Chapter 12 Reading and Writing Roll Up

Shen Bei couldn’t help but laugh. He directly recited a poem and asked Shen Feng to follow along.

Shen Feng glanced at Shen Nian. Seeing her nod, he opened his mouth and recited the poem.

Shen Bei tested him twice more, and Shen Feng learned it perfectly.

Shen Bei patted Shen Feng’s shoulder, “You’re a surprise to Fourth Uncle!”

Although Shen Feng was just mimicking, he didn’t understand the meaning of the poem, but he was so young and had such a photographic memory. If he was taught diligently, he would surely achieve great things.

All the children in the family were smart, but except for his little niece, the eight boys didn’t put their minds to reading and writing. Shen Feng listened to his little niece so well, so it would be easier to teach him.

Shen Bei was happy to see his younger generation doing well.

He suppressed his joy and started the lesson with a serious face.

An hour later.

Shen Bei assigned homework to the children. They had to learn to write the twenty new characters they learned today. If they didn’t have paper and pen at home, they could practice with fine sand and charcoal. He would check it tomorrow morning.

Seeing Shen Nian about to leave, he went over and picked her up, smiling, “Nian Nian, Fourth Uncle will go back with you. I have something to talk to your grandpa, grandma, father, and mother.”

When he saw Shen Dong and the other four, Shen Bei told them why he came. He first praised Shen Feng’s talent and said how smart and well-behaved Shen Nian was. Then, he gradually shifted the topic to adopting Shen Feng, “Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, you already have three children. It’s not easy to raise three children. Adding Jiulang makes it four children, which is even more troublesome. We, the fourth family, have the fewest children. Why don’t you let me adopt Jiulang? My wife and I both like Jiulang very much. We promise to treat him like our own son. I’ve already asked clearly. The reason Jiulang stayed is to be Nian Nian’s brother. If he becomes my adopted son, he’ll still be Nian Nian’s brother. There’s no difference. Think about it?”

Shen Dong looked at Shen Feng, who stood beside his daughter and wouldn’t leave her side for a moment, “That’s true, but you see, this child only listens to Nian Nian. He can’t be separated from her. He won’t be able to live at your place.”

Shen Bei said without hesitation, “That’s easy. Let Nian Nian live at my place too. When Jiulang gets used to my family and can get along with us, then let Nian Nian come back.”

“What if Jiulang never leaves my daughter?”

“Then let Nian Nian stay at my place forever!”

“Bang!” Shen Bei was shut out.

Shen Dong sneered inside the house, “You want to steal my son, and now you want to steal my daughter? You’re dreaming.”

He walked over and touched Shen Feng’s head, “Don’t mind your Fourth Uncle. You’re my son, and you’ll always be.”

Wei Shi said, “Fourth Brother is eyeing Jiulang’s talent. With his temperament, he won’t give up easily. Dong Ge, when the weather gets better, you go to the county and get Jiulang a household registration. Then buy some cloth. I’ll make Jiulang two sets of clothes.”

Shen Dong nodded in agreement, “Okay.”

They had sold so many lingzhi for a lot of silver. They couldn’t mistreat Shen Feng.

The Shen family used to only eat two meals a day, but since Shen Nian learned to eat, they changed to three meals a day.

At first, they wanted Shen Nian to eat three meals, but the others still ate two. But if they didn’t eat, Shen Nian wouldn’t eat either. So, in order for Shen Nian to eat properly, everyone started eating three meals a day.

The midday meal was cooked by the elders. It was a pot of mixed grain porridge and a pot of stewed wild rabbit with radish. The seasonings were only salt and old ginger.

The rabbit meat was stewed very tender. Shen Nian had already grown four teeth and could eat some, but not too much.

Eating this all-natural meal, Shen Nian felt a lot of emotions.

Lanhua Village was surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear water. It was the paradise she dreamed of, but unfortunately, it lacked too many things.

Huayue Kingdom didn’t have chili peppers or rapeseed oil. The variety of fruits and vegetables was also pitiful. Salt was very precious and strictly controlled. Poor people could only buy inferior coarse salt, which affected the taste and was bad for their health. Besides salt, soy sauce and vinegar, these seasonings were also very expensive.

Lanhua Village was poorer than she imagined. None of the houses were made of blue bricks and tiles, they were all mud houses. It was far from the town, a one-hour walk. The road was narrow, and oxcarts and carriages couldn’t pass through. If the people of Lanhua Village wanted to take a ride, they had to walk for half an hour to the entrance of Liu Jiacun Village. The road from Liu Jiacun to the town was wider, and oxcarts could pass through.

It could be said that in terms of food, clothing, housing, and transportation, Lanhua Village lacked everything.

It was truly a remote and impoverished place.

After lunch, Shen Nian wanted to take a nap. She didn’t want to sleep, but her body was tired and she couldn’t control her drowsiness.

Shen Nian went to take a nap, and Shen Feng stayed by her side.

After half an hour, Shen Nian woke up. She washed her face and then went to practice writing with charcoal.

Shen Bo and Shen Xue were baffled. They couldn’t understand why their little sister was so obsessed with learning characters.

The two brothers, unwilling to be outdone, also came to practice writing.

The brothers from the other families came to find their sister. As soon as they saw her practicing writing, they turned around and ran away.

Shen Nian, with her sharp eyes, saw them and started crying, “Waaaa, brothers don’t want me!”

The elders’ sharp eyes immediately glared at them.

The brothers stumbled back.

“Don’t cry, sister. Brother is here.”

“We came to play with you!”

“Oh! Are you practicing writing? You write so well. Next time… uh, I’ll write with you now, hehehe…”

Soon, a group of boys were squatting in the corner of the main room of the eldest brother’s house, practicing writing with twigs and fine sand.

After playing with writing for a while, Shen Nian got up to find Wei Shi, and Shen Feng followed her like a shadow.

They soon returned with Wei Shi, who was carrying a pot and a basket of small bowls.

The pot was filled with sugar water. Wei Shi poured it into the small bowls, and Shen Nian and Shen Feng brought them to their brothers one by one.

“Big Brother, drink water!”

“Second Brother, drink water!”

“Third Brother…”

Shen Nian called each brother by name, her little voice was soft and sweet, her smile was milky and cute, and her brothers’ hearts melted.

How could their sister be so cute!

They wouldn’t trade her for a mountain of gold and silver.

After drinking the sugar water, the brothers felt sweet in their hearts and were instantly filled with energy.

Shen Xue sighed, “So, in my sister’s heart, we’re all just ‘drink water’!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

The heavy snow finally stopped at the hour of Shen. A group of boys all went outside to play in the snow. Shen Nian couldn’t go out because she was too young, and the adults wouldn’t let her.

Shen Dong and his four brothers checked the area around the house and found no abnormalities. There was no sign of a wolf on the hillside.

The wolf didn’t follow Shen Feng down the mountain.

Before nightfall, Shen Dong went out of the village. He greeted many villagers on his way out. He didn’t return until late at night. By then, Wei Shi had already washed the children and prepared them for bed.

The eldest brother’s house only had three rooms. The elders slept in one, Shen Dong and his wife slept in another, and Shen Bo and Shen Xue slept in the third. Wei Shi originally wanted Shen Feng to sleep with Shen Bo, but Shen Feng refused. He wanted to sleep in the same room as Shen Nian.

There was no way. Thinking that the two children were still young and didn’t need to be so particular, Wei Shi agreed.

The bed was placed against the wall. Shen Dong and Wei Shi slept on the outside, and the two children slept on the inside. Looking at Shen Nian sleeping beside him, Shen Feng’s lips curled up unconsciously, his smile filled with deep affection.

After falling asleep, Shen Feng burrowed into the blanket in a daze and snuggled into Wei Shi’s arms. This embrace made him feel warm.

Shen Nian also snuggled into Wei Shi’s arms.

Wei Shi held the two little ones, opened her eyes and smiled, gently covered them with a blanket, feeling incredibly content.

Shen Dong, on the other side, snored loudly.

The next day, the snow melted.

After breakfast, Shen Dong was going to take Shen Feng to visit the village head. Shen Nian followed them because Shen Feng couldn’t leave her side.

Villagers saw them on the road.

“Shen Dong, where are you going?”

“Nian Nian, call Uncle. Uncle will give you a pancake.”

“Nian Nian, I made a big snowman. Come and see. Uh, who is he?”

The villagers noticed Shen Feng and asked curiously.

Shen Nian held Shen Feng’s hand, “My Ninth Brother!”

Shen Dong smiled, “He’s my son!”