Unwilling to leave Lin Yuwei to return alone, Feng Jin felt uneasy. Coincidentally, she also needed to return, and escorting Lin Yuwei back would put her mind at ease.
"It's alright, Feng Jin jie jie, I can go back by myself. If you're busy, you can go back first."
Lin Yuwei began to refuse. She had finally managed to get out, and hadn't enjoyed herself much. She didn't want to return so soon.
If she went back, Chu Chenyi would surely not allow her out again, and would monitor her even more strictly. She had to seize this opportunity to have fun to her heart's content, so that her efforts to sneak out wouldn't be in vain.
"The capital has been restless these past few days. We'll go out again after a few days. Hurry and come back with me."
As she finished speaking, Feng Jin, ignoring Lin Yuwei's protests, reached out and pulled Lin Yuwei up from the chair. If she hadn't seen Lin Yuwei, she wouldn't have intervened.
But now that she had seen Lin Yuwei and she was by her side, she couldn't knowingly allow Lin Yuwei to wander around outside in the face of danger. Even if she had to tie her up, she would take Lin Yuwei back today.
"Feng Jin jie jie, please let me wander around a bit longer. I promise I won't cause any trouble. I finally managed to get out after all sorts of hardships, and you want to take me back as soon as I've left. I'd be so upset. Feng Jin jie jie, please turn a blind eye and pretend you didn't see me."
Lin Yuwei, shaking Feng Jin's arm, spoke in a soft, spoiled tone, full of a pleading charm.
Having long seen through Lin Yuwei's little scheme, Feng Jin sighed helplessly. It was her bad luck to run into this troublesome Lin Yuwei the moment she stepped out. She couldn't shake her off.
Moreover, she couldn't rest easy knowing Lin Yuwei was wandering around the streets alone. And this person was stubborn and refused to go back. After hesitating for a long time, Feng Jin decided to accompany Lin Yuwei for a while longer, which would put her mind at ease.
"I'll accompany you for a while. When you're ready to go back, I'll escort you."
"That's great! We don't have to go home so early."
The happiest of them all was Da Bao, who was so excited he almost jumped. Not having to go home and being able to continue playing outside was simply too wonderful.
"Mama, can we go boating? Mama, please."
Da Bao looked at Feng Jin with sparkling eyes, his hand shaking Feng Jin's arm.
"Yes, let's go boating!"
Lin Yuwei echoed Da Bao, her gaze fixed on Feng Jin, waiting for her to agree.
"Have you two been kicked by a donkey? It's winter, it's freezing cold, and the lake is already frozen. Are you two going boating? Are you so silly that you can't even tell the season!"
Feng Jin was truly amazed by the two of them, especially Lin Yuwei. It was understandable for Da Bao, who was young and naive, but Lin Yuwei was so old and about to become a mother herself. Why was she being so childish?
With her pregnant belly, she still wanted to go boating. Why did she always gravitate towards danger? And it was winter. Not only was the lake frozen, but in this winter weather, wouldn't they freeze to death if they went boating?
The lake was barren, with not even a blade of grass to be seen. Were they going to go there to catch a cold wind?
"I… I forgot." Lin Yuwei only realized it was winter after Feng Jin reminded her. Her mind was indeed muddled, unable to distinguish the season. She must have been locked up in the manor for too long, making her feel dull.
"Alas… where should we go then!"
Da Bao sighed with a dejected expression, his earlier enthusiasm completely gone.
Since they couldn't go boating, he didn't know what else would be fun. It was all so boring.
Feng Jin's eyes flickered. A brilliant idea instantly popped into her mind.
"I do have a game. Shall we go back to the manor and play ring toss?"
"Ring toss? Feng Jin jie jie, what is this ring toss? I've never heard of it before."
Lin Yuwei looked at Feng Jin with a puzzled expression. She had never even heard of ring toss. What kind of novel game was this? It sounded interesting, though. She wondered if it would be fun.
"You set up items, and then you throw rings at them. If you manage to hook something with a ring, that item is yours. Do you want to go back and play?"
Lin Yuwei listened, feeling a bit confused. She glanced at Da Bao beside her, then at Feng Jin. Since she had nowhere else fun to go, this ring toss sounded quite interesting, and she could give it a try. So, she readily nodded in agreement.
"If you both want to play, then let's go home. Ring toss is more fun with more people. We'll call Ling Wan and Ling Mu Zhu to join us when we get back."
This way, she could not only find something fun for them to do but also use it as an opportunity to coax Lin Yuwei back.
Playing at home was certainly better than playing outside, at least in terms of safety.
Once everything was decided, and to prevent any further delays, Feng Jin hurried the group to return.
...
Upon returning to the manor, Feng Jin gathered everyone and prepared all the items.
Feng Jin drew a line on the ground with a stick: "Everyone stand behind the line. You are not allowed to cross this line. As long as you use the rings in your hands to hook an item within the line, that item will be yours..."
"Ten rings for one tael of silver. Buy fifty rings and get ten more free. How many do you want?"
"I want fifty, Feng Jin jie jie."
"Chang Sao, I want fifty too."
"Chang Sao, give me fifty as well."
Feng Jin smiled as she collected the money and handed over the prepared rings.
This ring toss method was truly excellent, and it even earned money. It was a win-win situation. She truly admired her own brilliant intelligence. Only she could come up with such a fantastic idea.
In a short while, all the prepared rings were sold. Feng Jin, holding the heavy money pouch, grinned from ear to ear.
"What's wrong? Why are you smiling so happily?"
Ling Mo Han had just stepped across the threshold and saw Feng Jin squatting on the ground, grinning broadly and counting money in her hands.
"Of course, I'm happy because I'm making money," Feng Jin said, her eyes fixed on the silver in her hands, not even looking up at Ling Mo Han.
"Oh no, I missed again! Why is it so difficult!" Lin Yuwei's complaining voice rang out. She had already thrown all her rings, but still hadn't hooked a single one.
Ling Wan threw her last ring. She was luckier than Lin Yuwei, having managed to hook a pair of earrings, so she didn't go away empty-handed.