Chapter 522: Chapter 521: Running Ragged
Just as Lin Wanwan was about to mount her magnificent horse, she suddenly realized it was lame!
She looked at Kun Lun with a puzzled expression, and Kun Lun turned his gaze toward Xiao Chong.
Xiao Chong, slightly embarrassed, rubbed his nose and said, "Cousin, please forgive me. I accidentally hurt your horse. You can ride mine instead."
Lin Wanwan raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing, cousin? Why did you harm my horse for no reason? Can I not ride it anymore?"
Itâs not easy to train a good horse, and Lin Wanwan had finally built trust and rapport with this magnificent steed, only for it to be inexplicably injured.
Xiao Chong reassured her, "Donât worry, cousin. I didnât hit it hard. If it rests for ten to fifteen days, itâll recover."
Lin Wanwan scoffed, "Then what will I ride during this time? Lend me your Ferghana Horse as compensation."
"Alright."
"Village Lady, it was because Kun Lun hid in the forest that we mistook it for an ambush by wild people, prompting Zifang to act. It really was a misunderstanding. My horse is also a magnificent steed, and you can take it if you donât mind."
Xiao Ce quickly tried to help Xiao Chong out of the situation.
He knew how much Xiao Chong cherished his Chasing Wind Horse, lovingly tending to its washing and feeding every day.
A horse is not only a mode of transport but also as valuable as a second life in battle.
Lin Wanwanâs demand for compensation was mostly in jest; she wouldnât be going to Creek Town until after the fifteenth of the first lunar month, so riding wasnât necessary.
By then, the horse would likely be healed.
"Haha, no need, no need. I was just speaking casually; I donât need a horse these days." Lin Wanwan approached Xiao Chong to ride his Crimson Horse.
This horse was intelligent, and Lin Wanwan had ridden it at Qiantang earlier this year, finding it very satisfactory.
Xiao Ce watched with eyes wide open as Xiao Chong naturally assisted Lin Wanwan onto the horse, greatly surprised in his heart.
Horse, like a wife, yet Xiao Chong seemed unusually carefree today!
Xiao Ce had thought Xiao Chong might at least hesitate, yet here he was, helping her onto the horse quite comfortably!
Compared to Xiao Ceâs surprise, Dugu Di was much calmer. From the moment Xiao Chong injured Lin Wanwanâs horse, Dugu Di anticipated this outcome.
As for the three attendants, they might have their own opinions, but none would voice them casually.
Shuqi relinquished his own mount for Xiao Chong, leading Lin Wanwanâs horse that had its right hind leg injured, bringing up the rear.
When the group arrived at Lin Family Manor, the place was bustling; New Yearâs Eve was approaching soon, and with Lin Wanwanâs assistance this year, everyone could enjoy a good celebration!
On the large piece of open ground in front of the workshop, Lin Mengbo and others were already busy slaughtering sheep; there were twenty to be killed!
This year, the clan had plenty of grain and money left over, so they were providing benefits to the clan members for the New Year: lamb, pork, millet, and silk.
Families with more laborers received more, while those with fewer got less, all distributed according to contributions.
The clan was quite accustomed to this, never daring to doubt the fairness of the Clan Leader Linâs distribution plan; this was prestige.
Recently, Lin Wanwan also took out last yearâs old grain, allowing the clan members to exchange it for this yearâs new grain at a ratio of one to two.
Who would miss such a great deal!
Only those cared for by Wan Nannyâs family would bother to swap old and newâweighed in such fortune, the rest in the ten miles around wouldnât even think about it; a bite to eat, and theyâd thank heaven and earth.
Truth be told, the residents of Lin Family Manor hadnât really seen old grain or old rice. Every year, they barely had enough new rice to eat, requiring seafood to stave off hunger, nowhere to store a surplus!
The grain Lin Wanwan offered for exchange came from modern online shopping, not from what she had stored herself last year.
What she harvested last year was minimal, and after the recent major snowfall, everyone was distributing porridge to aid disaster relief; Lin Wanwan had also helped Yun Shang acquire some, expending her own harvest long ago.
She entrusted the supervision of the granary to Sun Chuyao.
This servant, who treated Lin Wanwan as a deity, had gained Lin Wanwanâs absolute trust over the year, allowing her to handle matters inside boldly and confidently.
With Lin Wanwanâs indirect subsidies, this year the Lin Family Manor could surely allow every household to enjoy a bowl of white rice.
When the clan members lined up to exchange grain at the Lin Mansionâs granary, the Clan Leader Lin had declared that they absolutely must not divulge this to outsiders.
Exchanging grain within their clan, taking advantage of Wan Nannyâs generosity in a small way, but not letting outsiders do the sameânot even extended relatives!
The Clan Leader Lin had grown accustomed to Lin Wanwanâs precious management style. While she didnât want domestic old grain taking up space, there was no doubt for him.
To prevent Lin Wanwan from feeding these decent items to chickens and ducks unwittingly, he consented to the clan members exchanging them.
Initially, the Clan Leader Lin had some words about how Lin Wanwan treated all servants equally.
Sensing that those were household matters under Lin Wanwanâs jurisdiction, he shouldnât voice opinions, thus refraining, yet still suppressing some reservations.
Later, upon hearing Lin Mengli talk about the aristocratic behaviors at Creek Town, he finally understood what pampered lives the slaves of noble families led and sighed, accepting this reality.
Wan Nanny, being the sole heir of the direct lineage and now a Village Lady, would ultimately grow the family into a true aristocratic household; how could their servants be shabby?
When Lin Wanwan arrived home with Xiao Chong and the others, it was near noon, and Hua Nong had just about prepared the meal.
Today was New Yearâs Eve when everyone gathered to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.
After lunch, Lin Wanwan took out brush, ink, and red paper for Xiao Chong to write couplets and auspicious characters.
As for Dugu Di and Xiao Ce, both had indulged in a bit of plum wine during lunch and were now lying in the academyâs side chamber.
Lin Wanwanâs courtyard had countless rooms, all needing auspicious characters and couplets, unwittingly enlisting Xiao Chong to write continuously.
Fortunately, Xiao Chong didnât mind writing. After eating Lin Wanwanâs meal, some reciprocation was due.
"Cousin, havenât you finished writing yet? If you continue, we wonât have time to post them!" Xiao Chong remarked helplessly, having written all afternoon!
Lin Wanwan glanced at the amountâit was indeed dozens of auspicious characters and coupletsâand said, "Alright, just write one last one, then weâll go post them."
With a few swift strokes, Xiao Chong finished, and being tall, he was again recruited by Lin Wanwan to help post them.
Clearly, there were two Kunlun slaves at home who were tall and had exceptional brute strength under Xiao Yixun, plus dim-witted Dabao, none of whom were short. The servants brought by Xiao Chong were also very tall, yet Lin Wanwan particularly enjoyed enlisting Xiao Chong.
Xiao Chong found Lin Wanwan somewhat odd these days, repeatedly unceremoniously treating himâespecially today! What was itâa festival upset? But it wasnât so, there was no bloody scent.
For instance, right now, these tasks the servants could certainly do, yet Lin Wanwan kept directing Xiao Chong; complaining about crooked postings one moment, lamenting slow placement the next.
Shuqi fumed aside like a pufferfishâhow could someone mess with her own lord like this?