Chapter 349: Two Sheep

Chapter 349

Zheng Ruqian cried with snot dripping from his nose and tears rolling down his cheeks. He wished he could kneel down to the heavens and beg for his big brother's life back.

The person lying in bed slowly opened his eyes, revealing some helplessness at being woken up. In order to keep secrets to the greatest extent, he often stayed up late reading and took naps at noon. He hadn't slept enough to be drowsy yet when he heard the loud wailing.

"Younger brother," Xu Mo pretended for a while until his weakness was cooked to perfection. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

That was the truth.

But to Zheng Er's ears, it sounded like, "Big brother is beyond saving but is still comforting me. I'm losing such a good big brother, I feel so heartbroken and sad."

When Jiang Sheng rushed in with two of the brothers, they saw Zheng Ruqian throwing himself on the bed, crying until the cotton quilt was soaked.

Xu Mo sat up weakly in bed and fished out a handkerchief from his clothes, handing it over.

"Thanks," Zheng Ruqian took it without lifting his head, continuing to sob.

Jiang Sheng and Fourth and Fifth Brother covered their faces at the same time, unable to watch.

"Younger brother," Xu Mo sighed lightly. "I didn't expect that the love between us brothers would run so deep that I would get to see you shed so many tears for me one day. It really lives up to brotherhood."

"Big brother, if you're gone, then won't I become the eldest brother?" Zheng Ruqian said between sobs. "That would be so bad."

The person on the bed pursed his lips and chuckled lightly.

The ones at the door could no longer hold back their delight.

Zheng Er finally realized something was off. He raised his head and saw the spirited Xu Mo. He looked back at the younger siblings covering their mouths as they laughed. Even someone as dull-witted as him finally wisened up. "You... you were pretending to be sick?"

"Isn't that going too far? How could anyone pretend to be sick? Whose idea was this? It must have been Little Five. You have the darkest heart."

The long-awaited one this time was truly innocent. He spread his hands, not saying a word.

"It was me," Xu Mo readily admitted. "Rather than stand there as a target, why not lie down and hide."

It was still the same old saying, there are thieves who steal for a thousand days, but no guards who defend for a thousand days.

Always being anxious would be quite tiring.

"But... but there are loud rumors outside saying that you are seriously ill, that you fell into an icy pond. What exactly happened?" Zheng Ruqian asked with sniffles.

The illness may have been pretend, but falling into the icy pond could not have been pretend.

This time Xu Mo didn't say anything, a trace of guilt on his face.

"It was me," Jiang San said as he wiped his snot. "I jumped in wearing Big Brother's clothes.

But what child didn't like new year's, and new clothes and shoes, and merrily setting off firecrackers?

They forcefully endured it for Xu Mo's sake, for the exam's sake, for that familial affection.

Xu Mo's nose turned slightly sour. It was like when he was recovering from his broken leg and he needed his younger siblings to earn money to attend school. He felt ashamed inside yet had no choice but to accept.

Because Little Five was right, seeking shelter from a copyist was no match for an official's shelter.

A new year without firecrackers could be exchanged for years of sparklers in the future.

"In the future, Big Brother will set off fireworks for you every year," Xu Mo said sincerely. "Every year."

This time, Jiang Sheng believed him.

"Not just fireworks, there has to be meat too," she raised her hand. "Lamb, beef, all sorts of delicious meat."

The brothers all laughed loudly. The heaviness in the room was swept away in a flash. Places with little sisters were always so cheerful.

Zheng Ruqian also laughed. As his laughter gradually faded, he felt something was off.

"Meee... meee..."

What was that sound?

Everyone's smiles slowly disappeared as they held their breath and listened. The mewing sounds grew increasingly shrill until they were piercing.

Zheng Ruqian jumped up from the bedside. "Oh no, the sheep!"

He had forgotten.

He still had the sheep with him.

Speaking of which, the sheep from the border regions gave birth to lambs in April. By the time Zheng Ruqian went to acquire a manor for raising sheep, it was already October. The lambs had all grown fat and strong, each able to eat two large armfuls of fresh grass every day.

The one in charge, Jiang Yi, was extremely exasperated. He decided to vicious cut twice as much grass to feed these sheep, in hopes they would overeat and die so he could finally be free of them and skin them for meat.

But unexpectedly, the sheep from the grasslands really could eat. Their bellies swelled round. The next day they shat piles of pellets before running off again.

Jiang Yi still could only bitterly continue cutting grass.

When Zheng Ruqian finally arrived, Jiang Yi wished he could prostrate on the ground bawling. "Second Young Master, hurry and take away these sheep that can eat and poop. I never want to see them again. The entire Fifth Squad wants nothing more to do with them."

It wasn't that they disliked the sheep itself, just that they disliked sheep they could see but not eat.

Fang Henglue was slightly embarrassed. He touched his nose without showing his face.

In the end, it was up to Zheng Ruqian to cruelly take out the potted braised beef from his waist and treat Jiang Yi to a meal before he finally calmed down.