"Uncle Qin, you're out of danger now, don't be afraid. Drink this calming soup quickly..." little Xi Tian said with a sweet smile, comforting him.
Prefect Qin drank a bowl of calming soup, his expression still unsettled as he lay on the kang. He mumbled a few words and finally fell asleep.
News of the python appearing in the back garden quickly spread throughout Dashui Village.
Some said that a snake appearing at home was a bad omen, and it was best to find a group of monks to help...
Others said that snakes catch mice and can also ward off evil spirits, which is a good omen.
Old Man Yun found these rumors amusing.
It was just a long snake, why all the fuss?
"Is Prefect Qin alright?"
The next morning, Old Man Yun pulled Er Man over and asked in a low voice...
Yun Er Man sighed, "Dad, don't mention it. Prefect Qin was almost swallowed by the python last night. If Uncle Jin hadn't intervened, our family would have been implicated in a manslaughter case..."
Thinking of the thrilling scene last night, Yun Er Man shivered, goosebumps rising all over his body.
Yun Er Man took a puff from his pipe and glanced towards the guest room, "He's a dignified prefect, after all. He doesn't visit a few times a year. Now that he's staying at our house and almost became food for a snake, you should ask Cai Xia to make some noodles and a few poached eggs for Prefect Qin to recuperate..."
"Okay, got it, Dad!~"
Gu Shi and the other women were busy with breakfast in the front yard. When they heard that a snake had appeared at home, no one dared to go to the back garden to watch the excitement...
In the back garden.
"Wow, good heavens, this snake must be over two hundred pounds, thick and fat. If we stew it, it'll be great with wine!~" Guan Zhongbo walked around the python with his hands behind his back, his mouth watering.
He hadn't stayed at home last night, so he didn't see Jin Xiu Han fighting the python...
But he couldn't let go of the deliciousness in front of him. Snake meat has the effect of prolonging life and replenishing qi and blood. It can be stewed, stir-fried, or roasted.
No matter how it's cooked, this is a superb delicacy...
Little Xi Tian scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Uncle Guan, why do you only think about eating? Let's find a place to bury the snake!~"
She felt uncomfortable seeing such a terrifying thing...
But if she closed her eyes and ate it, little Xi Tian was quite capable of enjoying it.
Guan Zhongbo kicked the headless python lying on the ground, "Sweetie, let me tell you, if this thing isn't eaten quickly, it'll go bad by nightfall. This is something you can't buy with money...~"
Bury it?
What a joke.
After speaking, Guan Zhongbo called out to Jin Xiu Han and other men, and they carried the python outside the main gate to skin and butcher it...
"Look, this is the big snake that ran into Old Yun's house last night. It's too big. It could swallow my old sow in one bite..."
"I heard that snakes come in nests. Maybe there are other snakes hidden somewhere else at Old Yun's house!"
"Don't talk nonsense, hurry up and help! Even if Old Yun's house is full of snakes, we can't just stand by and watch!"
"......"
So, with the help of the villagers, the python was quickly skinned, and the meat was chopped into pieces and taken to the kitchen.
Niu Cai Xia decided to use the snake meat to improve the family's meals at noon...
"Little village child!~" Xiao Jin Heng stood outside the kitchen, looking inside.
Little Xi Tian heard the movement and ran out, "Stinky boy, what's up?"
She had been busy all morning.
Xiao Jin Heng looked at her carefully and asked softly, "Are you injured?"
In a few days, he would have to write a letter to his father, asking him to send more imperial guards to protect the little village child's safety...
"I'm fine!" Little Xi Tian's eyes curved into crescents, and she took out a large mango from her small satchel, stuffing it into Xiao Jin Heng's hand, "Here, this is for you. After you eat it, accompany me to the county town!~"
Today, she had to go to the county town to instruct the craftsmen to make Mahjong and also visit Yun Gui Fang...
Xiao Jin Heng held the heavy mango and smiled faintly, "I think I've eaten this fruit before!~"
Even if he had, it was given to him by the little village child.
Such bright yellow, sweet, and delicious fruit couldn't be found in Da Liang Kingdom...
Little Xi Tian smiled sweetly, "Then, stinky boy, eat more. I'm going to change clothes!~"
After breakfast, the two little buns got into the carriage and headed towards the county town.
The bamboo delivered by the Minister of Works, Gu Baoquan, to the Crown Prince was of excellent quality, each piece being top-grade bamboo.
Not only could it be used to make furniture, doors, windows, and beds, but it was also perfect for making Mahjong...
In the backyard of the general store, workers were busy carrying bamboo from the carriage and stacking it neatly under the eaves.
The shopkeeper was overjoyed, "Oh my, Miss, Young Master, with this, we'll have all the Mahjong made in less than two months...~"
He really didn't know the background of these two little children, who casually transported several carts of green bamboo from the south.
Little Xi Tian smiled and instructed, "Shopkeeper, it will be hard work for you from now on!~"
"Not hard work, not hard work!" The shopkeeper rubbed his hands with joy.
Who would be afraid of hard work when there's money to be made?
This little girl ordered so much Mahjong at once, the labor cost alone would be equivalent to his annual income...
Leaving the general store, the two little buns strolled around the street again.
"So, little village child, do you want to open a gambling house?" Xiao Jin Heng suddenly asked.
Little Xi Tian paused, "What gambling house? I call this a Mahjong parlor, and it's very legitimate...~"
Later, she would also add poker and other games to the Mahjong parlor, making her 'Entertainment Shop' more diverse and richer.
"Since it's a Mahjong parlor, does little Xi Tian plan to open it on the main street?" Xiao Jin Heng retorted.
Little Xi Tian: "......"
What exactly did the stinky boy want to say?
Xiao Jin Heng stepped forward, took little Xi Tian's chubby hand, and said, "Follow me!~"
Little Xi Tian: "???"
A completely bewildered Xi Tian was led away by Xiao Jin Heng.
Turning down a long street, a two-story building suddenly appeared. The facade was meticulously repaired, clean and new. The exquisite small building seemed to have been rebuilt, standing out from the other residential houses...
Xiao Jin Heng pursed his lips into a smile, took out a key from his embrace, and handed it to little Xi Tian, "From now on, little village child can open your Mahjong parlor here!~"
Little Xi Tian: "???"