Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Living Together
Shen Baoying would praise them from the side, "You’re doing so well!"
Once praised, the two freeloading Snow Monkeys, as if they’d discovered the secret to survival, would grab their little rakes and start digging with all their might.
This thrilled Shen Baoying, who couldn’t stop exclaiming how smart the two Snow Monkeys were.
To reward them, Shen Baoying even gave them two cookies.
Shen Baoying’s cookies were so good that even Jiang Si would usually have a couple extra.
Tasting something so delicious for the first time in their lives, the Snow Monkeys shrieked with excitement and even started clapping, looking utterly comical.
Shen Baoying reached out and patted their heads, and they didn’t resist at all. This shocked Shen Baoying, her eyes widening. ’Taming Snow Monkeys is actually this easy?’
Once the Snow Monkeys were no longer afraid of Shen Baoying, they couldn’t stop thinking about the cookies in her box.
However, Qin Shen’s presence constantly suppressed their restless urge to snatch the treats, so they channeled that energy into competing with each other to imitate Shen Baoying’s work.
Shen Baoying handed them fertilizer and had them spread it on the radish seedlings.
They tasted a mouthful, thinking it was a snack, then hastily spat it out with a "PTOOEY, PTOOEY!" After that, they obediently went back to spreading the fertilizer.
When Jiang Si came in, she saw that Shen Baoying had already hit it off with the Snow Monkeys. They would do whatever she asked.
Shen Baoying ecstatically told Jiang Si, "They’re so well-behaved! Incredibly well-behaved! If you tell them not to pull up the radish seedlings, they won’t touch them. They’re so smart, just like you were when you were two or three."
Jiang Si let out a low chuckle. "I’m definitely smarter than them."
The Snow Monkeys caught the strong scent of Qin Shen on Jiang Si and hid fearfully behind Shen Baoying.
Shen Baoying casually rubbed their fluffy heads. "With their intelligence, having them help us with small chores will be no problem at all."
Jiang Si smiled. "Mom, since you get along with them so well, just be patient and teach them."
"Okay, I’ll definitely teach them to be as obedient as Big Black and Little Black."
The two Snow Monkeys were promoted to the newest darlings of the group. Afraid that Big Black and Little Black would scare them, Shen Baoying no longer even let the dogs follow her.
But they learned incredibly fast. Perhaps seeing the humans as their new troop, they followed Shen Baoying wherever she went. When she needed to peel potatoes, they would rush to peel them, too.
It was all so adorable, which made Big Black and Little Black extremely jealous. They’d bark and roar at the monkeys every chance they got.
The Snow Monkeys, knowing Big Black and Little Black wouldn’t dare bite them, grew bolder and even started throwing snowballs at the dogs.
It infuriated Big Black and Little Black so much that they lost their appetites.
Shen Baoying also gave the two Snow Monkeys names.
One and Two.
Because, as Jiang Si said, she had a feeling there might be a Three, a Four, a Five, and so on in the future...
After they started behaving more and more disciplined, Shen Baoying had Jiang Linhai take time out of his busy schedule to build a small bunk bed for One and Two and place it in the greenhouse.
The little bed was made with soft bedding, and next to it were a chamber pot and a small table, making it look like a complete little room.
One and Two seemed thrilled. They climbed up and down, fighting over the bed. In the end, One took the top bunk, and Two took the bottom.
Jiang Linhai sighed. "It’s like we’ve adopted two more children."
Shen Baoying laughed. "Isn’t it great, though? They’re very capable and help me with everything. The two of them working together are as fast as one person."
Once they got used to following Shen Baoying and mastered the use of tools, they worked extremely quickly. Plus, they weren’t crafty enough to slack off.
Perhaps it was also due to their sense of hierarchy that they didn’t dare to rest.
Shen Baoying gave them a fond look and left them in the greenhouse.
As she left, she was a little worried they might suddenly disappear.
After spending a few days together, she had grown attached to them.
Jiang Linhai shook his head. "If they want to leave, let them. We can’t stop them. Let’s go back and sleep."
"Alright."
Back on the Icebreaker, Shen Baoying saw Jiang Si sitting on the sofa eating sunflower seeds. She sat down next to her and asked, "There hasn’t been any sign of the monkey troop for days. What’s going on?"
Jiang Si had already investigated with Qin Shen. She said calmly, "They went to eat wintersweet blossoms. As long as they can fill their bellies, they probably won’t come over."
Shen Baoying frowned. "Wintersweet only blooms for a few days. How long can they survive on that? Sigh."
Seeing how obedient One and Two were, she was now completely sold on the idea of teaching them to farm and fish.
Although One and Two didn’t understand why they had to farm, they were already pros at digging, sowing seeds, watering, and fertilizing.
Tomorrow, she planned to take One and Two out to cast nets and catch fish to see if they could learn.
Jiang Si comforted her, "The fact that they haven’t come back means they haven’t reached the end of their rope yet. Don’t worry too much."
"That’s true. It’s best if they can find a way to survive on their own."
Becoming dependent on the humans would mean obeying them and thus losing their freedom.
Jiang Linhai sat down, looked left and right, and then asked in a low, hushed voice, "Where did Qin Shen go?"
Jiang Si glanced up, a little puzzled. "To the restroom. Why?"
Jiang Linhai said immediately, "We’re planning to build separate little wooden cabins. One for your mom and me, one for your grandparents, one for Uncle Lu and Niu Niu... and do you and Qin Shen want one?"
Everyone had been turning a blind eye to the fact that the two of them were secretly sleeping together.
Considering everyone’s privacy and different lifestyles, Jiang Linhai had decided to build individual cabins.
They would be close to each other anyway, and now that life was stable, if danger arose, everyone could rush out to help immediately.
Jiang Si’s expression faltered. Seeing Qin Shen walk out, she said quickly, "Let me ask him."
Living in the same room with Qin Shen was nice.
But living together in their own place was another matter entirely.
They would have to think about things like meals on their own, and there would be more trivial little things to deal with.
’It’s like stepping halfway into a marriage.’
’So, it’s better to be a little cautious.’
Jiang Linhai glanced at Qin Shen, clammed up, and nonchalantly pulled Shen Baoying back to their room.
Qin Shen sat down beside her and continued watching the documentary Jiang Si had picked out.
When it was time for bed, he prompted, "Should we head back?"
Jiang Si decisively turned off the display screen and followed Qin Shen back to their room.
The moment the door closed, Jiang Si suddenly pinned him against the wall.
Qin Shen smiled, his deep eyes shimmering with a captivating light. "What is it?"
Jiang Si moved closer, her breath brushing against his face. "You heard what my dad said, didn’t you?"
Qin Shen shook his head innocently. "I did not."
He couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to everything just by going to the restroom.
Besides, with so much background noise all the time, he had a habit of tuning things out.
Jiang Si huffed and hooked his chin. "In that case, allow me to tell you!"
The melodramatic line was so over-the-top that Qin Shen couldn’t help but laugh.
"Mm-hmm."
Jiang Si leaned in and kissed him, expertly leading him toward the bed. "My dad asked if we want our own cabin. What do you think?"
