Stockpiling for an Exiled General Through My Store's Back Door

Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe, Who Will Be the Soldier?

Hua Buwan threw out the topic, and the Ling family immediately grew excited, chiming in their agreement. However, who would actually tell the story became the next problem. They looked at each other, everyone hoping someone else would speak first.

Seeing this, Hua Buwan smiled slightly. ”Since everyone is being so modest, why don’t we play a game?” She felt it was up to her to liven up the atmosphere and break the ice. After all, unless these ancient ancestors were natural social butterflies, they were generally quite shy.

Intrigued, the Ling family members asked at once, ”What game?”

Hua Buwan put on a mysterious expression. ”We’ll draw lots. Whoever gets chosen has to tell a story.”

Everyone thought this was a great idea and nodded in agreement. They were all afraid of volunteering to tell a story, but drawing lots made it a matter of luck.

Of course, Ling Qianfan had already put his hands together, praying to the heavens. Ling Yunge was also muttering a quiet prayer. Xu Panqing pretended to be composed, but she still stole a quick glance at the sky, prayed silently for three seconds, and then quickly sat up straight. Only Ling Qianjun remained unperturbed, sitting calmly in his spot.

Hua Buwan used what was on hand, picking up a few small twigs from the ground and breaking them so there was one long piece and several short ones for everyone to draw.

”Whoever draws the long one tells a story. Whoever draws a short one gets a pass until next time. I’ll join in the storytelling next round, but for this first time, you guys go ahead.” She giggled.

The Ling family had no objections to Hua Buwan’s rules, and they nervously began to draw lots.

Ling Yunge went first. As she hesitated over her choice, she chanted a counting rhyme. ”Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch a tiger by the toe!” She quickly pulled out a short twig and couldn’t help but clap her hands gently in delight. ”It’s short, it’s short!”

Next was Ling Qianfan. He was so nervous his palms were sweating, and his fingers hovered hesitantly over the remaining twigs. ”This one? No, no, maybe this one... No, I’ll take this one...”

Seeing Ling Qianfan dawdling, Ling Qianjun couldn’t help but say coldly, ”Hurry up.”

Ling Qianfan jumped in fright and hurriedly yanked out a twig. ”Ah, no?”

He was just about to take it back, but then he realized that the twig he had grabbed after Qianjun startled him was actually a short one. He nodded excitedly. ”It’s short! Mine is short!”

For the final showdown, the focus shifted to Ling Qianjun and Xu Panqing.

”Come on, you two draw at the same time to see who ends up being the lucky winner.” Hua Buwan covered the bottom halves of the last two twigs, leaving only the tips exposed so their lengths were hidden, and turned toward Xu Panqing and Ling Qianjun.

Ling Qianjun raised his hand, gesturing for Xu Panqing to pick first.

Xu Panqing hesitated for a moment before pointing to the one on the right. ”I’ll choose this one, then.”

Ling Qianjun naturally reached for the other. ”Then I’ll take this one.”

”Alright, alright, I’ll count to three, and then you both pull your twigs out at the same time.” Hua Buwan was getting into the spirit of it, building up the suspense.

Xu Panqing and Ling Qianjun nodded, waiting for her command.

”One... two... three!” The moment the word left Hua Buwan’s lips, the two pulled out their twigs simultaneously.

”WOW...” Ling Qianfan and Ling Yunge stared unblinkingly at the two twigs, carefully checking to see which was long and which was short.

As it turned out...

”Mine is short! PHEW!” Xu Panqing let out a long sigh of relief, her face beaming with joy. It was obvious that her earlier composure had been entirely faked.

Looking at the twig in his hand, Ling Qianjun said with a hint of disappointment, ”Mine is the long one.”