Chapter 48: I Want to Draw a Green One

“Brother Lu, no cheating allowed.”

“Grandma Lu and Grandpa Lu didn’t even take part in the race.”

“Yeah, yeah, and neither did Teacher Yuan or Grandma Feng. The ones who participated were just you and the seventeen of us.”

“Out of the eighteen of us who joined, you came in last.”

“Brother Lu, you’re a grown-up, right? Grown-ups keep their word and don’t go back on deals, right?”

“…Right.” Lu Jianshen forced a sheepish, bitter smile.

The next moment, he looked as if he were marching to his doom and said solemnly, “Alright, a bet’s a bet. I lost, fair and square.”

With that, he shut his eyes and slumped down onto a large rock nearby, fully surrendering to his fate.

“Come on, let’s not crowd. One at a time.”

“Sister Pear, you go first. Let’s learn how to draw a little turtle.”

“Okay.”

Song Li responded softly, then picked up a bright red watercolor marker. She stood in front of Lu Jianshen, studying his face as she pondered where to begin.

“Mama Lu, is it okay?” she asked, turning to look at Lu Qingqiang.

“Of course it is. My second brother said it himself—he lost the bet and has to accept the consequences!”

“But when you draw, you have to take it seriously. Don’t make my second brother look ugly,” Lu Qingqiang said with a smile.

“Okay.” Song Li nodded and began to draw.

She started just above Lu Jianshen’s left eyebrow.

As she continued, the turtle’s tail ended up right at the corner of his eye.

And since she was using a bright red marker, the turtle she drew stood out vividly and had a very unique flair.

Madam Lu couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

She handed the bunny leash in her hand to Lu Shenlin, then pulled out her phone and began snapping photos of Lu Jianshen’s face.

“I’m done,” Song Li announced.

“Sister Pear, you’re amazing! That drawing is so good!”

“Sister Pear, how did you know what a turtle looks like?”

“I saw it in a book.”

“Oh, oh! Sister Pear, are turtles ever green? I want to draw a green one!”

“No! You’re not allowed to draw a green one!” Lu Jianshen’s eyes shot open as he spoke.

He could tolerate them drawing turtles on his face, but a green turtle? That was a step too far.

╭(╯^╰)╮

“Why not? Green is so pretty!”

“Doesn’t matter. If you insist on drawing a green one, you can kiss your reward sneakers goodbye.”

“Alright then, I’ll draw a blue one,” Su Chao said, a little disappointed.

By the time the top three winners had finished drawing on Lu Jianshen’s forehead, left cheek, and chin, Madam Lu’s phone was already filled with over a hundred close-up shots of his face.

Lu Qingqiang took the opportunity to speak up. “Alright, that’s it for today’s race.”

“Let’s go check out the bamboo house, take a short break, and then it’s time to get to work~”

“Okay, okay.”

“Brother Lu, let’s have another race next time!”

“No need to wait for next time. When we start planting trees later, we can compete again!” Lu Jianshen said, unwilling to admit defeat.

He had lost to a bunch of Little Radish Heads in a mountain climbing race.

But he refused to believe he’d lose at planting trees too.

Just recently, he had learned how to grow vegetables by following Lu Qingqiang around.

Surely, planting trees wasn’t all that different from planting vegetables, right?

“Yay, yay! Will the top three in the tree-planting contest get prizes too?”

“Brother Lu, will there be a big snack package in the prizes this time?”

“Brother Lu, what’s the punishment for whoever comes in last this time?”

Hearing all the questions, Lu Jianshen thought for a moment before answering.

“Of course there will be prizes. But they’re a surprise.”

“As for the last place… twenty squats.”

“Yay!” The Little Radish Heads were all thrilled.

“Let’s go check out the bamboo house!” Lu Qingqiang said, leading the way.

There were quite a few workers on the mountain, so progress was moving quickly.

As soon as Lu Qingqiang and the others arrived, the lead foreman came over to greet them.

After exchanging a few words with him, Lu Qingqiang let them get back to work.

She then led the group into the bamboo house.

The bamboo house had two stories, and everything inside—from the furnishings to the decorations—was made of bamboo.

Even the windows were bamboo carvings fitted with glass, giving the whole place an elegant and refined look.

There were several rooms, each with bamboo beds and bamboo tables and chairs.

The first floor had a small study where they could later place calligraphy supplies and a guqin.

The living room on the first floor was quite spacious, with a large bamboo tea table.

Once construction was fully complete, Lu Qingqiang planned to set up a tea set there.

Then they could enjoy tea and conversation using the mountain spring water that had been diverted in.

Oh, and she’d add a few rocking chairs too.

When the sun was out, they could move the chairs outside and bask in the sunlight.

Also, they’d need to set up a swing chair and a chess table in the yard.

“Qingqing, this place is really something!”

“Mama Lu, this bamboo house looks so fun!”

“Mama Lu, if we live here, will there be electricity? Will it be dark at night? Will it be scary?” one of the Little Radish Heads asked curiously.

“Once the interior is finished, there will be electricity.”

“And with soft furnishings added, everything we need will be here.”

“We’ll pave the path outside with stone slabs and build a canopy for resting.”

“Qingqing, I think we could put a little fence over there and plant some flowers or vegetables inside. It would give the place a really charming vibe,” Madam Lu said, pointing to a nearby open space.

“Mom, you read my mind. That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“Near the house, we’ll plant some pretty climbing flowers. Once they bloom, it’ll be gorgeous.”

“Next to that, we can grow some greens and mushrooms.”

“Later, when we have free time, we can come here to admire the flowers, drink tea, and have hotpot.”

“Oh, and we should plant some herbs around the bamboo house to keep mosquitoes and bugs away.”

“Once the herbs mature, we can even sell them.”

Listening to Lu Qingqiang paint this picture, Lu Shenlin and Madam Lu were both completely enchanted.

Oh, right—there was a hot spring here too.

According to Qingqing, they’d also be raising various small animals in the mountains and planting all kinds of fruit trees.

Once the fruits ripened and the animals grew up, this place would be lively and full of fun.

It would be the perfect spot for rest and recreation.

Just like the secluded, idyllic life described in TV dramas and novels.

After touring the bamboo house, Lu Qingqiang took everyone to see the hot spring.

The pool was still under construction.

But the natural hot spring already exuded a certain charm.

Once it was fully built, it was sure to be an incredibly relaxing place.

“Qingqing, how about building a few more bamboo houses around the hot spring?”

“This place is great. We should make the most of it.”

“If you’re short on funds, I’ll invest,” Lu Shenlin offered.

“Um… would that really be okay?” Lu Qingqiang asked cautiously.

Since reuniting with the Lu family, she’d already managed to get quite a bit of cash from Lu Shenlin.

If she kept asking for more, she’d start to feel guilty.

“Of course it’s okay. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Your dad and I make money so you kids can spend it.”

“Besides, you’re using it for something worthwhile. What’s wrong with that?”

“Right, Old Lu?” Madam Lu added.

“Mm, your mom’s right,” Lu Shenlin nodded.

“Ah! Mom, why are you secretly taking pictures of me?”

“Taking pictures is one thing, but why did you post them on your Moments? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t I have any dignity left?”

“Delete it right now!”

Freshly washed, Lu Jianshen stormed over, fuming as he held up his phone.

— Translator’s Notes —

– guqin: A traditional Chinese seven-stringed zither, known for its quiet, elegant sound and association with scholars and literati.