Chapter 122: The Rabbit Farm

While Jiang You was exhausting all human and material resources to uncover the truth, Bai Yan had gone with Jiang Chengyan and Jiang’s father to plant lotus roots.

Bai Yan wanted to grow lotus flowers and eat the roots, so Jiang’s father helped by digging a small pond and buying some lotus roots to sink into the mud.

Though it was said they were busy, Bai Yan didn’t actually get to do any of the work. She obediently squatted aside, tending to the wild strawberry blossoms, while the heavy and dirty labor was done by Jiang’s father and Jiang Chengyan.

Madam Zhao looked around the thirty acres of land and couldn’t help but be astonished. After enduring earthquakes and landslides, the nearby fields had all been reclaimed, but it was obvious the crops weren’t thriving—they certainly didn’t compare to the quality of their own land.

But these thirty acres were different; whatever was planted here flourished, growing lush and vibrant. Even the apple trees were about to bloom, not to mention the wild strawberries that carpeted the area.

“Little one, once this lotus pond is finished, we can buy some fish to raise in it. The rice paddies nearby can also be stocked with fish. When the rice flowers bloom, the fish will taste especially delicious,” Madam Zhao suggested to Bai Yan.

Bai Yan nodded eagerly. “That sounds great! I love fish soup.”

“In my opinion, with such a large plot, one ox won’t be enough to manage it all. It would be best to buy two more and keep a few puppies around to guard the place,” Madam Zhao continued after surveying the land.

This time, Bai Yan didn’t nod as enthusiastically as before.

She was still haunted by her fear of dogs.

“Don’t be afraid of dogs; these ones are all trained to catch rabbits. Your orchard is prone to rabbit invasions,” Madam Zhao said gently, noticing Bai Yan crouched small and timid on the ground. She couldn’t resist stroking the little girl’s fluffy hair.

Before Bai Yan could respond, Madam Zhao glanced at her slender frame—so fragile, like a sprout—and something flickered in her eyes.

As the mother and daughter spoke, Jiang’s father and Jiang Chengyan, covered in mud, approached.

“Little one, every great landowner has a name for their estate. Why not give these thirty acres a name too?” Jiang’s father smiled, glancing back at the little pond.

“It’s all so rustic. The Shen family’s big estate is called Shen Manor, as if anyone could forget their name,” Madam Zhao said disdainfully.

Bai Yan pondered and grew curious.

“Our little mushrooms are called rabbit mushrooms,” Bai Yan whispered. “So maybe call it Rabbit Manor.”

“Ha,” Jiang Chengyan suddenly chuckled, his good looks barely hidden beneath the mud.

Bai Yan widened her eyes, staring at him.

“Call it Rabbit Farm instead.” As he spoke, Jiang Chengyan playfully wiped his mud-covered hand across Bai Yan’s face.

A cold, damp sensation spread over her skin. She scrunched her nose and sniffed, immediately detecting the foul stench of mud.

Almost instinctively, she pushed Jiang Chengyan away.

What followed was witnessed by Jiang’s father and Madam Zhao: the burly Jiang Chengyan was shoved headlong into the pond by the little girl.

They stood about ten meters from the pond—such a feat of strength was remarkable.

Their first reaction wasn’t surprise, but to look around to see if anyone else had witnessed the scene.

Finding no one, the two of them hurried Bai Yan home, asking no questions about her incredible strength.

“Mother, I was wrong,” Bai Yan said belatedly, still with the stinky mud smeared across her face. The smell was unbearable, and had Jiang Chengyan not deliberately wiped the mud on her, she wouldn’t have reacted by pushing him so forcefully.

“What’s wrong about it? He was the one who dared to touch you!” Madam Zhao retorted firmly.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chengyan, lying in the muddy pond thanks to his wife’s shove, could only remain silent.