Julie parked the carriage in the backyard.
She first fed Little Black some hay, then put the chickens into the chicken coop, watered the vegetable garden and the grapevines, and finally returned to her room.
Bailee, Haven, and Lorrie got busy again.
Haven and Lorrie worked on making thick winter clothes, while Bailee busied himself in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Mr. Leng wanted to help, but his handicraft skills were too terrible.
Even Lorrie disliked his work, making Mr. Leng feel wronged, though he didn't say anything. Everyone had their strengths and weaknesses.
Lorrie secretly felt proud. Before Mr. Leng arrived, he was the worst at needlework among the three brothers. Haven's sewing was the best, Bailee came second, and Lorrie was always last.
Now that Mr. Leng was here, he wasn't last anymore, and his confidence grew.
When Bailee finished cooking, Lorrie ran to Julie's door and knocked. "Wife, wife, it's time to eat! Come out quickly!"
Julie sighed inwardly. This kid finally stopped being awkward and willingly called her "wife," but his voice was just too loud.
"I know. Coming," Julie said, putting down her crossed legs and walking out.
Lorrie eagerly showed off the pink hairpin he wore, hoping Julie would notice.
Julie noticed it but didn't understand what he meant.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Lorrie blushed and looked shy, "Do I look good?"
Julie thought he looked more cute than handsome.
"Let's eat first. I'm hungry," Julie said without hurting his feelings.
Lorrie pouted but didn't say anything more and followed her.
Julie sat down and noticed the familiar chicken dish. The chicken looked very fat, probably thanks to some good feeding.
Even though it hadn't laid many eggs, the flavor was amazing.
She took a piece of chicken meat—it was juicy and tender.
After eating a full bowl of rice and a bowl of soup, she finally put down her chopsticks.
When she got up to return to her room, Lorrie anxiously stopped her, no longer caring about being shy.
"Wife... will you come tonight?" he asked, his face and ears bright red.
Julie froze for a moment.
She hadn't planned to.
First, he was still young. If something happened, like pregnancy, it would be difficult for his young body to handle it. She didn't have any contraceptives, and she knew medicines could be harmful.
Second, she felt that Lorrie wasn't mentally mature enough to be a father. He was still like a child himself.
She could solve other issues later by buying helpers or hiring tutors, but she couldn't picture him raising a child yet.
"You're still too young. Maybe when you're older," Julie said calmly.
"I'm not young!" Lorrie protested, feeling hurt.
He had been working so hard to improve.
Why couldn't she see that?
Tears welled up in his eyes, but he stubbornly looked straight at her.
Julie sighed in her heart.
"When you turn sixteen, we can talk about it," she said.
Lorrie secretly thought hard—when was his birthday again?
It had been so long since he celebrated, he almost forgot.
Lorrie was crying, then suddenly stopped.
He wiped his tears with his sleeve. His eyes were a little bright, full of spirit. "Wife-lord, you said I can when I'm sixteen… My birthday is in two months."
Julie didn't react right away.
Why did his emotions change so quickly?
Wasn't he just crying?
But since she had already said it, she couldn't go back on her word.
"Yes." What's wrong?
Lorrie laughed, "Hehe, Wife-lord, I'll be sixteen in just two months. If you don't believe me, ask Bailee or Haven." For the first time, he felt his birthday came at the perfect time.
He spoke proudly.
Bailee and Haven were stunned for a moment. Then, thinking back, they realized he was right.
They helplessly looked at Julie and nodded.
Julie rubbed her forehead, "..."
Lorrie saw Julie stay silent and pouted, "Wife-lord, are you trying to take back your words?" Don't be like that.
Julie didn't expect things to go this way.
But what's said is said. There's no taking it back now.
She couldn't slap her own face by going back on her word.
"Alright. Go rest early. I'm going back to my room." Then she turned and left.
Lorrie happily ate two bowls of rice and drank a bowl of soup.
He had to eat more—he was still growing.
He hoped he could grow taller than Julie. Otherwise, she'd always treat him like a child.
Julie returned to her room, sat cross-legged, and began practicing.
Bailee and Haven were thinking about winter clothes.
After dinner and washing the dishes, they sorted the things they bought and then lit a lamp and sat in the main room to sew clothes.
Bailee and Haven agreed to each make a piece of clothing for Julie first. Once hers were done, they'd start on their own.
Lorrie, meanwhile, went to the chicken coop to "bond" with the chickens.
He spoke to them like this: "Little chicks, don't be scared. Let me tell you, today we cooked a hen that didn't lay many eggs. It was so tasty—tender and fragrant. But don't worry, you're still small. You need to grow a few more months before laying eggs. So grow up fast. And the five of you new ones, hurry and adjust, lay eggs quickly. If you're lazy, you'll end up in the pot like that hen today." As he spoke, he gently patted the chicks' heads.
The chickens in the coop: "...…" Shivering
The next morning
Bailee was already in the kitchen early, preparing breakfast.
Haven and Lorrie were also busy making clothes.
Even though the weather still seemed warm, this season was known for sudden changes.
Sometimes it'd be sunny in the morning and rainy in the afternoon.
The temperature could change quickly.
Julie woke up naturally and didn't wait for them to call her. She opened the door and walked out.
Seeing them working on clothes, she didn't say anything. She quietly walked into the yard.
First, she went to the chicken coop. The new chickens hadn't laid eggs yet—not surprising.
The chicken seller had said they needed time to get used to the new place.
Once they settled in, their mood would improve, and they'd lay eggs.
The chickens: "..." Not feeling great.
Julie then checked the vegetable garden. The sprouts had already started growing. Some fast-growing ones, like cabbage, could be harvested next month.
She watered them lightly.
Then she went to look at her grapevine.
She thought, next year around this time, there should be grapes to eat.
She fed some hay to Little Black.
Little Black only let her touch him, but he was friendly with all four of them.
He didn't act like the horse seller had said—kicking people or having a bad temper.
The three brothers sometimes gave him hay and talked to him.
Of course, Lorrie did it the most.
After Mr. Leng came, he mainly took care of the horse. He had experience and was very patient.
Every few days, Mr. Leng would bathe the horse on a warm afternoon and trim his hair.
The horse never kicked and was very well-behaved.