—slowly, steadily. His mother said that made him look mature, like a little adult.

Gu Qingbai now saw himself as the man of the family. Of course he had to be more composed—he couldn’t act like a silly little kid anymore. So even though his younger cousin was complaining about his slow pace, he didn’t get angry. Instead, he replied calmly, “Xiao Mao, you shouldn’t say things like that. I’m being steady.”

The moment he said this, Lü Yuankai exploded. “Who are you calling Xiao Mao? Don’t call me that!!”

Gu Yuzhu: “…”

Gu Qingbai: “…”

Off to the side, Lü Yuanjie shot them a wary look before clutching his wooden sword and dashing into the orchard, as if afraid they’d shift the “battlefield” to him next.

“Big Head? Xiao Mao?”

Gu Qingbai still didn’t understand why the twins were suddenly so moody. But Gu Yuzhu glanced at them oddly, then connected the dots between “Big Head” and “Xiao Mao.” Suddenly, she burst out laughing.

Clearly, the two little boys were not fond of their childhood nicknames. But their Aunt Yan Fengjiao had raised them well. Even though they were upset at being called those names, they didn’t throw a tantrum—they just ran off in silent protest.

That only made Gu Yuzhu more mischievous. Big Head and Xiao Mao—those were great nicknames! Wasn’t she called Zhuzhu (Little Piggy) herself?

“Big Head! Xiao Mao! Don’t run off! If you do, how will we find our way back?”

“Don’t worry, little sister. I’ll protect you,” Gu Qingbai reassured her. “I already memorized the way here. Also, look—this cherry orchard may seem chaotic, but the spacing between every two trees is fixed, arranged in a particular pattern. It’s easy to navigate.”

Just then came a soft chuckle. An elderly, kind-looking maid couldn’t help but laugh.

“Young Master is absolutely right. This orchard was laid out after a Daoist came to assess the site. The placement of the trees follows a deliberate pattern, not random at all. As long as you understand the layout, you’ll always find your way out. We old maids are already used to it. Young Master is truly clever for his age.”

The old maid smiled warmly, but she hadn’t forgotten her mission. She figured she could now report back to the matriarch.

As the saying goes, “Look at a child at one, know their future at three.” The young master already showed such keen observation skills—clearly a smart and precocious child. With both these qualities, if he continued to apply himself, his future would be bright.

As a servant of the Lü family, she naturally hoped for their prosperity. If the Lü family invested in this cousin, it might even shift the power dynamic between the two families in the future.

And so, Granny Liu’s smile grew even more benevolent.

Gu Qingbai blushed from her praise, while Gu Yuzhu beamed like a proud older sister. Tsk tsk! This boy has so much potential. And he’s my real brother this time—what a win!

She nodded sweetly. “Oh, that’s great. You’re amazing, big brother!”

Gu Qingbai straightened up immediately like someone injected with energy. His ears turned bright red. “I-it’s nothing…”

Then his soft, adorable sister asked, “But what about Big Head and Xiao Mao?”

Although Granny Liu mainly focused on Gu Qingbai, she naturally had a soft spot for the adorable and well-mannered Gu Yuzhu as well.

Seeing her concern for the two young masters made Granny Liu even more pleased. She replied warmly, “Don’t worry, Young Miss. The two little masters come here every year—they know this place like the back of their hands. Plus, we’ve got estate workers and experienced farmers around, and there’s a wall enclosing the orchard. The boys are careful—they won’t get into trouble.”

In other words, there was no need to worry about Lü Big Head and Lü Xiao Mao’s safety.

After hearing this, Gu Yuzhu felt reassured. As long as the adorable brats were safe, she had nothing to fret about.

Now she could happily pick cherries.

There weren’t many left on the trees, but it was still plenty for Gu Yuzhu and her brother. The two of them managed to fill two whole baskets, making Lü Big Head and Lü Xiao Mao drool in envy.

Those two rascals were still kids, after all. Once they’d entered the orchard, they completely forgot about their cousins. After regrouping, the brothers ran off to go “play heroes,” hunting for bird eggs and having a grand time.