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Chapter 198: Chapter 198 Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng’s Short Stay
Two bright smiling faces greeted Zhan Lan.
"Sister!"
"Mengmeng sister!"
Zhan Lan was surprised, swiftly retracting the dagger in her hand. How did these two little ones, Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng, sneak onto her carriage?
"You two are naughty again, sneaking out like this, soon...," Zhan Lan hesitated, "Your mother must be worried!"
Zhan Heng and Zhan Rui, dressed in puffy floral cotton-padded jackets, had cheeks rosy red, resembling New Year painting dolls.
Each of them stood beside her and hugged Zhan Lan’s arms.
Zhan Rui, in a cooing, spoiled voice said: "Mengmeng sister, since you moved out, we haven’t seen you for so long, we missed you so much!"
Zhan Lan touched Zhan Rui’s little head, her eyes growing moist, she thought to herself: Rui’er, your sister has avenged you!
Zhan Lan then touched her smooth and tender cheeks, like freshly peeled eggs, and said with a smile: "I missed you too."
Zhan Heng eagerly asked, "Sister, how is Little Black doing?"
Zhan Lan gently pinched Zhan Heng’s nose and said, "Very well, he has grown a bit more."
While the three were talking, a tumultuous noise suddenly came from the entrance.
Zhan Heng and Zhan Rui secretly looked outside, then quickly withdrew their heads back in, "Sister, mom is here!"
Zhan Lan lifted the curtain to see Qin Shuang at the entrance, looking anxious.
"Madam, we are here." Zhan Lan jumped down from the carriage.
Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng pouted, exchanged glances. Mengmeng had betrayed them.
As Qin Shuang walked closer, she saw the two children hiding on the carriage, not wanting to come down.
She smiled helplessly and then asked with a stern face, "What are you two up to?"
Zhan Rui, mustering courage with puffed cheeks and hands on hips, said: "Mother, we want to go play at Mengmeng’s house."
Zhan Heng also puffed up his little belly, trying to look manly, and patted his chest, "Mother, we want to stay at Mengmeng’s house for a few days!"
Qin Shuang glanced at the two children, then turned to Zhan Lan, "Lan, you’ve lost some weight recently. Hearing you were coming to the mansion, I made some Eight Treasures Cake and stewed meat from this morning. Take some back to try."
Zhan Lan saw the nanny behind Qin Shuang smiling and coming over with a food box.
Zhan Lan took the food box and smelled the fragrance of the meat.
"Thank you, Madam." Her eyes complex, the person in front stood before her, the woman who gave birth to her, her own mother.
Though she could only address her as Madam when face to face.
Qin Shuang touched Zhan Lan’s cold hands, "Dear, your hands are too cold. Nanny Li, bring over my hand warmer."
Zhan Lan set down the food box, and a hand warmer appeared in her hands.
The warmth spread through Zhan Lan’s palms, she looked at her mother and said, "I am also free these days, maybe let Rui’er and Heng’er stay at my residence for a few days."
Qin Shuang didn’t respond, but looked towards the carriage where the two little heads were secretly looking up at her, their eyes full of anticipation.
"Mother, please, I will give up all my New Year’s money for this year!"
"Me too, me too!"
Qin Shuang shook her head gently, and said tenderly, "Alright, but you must listen to Lan’s words, understood?"
The two children excitedly jumped up in the carriage, the Coachman immediately tightened the reins, fearing that these two little ancestors might get hurt.
Qin Shuang looked to Zhan Lan, "Then I’ll trouble you for a few days. I heard that in a few days, you are going to Heifeng Pass, and who knows how long it will be before you can return."
Zhan Lan smiled faintly, responding meaningfully: "There will always be a day to reunite."
Qin Shuang patted Zhan Lan’s arm, "Hold on a moment, I’ll get some clothes for the two mischievous bundles."
Zhan Lan grabbed Qin Shuang’s hand, "I now have a salary every month, it’s just right to take my brother and sister to buy some clothes."
"Wow wow wow!"
"Yay!"
The two little ones in the carriage shook their heads excitedly and clapped their hands in approval.
Qin Shuang knew that Zhan Lan had always been frugal, but times were different now, she had set up her own household, things had changed.
"Alright, make sure you come back to visit when you have time," Qin Shuang advised.
"Mhm." Although Zhan Lan was standing in the cold wind talking to Qin Shuang, she didn’t feel cold at all.
Because her mother respected her, did not think of her as poor, and did not reject her intentions.
Zhan Lan’s carriage gradually pulled away, and she watched Qin Shuang see them off until they were out of sight before leaving.
Zhan Lan took her brother and sister to buy new clothes, candies, preserved fruits, and even bumped into Chu Yin while buying candied haws.
Chu Yin, hands on hips, looked at Zhan Lan, "You haven’t visited me lately, you’re treating for the candied haws!"
Zhan Lan: "..."
"Chu Yin!"
Two little heads poked out from Zhan Lan’s carriage.
"Oh my, you two little ones, how did you leave the mansion?" Chu Yin, holding her candied haws, ran up to them and gave each of them one.
Zhan Rui said with a proud face, "We are going to stay at Mengmeng’s house for a few days!"
"That’s wonderful!" Chu Yin pinched Zhan Rui’s chubby cheeks.
After Zhan Lan paid the Copper Coin, she looked at Chu Yin, "Come on, let’s go to my residence!"
"Okay!" Chu Yin squeezed herself into Zhan Lan’s carriage and motioned for her own carriage to follow.
Zhan Lan watched Chu Yin playing happily with Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng on the way, thinking that when Chu Yin married into the Zhan Family, the two little meatballs would have to start calling her sister-in-law.
Thinking of this, Zhan Lan’s lips twitched; her best friend becoming her sister-in-law, she would have to call Chu Yin sister-in-law in the future.
But the sister-in-law was still competing with the kids for snacks, really now!
Zhan Lan fell into deep doubt.
Chu Yin and the two little ones arrived at Zhan Lan’s residence, and the courtyard instantly became lively.
Little Black, hearing their voices, wagged its tail and woofed as it sprinted out of the house.
"Little Black!" Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng scrambled with their little short legs to meet Little Black.
Little Black joyously rolled several times on the ground.
Nanny Li opened the door and saw Zhan Rui and Zhan Heng; she did not like noisy children.
But, these children were, after all, the legitimate young master and young lady of the General Mansion, and she couldn’t really say anything.
When she saw Chu Yin, her face instantly turned cold; this girl had always been defiant since she was young, not understanding any manners at all.
Nanny Li closed the door, feeling annoyed, and sat in front of the Buddha statue, beginning to chant and meditate.
Chu Yin looked around and said, "Zhan Lan, I never noticed before, but your mansion is really tasteful, and this area is prime real estate! You really struck gold. If I had known you were this wealthy, I wouldn’t have let you treat for candied haws, we should’ve gone to Baoxiang House for a meal!"
Walking alongside her, Zhan Lan said, "No problem, go and have a look, someone is waiting for you in the guest room!"
Chu Yin curiously asked, "Who? Not your quirky mother, I hope—I really don’t want to see her!"
Watching Chu Yin pout, Zhan Lan mysteriously said, "You’ll know when you go in."
Chu Yin gave Zhan Lan a suspicious look and walked into the house.
