Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 480: Meeting (2)_1

Chapter 480: Chapter 480: Meeting (2)_1

Mao Tuan’s thoughts were much simpler, just wary of a few little ones competing for affection. When no one was looking, it had not hesitated to use its paws to roll the little puppies around like balls. It was only because Mo Yan didn’t pay much attention to them that it stopped bullying them.

In the blink of an eye, the end of the month arrived, coinciding with the break days of Zhizhi Hall and Changshan Academy. Mo Yan took the carriage to pick up Zhenzhen and Yun Zhao from their schools and then detoured to pick up Mo Qingze.

Unlike Changshan Academy, Zhizhi Hall adopted a boarding system where students had to live on campus, with two days off every ten days, allowing students six days per month to spend time and bond with their families.

However, the Academy did not allow students to bring servants to attend to them, and there was one day of labor class every ten days where the teachers would take students to work in the fields on the outskirts of town, experiencing the hardship of peasant life and cultivating thrifty habits. It was for this reason that some children from very good families would be sent there but couldn’t endure the hardships and would drop out halfway through the year.

This teaching method was unprecedented not just in Jing City but also in Great Chu and was considered exceptionally good for that era. Mo Yan found it quite satisfactory, as it cultivated the children’s ability to take care of themselves and apply what they learned while also ideologically guiding them to stay on the right path. No wonder many noble families in Jing City held Zhizhi Hall in high esteem.

When Mo Yan arrived at Zhizhi Hall, the square in front of the gate was already filled with waiting carriages. These carriages were not very luxurious, at most accompanied by a coachman and a pageboy or two—it seemed they had been influenced by the Academy and did not want to be too ostentatious.

After waiting for a short while, students began to trickle out, mostly aged between six and sixteen. Those who knew each other chatted and laughed together, and when parting, they said their farewells politely, presenting a harmonious scene.

"Big sister! Big sister!"

As Mo Yan was watching intently, she heard Zhenzhen’s voice. Looking up, she saw him running towards her, one hand clutching his book bag and the other pulling Yun Zhao along excitedly.

"Sister Yan!" Both boys approached with Yun Zhao smiling and calling out.

Mo Yan took their book bags with a smile and placed them in the carriage. After the boys settled down and took their seats, she too got in and drove Dabai toward Changshan Academy to pick up their father.

Zhizhi Hall wasn’t far from Changshan Academy, just half an hour away. Along the way, Zhenzhen chattered like a magpie, eagerly sharing what he had seen and heard at the Academy over the past ten days, showing off by reciting the texts he had learned, and even imitating the teachers’ tone to explain, striking a "I’m so awesome, big sister, you should praise me" proud attitude.

Mo Yan knew that at this age, children needed encouragement from others, especially family members, so she praised him generously and offered his favorite pastry as a reward.

"Wow, thousand-layer cake, Zhenzhen’s favorite, thank you, big sister!"

Zhenzhen happily kissed his big sister on the cheek and thoughtfully unfolded the oiled paper to let Yun Zhao taste it first.

Yun Zhao, who had long treated him like his own little brother, didn’t stand on ceremony and grabbed a piece to eat with pleasure.

The two little fellows, like two little mice, quickly polished off the four pieces of thousand-layer cake. Listening to their innocent prattle, Mo Yan’s heart softened.

After giving the sweet date, she couldn’t omit the stick. Mo Yan pointed out the inadequacies in the little one’s explanations, admonishing him to avoid arrogance and impetuousness and to not become complacent. Zhenzhen took the lesson to heart, knowing his big sister was looking out for his best interests and firmly remembered her words.

Nearing Changshan Academy, Zhenzhen suddenly lifted the carriage curtain, stuck out his little head, and with a troubled face, asked Mo Yan, "Big sister, Zhenzhen heard that big brother was almost killed on his way back to Jing City. Is that true?"

Mo Yan paused, realizing who he meant by "big brother."

Ever since the first time she saved that man, the little guy had been full of admiration for him, referring to him as big brother more than her, and sometimes she felt quite jealous. However, since the students were usually at the Academy and were unlikely to know about external affairs, and the teachers wouldn’t speak of such matters during class, how did the little one come to know?

Zhenzhen explained with reddened eyes and a downcast mood, "The chefs at the Academy were talking about it in private, and Zhenzhen happened to pass by and overheard it, that’s how I knew something happened to big brother! Big sister, even the chefs know about it, is big brother’s injury very serious? Is it true that he’s close to death?"

By the end, the little one’s voice grew choked up, and tears began to swirl in his eyes.

Mo Yan felt a surge of pity and quickly comforted him, stroking his little head, "Not at all! Sir Xiao did get hurt, but it’s not as serious as the rumors suggest. Otherwise, after more than ten days, if it was really that close... if there was real danger, it wouldn’t have dragged on till now!"

She had entered the city twice before and heard the rumors of the man’s imminent death. If the red marks on the Merit Pearl didn’t make a lie, she would have believed those rumors. Subsequent events led her to speculate that he spread those rumors himself, aiming to flush out the mastermind behind the scenes and teach them a lesson!

"Big sister, is that really the case? That’s great!" Zhenzhen’s dark eyes sparkled upon hearing this, "Big brother is so capable, and his martial arts are so strong, even defeating the wicked Bai people, how could he be easily hurt by bad guys, Zhenzhen knew it, knew that big brother is the best!"

Mo Yan: "..."

Watching her brother who changed his tune faster than flipping through a book, Mo Yan repeatedly waved him back into the carriage, lest he fall out during a bump in the road.

After smoothly picking up Mo Qingze, the four chatted and laughed all the way back to Liu Yang Village, enjoying a joyous return.

After dinner, the family sat together for a chat, and seeing that it was getting late, Mo Yan prepared to return to her abode with her three pets, intending to continue her work in Space. Just as she was about to step into the courtyard, Mao Tuan behind her fixed a watchful gaze on the dark yard, emitting a threatening growl.

Mo Yan’s heart clenched, and seeing that Dabai and Little Flower showed no reaction, she was puzzling over it when a tall and elegant silhouette stepped out of the darkness. Even without seeing, she could feel the other’s gaze tightly locked onto her face...

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