An Exquisite Dog Hole (1)

No matter how strong Jiang Xiaoman was, she was still just a child. The iron chisel was a bit heavy. She banged on it hard for a while but couldnt manage to pry out a single brick before tiring herself out.

She tagged out with Yu Qingshi, and with the two of them exchanging shifts they finally succeeded in knocking down a single tile that was attached to the walls exterior.

But just because she could celebrate, she felt a chill on her back as a gaze fell on her.

At this time, Yu Qingshi who was squatting next to her stood up obediently, and bowed his head as if confessing his mistakes, prepared for a scolding or beating.

"Grandma..." Jiang Xiaoman turned around, her little nose twitching. "I was just playing around."

Jiang Xiumei laughed coldly and said, "Even just playing around you could disassemble the wall corner, if you were being serious, wont you burn the house down? Tell me, what are you doing?

Jiang Xiaoman started to sob cutely.

She already knew that she would be scolded, but she was prepared for it as long as she managed to dig the hole. She never thought that she would be caught before even being able to dig the hole.

Grandma came so fast.

Jiang Xiumei sighed hard. She looked at the silent Yu Qingshi then back at Xiaoman, then brought the two children next door.

She found Yu Wencheng and apologized, Im sorry Mr. Yu, my child has caused trouble again. She almost dug a hole on the wall corner. Im really sorry.

The walls were constructed really beautifully, and the brick that Jiang Xiaoman knocked down with the chisel looked really ugly1.

It looked like a drop of ink on white paper, very ugly and out of place.

When Yu Wencheng finally learnt the whole story, he smiled and said, Old sister-in-law, dont worry. This isnt a big deal. If the children want to play, just let them. Its good for them to be lively.

"..." Jiang Xiumei had nothing to say. Since the other party didn't mind, she took Jiang Xiaoman back home.

The next day, Jiang Xiumei was wondering whether she should use putty powder to cover the brick so it would not look too bad. But when she went to take a look, what she got was a shock.

Holy!

Yesterday one brick was knocked down, and today a dog hole had finished being dug!

Not only that, but it was also reinforced with cement!

There was also a frame with delicate patterns on the exterior!

This couldnt have been Jiang Xiaoman's doing.

Jiang Xiumei froze for a long, long time and finally returned to the house speechless.

Yu Wencheng was spoiling the children too much!

If this continued, perhaps the children might really tear the roof down one day.

Jiang Xiumei was really worried.

New Year was approaching, and Jiang Xiaoman was very happy because New Year meant that she had grown up another year. She would also get New Year money, new clothes to wear, and a lot of snacks to eat.

She called her good friends as per their previous agreement.

Hello, Zhang Xinhua? Happy New Year.

"Would you like to come to my house for snacks?"

"Youre not coming? Ill bring them for you when school starts then, okay?

After hanging up, Jiang Xiaoman also called Ye Jiajia.

Ye Jiajia wanted to come very much, but her parents didnt have the time to drive her, and Jiang Xing also didnt have the time to pick her up, so she had no choice but to give up.

Sigh, Jiang Xiaoman kind of wanted to go back to the village.

There was no shortage of friends in the village, and it was always very lively.

If she returned with a lot of candies and biscuits, the children would follow her in groups, it would be very lively.

Jiang Xiaoman thought for a while, then ran to ask Jiang Xiumei if she would celebrate New Year in the village this year.

Because, she remembered that around this time last year, Grandma had already told her to pack her belongings. But this year, Fragrance was still at home and hadnt been sent to the pet shop yet. There werent any signs that they were going to go back.

Jiang Xiumei said, Youre not going back this year, Grandma will go back alone. In a few days, your uncles company will close and he will be able to accompany you at home.

Something like Hong Xingguo happened last year, and Jiang Xiumei still had lingering fears whenever she thought of the incident. She was afraid that there might still be other ingrates with ideas about Xiaoman, so she simply wouldnt let her go back.

Although this line of thought was like the man from Qi that feared the sky falling, but once bitten, twice shy2. Jiang Xiumei just couldnt help thinking this way.

When Jiang Xiaoman heard this, she immediately made a long face and pursed her lips, whispering, Then Grandma wont accompany us on New Year? Lets go back together or not at all, okay?

She still liked Grandma very much.

She spent the New Year with Grandma every year, she really wasnt used to it if Jiang Xiumei wasnt there.

Jiang Xiumei glared at her, How could I leave you and your uncle to celebrate New Year alone? If its just the two of you, when others drink and eat meat during New Year, youll just be eating the Northwest wind3!

Ah Jiang Xiaoman became anxious. If she couldnt eat meat or snacks, then what was the meaning of this year? Also

Footnote:

1. There seems to be a tiny inconsistency here whether Xiaoman managed to chisel off the brick or just the tile covering it

2. Bitten once by a snake, and get spooked by well ropes for ten years.

3. Eating air because theres nothing else to eat.