Chapter 24 Becoming Friends

The servant was Zhu Dafu, the son of the Wan Mansion’s steward. He was a born servant of the Wan family, and relying on his father’s position, he became Wan Baocai’s bookboy. He was extremely arrogant among the servants, always putting on airs.

The guards had long disliked him, but because he was a favorite of the young master, they had been enduring it. Now that the young master had spoken, they were immediately filled with enthusiasm. In a few moves, they tied Zhu Dafu up and stuffed his own smelly socks into his mouth.

This reversal surprised Shen Dong and Shen Nan. They exchanged glances and wanted to slip away, but Shen Nian called out to them.

Shen Nian patted Shen Dong’s arm: “Dad, put me down, I have something to say to the little brother.”

Shen Dong whispered: “Little darling, what do you have to say to him? Let’s go, let’s go, we have to leave quickly, in case he goes crazy again… Hey hey hey! Nian Nian, come back!”

Before he could finish, Shen Nian struggled out of his arms and ran towards Wan Baocai.

Wan Baocai had just finished scolding the evil servant and was feeling good. Seeing Shen Nian coming towards him, he was even happier: “Little girl, I thought about it carefully, and you were right, it was this evil servant who harmed me. It’s good that you woke me up, otherwise I would have been beaten by my father again!”

Shen Nian gave him a thumbs up: “It’s because you are smart, little brother, you saw through this evil servant’s true nature. You are amazing.”

Wan Baocai looked proud: “Of course, I’m very smart. Little girl, you are also very smart, come home with me and be my maid! I can give your parents a lot of money!”

No, no, no, you were talking about being friends, and now you want to buy me as a maid? Shouldn’t you think I’m cute and smart and want to be friends with me? What kind of brain circuit is that?

Hearing the word “maid,” Shen Dong and Shen Nan’s faces immediately changed. They were about to come over and pick up Shen Nian, but Shen Nian waved her hand and turned back to them with a slight smile, signaling them not to be impulsive.

Seeing Shen Nian’s smile, Shen Dong and Shen Nan immediately remembered the little girl’s methods of dealing with the naughty children in the village.

They almost forgot that their Nian Nian, although only three years old, was the leader of the children in the village. Even the most mischievous children were no match for her, and she could even trick them into becoming her little followers.

Shen Dong and Shen Nan stopped their movements, deciding to give the little girl a chance to perform. If this Wan family brat was stubborn, then they wouldn’t be polite.

Thinking this, the two stood behind Shen Nian, like two gods, staring at the guards without fear.

The guards were intimidated by the two men.

These two farmers seemed a bit hard to deal with.

“Little brother, why do you want to buy me as a maid?” Shen Nian asked, with an innocent and bewildered look.

Wan Baocai said matter-of-factly: “Because I want you to be my playmate. If you become my maid, you can be my playmate and play with me every day.”

Shen Nian was puzzled: “But playmates aren’t maids!”

Wan Baocai scratched his head: “Aren’t they? Whenever I need someone to play with, my mother will have Chunxi sister bring people to choose for me. Chunxi sister is the head maid by my mother’s side, she will use money to buy people, and those people’s parents will be very happy, very happy after getting the money!”

Shen Nian understood. This stinky boy was spoiled like this: “That’s selling children, decent families wouldn’t do that, our family wouldn’t sell children.”

Shen Dong said: “The people your Chunxi sister brings should be from the slave market, with brokers mediating, both parties are willing, it’s a legal transaction, it’s different from forcibly buying someone on the street.”

The guards nodded in agreement. One guard said: “Young Master, he’s right, the people Chunxi girl brings are different from them. If you forcibly buy this little girl today, you will be scolded by your father when you go back.”

Wan Baocai frowned: “Is there a difference? Why didn’t Dafu tell me this? He said that my status is not ordinary, and I can do whatever I want in the county, even if my father is angry, he won’t do anything to me.”

He angrily kicked Wang Dafu a few times: “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? You evil servant, you dare to treat me like a fool, just wait and see how I deal with you!”

After beating him, he looked at Shen Nian and asked: “So, if you are willing, and your family is willing, can I buy you as a maid?”

Shen Dong and Shen Nan immediately shook their heads and said: “We are not willing, Nian Nian is our family’s treasure, we would rather die than sell her!”

Shen Nian also said: “I won’t be anyone’s maid.”

Wan Baocai frowned: “Why? Being my maid is good, I will give you good food, good clothes, good toys, and with me protecting you, no one will dare to bully you.”

Shen Nian tilted her little head and blinked at him: “But I’m the apple of my family’s eye, I’m spoiled by my grandparents, protected by my parents, uncles, and aunts, and I have eight brothers to play with. They will buy me delicious food and toys. I also have many good friends in the village, and the elders, aunts, and uncles in the village all love me. Isn’t this better than being your maid? And no one restricts my freedom, making me do this and that.”

She continued: “You buy a maid just to find a playmate, but you don’t need to buy a playmate! You can be friends with me and become playmates! You can come find me when you want to play with me, I won’t ignore you. But if you buy me as a maid, I won’t pay attention to you, I hate being a maid!”

The guards were amazed. This little girl was so eloquent. Many children her age couldn’t even speak clearly, but her little mouth just wouldn’t stop talking.

Wan Baocai had never met such a talkative child before. It took him a while to recover, and thinking of his brother’s friends, his eyes lit up and he excitedly said: “Yes, yes, you’re right, we can be friends and play together. So, so, so, shall we be friends right now?”

Shen Nian smiled and nodded: “Okay!”

She stretched out a hand.

Wan Baocai didn’t understand.

Shen Nian pulled his hand and clasped it with hers: “Hold hands, we are friends now!”

Wan Baocai’s eyes lit up: “Oh, that’s what it means!”

Shen Nian said again: “Friend, my name is Shen Nian, I’m three years old, you can call me Nian Nian.”

Wan Baocai immediately said: “My name is Wan Baocai, I’m six years old, you can call me Baocai brother!”

Shen Nian sweetly called: “Baocai brother!”

Wan Baocai happily responded: “Yes!”

Shen Nian laughed happily with him.

Children really need to be communicated with in a childlike way. Friendship comes quickly and beautifully.

Although this kid Wan Baocai was spoiled, he wasn’t completely bad. He was still young and had a chance to be corrected.

Shen Nian pulled Wan Baocai aside to whisper. Wan Baocai listened and nodded repeatedly, feeling that Shen Nian was full of brilliance and wanted to be close to her.

After a long time, the two little ones finished talking. Shen Nian patted Wan Baocai’s shoulder: “So that’s settled, when my treasure grows, I’ll send some to you to taste, and you’re welcome to visit my house!”

Wan Baocai nodded: “I’ll go play with you tomorrow.”

Shen Nian: “Okay, then I’ll go home with my dad and second uncle!”

She waved goodbye to Wan Baocai, returned to Shen Dong and Shen Nan, took their hands, and walked away swaggeringly under the watchful eyes of the guards.

The guards: “…”

This little girl had already won over their young master so quickly?

Zhu Dafu, who was tied up, struggled furiously. Wan Baocai walked over, gave him a cold look, and ordered the guards: “Take him away for me.”

Back at the Wan Mansion, Wan Baocai, ignoring the steward’s shock, took Wang Dafu to find Mr. Wan.

As soon as he saw his father, he rushed over and hugged his leg, complaining: “Dad, I don’t want this evil servant Wang Dafu anymore. Today I wanted to make a friend, and he actually encouraged me to bully people, to forcibly buy them home as servants, to make me make mistakes and anger you, to make you angry to death. Luckily, I was smart, I didn’t fall for his trick, I saw through his scheme, I didn’t do anything to that person, I dealt with Wang Dafu…”

Every time he said a word, the guards echoed him: “Yes, yes, Master, the young master is telling the truth, we can testify.”

Wan Baocai continued to cry: “Dad, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to anger you before, it was Wang Dafu who encouraged me…”

Wang Dafu: “…”

He never dreamed that the young master had such a trick up his sleeve.