Chapter 98: Third Brother Starts Bluffing

Jiang Dai turned to look at her soft and adorable third son, questioning, “Old Third, do you have any objections?”

Bai Yun’an played dumb. “What is Mother talking about?”

Juanjuan: …

What Third Brother says can’t be trusted.

But Third Brother only talks tough in his heart, just like…

The mother of Brother Dazui next door, who complains about her son but still lets him share delicious treats with her.

Unbeknownst to Bai Yun’an, his Favorability Points increased by two.

After the meal, Juanjuan carried the leftovers as usual to feed the chickens.

Now, with the two aunts cooking, the parents washing dishes and tidying up, and the brothers out gathering wild vegetables, Juanjuan was left with only light chores.

This was because Jiang Dai knew the child felt uneasy not doing any work, so she specifically left her some easy tasks.

“Juanjuan~”

“Hmm?”

Juanjuan stood up straight, looking at her suddenly appearing eldest brother, unsure of what he wanted.

Bai Yunqi flashed a bright, ingratiating smile.

“Juanjuan, do you want to go to town to study? Attend school!”

Although her eldest brother was smiling, Juanjuan felt a chill down her spine, sensing something was off.

【Why is this sister just standing there, not saying anything?】

【I was hoping she’d help me out later!】

“Juanjuan, going to school is great!”

“There are many kids there, and you love reading, don’t you? You can read lots of books there!”

Bai Yunqi looked at Juanjuan expectantly.

Juanjuan nodded. “What does Big Brother want me to do?”

Bai Yunqi: ? So straightforward?

“Let’s go ask Mom and Dad together!” Bai Yunqi suggested.

“Okay.”

As soon as Juanjuan agreed, her brother grabbed her hand, and they dashed off to find their parents, who were washing the pots.

“Mom, Dad! Juanjuan wants to know when we can go to school!”

Juanjuan: ?

Wasn’t it Big Brother who wanted to go to school first?

“Mom, Dad, I want to go too!” Bai Yunqi asked Juanjuan again, “Juanjuan, you want to go to school, right?”

Juanjuan nodded: Yes, I want to go.

Jiang Dai wiped her hands on her clothes, looking at her eldest and youngest. “In a couple of days, we’ll take you to the county to study. Is that okay?”

Bai Yunqi was thrilled. “Great!”

【Finally, I can go to the county to earn gold, silver, and jewels, and improve my cultivation! Awesome!!】

Hearing her brother’s inner thoughts again, Juanjuan: …

It’s okay; she’s used to it.

…

During lunch, Jiang Dai noticed that her third son, who usually ate one and a half bowls, only ate half a bowl today.

“Yun’an, are you feeling unwell? Why did you eat so little today?”

Bai Yun’an looked up and gave his mother a sweet smile. “I’m not very hungry today, not unwell. Don’t worry, Mother.”

But inside, he was full of regret.

【It’s just because I unlocked the luncheon meat! Why couldn’t I resist eating two more cans!】

【Now I can’t eat anything else!】

Juanjuan hesitated to speak.

She didn’t know what Third Brother was talking about, but it sounded delicious. She wanted to try it too.

But it was Third Brother’s secret, and she overheard it. She couldn’t tell anyone, or it would be too mean!

What Juanjuan didn’t expect was that in the afternoon, Third Brother insisted on taking her to gather wild vegetables.

Bai Yun’an squatted under a big tree, moving aside some branches.

“Juanjuan, I found something good. Look!”

Curious, Juanjuan looked over and saw a package wrapped in oil paper.

Bai Yun’an opened the package, revealing the luncheon meat inside.

Juanjuan looked at the neatly cut block in the package.

“Third Brother, what’s this?”

Bai Yun’an smiled. “It’s delicious. Try it!”

The little one squatting on the ground sniffed it, finding it quite fragrant. Juanjuan swallowed her saliva, tempted.

“Brother, we can’t eat random things. It could be dangerous!”

Juanjuan, using her weak sense of reason, fought off her craving.

Bai Yun’an waved his hand. “Eat it! I’ve had it before. It’s delicious and won’t harm you!”

Facing his cautious little sister, Bai Yun’an easily spun a tale.

He gestured for Juanjuan to come closer, lowering his voice to create a mysterious atmosphere. “Juanjuan, I’m telling you, but you mustn’t tell anyone else!”

Juanjuan held her breath, listening intently to her brother’s secret.

Noticing Juanjuan’s small movements, Bai Yun’an couldn’t help but smile, then began to bluff the child.

“I was out gathering wild vegetables today and met an old lady who said she lost her axe and asked me to help find it.”

“I found her axe, and to thank me, she gave me this. I didn’t eat much at lunch because I had two pieces of this!”

“Third Brother loves Juanjuan the most. The old lady told me not to tell Mom and Dad, to keep it a secret, but I wanted to share it with Juanjuan. Isn’t Third Brother great?”

Bai Yun’an finished, waiting for Juanjuan to praise him.

“Thank you, Brother, but… you promised the old lady, and now you’re involving me. That’s not keeping your word.”

Bai Yun’an: ? Huh?

【Is this child okay? Shouldn’t a normal little girl think her brother is great and favors her? Why is she lecturing me?】

Juanjuan lowered her head.

She believed she was right. A promise must be kept.

Although Third Brother wanted her to try it, he wasn’t keeping his word.

“Okay, okay, Third Brother was wrong. Next time I see the old lady, I’ll apologize properly. Besides, my sister is so cute and sensible, the old lady will like Juanjuan and won’t blame me!”

Bai Yun’an hurriedly coaxed the child, then said:

“As long as Juanjuan keeps the secret, the old lady won’t blame us two innocent kids.”

Bai Yun’an was eager to unlock Favorability Points, gain access to all the delicious food in the space, the soft and comfortable toilet paper, and some very useful tools.

Seeing all those things every day but not being able to touch them was truly tempting!

Juanjuan looked at her brother. “She really won’t blame us?”

Bai Yun’an nodded helplessly. “She won’t! As long as Juanjuan doesn’t tell anyone, the old lady won’t blame us two kids.”

“Then…”

Under Bai Yun’an’s gaze, Juanjuan extended her hand. “Pinky promise?”

“Pinky promise!”

Bai Yun’an skillfully hooked his pinky with the little one.

“Pinky promise, hang it high, a hundred years without change, the liar is a puppy…”

Juanjuan recalled what her mother had said, making the pinky promise with her brother.

“Alright, eat up!”

Bai Yun’an placed the luncheon meat into Juanjuan’s hand.

Juanjuan looked down, then broke the luncheon meat in half, handing a large piece to Bai Yun’an.

“Brother, you eat too.”

Bai Yun’an paused, not expecting Juanjuan to share with him.

Seeing the little one’s determined eyes, Bai Yun’an reached out and took it.

Once her brother accepted the piece, Juanjuan finally lowered her head and began to eat.