Little Taotie lay on a Rococo-designed sofa, resembling a giant pastel shell, swinging her little feet as she ate cherries from a bowl, watching a play and giggling with "hee hee hee" laughter from time to time.
Attracted by the laughter, Ling Long came over and stealthily took a cherry from Little Taotie’s bowl, tossing it into her mouth and instantly furrowing her brows, her face contorting with sourness.
"They’re so sour, how can you eat so many without even blinking?"
Little Taotie glanced at her, a slick smile creeping onto her face, one dimple deepening, the other just a hint, exuding a sense of playfulness and slight wilfulness, "Mine aren’t sour, they’re super sweet! It’s only yours that are sour, they changed when I touched them."
Ling Long,"...You! I give up, I won’t ever eat from your bowl again!"
Little Taotie covered her mouth, trying to hide her snicker.
Ji Guang walked over, handing Little Taotie a plate of sliced apples, "Knowing she’s protective over her food, you still steal her cherries, you had it coming."
Little Taotie put the cherries aside and hugged the plate of apples, popping a piece into her mouth with an adorable silver bunny-shaped toothpick, her moist eyes brimming with happiness and sweetness. She curved her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering, and her dimple sunk deep, "So sweet!"
"Sugar-hearted, naturally the sweetest," Ji Guang said as he reached for the cherries to take them away.
Little Taotie clung to his tailcoat, "Leave the cherries behind!"
Ji Guang shook his head, "Cherries are heaty, better to eat apples."
Little Taotie pouted, about to protest, but then Ji Guang said, "If you really want cherries, then give me the apples back."
Immediately, Little Taotie let go and clung to the plate of apples, stuffing several pieces into her mouth until her cheeks puffed out, "I’ll eat the apples!"
Ji Guang looked up at the screen and shook his head, "You’ve been watching for several days since getting back, aren’t you tired of it yet?"
While eating her apples, Little Taotie watched the scenes unfold on the screen—Da Lang and his five siblings were now visiting their future daughter-in-law and sister-in-law.
"I want to see if they can live to a ripe old age."
Ji Guang narrowed his eyes, "They’re quite smart, knowing how to hide their edges. As long as nothing unexpected happens, they should meet a good end."
Ling Long reached out to steal an apple slice, but Little Taotie dodged, glaring milkily at her. Ling Long sheepishly said, "It looks pretty sour, I wanted to help you taste it~"
"Hmph!" Little Taotie hid her plate on the other side, away from Ling Long.
Ling Long shrugged indifferently, then looked up at the screen, "It’s rare for you to make good friends in ancient times, I hope they have a long life, considering they were supposed to have died."
Little Taotie grunted fiercely, "There’s no supposed to die or not! I don’t believe that fate cannot be changed! As long as one has a strong will, even the heavens can be reasoned with!"
Ling Long and Ji Guang exchanged glances, Ling Long chuckled softly, "It seems you really like those six."
Little Taotie nodded her head, continuing to watch the screen, no longer paying attention to her.
In the scene, the six of them arrived at a homestead with gray brick and tile houses, surrounded by a fenced hedge. In the courtyard, a young girl in gray homespun was making "ooh ooh ooh" sounds as she scattered bran, feeding the chickens.
The midday sun blazed overhead, and soon enough, she was drenched in sweat. Her younger sister, very understanding for her age, tottered over with a Bamboo Cup, spilling quite some water along the way, in a milky voice, "Big sister, take a break, don’t get too tired."
The woman wiped the sweat off her forehead with a kerchief, took the water from her little sister, and laughed heartily, "Thank you, Little Sister!" She tilted her head back and downed the water until the cup was empty.
She handed the Bamboo Cup back to her little sister, patted her head, "Go play, but remember not to go near the river, got it?"
The little girl obediently nodded, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the hen, "Big sister, has it laid eggs?"
The old hen, frightened by the girl’s intense gaze, fled with her wings tucked close.
The woman laughed heartily, "You little glutton! You shouldn’t always scare it; too much fright, and it won’t lay eggs."
The little girl’s eyes widened in shock, "It won’t lay eggs if it’s scared?"
The woman nodded, "Yes, it won’t lay eggs if it’s startled or the eggs it lays will be small and ugly."
The little girl covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with innocence, "Then I’ll talk behind its back from now on."
The woman couldn’t help but laugh, nodding along, watching as her little sister ran off. She resumed her chores, like hauling water to irrigate the plants, then laundering clothes, without a moment’s pause.
The six siblings watching in secret exchanged looks, Second Son lowered his voice, "She seems very diligent."
Third Son nodded, "Not just seems diligent, she is extremely diligent."
Fourth Sister muttered softly, "She looks pretty good, but what if our eldest brother calls off the engagement? Would she still be able to marry off?"
Little Six expressed his worry, "Big brother, don’t ruin her life."
Da Lang furrowed his brows, hesitantly glanced at the girl in the courtyard, his ears tinted red, and whispered, "Maybe... it’s better not to break off the engagement."