Fang Xiaoxi couldn't help but raise her eyebrows when she heard that neither of them had played before: "Haha, how pitiful, you don't have a childhood."
Nan Nan looked at Fang Xiaoxi speechlessly and couldn't help but remind him: "Thank you, we are still in childhood now."
They are just boys of twelve or thirteen now, so it is not an exaggeration to say that they are still in their childhood, after all, they are not yet adults.
Hearing this, Fang Xiaoxi was shocked by Nan Nan's shamelessness and chuckled twice: "Yes, your childhood is really quite long. I thought you had already entered the growth period."
Ling Yuanbao didn't understand what the two people were talking about, childhood and growth period. He just looked at them and urged them, "Aren't we going to leave? Hurry up and go. I want to dig out bird nests and catch crabs."
There were children from Fangjia Village outside. Seeing that the afternoon time had passed for a long time, they came to ask Nan Nan when he would start playing Cuju. When they heard Ling Yuanbao's words, they immediately started asking.
"You guys are going to rob a bird's nest. Let's go together, okay?"
The mountain was not hers, so how could she refuse? Naturally, they all went together. And it was more lively with more people, especially Ling Yuanbao. It was his first time to play with so many children, and he seemed very excited.
Everyone went up the mountain. It was the time when birds laid eggs, and most of the bird nests on the trees were filled with eggs. Seeing that the harvest was good, Fang Xiaoxi simply suggested roasting the bird eggs here.
So many children went to pick up branches again, while Nan Nan walked towards the stream beside. Fang Xiaoxi saw that her brother was directing these children smoothly, so she ignored him and walked towards Nan Nan.
"What are you doing here alone?"
Nan Nan looked at Fang Xiaoxi and said, "There are only a few bird eggs left. It would be a waste to just taste them and light a fire. So I came to see if there are any small fish or crabs. Let's catch some."
Fang Xiaoxi nodded: "You are right, but there are more shells in this kind of stream. The shells taste good if you roast them. I will catch some too."
When Nan Nan heard what Fang Xiaoxi said, she suddenly remembered that shells were quite delicious: "Just pick them up on the shore, don't go into the water."
Seeing Fang Xiaoxi was about to take off her shoes, Nan Nan hurriedly called out to remind Fang Xiaoxi that the rule here seemed to be that one could not just take off her shoes outside.
But in rural areas like theirs, the rules are not that strict. After all, they also have to roll up their trouser legs when transplanting rice.
Looking at Nan Nan with a smile, she found that Nan Nan's ears were a little red. Was she shy? Fang Xiaoxi giggled as if she had discovered a new world.
Nan Nan rolled her eyes, walked away, and went to catch fish. Ling Yuanbao also ran over at this time: "What are you catching? I want to catch some too."
Nan Nan looked at Ling Yuanbao unhappily and said, "Then come down by yourself. Forget about fishing. You can't catch it. Go and have a look under those rocks to see if there are any crabs or something. Go and catch them."
Crab? Ling Yuanbao immediately came up with an idea. He walked to a stone with a smile on his face, stretched out his hand to pry the stone open, and sure enough, he found a thumb-sized crab under the stone. He grabbed the crab with a bit of a smile on his face.
"Xiao Xi, Nan Nan, look, I caught a crab."
Fang Xiaoxi and Nan Nan looked over at the same time, and were speechless for a moment. Fang Xiaoxi laughed and said, "She's so young, let her go."
Too small to eat? Ling Yuanbao was a little disappointed, so he continued to move rocks to look for crabs. While he was looking for crabs, Nan Nan had already caught more than ten palm-sized fish and threw them to the children, asking them to clean them up and roast them.
The children in Fangjia Village admired their eldest brother even more. They didn't expect that the eldest brother was so good at catching fish, and he could catch so many fish with his bare hands.
Fang Xiaoxi also picked up a lot of shells. She found something, soaked it in the stream water, spit out the sand, and then roasted it directly.
Everyone was doing their own thing, when suddenly they heard Ling Yuanbao yelling, "Ah, Nan Nan, Xiao Xi, hurry up and save me. Wow, it hurts..."
This cry was really earth-shattering. Fang Xiaoxi and Nan Nan were startled at the same time, and quickly rushed towards Ling Yuanbao, and then looked at Ling Yuanbao, really feeling a little amused.
It turned out that there was a palm-sized crab on Ling Yuanbao's finger, and its big claws clamped his finger. No wonder he was screaming.
Nan Nan wanted to laugh, but seeing Ling Yuanbao crying so miserably, she felt that it would be inappropriate to laugh, so she had to hold it back: "Come here."
Ling Yuanbao walked up to Nan Nan crying and said, "Nan Nan, I'm in so much pain."
Nan Nan nodded: "Got it, I'll take the crab off for you first. I'll roast it and let you eat it later. Xiao Xi, help me find some herbs to stop the bleeding."
He grabbed the crab, and then forcibly pulled off the crab leg that was clamped on Ling Yuanbao, separated it, and looked at everyone with wide eyes: "Nannan is so amazing."
Nan Nan was a little amused. If it weren't for Fang Xiaoxi, how could he play with these little brats? He pulled off the crab's two legs and gave the remaining crab to Ling Yuanbao: "Take it. I'll give it to you."
Ling Yuanbao finally burst into laughter: "Thank you, Nannan."
Fang Xiaoxi also found some herbs at this time and applied them to Ling Yuanbao: "Okay, don't touch the water with your hands. Go to my third brother and let him teach you how to grill crabs."
By the way, he also gave the two crab legs to Ling Yuanbao. Ling Yuanbao was a little afraid at first, but he still plucked up the courage and took the crab over.
Fang Shaofeng took the crab with a smile, and began to help Ling Yuanbao process the crab. He also took out a roasted bird egg and said, "Here, try it. You haven't had access to these things before."
Ling Yuanbao nodded: "Yes, they are all made at home."
Fang Xiaoxi and Nan Nan saw that Ling Yuanbao had finally calmed down, and thought that the fish were almost done, so they went to catch crabs. This afternoon, with Nan Nan around, the group of children returned home with a full load.
Seeing that the sun was about to set, Fang Xiaoxi finally spoke: "Let's go back. Are you going back to town today? Nannan, take Ling Yuanbao with you. I'm sure Master and Madam Ling will be worried after being out for a day."
That's true. Nan Nan nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll take him with me when we go back."
After the group put out the fire, they covered it with dirt and headed towards the village. When they arrived at the village, the children waved to Nan Nan and said, "Big brother, come and play with us when you have time. Let's play Cuju together."
Nan Nan nodded: "Okay."
Cuju is really fun, and it might be a good sideline. In addition, there are many people from other places who come to buy furs in Xianyou Town. If someone plays Cuju here, it will be known sooner or later.
Nan Nan thought about this and became concerned about this matter. Fang Xiaoxi looked at Nan Nan and said, "I always feel that you are planning something."
Hehe laughed twice, Nan Nan took his people, called Ling Yuanbao, and started to head towards the town. When they arrived at the door of Ling's house, they said, "Let's go in."
Ling Yuanbao had been playing for a whole day and now felt a little listless. He waved to Nan Nan and said, "I'll go back first. Can you take me with you next time you go to Fangjia Village?"
Nan Nan raised her eyebrows: "Don't you have to go to school? These two days are holidays, Fangjia Village is bustling, and in a few days, everyone will go to school. If you want, don't just play all day long, go to school."
There is also a county school in Xianyou Town. Nan Nan thought that he didn’t need to go to the county school to study, but now he suddenly changed his mind and planned to go to the county school to study.
When Ling Yuanbao heard about going to the county school, his head drooped: "I don't want to go to study!"
Nan Nan raised her eyebrows: "This is not my business. Go in."
The door of the Ling family was already opened, and a housekeeper came out: "Young Master is back, Madam was just thinking about you!"
As he said this, he took Ling Yuanbao into the house, while Nan Nan went back to the government office. When he walked in, he saw Liu Yifang who had not returned yet, so Nan Nan called Liu Yifang to stop him.
"Uncle Liu, I'm going to the county school the day after tomorrow."
The day after tomorrow is the end of the holiday. Since the imperial court is making great efforts to solve the problem of people's education, Nan Nan also wants to join in the fun and go to the county school.
Liu Yifang was stunned. The prince's knowledge is better than that of the teachers in the county school. Going to the county school? What on earth is he thinking? He nodded and said, "Okay. I will take care of it."
On the other side, after Ling Yuanbao came back, he was brought to Madam Ling by the housekeeper: "Madam, the young master is back."
Looking at Ling Yuanbao, Mrs. Ling sighed. There were some things that she really couldn't tell Yuanbao. After all, they were too dark. She also didn't want to destroy her image as a loving mother in front of Ling Yuanbao.
"My baby has been wronged. What did you play today?"
Ling Yuanbao was still a child after all. Hearing his mother's concern, he began to talk nonstop: "Mom, I played a lot today. I like playing with Xiaoxi and Nannan..."
"The children in Fangjia Village are so nice. They play with me and don't mind me being fat. They even play Cuju with me! I wanted to go, but Nan Nan told me to study hard. Mom, can you please ask for leave for me?"
Mrs. Ling had no idea that her son, a wealthy family in Xianyou Town, was actually being bullied in the county school. She was instantly angry and felt sorry for Ling Yuanbao.
"Don't worry, Bao'er. If you go to school, your mother will be noticed. When Master Mu goes to Fangjia Village, you can go with him. In fact, if you really like that girl named Xiaoxi, why not just bring her to our house..."
Upon hearing this, Ling Yuanbao was on high alert: "Mom, no. Xiaoxi's brother is Master Fang, and their family will not agree to Xiaoxi becoming a cook. Don't even think about it. If I offend them, Xiaoxi won't play with me anymore."
Mrs. Ling narrowed her eyes, and it was unclear whether she heard anything.