vstars Chapter 97: We need to find something for 4 to do.
Chapter 97: We need to find something for 4 to do.
Since the fourteenth prince had been coming to visit more often, Yinzhuo felt that it wasn't sustainable to always rely on telling him stories to appease him. This guy had just too much energy, and he needed to find something for him to do. So, he specially took some time to go to the cat and dog room and carefully selected a Mongolian mastiff that was about three months old.
"Dexi, after your Fourteenth Master arrives today, arrange for someone to help him get acquainted with this dog. From now on, the job of walking the dog will be handed over to him. Arrange for someone to accompany him. As long as nothing unexpected happens, you don't need to worry about him. Let the dog walk him however he wants."
So when Fourteen entered Shuyizhai as usual, this time he was greeted not by his sixth brother in the pavilion, but by a cute little dumpling.
"Fourteenth Master, you've finally arrived. This is Tianlang. Our master brought him back from the cat and dog room this morning. He instructed me to show you around after you arrive, and from now on, the task of walking the dog will be yours when you come in the afternoon."
Fourteenth Brother naturally wouldn't refuse this task. After all, he had always coveted his fourth brother's dog, Laifu. Several times he had tried to sneak the dog back to Yonghe Palace while his fourth brother was away, but his fourth brother had always been very vigilant against him, and he had never succeeded. He never expected that this happiness would come so suddenly, and his wish would actually come true with Sixth Brother.
Since the arrival of Tianlang, Yinzhuo has finally been freed. At fourteen, he is now six or seven years old and full of energy. Tianlang, a three-month-old puppy, is also lively and active. The two of them run around the garden all afternoon. When they come back, one of them is so tired that he falls asleep as soon as he gets back to Chunfeng Hall, while the other is so tired that he lies in his kennel and can't be woken up.
With no need to look after the children, Yinzhuo naturally had more free time. At first, when he had just gotten rid of the fourteenth prince's entanglement, Yinzhuo slept in for a few days. But after sleeping in so much, he naturally couldn't sleep anymore. After a few days of doing nothing, Yinzhuo decided to find something to do.
"Dexi, go get the fishing rod. Let's sit by the lake. If we catch any fish today, we'll have the kitchen cook them for lunch. We'll treat him when he comes on the 14th this afternoon; he's been behaving well these past few days."
Yinzhuo's current residence, Shuyizhai, is right next to the lake. Dexi looked at the bright sun outside and simply moved the fishing rods, buckets, and other equipment directly into the pavilion. After everything was tidied up, he went inside to invite Yinzhuo out.
What's the first step in fishing? Yinzhu recalled a video he'd seen on Douyin back in the day, which seemed to indicate that you had to bait the area first. Yinzhu thought that was easy. Although he didn't know how to bait the area, he knew how to feed the fish. So he simply took the bag of bait from Dexi and started scattering it into the lake. Dexi was completely dumbfounded.
"Oh dear, Master, that's no way to fish! All that bait you've thrown in could buy you several fish..."
Yinzhu ignored Dexi's nagging and continued working without stopping. In no time, the bag in his hand was empty. Looking at the empty bag, Yinzhu nodded in satisfaction, threw the bag on the ground, picked up the fishing rod next to him, skillfully baited the hook, cast the line, and then plopped down on the chair next to him. He picked up a handkerchief to wipe his hands, picked up the teacup on the table, and waited for the fish to bite.
Dexi sighed helplessly as he watched his master's smooth movements. Just a few days ago, he was saying that the Fourteenth Prince was catching fish in the lake. Was there any difference between the way you just threw the bait and how the Fourteenth Prince fed the fish before? It was exactly the same!
There's a saying: "One rod, one line, one hook; one fishing session lasts half the night." Although Yinzhu didn't fish for half the night, he sat there for over an hour without a single fish biting the hook. At first, he was quite calm, but as time went on, he couldn't help but start to doubt his life.
"What's going on? All that bait I threw in has gone down the drain. Dexi, we've been sitting here for about an hour now, and not a single fish has taken a bite."
Dexi glanced at the fishing rod, which remained motionless in the lake, and then at his master, who was gradually becoming agitated. He was puzzled. Yes, with so much bait poured in, it should have attracted quite a few fish, so why hadn't he caught a single one after waiting for so long? Could it be that the bait had satiated all the fish?
"Master, perhaps this place isn't suitable. How about we move it outside the pavilion?"
By this time, Yinzhuo's patience had run out. He glanced at the bright sun outside and suddenly realized that this fish wasn't necessarily something he had to eat.
"Forget it, it's probably too hot outside today, and the fish have gone to find a cool place. Let's not go fishing. Think of something else you can do to pass the time."
Hey, didn't you just tell the Fourteenth Prince that success requires wisdom and perseverance? So why are you giving up so easily now? How am I supposed to know what you're planning to do?
"My lord, how about I have someone bring you the archery target? You haven't played with one for a while."
Yinzhuo had absolutely no interest in Dexi's suggestion. Why shoot arrows in this sweltering heat? He'd rather go fishing.
Dexi had served his master for so many years, so he was very familiar with all his reactions. Seeing that he didn't say anything, he knew that the master was not satisfied with this matter.
"How about pitch-pot? You don't need to get up or move around; you can play while sitting down."
Yinzhuo had grown tired of the game of pitch-pot these past few days, and upon hearing this, he still did not answer. Dexi had no choice but to continue thinking.
"Then why don't I go and bring Tianlang over so he can play with you for a while?"
Upon hearing this, Yinzhuo paused his light tapping of the table. Dexi immediately understood that his master was quite interested in this, so he quickly called the servants beside him to bring Tianlang over.
Although Fourteenth Prince spent more time with Tianlang these past few days, Tianlang slept in Shuyizhai every night. After all, it was Yinzhuo who brought it back, so Tianlang recognized its master, Yinzhuo. As soon as it was unchained, it ran towards Yinzhuo.
"Oh, it seems you have a better conscience than that guy Fourteen. Ever since he got you as a playmate, he's completely forgotten about his older brother. You're not bad, though. You play with Fourteen every day and still remember that I'm your master."
Yinzhu bent down and patted Tianlang's head, then picked it up from the ground. The Mongolian mastiff, which was only three months old, was already quite big and heavy. Yinzhu felt his arms getting sore after holding it for a while.
"Dexi, go and get the ball that was sent from the cat and dog room before. I'll play with Tianlang for a while."
Look at what you're saying. Just now you said you'd let Tianlang come over and play with you for a while? And now it's already you playing with him? Fine, whatever. Anyway, it doesn't matter who plays with whom, as long as the master is happy, that's all that matters.