CH 40.1

Chapter 40: Stay on Rainy Day (1) Original translation is from tenderflower's blog.

Qin-shi mother and daughter were preparing lunch in the kitchen, and the three of Shu Lan were playing under the apricot trees in the yard. To be precise, Shu Lan and Zhu Yuanbao were playing, and Xiao Lang sat silently watching them. On the branch above their heads, the Quanquan that had been talking for a long time closed its eyes and rested. Its little head was inserted into the wings and it was really comfortable.

Zhu Yuanbao brought 24 specially made bamboo sticks, each of which was only as long as an index finger. He and Shu Lan each got 12 sticks. When playing, the two of them threw the bamboo sticks in their hands to the open space in the middle at the same time. Some bamboo sticks would be scattered around while others would be piled up together. What they had to do was to pick the bamboo sticks one by one. The winner of guessing would pick it first. After picking it up once, it would be the other person’s turn. The rule was not to touch other bamboo sticks, otherwise, the chance would be wasted.

At first, it was natural to pick the bamboo sticks that were scattered outside alone, so that you would not easily touch the other bamboo sticks. For example, if two bamboo sticks were next to each other, or one was placed on top of the other, if you were careful enough when picking it up, the other would not move when you take one away, but if your fingers tremble when picking it, it basically got the other one to move.

In Xiao Lang’s opinion, this game was extremely boring, but Shu Lan enjoyed playing it. Especially when Zhu Yuanbao’s fat fingers accidentally touched the other bamboo sticks which scattered the bamboo sticks and let her pick cheap ones in vain. At times, she would giggle, and her squinting little appearance was like a sparrow grabbing a grain. She was very proud.

“By the way, Ah Lan, there will be a temple fair at Mt. Gu Temple the day after tomorrow. At that time, there will be a circle of hawkers selling things at the foot of the mountain. There will be food, toys, and other things for sale as well as monkeys performing tricks and juggling. It’s very lively. Do you want to go to the temple fair? If you go, tell me, and I will take you there. The tricks are the same every year. I have been there several times. I will lead you to play when the time comes.” After Zhu Yuanbao carefully took away one bamboo stick, he suddenly said.

Temple fair? Shu Lan tilted her head. She seemed to have heard her mother mention it, but she didn’t remember it.

“Is it really that fun? Then I’ll ask my mother, if she lets me go then I will go.”

“Then remember to tell me because I’ve been at home these days. As long as you go to your grandmother’s house, I’ll definitely come to find you.” Zhu Yuanbao said again with a very solemn tone for fear that Shu Lan would forget.

Shu Lan nodded, and just as she was about to speak, a faint thunder sounded in the distance.

Qin-shi also heard it. She walked into the yard and looked at the sky, only to see a large black cloud slowly moving towards this side, and there was a faint sound of thunder.

This was a sign of rain!

Qin-shi frowned and looked at Zhu Yuanbao, who was still unconscious: “Yuanbao, did your father know you came here?”

Just at this moment, another clear thunder came.

Zhu Yuanbao jumped up, looked at the sky, and ran to the door in a hurry, shouting loudly as he ran: “Aunt, I have something urgent. I’ll go home first and visit you another day!” Whenever it rains, his father would close the stall early and go home. If his father knew that he came out on a donkey without permission, he would be so angry he would rip him off a layer of skin!

Quickly untied the rope, Zhu Yuanbao climbed onto the back of the donkey at an unprecedented speed and waved to Qin-shi who was chasing after him. He patted the donkey’s butt and ran away. His round body was swaying on the donkey’s back, which made people worry he would fall down the next moment.

“This child do whatever he wants, just leave like this, what if the rain catches up?” Looking at the donkey that ran away, Qin-shi said helplessly. Even if he was in a hurry, he could wait for her to prepare the straw raincoat. It was really worrying! Hope his donkey ran faster!

Turning around and going back to the house, she saw Shu Lan still squatting there as if she didn’t understand why Zhu Yuanbao suddenly ran away. Qin-shi said: “It’s going to rain. You two go play in the house.”

Shu Lan shook her head: “Wait, I haven’t finished dismantling it here.” After speaking, she ran to Xiao Lang in three steps and dragged him to the place where Zhu Yuanbao was squatting just now: “Older brother Wolf, play with me!”

Xiao Lang didn’t move. Seeing Qin-shi entering, he followed her and said: “How do you play it? Is it like this?” He stretched out his hand and pulled away the remaining small pile of bamboo sticks.

“Ha ha, you’re so stupid! It’s not like that. You do one piece at a time...” Shu Lan thought he really didn’t know how to play and laughed smugly, but before she could finish speaking, Xiao Lang got up and left. She looked back at him in surprise, only to see a straight back.

“Older brother Wolf, why don’t you play anymore?” She shouted loudly, not understanding why Xiao Lang suddenly left.

Xiao Lang had already entered the room. He put his legs on the edge of the heated-brick bed, leaned his head against the wall, and ignored her.

When Zhu Yuanbao came, she stuck to him. Now that Zhu Yuanbao was gone, she thought of him... It seemed like he had been so used to her these two days!

“Ah Lan is so stupid, Ah Lan is so stupid!” Quanquan suddenly opened its eyes and screamed.

“Bad Quanquan!” Shu Lan was dissatisfied with Xiao Lang’s attitude. She raised her head and scolded. She wanted to take off the cage and poke it twice with a wicker stick, but it was Zhu Yuanbao who hung it, even if she was on tiptoe she couldn’t even reach it.

A sudden gust of wind blew, and the apricot branches shook violently, making a rustling sound.

The hair bangs on Shu Lan’s forehead were messed up, but she was even more worried about Quanquan falling off, so she hurriedly picked up the bamboo sticks on the ground and ran into the house. She wanted to ask her older sister to help her, but Shu Wan was choosing vegetables, and Qin-shi was more busy working around the pot. Shu Lan thought about it and had no choice but to run into the room.

When Xiao Lang saw Shu Lan coming in, he fell on the heated-brick bed and fell asleep.
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