Chapter 342: 342 The Golden Du Juan and the Birthday

Noticing the newly cleared plot of land behind the garden, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma's brows unconsciously furrowed.

The vast majority of the Bao Hua family's assets had been confiscated six years ago; only this manor, built by decree of the first king, was not reclaimed due to its extremely special significance.

Thus, even though she had moved herself and her daughter into a small wooden house in a corner of the garden because she did not wish to recall those sad memories nor live alone in the empty manor, this manor still belonged to her in name, and no one should have entered without permission.

Could it be that thieves had broken in? But why would thieves take the trouble to clear the land?

With a heart full of questions, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma pushed open the window and looked out, discovering that not only the rear of the garden where she and her daughter lived had been cleaned, but even the carriage road from the main gate to the main building seemed to show signs of maintenance; the gravel and weeds on the road surface had already been removed.

Seven or eight very fresh carriage tracks extended along the main road right up to the front of the main building; the broken stained-glass window on the first floor of the main building had been cleared away, and even the servants' quarters on the roof, which had slightly collapsed, had been demolished; the flowerbeds in front of the main building were covered with messy footprints.

This is... someone wants to move in?!

Looking at the chaotic footprints in the flowerbeds and the large amount of horse manure not yet cleaned away, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma couldn't help but angrily bite her lip.

Although she didn't care much about this empty house, this manor had after all been her home; she had lived here for a full twenty years, yet the newcomers wanted to directly seize it without even saying hello, which was truly beyond unreasonable.

"Ellie, tell Mommy!"

After closing the back window with some annoyance, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma tried to calm her mood and asked in a voice as gentle as possible:

"What happened behind the garden? Who has come here these past few days?"

"These past few days... many uncles pushing ladders and holding tools have come, and they even pushed down the big emblem in the middle of the main building and replaced it with a new one."

After trying to recall, the little girl stretched out her hand to gesture and said:

"On that emblem, there is a small bird with a pointed beak, green feathers, and horizontal black-and-white stripes on its belly."

Pointed beak, green feathers, horizontal black-and-white stripes on the belly... the Golden Du Juan emblem?

After hearing the little girl's description, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma's face suddenly turned pale; thinking of a possibility she could not accept, she immediately ran out of the small wooden house without even changing her shoes, climbed over the back wall of the garden, and rushed toward the main building.

By the time Auntie Auntie Ai Ma turned to the front and saw the front of the main building, which was not visible from the small wooden house, and clearly made out the pattern on the new emblem, her cheeks instantly flushed red, and in her usually gentle eyes, a biting cold wind suddenly arose.

The Golden Du Juan emblem!

Yes, she should have thought of it earlier; besides herself, there was another person qualified to live in the Bao Hua Manor!

Looking up at the curtain wall on the second floor of the main building, and seeing the Golden Du Juan emblem shimmering with emerald light in the sunset, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma silently turned her head to the side and found the Bao Hua family emblem in the flowerbed on the side of the building, which was being used as a trash dump.

Golden Du Juan... Leonard...

Her clean, slender fist clenched tightly and then slowly loosened, then clenched again; repeating this several times, it finally loosened completely.

After staring fixedly at the two emblems for a while, Auntie Auntie Ai Ma let out a long sigh, walked heavily to the flowerbed, and picked up the Bao Hua emblem, which had a dented corner, from the pile of trash.

Stay calm.

Rather than dwelling on the past, the most important thing is to cherish the people before you; do not look at what you have lost, but cherish what you still possess...

When Li Ang carried her out from the realm of death, she had already made up her mind to try to put aside the hatred in her heart for Ellie's sake and strive to welcome a new life.

But...

Her fingers unconsciously exerted a little force, slightly deforming the huge bronze emblem, yet Auntie Auntie Ai Ma's teeth still sank into her pale lower lip, biting out a small row of deep tooth marks.

Why am I still so unwilling!

"Stand still and don't move!"

After helping William and Melanie adjust their clothes and straightening the little outfits that had been worn crooked, Anna narrowed her eyes and reminded them:

"Did you remember everything I told you earlier?"

"We remembered."

After adjusting his small bow tie, William calmly recited:

"Greet Aunt Auntie Auntie Ai Ma when you see her, wish Sister Ellie a happy birthday, do not cause trouble and embarrass Big Brother, and do not break other people's things..."

"Most importantly, absolutely do not mention your dream of ruling the world!"

After adding that sentence, Anna turned her head to look at Melanie, who was spinning around happily and swinging her little skirt, and emphasized with some concern:

"And you absolutely cannot mention your dream of being a freeloader!"

"Got it, got it!"

Hearing her sister's special reminder, Melanie in front of the mirror couldn't help but pout and complained with an expression of being fed up:

"There are only these few agreements; you've been nagging about them from yesterday until now; we've already memorized them, okay?"

"It's best if you have memorized them!"

After giving the most troublesome Melanie a glare, Anna slightly softened her tone and said:

"Since Big Brother started his job, Sister Auntie Auntie Ai Ma has helped him a lot, and she is even my savior... um... in short, she is the benefactor of our family; you must respect her, and absolutely do not bully Ellie!"

"We won't."

After adjusting the children's bow tie on his chest, William nodded with satisfaction and then said with a serious expression:

"Big Brother said that a person can lose money while living, but cannot lose their conscience; after being helped by others, one must remember it firmly in their heart. I have always remembered this sentence; although I don't know if Melanie can do it, I certainly can."

"I... I can certainly do it too!"

Noticing Anna's gaze suddenly glaring at her, Melanie, sensing danger, immediately stiffened her little face, imitated William's serious manner, raised her hand, and swore an oath:

"If I cause trouble today or make Sister Ellie cry, then... then I will give all my pocket money for this year to William!"

So decisive?

Hearing that Melanie had actually made such a "poisonous oath," Anna finally felt slightly relieved and went out to call for the carriage, while William couldn't help but glance sideways at his sister.

Since she really had no talent in mathematics and only scored 5 points on the last small test, things involving numbers, such as pocket money, had all been taken by her, who had crowned herself the future Minister of Finance of the Empire.

Now that Melanie suddenly used her pocket money to swear, could it be that she was preparing to mooch off William's pocket money for the entire next year in case she caused trouble today?